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Chapter 48: The Journey Continues

Master and his wife had a very pleasant celebration of their marriage as they sailed northeast on the quiet waters of the great inland sea. Master had spent a little extra that they may have a private room on the ship.

As the early morning light wandered around the wall of their cabin in the gently moving and creaking ship, Helper's soft eyes gazed upon Master lying next to her. "So, what do we do now?"

"God will lead us to Thoth."

"To kill him?!" asked Helper.

"To stop him."

"How?"

"God will show the way. We only have to be faithful to His leading."

Late on the second day of their journey, they came into port. As he walked down the plank to the pier, Master wondered at the change in his life and his many blessings. "Imagine me, a married man, at my age!"

"What did you say, Sweetheart?" Helper tried out the name. It sounded awkward. She resolved that she was more comfortable calling him Master, and she would show him her affection in other ways.

"Isn't life wonderful?"

"For the fortunate," she replied thoughtfully.

"That is true. And we are certainly fortunate."

Mixed in with the smells of fishy saltwater and the seaside market, were the sounds of the entertainment industry that thrived in the port-town. Jugglers, dancers, musicians and jesters all vied for the attention of newly arrived merchants and visitors who might have extra money to thank them with.

Although Minos was no stranger to trade with other nations, Helper was amazed by the variety of trade going on in this market. For this port was like a joining of two cultures: the seaports to the west and the land-routes to the east. Beautiful lapis-lazuli, calcite, obsidian, and diorite sold by the dark-skinned, heavy-browed men of the northeast, strange and intricate shells from the Great Gulf many days journey directly east, gold gathered by Kemetean traders to the south from the unknown lands beyond them, and dazzling multicolored cloth, which flowed delicately over the skin, from some mysterious nation at the far edge of the known world. What a treat for the eyes and the imagination!

A small crowd gathered around a young man standing upon a box. He was performing tricks of magic.

Chapter 49: Sorcerer's Apprentice

Master stopped to observe the young man performing magic tricks.

"Is this the man you seek?" asked Helper.

"He is just a beginner, an apprentice. But, he performs his trade as if he may have been with Thoth, the master sorcerer."

"Teach him," a quiet voice spoke in Master's ear.

"The Lord just spoke to me. I am to teach him," Master explained to Helper.

"How will you teach him?" Helper asked.

"I must be with him for a time, to see what he needs to learn."

The apprentice was flattered that the old man and his woman watched him for so long, presuming they wanted to be his understudies.

Since they were still there when he packed up his wares at the end of the day, he invited them to stay with him in his filthy shack.

"Tell me," Master asked the apprentice over their simple meal, "what was this man like, who taught you your craft?"

The apprentice was surprised by the directness of the question. He had tried to give the impression that his powers were due to his own wisdom and discovery. So, for the rest of the dinner, he answered Master's persistent questions evasively.

Helper spent much of the time after dinner trying to make their corner of the hovel fit to sleep in. She worked hard, repulsed by the filth, but just as determined that she and her new husband would have a comfortable, and clean, place to spend the night.

"What was that?!" Helper awoke with a start.

Master mumbled something unintelligible beside her, clinging to his sleep.

She shook him awake. "Listen!"

After brushing away the confusing thoughts and dreams, he was alert. "What is that?"

As if in response to his question, the shouts renewed in vigor, with loud crashings.

Master lit the candle by his bed. As the light sprang forth into the room, it revealed the tormented face of their young host fighting an unseen enemy. Though unseen, the enemy was amazingly strong as he picked up the poor man repeatedly and thrashed him against the wall and floor.

While Helper watched in terror, clutching her thin blanket as hopeless protection, Master stood to his feet, seized by anger.

"I command you to depart from this building, by the Name of the One True God!"

The thrashing by the unseen assailant continued unabated, yet Master remained steadfast, not yielding to fear nor the desire to protect himself.

Suddenly a strange quiet settled upon the shack.

Helper's eyes grew wide, for, as terrifying as the half-visible battle had been, even more amazing was her husband's courage and authority over the powers of the darkness.

"Why did he attack you?" Master asked calmly, with no trace of fear.

The apprentice was hurting from being tossed around, and nearly out of his mind in fear, "He... he... he was angry!"

"About what?"

"I... I... I would not... not ask him... in."

"Into your body? He wanted to take over your body?"

The fear loosened control over the apprentice briefly as he shot a glance at Master, surprised at his knowledge of the situation. "Where... did he go?"

"I commanded him to leave this house. He will not bother you anymore while I'm here."

"You can force... the spirits to do your bidding?!"

"I just know how to make them leave."

"My knowledge of spirit warfare is simple," the apprentice exclaimed, still scared out of breath. "I need to learn from you."

"I don't know much about such things. But this I know... you'd better stop sorcery, or you will become worse."

"But, you are a sorcerer!" he claimed with surprise, a residual of terror in his voice from his fresh deliverance from the grasping evil spirit. He was terribly confused, not sure who to trust.

"I am not!" Master shouted back, very indignant.

"What's the difference between you and I?" he demanded, with his eyes checking out all the dark spaces around him, fearing the return of the spirit.

"You presume you are in control, though in actuality, the Lord of Darkness is..."

"I am my own boss! I call forth whatever spell I wish!" the fear in his eyes belying the confidence he tried to portray in his voice.

"...with power provided by the Lord of Darkness. Who do you think invited the evil spirit to terrorize you tonight? With each spell you cast, he owns another piece of your soul. Soon, he will own so much of you, you shall have no will to resist his demands."

"Aren't you subject to the same master?" He began to relax, drawing strength and peace from Master's calmness.

"I am not! My Master is the Supreme God of all the universe. And I do my best always to follow His most quiet command."

"So, you are another's servant. That is the difference between us?"

"We are both servants. The difference is that I know Who I serve. You have not yet met your master. But, if you continue in sorcery, you shall meet him, and you shall be terrified beyond reason."

"If I give up the sorcery, I will find peace?"

"Yes."

"Why do you seek the sorcerer who taught me my craft? Do you wish to learn from him?"

"He has nothing worth teaching me. I seek to stop him spreading his wicked poison."

"And what about me?"

"You?"

"Yes. What do you demand of me?"

"I demand nothing of you. I only recommend that you give up sorcery."

"Do you want my help tracking the sorcerer?"

"I would much appreciate it, if he is the one I seek. But, I do not demand assistance."

"You are a strange one."

"What can you tell me about him?"

"He calls himself Thoth."

"I have heard the name."

"Where?"

"In Atlantis."

"You've been to Atlantis?!"

"I've lived there all my life."

"It's too bad what happened to it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean about it disappearing into the ocean."

"How do you know this?"

"Thoth told me. He witnessed it just after he left. He said it generated seven huge waves that almost capsized his ship..."

"Would to God they had."

"Was Atlantis really as fantastic as they say it was?"

"We'll talk about that later. First, tell me about Thoth."

"Is he the one you seek?"

Master nodded his head silently, encouraging the apprentice to continue.

