The Sounds of War (The Genesis Series Book 2) (16 page)

Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. Psalm 12:1, NRSV

A
t six-thirty Kirsten ran out of patience, she slid open the balcony’s doors and called out to Josh, who was attempting to turn a brisket on the barbeque grill. “Josh, would you try to reach Eme or Elijah? Neither is answering me. Maybe it’s my phone.”

Joshua, turning around upon hearing his name, unknowingly stepped too close to the grill
. A plume of smoke filling his eyes, he coughed and sputtered, “How long since you heard from them?”

“Eme texted me around four
.” Peering over his shoulder, she examined the grilling process.

“You haven’t heard from them since then?”

“I wouldn’t ask you to call them if I had!”

Caleb standing nearby couldn’t help but hear the exchange between his siblings
, smiled as the smoke contaminated Josh struggled to see through watery eyes, taking pity Caleb volunteered, “I’ll do it.” Removing his cell from his cargo pants he added, “I’m too hungry for you to be distracted. You just keep our dinner from burning, pretty please.”

Dialing Elijah’s number and then Emeleigh’s number Caleb got the same response that Kirsten had: voice mail. Following
behind Kirsten as she returned to the kitchen Caleb listened patiently while Emeleigh’s voice told him to leave a message. “Are you sure about the time of Eme’s last text?” He asked as he pocketed his phone and shut the sliding balcony door.

“I think it was about four.” Retrieving her cell from the back pocket of her jeans, she nodded a
s she rechecked the time stamp on the message. “Yes, 4:02.”

“What did Eme say?”

“Just that they were on their way; I think something must be…” Interrupted by the sound of swinging doors opening, Kirsten turned and sucked in a breath of relief as both parents entered the kitchen.

“Hey guys, how’s it going?” Laden with boxes Emmett held the door open with an extended foot as Leighann followed behind him, she too carrying multiple packages
and was having to look over the top of her bundle to see where she was going. Seeking empty cabinet space and after depositing the bags and boxes, Emmett and Leighann turned to greet everyone. Justin one-step ahead, handed Emmett and Leighann glasses filled with iced tea and inquired, “Where’s Mimi and Pops?”

“My parents will be here in the morning. Mom had a meeting tonight she needed to at
tend. You’re looking well.” Leighann looked from Justin to Kirsten, and knew from the expression on Kirsten’s face something was amiss. Before she could ask, Caleb fulfilled the obligation of the oldest child and became the bearer of bad news. “Eme and Elijah aren’t home yet!”

Leighann turned and stared, “What do you mean they
aren’t here? Where’s Josh?”

“Josh’s out there burning our dinner,” Caleb pointed to the balcony, “and we don’t know where Eme and Elijah are.”

“Why?” Emmett and Leighann asked in unison.

When the answer wasn’t forthcoming Emmett pursued, “All right, why?
”

“The last time Emeleigh was heard from was around four this after
noon. She texted Kirsten they were on their way and, since then, neither Eme nor Elijah have responded to texts or calls.” Caleb took a deep breath before he proceeded, “We’re getting a bit concerned. This isn’t like either one of them. I was just about to suggest that one of us drive up Highway 6 in search for them. Maybe they broke down and maybe they don’t have cell reception.”

“That’s too many maybes for me
.” Emmett turning to Kirsten said, “I’ll go with Caleb, you call us if you hear something, okay?”

Kirsten frowned and muttered, “This isn’t how our vacation was sup
posed to start.”

“No, but if…” Emmett didn’t finish his thought, instead he kissed Leighann’s forehead. “Keep things warm, we’ll be back as soon as possible. Oh, say a prayer or two.”

Pausing at the swinging doors of the kitchen Emmett turned back, “Justin, you’re a reporter, you should know how to get someone at the sheriff’s department. Please see if there’s any trouble that might be holding them up?”

“Sure, give me a few minutes. I’ll call you as soon as I
know something.”

