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TWELVE
~~~
Slowly Laman grinned. "Indeed. Nephi is welcome to stay here, if he so desires."
Then it all happened so fast. Lemuel gave Nephi a strong push, knocking him to the ground. As he went down, he hit his head, hard, against a rock. He lay still.
Was Nephi dead? I dared not even breathe.
But the, after a few heartbeats, he groaned and stirred.
Within seconds, Laman had rolled Nephi over on his stomach and was holding his arms back while Lemuel lashed his wrists together with his rope. Then they pulled up his feet, and tied his ankles tightly to his wrists.
"W-what are you doing?" the sound of my own voice startled me.
Laman stood back up and addressed our group. "I am doing only what Nephi has forced me to do. His rebellion leaves me no choice. Either I stand against him, or yield." He looked steadily at us. "And that, I will not do."
"By the law of the desert tribes," Lemuel added, "which Nephi knows well, a challenger is left behind, as food for the beasts."
Nephi was beginning to come around. I could not see him well, as the Shemech and Micah were also encircling him. But he seemed to be struggling against the ropes, which was likely cinching them tighter.
"What have you done, Laman?" Nephi mumurmed. "Or ... was it you, Lemuel?"
"Only what you deserve, fool!" Lemuel sneered. "Presuming to lead us..."
Laman turned away, as if Nephi was no longer worthy of his attention. "We will leave at once," he ordered. "Make ready to depart."
Sam stood up. "N-NO!" he cried.
"Careful, Sam," Shemech hissed. "Or would you like to join your younger brother?"
"Leave Sam alone!" Nephi growled. I had never heard him like that. "Do not fear, Sam. God will not abandon us!" Then he called upon the power of God for help. "O Lord! According to my faith in Thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of these, my murderous brethren!"
I clenched my hands, echoing Nephi's prayer silently, with all my heart.
"Wilt Thou give me strength, O Lord, to burst these bands with which I am bound?"
And right before our eyes, a most remarkable thing happened. The ropes that had been binding his hands and feet so tightly simply loosened up. Nephi shook them off, and stood up in the midst of his brethren.
For one shocked moment, everyone gaped at him.
But Nephi was not finished. "As. I. said. This company shall not go up to Jerusalem!"
