SET YOUR MIND on things above with TAKEN--A Metaphysical Fantasy Audio Drama. He was wanted a cure. He found the Creator.
SYNOPSIS:
Enoch, an alpha-tracker and possessor of the One Mind, lives in a time of turmoil at the dawn of mankind. The curse promised by the Ancient One has come to pass. First Father Adam is dead and the dreaded plague that almost decimated the tribes 291 years ago has returned. Murder they understood. Father Cain taught them that. But, this sudden disappearance of the life force terrifies the clans of Adamah. They must find the “Bearer of the Seed”—the son of Eve the prophecy declares will cure the sickness and defeat death. Enoch and his powerful rival, Tubal-Cain, are chosen for the quest of a lifetime or rather the quest that will end their lives—find the cure, a miraculous healing plant known to grow near the Forbidden Garden, and stave off death once more. Only a fool would risk the dangerous trek to the Edge and the wrath of the terrible creatures guarding it. Only the favored son would find the way and return. Enoch quickly discovers he is not enough, but also he learns, he is not alone. A mysterious stranger leads Enoch through a portal to a metaphysical realm where past, present and future collide and now he finds himself in the middle of an ancient war. Supernatural forces are plotting too—one with a mind to destroy Adam's kind and the other with a heart to save it. Enoch must choose—angel or demon, friend or foe, dark or light before death overcomes and the Seed is destroyed forevermore.
--PLEASE share this UPLIFTING READ with your friends and get ready to SOAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING and MAY THE FAVOR OF THE ANCIENT ONE BE ON YOU. Want to know the Beloved? – Visit - https://youtu.be/Bn4M7t69mB4
--DOWNLOAD TAKEN EBOOK FOR FREE through Amazon Kindle - https://tinyurl.com/y2v29fn6 OR through Barnes and Noble at https://tinyurl.com/cjpb5c6n
--VISIT https://karasmatic.com/TAKEN for updates.
MUSIC/SOUND SOURCES:
SET YOUR MIND on things above with TAKEN--A Metaphysical Fantasy Audio Drama. He was wanted a cure. He found the Creator.
SYNOPSIS:
Enoch, an alpha-tracker and possessor of the One Mind, lives in a time of turmoil at the dawn of mankind. The curse promised by the Ancient One has come to pass. First Father Adam is dead and the dreaded plague that almost decimated the tribes 291 years ago has returned. Murder they understood. Father Cain taught them that. But, this sudden disappearance of the life force terrifies the clans of Adamah. They must find the “Bearer of the Seed”—the son of Eve the prophecy declares will cure the sickness and defeat death. Enoch and his powerful rival, Tubal-Cain, are chosen for the quest of a lifetime or rather the quest that will end their lives—find the cure, a miraculous healing plant known to grow near the Forbidden Garden, and stave off death once more. Only a fool would risk the dangerous trek to the Edge and the wrath of the terrible creatures guarding it. Only the favored son would find the way and return. Enoch quickly discovers he is not enough, but also he learns, he is not alone. A mysterious stranger leads Enoch through a portal to a metaphysical realm where past, present and future collide and now he finds himself in the middle of an ancient war. Supernatural forces are plotting too—one with a mind to destroy Adam's kind and the other with a heart to save it. Enoch must choose—angel or demon, friend or foe, dark or light before death overcomes and the Seed is destroyed forevermore.
--PLEASE share this UPLIFTING READ with your friends and get ready to SOAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING and MAY THE FAVOR OF THE ANCIENT ONE BE ON YOU. Want to know the Beloved? – Visit - https://youtu.be/Bn4M7t69mB4
--DOWNLOAD TAKEN EBOOK FOR FREE through Amazon Kindle - https://tinyurl.com/y2v29fn6 OR through Barnes and Noble at https://tinyurl.com/cjpb5c6n
--VISIT https://karasmatic.com/TAKEN for updates.
MUSIC/SOUND SOURCES:
Chapter 14 - Betrayed
The bright light of sun’s peak peered relentlessly through the folds of the tent. Swirls of red and gold danced before Tubal-Cain’s eyes, spinning wildly out of control. “Agh!” Tubal-Cain groaned as he grabbed at the thick coverings and pulled them over his head, only partially blocking the rays. “My head,” he mumbled and lifted himself clumsily to his feet. “By Adamah’s blood, I will punish the fool who prepared that drink of power!”
