Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar Page A

more to say. She appreciated the interruption. She did not feel qualified to defend herself with any great gusto.
    “If they find out you harbored Hebrew spies, they’ll kill you. And they’ll kill us for having had the misfortune of being your family.”
    A stretch of shocked silence followed Joa’s comment, and Rahab swallowed hard. Although she could not blame them for being resentful, it still hurt to be chewed up and cast out.
    “Why should they find out?” she asked, straining to keep her voice steady. “Look, what do you have to lose, any of you? If you say nothing, no one in Jericho will be any the wiser. But if the Hebrews do come and overrun our walls as they have done to all the other cities, our lives will be spared.
    “Next week you and your families come and stay with me for a while. You can go to work as usual, but not too far. An alarm will be raised if their army is sighted, and you will have time to runback here to safety. And if they don’t come you can go home without loss. Only think what would happen if they come and defeat our army and you are not here; think of what you would forfeit then. For weeks you have spoken of little but your fear of the Hebrews. Now you have no need to fear. Your lives shall be spared no matter what happens.”
    “How can you trust them? You’re taking the word of lawless pagans! What good is that?” Joa spat out.
    “Their God treats oaths with gravity, and they obey Him most strictly. Again, I put it before you: what shall you lose by following my suggestions?”
    In the end, everyone decided to stay with Rahab for a few weeks. They spent the next seven days buying necessities, which the rest of Jericho was also doing for fear of an impending siege. It made for long lines, astronomical prices, and frustrating and sometimes fruitless waits. At least they were one of the few places in Canaan that need not worry about water; Jericho boasted plenty of natural springs, which had grown abundant again since the drought year.
    Everyone worried about a long and tedious besiegement. Rahab prepared for a short and conclusive one. She bought little, for she knew if the Hebrews won she would only be able to take what could be carried on her back. How Israel would accomplish this feat, she knew not, merely that they would bring down the walls of her native city. The Hebrews would win.

     
    Hanani and Ezra lingered in the hills for three days as Rahab had advised. Hanani rationed their small store of food to ensure it would last until they returned home. A delicate brook provided plenty to drink, and as the days remained warm, their lack of blankets proved a small inconvenience. They took turns keeping watch at night, vigilant for evidence of an approaching attack. But Rahab showed herself reliable once again, and no enemy came.
    Early the fourth day they came down from the hills and set out for Israel’s camp at a jog. It took most of the day to reach the Jordan, and when they arrived Hanani stared at its turbulent waters. The river frothed and danced with perverse maliciousness, as if laughing at their attempt to cross. The flooding was even greater than before.
    Ezra jumped in without hesitation, and Hanani, not about to remain behind, took a deep breath and followed suit. He found it tough going from the first step, but realized he had to keep moving or the current would bury him. He pushed on, barely able to see through lashes matted with water. As he squinted toward the opposite shore he spotted Ezra, slightly downstream. Ezra was in serious trouble. He was closer to land, but clearly in the grip of a fierce eddy, which was pulling him under.
    Hanani groaned. He had to find a way to reach Ezra. Up ahead, he noticed a long branch hanging in the water. Sending up an incoherent prayer, he made for the branch. He had no choice but to trust that it was sturdy. He intended to use it like a rope with which to anchor himself while pulling his friend out. Keeping one eye on the