IMAGINE... The Great Flood Page 2

  The other two giants joined in the pursuit, running at an angle to cut off Shem and Corey before they reached the ark.

  They were trapped.

  Shem must have had the same thought. “Stop!”

  Corey put on the brakes. The other man and the two lions did the same.

  The giant caught up to them and skidded to a halt. The ground quaked. He raised his sword high in the air and brought it down inches away from Corey. The blade pierced the ground all the way to the golden hilt. The other two giants bent down and put their hands on their knees. They stared at their prey with evil eyes.

  Both lions began baring their fangs and growling.

  “CALM YOUR ANIMALS OR ALL OF YOU GET THE SWORD,” the first giant threatened.

  Corey watched as Shem stepped forward, in between the lions and the giant.

  “The Lord has commanded that we fill our father’s ark with the animals,” Noah’s son said. “You and your friends can’t stop us.”

  Corey couldn’t believe the confidence Shem showed in the face of this crazy situation. He was standing up to a human giant who could pulverize both of them with one hand.

  And just like that, one of those hands grabbed Corey and lifted him high in the air. It was like being on a zip line but in reverse. He dangled in the air like a toy in the giant’s hand.

  That’s when he could hear his mother’s voice, clear as though she were dangling from the giant’s left hand, up in the sky with her boy, high above this bizarre scene.

  “Rely on God. Rely on Him, Corey. He never changes.”

  Now was the time to start relying.

  “God, please help me!”

  Hanging there, Corey noticed that the female lion was inching her body closer to the giant. Then the male lion moved closer. Each crept low, ready to pounce.

  “CALL THEM OFF NOW OR—”

  The giant didn’t get a chance to finish his threat. The lions attacked, each one biting one of the monster’s powerful legs. The giant tumbled backward. As his captor fell, he let go of Corey about five feet in the air.

  The lions stopped their attack but stayed between the giant and Corey.

  “Come, brother!” Shem ran over to help Corey up and make sure he didn’t hurt himself in the fall. To the giant he said, “Tell your friends they cannot stand in the way of the Lord’s plans. Now leave us!”

  Corey watched the giant stand and hobble away on bloody legs. The other two superhumans walked alongside their injured friend. None of the three pulled the sword from the ground.

  Corey followed Shem and the lions all the way to the ark. The massive wooden ramp had been lowered, and at the top of it stood an old man with a very long beard.

  CHAPTER 4

  “Father, this is my new friend Corey.”

  “Corey, I’m Noah. Grateful you’re here with us.” The man shook Corey’s hand and gave him a friendly hug, like Corey was part of the family. “There’s still a lot of work to do. Shem, put the lions away, and then you can show Corey around.”

  Noah stepped to the side, and Corey followed Shem into the ark. Cypress wood had been formed into pitch-covered beams and walls to create an engineering masterpiece.

  Corey looked up and saw sunlight pour in through a foot-and-a-half opening that ran all around, directly under the massive roof. The natural light illuminated the three main decks of the boat. He was standing in Noah’s ark! From where he stood, Corey could see that many wooden stalls were filled with a variety of wild animals. Nearby, two cheetahs rested on a bed of straw, and in a second-level stall, two zebras paced back and forth.

  “A little while longer and this place is going to be loaded with animals,” Shem said. “The Lord told us to take two of every living creature, male and female.”

  “Birds, too?”

  “Birds, too, and even the reptiles that crawl on the ground. So, Corey, you got here just in time to finish helping us gather all of God’s creatures and get them safely on board.”

  Corey was suddenly overwhelmed with thoughts of his mother. “Can you help me get back home?”

  “Where is home, Corey?”

  “Texas.”

  Shem looked confused. “To be honest, I’ve never heard of that land.”

  “That’s because it hasn’t been named yet.” Corey tried explaining that he was from four thousand years in the future. But the more he talked, the crazier he sounded. “Never mind.”

