Hammon's Day

Chapters 7 & 8

 

Chapter 7

 

     They stood in the shelter with the children gathered around them. It had only been part of a day, yet Hammon was surprised to find it just as he remembered it. Reason told him not nearly enough time had passed for anything on the mound to change. He glanced fondly at the bed they'd given him and wondered why he'd developed such an attachment for someplace he'd only been at for a very short time.

     He was also surprised to see how many children there were. He counted at least thirty. He was sure he'd counted most of them, but many of the younger ones were moving too quickly to be sure. Many were early teens, younger than he was, but many others were very small, between six and twelve years old.

     Hammon had looked for Miriam. She was in the corner sitting on the bed Hammon woke up on. He chose not to think about the significance of that. He was surprised, too, to find her prettier than he remembered. She didn't see him come in. She had a tunic in her lap and was mending it as best she could. A look of quiet frustration was on her face.

     After a moment she looked up, and her eyes brightened when she saw him. She immediately looked down again, avoiding his gaze. Hammon made his way across the floor to her. He wanted to be near her.

     "I missed you," he said truthfully, a little nervous at seeing her again.

     He saw a touch of blush come into her cheeks, and he smiled to himself. He was amazed his presence would have this effect on any girl, especially on one he realized he was fond of. He glanced around, embarrassed he had admitted that, even to himself. The he stood up straight and shrugged. He liked Miriam, and he didn't care who knew it.

     "We're taking the children back to the temples," he said softly. "Lehi and the priests think they would be safer there, at least for tonight. A lot of people are there, some travelers, some of the people from the city. Do you want to walk back there with me? You could meet my parents."

     "Yes," Miriam said, almost too softly to hear. "I think I'd like that."

     When she looked up at him there was a broad smile on her face. Hammon knew she felt the same way about him. He saw Dan watching them furtively from the edges of the group. He smiled at the younger boy. Dan nodded, and smiled back. Hammon saw a shyness in the younger boy. He realized Dan had an attachment to Miriam as well, but it almost seemed like a parent-child relationship. He watched as the two exchanged warm smiles.

     Amliki stood in the midst of the children, and held up his hands for quiet. Quiet descended slowly, but soon their attention was on him. He took a deep breath, and smiled broadly, holding his arms out wide.

     "You are all my children," he said warmly.

     The children reacted with smiles of their own.

     "I've been to talk to Lehi," Amliki continued. "He says there is a festival of sorts down by the temples. He wants us to come and join the other members there. There will be food and games, and lots of other children to play with. Do you want to go?"

     There was a general shout of affirmation, and it was a while before Amliki could get their attention again. When they were silent, he was able to speak.

     "Good," he said. "Now, I want all the older children to help the younger children. Don't bring anything you cannot carry easily. We won't be back here for a few days, but it'll be all right. No one will bother your things here. You all know Ephraim and Jacob. I want you to follow them. Stay close and don't wander off. I know, Imri. We don't usually walk through the streets as a group. I've warned you about that many times. Today, however, is special. Today we'll stay together. All right, Ephraim and Jacob. Lead the way."

     The children immediately crowded behind the two older boys, and Amliki stepped quickly to Hammon's side. He motioned for Dan to join them.

     "Your job will be to see that none of the children wander off," he said to them both. "Keep your eye on them, and don't let them slip up any side streets. And don't let any of them get behind you. I want you to herd them along in front of you. Okay?"

     "Where will you be?" Hammon asked.

     "I'll be in the group," Amliki said simply. "They all have a tendency to stay close when any adult is around. They're starved for adult attention. Any adult. I'm counting on that to keep most of them close to me. Ephraim and Jacob will keep them from getting ahead, and you'll keep them from getting behind. Be alert and help keep the children safe."

     Hammon realized he was being given adult responsibilities and nodded vigorously. He turned to Miriam.

     "You'll help us, won't you?" He asked.

     She smiled, ruffled Dan's hair and said, "Of course."

     Amliki smiled and nodded his approval. He turned and was engulfed by the children again. As he started down the path he glanced back. Hammon thought he could see a look of veiled worry. He swallowed hard, waited for the last of the children to start down the path, and followed with Dan and Miriam.

     When they got out on the street Dan walked on one side of him, and Miriam on the other. They formed an effective barrier to keep the children with the group. Hammon saw immediately what Amliki had said. The children crowded around him as they walked along. They all wanted to be close to the man.

     "What did Amliki mean?" Hammon asked after a while.

     "When?" Dan asked.

     "When he said you didn't go out as a group very often," Hammon returned.