"He has a long white beard. It's really kinda silly. It's always getting in his way," the apprentice laughed in his remembrance. "He used to tuck it inside his belt, especially when he was working with a flame. I guess he'd made some accidental burnt offerings!" The apprentice enjoyed his humor, but neither Master nor Helper shared his admiration.

"Go on! What else can you tell me about him?"

"He's tall. Tallest man I've ever seen. Probably.... oh, I'd say a good foot taller than I am... and I'm pretty tall! And, he's very skinny. Oh, yes! He always wears this ugly blue and gold robe... wrinkled, like he's slept in it... which I don't doubt," the apprentice here tried to sound very smart and observant, enjoying the attention of the old man and his woman. "And, he wore this funny pointed hat... blue, with golden stars. Silliest thing!"

Chapter 50: The Adam Tablets

Later, when they were by themselves, Helper exclaimed, "Evil spirits?! What are these?"

"Long ago, in the Battle for Heaven, one of the high angels, Lucepher, fought God for rulership of heaven. Of course, he lost. But, he succeeded in pulling away many of the angels, or previously-good spirits, with him. They were thrown out of heaven. Away from the healthy influences of heaven, these spirits became more and more evil, until they became what they are today."

"I never heard such a thing! My father was a master teacher, and he taught me all he knew!"

"Many teachers do not speak about the evil spirits. They think it creates fear."

"Then, where did you learn of them?"

"The Adam Tablets."

"What are these?"

"Adam wrote of the Battle for Heaven...."

"Adam wrote?!"

"Of course."

"My father taught me that man discovered writing after many generations."

"Ah. Then your father belonged to the 'Man Sect'."

"What is that?"

"There are three sects. The 'God Sect', of which I am. The 'Man Sect' believe that God wandered off after creation, and man, the orphan, had to learn everything and do everything himself (and consequently, is quite proud of himself and his accomplishments). The third sect is the 'Godless Sect', or idol worshippers. They worship the king of evil spirits, Lucepher."

"Why?"

"God requires a man... or woman... to be holy before He issues a call on his life. Lucepher only requires curiosity of his servants, so anyone may apply."

"What is Lucepher's intent?"

"To continue the Battle for Heaven."

"Can he really retake heaven!?"

"No. But, he desires to hurt God by destroying His beloved people."

"Beloved people? Who are they?"

"All of mankind."

"God loves us?!"

"Of course! That's why He created you, so that you would love Him."

"My father left much out of my teaching! How did you learn all this?"

"The Adam Tab...."

"Yes, I know! The Adam Tablets! But, where did these come from!? They must be very ancient!"

"From Methuselah..."

"The Old One."

"Yes. He was a Master Teacher. He gave his vast library to Noah, just before he got on the ark."

"Why didn't he join Noah on the ark?"

"Noah asked him to. But, he said God had told him he would come walk the fields of heaven with Him that night."

"The fields of heaven!? Wow! You have such a rich teaching! But, why didn't God allow Methuselah to board the ark and live?"

"The name, Methuselah, means 'After him comes judgment'. He was holding back the flood as long as he walked the earth."

All this new teaching flooded Helper's mind and led to a hundred questions"These Adam Tablets... where are they? I've never seen you with them."

"I lost them."

The look on Helper's face showed plainly her regret at the loss of something so valuable.

"Atlantis was in constant confusion because of the war and the destruction of the land and the hand of nature... I had left the tablets hidden in my home, thinking to reclaim them when I got back from the war. But... my departure from Atlantis was too hasty... with much..."

Helper nodded her head, "I understand." She took a deep breath to clear her mind of the emotions stirred by Master's story. "Why does the sorcerer work with the evil spirits?"

"The sorcerer spreads wickedness by teaching communion with the evil spirits."

"For what purpose?"

"The sorcerer believes he will earn greater power by bringing the spirit world into our world."

"Why do the evil spirits try so hard to get into men?"

"To enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, and to utterly destroy their host."

Chapter 51: Betrayal

The apprentice asked Master many questions, and was surprised by his depth of wisdom. Soon he discovered, upon closer examination, that Helper was without wrinkles and truly beautiful. He had assumed rather than seen her wrinkles, because of the color of her hair and her keeping company with Master.

All three of them left together to find the sorcerer.

As they walked along the dusty roads, Master looked over at the apprentice. "I think, with your permission, I will call you... Apprentice."

They stopped to spend the night in a barn. For some reason, Apprentice excused himself early that evening and did not return. Early the next morning, Master woke up to the voice of the Lord.

"Leave the barn."

"By myself, or with Helper?"

"With Helper."

He was still groggy with sleep. Perhaps for this reason it may be easier to understand what happened next.

He tried to rouse Helper.

She stirred seductively, ever beautiful, even when asleep.

Finally, he was able to waken her. "We must go."

"I am so tired," she said in a sweet convincing voice. "Why don't you just stay here a little longer."

"We must go. The Lord spoke to me..."

"I'm cold. Snuggle with me just a little."

"Well, perhaps for a minute." He had barely settled down beside her, their forms entwined, when they heard shouting outside. He held her tighter, tucking her head down, to hide... to protect her.

An angry crowd of men burst through the front barn door, led by Apprentice!

"Here's the evil sorcerer!" Apprentice shouted.

"Kill him before he can cast a spell on us!"

"I'll get him!"

"I'll get the old lady!"

"No, leave her for me!" shouted Apprentice.

"Why you want the old hag?"

They looked closer, and the assumed signs of age evaporated from their minds.

"She's very young!"

"And beautiful!"

"And friendly!" she added invitingly. "However, I'm a little shy around men. More than one man at a time, that is. Now, if you'll line up here, I'll entertain you one man at a time in that room. Just as long as you each take your turn..."

By now, under her firm control, they started forming a jostling line.

"And no pushing in line!" she commanded, slapping one of the most unruly across the side of his head, surprising them all with the authority in her voice.

Master wrestled with fear for Helper's safety and consternation at the change in her behavior. Shortly after the first man entered the room Master heard a familiar "thunk" he had heard somewhere before. He couldn't quite place it, particularly since he was distracted by the intimate voices and rustlings coming from the other side of the door. Then came the sound of the door exiting the room on the back side of the barn, and Helper's sweet invitation, "Next!"

Suddenly, Master remembered where he had heard that "thunk" before; It was the sound of a man's head ringing a waterjar. Immediately, he perceived Helper's scheme and quietly exitted the front of the barn as the men good naturedly argued over who would be the next to enter the room.

Finally, the next suitor confirmed his selection and entered the darkened room, deliberately closing the door carefully behind him. His eyes not yet accustomed to the dark, his feet searched the straw-covered floor for the woman, while he spoke endearing words of everlasting love.

At last, his foot brushed yielding flesh. Tenderly, he knelt down, feeling the coarse clothing on the body. He continued to speak of love and companionship, but there was no response. Suddenly, he made a horrible discovery, "It's a man!"

The line of expectant suitors burst into the room, to find one very disappointed man kneeling shame-faced over an unconscious man with a sore head.