“My, my,” a lilting voice said from the tent’s entrance, “those are strong words for a man’s only mother.”
“Oh, mother I didn’t mean—”
“You did mean it,” Zillah chided as she set the large pot of steaming brew on the warming stone, “but hasty words are often misguided. You know very well the drink of power does not harm when its essence is consumed with respect. I would think that fully formed men and those B’Nai Elohim, of all people, would know better, celebration or no, such behavior is an offense to the Ancient One.” Zillah paused as she noticed the slight slump in her son’s large muscular frame. “Never mind that now—a cup of ketu will set you right.”
Tubal-Cain smiled gratefully at his mother as he dipped a small cup into the pot and sipped the hot liquid. She was still a woman pleasing to the eye, even if she was past the fresh bloom of first age. It was easy to see where Naamah derived her great beauty and a pity his father overlooked it. “You are most gracious mother,” Tubal-Cain said.
“That I am,” Zillah replied with satisfaction. She began tidying the unkempt dwelling. “You know it’s high time you chose a wife. She would keep things in order, including that temper of yours. Or, at least let the sebassi come and fix things up a bit.”
“Mother please, do not start—you know Father has not given me permission to wed yet. Besides, Naamah helps me when she can and—where is Naamah? I am hungry. She usually leaves a meal for me at sun’s birth.”
“Ask your father,” Zillah said flatly, frowning as she leaned against the large beam in the center of the tent.
“I am asking you, Mother.”
“Don’t you remember? Or has the drink of power made you senseless too? She left with B’Nai Elohim Semjaza. She spent last sun’s sleep with him,” Zillah said.
“What!” Tubal-Cain rubbed his head absently as he tried to remember last eve. Lamech’s temper, the B’Nai Elohim, the communion meal—all passed before his eyes in a blur. He remembered the drink of power, much of it, and the smoke of heaven, the talking—Oh! He remembered now—Lamech’s dealing and Naamah leaving with Semjaza! What had he been thinking? Why didn’t he say anything?
“I tried to stop your father. I tried to make him wait,” Zillah said, rubbing her cheek tenderly, “and was not treated kindly for it.”
“Why—why would he do that? There has been no ceremony, no consecration. Naamah will be shunned and cast aside. And, she was promised to Letah.” Tubal-Cain tossed the empty cup aside and hastily threw his bright red robe over his under covering. “I can’t imagine what the families must be saying. We will be a byword and a—”
“Now son, be strong and wise.” Zillah tied the golden sash of the first born around his waist. “I have covered the matter as best as I could. But Letah is beginning to ask questions. Just, go see your father. If he agrees to do a ceremony quickly, we may yet spare your sister’s name.”
“Yes, Mother.” Tubal-Cain rushed from his tent toward his father’s larger dwelling.
“That’s my boy,” Zillah said with a smirk, “time to teach the fox.”
###
Tubal-Cain stormed past the sebassi scurrying in and out his father’s dwelling and scowled until his face crinkled like a raisin. Must stop Father. Must find Naamah. Must stop Father—the thoughts intensified his aching head. Tubal-Cain thrust aside the fur-lined curtains and bounded into his father’s tent without permission—looking more like Lamech than ever. “Father, you must retrieve Naamah this instant and give her a proper ceremony,” Tubal-Cain ordered boldly. The sebassi who had been attending Lamech dashed from the tent without a word.
Lamech looked up slowly from his bowl of figs, glowering at Tubal-Cain. “If you weren’t my son and a first-born,” Lamech stuffed another plump fruit into his mouth, “I would teach you what it means to disturb my meal with foolishness.”
“Father,” Tubal-Cain stammered, recognizing Lamech’s familiar temper ready to flare, “I meant no offense. It’s just that—”
“Yes,” snapped Father Lamech, still tearing into the fruit one after the other, not bothering to wipe the sweet juice dribbling down his chin, “it’s just what?”