     "Oh, that," the younger boy said. "Lehi was worried we'd be a target for some of the anti-church groups out in the city. In one's and two's we look like any other kids. As a group we would be easily recognized for members of the church."

     "Don't they have any orphans?" Hammon asked, incredulous.

     Back in the village there was an orphan. Com had been only 14 when his mother became very ill and died. His father had never come back from one of the many wars. Zamorrah took him in. She was an old lady, but insisted she would live long enough to help him grow up. Com had been as much a blessing to her as she to him.

     Hammon had been surprised to see more homeless children in the city, but he was becoming used to it. It made sense. More people, more orphans. But the church wasn't the only group that would have such children.

     "Oh, they have orphans," Dan said, his voice rising slightly. "They let them rot in the streets. If a kid is unwanted, or orphaned, they just ignore him. Half these kids didn't come from church families."

     "Oh," Hammon said quietly.

     "His parents left him in the street and left," Miriam whispered to Hammon. "He's a little bitter about it."

     "How old was he?" Hammon asked.

     "About two," Miriam said quietly. "I helped raise him, you know. He's closer to me than to anyone else. I'm kind of a big sister."

     Hammon nodded and realized he'd guessed that relationship only a few moments earlier.

     "I understand," he said, and caught Dan's hand in his.

     The group rounded a corner, and for a short time Hammon could not see all the children. Then they came around, too. All the children were in a group. The temples rose as sentinels marking their journey's end. But the street ahead, their path to safety, was blocked by several large men. One of them Hammon recognized immediately.

     "Where's your leader?" Scarface snarled.

     Amliki stepped forward quickly, placing himself between the children and the man.

     "I am," he said simply, trying to keep his voice low.

     Hammon realized Amliki was trying to prevent a confrontation.

     "Where are you taking these temple-fleas?" Scarface asked.

     "Why, to the temple," Amliki returned amiably.

     "Not if we can help it," Scarface snapped. "Take them back where you got them from. Better yet, give them all back to their parents."

     "Most of their parents are dead," Amliki protested gently, still keeping his voice low.

     Scarface snarled something to his two accomplices, and together they laughed. Then he turned to Amliki and stood as if trying to decide what to do. Amliki stood quietly, as well, waiting for the other to make a decision.

     Hammon turned and said, "Miriam, you stay here with Dan. Dan, take care of her."

     He placed Miriam's hand in Dan's. Dan gripped her hand tightly. Then Hammon waded through the crowd of children. As he got closer he recognized the two other men. They had been the ones he'd seen earlier talking with Scarface in the street. Scarface looked around, caught sight of him, and the wicked grin slid from his face.

     "You've been everywhere, little rodent," he said directly to Hammon. "What do I have to do to be rid of you?"

     "I'm sorry to be here now," Hammon said quietly, recognizing Amliki's handling of the situation, and trying to avoid confrontation. "All I want is to get to the temple where my parents are. Some of these children have family there as well. Please. Would you let us pass?"

     Scarface frowned deeper, and stepped back. He stared from Amliki to Hammon, then to the children. After a long time he stepped to the side of the street and motioned his friends to follow.

     "That's not what we're supposed to do," one of the men growled.

     "That's what we're doing," Scarface snapped back. "You, leader. Take these fleas to your temple if you have to. Go!"

     Amliki didn't waste any time. He pushed Ephraim ahead, and Jacob was already leading the way. Hammon waited till the children passed, and joined Miriam and Dan. He felt Miriam's hand trembling as he took it in his. He glanced at the men as he passed, and saw the scowls on their faces. Scarface glared at him.

     "Rodent," Scarface called after him. "You know tonight is the night!"

     Hammon felt a tremble shake him, and realized Dan had grabbed hold of his arm. With Miriam holding one hand, and Dan grasping his other arm, he led them down the center of the street strait toward the temples. The children were herded ahead of them. He breathed deeply.

     The group stopped again. This time for a single man. Amliki embraced the stranger warmly, and, after a few quick words, herded the children around him. The man waited until Hammon came near.

     Hammon could see Timothy's face in this older man. He was heavier set, and his eyes were deep and piercing. Hammon felt him look directly into his heart.

     "You are the lost sheep," the man said, falling into step beside the three.

     Hammon nodded, then said, "They've called me that. You are Nephi, the prophet. I was pretty young when you came to our village, but I remember you."

     "I'm flattered," the man acknowledged. "I asked Amliki if I could walk along with your group. I was worried about your journey back. I think I should not have underestimated his help."

     Hammon shrugged, and said, "We've been lucky so far."