Chapter 52: Willing to Learn

Meanwhile, Master and Helper were sneaking through farmers' fields, heading out of town as quietly as possible. For, although they said not a single word, one could barely finish stifling laughter but the other would start in, amidst warning looks and jabs demanding silence.

Once safely out of town, they collapsed on the green bank of a sparkling stream, rolling in laughter until their sides hurt.

Then Helper looked at him seriously, "You tried to wake me early, to get us out of that barn."

Master nodded.

"I thought I remembered something about that. Didn't you say the Lord had told you?"

"Yes, He did, but I ignored Him," Master looked down, ashamed.

"You didn't ignore Him, I did!"

"Well, I didn't try hard enough."

"I shan't be so obstinate next time, forcing you to try so hard to get obedience from this hard heart of mine."

"Your heart is not hard!"

"You don't know what I'm like inside."

"I sure like the outside."

"Ah, I can tell. But, I think the Lord is not so pleased with the inside. With God's help, I will be a more willing servant in the future."

"That would be good."

She listened to the calming sounds of the stream while she organized her thoughts. "The sorcerer's apprentice turned traitor on us. What do you think will become of him?"

"In the tablets I've read about this subject, sorcerers usually start out as seekers of hidden wisdom or injured people looking for revenge. Then they enter the power stage where they see genuine results. They get greedy for more power. The next stage is a time of misery, when the Lord of Darkness gets his payback. I would not want to be in his place when he meets his master."

"He will probably be killed?"

"Or go insane... these are the most common destinies of that retched profession."

"Then, why did God send you to him? If, I mean, it did him no good."

"I'm not sure. Perhaps, so you could learn more about sorcerers."

The next morning, far from that barn and that town, Master rose early, as was his habit, to go out and worship. He reveled in the beauty of the morning, and the wonder of the joy Helper had brought into his life. For this reason he did not hear the quiet rustling sounds of the one following him. When he kneeled down to worship, his follower became very quiet.

After a time, he ended his worship and the one following spoke out, "Why do you worship?"

"Helper! You startled me!" he took a moment to get his breath back. "I worship God because it is good to worship."

"What is worship?"

"Speaking well of God."

"Why is it necessary? Is God so prideful, He won't do right unless we worship Him?"

"Worship focuses our attention on God's abilities and love, and away from our problems. As a result, God grows bigger, and our problems grow smaller... in our own eyes. When our weak faith in a big God exceeds the size of the problem, a miracle can happen."

"So, we worship to get our faith to the point we can get results?"

"Partly. But, we also worship because it is natural..."

"Natural!? Not for me!"

"You worship a pretty sunset. You look at it and say, 'Wow, isn't this beautiful!' I look at you and say, 'Wow, this lady is a work of art!"

She smiled becomingly at his compliment.

"We are both speaking well of something that impresses us. It's only natural to speak well of that which is impressive."

Chapter 53: Caravan Travel

In the weeks that followed, they took advantage of several invitations to join traveling caravans of merchants. Frequently a spare camel or horse was offered for their comfort and to allow them to conserve their energy. This favor was not entirely without selfish intent, for Master's deep and broad wisdom was able to enthrall any listener. His many years of teaching had equipped him to fan to a flame the smallest curiosity until it consumed the learner, and held him captive to Master's control. Because he was a man of honor, Master always left a listener richer for their time together, and so his journey east to the Great Gulf took only half as long as it would have by foot.

At first, Helper suffered severely, though patiently. The caravaners were a dirty, smelly folk who neither understand the comfort nor need of regular washings. So, no provision was made for the daily baths that Helper had known on Minos.

The smell of others could be dealt with by liberal splashings of perfume. This had some disadvantage for it drew others closer to her, to enjoy the fragrance freely (for though the caravaners traded in perfume by the gallon, they did not believe in consuming their precious profits).

But, she could not bear the constant irritation caused by the unwashed skin. Her skin had been pampered by daily washings and had never developed the callouses needed by the unclean.

Though she tried to hide her discomfort from her husband, he was ever attentive to the needs of those around him. "Missing the daily baths of Minos?" he guessed.

She nodded silently and he did not say another word.

That evening Mater disappeared right after dinner until almost bedtime. She was beginning to worry about him when he finally breezed into their tent, reeking from the sweat of his labor, but carrying the excitement of a child on his face. "Come, come, you must see this!"

Outside of their modest borrowed tent was an even smaller tent with a terrible mixing of colors. "What...?!" she exclaimed. She could think of no use for such a cramped tent, nor did the bright mixture of colors appeal to her.

"I know it does not look too good, but, you won't be using it for long." Master swept aside the privacy flap that served as an entrance, revealing the inner working of his invention with excitement.

She looked into the tent questioningly.

"It's like a manmade waterfall... you know, for bathing!"

"How does one use it?"

"You stand up, like so," he stepped into the tent. "You pull this string to make the water flow until you are all wet..."

His explanation was cut short by her laughter.

He looked at her uncertainly.

"Your clothes are all wet now!"

"I... had to show you how the... waterfall works."

She could not calm her smile as his explanation continued.

"We will have to pay for the water, you see. So, you must let go of the string once you are wet, like so." he released the string. "Then, you rub down your body with the soap... which I won't do, with my clothes on, or you will certainly be laughing too loudly for me to talk anymore."

She nodded her head, while continuing to smile.

"Then, you pull the string once more to rinse off all the soap." He stepped out of the cramped tent. "The trader couldn't understand how we could drink so much water. For once in my life, I decided it was better to leave the student in ignorance."

Her light sparkling laughter warmed his heart.

"Now," he instructed, "if you'll just wait a little, I'll fill the bucket back up so that you can have as long a bath as possible."

She stepped into the crowded tent, handing out her dirty clothes to her husband, which he took into their tent, selecting clean clothes for afterwards.

"Now," Master called out discreetly from outside the small tent, "is everything all right?"

"Oh! This is delicious!"

He nodded, pleased with his invention.

She tapped him through the tent cloth when her shower was done.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Something to dry off with?"

"Oh! I never thought of that!" he replied, upset with himself at this oversight.

"Never mind, I'll just drip dry. Hand me my wonderfully clean clothes, please."

When she stepped out, Master replied, "I have not seen you so happy since the beginning of our caravan travel!"

"That is true!" she replied joyfully, as she reached up to hug her lover in gratitude.

Master jumped back. "Oh! not yet! One does not put on dirty clothes after a bath! Nor should one have a dirty husband..."

Chapter 54: Babel

The very last part of their journey was on foot, for they had not wanted to wait several days while the last caravan did business in town. Master gave his invention, the manmade waterfall, to his caravan hosts, as a parting gift. They promptly took it apart and sold each piece at a fraction of its real worth.

Half a day out of that town, they came to a fork in the road, shaded by the tall overhanging trees. "Which way?" asked Helper.

"This way."

She did not ask him why he sounded so certain.

As they came over a small green knoll, Master said, "This is the town we've been seeking."

"How do you know this?"

