Song of the Shepherd Woman Read online

Not certain of the correct answer, Channah gave the question a moment’s thought. “Sometimes men would come and visit with Uncle Yakov. Mother and I would leave them alone and keep very quiet behind the house.”

  “Yael and I are lax in our religious observations. Sheep do not know one day from another. Wolves, either, for that matter.” He used a rock to break open an almond. “Still, I am relieved to know we are not imposing our heathen ways on a devout child.”

  Since she could not bring herself to refuse food, Channah was certain she needed to find some other way to avoid being a burden. She watched as Avram rolled back the stone gate that morning. He called to the animals as if they were human and walked away with the sheep following behind. Yael waited until the enclosure was almost empty, and then she took Channah’s hand. They walked behind the flock, with Yael now and then using her staff to give stragglers a nudge in the right direction.

  Later that morning, Yael led Channah near Avram, who sat on the ground with a sheep on her rump between his legs and a small knife in his fist. Yael used her hands to indicate Channah was to remain behind and then slowly walked away.

  “What are you doing, Uncle?”

  Avram kept his eyes on his work. “I am trimming back her hooves.”

  Her uncle’s tone of voice revealed no impatience. Therefore, she risked another question. “Why?”

  “An overgrown hoof collects dirt and dung, which can cause fever and swelling. Neglected sheep can die from infected feet.”

  “Does the trimming hurt them?”

  “No.” Avram glanced toward Channah and gestured with his knife. “Her hooves are like your fingernails, thicker of course. As long as I am careful not to trim too deeply, it is painless.”

  Channah edged closer. “Could I do it?”

  “I’ll teach you someday if you like.” Avram released one hoof and grasped another. “You will need to grow stronger hands first.” He turned the ewe upright and rubbed her wool. “There you go, Little Twin, all trimmed up.”

  After sheathing his knife, Avram asked, “Are you interested in learning how to care for a herd?”

  “Yes, Uncle.”

  “Why?”

  “You and Auntie have plenty of food.”

  Avram covered his mouth and shook with laughter. “Bless me,” he said after recovering his composure. “I’d forgotten how honest children are. Very well. This afternoon, I will begin by teaching you something simple. For now, go and see what Yael is doing. If she has made a campfire, then she plans to bake bread and you should help her. If she is sitting and gazing into the distance, return and let her be.”

  Later that day, Avram allowed Channah to sit by him while he anointed the head of a ewe he called Wanderer. “Rub the oil all over her head. Gently massage a good coating all around inside her ears,” he said. “Apply pressure with your thumbs, but not too so much that you hurt her. The oil will keep insects from taking up residence in there.”

  Channah was thrilled when her uncle let her spread the olive oil he poured on a sheep’s head. “I think this one’s name is Little Twin,” she said.

  “How do you know?” Avram re-did the ewe’s left ear but did not scold Channah.

  “Because you said her name this morning. She has a black spot on her nose.”

  The old man smiled. “You are correct, although Big Twin has the same spot.”

  Since her uncle did not seem to mind questions, she asked, “Do all of the sheep have names?”

  “Yes,” he replied. “When you have been with them longer, you will see how individual they are. My sheep are like my children.”

  Avram released Little Twin, and his body stiffened. He held up a hand, as if to signal for silence. He snapped his face to his left, appearing to listen intently.

  Channah sat motionless, catching the faint melody of a shepherd’s pipe in the distance.

  After a moment, Avram arose. He put away the oil and stashed his bag of supplies in the hollow of a rock. “We are about to have company.” He slung his iron bow over a shoulder. “Go and bring Yael. I want the two of you near me when we greet our visitor.”

  When Channah leapt to her feet, Avram put a hand on her shoulder. “Remember to walk, and do not be afraid. One man is no threat against your Auntie and me.”

  As she made her way across the meadow, Channah saw Yael coming to meet her. “Uncle Avram says to come.”

  Yael nodded and tapped her ear. Though Channah had no idea what the gesture meant, she followed her aunt’s sedate pace toward the vantage point where Avram now stood.

