The Lost Brother by John Noble

Author:John Noble [Noble, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Memories Faded

The valleys around Jebus bustled with farmers. They swarmed the patchwork of farm plots, tending olive groves, fruit orchards and vineyards that were interspersed with golden fields of ripe oats and patches of barley stubble. Even keeping to the path that snaked through the Tyropoeon Valley, Joseph caught stares from farmers that ranged from curious to vaguely hostile.

He was nearing the city proper when the path finally brought him close to a field of oats that was being reaped. Three burly harvestmen in dust stained work tunics stepped out into the road, barring his way. “What’s your business here, boy?”

All three carried curved bronze sickles mounted on short poles, their posture not quite menacing, but straddling the razor edge between polite and unpleasant. If they were trying to be intimidating though, Joseph wouldn’t exactly have classed the trio as terrifying. Regardless, he raised a hand to mollify them, “I’m Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac. I’m just passing north.”

His brothers would have come through this area a few weeks before and likely sold a number of sheep, so they ought to at least know his family.

Sure enough, the men’s hostile demeanor changed like a doused torch. All three relaxed and the leader waved him on past with a nod, “Of course. Fair travels to you.”

Joseph breathed a sigh of relief. Good to know his brothers hadn’t infuriated everyone. That had happened. Sometimes it was a local notable who felt cheated, a farmer whose pasture was eaten down without permission, or just Judah and Gad getting a little too persistent about chasing some farmer’s daughter. Somehow his brothers had a knack for finding new and creative ways to leave behind nasty piles of injured feelings. And of course, those hurt feelings typically require money to soothe. Never fun or cheap.

Today though, he made it past the city without further event, only pausing to strip a dozen spade shaped leaves from a cluster of betony stalks. The velvety leaves with a minty spiced flavor were something pleasant to chew on and left him with a relaxed clarity in his head.

He kept a razor eye for game, but the constant swarm of people around Jebus seemed to have scared away the easy prey. Getting north of the city however, Joseph found himself trekking through a wild country of wrinkled valleys and tree-capped ridges that led towards Luz and was bursting with prey. The first few birds he approached took flight quickly enough, but finally he snuck up on an unobservant partridge, walking with slow steps until he was within twenty paces. He calmly slid a rock into his sling pouch, barely daring to breathe, then flicked his wrist to give it a spin.

One, two, three… Release

Whssss— thunk

Joseph grinned in triumph.

He walked nearly the whole day to reach Bethel, following the endless twisting valleys. Even at midday, he ignored the pounding heat and kept moving, hugging the tree line halfway up the valley slopes for shade. That went well, right until

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