"See the tower?" What Master called 'the tower' defied description, for unless one had seen it for himself, it's hard to imagine. Nearly half of the city was taken up with the vast tower, rising up a good ten times the height of the massive walls of the city. The tower's height alone would have been startling enough, yet, it was located in the midst of a plain with no hill within sight higher than the walls of the city. Thus, the effect of the tower was to brag about how much greater were the accomplishments of man over those done by nature.

"Yes, I saw it earlier."

"These were common in Atlantis. They were called 'power towers', but I call them demon towers."

"Why is that?"

"For some reason, man's mind is more attuned to evil spirits in high places, particularly if the high places are made by the hand of man."

"What happens in the towers?"

"Whenever man communes with the evil spirits, all manner of evil, including human sacrifice, is practiced."

"Why is that?"

"The evil spirits say it is the way to greater powers. But really, it is merely the way the evil spirits get even with God for casting them out of heaven..."

"They want to hurt God by killing His creatures, whom He loves."

"Right! You have learned your lessons well!"

"Who started all this demon worship... the Godless Sect , you called it, I believe?"

"Nimrod, the great hunter, used to shoot his arrows into the air to threaten God whenever he heard thunder and lightning. Perhaps he thought he could make God quit making the noise. One day, an arrow came down with blood on it. Nimrod claimed he had wounded God..."

"How can that be?!"

"It can't. It must have been a trick of the evil spirits. They are very clever, and they do have some powers, though not as great as God's."

"I'm sorry, I interrupted. Go on."

"So, Nimrod built his tower so he could get close enough to heaven to kill God with his arrows."

"I suppose that frightened God!" she said sarcastically.

Master smiled, "Actually, it angered Him. Not so much because He was threatened, but because He opposes the proud, and puts them in their place. So, Nimrod was laid low, the languages confused, and the people were dispersed to all corners of the earth."

"I do not understand. God cannot be killed by an arrow. And, a mere tower would be too short to allow an arrow to reach heaven..."

"That's true."

"So, why did God condemn him and scatter the peoples for such an ineffective challenge?"

"When Satan rebelled in heaven, and tried to become God, what chance do you think he had of winning?"

"Absolutely none."

"Yet, God punished him anyway. Why?"

She paused for a while. "It is not whether a sin succeeds in its object or not, but the intent."

"Well spoken."

As Master and Helper approached the city, he asked a fellow traveler what the city was called.

"Its common name is Ur, but some still call it Babel." The stranger drifted off into the crowds of travelers approaching the huge city.

As they got closer, they noticed something very strange; the whole city appeared to be sunken in the ground. When Master pointed this out to one of the inhabitants of the city, the stranger replied talkatively, "Ya never heard of the Great Flood, Man!? Knocked the city flat and covered it with mud everywhere, at least two-men deep. When people come back into the area, they notice all manner of treasures by digging in the mud. Soon, the whole city was dug out, the houses stood back up, using the old building blocks, and this city rose out of the pit... or rather, stayed in the pit, but grew!"

They could see the horizon-dominating ziggurat long before they saw the city walls.

"It is so huge! So many people are busy working on this. Why do they work so hard on it?" asked Helper.

"That's an attempt to rebuild the Tower of Babel," Master replied.

"You think the sorcerer is here?"

"There is a good chance."

"How could he have built such a great tower so quickly?"

"I suspect the tower was started before he came. He no doubt will try to take control of the rituals within, weaving his evil into another man's work."

As startling as the port-town had been to Helper, Ur was more so. Well-planned drainage canals snaked throughout the city, for only the continued efforts of hard-working citizens kept the swamps from reclaiming the city and surrounding farmland. Quays were everywhere in the city, so that boat travel was almost as common as cart.

Most of the citizens had shed their heavy sheep and animal-fur outer garments, for the Spring was fairly warm this year. As a result, every street was a flurry of color, like a flowered hillside, with people doing their business in bright red, orange and yellow clothing, a stark contrast against the dark skin of the inhabitants. The light complexion of Master and Helper stood out as they made their way through the crowded streets. The people were stocky, not like the tall, slender Atlanteans or Minoans, and not as conscious of cleanliness as the people of Minos, but they were friendly to strangers.

The buildings here were a dirty brown color, because no stones could be found on the great flood plain. The main building material here was sun-baked brick. As a result, the buildings faced a desperate fight against the violent rainstorms, periodic floods and driving sandstorms. Nonetheless, the buildings themselves were clothed... in greenery. Nearly every house sprouted a roof garden, with bright green vines and flowers trailing down the walls. Early every morning, at least one member of each household would be tasked with going to the nearest quay, canal or well with a water jar to quench the thirst of the greenery planted on the roof of their house. A woman would carry the jar on her head... a man, on his shoulder.

With the heavy burden, the water-bearer would walk up the outside stairs leading to the upper garden on the flat roofs and splash the water liberally. Master marveled that they would work so hard to carry the water to the roof, and then distribute it so poorly that a third of it would run down the baked-clay pipes draining the roofs. Bad habits are hard to break. But perhaps, it was intentional, for then someone at the front of the house below would spread the water running out of the pipe around the front porch. The very fine sand constantly blown into town could thus be removed without drifting into the house.

As a result of this widespread application of water and the growth it engendered, within the walls of the town the air was cooler and awakingly fragrant with natural perfume, moreso than outside the walls or in any other city Helper had been in.

A few special buildings stood out, appearing to be brilliantly white compared to their brown cousins, because their purpose justified the added expense of importing the slightly off-white building stone from the faraway mountains. And the great tower dominating the horizon was a brown color halfway between the expensive cut stone and the mud bricks, for it contained oven-fired brick, to distinguish it from the common sun-baked bricks in the dwellings surrounding it.

Any trip to the marketplace was a strong inducement to dine, with a collage of smells from fresh garlic, sour cream and milk from goats, ready-to-eat bean soup, strange pink-fleshed salmon from the Great Gulf within a mile of the gates of the city, fragrant roast pig, sweet dates, succulent, heavy-seeded pomegranates, figs with edible seeds, rich goat cheese and wine of a thousand flavors and colors. In some of the smaller stalls, hunters would offer the fruit of their labor, mighty stags, tender does, or an assortment of smaller game from the distant mountains. Hanging antlers and rabbit's-foot good-luck charms announced the sale of game meat.

And once one's hunger no longer was a draw, the beautiful multi-colored weavings, leatherwork, metalwork and pottery enticed one to spend his hard-earned money. For, though the work was intricate, craftsmen were plenteous, so prices were very reasonable.

They soon discovered that the sorcerer had attached himself to the King of Ur, who worked his people long, wearing days to get them to build the tower. He had many of them working from dawnlight to darkness making the clay bricks, baking them in ovens, and harvesting the black tar from the pits all around the city, to hold the bricks together.

Chapter 55: The Healing Stranger

Master befriended the people of the town, doctoring their sick. Soon, his house became a recovery area for the sick. Knowing this would happen, he had rented a house with a large, sunny roof and plenty of fresh running water nearby. Those recovering under his care spent at least a few handspans each day up on the sunny roof.