     "That was more than luck," the prophet said softly, waving vaguely back toward Scarface and his men. "Those men were intent on doing these precious souls harm, and you helped prevent that. The Lord is with you, son. Live your life so He will always be near."

     "Yes, well, I will do what I can," Hammon stammered. "I'm told the unbelievers in this city are planning a little event for us tonight. I hope the Lord will be with us all then."

     "Trust in the Lord, Hammon," Nephi said warmly. "You will not be bothered by any of these men tonight."

     Hammon stopped, and waited till Nephi had turned. He stared deep into the prophet's eyes, hoping he could read the man, but saw only the man's warmth and humor. After a moment, the man shrugged almost imperceptibly.

     "The Lord told me this," he said softly. "Tomorrow the Messiah will be born far away from here, at Jerusalem, beyond the seas. There is a small village near there that will become the center of the world. Tonight the sign will be given so that no one will be able to doubt."

     "Tonight?" Hammon asked.

     "Tonight," Nephi said quietly.

     He turned and pointed up at the sky.

     Hammon could see the sun moving lower in the western sky. The sky, even in the east, had lost its blue tone. It was a universal white now, and a brightness flowed toward earth that Hammon had never seen before. On the eastern horizon narrow bands of pale yellow and pale orange were flickering, climbing partway up the sky and fading away before they reached the zenith. Instead of shadows around them, growing longer because of the suns position, all was light. There were no shadows anywhere.

     Hammon looked back to the prophet, his mouth hanging open. He hadn't noticed when the shadows had disappeared.

     "Close your mouth, young man," the prophet said quietly. "Most miracles go unnoticed until someone draws your attention to them. We've all been expecting this for a long time. It has finally arrived."

 

Chapter 8

 

     The children were led to one side of the field. The tents the members had set up had become a small city. Hammon wasn't sure where they were going to leave the children. He only followed Amliki. Amliki stopped, and let the children gather together, and started to wade out of the sea of young faces. Before he'd made it to the edge the members were beginning to crowd around. Mostly there were couples, men and women, some old, some young, and all reaching out to the youngsters. They began leading the children away with them in ones and twos. The group began to dwindle.

     "What's going on?" Amliki asked, confused.

     "Lehi gave a stirring address a short time ago," one of the men explained, squeezing his wife's hand as she held the other out to a youngster. "He said it was not in God's plan that any child should be homeless. We're here to see that, at least, none of these young ones are."

     "Oh, my," Amliki breathed, a catch in his voice. "It takes a crisis to bring out the good in people."

     "And some hard criticism," another of the new parents said.

     Hammon found a young couple warmly befriending him. He smiled at them.

     "My parents are over there," he said gently, waving toward the fire pit.

     "And we're with him," Miriam said quickly, hugging Dan close to her.

     The couple, for an instant disappointed, immediately turned to another of the children. Hammon watched as the boys and girls, one by one, were led away by couples to be part of a new family. Amliki stood watching, tears in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks.

     "Sorrow?" Hammon asked, edging close to the man.

     "Joy," Amliki choked out. "I could not have hoped for anything better. They'll find love and protection, the things I couldn't give them."

     "You gave us love," Miriam insisted, hugging him.

     "Well, Hammon," Amliki said, wiping his eyes. "You have your family. It seems you still have Miriam and Dan as well. What are you going to do?"

     "Go home," Hammon said quickly, "and take my new sister and brother with me."

     "You're so sure they'll approve?" Amliki asked.

     "My mother will welcome them both," Hammon said. "She already likes Dan, and Miriam is impossible not to like. My father, well, he always wanted another son. There aren't any children left, Amliki. What are you going to do now?"

     "There will always be ways to serve," Amliki said. "I'd like to drop in from time to time to see how the three of you are doing."

     "You'll always be welcome," Hammon said, smiling. "You know that. This way, you two. Let's go find our family."

     "You're taking a lot for granted," Miriam said softly. "What if they don't want us?"

     "Trust me."

     He looked up at the sky. Where the sun was, nearer still to the horizon, it was bright. On the opposite side of the sky, where it should have been deep blue, it was brighter still. Waves of pale colors were beginning to shimmer across the sky, moving from the east and now reaching the zenith before fading away in the brightness. All around them there was not a hint of shadow anywhere. Even in the interiors of the tents seemed lit up as if with a thousand candles.

     "I don't know what's going to happen," Hammon said as they walked, "but I think we better hurry. The sun's not going to be up much longer."

     Miriam stayed close to him, holding his hand as they walked. Dan clutched his arm from the other side. The closer they got to their destination, the more timid they both seemed to become.