Emmett and Caleb were nearly to College Station twenty min
utes later when Emmett’s phone rang. It was Justin, “There’s nothing on Highway 6, no accidents, no breakdowns, nothing. I called the sheriff of both Grimes and Burleson counties. Everything seems to be very quiet and uneventful for the start of Spring Break. Kirsten’s getting me the number to the campus police. I’ll call them next.”

“We’re almost at the campus now,” Emmett replied. “There’s very little traffic, I assume everyone’s already left town. Ask the campus police to meet us at the parking lot in front of the Computer Science Building. Thanks, Justin, talk with you later.”

Releasing a pent-up sigh Emmett rubbed his hands across a worried face and gave Caleb the news, “Justin said that there are no accidents. I guess I’m grateful.”

“Dad, hang in there, we’ll find them,” Caleb was trying his best to sound positive, yet a nebulous feeling was crawling through his own thoughts, hinting something was
not right.

Ten minutes later,
as Caleb parked beside Emeleigh’s red Lancer, it was hard not to notice the passenger door was wide open and a solitary campus police officer was hunched beside the car. The officer stood as Caleb put his car into park.

Emmett was out of Caleb’s car before
the motor stopped. Hastily moving to join the officer, he quickly met with a wall of resistance from the guarding officer. “Sir…please…you are?” Extending both hands, the officer placed his body between Emmett and the Lancer. Emmett nodded and produced his driver’s license as he told the officer he was the father of the car’s missing owner. When the identification was accepted and returned the officer cautioned, “Sir, please don’t touch anything; just in case this becomes a crime scene.”

Emmett’s brow furrowed at the thought of that possibility, and then pushing back discouragement
he acquiesced, “Okay, I’ll only look through the windows.”

Caleb
who had joined his father and the officer, asked, “Have you gone into the building?”

The officer shook his head and told Caleb
his was waiting until he could contact his supervisor. Silently Emmett walked the perimeter of the Lancer, sticking his hands in his pockets to keep them from touching anything. He looked inside the car from every window. “Look, Elijah’s bag and books are in the backseat but there’s nothing to indicate that Emeleigh ever got in the car. Do you think for some reason he went searching for her?” A myriad of fears began to escalate and screamed fear at his thoughts. Turning to the officer he asked, “Did you open the car door?”

“No, it was open when I got here. Your children didn’t just disap
pear into thin air, sir. Give me a moment to contact my supervisor.” As he clicked his radio open the officer replied, “I need some directives on how he wants me to proceed. I’ll have to get more help before we search the building. We’d better be cautious just in case something is going on inside. Please don’t touch anything. I’ll be back in just a moment.”

As the officer walked away, Caleb reached for his cell phone, “Dad, I’ll call the family, then I think you and I should sit down in my car and pray. Something about this reminds me of when Justin disappeared.” Reaching across the space that
separated them, Caleb squeezed his father’s forearm hoping to bring comfort. “I don’t know why we weren’t warned ahead of time but this I’m sure of, whatever’s going on, our Heavenly Father isn’t caught off guard by it.”

Patting
Caleb’s hand that still rested on his arm, Emmett overruled, “No, I’ll call. Your mother should hear this from me, and you’re right: Father has this in his hands. But it’s never easy to deal with the unknown, is it?”

Taking several minutes to make his call, Emmett joined Caleb at the car when he was finished. “While talking to your mother, I had this very strange thought. I thought about the story of Jericho. Joshua sent two spies to Jeri
cho, but it wasn’t the information the spies brought back that caused the walls to fall, it was the supernatural intervention of God. The spies escaped detection by the means of a scarlet cord...I wonder why that scene keeps playing in my mind. What do you think?”

“I don’t know Dad but I wish Josh and Justin were here. I have a strange feeling we’re battling something evil. Our prayers are always stronger when we pray in agreement, and the sooner we get Elijah and Emeleigh back the better. I honestly feel they are coming back but I also feel they’re in danger. Sorry, I don’t mean to discourage you.”