“Well, honored one,” Tubal-Cain said more diplomatically, “I know the arrangement with the B’Nai Elohim Semjaza is one of great importance. But, Father, why have you not consummated the union with the proper ceremony? What will the tribesmen say? How can they respect our family when your daughter is treated like—like a common nuta!”
Father Lamech exploded. But, not in the way Tubal-Cain expected. Lamech’s face cracked as peals of laughter rocked his entire frame. “My boy, my boy,” Lamech said, patting Tubal-Cain on the back, “there’s nothing wrong with the company of a nuta.” Lamech laughed again at the shocked expression on Tubal-Cain’s face. “Ah— never mind that now. When you take a wife, you will understand. As for your sister Naamah, she is no nuta. Yes, I may have acted with haste. But such a move was a necessity, Tubal-Cain. You see I can tell when a man is ready to move—and that Semjaza was ready. By Adamah’s blood, if I had not acted swiftly, he surely would have found pleasure with another and we would not have the advantage, now would we?”
“But Father, mother said—”
“So that’s it! Zillah’s mouth has been running and twisting like the mighty Pishon again. Tubal-Cain, haven’t I taught you that women are not to be trusted in these things.”
“But—”
“Listen, my son. I have my arms around the matter. Naamah will have a ceremony—”
“Good Father, I knew you had the wisdom of the Ancient in—”
“—as soon as she conceives.”
“What!”
“Tubal-Cain!” Lamech barked sharply, “Calm yourself.”
Tubal-Cain pressed his lips together, forcing himself to be silent and obey his father’s command, just as he had as a childling.
“There was no other way. The B’nai Elohim Semjaza is no fool. He had no intentions of marrying a daughter of Eve who could not produce him a son.”
Tubal-Cain’s mouth formed a perfect “o”, though the sound never came out. Instead, he stared intently at his father as the realization sunk in—of course, a son of God would not allow himself to be bound in a fruitless union as an ordinary man. Of course! He would want to be sure.
“Now you understand my son. Swift action had to be taken. It was absolutely necessary. A man must be flexible in these matters. I am not concerned. Naamah will be fruitful as her mother was—she is not afflicted with the sickness. She will have her ceremony—the most extravagant any daughter of Eve has ever seen. Then, the will of the Ancient One will be done. No harm will come of it. You see, my boy, the Ancient has given us a mind,” Lamech said as he tapped Tubal-Cain firmly on the forehead, “and we must use the good sense he gave us if the prophecy is to be fulfilled.”
“Father forgive my foolishness,” Tubal-Cain grinned as he kneeled to honor him.
“No matter, my son,” Lamech gave Tubal-Cain a hand up. “But I will need your help. The tribesman will soon begin to talk. Some of the women are already asking questions, and they will not be put off much longer by our excuses. We will have to explain Naamah’s presence in Semjaza’s—”
“So, it is true then!” Letah stumbled into the room.
Lamech turned to face the new intrusion. “I would not be so bold if I were you, Letah.” His coarse voice was smooth with contempt.
Tubal-Cain moved silently to the corner of the room, too familiar with his father’s low tone. Lamech was most violent, not when yelling and screaming curses, but in these quiet moments of measured hate.
Letah stopped when he noticed Tubal-Cain’s retreat. “Father Lamech, I—” Letah stammered as he dropped to one knee and bowed his head, “I meant no offense. But, I just came from the B’nai Elohim Semjaza’s tent and—”
“And what?” Lamech snapped.
“Well, they, I mean he—the one called Hazazel told me that you gave Naamah to Semjaza. And then as I was coming to see you, I heard you. I heard you tell Tubal-Cain.” Letah pointed at Tubal-Cain who remained in the corner of the tent. “Please, most honored one, tell me there has been confusion on my part. Surely you would not do this thing to your faithful sebassi.”
Lamech stared at the pitiful figure, kneeling at his feet with tears brimming in his eyes. “Get up you fool! A faithful sebassi would not bother his master with nonsense. As Naamah’s father you know very well that I have the right to give her to whom I please. And it pleases me to give her to the B’Nai Elohim Semjaza, a man befitting her great beauty, who can offer her the moon and the stars in return, not just a life of scuffling and scurrying.”
