Free Joshua Valiant (Chronicles of the Nephilim) by Brian Godawa Page B

power, and claimed he and Aaron brought forth the water, it was not a mistake. It was a vainglorious attribution of Yahweh’s glory to themselves. Moses has become lax in his discipline and efforts at perfect obedience.”
    Caleb countered, “ Moses has forgotten where he came from.”
    Joshua knew what Caleb was referring to. Moses originally had a stuttering problem when Yahweh chose him to speak for him and he did not think he was adequate to the task. Yet that is what Yahweh wanted, a leader whom the people would follow but not worship because the power of deliverance could only come from above. Yahweh took imperfect humans to display his perfect glory.
    “And that is the difference between you and me,” Caleb said. “You do not understand the grace and beauty of Yahweh.”
    Caleb picked up his whip sword Rahab and unfurled it. Then he engaged in an entirely different kind of technique with his weapon. Rather than the hard exertion of brute force and will, his technique was the elegant effortlessness of beauty and dance. It was the complete opposite of what Joshua had been performing, and it was clear that Caleb was suppressing his true skill for the sake of Joshua.
    Now, he was releasing himself to his heavenly training, to the Way of the Karabu. And it was evident that he did not teach Joshua everything he knew after all.
    Joshua watched him with wonder as Caleb flowed like a river, the flexible sword waving through the air with rhythmic precision, sailing and snapping, twirling and slicing. Caleb appeared to be carried by the wind, lighter than a feather. It was a ballet of battle, a poem of pummeling.
    And Joshua envied every move Caleb made. He could see the beauty and fluidity of the Karabu Way. But it was also a repudiation of everything Joshua understood about the nature of combat. Karabu was about dance and play versus strength and force. And that he could not abide.
    And so the two of them kept a competitive tension within a bond of brotherly love.
    Caleb stopped to rest, his breathing more steady than previously.
    Joshua said, “I want to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land. I can be what Moses was not. I am disciplined and devoted to the law. I will follow every jot and tittle of Yahweh’s commands.”
    “Well,” said Caleb, “You do not lack for such rigidity. But it is Yahweh’s choice who will replace Moses.”
    “I will do everything within my power to persuade Yahweh. To show him that I can be his perfect vessel.”
    “That is a tall order to fill,” said Caleb. “You may find yourself becoming a broken vessel.”
    Joshua boasted, “At least Yahweh is the only one capable of breaking this vessel.”
    Caleb thought for a second. Then he said, “Can I show you something?”
    “What?”
    “I want to demonstrate a Karabu move.”
    “Caleb, we both have our own way of fighting. I respect yours, but I operate differently. Different approaches with the same results.”
    Caleb threw his weapon aside.
    “Show me your approach without a weapon.”
    Joshua was younger and stronger. Caleb was nearing eighty years old. He was a strong eighty but nowhere near the capacity of Joshua’s muscular sixty-year-old strength and vigor. Even Joshua’s height was superior at six feet tall to Caleb’s five feet eight inches.
    Joshua sighed and tossed his weapon down.
    Caleb said, “Attack me.”
    Joshua protested, “If we grapple, I clearly outweigh you.”
    “Attack me any way you like.”
    “You asked for it.”
    “I did indeed.”
    Joshua balled his fists, raised them and launched a punch that would have knocked out a camel.
    But what he was not prepared for was Caleb’s dodge that threw Joshua off balance.
    Joshua responded with an immediate series of punches. If one would not connect, the succeeding one would, or the two and three after that. Joshua would overwhelm Caleb with sheer force and power.
    The only problem was, none of the punches connected.
    Caleb artfully evaded some, and