Free Daughter of Deliverance by Gilbert Morris Page A

the hearts of children—” he hesitated—“and women also. Is that the problem?”
    â€œI’m a fool, Achan.” Achan listened as Othniel began to talk. The words tumbled from his lips, and his face grew red.
    â€œWhy do I do things like that, Achan? She’s a married woman and no good. If her husband had caught us, he would have killed me. He may come after me anyway. Everybody knew what was happening.”
    â€œHe wouldn’t dare attack the nephew of our great leader Caleb, but I expect you’d better stay away from him.”
    â€œWhen a man’s angry enough and when he’s been wronged, he’ll do anything.”
    â€œWell, the thing to do,” Achan said, “is not to let the whole world know what you’re doing. If you want a woman, just be sure you don’t let anyone know about it. A lot of that goes on in the camp.”
    â€œNot with Caleb and Joshua. And Ardon, he’s so holy he wouldn’t think of touching a woman.”
    Achan munched on the dried grapes thoughtfully, then shook his head. “Ardon’s just like the rest of us. We’re all sinners. I am, you are, and Ardon is. He just hasn’t found out about it yet.”
    Othniel laughed bitterly. “You’re a scoundrel, Achan.”
    â€œNot really. I’m just weak. Nothing wrong with being weak. Even Moses is weak.”
    Othniel stared at Achan. “What do you mean by that?”
    â€œHe isn’t a perfect man, and we know a few things he did that were wrong. He admitted it. You’ve heard it. When he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, he said God didn’t like that, so He’s not going to let Moses go into the Promised Land. You see? He’s weak.”
    Othniel found something wrong with the reasoning, but he was so depressed he did not care to argue. “We’re going across the Jordan pretty soon—as soon as Moses leaves. That’s what I hear.”
    â€œI can’t wait to get there. Just think of all the spoil we’ll get. Silver, gold, precious stones.” Achan’s eyes gleamed, and he winked lewdly. “And, of course, there will be women available.”
    â€œYou’d better not let Joshua catch you at anything like that.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Achan said. “He won’t catch me. I’m a sly fellow. No one can catch me when I set out to do a thing!”

Chapter 7
    As Othniel made his way back toward camp after hunting, his attention was caught by a cloud of blackbirds over to his right that wheeled up and away into the distance. He watched them until they became tiny dots, and as he did, he was aware of the song of a bird. He stood very still, searching the desert before him. A tiny bird appeared. It was a color of blue he had never seen before. Othniel thought quietly, What have you got to be so happy about? You’ve got enemies all around you, including me. You may not live to see the sunset . Still, the incantation of the small bird sweetly filled the space that Othniel shared with him.
    Othniel laughed aloud at his own foolishness. “Why do I think these things?” he said. “People would think I was crazy if I told them about it.” He continued on past the tiny stream that fed the camp. The sunlight was fine and fresh, flashing against the distant mountains, and the smell of woodsmoke and cooking food laced the thin air. He hurried faster, for he was hungry. In one hand he carried a bow, and a quiver of arrows was across his back. In his other hand he bore the carcass of a small deer-like creature whose name he did not know. His luck had been good in his early-morning hunting. As the camp came into sight, he broke into a run. He loved the morning, and he ran as hard as he could, although somewhat awkwardly because of the deer and the bow. But there was a joy in it for him.
    He needed some joy in his life, for ever since Ardon had caught him with Carphina,