The Scarlet Cord by Carlene Havel & Sharon Faucheux

Author:Carlene Havel & Sharon Faucheux [Havel, Carlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religious Fiction
Publisher: Prism Book Group
Published: 2014-09-02T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

When evening came, Rahab turned her flax as usual. Peeking from the window in the wall, she saw the light of innumerable campfires, not far from the city. “The Hebrew army,” she whispered. Inside the alcove, she crouched in the position of prayer. Putting her forehead on the bare floor, she prayed. “Great God of the Hebrews, the siege is coming sooner than I expected. I ask You to remind Salmon and Benjamin of the promise they made to spare my family. Please make certain they keep their word. Thank you, Sir.”

At sunrise the next morning, Rahab and Bilda prepared the morning meal as usual. Karmot took a portion of flatbread. Instead of sitting, he walked across the courtyard and ascended the stairway. Soon he returned from the rooftop. “The Hebrew army is marching on the city this morning,” he announced. “They are coming straight down the road toward the gates.”

No one spoke for some time. “Eat,” Bilda urged her sons.

“I have no appetite,” Yassib replied. “Father, what shall we do?”

Karmot chewed on his flatbread. “We wait.”

“For what?” Kemil studied his bread, turning it over and over.

“I hope the Hebrews give up and leave, once they understand the strength of our walls.” Karmot shrugged. “Otherwise, there will be war.”

A whimper escaped from Masula.

“Have no fear, little one,” Karmot said. “These tent-dwellers cannot defeat the king’s army.”

“You were convinced they could not cross the river,” Kemil said.

Karmot raised a finger and opened his mouth to speak. However, at that moment, someone began to pound on the inn’s locked entrance. “Open in the name of the king!” someone shouted.

As soon as Karmot removed the locking beam, Rahab swung open the door. She did her best to smile at the two soldiers who burst inside. They were strangers, not members of the familiar neighborhood patrol. “Who is the keeper of this inn?” the soldier wearing a blue tunic demanded.

“I am, sir,” Rahab replied. She tried not to tremble as a frightening thought overpowered her mind. They know I hid the Hebrew spies.

The soldier’s eyes seemed to pierce into her thoughts. “We understand your rooftop provides access to an opening in the city wall.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied. “There is an alcove—”

“We will see it,” the man in blue interjected.

“Certainly. Come with me.” Rahab’s body was cold, yet her face felt hot. The sudden weakness in her knees made the trip across the courtyard seem to take forever. Her mother, brothers, and sisters stared as she led the soldiers and Karmot up the stairway. As she stepped onto the rooftop, Rahab pointed to the alcove. “Through there,” was all she managed to say.

Both soldiers brushed by her and went to the window. Karmot raised his eyebrows and looked at Rahab, but neither of them spoke. Will I be able to persuade them my family did not know about the Hebrews? As she stood waiting to be shackled or stabbed, she became aware of the sound of many footsteps.

“I hear a strange noise,” Karmot said.

“The enemy is marching around the city wall,” the soldier in the common buff-colored tunic replied.

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