Free People of the Ark (Ark Chronicles 1) by Vaughn Heppner Page B

Nephilim in order to get her.
     

8.
     
    From the Methuselah Clan Compound to Noah’s Keep rolling hills and wide swaths of oats, millet and barley fields sloped gently, imperceptibly toward the south. A long way north and out of sight, a chain of low mountains cut the rich plain from the great northern cities. Forests rimmed the horizon to the east, while south and far from view meandered the slow Sacar River. It was the same river where Ham had met Naamah, although by then the river already angled southeast.
    As Ham trudged along the red brick road, he passed countless stone and wooden fences separating fields. His father owned everything in sight. Some of the enclosures were pastures where sheep grazed. In others, cattle lowed or donkeys brayed. Orchards also dotted the landscape, apple, pear, apricot and plum. Soon the Ark and then the Keep with its wooden palisade and bronze-hinged gate crept onto the horizon and then dominated the view.
    Ham ’s stomach churned as he approached the gate. Although the walls had been built from thick trees, they lacked the sheer power and strength of the Methuselah Clan Compound’s walls, which had been raised long ago out of blocks of stone. Fewer people lived here than there, with fewer armed men.
    Were they enough to stop a giant?
    Noah and Japheth had trained huge shaggy hounds to help make up for the lack of armed guards. One of those now poked its snout through the open gate and barked at Ham.
    It surprised Ham the gate was open, if only barely. He hadn’t noticed until now. He scanned the top of the wall, where the set-in trees had their tops lopped into crude points. Parapets had been built—walkways for guards.
    Why didn ’t anyone patrol them?
    Two new hounds followed the first . Stiff-legged, with raised hackles and bared fangs they challenged him, a formidable trio. Ham whistled, calling the dogs by name. The big brutes rushed him, wagging their tails, pressing their blunt heads against his legs. As he petted them, Ham continued to study the wall. The commotion should have alerted those on watch. Frowning, ordering the hounds to heel, he picked up a rock and slipped through the gate.
    Milk cows lowed from one of the barns, there were three such, long, low-built sheds . Sheep bleated from pens, sounding hungry and eager to pasture. He clutched his rock, and the hounds, perhaps sensing his mood, became alert, poised.
    Why did no one scurry about doing chores ? Why was the yard empty?
    The house, a two-story fortress with a foundation of stone and dark, gopher-wood walls, dominated the inner area . Smoke curled from the chimney and everything looked peaceful.
    The front door opened . His mother stepped onto the porch. She wore a shawl and apron, wiping her hands. Her iron-colored eyes widened. “Ham!” In six long strides, she crushed him in a hug. Behind followed little Rahab, an undersized orphan girl of fourteen. As usual, Rahab only darted a glance at him and then looked down at her feet.
    “ Where have you been?” Gaea asked.
    Ham mumbled a lame excuse as she led him into the house. Rahab smiled shyly and said she was glad he was safe. When he smiled tiredly at that she blushed and refused to look up again.
    They sat at the kitchen table, his mother fussing over him, asking if he was hungry, setting buttered bread before him . She turned to Rahab. “Run, child, tell Noah Ham is back. Take two of the hounds and a torch.”
    Hiking up her skirt, Rahab hurried from the kitchen.
    Gaea’s mouth straightened and she put a firm hand on Ham. He wilted under her scrutiny.
    “ Your father, brothers and all the farmhands are scouring the countryside for you.”
    H am blurted out the story of Ymir. Faster than Methuselah had, his mother wanted to know how he had possibly become privy to a giant’s plans. He told her about Naamah.
    “ I see,” she said, looking more knowledgeable than he liked.
    So he shut his mouth, soon mumbling that it had been a trying day and that