The Anchorites: Chapter 3
Another short chapter this week guys. I hope you’re enjoying the story so far. Please like, or leave a comment.
Consider checking out one of my short stories or the first chapter of my Gone Artists series.
Last week the stranger lost his faith. This week we meet Havel’s friend, Abraheem; a youthful member of the community with a mysterious history.
3
Havel
“And He spoke a parable to them, saying, 'What man of you, having one hundred sheep, if he lose one, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?'”
—Luke 15:3
The morning was the best time to be outside. Dust storms would sweep through the area when the sun was at its highest, making afternoon work impossible. Havel made his way to the livestock yard, wrapped up in the freshness of the air. Dewy grass stuck to his boots. Dappled light from the canopy above projected a kaleidoscope of every shade of green onto his long face. He walked the forest path, beneath a tunnel of sycamore and mulberry trees, to the bottom of a grassy valley. The livestock yard had been built in the middle of the valley, where the slope leveled out.
Leading the goats to pasture, Havel found himself wishing he remembered more songs. Most of the songs he had learned in school were political in nature— all about Supreme Ruler. The sun crested the hillside forest, shining through the dust nets that bordered his home. Here, in this lonely, lovely valley, Havel hummed a tune, the lyrics coming easily to mind:
How strong is my Ruler,
He causes the sun to shine.
Oh, my dear Ruler,
My love is Yours, and Yours is mine.
He remembered the girl ahead of him in line singing this song with tears in her eyes. A teacher, wearing black gloves, wiped at the skin under her ear with a smudgy paper towel. She gritted her teeth as the adult went back to work, buzzing the sunburst symbol onto her neck with a tattoo gun.
How stately is my Ruler,
He brings prosperity.
Oh, my dear Ruler,
I have no life apart from Thee.
“Were you scared?” came a voice from behind him. Havel turned around with a start.
“Abraheem!” Havel exclaimed, putting a hand to his chest in surprise and dropping his crook in the dust.
“Sorry. I can try and make more noise when I approach,” said Abraheem, picking bits of hay off one of the goats.
“No, it’s alright. I should be used to your skulking by now.” Havel put the flat of his hand across his brow and tried to discern where the sun was through the dust nets. Then he smiled at his friend.
Abraheem had a round, kind face and dark brown hair that stood up in lumpy curls. The women of the commune all called him “cute.” He still carried the impression of a healthy, attractive youth—except for the deep, ragged scars on his neck. Sensing that these violent wounds unsettled people, Abraheem made a habit of wearing a large red scarf.
“I heard about the stranger last night. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a bit embarrassed. He snuck up on me when I was running daily water samples.”
“I figured it would be nothing you couldn't handle.” Abraheem looked at Havel, a proud smile on his round face. “Buuut—” (he drew out the word) “to hear Jema tell it, you were shaking like a leaf.” Abraheem flashed a puckish smile that quickly broke into a hearty laugh.
It was true that they had been through worse. Havel had first met Abraheem in the bombed-out streets of Amman.
“Jema told me he had a knife,” Abraheem said, pulling his scarf down and away from his mouth.
“Yeah…” Havel trailed off. “He was dangerous, for sure. It’s just like Jema says, ‘Dangerous people believe in things they can't see.’”
Abraheem's eyebrows furrowed like he wanted to disagree, but he didn't. Havel picked up his shepherd's crook.
“To tell you the truth, Abra, the real scary part was how crushed this guy was. He was your run-of-the-mill religious nut, but behind all that anger and judgment was something else.”
Havel's attention went back to his flock, and he turned around to inspect the goats.
“Wait a minute, I’m missing some goats!” Havel corralled the animals together. Abraheem helped him count.
“How did we lose two just now? Did you see anything?”