  “Are you lost, friend?” Avram asked the well-dressed man riding a donkey up the hill.

  The man smiled as he slid off his mount. “Greetings. I do not exactly where I am, but I would not describe myself as lost, either. I simply decided to ride out and enjoy the countryside, perhaps see if the wildflowers have started to bloom.”

  “Taking a ride?” Avram’s face revealed no emotion. “On the Sabbath?”

  The man lifted his chin and led his donkey nearer. “Only the Pharisees abide by those old-fashioned rules these days, and I suppose devoted Sadducees as well.” He smiled. “I have nothing against those who practice the old ways, so long as they do not try to make me conform.” He jiggled the leather reins in his hand for a moment. “I left my home early and have not eaten since. Do you have some spare food you would be willing to sell me?”

  “Leave your animal and come.” Avram gave a slight nod to Yael. She frowned before turning to pick her way down the gentle slope.

  Chapter Four

  In view of the sheep, but still some distance away, Yael offered a tray of bread and cheese to the stranger. He and Avram sat on the ground cross-legged, facing each other. “Wine?” Avram held up a flask.

  “Yes, thank you.” The stranger ate slowly, with his eyes darting left and right. “You have a fine herd. Have you been a shepherd long?”

  Avram poured a portion of wine for his guest and another for himself. “All of my life.”

  Yael sank to the earth, a short distance behind the stranger. Following her aunt’s example, Channah sat nearby. She watched Yael unobtrusively unsheathe her knife and hide it in her lap, beneath a fold of her tunic.

  “I should introduce myself.” The stranger took a gulp of wine. “I am Samuel, son of Mattathias, from Hebron.”

  “You are a long way from home.”

  “My father is a wool merchant. He is thinking of expanding our business.” He made a sweeping gesture toward Avram’s flock. “Very soon it will be time for shearing.” He munched a chunk of bread before adding, “The taxes on your bounty will be very high.”

  Avram nodded.

  “Everyone says these hills are riddled with caves,” Samuel said. “Since you are constantly out in the fields, you probably know where many of them are located.”

  Folding his arms, Avram replied, “My time is occupied managing my sheep. I do not go exploring.”

  “I understand.” Samuel ate a few bites before speaking again. “I heard about a shepherd near Hebron who became quite wealthy. He hid his wool in caves at shearing time. Later he sold it in secret, out of the tax collector’s sight.”

  Channah watched Yael ease her hand into the fold of fabric where her knife rested.

  Samuel drank more wine. “I do not suppose you know of anyone doing such a thing here?”

  Avram stared at his visitor for a long while. “A man who would attempt such a scheme is a fool.” He stretched his arms. “I did know a baker who tried to cheat on his taxes. He was scourged with whips and thrown into prison. As far as I know, he is still there. Care for more wine?”

  “Yes, thank you. I must say it is excellent.” Samuel held out the metal cup to Avram.

  “I make wine the way my grandfather did. We ferment the grapes in ram’s blood. It adds a rich smoothness to the flavor.”

  Samuel quickly jerked the cup back to his chest. “On second thought, perhaps I should be going. Thank you for sharing your food with m
e.” He took a coin from a small leather pouch.

  Avram waved his hand. “Keep your money. My hospitality is free.”

  As he rose and shook out his tunic, the stranger said, “I am in your debt—uh—what was your name?”

  “My name does not matter.” Avram stood and took up his shepherd’s staff. “Good day, my friend.” After walking with Samuel to the top of the hill, Avram took out his pipe and began to play a tune.

  Channah helped to pick up the remains of the stranger’s meal and followed Yael to the little spring near the meadow. Whenever her anxiety about the aunt and uncle began to subside, some unsettling remark reminded Channah how terribly odd they were. “Auntie, does Uncle Avram have to kill a sheep to make wine? Or does he just take some blood from a wound?”

  Yael grinned and made a sound something like a chuckle. She shook her head and waved her arms, but Channah could not gather any understanding from her aunt’s movements.

