No Woman So Fair (9 page)

The two made their way out of the house and walked the short distance to Heri's house. Sarai introduced Abram to Heri and her prospective husband, Gorzi, an ugly fellow—
Not unlike a wild boar
, Sarai thought, wondering how her friend could marry such a man.
If Abram refuses to ask me to marry him, I'm going to wind up with someone like this bloated fellow or, worse, with some old man who looks like a corpse
.

Abram felt out of place at the celebration, where huge flagons of wine were consumed and dancing girls provided lewd entertainment. Abram was relieved when Sarai finally said, “I'd like to go home.”

“All right. We can leave now.”

As they left the house and the sound of the merriment faded, they walked along the dark city street in silence. Sarai saw Abram glance at a shrine they passed and she asked, “Do you think it does any good to pray, Abram?”

He was silent for a time as they walked slowly down the street, then said, “I have come to believe that this stone goddess cannot hear our prayers. I know somewhere there's a true God who is not made of stone and who
does
hear us…and I'm going to find Him no matter how long it takes.”

When they reached the house, Sarai said, “Let's not go in right away. It's too early.”

He followed her into the garden, where they talked on into the night, Abram keeping his usual safe distance from her. Finally Sarai turned her uplifted face to his. “Don't you like me at all, Abram?”

And then Abram, the son of Terah, put his hands on her shoulders and said what was on his heart. “Sarai, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I think you're the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Sarai had heard many compliments from men, but never before had she felt a man speak to her with such simple honesty. She saw a light in his eyes that he had kept hidden from her, then felt his arms go around her. His kiss made her knees go weak as he drew her close. She had always had power over men, yet for the first time she felt helpless in a man's embrace. Her heart was lifted to a height she had never before experienced, and deep inside she knew this was the one man she could love for the rest of her life.

Abram lifted his lips from hers and watched her beautifully fashioned face in the moonlight, then put his hand on her cheek and whispered, “I love you, Sarai.”

“I didn't think you even liked me,” Sarai whispered. “I've got such a terrible temper, and I behaved awfully.”

“I think I loved you from the first time I saw you.”

She laughed suddenly and put her hand over his as he held it on her cheek. “When I was all covered with mud?”

“Yes, even then.”

Sarai waited for his proposal of marriage, but he was silent. “What's wrong?” she asked quietly.

“I don't think I'd make a good husband.”

“What do you mean? Of course you would.”

“People say I worry too much about religion. My family's afraid I'll wind up like my crazy grandfather.”

“Don't worry about what other people think. I think you're good, Abram, and you're honest.”

“Would you have me, then, as your husband? I know you could do better.”

She reached up and kissed him again, then leaned back, a sparkle in her eye. “You know, I've often threatened to buy a handsome slave and make him into the kind of husband I want, but now I won't have to do that. I can just make you into what I want.”

“I believe you could.” He ran his hand over her black hair, sweet smelling and soft. “I'll always love you, Sarai.”

“Even when I'm old and skinny with gray hair?”

“Even then.”

She smiled, feeling full and complete in his embrace. Finally she drew back and laughed joyously. “Let's go tell everyone, and let me handle the dowry, Abram. I'll gouge Garai until he squeals!”

[Abram] said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon.

Genesis 12:11
KJV

Abram had yielded to Sarai's plea to have the wedding at her home. He had not found it hard to persuade his parents and brothers to attend the wedding. They gladly traveled to Uruk and were staying in the guest quarters at Garai's home.

“This will be a good time to settle some business matters.” Terah nodded with a satisfied expression as he and Metura dressed for the ceremony.

“No, it will not,” Metura said firmly. “It's the time to celebrate the joy of our son in finding a good wife.”

Terah stared at Metura, who very rarely stood against him, but something in her eyes, a certain glint to which he was unaccustomed, warned him that this was no time to argue.