  Shem just smiled and led the two lions into a modest enclosure. He seemed to be considering what Corey had just told him. “You are from the future?”

  “I don’t understand how I got here, but yes.”

  Shem rubbed the lions and closed their gate. He turned to look at Corey. “Then you know how all this works out, don’t you?”

  Corey hesitated. “Yes. I can tell you everything I’ve read in my Bible.”

  “That’s okay. God commanded this move, so He will see us through. He told my father that He was establishing a covenant with him. God is a promise keeper, Corey. I have faith in His plans for our lives.”

  Corey thought about his own move and how he didn’t want any part of it. He remembered his mother saying they all needed to rely on God because He doesn’t change. Four thousand years later, God was leading Corey and his family to a new home. Noah and his family had no idea where they were going, but they knew the One who was calling.

  After making sure the lions were secure, Shem led Corey up through the three levels of the ark, past the nervous zebras, a stall with wolves, and even a row of smaller cages filled with cats, rabbits, and badgers. When they reached the upper level, Shem climbed through an open hatch in the roof. He sat down near the edge and invited Corey to sit next to him. The valley stretched out far below them.

  Corey took in the panorama and shook his head. He couldn’t believe he was on Noah’s ark! He still couldn’t explain how he got here or how he was getting home.

  “Don’t worry, Corey. God is taking care of everything. But we have to hurry. See the sky?”

  Corey looked up and noticed the sky was dotted with gray clouds. “What on earth were those giants who tried to attack us?”

  “They are called Nephilim. Very dangerous. As you saw, they aren’t normal humans. They possess superhuman strength. Their size defies explanation. The stories say that they used to be heroes a long time ago. Now they are bent on destruction, but the Lord will protect us. We must have faith.”

  Corey would be completely satisfied if he never saw another one of the giants ever again.

  Noah’s son pointed to the west. “Some of the animals are waiting there.” Then he pointed to the east. “And the others will come from that direction. We have to finish bringing all of them here before the Lord wipes the land clean. Will you help me, Corey?”

  Corey felt stronger sitting next to this man. Being on top of the ark didn’t hurt the feeling, either. Here in this place, Corey felt like he had a purpose, and that purpose was directly related to God. “Of course, I want to help.”

  “It’s not going to be easy. There are many more giants. Next time they’ll send more than three to try to stop us.”

  “Well, like you said, God made a covenant with your father.”

  Shem turned to face Corey. “That’s right. We just have to be obedient and not lose faith. No matter how difficult it gets, we must never stop believing that the Lord is who He says He is. Now follow me.”

  Corey followed the man back down through the ark’s multiple levels. As they made their way through the lower deck, Shem stopped to check on the lions. Both were resting and appeared to be recovering from the skirmish with the giants. He grabbed his staff from the floor next to the enclosure and started for the entrance ramp. Ham and Japheth were just finishing with the elephants and horses.

  “Come, brothers. Father believes that some of the local villagers are planning on using the Nephilim to steal the animals.”

  Corey listened, wondering where Shem was headed.

  “We�
��re going to find some help.” Noah’s son offered his staff to Corey.

  Corey took the wooden staff, feeling like a track runner in a relay race. He couldn’t believe that he was getting to help rescue the animals along with Noah’s sons. His heart was filled with courage, and it was a feeling unlike any he’d ever felt before.

  He walked down the huge wooden ramp and stared back up into the sky. Many more clouds had formed in the last few minutes. His eyes were probably playing tricks on him. In fact, Corey thought that, just possibly, this whole experience with the ark and Noah was some kind of trick.

  But it wasn’t. It was real. Just like the coming flood was real.

  “I’m proud of you, Corey. You are very brave for someone so young.”

  Corey did feel brave. He smiled and followed Shem, Ham, and Japheth back out across the valley. Surrounded by these strong men of God, Corey felt like a superhero.

  If only his parents were here to see him.

  He knew they would be proud of him, too.

