The Fifth Mountain Page 0,34
the Lord will send the fire from heaven and consume thy sacrifice."
Elijah knelt and gave thanks.
"However," continued the angel, "this miracle can be wrought but once in thy lifetime. Choose whether thou desirest to do it here, to avoid a battle, or in thy homeland, to free thy people from Jezebel."
And the angel of the Lord departed.
THE WOMAN AWOKE EARLY and saw Elijah sitting in the doorway of the house. His eyes were deep in their sockets, like those of one who has not slept.
She would have liked to ask what had happened the night before, but she feared his response. It was possible that the sleepless night had been provoked by his talk with the governor and by the threat of war; but there might be another reason - the clay tablet she had given him. If so, and she raised the subject, she risked hearing that the love of a woman was not in accord with God's design.
She said only the words, "Come and eat something."
Her son awakened also. The three sat down at the table and ate.
"I should have liked to stay with you yesterday," Elijah said, "but the governor needed me."
"Do not concern yourself with him," she said, a calm feeling reentering her heart. "His family has ruled Akbar for generations, and he will know what to do in the face of the threat."
"I also spoke with an angel. And he demanded of me a very difficult decision."
"Nor should you be disturbed because of angels; perhaps it's better to believe that the gods change with the times. My ancestors worshiped the Egyptian gods, who had the forms of animals. Those gods went away, and until you arrived, I was brought up to make sacrifices to Asherat, El, Baal, and all the dwellers on the Fifth Mountain. Now I have known the Lord, but He too may leave us one day, and the next gods may be less demanding."
The boy asked for water. There was none.
"I'll go and fetch it," said Elijah.
"I want to go with you," the boy said.
They walked toward the well. On the way they passed the spot where the commander had since the early hours been training his soldiers.
"Let's watch for a while," said the boy. "I'll be a soldier when I grow up."
Elijah did as he asked.
"Which of us is best at using a sword?" asked one warrior.
"Go to the place where the spy was stoned yesterday," said the commander. "Pick up a stone and insult it."
"Why should I do that? The stone would not answer me back."
"Then attack it with your sword."
"My sword will break," said the soldier. "And that wasn't what I asked; I want to know who's the best at using a sword."
"The best is the one who's most like a rock," answered the commander. "Without drawing its blade, it proves that no one can defeat it."
"The governor is right: the commander is a wise man," thought Elijah. "But the greatest wisdom is blinded by the glare of vanity."
THEY CONTINUED on their way. The boy asked why the soldiers were training so much.
"It's not just the soldiers, but your mother too, and I, and those who follow their heart. Everything in life demands training."
"Even being a prophet?"
"Even to understand angels. We so want to talk with them that we don't listen to what they're saying. It's not easy to listen: in our prayers we always try to say where we have erred, and what we should like to happen to us. But the Lord already knows all of this, and sometimes asks us only to hear what the Universe is telling us. And to be patient."
The boy looked at him in surprise. He probably understood nothing, but even so Elijah felt the need to continue the conversation. Perhaps when he came to manhood one of these words might assist him in a difficult situation.
"All life's battles teach us something, even those we lose. When you grow up, you'll discover that you have defended lies, deceived yourself, or suffered for foolishness. If you're a good warrior, you will not blame yourself for this, but neither will you allow your mistakes to repeat themselves."
He decided to speak no further; a boy of that age could not understand what he was saying. They walked slowly, and Elijah looked at the streets of the city that had sheltered him and was about to disappear. Everything depended on the decision he must make.
Akbar was more silent than usual. In the central square, people talked