“Well, you’re going to get your wish Josh and Justin are on their way. Your Mother and Kirsten are coming as soon as they can.” Emmett pursed his lips in thought and added, “What you said didn’t discourage me, it just confirms we need to be diligent in our prayers, and we need to know exactly what and who we’re dealing with.”

He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father… He served Baal, and worshiped him and provoked the Lord. 1 Kings 22:52-53, AMP

T
he cloudless sky defined the word azure. The depth of the ether seemed to go on forever and as his horse topped the grassy knoll, Enmerkar could see deep into the valley that stretched before him. The green of the fertile alluvial plain drew a stark contrast to the blue horizon. The emerald expanse between the Tigris and the Euphrates had to be Eden or Nod, he wasn’t sure, but he was sure he had found the land that providence meant to be his. Putting his full weight into the stirrups, he stood in the saddle and lifting a hand to shield his eyes, he scanned the horizon. Beyond the innumerable sheep, which seemed to float across the vale in patches of white, he caught sight of a distant fire. The fire meant at the very least shepherds lived near, but beyond the fire seeing a forest of dark-green oak trees, he wondered if within the protection of the forest he would find a settlement.

Surveying carefully all that lay before him he chose not to take the direct approach by going to the campfire, instead he would scout the forest and if he found nothing, only then would he ride to meet with the shepherds. Not knowing whose sheep grazed in this vale, friend or foe, it seemed prudent to be cautious
. At least until he was more familiar with his surroundings.

Periodically looking in all directions to assure himself
none followed his movements, he slipped into the woods undetected. As mid-day developed into late afternoon and the shadows grew longer, an early evening breeze began to whistle through the trees. Knowing his scent would carry if he stayed on the path he traveled and not wanting to be in the unfamiliar forest at night, he decided to turn back to the campfire. There he would not only find the warmth of the fire, but also the needed knowledge of who possessed the rights to the land.

The trees of the virginal forest were sparse but the undergrowth was thick
. Raham struggled to push through the bush; faltering the horse suddenly slid into a narrow but thicket free gorge. Relieved to be able to move about freely Enmerkar dismounted. Stretching weary legs, he decided to walk.

Plodding forward
through the ravine, Enmerkar and his horse trekked for some distance then once again the terrain changed and the valley he had exited hours earlier unexpectedly stretched before him only three hundred yards away. Remounting he urged Raham to pick up the pace. Enmerkar wanted to be near the shepherds’ fire before the night closed in on him.

A
ble to see the horizon, he chose first to look at the setting sun, he needed to gauge the time left before dark. As he turned his head, he caught sight of a large encampment, less than a quarter of a mile away. A number of tents, most placed randomly to the north of what he assumed to be a communal well, buzzed with activity. Women were carrying large pots, which meant they were transporting water, children were running about and he could hear the faint yelp of a dog. As he continued to inspect the layout of the village, he realized there were also permanent structures. These were on the other side of what he surmised from his advantage point was the communal well. The tents had initially obscured these buildings but as he moved closer, he realized these buildings were homes made from some sort of black material.

As he neared the village, someone yelled something in his direction. Narrowing his eyes, he searched for the one who yelled. Spotting a man on the roof of the communal well, he grasped from the gesturing, th
e man was attempting to communicate with him. While he was too far away to understand the shouted words, he knew by the frantic waving he had permission to enter the village.

The closer he drew to the village the more people he saw. They were leaving the
tents and buildings, the children were no longer playing but had congregated near the communal well. He realized the entire village of people had left their homes and were waiting and watching in awe as the magnificent Raham paraded into their unwalled village. Barking at the novelty of the pale horse and nipping at his strutting hoofs the village dogs issued a barrage of both high-pitched yelps and deep growls.