A beautiful young woman came to his rented house one day.

"May I help you?" asked Master.

"Are you the healer?"

"I can heal some."

"My... boyfriend is very sick..."

"Wait! I know you!" called out a voice from behind Master's back.

Master turned around to see who was speaking.

"I now that woman! And her boyfriend! Her boyfriend is the King's Captain."

Acting as if caught in great sin, the woman bowed her head. When she looked up, she had tears in her eyes. "'Tis true," she said with sadness, as she turned to go.

"Wait! There's no need to leave!" commanded Master.

The girl turned around expectantly, a smile brightening her face and making her even more beautiful. "Can you come to the Palace?" she asked uncertainly.

"Healer, you must not trifle with this one!" warned the voice of one of his patients, again.

"Why is that?"

"The devil hisself protects that palace!"

"How so?"

"With wild wolves!"

"Ah! They have trained dogs."

"No! Wolves! Wild ones!"

"Same thing."

The Captain's girlfriend brought Master to her boyfriend. Before he entered the small, dirty room, he could smell the infection. The wounded man had a powerful body, now laid low by the creeping rottenness of his wounds. "His clothes and bedding must be changed, or he will die."

Believing his prediction, the girl worked hard to remove all contaminated cloth from the room. Master cleaned the wounds with his homemade soap and fresh water. Had the wounded man been stronger, he may have hurt Master in the throes of his painful bath, yet he was too weak.

After cleaning, Master insisted that he lay outside of his darkened hut, with his wounds exposed to the sun, to aid in the healing. As he improved under Master's care and learned to trust him, Master began to teach him. "You did not earn these wounds in battle."

The man was about to protest, yet Master's eyes silenced him.

"You were drunk when this was done to you, by another man who was also drunk."

"How do you know this?!" responded the man in amazement, wondering if Master were a seer.

"The blows were inexpertly delivered... and some of them seem to be self inflicted, as you stumbled around..."

"You are a very wise man!"

"And I'm afraid you are a fool..."

The Captain tensed at the insult.

"...To risk your life in such a way. Surely, life is of more value than this."

The Captain's hardened gaze softened as he discerned the caring behind the strong words. "Perhaps you are right."

"I am right! And you had better change your ways, for God has created you for a special purpose."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"What purpose?"

"He knows. And He will reveal it to you... if you allow yourself to live long enough."

"You think God cares what I do?"

"Of course He does! And if you do not believe it too, you are a bigger fool than I think."

"Do you always speak this way to your patients, Doctor?"

The remark caught Master up short. "No, I do not. It is because... God has told me you must change your ways."

"God speaks to you!?"

"Yes, He does."

"What has He said about me?"

"Nothing more than what I have told you. Believe me, if He had told me more, I would tell you. All He has said is, a big challenge is in your future, and you must start preparing for it. Please pardon my harsh words... but, please, straighten out your life. I am in deadly earnest about this."

Master returned to the small, now clean, room to check on the King's Captain.

"You are a good sorcerer!" responded the Captain enthusiastically.

"I'm not a sorcerer! Sorcerers are evil."

The Captain looked around to make sure they wouldn't be overheard. "I can agree with that! The sorcerer who has come to this city has made life harder on all. He has bewitched the King, who used to be my friend. Now, the King no longer listens to me, and I fear he is becoming more evil by the day."

Master would disappear half of each afternoon. Helper began to fear he might be spending time with one of the small beautiful women of this wicked city. She hid her fears and tried to be the best wife she could.

Although the tower was not yet finished, the King began the religious ceremonies already. For the people who believed in easy religion and immorality with their god's blessing, it was like a holiday.

The Priestess held her head high, with a slight smile, acknowledging the people's worship and gladdened by their not-so-secret envyings. But inside the chamber at the top of the great tower, by herself, tears wet her cheeks as she heard a different "adulation" from the unearthly voice in the darkness:

"Lie down quickly, pig! You are such an ugly animal! You shall die soon and we will have a fairer priestess!"

As she quietly endured the humiliation in the darkness, she wished she had never received the 'honor' of being selected as high priestess. She only hoped that what the voice had said was true, that she would die soon.

Chapter 56: A New Ally

In one of Master's private tours through the city, he noted the trained dog that each guard controlled.

"Each wild wolf has the courage and strength of a mighty warrior!" exclaimed the guard as Master paused to admire. He jiggled the rope tied to the dog, as if to say, "And I alone control him!"

"Is that so?" Master expressed much interest and respect.

"Yes! These wolves will go into certain death, and kill even as they are being killed! How many warriors will pursue the enemy when death is sure? And they can smell an invisible trail. It is said that no man can hide from them. They inspire great terror amongst thief and warrior alike, and rightly so!"

Master also noted something else about these dogs... every one was a male. When he asked about this, the guard said, "Yes. That is by design. The males are more vicious in combat!"

One morning, the Captain appeared at the door of Master's rented house. As Master moved to greet him, he warned him to silence.

"This is not my doing, nor is this a pleasant task. I must arrest you," he spoke in a quiet voice, so his men would not overhear.

"What have I done wrong?"

"The King heard that you were responsible for my healing."

"This is a crime?!"

"I don't understand that part. Please, just come with me!"

"By your leave, give me a minute to explain some tasks to my wife, that she may carry on in my absence."

"No. She is arrested, too."

"But, my patients!"

"They will have to fend for themselves. Please, we must go."

Master and Helper were imprisoned in the basement of the King's palace. It was a dirty place, soaked in the misery of many forgotten and departed inhabitants. Raw sewage and unending fear combined to make the distinctive stink.

In kindness and in thanks, the Captain made fresh straw available to cover the cold, stinking floor of their cell.

Later that same day, the King and the sorcerer came to the jail to question Master.

Master recognized the sorcerer, Thoth, though the sorcerer showed no signs of knowing him.

"Where did you learn to heal people?" asked the King.

"Oh, I can't heal people," Master claimed. This was not a lie, he reasoned within himself, for God and the rules of cleanliness and sunlight did the healing. "In a distant land, we had war for many years. There a man would clean the wounds and bind them with clean cloth." Master did not reveal that he was the man doing the doctoring. He wanted his knowledge and origin to remain unknown.

Thoth apparently was satisfied that Master had been a simple observer, but they still remained in prison.

Chapter 57: An Enemy Returns

The Captain showed as much friendship as he dared, in gratitude for Master's healing. One day, he brought in a stranger.

Helper was immediately alert, staring long and unashamed at the stranger. "It is Apprentice!" she declared.

Master looked more closely at the man in his disguise, "You are right!"

The Captain looked cautiously around, "This man says he's a friend of yours."

"Friendship is proven by deeds. Go on."

"He says he wants to help you escape..." The Captain looked ashamed. "I cannot help you... for I fear the sorcerer."

Master studied Apprentice for some time.

Apprentice kept his eyes down in shame, not knowing whether his offer to help would be accepted, after his treachery in the barn.

"How did you know that the Captain would not throw you in jail for offering to help me escape?"

