Read Online He Who Lifts the Skies by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow - Free Book Online
Authors: Kacy Barnett-Gramckow
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grief that he sent his mother, our I’ma-Naomi, to pay my eldest brother to release me from his household—which was an unheard-of thing. My greedy brother accepted I’ma-Naomi’s offer. The next day, I married my beloved, not realizing that by this marriage, the Most High would save my life yet again. I didn’t know of the Great Destruction to come.”
“And I was afraid to tell her,” Shem confessed, surprising everyone. It was difficult to imagine that the eloquent, persuasive Shem could ever fear speaking. “I was afraid she would run away. How could I have said the words? ‘Beloved, now that we are married, I must tell you that the earth beneath our feet is going to tear itself apart and be utterly destroyed by water from beneath and above. And the Most High, by His Word, will allow this to happen.’ I was sure she would say I was a madman.”
“He forgets that he married a madwoman,” I’ma-Annah replied, provoking quiet smiles. “Our Ancient One, Noakh, told me the next day. I didn’t want to believe that this Great Destruction could happen. And yet, I knew it was true. The earth itself was as full of tremors of violence as the creatures who lived upon it. And the Most High, whom I love, was utterly scorned by everyone but those in the Lodge of Noakh.
“Later, I tried to warn my sisters of the coming destruction—as Father Noakh had been warning everyone he met for years upon years. But like everyone else, my sisters thought I was a fool, as our Noakh was considered a fool.” I’ma-Annah sighed. “I often think of my sisters. I wish they had listened to our warnings. But they were like everyone else alive at that time—full of scorn and malice: evil . And when the waters poured over the broken earth,they were swept away. They wouldn’t listen. They did not believe.”
“Believe us now,” Shem urged them all, including Keren’s horsemen-brothers and their companions. “Believe us when we say that if there is a next Great Destruction, then according to the Most High, it will not be by water. I fear it will be by fire, and I pray it will never come to the children of my children. I beg you and the generations to follow: Remember the love of the Most High! He longs for the companionship of His children, which you are—all of you! Be faithful to Him, and He will protect you as He protected the Father of your Fathers, our Noakh, and everyone in the Lodge of Noakh.”
Somberly, Keren waited to hear more, but Shem reminded everyone that they were at a wedding; they must dance and celebrate their lives before the Most High. To encourage them, he pulled out his flute to play, promising them more stories later.
Much later, when everyone was tired and preparing for sleep, Keren hugged I’ma-Annah and Shem, saying, “When I’m very old, I pray I’ll be able to tell stories to the children of my children as wonderfully as you do.”
To Keren’s dismay, Shem flinched visibly, and an endless sorrow seemed to drop upon him like the largest stone in the world. He glanced at I’ma-Annah, as if he longed to say something to her, but she turned away quickly, as if she couldn’t endure what she might hear.
Why did my words cause them such grief? Keren was afraid to ask.
Four
“YOU ALWAYS GET TO sit in front,” Sharah grumbled to Keren as they rode astride Neshar’s horse. “You can’t say that Neshar doesn’t favor you; he does and it’s unfair!”
Keren hesitated, watching the horse’s alert dark ears flick back toward her. You’re listening , Keren thought to the horse, combing her fingers through its rough, dark mane. I hope Neshar isn’t listening; he’d be angry . She waited, but Neshar continued ahead on foot, the leather reins of the horse looped through his lean fingers.
Glancing back at Sharah, Keren whispered, “If you weren’t so unhappy all the time, and if you’d think of others before yourself, then perhaps they’d like you more. Anyway, Neshar lets me sit in front
“And I was afraid to tell her,” Shem confessed, surprising everyone. It was difficult to imagine that the eloquent, persuasive Shem could ever fear speaking. “I was afraid she would run away. How could I have said the words? ‘Beloved, now that we are married, I must tell you that the earth beneath our feet is going to tear itself apart and be utterly destroyed by water from beneath and above. And the Most High, by His Word, will allow this to happen.’ I was sure she would say I was a madman.”
“He forgets that he married a madwoman,” I’ma-Annah replied, provoking quiet smiles. “Our Ancient One, Noakh, told me the next day. I didn’t want to believe that this Great Destruction could happen. And yet, I knew it was true. The earth itself was as full of tremors of violence as the creatures who lived upon it. And the Most High, whom I love, was utterly scorned by everyone but those in the Lodge of Noakh.
“Later, I tried to warn my sisters of the coming destruction—as Father Noakh had been warning everyone he met for years upon years. But like everyone else, my sisters thought I was a fool, as our Noakh was considered a fool.” I’ma-Annah sighed. “I often think of my sisters. I wish they had listened to our warnings. But they were like everyone else alive at that time—full of scorn and malice: evil . And when the waters poured over the broken earth,they were swept away. They wouldn’t listen. They did not believe.”
“Believe us now,” Shem urged them all, including Keren’s horsemen-brothers and their companions. “Believe us when we say that if there is a next Great Destruction, then according to the Most High, it will not be by water. I fear it will be by fire, and I pray it will never come to the children of my children. I beg you and the generations to follow: Remember the love of the Most High! He longs for the companionship of His children, which you are—all of you! Be faithful to Him, and He will protect you as He protected the Father of your Fathers, our Noakh, and everyone in the Lodge of Noakh.”
Somberly, Keren waited to hear more, but Shem reminded everyone that they were at a wedding; they must dance and celebrate their lives before the Most High. To encourage them, he pulled out his flute to play, promising them more stories later.
Much later, when everyone was tired and preparing for sleep, Keren hugged I’ma-Annah and Shem, saying, “When I’m very old, I pray I’ll be able to tell stories to the children of my children as wonderfully as you do.”
To Keren’s dismay, Shem flinched visibly, and an endless sorrow seemed to drop upon him like the largest stone in the world. He glanced at I’ma-Annah, as if he longed to say something to her, but she turned away quickly, as if she couldn’t endure what she might hear.
Why did my words cause them such grief? Keren was afraid to ask.
Four
“YOU ALWAYS GET TO sit in front,” Sharah grumbled to Keren as they rode astride Neshar’s horse. “You can’t say that Neshar doesn’t favor you; he does and it’s unfair!”
Keren hesitated, watching the horse’s alert dark ears flick back toward her. You’re listening , Keren thought to the horse, combing her fingers through its rough, dark mane. I hope Neshar isn’t listening; he’d be angry . She waited, but Neshar continued ahead on foot, the leather reins of the horse looped through his lean fingers.
Glancing back at Sharah, Keren whispered, “If you weren’t so unhappy all the time, and if you’d think of others before yourself, then perhaps they’d like you more. Anyway, Neshar lets me sit in front
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