“Well, you're right, of course, wife. And he is getting a good girl. A little sharp with her tongue, but—”

“She'll change for the better, I'm sure. Abram is very much in love with her. I've never seen him so happy.”

Terah nodded. “I think you're right. It's a good thing all the way around. I'm looking forward to getting some grandchildren out of this.”

The two of them donned their finest robes and made their way out of the guest quarters to the front of the house, where a large and noisy crowd had gathered in the street and the courtyard. It seemed Garai knew almost everyone in Uruk. The hired musicians played lustily on harps and other stringed instruments, while drummers beat out the rhythm on handheld drums. The air was thick with the smell of strong drink, which had been flowing for two days now.

“These people know how to have a wedding,” Terah said, grinning. He put his arm around Metura and drew her close. “I remember our own wedding.” He gave her a squeeze and said, “You were the prettiest thing I ever saw.”

Metura was stunned, for her husband was not a man to pay a compliment. Tears came to her eyes, and she looked up and said, “That's a nice thing for you to say, Terah.”

Terah saw the tears and mumbled, “Well, no sense in making a big thing about it. I've always thought you were a beautiful woman. I guess I'll have to tell you that more often.”

Metura was overcome, but she blinked away the tears and looked around at the dancing team that was performing in the courtyard. “This is going to cost Garai a fortune,” she murmured.

“Well, he's got the money. He's one of the richest men in the land. I can't think of a better alliance for Abram to make for the family.”

At that moment a crash sounded, and both Terah and Metura whirled to see a couple, obviously drunk, pulling themselves up from the ground. They had joined the dancers and then careened into a table covered with platters of food and jugs of drink. The woman was simpering and giggling, and the man was so drunk he could hardly get to his feet.

“We'd better have this wedding pretty soon,” Terah growled, “or everybody will be too drunk to know what's happening.”

Matura looked across the courtyard and saw Abram surrounded by a group that included Garai and several other men of the city. “He looks a little uncomfortable, doesn't he?” Metura whispered.

“Every man, I suppose, feels a little afraid when he takes a wife.”

As a matter of fact, Abram was not so nervous about taking a wife as he was about the business plans Garai was making for him.

“There's no reason why we can't go up the other river,” one of the guests said, a tall man with penetrating black eyes. “There are cities up that one as well as this one.”

“Exactly what I say,” Garai agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “And we've got a young man here who's willing to back us. Isn't that right, Abram?”

Abram hesitated, then smiled faintly. “I'm planning on mostly taking care of our flocks and herds, while Nahor and Haran take care of business matters with my father.”

Garai slapped the tall young man on the back. He was grinning broadly and had been imbibing freely of the wine. “It's all right,” he said. “We will make a businessman out of you yet. You'll do us all proud, Abram.”

Abram said nothing at that point, but a few minutes later he pulled Garai off to one side. “Really, I'm serious, Garai. I think it will be much better if Nahor and Haran attend to the trading business. I'm better with sheep and goats than I am with matters like that.”

Garai blinked owlishly. “Well, it's not what I had planned, but we'll see how it goes. Whatever happens, we're all going to make a lot of money. Why, there's no—” He broke off, for he saw his mother motioning to him. “I think it's time for the ceremony to begin. We'd better get down to the temple.” He grinned and slapped Abram on the back heartily. “You're getting a good girl, Abram. And she's getting a good man.”

Abram moved over to accompany his parents, and the entire crowd, those who were not too drunk to walk, made their way down to the temple of Ishtar.

The ceremony that followed was complicated, with the high priest of Ishtar in charge. Abram actually paid little attention to the goings-on until Sarai was escorted in, led by her brother and followed closely by her mother. Garai brought her up to him, and Sarai smiled, reached out, and took Abram's hand.

“You're beautiful, Sarai, as always,” Abram whispered.

Indeed she was beautiful. She wore a snow-white gown, and her black hair cascaded down her back in curly locks. She wore a little makeup but scarcely needed any. Her skin was like glowing alabaster, and her large expressive eyes were filled with mystery as she looked toward Abram. Her lips were red and turned up at the corners as she smiled. “Thank you, Abram.”

