Free People of the Tower (Ark Chronicles 4) by Vaughn Heppner Page A

arisen?”
    “ It has,” he admitted.
    “ That is why I counsel you as I do. There are no other reasons.”
    He studied her, before breathing deeply . “I’ve wondered on a way to restore the balance, to rid us of this Jehovah lunacy. Imagine, wandering in small groups over the face of the Earth, devoured one by one by the beasts. Mankind would perish. And if not, then what would be the point of existence? A dirty, miserable life, breaking our backs hoeing or trotting after sheep. What glories could be achieved? What heights of civilization could be scaled? None. Certainly none for us.”
    Nimrod shook his head. “ Here, in this generation, if we unite, we can dare grand goals. We can raise a monument to the ages. Think of it, Semiramis. Our names will be etched in eternity as the builders of civilization, as the rulers of it, the patrons. Perhaps even as its…” He grinned, with the gleam of the future in his eyes. “We have all labored many years to achieve our goals. Now, in their simplicity, the people yearn to throw away their hard-won efforts. I want to save them from that. The way is risky and fraught with peril. It will be a thankless task. Yet we cannot let fear overcome our love. If the people are simple, we must be wiser still and take the hard yet reasonable course.”
    “ What is that?”
    “ I’ve thought long on this,” Nimrod said. “I’ve pondered for a way out of our dilemma until my head aches with fatigue. The needed task, as I said, is dirty and mean and perhaps even worse than that, it will be thankless. Yet which of us will shirk his duty if called on to save civilization? Perhaps I have been raised up for this very hour. I doubt if anyone else has the courage to see through this difficult task. If I could find some other means, I would.” He squinted. “People’s memories are short. They think on what they see. Out of sight is out of mind.” He pursed his lips. “Except, it seems, for you regarding Gilgamesh.”
    She kept silent.
    “In any case,” he said, “the miracle slaps them in the face everyday. They can do ought but discuss it and marvel anew on what occurred. Although it pains me to say so, there is only one way to insure against that.”
    “ You cannot banish Rahab.”
    Anger twitched across his face. “Do you consider me a fool? Do you think I could dare such a decree, snapping my fingers so my Hunters grab her by the elbows and hustle her out of Babel? Oh, yes, I can see it now. Before everyone, I deny Rahab salt and bread and inform her that if she dares to step foot in Babel again, she will die.” He snorted. “You’re wise and far-seeing, Semiramis.”
    “ Forgive me, husband. I thought—”
    “ When I said it’s a thankless task, I meant that it can’t be done openly. Now to ask a man to slay a dangerous beast is to praise and to honor him, to imply that he has great skill and courage. What I suggest is low and despicable. The one who would volunteer for it we would spit upon and call a cur and a hyena. Yet perhaps for that very reason it takes even greater courage to do—if this evil deed is done for the noble reason of saving civilization. I know that most people could never consider it. It is why we lead. For the good of all, some, at times, must perish.” Nimrod peered at the horizon. “Neither I nor any cabal of elders would or could banish Rahab. No, Semiramis, what I suggest, reluctantly, is much more certain and permanent and therefore fraught with risk. Rahab must die and stay dead.”
    “ No,” Semiramis said. “You can’t mean that. It’s horrible, wicked.”
    For a moment, Nimrod stared at his wife the way a wolf or leopard might stare at a hare. Then his features softened, and he stroked her cheek. “Dear wife, even you with your cunning recoil at the needed task. As I said, it’s low and despicable. I wish the deed on no man or woman. And yet…it is simply another reason why Bel must have chosen me over my father. As a hunter, I