  Later that afternoon, Avram stretched out on the ground in the shade of a boulder and went to sleep. Channah lingered with her aunt. Several times each day, Yael channeled water from the nearby spring to a large rock basin carved into the ground. Earlier, Channah had asked Avram if she could teach the sheep to drink from the spring or the small brook it fed. With a smile, her uncle explained the silly animals feared running water. Therefore, she assisted Yael to rupture the little earthen obstruction to allow the water to flow. When the hollowed-out depression was full, they repaired the dam to keep the sheep’s drinking water still.

  Channah watched with fascination as Yael slung a small rock, chasing away a big black bird who pecked at a sheep. “You missed him,” Channah observed.

  With a cocked eyebrow, Yael pointed toward a scrubby tree in the distance. She selected a small stone and slung it, hitting the middle of the tree’s trunk. Then Yael handed her slingshot to Channah and again pointed toward the tree.

  From Yael’s gestures, Channah understood she was to try her hand. She picked up and discarded several small rocks before Yael chose one for her. After placing the smooth stone in the sling, Channah whirled it above her head, imitating Yael’s earlier motions. When Channah launched the rock, it thudded to the ground near her own feet instead of speeding toward the tree.

  Instead of laughing or scolding, Yael stood behind Channah, put her hands on the girl’s arms, and demonstrated the correct way to make the rock fly toward the target. Although Channah never hit the tree, she enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment when a stone landed anywhere near it. After she tired of the game, Channah handed the slingshot to her aunt. Yael pushed Channah’s hand back, motioning for Channah to tuck the sling into her belt. Though she wished for better words, “Thank you, Auntie,” was the best she could do. The simple gratitude appeared to be sufficient when Yael beamed at her.

  As the three of them sat at their evening meal, Channah stared into her cup of wine mixed with creek water. Remembering how Yakov made sure everyone in his household expressed their appreciation for the food he worked hard to provide for them, she lifted the cup and looked at the reddish liquid. She would taste blood if she drank. Suddenly aware of Yael’s eyes on her, Channah slowly brought the wine to her lips.

  Yael frowned. She tapped noisily on the side of her cup.

  “What?” Avram asked, lifting his gaze from his food.

  Yael pointed at Channah, who still sat trying to force herself to take a sip of wine. Avram had a puzzled look. Then his sudden explosion of laughter seemed to shake the tent.

  “Oh, child,” he said, as he caught his breath. “Surely you know there really is no blood in the wine.” He giggled, sounding more like a girl than a man. “Bless me. Channah, if you believed what I said this afternoon, perhaps our visitor did as well.” He laughed again. “My reputation as a lunatic is intact.”

  Growing more solemn, Avram said, “You see, there is more to raising sheep than watching over the herd. People can be more dangerous than any wild animal. That man who rode up on the donkey today? He is quite capable of bringing us trouble.” The old man set his plate aside with a sigh. “His name may be Samuel, and perhaps he comes from Hebron. It is equally likely that everything he told us was a lie. My guess is that he was sent to spy on the shepherds in this area to make sure we are paying all the taxes we are supposed to.”

  Channah struggled to understand. “He is a Roman?”

  “No,” Avram said. “I know he is a Judean from the way he spoke.” He exhaled loudly. “I expect the Romans to mistreat us. We are a conquered people, after all. But when brothers betray each other ...” He shook his head. “Ah, well, we shall hope this ‘Samuel’ is nothing more than a dishonest and very foolish tradesman.”

  Soon after eating, Avram bade them a peaceful night and went outside. With no prompting, Channah prepared her bed as Yael had shown her when she first arrived. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but she knew her aunt did not give explanations. If she wanted any information beyond a simple yes or no, she would have to ask Avram.

  Chapter Five

  Each evening, Channah assured herself the next day would bring a messenger with news that Yakov had changed his mind and wanted her to return home. However, more than a week passed before Channah saw any human being other than her aunt and uncle. One morning, Avram charged into the tent with his usual announcement of the sunrise, but Yael remained on her bed.

  Avram knelt beside his wife and spoke words Channah could not hear. He rose and glanced around. “Auntie is not feeling well,” he said. “Eat something and pack up our food portion for today. You and I will do the work today, child.” He glanced toward his wife. “I am certain we can manage.”