They had no time to say more, for the ceremony was continuing. Abram paid little attention to the formalities of the wedding ritual. During his stay in Uruk, he had lost what little confidence he'd once had in the powers of Ishtar or any other idol. And though he had ceased to pray to them, he no longer feared their displeasure. Rather he felt a deep inner peace as he looked at his beautiful bride, a confidence that he was indeed being blessed by a God who was greater than any lifeless stone god in this temple. He could not keep his eyes off Sarai, and he knew with pride that no one else could either. Every eye was fixed on her, for she was the fairest woman of all the land. Of that Abram was sure.

Finally the two heard a shout go up, and Sarai turned to him. “I belong to you now, Abram,” she whispered with tears in her eyes.

“Don't cry. I belong to you too. We'll have each other as long as we live.”

She smiled and took his kiss. Then they turned to receive the congratulations of the crowd, and Abram felt a strength in his heart as he thought,
At least I've done one right thing
.

****

“I think you're wise to go away with Abram, just the two of you.” Zaroni had come into Sarai's room and was helping her pack her clothes. The two maids had done most of the work, so Zaroni came and put her arm around her daughter. “You looked absolutely beautiful at the ceremony.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Sarai hesitated, then said, “Mother, tell me how to be a good wife.”

“You waited a long time to ask that.” Zaroni smiled gently.

“I don't know anything. I've heard stories, of course, about what happens with a man and a woman, but I won't know what to do. I'm afraid I'll be a disappointment to Abram.”

“You won't be that, because you have a gentle husband, and that's more important than anything else. Some have looked down on Abram because he's not outgoing, but there's a kindness in him. I saw it the first time I met him, and that's what is important in a husband.”

“I know. I see it in him too. But what do I do?”

“You love him, and love will find a way. But I want to caution you, Sarai.”

“About what, Mother?”

Zaroni had thought this over carefully, and now she said quietly, “Abram is not an ordinary man. He's different.”

“Different in what way? I know you're right, but I haven't been able to put my finger on it.”

“I think he's a better man than average. But people don't always understand quietness and goodness and gentleness. We live in a world where men get ahead by clawing their way up—and women too, for that matter. But Abram isn't like that. He's thoughtful and introspective. I imagine he could be a poet if he put his mind to it. The thing is, he's going to be misunderstood, and you must always be supportive, Sarai. Always. Even when you don't understand him yourself.”

Sarai listened to her mother's wise words, and finally, when Zaroni kissed her, Sarai promised, “No matter what, I'll always be on Abram's side.”

****

The boat swayed gently in the water, straining against its moorings. The unusual craft belonged to Garai, and he had insisted the couple use it for their honeymoon. It consisted of one large guest cabin with four oarsmen in front of it, four behind, and one man to steer. It could skim across water faster than any craft Abram had ever seen, and it had been his delight to stand on deck with Sarai after they had left Uruk and headed upriver. They were going to Babylon and planned to take as much time as necessary.

The crew had docked the boat at a small town as the sun was setting and had gone ashore to find food and shelter for the night. They could sleep belowdecks in an emergency, but the space was cramped and the men preferred to sleep out in the open air. Abram and Sarai had retired to their cabin for the evening and had just dined on the food Zaroni had prepared for them. They sipped the last of the good wine that sparkled in their cups.

“This is a fine boat,” Abram said. “Garai must have spent a fortune on it.”

“He did,” Sarai said. “I've made several trips in it. He let me help decorate it.”

The cabin was not wide, no more than seven or eight feet, but it was fully twelve feet long. A bed at the stern end took up part of the room. There were two fine leather chairs covered with animal skins, and on the floor lay a luxurious carpet. A built-in cabinet was well stocked with food and drink, and two windows on each side admitted light and air.