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The following is the next installment of a serialization of the novel, Abinadi by H.B. Moore. To read the previous installment, click here. More information about H.B. Moore can be found: www.hbmoore.com,
Chapter Fourteen
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
(Jeremiah 17:7)
Raquel’s mind was still clouded with sleep when she woke in the late morning. Slowly, the events of the prior night came into focus, and she turned to look for Ben. But he was gone. She rose and pulled a coarse-fibered cape about her shoulders—something that Gideon had provided her. Then she combed through her hair and plaited it again.
Stepping outside, she saw that her tent was the only one standing. The others had been packed. Ben worked alongside the other men as they tied bundles together with rope. Raquel crossed to Gideon. “Why are we leaving so soon? Abinadi hasn’t returned.”
Gideon finished tying a bundle, then faced her. “He’ll find us.”
Raquel folded her arms. Was he just trying to appease her? She glanced at Ben, whose expression was somber. “What if he doesn’t?”
Gideon said, “If the king’s men aren’t after you still, they’re certainly after Ben . . . or me. We can’t just wait for them to appear.” He let out a breath of frustration. “I don’t want to leave any more than you do. But our best hope is to leave a trail that Abinadi will be able to pick up.”
Raquel took a step back, her mind reeling. They were going into the wilderness, someplace secret that only Gideon knew of—what were the chances of Abinadi finding them? Her stomach churned as she thought about never seeing him again. This wasn’t how she’d planned her escape from her home. Well, she hadn’t really planned any of it, but when Abinadi had entered the picture, everything had seemed so . . . right.
She turned away from Gideon so he wouldn’t see her eyes smart. A couple of elders were already striking her tent. Her belongings had been tied into a bundle and placed on the ground. She crossed to the bundle and snatched it up, securing it across her back.
Within moments, the group was ready to leave. Raquel followed, walking next to Ben. He remained quiet for the most part, and Raquel was in no mood herself to try cheering him. Every so often, she stopped and plucked leaves or flowers she recognized as useful herbs. They were walking through a rather dense forest section when she noticed Gideon marking the trees with his dagger.
“What is he doing?” Raquel asked Ben.
“Leaving a trail for Abinadi.”
Raquel’s mouth formed an O—perhaps Gideon did know what he was doing. Not that she would question his judgment. Her mood lightened immediately. Gideon was no fool—he was just looking out for all of them.
By mid-afternoon, Raquel’s lack of sleep caught up with her. She struggled to keep up with the others.
The terrain started to change, and the trees thickened. They passed by a group of willows clinging to each other. Raquel stopped at one and stripped a few lengths of bark.
“What are those for?” Ben asked.
“The bark of a willow helps relieve pain,” Raquel answered. She opened the piece of cloth in which she’d laid the other leaves and flowers she’d collected. “See? All of these plants have medicinal uses.”
“What’s that one?” Ben asked, pointing to a thick leaf.
“It’s called curaiao.” She removed the leaf from the satchel. “Here, let me show you.” She made a slit in the center of the leaf, and a liquid substance oozed out. “Let me see one of your scratches.”
Raquel pressed the oozing leaf against a long scratch on his arm.
“Ooo. It’s cold,” Ben said.
Raquel smiled. “It feels that way at first. But after a moment, the skin will soak in the gel, and it will heal faster.” She removed the leaf from his arm and tossed it away.
“You can’t use it again?” Ben asked.
“No,” Raquel said. “It’s no good when it dries. You can help me look for more curaiao plants.”
“All right,” Ben said, his grin returning.
They increased their pace, easily catching up with the elders. Raquel noticed that Gideon had stopped marking trees. Ben noticed too. He ran to Gideon and asked him why.
The Teacher turned his kind face toward Ben. “We are nearing the settlement now. If anyone else picks up the trail, we don’t want to lead them right to it.”
“What about Abinadi?” Ben asked.
Raquel scurried closer to hear.
“We’ll have to post a watchman at the end of the trail. Good or bad, we need to know who’s following us,” Gideon said.
Ben nodded, his eyes filled with excitement. “Can I be the watchman?”
Gideon chuckled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “I think one of the elders should do it.”
“I can help too,” Raquel said. “I’ll keep watch with Ben.”
Gideon turned and looked at her with surprise. “Neither of you are strong enough to fight a soldier.”
“But if there are two of us, Ben can run and warn the others—”
“And you’ll fight?” Gideon pursed his lips.
Raquel fell silent. She wasn’t afraid.
Ben continued to pester Gideon with questions as they traveled up a hill. At the top of the crest, they stopped. Below, two ridges sloped into a narrow valley. In the center of the valley, by a river, sat half a dozen huts.
“We’re home,” Gideon said.
Raquel was surprised to see smoke coming from a cooking fire. She hadn’t expected others to be living here already. As they descended from the ridge, Ben chattered, telling her that Gideon had a wife and two daughters. They’d been living in this valley for several years. Three other elders also lived there with their families, and more were said to be coming.
The settlement was very primitive, but it was situated in a beautiful valley. As they neared the first hut, a woman emerged. She was short and stout, but she wasted no time in hurrying to Gideon. She threw her arms about his willowy neck and planted a kiss on his lips. He laughed, and Raquel felt a little embarrassed at witnessing such affection.
“I knew you were coming today,” she announced. Her gaze landed on Raquel. “Who have you brought?”
