Baara's Dreams

Chapter 11

Over the course of the next few weeks, Zipporah and Mara worked diligently on the right leg. Every morning while they ground grain, Zipporah would concentrate on commanding her toes to move. Gradually, she managed to move all of her toes and then her foot. Each afternoon, Mara would massage the leg, and then bend it over and over to try and get the muscles accustomed to moving again. In the evening when chores were done, Mara convinced the male slaves to take turns holding Zipporah upright, one on each side supporting her with shoulders under her arm pits. They would walk her slowly around the courtyard while she tried to get her right leg to move as though walking.

At first the other slaves had been reluctant to help in any way. Zipporah had made more enemies than friends in the household. However, when the story of Zipporah's encounter with Yahweh was recounted, the men agreed to help – out of fear. They assumed that anyone important enough to attract the personal notice of a god was someone they wouldn't want to anger. As the days progressed and Zipporah's vitriolic tongue did not resurface, the slaves gradually began to lose their fear of her. She was questioned over and over about her near-death experience. Much speculation circulated about the meaning of what happened to her. Some interpreted the incidents as dreams or the hallucinations of a drugged mind, but others were not so sure. All agreed that whatever the correct interpretation, Zipporah was a changed woman.

By the time Naaman returned home almost three weeks after the incident, Zipporah could stand on her own. Crude crutches had been carved from tree branches. With the crutches, Zipporah could stand upright. She had begun to regain strength and motion in her right leg. She hoped to learn to walk on her own with the crutches for support, dragging her still useless left leg.

Naaman arrived home just after midday. He was tired and, to Maacah, seemed preoccupied. She would've postponed telling him of the near-tragic incidents, but knew gossip waited for no one. She would rather he hear the story from her than someone else. So, once he had rested and eaten, Maacah recounted for him the story of Zipporah's treachery. She presented him with the evidence that she had kept for his return. She told him of the girl's attempted suicide, of her dream and her partial recovery. She also recounted the visit of the healer and his suggestion along with those of Tirzah, Arisai and Shepho. She ended with her assignment of Mara as Zipporah's keeper and an update on the progress the two had made during the interim.

"I'm sorry, husband," Maacah ended, "for presenting you with this problem immediately on your return home, but I dared not delay. You know how tongues wag."

With a weary sigh, Naaman replied, "You were right to bring the matter to my attention. I regret that you had to deal with it on your own, but it sounds like you acted wisely in my absence. Before I decide what to do, I want to speak personally with those involved. But, I'm fatigued from a difficult raid, too many hours in the saddle, and too little sleep. Spread the word that I'm apprised of the situation and will act tomorrow. Now that I have eaten, I fear I can't keep my weary eyes open."

Maacah immediately left to do Naaman's bidding. When she returned, she found him sleeping on the couch still fully clothed. He had not removed his mantle or turban. He was still wearing the footwear soldiers reserved for battle. Rather than traditional sandals, the complete foot was covered, except for the toes.

Since it was the heat of the day, Maacah went to her slumbering husband and began to carefully remove his shoes, just as she would have done for a sleeping child. His exhaustion was so complete, he did not stir as she dislodged the shoes. She then took a damp cloth and wiped the dust from his sweaty feet. As she did, she was surprised to discover a white patch of skin on his left foot that encompassed most of his second toe. The white skin went between the toe and partway down the top of his foot. It also covered about half of his next toe. The edges of the patch of skin were rough to the touch and slightly raised. The rest of his foot appeared normal. On his right foot, she found a similar patch, but this time the discoloration encompassed his littlest toe and its neighbor. This time, the white skin covered a larger area atop his foot, extending over halfway across the foot. Puzzled, Maacah examined Naaman's legs but saw no further discoloration.