     They were only halfway across the field when a small figure broke away from a group of women and ran toward them screaming his name. Even at nine Leah was tall and graceful, and Hammon recognized her immediately. She met her older brother at a full run. She threw her arms and legs around the larger boy and let her momentum carry them both to the ground. Hammon lay on his back, embarrassed, and waited for the little girl's onslaught of kisses to stop. He knew better than to try to interrupt her before she was through. Even through the embarrassment he was happy to see her, too. He looked up to see an amused smile on Miriam's face. He threw a quick scowl at her, then pushed Leah off him.

     "I haven't been gone that long," he cautioned her.

     "Oh, but Hammon, we thought you were dead or worse!" the girl shouted, and planted another kiss on his cheek. "Look! You've got a bandage. You hurt yourself! Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

     "It doesn't hurt anymore," Hammon said. "Leah, please don't touch that."

     "I only wanted to help," Leah pouted.

     Hammon got up slowly, brushing the grass from his tunic, and reaching out to the older girl. She stood by quietly, patiently waiting while Hammon dealt with his sister. Dan stood aside with a look of utter amazement.

     "You stayed away so long," she complained. "Then, you left again before I got a chance to see you."

     "You were off playing," Hammon said, cupping her cheek gently in his hand.

     She grabbed his hand in hers and held it close to her face for a few minutes.

     "Leah, this is Miriam," Hammon said quietly, placing the older girl's hand into the younger girl's. "And this is Dan. I hope you will all be good friends. Maybe you could be sisters and brother. Where's Mother?"

     "Oh, Hammon! You've got a girl friend!" Leah breathed, a smile beginning to curl her lip. "And you brought me a little brother!"

     Dan's cheeks colored as he looked down at the ground.

     "Maybe so, toad face," Hammon responded. "By the way, he'll be your big brother. He's older than you. Where's Mother?"

     "She's over there," Leah said, waving vaguely, "with Father."

     "Great," Hammon said, pulling both the girl and boy with him. "You'll get to meet them both at once. Come on, Dan. Don't hang back. We have to hurry. It's almost sunset."

     "Didn't you hear?" Leah taunted from behind. "Nephi said there won't be any night tonight!"

     "I know it," Hammon threw over his shoulder. "We're supposed to be together right now, so come on."

     His father broke away from the small circle of men he was talking to. His mother, talking to a nearby group of people, turned at his approach. They reached out to each other as they approached their son. Rebeccah embraced her son, and Malachi put a hand on the boy's shoulder for a moment, simply staring into his eyes.

     "We are proud of you," he said softly. "Lehi said you were going after the children, and I knew you weren't feeling well. Yet, you went to assure the safety of children you hardly knew. That, after last night, well, it's almost more than I can even think about. When we blessed you just after your birth we were told you would be one of the valiant. I don't think I expected all this."

     Hammon felt his face color, and he shook his head.

     "I didn't do anything," he said. "Amliki and Timothy gave me a blessing last night, and I'm healing very well. Besides, I had to bring Miriam and Dan to meet you."

     "Welcome to our home, such as it is," Rebeccah said sweetly. "You've met Leah, I see. Have you eaten?"

     "Mother," Hammon said quietly, "Neither Miriam nor Dan have any parents. I was hoping they could be part of our family."

     "There is no question," Malachi said quickly, smiling. "I always wanted two daughters. And two sons, why, it's a father's dream!"

     "We'll have some adjustments to make," Rebeccah said quickly. "Four children. It's a good number, don't you think, Malachi?"

     "It is. Of course, we'll rely on the young ladies to keep the boys in line."

     Hammon felt his cheeks coloring again. Then Malachi cut through with a tangential slash that left him breathless.

     "The sun is almost down," he said quickly. "Come. Lehi has asked we all meet in the square between the temples. Look how the sky shines! He says tonight is the sign, and we won't have to worry about the mobs for a long time. Let's go hear what he has to say."

     Hammon looked over his shoulder and could see the sun barely above the trees. Overhead the shimmering was extending beyond the zenith and partway down toward the sun. Bands were radiating from the east horizon up across the sky, then fading away as they got near the sun. Over just above the horizon in the east a large sphere was beginning to form. Even in the bright sky, it's brightness was clearly visible. It seemed twice the size of the sun, and brighter by many times. He could not look directly at it.

     "Nephi said it is beginning," Hammon said to his father as they walked slowly as a family. "He says the Lord told him he would be born tomorrow."

     "We'll see," Malachi said softly. "We'll see."

     He gently squeezed his son's arm, and they looked around to see the many people gathering on the grass and slowly making their way around the pyramids to listen to the prophets speak.