"I overheard the Captain," began Apprentice in a tentative voice, "say that you did not belong in jail."

"That's right," admitted the Captain. "Such words are dangerous for me to say in this town. I thought I had privacy. Lucky for me, the one who overheard was also a friend of yours."

"Yes," said Master uncertainly. "Why have you decided to help us?"

"At first, I couldn't decide who was right... you or the sorcerer named Thoth. I've... never been trained in your ways. But, after that... day at the barn, the evil spirits came back again. Then I realized that you must be good, for you were on the opposite side as the evil spirits. I also found out, that as long as I determined to help you, the evil spirits were somehow kept away. I... wavered once, and the evil spirits came back. Now, I am committed!"

"How were you able to find us?"

"I had a little..." Apprentice pointed up to heaven with his finger, "help."

"What is your plan?"

"I have none. I was hoping you could think of something."

"Come back tomorrow. Is that okay?"

Both the Captain and Apprentice nodded.

"Are you going to trust Apprentice?!" asked Helper when they were again alone in the cell.

"Yes."

"Why?!"

"What have we to lose?"

"He betrayed us once."

Master said nothing.

"Why do you think he came back?"

"I think he fears evil spirits more than he fears the sorcerer."

Master had a dream that night, and woke knowing how they would escape.

When Apprentice returned, Master told him and the Captain, "After the King goes to worship at the tower, you are to summon all the people who don't go to worship..."

"How?"

"Call them with the horns..."

"They will think there is an important announcement from the King," interrupted the Captain.

"Right."

"What is the announcement?" asked Apprentice.

"You are to anoint the Captain as King."

"Anoint the Captain!?" questioned Apprentice, "Will they accept my annointing?!"

"Anoint me!? You want to get me killed?!"

"They will accept the annointing," Master said to Apprentice. "...And you won't be killed," he replied to the Captain. "The Lord has shown me this in a dream. Those who favor the King are away at worship. Most of those who remain do so because they believe in the One True God, and they don't want to worship evil spirits. They are anxious for a godly leader."

"Will they follow me?"

"Yes."

"Where do I lead them?"

"Outside of town."

"Outside of town?! What happens then?"

"I will destroy the tower," Master claimed.

"How will we do that? Even you do not possess such powers!" exclaimed Apprentice.

"That's not important. Just make sure you lead the godly people to safety."

"The town will not be safe?"

"No."

Later that day, Master heard the horns sounding. He could hear the noise of the crowd through his jail window, but he could not hear any speaking.

Then, all was quiet.

"I hope this works," Helper voiced her fears.

Again, quiet seeped into the dimly lit dungeon area.

They heard the soft, hesitant steps on the stone stairs. Fearfully, Apprentice slowly came around the corner.

"He made it!" exclaimed Helper in a low voice.

Retrieving keys from the peg on the wall, Apprentice let them out of their cell.

Cautiously, they made their way up the stairs and out of the now-empty palace.

Without warning, the guards were upon them. The King had heard the horns blow during his worship, and sent a squad of guards back to investigate. Though they had missed the Captain and his large crowd of nonworshippers, they had arrived just in time to see the Master, Helper and Apprentice coming furtively down the palace steps.

Apprentice was struck down by a cruel blow across the back of his head by the butt of a large sword.

Master barely had time to grab Helper's hand and head down a narrow passageway between two houses. He threw a small noisemaker behind him that blew up as soon as it hit the cobblestones.

The guards were startled by the flash and smoke. By the time they recovered their senses, Master and Helper were nowhere to be found.

In the woods just outside of town, Master pulled back a pile of bushes and leaves. Underneath lay a large collection of crossbows and pitch-tipped arrows. Master picked up a knife from the pile of bows and arrows. "Here, this is for your protection."

She looked briefly at the knife as she stuck it absently into her belt. "What evil machinery is this?!" she exclaimed, directing her attention back to the pile of bows and arrows.

"This is God's weapon to destroy the tower."

"These small weapons will destroy that great tower?!"

"The tower is held together by black tar..."

"Yes, I've seen the foul smelling stuff..."

"It burns, if lit properly. Quickly, do as I do." Master began to cock each crossbow with a large lever. Each crossbow had to be cocked several times to get the bowstring all the way back.

"Where did you get such machines?"

"The Lord told me to build them shortly after we got here."

"So, that's where you were all those times you told me you were going to the market!"

"I was at the market, picking up supplies. Then, I came out to the woods to build these."

"How did you know to build these?"

"They are common in my native land."

She studied the crossbows as she worked to cock them. "So," she finally decided, "this machine will throw this stick onto the tower..."

"Yes, after we light the pitch-head first."

"Ah."

"Now, spread the bows out along a line here, aiming at the tower."

"I've never used such weapons. I don't know how to aim them!"

"They are made to stand so," Master demonstrated, "with the arrow pointing up into the sky."

"Are you sure they will hit the tower?"

"We will light the arrows and pull this trigger here," again Master demonstrated, "and God will guide them in flight."

"You have more faith than I."

"All you have to do is be obedient. Now, set them up quickly."

The sun was beginning to set. Helper noticed the growing darkness, and was surprised to realize that they had escaped the King's men almost a full half day earlier.

Master made sure she knew how to light and shoot the crossbow. He remained long enough to see her send the first flaming arrow into the deepening darkness over the city. She watched in wonder as the arrow traced its bright path in the darkness, landing directly on the tower!

"We did it!" she shouted.

"No more shouting, and no more watching! Now, light and shoot the rest of the arrows. When you are all done, pile all the crossbows together and burn them."

"Burn them!? With what?" she asked, as she lit the next one.

"See that tar-pit there?"

She nodded, her face framed in the darkness by the torch she held. She bent down and pulled the trigger, sending the second arrow.

"After you have piled them all there, light the tar."

"Master, you have worked so hard on these, why will you destroy them?" She lit the third arrow.

"They must not fall into the hands of the people in this land. These would make war much more terrible than it already is."

"Where are you going now?"

"I'll tell you later."

She fired the third arrow, and those that followed, one at a time.

The arrows sailed unerringly to the tower. The tower began to smoke, driving the priests inside of it out into the darkness. As more of the arrows fell on it, the tower began to light up the city with a strange red and yellow glow.

As the tar was heated, it became slippery again, and the bricks, under great pressure from those lying above them, began to shoot out of the tower. Gradually, the great tower began to fall, appearing to flow into a great burning circle.

However, as the screams arose from the city, a new sound also came... the sound of howling wolves getting louder. They were coming in her direction!

Chapter 58: Hunter and Hunted

Just as Helper heard the wolves, she heard a dry cracking sound and quiet footfall rapidly approaching her. She drew her knife, and stared long at it. Did she have the courage to face the wolves, or should she end her own life to cut short her suffering? The knife crept closer to her breast in answer of its own.

"Hold that knife!" commanded Master as he broke through the bushes into the clearing.

At first she ran to his arms in relief, but before she could get there, a wolf stepped between them. She raised the knife and was about to fall upon the wolf to protect her husband when he grabbed the wolf, shielding it with his body.

