Remembrance of Eve *NANOWRIMO13*

Chapter 5

One day I had gone to gather vegetables—tomatoes, carrots, and peas from the places they grew. It was near the center of the garden, not far from our glen. Adam had gone the other way, gathering fruit—melons, pears, and peaches. He hoped to also find some almonds and filberts, to add some different tastes to our meal.

As I stood from picking the last of the carrots, a serpent crawled down from the tree. He was a large green and black boa, and surprisingly, he did not just hiss, he spoke in our language. This surprised me, for no other animal had spoken to us. They had been friendly, staying with us, or just allowing us to be there with them. This animal was different.

“Can you eat of the fruit of every tree in the garden?” he asked.

“Why do you care? Of course, we are given to eat of all the fruit of the garden. Of course, we may not eat the fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil.”

“The tree which stands in the middle of the garden?”

“The tree that God said we must not eat, lest we die” I responded.

“You shall not die,” it whispered. “God knows that when eat that fruit your eyes will be opened. You will be like the gods. Ye will know good and evil.”

“Why would I want to know good and evil? Our life is good.”

“You cannot know bad without the good; happiness unless you know sorrow. You must eat of the tree, for you cannot bear children unless you eat of the fruit of that tree. It is food, and good for you to eat.”

How could I do this. Father had specifically told us we may not eat of that tree. I looked, and the tree stood near, its red-orange fruits suddenly seemed enticing. I had never even looked twice at them. Now?

“What is your problem? You must eat of that tree in order to be like the gods,” came the insistent voice.

He said we could have children if we partook of that fruit. Is that why we had not no children? Had not Father told us to multiply and replenish the earth? That required children. How could we multiply if this fruit were required? Thoughts raced through my head. I wanted to obey Father. How could I obey both commands?

“Is there no other way?” I cried.

“There is no other way.”

How could I do it? How could I not?

“Then I will partake.”

Somehow there was a fruit in the coils of the snake.

“Here. Eat.”

I took a bite. I felt a thrill fill my body. Something was happening, but I did not know what.

“Now, go and give some fruit to Adam,” the snake hissed.

Yes, he would want to eat of this. Worse. Now that I had partaken, I would die! How could we multiply?

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I stumbled back toward our glen, carefully carrying the precious fruit. There was Adam, stooping next to the basket of fruit he had just put down.

“Adam. Adam,” I called. He looked up with a wondering look of anticipation. Then, seeing the fruit in my hand, his face seemed to fall, to collapse.

“Do you know what that is?” he asked.

“It is fruit of the tree of good and evil.” I replied. “You must eat of this fruit.”

“I cannot partake of that fruit. It is forbidden! We will die.”

“Do you plan to obey all of God’s commandments?” I asked.