“But, you gave me your word—I was her intended! Everyone knows I was her intended,” Letah said, stumbling to his feet as he backed away in disbelief. “You can’t—”
“I can, Letah, and I have,” Lamech sneered as he stalked toward Letah, “and if you have the sense of the Ancient One in you at all, you had better not interfere with my plans.”
“But you promised. You gave your word—”
“Silence, you fool!” Lamech slapped Letah squarely across the cheek.
Letah held his cheek—unable to find the words that should have come.
“If you ever dishonor me again, I will make you a slug among men. I will put you down so low no son of Cain will ever think of allowing his daughter to marry one such as you,” Lamech gave Letah a final push that sent him tumbling out of the tent and crashing into the water pots just outside the door. “Now get out of my sight!” Lamech yelled so loudly a few elders came out of their dwellings to see the cause of the commotion.
Letah slowly lifted himself up as droplets fell like tears from his soaked garment and dotted the muddy earth. With head hanging and shoulders drooping, he cringed while the elders snickered at the object of Father Lamech’s latest tirade.
“Letah, quick—come this way,” a voice whispered.
Letah raised his head. Father Lamech’s wife, Zillah was motioning to him. She held out a clean, dry sebassi garment and a large blanket. Grateful, Letah followed her into the smaller tent next to Father Lamech’s dwelling.
###
“Where was I before that foolish Letah disturbed us?” Father Lamech returned to his bowl of figs. “Oh, yes—Semjaza.” Tubal-Cain still lingered in the corner. “Tubal-Cain, sit,” Father Lamech commanded, pointing to the space opposite him. “Have some, please.”
Tubal-Cain devoured the fruit, licking his fingers between bites.
“That’s it—eat up! Enjoy yourself,” Lamech said, grinning broadly. “Semjaza will go through with the marriage to Naamah. I am sure of it. But in the meanwhile, we have another situation.”
“What troubles you, Father?”
“The Ceremony of the Bearer must be stopped.”
“Stopped?” A fig fell from Tubal-Cain’s mouth—he grabbed it before it hit the floor and tossed it back into his mouth. “I know you are upset with the High Council’s decision, we all are, but Great Mother Eve has the word of the Elders— Enoch is the Bearer. How can it be stopped?”
“Great Mother Eve is surely cursed and full of the sickness, even though she tries to conceal it. I have my sources. She grows weaker with the sleeping of each sun. And the Tribe of Cain will not be subject to her deceit any longer. Obviously, her mind is twisted. If it was not, how could she not see the hand of the Ancient One on you? It was you who brought back the Elohim, the sons of God. What did Enoch do? Nothing, I tell you. A few bundles of alroue are nothing compared to the revelation the Ancient has given you. Why, the union between the B’Nai Elohim Semjaza and Naamah is the fulfillment of the prophecy. From their seed, a tribe of redeemed men, free of the curse and full of the Ancient One’s essence, will flourish and fill all Adamah. And you, my son, deserve all the credit. This is your birthright. It is your destiny to atone for Father Cain and bring honor to our tribe. Why else would he protect Father Cain’s life for so long, if not to restore him? By Adamah’s blood! I will not let that Enoch swindle your birthright from you! No, it is the Hidden Father’s will to use you to restore the Tribe of Cain and all the sons of Adam.”
“But, how Father?” Tubal-Cain stood up and paced the room. “What can be done now?”
“Stop the ceremony. Appeal to the people directly. If the High Council makes a rule that is unjust, the people have a right to know about it. I am sure if they had the chance to decide, they would not choose Enoch, now would they?”
“Perhaps not,” Tubal-Cain said. “Many of the people prefer me over Enoch. I know that. They can see my strength and skill as a hunter. And truly we have fed the people using the wisdom of the Ancient to tame the wild plants and animals. Even the Tribe of Seth has acknowledged our favor.” He stopped pacing abruptly. “It might work, just before the offering is made. Everyone will be gathered—all the first-borns will be presented just before the new Bearer is honored—it might work.”
“Yes, that’s it Tubal-Cain.” Father Lamech’s craggy voice was rich with approval. “Now you are using the mind of the Ancient One.”
Tubal-Cain quickly adjusted his outer cloak, making sure the gold and red banners of the first-born, were prominently displayed. “Most honored Father,” Tubal-Cain said with a quick bow, “be at ease. I will fulfill the will of the Ancient One.”
