My Name is Moses – Chapter III, Episode 5 – A Fertile Land

Ishmael was no more anxious to discuss Midian than I was to discuss why I really left Egypt. The Religion ruse wasn’t convincing, but I couldn’t retrace my steps. I’d committed my tale and had to abide by it. Zipporah paid no more attention to me than she would to a pack animal. I rode next to Ishmael at the head of the small column. Zipporah rode lead out in front of the other eight riders. We rode far enough apart to avoid the dust from those in front.

The rolling hills became more broken, and we found ourselves threading single file through shallow canyons, then out the other side. Finally, the road turned east, down a larger canyon. There was a small winding river wandering in through the valley center, growing as it collected water from small streams and tributaries. Then we began to see habitations.

After two more days of unhurried travel, we were nearing their home territory. The canyon began to narrow and the river, now grown to considerable size, was swift, deep, and strewn with rocks from the sides of the canyon. There was a dim roar which increased as we accompanied the river to its edge, a sheer drop of one hundred cubits to the rocks below.

“” Devil’s Drop” is the name of these falls from up here,” offered Ishmael. ““Sharon’s Rainbow” from the bottom, because of the beauty. Our road will be north to the trail down.” We stopped to take refreshment. Then turned north and traveled along the ever-gentling ridge until at last the road veered right, off the top of the elevation, advancing down a narrow, winding, switch-back trail that delivered us onto the valley floor in an hour’s time.

The road widened out and led back to the lake at the bottom of the falls. Vegetation was lush, and many orchards and vineyards were well established around the water. Scattered homes were producing smoke from cooking fires. The day was growing late. “Tomorrow we’ll be home,” remarked Ishmael as we sat close together.

“Then he’ll be rid of this unwanted Egyptian companion,” I thought. “He knows I’m hiding something, and he doesn’t trust me.”

“But we will not take our usual route,” he continued. “There is word of trouble in one of our grazing pastures. You and I will ride scout early in the morning. Your camel will be a good ruse, if we’re seen. We prefer horses to camels, except on journeys.” I milked Sasha well that evening and secured all my weapons.

We left before dawn’s light the next morning. Traveling close along river we rode casually. After an hour of studying the moonlit landscape a large circle of campfires appeared spaced on a perimeter. We observed from a distance. Then Ishmael decided, “It is the same marauding group as always. They won’t expect us from a different direction. In our attack, we will cut off their escape.”