  CHAPTER 5

  Even more clouds filled the sky now. Corey followed Shem, Ham, and Japheth away from the ark, toward a nearby village on the eastern horizon. They walked in silence for a while, watching the sky lose more light, until they came to a beautiful, ocean-blue river.

  “Come, brothers, let us drink before we finish our journey.”

  Noah’s sons knelt down by the water’s edge, and using two hands, each scooped up handfuls of water. Corey did the same. The water was surprisingly cold and refreshing.

  “There’s a man who lives in the village. His name is Ardad. He has been known to talk to the Nephilim.”

  Corey felt safe with Shem, but didn’t know why he would want to meet with anyone who was an acquaintance of the monsters. Corey took another long drink of water. He wondered how his mother was doing. And Molly.

  “He is the only one who hasn’t mocked my family for building the ark.” Shem got to his feet. “We should go now.”

  “What do you mean?” Corey asked. He also stood.

  Shem pointed back to the ark. “My father never questions the Lord. So when the plans for the ark were shared, there was never any hesitation. He told us God’s commands, and we set out to collect the building materials. All the people have called us crazy.”

  “Except for Ardad?”

  Shem smiled. “He is confused, just like the rest of them. But, instead of hurling insults, the man just stares at the ark. It’s like his soul is torn. It’s like he wants to believe but can’t make sense of it all.”

  “He doesn’t have faith,” Japheth added.

  Ham and Japheth stood, and all the brothers and Corey started walking again. The clouds were definitely getting bigger now. The blue sky was turning black. Shem paused and looked up at the heavens. He considered the clouds. “Do you know what they are?”

  “Clouds.” Corey couldn’t understand how this man had no idea what clouds were. “They usually fill the sky before rain.”

  “Then it’s almost time. We must hurry.”

  As they quickened their pace, Corey had to ask. “You’ve never seen clouds before?”

  Shem shook his head. “Most of the villagers think my father is missing part of his brain. Can’t blame them. When you’ve never seen rain, then this man starts constructing a gigantic boat…well, you get the idea.”

  Corey understood. This was exactly how he felt about his dad. Corey thought it was foolish that he and his family had to move halfway across the country when they were perfectly fine in Texas. Corey didn’t like the unknown. He wanted to reject what he couldn’t see, just like all the people living around Noah and his family. They had never experienced rain, so it was just easier to mock the ark and everything it stood for.

  Farther along the dirt road, the men saw the outlines of a village. Small mud structures rose above the ground in two rows. The roofs were rounded; they reminded Corey of the bottom side of an egg carton.

  As they arrived at the village, Corey watched Shem offer a greeting to a man who sat on the ground near a makeshift gate. He had a full beard and was eating a loaf of bread.

  Ham and Japheth nodded at the man. Corey heard them say they were going to split up and question the other villagers. They promised Shem that they would return with information about the Nephilim’s plans.

  “Meet me back at the ark,” Shem said.

  “Yes, brother,” Ham and Japheth said in unison.

  The man named Ardad stopped eating and acknowledged Shem and Corey. “Greetings, son of Noah. Who is your friend?”

  “This is Corey.”

  “Greetings, Corey. Care for bread?”

  Shem took Ardad up on the offer.

  The villager tore a sizable chunk from his loaf and handed it to Shem. Shem, in turn, broke the chunk in half and gave one portion to Corey. The three ate in silence.

  When he finished eating, Shem spoke his reason for the visit.

  “We’ve been loading the ark with animals.”

  “I saw the lions earlier,” said Ardad.

  “Then you also saw the Nephilim.”

  The villager finished his bread and wiped the crumbs from his bushy brown beard. He considered his words before speaking. “I had nothing to do with that, brother.”

  “That’s not why I’m here,” Shem replied. “I need your help.”

  Ardad smiled. “My help? I’m honored.”

  “Yes. Will you help keep the Nephilim away from us?” Shem offered up the request like it was no big deal. Corey knew from their previous encounter with the giants that what Shem was asking was anything but a small favor.