When Enmerkar reined Raham to a halt, the village grew silent, except for the bothersome canines. From the rear of the crowd a strong deep masculine voice an
nounced, “Praise to the God of our fathers, may his blessings be on you. Welcome to our humble village. I am Shushan, son of Elam, son of Shem.” With each spoken word, the crowd of people began to part, making a path for a stocky grey-bearded man who could only be Shushan.

As Shushan moved through the crowd, Enmerkar dismounted, the two men came together each extend
ing an outstretched arm. Enmerkar returned Shushan’s greeting with the acceptable response, “Praise to the God of our Fathers, his blessings on you and yours. I’m Enmerkar, son of Cush, son of Ham.”

“Please come into my home and be refreshed.” Shushan turned and stepped aside to show Enmerkar the
way, and in doing so, politely asked, “Would it be safe for the children to provide water for your animal?”

Nodding, Enmerkar handed the horse’s reins to one of the older boys stand
ing nearby, “Don’t pull, just walk with the reins loose in your hands. He will follow. Once he has his fill of water, he will eat fresh grain if you have some, but no more than a small basket full!”

Tugging at the reins, the young boy, making a clicking noise coax
ed Raham into following. As the animal moved across the path, Shushan offered praise to the stallion’s owner, “Never have I seen a horse as fine as yours and never have I seen one that has been mastered so splendidly.” Shushan took another moment to look at Raham with appreciation and then waved a dismissal to the crowd. As the people scurried in different directions, Shushan motioned again for Enmerkar to follow. Quickly Shushan led his guest to the largest of the black structures.

Se
nding for the village elders, Shushan instructed his staff to prepare an informal celebration to welcome Prince Enmerkar.

A
fter his thirst was quenched, Enmerkar relaxed and spoke of his extended stay with their mutual ancestor, Noah. Shushan had never met Noah, but of course, knew those who had, and while they waited for the preparations of the table and the invited guests to join them the two men exchanged stories of their mutual ancestor.

When the conversation waned Shushan anxious to keep the young man engaged began to speak of his village, “About two hundred years ago my younger brother and I stumbled upon the ruins of the water well. We had been searching for a place to winter our flocks. At once, we realized that
the bounteous fresh water meant we could not only graze our sheep in the pastureland year round, but we also had the means to build a village and live here all year.

“Obviously, the well had been dug and enclosed before the flood because there was rubble everywhere
. The pool of water is about fifty feet below the surface. It must have been at one time on the surface. Probably enclosed to protect it from contamination or perhaps to control its use, anyway, during the devastation of the deluge not only did the supporting walls collapse, but also the ground beneath the well must have shifted. Debris made the water inaccessible at first. But my brother and I, along with our sons, spent most of our first year excavating and restoring the well. We rebuilt the walls, the supporting structure, and the steps down to the water during that first year. Black bricks were strewn all over the valley; the flood waters scattered wreckage everywhere.”

“So there was a civilization here before the flood?”

“Far as I can tell,” Shushan nodded, “most likely Cain built a city here. Not too long after entering the valley, we found the remains of many bodies embedded in the mire and in the tall grasses of the savannahs. Most were skeletons of course; several layers of river silt covered many. As the floodwaters receded, the deposits of minerals had mummified a few and strange as it seems, those bodies were fully intact. Interestingly we found several that were undoubtedly Nephilim. I measured one that was over thirty feet, so just imagine how tall he was when he lived!

“We’re about five miles from the Euphrates. Between here and the
river, we found instruments and tools. Some we’ve stored because we don’t know their use, but others we’ve incorporated into our daily lives and have put to good use. The bricks are hard like stone. I’m quite sure that’s why the flood didn’t destroy them. Those who lived in the past understood things we do not.” Shushan shook his head and sighed, “I’m grateful for what was left behind. It has enabled me to have a comfortable life with my family. There’re some four hundred of us and we prosper and live well, as do my sheep.”

Enmerkar, curious if there were other villages, queried, “Do you trade your sheep nearby?”