"What are you doing!?" she demanded.

"This is a she-wolf. She will save us."

"How have you managed to convince her to do that?!"

"She is in heat."

"So."

"I have spread her smell throughout the forest. Soon, the wolves pursuing us will be thinking of other things than pursuing us."

She smiled and hugged her husband.

Gently he took her arms from around his neck, "Plenty of time for that later! Come quickly!"

He weaved through the woods, often going in circles while his wife watch in amazement.

"If the she-wolf goes in circles, the male wolves following us will, too. But, her scent will muddle their thinking, so they will more easily lose our trail."

The Master's plan worked as designed. The further they wove into the woods, the more distant the sound of the wolves.

"What shall you do with this wolf?"

"I borrowed her from the pen in the city tonight. I will let her go, and she will find her way back to the pen, where she finds her food easier than in the wild."

"The woods are dense here..."

"Mmm..." she agreed tiredly and noncommitally.

"...and quiet too."

Helper looked at him questioningly.

"It will give us good, safe cover. And this broad bushy area will make for a comfortable place to rest our tired bones. Help me make a bed."

Darkness was complete when they were ready to lay down. As predicted, the makeshift bed was very comfortable, and as soon as Helper pulled Master's arm under her neck as a pillow, they were both fading out of consciousness.

"G'night."

"Mmm," was the last intelligible sound she muttered that evening.

"Shhh!" said the voice as Helper tried to groggily work her way back to reality. She was so sleepy and didn't understand why she should be quiet. "Why...? What...?" she asked in a slow voice muddled by sleep.

"Shhh!" the voice commanded. "The guards are very close!"

She opened her eyes and saw Master leaning over her, with a very concerned look. The sounds of the guards gradually became quieter as they moved away. Still, Master and Helper remained motionless, just in case.

Finally, convinced they were alone, Master stood up and helped his wife to stand.

"Very good! Very good!" sounded a strange voice.

Master looked over in the direction of the voice, startled. Finally, he was facing the one he had hunted so long. But, this was not how he had wanted the hunt to end. The sorcerer held an Atlantean crossbow, deadly at this distance, that could be easily reloaded to take out both of them. His blue and gold peaked hat lay askew on his head.

Master said nothing... out loud... but, he made his peace with God, preparing for the worst.

He heard the faint whistling sound of a weapon flying through the air, and the thud as it buried into flesh, but he felt no pain. Looking with great concern over at Helper, he saw no wound on her either. Looking back at the sorcerer, he saw a strange look on his face just before he fell forward into the bushes.

Surprised, and curious, he walked over to where the sorcerer had stood. A knife pointed up from the sorcerer's back. Yet, where had the knife come from?

Master searched the woods.

Helper came to his side with a questioning look on her face.

She screamed, but suddenly stifled it, remembering that she did not want to attract the guards.

Looking down, Master saw the cause of her surprise. A man's leg.

They spread the bushes apart to find Apprentice.

"Heavens!" exclaimed Master, "I thought you were dead!"

"I did too, but I guess your God wasn't done with me yet."

"How did you get here?"

"It was a tough walk."

"I imagine so!"

Apprentice spoke no more for quite a while. Master tried to make him more comfortable. Looking over at Helper, he said, "The knife. Apprentice threw it. Remember how he juggled knives for us that one night we spent in his house?"

Apprentice groaned again, but did not open his eyes, nor move.

Master leaned over to Helper and whispered so quietly she could barely hear, "He's dying."

Her eyes questioned him.

Looking down at the grayish pallor of his skin, Master whispered, "The color of death is on his face."

Suddenly, Apprentice's eyes opened, and Master feared he had spoken too loudly.

"Remember me to your God. Though I was wrong at first, I tried to do things His way. Tell Him I'm sorry."

"He knows. And I think you'll see Him before I do."

Apprentice heard no more.

Master walked over and looked down at Thoth's still-loaded crossbow, clutched in a lifeless hand. He paused, as if deciding what to do. Then he took off his leather cloak, dropping it to the ground. He picked up the crossbow by the leather thong attached to the base and looped it around his neck and shoulder. The weapon lay flat, just below his chest, as it was designed to do by its Atlantean maker.

As he put his cloak back on, Helper asked, "Is it safe?"

"It will not shoot until I release the catch. It was designed to be hidden and always ready."

"Do you think you will need it?"

Master shrugged, not quite sure himself why he didn't immediately destroy the wicked weapon.

As Master and Helper headed off into the woods, a mist rose from the body of Thoth, moved across green irrigated plain and sandy dunes without sensing the beauty. The mist took the shape of a hideous monster hidden from the eye of common people until such spirits earned a perch on the outer ledges of Gothic churches, frozen in stone, four millennia later.

It sought a more tempting treasure; another fool seeking the powers offered by the Lord of the Darkness. For Thoth is a demon, and he would not cease his vile work while men still sought power without counting the cost.

Had Master and Helper prayed, they might also have been granted spiritual hearing to detect the childish chant of the beast,

"I am Thoth! There is no greater name than Thoth! No one else has the fame of Thoth!

But, Thoth has to roam. Who will give me a home?

I will grant great power to thee! Let me in, you will see!

Ha, ha, ha!"

Thoth wandered in waterless places, seeking rest and a new home, for some time. Then, he heard from the other evil spirits that his name was being used in Egypt, in connection with a dead ruler.

"Ah! What a perfect situation! These stupid humans make it so easy!"

The woods became brighter and hotter as Master and Helper walked along. The day was so beautiful, their enjoyment overwhelmed their caution, and they were not careful to quietly listen to their surroundings.

"Attack!" shouted a deep and threatening voice. Immediately, growling and barking wolves converged on them once released from their leashes.

Helper let out a brief scream and Master held up his hands, as if the wolves would accept such a token of surrender.

The wolves raced forward, as if each were determined to be the first to attack the prizes. Then, within a short distance of their prey, they all stopped, choosing to growl viciously and advance more slowly.

Helper began to sway, weak with fear. Master pulled her close to him, to steady her.

Suddenly, the wolves stopped barking and turned their heads to the side, looking for something hidden in the woods. The humans turned their heads as well, but could not determine what had drawn the wolves' attention.

In the quiet, the less sensitive human ears could finally hear the whimpering of an animal.

Master leaned over and whispered in Helper's ear, "Our friend is about to deliver us again."

After being released by Master, the she-wolf in heat had headed back to her pen in town, hungry after the long night's walk. However, in the distance, she had heard much barking. A stronger sense overwhelmed her hunger and she changed her plans, seeking out the source of the barking.

By late morning, she had success. As she broke into a small clearing, she saw many wolves gathered in a circle around two humans.

But now, caution took over. There were too many wolves. She was undecided whether to proceed on her quest. In her confusion, she inadvertently began whimpering, giving away her presence.

The wolf pack's attention was immediately drawn to her. She spun in fear and headed back into the woods.

The wolf pack instantly took up the pursuit.

The King of Ur stepped out of the woods cursing the wolves. "I will kill every one of them."

"They are only doing what is natural," remarked Master.