  “And just how do you think I can accomplish that feat? The Nephilim do whatever they want, whenever they want.”

  Corey watched as Shem knelt down and grabbed a stick. He used it to draw a large circle on the sandy ground. Next, he made a small X in the center of the circle. “Ardad, the X is my father’s ark. And here we are.” Shem made a second X directly above the first one. “The Nephilim have shelters here and here.” Shem added two Xs at the nine and three o’clock positions on the circle.

  Corey watched Ardad study the primitive dirt map.

  “Those are the two places you are getting the animals from, isn’t it?” Ardad asked.

  “Yes. If you can keep the Nephilim from this place,” Shem said, drawing a vertical line through the top arc of the circle, “then we can get the land animals in from the west. And the mountains that rise in the north will protect our work from the eyes of the Nephilim.” Shem added a wide oval in between the X that represented Ardad’s village and a vertical line to show the mountains.

  “I’ll do my best,” Ardad said. “When should I start?”

  “Now. The sky is changing. You can see it getting darker. Soon it will come.”

  “Soon what will come?”

  “The flood!”

  Corey thought he saw Ardad roll his eyes at Shem’s mention of the flood. It made Corey think about his conversation with Shem earlier in the day. The part about people thinking Noah was insane. Why would a man build a massive boat just to sit on dry land? Corey knew he would have probably thought the same as Ardad and the rest of the villagers.

  Then Corey’s thoughts were drawn to Noah. What kind of faith must he have to hear God and obey? To have God tell him that his whole way of living was about to be turned upside down, and still have a faithful heart? Actually, the more he thought about it, this was really similar to Corey’s own situation. God was telling Corey that he was moving in much the same way He had told Noah.

  “Can I count on you?” Shem’s voice broke Corey out of his pondering.

  Ardad smiled. “I will try my best. The Nephilim have caused my people harm for a long time, so we will be more than happy to help carry out your request. But, may I give a suggestion?”

  Shem nodded.

  “The Nephilim go where they want. It might be hard to distract them. But, there are caves high up in the hills along the end of the western pat
h. Bring the animals there to rest and be fed before you take them on to the ark. That will allow you to go back out west for more creatures while my men and I tend to the ones you drop off. The Nephilim don’t know about those caves. We use them for shelter.”

  “Okay, thank you. And thank you for the bread.” Shem stood and used his sandal to erase the map he had just drawn.

  Ardad stood. When he felt confident there was no sign that a drawing had been made, he said, “Do you want me to find Elizar?”

  Shem’s calm demeanor went away as fast as the dirt map. “No. We won’t resort to his sorcery.” He looked up into the cloudy sky. “Let’s go, Corey. The animals are waiting.”

  Corey waved good-bye to Ardad. He walked out of the village with Shem, waiting for the right opportunity to ask who this Elizar was, or if he should even ask at all.

  Shem led Corey out the west gate. They noticed Ham and Japheth were there waiting. “How did it go for you, brothers?”

  “Shem,” said Japheth, “we have to hurry. More Nephilim are on their way to stop us.”

  Shem used the stick he was still holding to point in front of them. “There’s another village not far down the path. We will look for people who might want to help us keep the Nephilim distracted while we load the animals. But, as my brothers said, we have to hurry.”

  At the mention of animals, Corey thought about his own dog, Molly. Thinking of Molly made him think about his mother. And thinking of her made him worry about what was going on.

  Would he ever see his family again?

  CHAPTER 6

  Corey followed all three of Noah’s sons out of the village gate. He felt a slight drop in the temperature. The sky was getting darker. The air, colder. Living in Texas, where the weather changed in an instant, helped Corey understand what was happening. A great storm was coming.

  “Who’s Elizar?”

  Shem gave Corey a long look, as if deciding whether to answer the question.

  “His name means ‘The One Who Deceives.’ He uses dark arts to perform magic. You are not the first one to imagine these days, Corey. The people who follow him would say that he is the one who can get you home.”