How Dragons Survived the Flood

Chapter 9

Noah stood at the field's edge with Japheth, who was watching Ismi sleep. The night guards were standing close by.

"You could have shown more interest in learning about your bride-to-be." His voice was heavy with frustration. "Turn around and look at me when I talk to you," he ground out, as he reached out and turned Japheth to face him.

Lying in the pasture, Ismi opened one eye.

Japh, struggling with his own irritation, gave his friend a warning look before looking at his father. When his voice was calm he replied. "Why does it matter if I approve of this bride or not? You have made a decision, and it is my duty as a son to obey. I am trying to belong to this family, so I will do my duty."

Japheth turned back and watched Ismi for a moment longer. He looked at his feet and at the horizon before looking back at Noah. "While I am gone, may Ismi stay in the field? She wishes to be away from the dragon grounds for a while."

Noah turned and looked at the beast, slowly stroking his beard. "She does not look quite right, serpentine as she is. Her wings, too, seem small and inconsequential. I have seen her fly, though. I suppose we can use her to help lift timbers onto the Ark."

"Father, you do not understand. She is not my dragon. I do not command her nor do I work her. She is not a beast of burden."

Noah looked at his son. "What good is she, if she does not work? I should feed her and have her lazing about scaring the slaves without any recompense?" He shook his head. "No. That will not do."

"She will hunt her own food, like she has her whole life. She simply wants to overnight for a few nights in your pasture. Think, she could even help deter the thieves who are causing you so many problems."

"You mean she will attack my herds. No. It is bad enough you are attached to her, but I refuse to have the offspring of Ha-Satan in my field. There is no place for her here. In the morning she must go." Noah turned and walked back to the walled garden.

In the moonlight, without his cape to shield him from the sun, Noah was a marble pillar. Veins traveling up his neck from his shoulders were pronounced and visible. Watching his father, Japh was reminded of the pale cliffs he and Ismi used to fly over: beautiful, but hard and unyielding. "As you wish, Father. Ismi and I will be gone in the morning."

Noah walked quickly back to his son, his steps crunching on the path's stubble. Pointing his finger at Japheth, he drew himself up, "No. That beast will be gone. You will be on your way to meet your bride-to-be."

Japh looked skyward, careful to not look into his father's eyes. "The Tree of Life is interesting, is it not, Father? It makes one think all sorts of thoughts. Thoughts I have mulled over these past weeks. The main thought has been you want obedient, loyal children."

He glanced at his father for a moment, noting his scowl. "What is my loyalty worth, if it does not extend to the creature who helped keep me alive all these years? It cannot be for you only."

"Yahweh kept you alive. Yahweh!" Noah's voice startled birds nesting in a nearby bush.

Japheth looked at his father's finger, now inches from his face.

A sharp pain [ Need to emphasise his stomach pains in episode 4/5 as he choose's Lillith.

]stabbed him in his belly as the tenuous strands of family loyalty began to break. Japheth straightened his spine and looked down on his father. "If it was Yahweh, He acted through this dragon and her kind to keep me safe. No men came looking for me after I was taken. If they had, we would not be having this conversation. As Shem and Ham, my loyalties would lie solely within the bounds of family. But," he paused for a moment and briefly looked directly in Noah's eyes, "none came."