Kendra

Part 15

The Bosom of Abraham existed in the crossover point between heaven and earth. From there even could be seen the place where the damned dwell, separated by a gigantic chasm below the membrane between them. It was ever light, lit by the light of heaven. A man could live there, for the physical makeup was the same as the earth, grass, rocks, water. It was large, like a massive island ripped from the earth itself and suspended between there and heaven. Pass through the almost invisible barrier and you were in heaven. To get to the earth needed bending of the lines to travel between planes. This was a gift to some, those who are the sons of angels and the righteous men and women that populate it.

As with those on the earth, the population started off in family groups. Children were born to them and eventually the city was built. One created never to know war nor want.

Salinas was sitting in the house when Kendra appeared from the garden. She smiled winsomely to him. “I have some news my dear.”

“What is that?”

“I am with child.”

“We have waited an age for this blessing!”

Kendra’s son, Chelnuk, was an astute boy. Many a time he could be seen bartering in the city and coming back with a good deal. He preferred fruit and vegetables to meat or chicken. One of his hobbies was to collect things from the land of men. Anything his father could bring back with him. A trumpet, battered from being in battle, a short bronze sword – chipped from fighting, a hair brush (that really was his mother’s but which he kept in his collection.) His sister collected shells and even he had some, but he thought they were a bit boring. Things that were special to him were the things his father used in battle. One unusual thing was a cartwheel that his father had killed a mighty enemy warrior with. He had specifically asked his father to retrieve it from the battle scene. It was used as his bed head. To it were pinned all sorts of small keepsakes, a feather from a peacock (not native to the Bosom), a dragon’s tooth, a picture drawn on a leaf and many other things.

He would sit on his bed with his collection of coins and imagine himself as a king in charge of finances, having to pay for war or providing for the needs of his people. His sister would tease him and knock his piles of coins over then he would tease her back and hide her shells, especially the bigger ones. Sarine, Kendra’s daughter, looked under her bed. There were lots of things under her bed including many shells, but not the bright blue conch shell.

“Mum, Chelnuk has hidden one of my shells again!” she whined.

“Chelnuk, why do you tease her so?”

“She knocked my coins over!” replied Chelnuk.

“Help me find it mum?” asked Sarine.

“I am too busy. I need to prepare a meal for you father. If you still have not found it later I will help you.”