The Walk of The Israelites

Chapter 15

Author's Notes: Based off of Exodus chapter 9

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"Hey Moses." Aaron called to me. I turned to face him. I placed my staff so that I could lean against it. 

"What is on your mind?" I asked him, seeing his expression. Something was troubling him.

"Bad news." he told me. I gritted my teeth, expecting something horrible. "Our donkey isn't feeling well. I think she has heatstroke." 

I look at him, blinking once. "Is that all?" I asked, slightly mad at him for worrying me more than necessary.

"Well, most likely she has not been in the shade enough." he explained. "That with the constant riding of her, her back is sore. Too sore to ride for a couple of days."

I placed my staff on a near by tree, crossed my arms and looked at him. "So the thing that is worrying you is that for a few days," I teased, "is that for a few days my old man of a brother will half to walk both ways?"

He chuckled and nodded. "Exactly." He walked to the donkey and led her under the tree that I had placed my staff. He patted her neck, causing the donkey to jerk her head to the side in pain from her back. "Get better soon." he said.

"Well, at least-" I said, before being interrupted.

"Moses, Aaron." a voice called out.

"I'm here!" Aaron called out, confused. I couldn't help but grin at my brother. This was his first time here hearing the Lord.

"Take handfuls of soot from a furnace," God continued, speaking into our minds more than through our ears, "and have Moses toss it into the air before Pharaoh. "It will become fine dust, covering all of Egypt. Festering boils will break out on the people and animals throughout the land."

I waited a moment for the Lord's next words, hearing none. I knew He was done, but a glace to my brother and I saw he didn't know. I smiled mischievously, slowly creeping behind him as he stared into the sky.

As he was listening intently, waiting for God's voice I screamed pushed him with moderate force. He screamed as he was frightened, nearly falling over as he turned around. I laughed at the expression on his face.

"Stop laughing!" he ordered me, hands on his hips. "Trying to stop the old man's heart is not humorous!"

I just laughed, tears starting to run down my cheeks, having a hard time breathing. I sat down on a rock before I fell down. Aaron sighed.

"What am I going to do with you, little brother?" he asked.

My wife came out of the tent. "Come in you two." she said. "I made the evening meal." With that she ducked back into the tent.

I stood up, wiping my tears away sense I was done laughing. I grabbed my staff from the tree then I joined Aaron. "How about you dine with me?" I asked him, smiling. "That is what you can do with me."

He grinned at me. "Can never stay mad at you." he assured me, walking inside the tent.

I smiled to the sky. "Sorry Lord," I apologized. "I just couldn't help myself." I laughed again, but lesser so this time. Grabbing my side, sore from laughing, I walked into the tent.

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"Aaron!" I yelled to my brother, still in the tent. "Hurry up! It's time to go."

Aaron came out, sheepskin sack in his left hand and his staff, mine was in my hand, in his right hand.  He walked past me, grin in his lips. "Waiting for you now."

I laughed. I turned and followed him, using the staff to help me walk. "Well rested?" I asked him, now next to him.

He nodded. I tried to look inside the bag he was carrying. "Is that what took so long?"

He moved the sack behind him, blocking my view. "It is our food." he said, matter of fact. "You will not get near it until after we are done."

"Alright." I said. I ignored the food, even if our morning meal still left me hungry. "Alright."

We walked the way in silence, mostly. Aaron gripped about walking a few times, handing me the sack while he took a stone out of his sandal then holding the sack again.

We arrived at the door's to Pharaoh's palace.

"Where is your donkey, your beast of burden?" A guard standing at the doors questioned.

"Taking a break from work." Aaron answered roughly before I could, handing him the sack.

"Hold this while we are in there alright?" my brother asks.

The guard looks down in his hands seeing the sack. He tosses it on the ground after a moment of confusion. I picked it up. Our food was still in it, the cow hide piece of leather closing the hole so it didn't pour out.

"I will not!" he said. "Now get in there and do your business with Pharaoh then leave." he pointed his spear towards the door. 

We let the sack lay there as strode inside. As we entered through the open doors we saw Pharaoh, riches on every inch or his body as was normal, sitting in his throne. We walked across the long room, passing a few random officials and men that had business with Pharaoh.

I took a deep breath, preparing to speak. Ramses rose his hand, stopping me before I could speak. "I shall save us both the time." he informed me. "I will not let your people go. Now leave." he flicked his index towards the door. "I assume you can let yourselves out."

I stared at him a moment, then turned to my left and through another door, leading to room that heated the palace. I heard a laugh coming from the throne room, echoing down the hall. "I assumed wrong." the king of Egypt laughed.

I dug my hands into the furnace, seeing that it had been cool for hours. I scooped out a giant hand full of soot, using both my hands to hold it. I turned, trying not to spill any. I glanced up towards Pharaoh, giving me a look of just misunderstanding as I made a trail across his floors.

"What are you doing, Moses?" he asked, his head hanging down by his neck. "Have you finally, after all that time in the desert, gone insane?" he rose his head again, looking at me.

I stood in front of him, arms out. "The next plague you will inflict upon your people," I informed my brother, "is boils. They will cover you, all the animals of the land, and everyone in Egypt." With that I tossed the soot into the air.

It went up, taking the shape of a mushroom head. It hit the ceiling, creeping towards the walls. Half way down the walls it dissipated into the air. I rubbed my hands together, attempting to get rid of some left over soot, then bowed from the waist. 

I turned, nodding towards the door, telling Aaron it was time to leave. "We can indeed show ourselves out." I said, flipping around what he had told us earlier. I saw Aaron grab the sack that we had left outside and we began to walk home.