  Channah filled a leather bag with cheese and the remains of yesterday’s bread. When her aunt opened her eyes, Channah went to her bedside. “Do you want something to eat?”

  Yael extended an arm from her covers and waved away the notion of food. She took Channah’s hand and gave it a weak squeeze before pulling the blanket to her chin.

  When Avram led the flock from the enclosure, Channah tried to keep the stragglers moving as Yael normally did, hoping she did not make a mistake. She kept busy during the morning with chores such as diverting running water into a still pool for the animals to drink. When the ewe named Little Twin cried out, Channah found the foolish animal lying on her back. She gently rolled Little Twin to one side, remembering her uncle’s earlier comment that a sheep on its back was unable to arise without assistance. Little Twin jumped to her feet and bleated what Channah took to be an expression of gratitude.

  Soon the sheep were resting in the shade of the few scrubby trees. Channah wandered toward the spot where Avram sat dozing. He jumped when her footstep in a bed of pebbles made a crunching sound.

  Avram scanned the horizon, his eyes darting here and there. “I used to be able to stay awake after standing watch at night, one of the many lost benefits of youth.” He stretched his arms and yawned. “You have watered the animals?”

  “Yes, Uncle.” Channah was proud of her morning’s work. “They are resting now.”

  “So I see. I think someday you may be as skilled a shepherdess as my sweet Yael. She was so eager to learn, always asking questions, most of them beginning with why.”

  Surprise allowed words to fly from Channah’s unguarded mouth. “There was a time when Auntie could speak?”

  “Oh, my, yes.” He stared into the distance. “And she sang like a turtle dove cooing. All day long, humming and singing, telling me stories to pass the time. That was years ago, but I can still hear her voice in my mind.” Avram stood and took up his staff.

  Channah pondered this new information. “What happened to make Auntie stop speaking?”

  Avram turned his fierce eyes on Channah, his nostrils flaring from deep breaths. After a long moment, his face softened. “You do not know. Of course not.” He tapped the end of his staff on the ground. “It was long before you were born. Yael’s mother was ill, and she went to the village to ta
ke care of her. Naturally, she took the baby along because he was still nursing.” His pause was so lengthy Channah began to think her uncle would not complete his explanation. Then, as abruptly as he had stopped, Avram took up his narrative again. “Yael fought them, but she was no match for armed soldiers. They murdered our little son, and they almost killed her, too.”

  “The Romans are evil.”

  “No disagreement there. These were King Herod’s men.” Avram shook his head.

  “But why, Uncle?”

  “Who knows? Fear. Insecurity. Insanity. The mighty king had Bethlehem’s baby boys slaughtered so no one of them could grow up and take his crown.”

  Channah cringed when her uncle muttered a curse she occasionally heard in the marketplace, using a word no one ever dared to speak in Yakov’s home. She sat staring at her lap, where her hands twisted at her tunic. Her shadow reminded her the sun was almost directly overhead—time to serve the midday meal. She stood to announce her intention. “Now I—”

  Avram quieted Channah with a hand motion. He stood motionless, turning his head to face the light breeze. After a long moment, he broke into a smile. “There will be three of us eating.”

  Channah unloaded food to the two trays she had with her. In the distance, she heard a shepherd’s pipe. Turning toward the sound, she was stunned to see a man approaching on a donkey, piping a merry tune. Perhaps Avram was not only insane but was also possessed of a demon. How else was he able to predict the arrival of strangers? Nevertheless, she prepared the trays, while wrapping her own portion of food in the corner of her shawl.

  “Caleb, my friend.” Avram barely waited for the man to dismount before embracing him. “Surely spring must be here if you are out and about.”

  The thin man’s hair and beard were gray. Unlike Avram’s unruly locks, Caleb’s were scraggly and spare. “Greetings, Avram. I trust I find you and Yael in good health.”

  “My wife is resting today, but for the most part she is doing well. The arrival of this child has brightened her life.” Avram pointed. “Channah, daughter of my niece Rebekah. Yael and I will teach her shepherding skills.”