This Scarlet Cord by Joan Wolf Page A

armies of Heshbon and Og and destroying all those who lived in their lands. The entrance into Canaan itself lay through Jericho, and Sala understood that Joshua’s army would be just as merciless here if it were able to get into the city.
    It is only right that this should happen. Elohim is with us and this is what He wishes—His land to be in the possession of His people. I must put my trust in Elohim. If we follow His will, He will always be with us .
    Sala and his father had passed through the wall that separated the two parts of the city and the Sign of the Olive was right in front of them.
    “Shall we stop for some supper?” Lord Nahshon asked.
    Sala agreed and they found a table and ordered food. Sala was eating and watching the people walk by on the street. He took particular notice of one family group, mainly because other people on the street were turning their heads to watch as the three women and two men passed by. As they drew closer, Sala’s eyes were drawn to one of the girls. Her head carriage and walk were so proud and lovely that she reminded him of a ship in full sail.
    He looked closer and felt his eyes widen. She was an amazingly beautiful girl. Her black hair fell in a shining loose braid over her shoulder, her skin glowed, her full mouth . . . Sala shook his head as if to clear it.
    She stopped outside the wine shop door and looked in. For the first time Sala saw her huge dark eyes. His own mouth dropped open. He remembered those eyes. He would never forget them, filled with terror as she raced down the street in Gaza toward him.
    Rahab . He said the word soundlessly. The two men with her were looking around the shop as well, clearly searching for a free table. There were none to be had and the family was turning away when, without any conscious thought, Sala leaped to his feet and ran out into the street to stand in front of them and stop them from leaving. He looked at the girl’s startled face and said, “Rahab!”
    She looked back and for a terrible minute he thought she didn’t know who he was. Then her face broke into a radiant smile.
    “Sala! Is it really you?” Her voice was even huskier than he remembered.
    “Yes.” He tried to laugh. “It is really me.”
    “What are you doing here?”
    They said it at the same time, and then they laughed together. Her teeth were so white, her mouth so delicious.
    What had happened to the skinny, brave little girl he remembered?
    “I am here with my family for a visit,” she said. “What about you? Are you here with your father?”
    Suddenly he realized what he had done. Rahab’s family knows we are Israelites. They could reveal our true identities .
    His father’s voice spoke from behind him. “Who are these people, Aru?”
    “Lord Nahshon!” Rahab said eagerly. “Don’t you remember me? I’m Rahab—the girl Sala rescued from the kidnappers. This is my family. You met my brother, Shemu, when he came to bring me home. This is his wife, Atene, and my father, Mepu, and my mother, Kata.”
    She was glowing with delight at this unexpected reunion. Sala glanced at his father’s grim face, then looked back at Rahab. He knew very well that he should not have stopped her, but somehow he could not bring himself to be sorry.

Nine
    R AHAB COULD HARDLY BELIEVE HER EYES. I T WAS S ALA. Here in Jericho. Right now—right in front of her! She wanted to hug him but settled for a smile.
    He looked so good. He was taller than his father now, and so handsome. She liked everything about his face: his thin curved nose, his warm brown eyes, his clean-cut cheekbones. He looked older too, more like a man than a boy.
    She heard her father saying, “Who is this man, Rahab?”
    “It’s Sala, Papa. Remember the time I was a kid—”
    “Stop!” Sala’s voice was deeper than she remembered it, and he was staring desperately into her eyes. “Don’t say any more, Rahab, not until we can go somewhere private.”
    Lord Nahshon stepped forward and spoke to