“My father still lives with many of our clan in the northwest, maybe some six hundred miles from here. I go there each year during the fall harvest. We trade for the things we need. It takes us about three weeks to take a flock northward via the river on barges and back again. The villages of my father and my other brothers are larger than my village. The village of Uncle Arphaxad, numbers more than a thousand. They’re farmers and artisans.” Shushan scratched at his grey beard, “The trading works well for all. There’s peace between us. Indeed, we dwell in safety, and if it weren’t for the pride of lions that have recently migrated to the valley, life would be perfect.

“The lions have been killing both our sheep and dogs.” Shushan frowned as he paused, “We’ve young men training
with spears to fight the lions, but so far, we’ve not succeeded. I noticed that you carry a bow, are you a hunter?”

“Yes, I hunt.” Enmerkar nodded, “Do you know how many lionesses are in the pride?”

“No, we’ve not been able to find the den. The tall grasses south of here hide them well, have you ever hunted the lion?”

Attempting to hide a smile Enmerkar nodded then answered, “Yes, I’ve killed several.”

Sitting very still for a moment Shushan breathed deeply and then blurted, “I think you should know that in addition to the lions there’s something else that disturbs our peace. From what we know, it comes from the direction of the Euphrates. Often chases the lions in this direction, as of yet, it hasn’t interfered with us, that is until recently. No one has seen it during the day but many of us have heard it howling periodically at night. Recently, two of our young men after a fishing trip, sought shelter in a tree-lined ravine when a sudden storm caught them by surprise. By the time the storm passed, the remaining clouds developed into a thick fog and made seeing the path home near impossible. For safety’s sake, they decided to spend the night in the ravine. Just before the break of dawn, the creature entered the ravine.

“One of the boys, Jared my nephew, was startled to wakefulness as the creature…uh…stumbled and slid down the embankment into their camp. Jared said the creature seemed…uh…to be startled at finding them there. Nonetheless, the creature wasn’t hunting, for it did no harm to them, in any way,” Shushan paused and looked around the room at all the faces who had entered as they had been visiting. Looking at his
hands with great deliberation, he locked his fingers together, placed them across his rounded stomach and sighed, “Anyway, the creature merely went on his way.”

Enmerkar leaning forward on his couch was aware that some important detail of the story was missing
. So he pried, “What kind of creature was it?”

“Jared tried to describe it to me but much of it doesn’t make sense. It walks upright and has the face of a man, but its skin is like that of a fish and both the creature’s hands and its feet are webbed. It grew a beard but had no hair on its head; many of the features reminded Jared of a goat. He said the beard was like that of a male goat and on its head were horns much like that of a goat. But the strangest of all the features were the gills on either side of its neck.” Shushan lifted his hands and clapped as he chortled, “So I suppose one could refer to the creature as a water-breathing goat-man.”

Before Shushan had finished speaking one of the men who had recently entered the room broke his silence and stood, “My name is Harmon, I’m Shushan’s younger brother, Jared is my son.”

Growing impatient to understand what was happening Enmerkar also stood, but before he could speak, Harmon looking at Enmerkar pointed to his brother and added, “There’s one thing my brother delib
erately didn’t tell you, but you should be told. Like us, this creature is telepathic. It heard Jared’s thoughts and spoke to him without voice. This goat-like creature told my son that we live in the territory of Ba’el…”

“What!” The admission of telepathic abilities did not shock Enmerkar
, many people had telepathic abilities, but never had he imagined anyone beside himself knew the name Ba’el. Enmerkar sat; he was too astonished to do anything else.

“Ba’el…a master god,” Harmon whispered, surprised by Enmerkar’s unexpected reaction.

“Yes, yes,” the son of Cush felt his stomach wrench with fear. “I know who he is.” Rubbing his forehead with both hands, he tried to gather his wits, “Did the creature say anything else?”

“Yes, it said
our village is located at the place where in the ancient past a gateway stood open. He said the name of our village is Bab’el. It is the gateway of the gods. The creature said its name is Enki and told Jared to give my brother a message for you.”