Remembrance of Eve *NANOWRIMO13*

Chapter 18

Adam had been watching the sun, and tracking the moons. It was near the rain times. One evening, after our meal, Adam made an unusual suggestion.

“Our herds of animals deserve protection from the rains that are coming. We have a snug house. Our food is safely gathered in. During the last raining time, the animals found shelter in the hills, but I noticed that some of the ewes and nannies returned without the little ones we had expected. It must be dangerous for them in the rains. They, too, need a home.”

“The animals need a home? Will we have enough time to build a home for the animals? How big will it need to be? How will we care for them? How. . .?”

“Calm yourself, Eve. It can be done. One more trip to the hills will provide sufficient tree logs, especially now that the goats’ sons help us, too. We can do this. The logs will not need to be mudded as high, but it will need to be larger, to allow all who will to come in for protection.”

“Do you not think all will come in?”

“They have not lived in an enclosure before now. Some may choose to stay in the hills. We must be attentive to the needs of our flocks. We will invite them.”

“Then in the morning, we must gather more tree logs. Our animals deserve the protection of a shelter. Pasha has been such a help to us with Absalom.”

“Do you want to stay here with him? It may be safer for him.”

“No. He would cry, and follow after his beloved Pasha. We will go, but Absalom will have a connecting vine attached to his foot! I will not have him wander away again.”

Adam went into the evening, and called to the goats. I could hear them baa and butt into him, seeking his loving attention. I was grateful that he was such a thoughtful and caring man, interested in the needs of all who depended upon him.

The goats joined us as we again gathered rafts of tree logs and limbs. They seemed to know that this was for them, and willingly carried just a little more to each raft. This lodging would need to be larger around, to house all our animals. They seemed to know, Adam had surely told them, and worked hard to bring heavy loads down the hills.

Absalom did not try to run this time. He felt our fear for him, and stayed close to me, trying to help, sometimes getting in my way. I did not mind, much, for I knew where he was, and I knew he was safe.

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The animal house went up more quickly than I expected. We were moved to work quickly, knowing that soon the rains would again come, forcing us indoors. The roof was tightly tied down so that the winds would not blow it away. We had built the roof out away from the sides of the animal house, to keep much of the wind and rain from blowing inside. We had done the same on our house, in an attempt to provide more light inside.

The animals watched our work on their home intently. Only the cats were aloof. They had access to our home, and did not need a protective home for the raining times. Pasha and Brownie stayed close, often allowing Adam to harness them, bringing the tree logs closer to the animal house. The cow and her calves stood back, but watched closely. The ewes and rams watched from their place under the trees, keeping the lambs, now nearly sheep, close, out of our way.

The time for rains drew near, and we still needed to put the mud, sticks and leaves between the tree logs. As I went to the river to gather the mud, Spot and George followed. They gently butt their heads into my back, suggesting that they could carry a basket of the mud, moving the work along more quickly. I cut vines and tied the baskets to the two goat’s backs. The two goats followed me each time I went to the river. Pasha stayed near the house, watching Absalom, who had been tied to the goat. It was the only way I could think to keep the child safe.

We left spaces between the top three tree logs, allowing light and air to pass. Adam had left a wide space for a door. He put together two doors, and hung them in the door space, using leather thongs as he had done in our house. The doors met in the middle and opened outward.

When all was finished, Adam opened the doors wide, and called to the animals.

“Ho, goats. Hi sheep. Here is a place of refuge from the storms for you. Enter if you will. Here cow, and calves. Come in and be safe. Come in chickens, be safe.”

The goats immediately entered, choosing a corner of the building as their own. They were followed by the sheep. These two kinds of animals have been with us from the beginning, since we left Eden. More slowly, the cow and her calf walked into the shelter. Chickens flew in, and settled into the open work under the roof.

Adam left the door open, saying, “This is your home. I will not close the door on you until the rains come. Then, you will be glad of a door to keep the rains out.”

Baas, moos, and clucking answered. They understood.

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We needed to offer one last sacrifice for the year. There was not much time, but it needed to be done. We had been blessed so abundantly. Besides, it was required of God, and we obeyed.

Once again, Adam had found an animal willing to offer himself as the sacrifice: a young male mountain sheep, clean and unblemished. He followed us to the altar, and allowed himself to be sacrificed.

Absalom stood silently with me, observing the sacred rite. He knelt with us, joining in the pray of thanksgiving. “And, I thank thee for Pasha, who helps protect me from the bad man.”

Adam and I looked at one another over his little brown curls. He knew. He understood. Tears of gratitude filled our eyes.

Our walk down the hill that day was joyful, each of holding one of Absalom’s little hands, skipping him over the tree logs and around the bushes.

As we arrived at our door, the first drops of heavy rain fell. I had not even noticed the gathering clouds. The animals hurried to the animal house, filing in in an orderly fashion, two by two. It was a good thing the opening was wide enough, needing two doors. Each animal group found its place, and settled in. We hurried through the rain to our own home.

The raining time was spent caring for Absalom, and reworking baskets. The cats slipped in and out as the door opened. Adam and I took turns caring for the animals when the rains slowed. One of us would always stay in the house with Absalom. We used some of the grains we had stored to feed the animals, carrying some each day to them in a large basket. We would gather eggs from the chickens each day. As the calf grew, the cow began to bellow sadly. I felt her udders, full with milk that the calf no longer needed. I retrieved my stool and a water bag, and gently squeezed milk from her udders into the bag.

The cow sighed in relief as her udders were relieved of the milk. I patted her side, and thanked her for her milk, she mooed contentedly. I picked up the stool and now milk filled water bag and carried them into the house. Little Absalom begged for a taste. I poured some into his little wooden cup, and helped him taste it.

“Yummy good,” he said, a milky swath covering his upper lip.

“You like that, Absalom?”

“Yes. Good.”

“We will milk the cow again tomorrow, for now there will be lots of milk. Would you like some, Adam?”

Adam nodded. I poured some milk into his cup, and some into mine. We gingerly tasted it.

“Absalom is right. This is good to drink.” Adam said.

“It is. I will milk the cow every day,” I said.

“That would be good.”

“Yes, mama, more milk,” Absalom cried.

One more chore, one more addition to our menu of foods. God truly does bless us.