Desired: The Untold Story of Samson and Delilah (Lost Loves of the Bible) by Ginger Garrett Page B
Authors: Ginger Garrett
Tags: Fiction, History, Temple, lion, Delilah, more to come from marketing, honey, Samson, Philistines
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head and pressed into Samson’s stomach for more attention. “We’re near the stream of Sorek.”
In winter, the stream was full and wild, with daisies blooming at the edges and ktalav trees nearby.
“Do you need to stop?” Samson asked.
I didn’t know if I should lie. “If you do.”
He laughed, which I did not understand, but he found much amusement in things I said or did. He pointed to his right. “The river is just beyond these trees. Do you want to go first?”
I nodded, slipping off the donkey and walking away. Insects shrieked and sang all around me, and birds called to one another in the trees above my head. I did hear the river now, and as I parted the last clasping pair of evergreen branches, I saw it.
I had a clear view up and down the banks. No matter where I attended to myself, he could see me if he peeked. Just across the banks, rising above me, was a cave set into the gentle hill. It didn’t look like a bad climb. I lifted my tunic and plunged into the freezing cold water, slipping on the stones at the bottom, pushing against the currents to get across. I climbed out and up the slope, and picked my way up to the cave.
From this perch, I could see the faraway lights of my village. The bonfire must have been one of the little burning yellow lights I saw twinkling back at me. I had never seen my village from this distance. It looked so small. Or was it me? Had I grown so much bigger?
Samson whistled for me. I whistled back, to confirm I did not need his assistance.
Lifting my tunic again, I ducked inside the cave for certain relief. The mouth of the cave was several feet above my head; it was a small cave, which was a good sign. Large caves were used by the wealthier farmers for storing grain. The caves were close to the fields, dry, and cool. But a small cave like this would be of no use to them.
I let my eyes adjust to the darkness, then carefully placed one foot in front of the other, sliding my sandal side to side to be sure of my footing. Moving this way, I slid away from the mouth of the cave into the darkness. I chose a suitable spot and was standing back up, finished, when I heard a rustling noise near me. And another, followed by a tight little hiss. Something touched my hair, lifting a section up before dropping it. I saw the light at the mouth of the cave as if it were a thousand leagues away, and my legs would not move.
A rush of hisses and chirps swept past me, my hair flying in all directions. I screamed and ran for the mouth of the cave, my tunic still tucked in my sash.
I stumbled out of the mouth of the cave with Samson watching below as the horde of bats swept over me and into the night. Breathless, I clung to the edge of the cave.
He didn’t laugh. “Are you all right?”
I stared at him, waiting for the rebuke of laughter. He just watched me.
“Yes.” A smile twitched at my mouth. I saw the same smile working at his lips, too. I giggled and hid my face with my hands.
“Come down.”
Though the night chill was creeping in and goose bumps rose up along my arms, I did not feel cold. I felt … like a child. But this was not a childhood I had ever had, of adventure and freedom at night. I had never been allowed to roam at night, for fear of wild animals.
Now here I was with the wildest one of all. I giggled at the thought as I took his hand at the bottom of the slope, happy to have one last secret.
Once back on the donkey, he led us to a spot nearby, under a ktalav tree with soft moss all around. I slid off the donkey while he spread a blanket and motioned for me to sit.
I was going to be sick. I did not know what to do, or what he wanted. Or what he wanted me to do. Or what to say. When I did not move, he brushed the hair away from my forehead and led me to the blanket, sitting with me. He no longer had the amused twist to his mouth. His mood had changed. He was quiet; his face I could not read. He was impassive. Or content. In time, I hoped I would learn the
In winter, the stream was full and wild, with daisies blooming at the edges and ktalav trees nearby.
“Do you need to stop?” Samson asked.
I didn’t know if I should lie. “If you do.”
He laughed, which I did not understand, but he found much amusement in things I said or did. He pointed to his right. “The river is just beyond these trees. Do you want to go first?”
I nodded, slipping off the donkey and walking away. Insects shrieked and sang all around me, and birds called to one another in the trees above my head. I did hear the river now, and as I parted the last clasping pair of evergreen branches, I saw it.
I had a clear view up and down the banks. No matter where I attended to myself, he could see me if he peeked. Just across the banks, rising above me, was a cave set into the gentle hill. It didn’t look like a bad climb. I lifted my tunic and plunged into the freezing cold water, slipping on the stones at the bottom, pushing against the currents to get across. I climbed out and up the slope, and picked my way up to the cave.
From this perch, I could see the faraway lights of my village. The bonfire must have been one of the little burning yellow lights I saw twinkling back at me. I had never seen my village from this distance. It looked so small. Or was it me? Had I grown so much bigger?
Samson whistled for me. I whistled back, to confirm I did not need his assistance.
Lifting my tunic again, I ducked inside the cave for certain relief. The mouth of the cave was several feet above my head; it was a small cave, which was a good sign. Large caves were used by the wealthier farmers for storing grain. The caves were close to the fields, dry, and cool. But a small cave like this would be of no use to them.
I let my eyes adjust to the darkness, then carefully placed one foot in front of the other, sliding my sandal side to side to be sure of my footing. Moving this way, I slid away from the mouth of the cave into the darkness. I chose a suitable spot and was standing back up, finished, when I heard a rustling noise near me. And another, followed by a tight little hiss. Something touched my hair, lifting a section up before dropping it. I saw the light at the mouth of the cave as if it were a thousand leagues away, and my legs would not move.
A rush of hisses and chirps swept past me, my hair flying in all directions. I screamed and ran for the mouth of the cave, my tunic still tucked in my sash.
I stumbled out of the mouth of the cave with Samson watching below as the horde of bats swept over me and into the night. Breathless, I clung to the edge of the cave.
He didn’t laugh. “Are you all right?”
I stared at him, waiting for the rebuke of laughter. He just watched me.
“Yes.” A smile twitched at my mouth. I saw the same smile working at his lips, too. I giggled and hid my face with my hands.
“Come down.”
Though the night chill was creeping in and goose bumps rose up along my arms, I did not feel cold. I felt … like a child. But this was not a childhood I had ever had, of adventure and freedom at night. I had never been allowed to roam at night, for fear of wild animals.
Now here I was with the wildest one of all. I giggled at the thought as I took his hand at the bottom of the slope, happy to have one last secret.
Once back on the donkey, he led us to a spot nearby, under a ktalav tree with soft moss all around. I slid off the donkey while he spread a blanket and motioned for me to sit.
I was going to be sick. I did not know what to do, or what he wanted. Or what he wanted me to do. Or what to say. When I did not move, he brushed the hair away from my forehead and led me to the blanket, sitting with me. He no longer had the amused twist to his mouth. His mood had changed. He was quiet; his face I could not read. He was impassive. Or content. In time, I hoped I would learn the
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