“With you, my son, my mind is as free as the wind.” Father Lamech smiled again as he filled his pipe and set the crushed leaves afire. “I knew we could count on you. Father Cain will be most pleased.”
Tubal-Cain left the tent fueled by the warmth of his father’s praise.
###
“Never you mind about Father Lamech now, just never you mind.” Zillah consoled the dripping servant as she hung a blanket from the rafters. “Get behind there now, quickly Letah, and give me those wet clothes. Such a shame Lamech is treating his best sebassi this way—doesn’t have the sense of the Ancient One.”
“Aye sister, tis true.” Adah, Lamech’s other wife, entered the tent and grabbed Letah’s wet clothes off the floor. “Saw the whole thing, heard it no less, all the way from Jubal’s tent two lengths over. That Lamech is without bounds. Someone should teach him the respect of the Ancient One—and treating his own daughter that way—a common nuta! Why the men are already calling her Naamah the nuta and making bets on who will be next. It’s just a shame, oh—”
A pitiful groan on the other side of the blanket and Zillah’s muffled sobs stopped Adah’s frank telling of the day’s news. “Oh my. I am sorry Zillah. Didn’t mean to be so, well—”
Adah rushed to her side and dabbed Zillah’s tears with the sleeve of her cloak—small remnants from the morning’s meal stuck to Zillah’s face. “Oh dear, I am sorry sister.” She tried to pat away the mess, but when the beginning of a red welt formed on Zillah’s cheek, she left off rubbing and patted her shoulder instead. “You know I love Naamah as if she were my own. It’s just a shame—that Lamech will bring a curse on us!”
“All is forgiven sister. You speak the truth.” Adah rubbed her tender check. “Lamech has caused us nothing but pain, and now he has betrayed Letah as well. The elders will repeat the tale of Letah the fool for ages to come—if only something could be done.”
“You are wise women, indeed,” Letah said quietly, “but Father Lamech is a great man, though much evil rests in his heart, what could be done to one such as him?”
“Yes—you see the difficulty in the matter,” Zillah said calmly. “He is an angry one. The fierceness of Cain is strong in him. Tis a shame that nothing short of death would stop him.”
“Death?” Letah raised his voice, surprised. “But only the Ancient One has the authority to kill a man.”
“Indeed, but did not the Ancient One say, ‘a man who sins shall surely die.’ If any man has sinned, it is Father Lamech.”
“Tis true sister. He has sinned against the Ancient One and his own family with his rebellious acts,” Adah said, shaking her head. “Tis a shame someone so twisted should live.”
“But Father Lamech is strong as the cedars of Avenland and as cunning as the fox. How could his essence be taken from him?” Letah asked.
Zillah leaned in close and spoke in hushed tones. “Someone strong and true could do it—if they acted boldly. Then, all would be restored. The insult to you would be avenged and your honor affirmed by the tribe. Father Lamech is strong, but not invincible. Why, even Naamah’s wedding to the B’Nai Elohim Semjaza might be prevented if—if only someone was bold enough to stop Father Lamech.”
Zillah crinkled her nose as a foul scent wafted through the tent. “You need to toss your old garment, Letah. Tis too spoiled for washing.”
“I will take care of it. But about Father Lamech? If someone were so bold—” Letah hesitated. “how could it be done?”
“That Lamech is a cunning one. He must be caught unaware. It is the only way. For no one is swifter at a challenge than he, not even Tubal-Cain has been able to best his father. But, if someone were to challenge him when he is distracted and full of strong drink, they might—no, they could best him.”
Letah, Zillah and Adah talked a great while.
Finally, Letah gathered his old damp garment into his arms and headed back to the sebassi quarters to help with preparations. He stepped lightly, not with the tread of one forlorn and rejected, but with a firmer stride than he had ever possessed. Smiling slightly, he greeted them cheerfully and threw his old garment into the trash before joining the work. Letah covered his nose. There was that smell again—like decaying flesh. One of the sebassi must have left the hunter’s catch in the heat too long. Obviously someone had already reprimanded the servant’s error and tossed it as rubbish.