Gideon introduced Raquel to his wife, Tia. The woman bustled over and drew Raquel into her arms.
Surprised, Raquel awkwardly returned the woman’s embrace.
Tia pulled away, her eyes shining on her round face. Her black hair stuck out beneath a scarf, which sat haphazardly on her head. She was a woman with little care or time for preening. “You’ll get used to us yet. Now come and eat something. My girls will be back from the fields soon, and they’ll want to ask a dozen questions, I’m sure.” Tia threw a look at her husband. Raquel was sure the woman wanted to know the answers herself.
Tia ordered the elders around, directing them where to place things. “You’ll sleep in my home,” she told Raquel. “The men can sleep under the stars. A little rain never hurt anyone.”
Raquel was about to protest, but Tia took the bundle from her and disappeared inside. Raquel followed her into the dim interior. The hut was only one room, although it was clear that sections had been created for the sleeping quarters and the eating area.
She offered to help Tia prepare the food, but the woman insisted that Raquel rest.
As Raquel waited with the others, she scanned the area. Several patches of maize and bean fields spread through the valley. From her vantage point, she watched the laborers working in the heat of the day. She narrowed her eyes against the slanting sun. Women and children worked in the fields as well. It made sense, though—it seemed that this was a community that had to work together unlike the people of King Noah’s court, who worked little, benefiting from the taxes from others.
“Come,” Tia said, touching her shoulder. “You need to eat.”
Raquel was suddenly grateful for Tia’s motherliness. Although her mother was different from Tia in almost every way, Raquel had missed the feeling of being taken care of. Her throat constricted as she thought about her mother. She tried to push the thoughts away as she followed Tia to the cooking area.
Raquel ate the simple dish of boiled beans and chilis, relishing the excellent food. It wasn’t lavish, but nothing had tasted so good in days. Tia hovered over the elders, her hands on her wide hips, encouraging them to eat their fill. Raquel noticed a tall man who was completely covered in clothing—even his hands. She couldn’t quite catch a glimpse of his face beneath his hood, but she realized it must be Abinadi’s brother, Helam.
When she finished, Helam approached her. He bowed and said, “Welcome.”
She hastily stood and said, “Thank you.” He regarded her for a moment, not revealing much in his hooded gaze.
Ben sidled up to him and tugged his arm. “She knows how to make healing pastes,” Ben said.
“Very good,” Helam said, ruffling Ben’s hair. Just then Gideon stood on the other side of the circle and asked Ben to accompany him to the lookout point to watch for Abinadi. Raquel watched them leave, trying not to let Gideon’s earlier reprimand affect her. She busied herself cleaning up, despite Tia’s protests.
“My daughters will take care of all this,” Tia said, waving her hand toward the leftovers.
“Your daughters have been working in the fields all day.”
Tia laughed, her brown eyes merry. “I like you.”
Raquel smiled, straightening as she lifted a stack of clay bowls. “And I like you.”
Another chuckle came from Tia. “You’ll fit right in with my brood.” Her gaze was curious, but still the woman didn’t question Raquel.
Tia finally had her way, and Raquel crept into the house for a short nap. What seemed like moments later, she was awakened by loud whispering.
Raquel rose on one elbow, blinking back the haziness of her vision. Two girls knelt together, peering at her. They looked almost identical, their curious faces dusty. Both of them had midnight-black hair, twisted with strips of cloth. One looked older than Raquel by a couple of years, the other about ten years old.
The younger one spoke first. “Where did you get your tunic?”
Raquel touched the embroidery edging. “My mother made it.”
“Oh!” The ten-year-old touched Raquel’s hem. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”
The older girl nodded, but her gaze wasn’t as intent as her sister’s. Her dark eyes seemed to assess Raquel in a different way.
“What are your names?” Raquel asked.
“I’m Adriel,” the younger sister said. “She’s Neriah.”
Raquel looked at Neriah. “How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
Raquel nodded. “Me, too.” She was surprised Neriah was not a year or two older. Her figure was as developed as a grown woman’s, yet her skin was as flawless as a child’s. She was quite beautiful, Raquel thought.
Neriah’s gaze shifted.
Raquel suddenly felt awkward. She was probably on Neriah’s mat. Raquel rose to her feet. “I hope I didn’t take your sleeping quarters.”
Neriah shrugged, remaining quiet. But her sister wasn’t afraid to speak. “Mother says you’ll stay with us.” She took Raquel’s hand and tugged. “Will you tell us about the city of Nephi?”
“Of course,” Raquel said, glancing at Neriah. “Haven’t you been there yourself?”
“Neriah went once when she was very small, but I’ve never been,” Adriel said.
Raquel looked about the house. Had these people lived here so long? She knew King Noah had been ruling for about eight years . . .
Adriel looked at her eagerly, waiting for an answer.
As Raquel began to describe the many homes and the market, Neriah turned away, straightening things about the home. Raquel told Adriel about the vast fields, the massive wine presses, and the king’s palace.
Adriel kept a hold of Raquel’s hand. “Mother says you know Abinadi. That’s why you’re here.”
Raquel’s face warmed as she nodded.
Neriah suddenly turned and looked at Raquel. “You know Abinadi?” Her face was unreadable, but her tone didn’t sound too pleased.
“My sister’s in love with him,” Adriel announced.
“Hush!” Neriah said. Then she walked out of the house, her head high, eyes averted.
The breath went out of Raquel as she stared at the retreating figure of the beautiful girl.