"And I will do what is natural, too." He drew a knife out of his belt and advanced toward Helper. His arm tensed as he drew the weapon back behind his hip, aiming for Helper's stomach. His vicious grin changed to a questioning look, down at an Atlantean arrow now sticking out of his chest.

Helper glanced over at Master just in time to see him lowering the Atlantean crossbow back to its hiding place beneath his cloak.

Unfortunately, the King also saw the sequestered crossbow. With his dying breath, he commanded his men to kill the two prisoners.

Master promptly grabbed Helper, falling upon her and protecting her with his body.

The blows of many men rained down upon the two, as they carried out the King's order with their staffs, swords and spears.

Helper was terrified in the darkness under Master's body and cloak. She was pressed hard against the rocky soil and she felt many blows transmitted to her through Master's body, but not much pain.

Suddenly, quiet descended.

A commanding voice spoke again, "Cease immediately!"

The killing circle around the two prone prisoners parted, with each guard looking off in the same direction toward the woods.

The Captain stood with sword drawn, and the many God-fearing citizens of Ur standing on both sides of him. Few of them had weapons, yet they stood fearless, nonetheless.

The Captain spoke again, with a voice of command honed by many years of experience. "Choose this day whether you will fight for a dead king or serve under me!"

The first impulse of the guards was to fight in the King's name. However, their training had accustomed them to leadership, and they had none. As the pause grew longer, they questioned among themselves over what strategy they would follow.

Then the Captain spoke in a more reasoning voice, "We are not your enemies! We are your fellow citizens of Ur! Let us stop the killing and be at peace."

A sword dropped, drawing everyone's attention to the noise. This example led others to drop their swords as well.

The Captain made the first move, closing the distance between the two groups. Sticking out his hand to the first guard, he welcomed him into the new kingdom. He proceeded down the line, joining the two groups into one.

Helper had watched the reconciliation while covered by Master's motionless body. Now she gently rolled Master over onto his back. With tears flooding down her cheeks, she tried to rouse him, to detect some form of life within.

On her knees beside his motionless body, she let out a long and loud wail of mourning. Silence fell all around her as the joyous welcoming party ceased and their attention was drawn to her misery.

With her hands reaching up to heaven, she vented her great sorrow and remorse.

A gentle hand touched her side, quieting her.

"Master, you're alive!"

"You must be at peace... we have little time."

She leaned down close to hear Master's very soft voice, her gray hair covering his face.

"You must be sure..."

"I know," she interrupted, as if by minimizing his words, she could keep life bottled up within him, "I will destroy the crossbow."

"No," Master corrected her. "You must be sure..." Master paused to draw a painful breath, "...to keep up the fight... against the evil...."

Helper looked at him questioningly.

"I have just discovered... that Thoth yet lives..."

Helper's mouth dropped open.

Master continued to reveal what he had learned, for during the attack on his body, his spirit had been occupied in supernatural conversation. "We killed the sorcerer... only to release the evil spirit... to continue his warfare." Master bit back the pain, closing his eyes, and became so quiet that Helper feared he had died.

Master revived, "From now on... you must cast out the spirit... and save the vessel for God... as we did with Apprentice."

Helper repeated his words, to make sure she understood, and also, to conserve Master's rapidly ebbing strength, "You want me to seek those possessed by evil spirits, cast out the evil ones, and teach the formerly possessed about God?"

Master slowly nodded.

"I can't... go on without you!"

Master grabbed her forearm with amazing strength, in view of his condition, and said, "The strength of God!"

Then he died.

The Captain became King, and he was a good king for the people of Ur. Neither the tower, nor the evil worship practiced therein, defiled that area again for many years.

Helper survived Master, her wise husband, by almost a quarter of a century, training in turn new searchers to end the reign of evil spawned by Atlantis.

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Some Bible scholars believe that the consistent linguistic structure that divides Genesis into fragmented parts implies Moses used earlier written sources in writing portions of the first five books of the Bible. These very well could have been cuneiform, or clay, tablets that were ancient in the days of Moses.

Early Higher Critics, in their effort to destroy the Bible, claimed that Moses couldn't have written the first five books of the Bible, for no written language could have existed at such an ancient time. Then, archeologists discovered that five written languages existed in the time of Moses. Modern man is consistently doubting and then surprised at the capabilities of his ancient ancestors.

The Bible indicates that Methuselah was alive for the first 600 years of Noah's life (Gen. 5:25-32), so it is entirely possible that they knew each other. Adam lived 243 years after Methuselah was born (Gen. 5:3-21).

He could have purchased the soap from one of the merchants in the caravan, but it probably would have been the harsh lye soap, unfit for Helper's gentle skin. In a pinch, he could have mixed wood ashes, soaked in water, filtered through cloth (lye) with tallow (animal fat) to make his own lye soap, added perfume for a gentle scent and lotion for Helper's delicate skin, possibly producing the world's first beauty soap. Freshmade soap would be very soft, not having had time to "cure," similar to modern liquid soap.

So the legend says.

Sir Leonard Woolley discovered the "flood pit" while excavating the historic city of Ur. After unearthing many treasure-laden layers (over 40 feet deep), he ran into 11 feet of virgin soil, laid by water, devoid of any artifacts. He almost gave up, thinking he had reached the "beginning" of civilization in that area. Suddenly, he broke into layers of older, more simple civilizations. At first, he was convinced that this was "Noah's flood" proven by archeology. Then, he noticed that other areas of the excavation, more toward the city proper, had no mud layer over this older civilization. (I believe that the close descendants of Noah dug most of the city out of the flood plain, where the digging proved more profitable, and left mud mounded on the rest of the city, where the effort was not justified).

Evangelicals may feel this smacks too much of "works righteousness," but I believe the Old Testament salvation focused on knowing God and doing right. For example, Rahab the Harlot became a forebearer of Christ merely for acknowledging that God was greater than her idols and for sheltering the Jewish spies.

Jesus said that when an evil spirit goes out of a man, he wanders in waterless places seeking rest, until he finds another home (Matthew 12:43).

Two traditions have grown up around the art of exorcism. The first had to do with appeasement of the evil spirit, somehow coaxing him out of the afflicted person by trickery, threats or bargains. The second dealt with the concept that good was more powerful than evil... that man, though inherently weaker than evil spirits, could, with the help of God, overpower this strong evil. This second tradition is deeply rooted in both Jewish and Christian history, going far back into the dim reaches of the past, and continuing clear up to the modern world.

Many obvious truths are hidden from modern scientists because of faulty assumptions. They assume mankind distributed to the various parts of the world a million years ago and were isolated from each other by geographical and language barriers before writing was discovered. So, the many commonalties that so obviously unite distinct peoples cause great perplexity (See Hamlet's Mill and The Golden Bough, where the authors trace along the almost identical paths of folklore for many distinct peoples.)

The view portrayed in this book, of a young earth, a common heritage, free trade and interchange of ideas, with writing skills preceding the distribution of peoples in the recent past, explain all these perplexing linkages very compactly and simply.