People of the Ark (Ark Chronicles 1) Read Online Free PDF

sir,” the old, caravan master said, while drinking. “Splendid indeed. Excellent!”
    “ You’re most kind,” Noah said.
    “ No, no, this is a rare vintage indeed, sir. I understand now your reluctance to waste it on the travelers from afar.”
    “ Has it been a hard trail?” Noah asked.
    Kedorlaomer swirled the last contents in his cup, his lips pursed, before he tossed it down and smacked his lips.
    Noah offered them buttered bread and pears, and platters of almonds. They shelled the nuts and chewed loudly, holding their cups out for more of Noah’s excellent vintage. He gave them another fill. Then he corked the jug and told Jubal to take it back to the shed.
    “ No more of that wonderful wine, sir?”
    “ Drunkenness is offensive to Jehovah,” Noah said, not with a prim twist to his lips but in the same way that he might ask for more nails while hammering planks.
    Kedorlaomer raised his eye brows, while his grandsons traded knowing smirks.
    And so Ham knew that these nomads out of Havilah, these sons of Cain, had heard about Noah . How, in fact, could they sit in the shadow of the Ark without commenting about it unless they had already been primed beforehand as what to do with this ‘Jehovah-crazy fool?’
    “ Please,” Noah said, “tell us about your journey.”
    Ham gave his father this: he liked news just as much as the next person.
    Dusting almond shells from his lap, Kedorlaomer began his tale by saying, “It was a hard trail indeed, sir.”
    Jubal grinned ear to ear . Ham cracked his knuckles, leaning forward. Even Japheth paid greater attention, so much so he petted the hounds less. One of them nosed its big snout back under his older brother’s hand.
    According to Kedorlaomer , the trouble started even before the trek. As was well known, seventy-five years ago several clans of giants, Nephilim, had entered Havilah. For a time the creatures had joined forces with the men already in possession of the land, helping to repel the many raiders drawn to Havilah like ants to a honey pot. Although surrounded by the mighty Pishon River, Havilah was noted for its pure gold, its onyx stones and its precious gum spice from the bdellium tree.
    Yet clans grew, those too of the giants, Kedorlaomer told them . Quarrels didn’t patch as easily these days and drunkenness, despite what Jehovah didn’t or did like, fueled more than one shouting match until knives were drawn. Old Kedorlaomer sadly shook his turbaned head, telling them about younger giants plotting to overthrow their fathers. The young ones unfortunately incited reckless young men until bands of marauders prowled around the gold and onyx mines and the groves of bdellium trees. Sometimes sons or grandsons led the bands into the very compounds of their fathers, so the night erupted with shrieks and spilled blood. It was a savage, bitter time in Havilah, and gathering a caravan-load took skill and a fierce determination to hold onto valuable possessions.
    “ Well, sir,” Kedorlaomer said, as he paused for breath. “Life has always been hard, has it not?”
    “ Hmm,” Noah said, his deep blue eyes filled with that far-off look that sometimes overcame him.
    “ Oh,” Kedorlaomer said, “I’ll grant you that lately things seem to have gotten out of hand. That there is greater savagery than ever…” The shrewd eyes darted toward the Ark, back to Noah and then to the huge hounds with their mangy heads upon their paws as they looked up with sad eyes. “There’s madness in the world, sir.”
    Noah nodded.
    Kedorlaomer glanced at his grandsons. The one with his fingers on the golden hilt of his dagger smirked. The others stirred.
    Ham was glad now that he ’d tucked a hatchet through his belt, one he used to chop branch-stumps off logs. Maybe the skill of the archers of Havilah had become something of a proverb, but if these villains tried anything strange today, he would be on his feet and bashing their skulls before they could slip their famed