| The next morning Binay awoke before dawn, | | | | between Pharaoh and Moses. "The God of Moses is |
| dressed, donned a cloak with a golden stripe which | | | | very powerful, each plague is worse than the one |
| announced to all, that he was under Pharaohic | | | | before - there is yet one more that I fear. Watch |
| protection, and made his way to the slave quarters. | | | | and tell me what transpires." Then he added, "Sadly, I |
| A guard showed him where Moses was staying. He | | | | must tell you that you are a Hebrew, and must |
| found a seat under a tree and waited. | | | | prepare to go with them for they are your people - |
| After a time, Moses and Aaron, leading a large crowd | | | | when whatever next happens.'' And he added, I |
| of Hebrews, left the compound, going toward the | | | | know of your feelings for the slave girl, Lanssel, and I |
| river Nile. Binay followed, with watchful Egyptian | | | | will speak of her to her mistress, an old friend. We |
| soldiers. At the bank of the Nile, Moses turned to the | | | | must see that she goes with you." |
| crowd, lifting his staff high with both hands, then | | | | Without words - for he was too choked up to speak |
| gave it to Aaron, speaking quietly. Binay saw Aaron | | | | - Binay embraced the older man, the Egyptian, the |
| strike the river with it. A great cry arose, Binay | | | | closest to a father or family he had ever known. |
| watching in shock - a deep red color began swiftly | | | | Binay settled himself against the railing for a long |
| spreading from the end of the staff in all directions - | | | | wait, hidden by the curtains. The throne room was |
| soon the entire Nile had become red. | | | | empty except for guards at the door and servants |
| "The river is blood!" cried the crowd, shrinking back in | | | | lighting the wall torches. Then voices were heard, and |
| horror. Binay saw dead fish begin floating on the | | | | guards entered, surrounding Moses and Aaron. As |
| surface of the water. The putrid stench of death | | | | before, they were kept a distance from the raised |
| soon permeated everywhere. The Hebrews gathered | | | | empty thrones. Then Pharaoh and the Royal Prince |
| closely around Moses and Aaron, as if they - the | | | | entered the chamber with their guards, and mounted |
| instruments of this unimaginable event, had the | | | | their thrones. |
| power to protect them. | | | | Binay could see violent gesticulations and demanding |
| Benay watched excitedly, as Moses, a head taller | | | | voices as Pharaoh and Moses spoke. Then Pharaoh's |
| than the throng, turned to look at a promontory | | | | words, clear and strong, "All of you may go, but your |
| where Pharaoh and his entourage were watching. | | | | flocks must remain." |
| Moses continued staring until, with an imperious | | | | But Moses voice was firm, "Our cattle must go with |
| sweep of his golden cloak, Pharaoh turned and angrily | | | | us, to sacrifice to our God." |
| strode off. | | | | Pharaoh then said, "You will not see my face again - |
| Binay left the gathering and unobstrusively went back | | | | if you do, you will die!" Pharaoh turned and began |
| to the palace, seeking out Manthro. Cries of alarm | | | | walking. |
| and fear could be heard throughout the city, even in | | | | But Moses' voice was easily heard, "You have spoken |
| the palace, especially from the kitchen area where it | | | | well, Pharaoh - I will not see your face again. There |
| was soon discovered that all water contained in pots | | | | will be one more plague." |
| and utensils had turned to blood. | | | | When all had gone, Binay climbed down and rushed |
| From the Royal chamber there was much scurrying | | | | to Manthro, telling him what had transpired. Manthro |
| of officials, in and out. Manthro joined the group | | | | was silent, thinking. Then he said, "I have arranged |
| surrounding Pharaoh. The kitchen report of water in | | | | about the girl. At the time of the evening meal, you |
| pots turning to blood caused Pharaoh to shout in | | | | and she, dressed as a lad, must leave the Palace. I |
| anger. Manthro suggested quietly that old wells should | | | | will accompany you as you depart. Then you must |
| be examined and new wells dug to see if that source | | | | go swiftly to find her family and be with them. This |
| of water was also contaminated. All began clamoring | | | | night you must be within an Israelite home - I fear |
| for it - Pharaoh ordered it be swiftly done. Soon | | | | the God of Moses - this night will be a night of |
| came reports that well water was pure and cries of | | | | death." |
| relief were heard. Messengers were dispatched | | | | Binay returned quickly to his room, gathering some |
| throughout the land to carry the good news and to | | | | clothing and belongings. He then hurried back to |
| encourage old wells being renewed and new ones | | | | Manthro, who already had the girl Lansel, looking |
| dug. | | | | frightened, dressed as a young boy. Her face lit up |
| For seven days, the Nile river was blood, and Pharaoh | | | | when she saw Binay. They came together, their |
| did not send for Moses nor did Moses seek audience | | | | hands touching, and slowly, tears welled in both their |
| with Pharaoh. During this time, Binay saw the slave | | | | II - Circa 1300 BC, Egypt; Moses and the Ten |
| girl twice. The second time he was able to brush by | | | | Plagues: "The Nile is Blood" to "Death of the |
| her fleetingly, their hands touching. | | | | First-Born"! Cont'd.eyes - they came closer yet - |
| After the Nile was no longer blood, Moses and Aaron | | | | finally Binay's arms went around her and he drew her |
| again beseeched Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, | | | | in. He could feel the quivering of her thin shoulders. |
| Pharaoh imperiously denying the request. Then Moses | | | | He bent and briefly put his cheek to hers. |
| told Aaron to stretch out his hand over the Nile - and | | | | Manthro said, "We must go quickly. I will walk |
| an army of frogs came out of the river to over-run | | | | between you. Say nothing to anyone, even if a guard |
| Egypt. That caused Pharaoh to ask Moses to entreat | | | | speaks to you. I will do all the talking." |
| his God to relent - and Moses did so and told Pharaoh | | | | Manthro in the lead, the trio walked swiftly, in the |
| that the next day the frogs would go back to the | | | | background were the sounds of the palace at the |
| Nile - and they did. But then Pharaoh's heart hardened. | | | | evening meal. They came to the guarded wall of the |
| Moses then told Aaron to smite the Earth with his | | | | complex; Manthro spoke authoritatively to the guards |
| staff - and the dust of the earth became lice - and | | | | and handed them some papers - there was a |
| Pharaoh's magicians tried to do the same but could | | | | skeptical glance but they were waved through. |
| not. But Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. | | | | Silently, Binay heaved a sigh of relief. |
| Then Moses told Pharaoh, "Let my people go, or wild | | | | When they had left the palace grounds, there was |
| beasts will over-run your houses." And so it was in all | | | | but one more guard. Binay saw Manthro give him |
| of Egypt, except Goshen where dwelt the Hebrews, | | | | coins. Then they were in the clear. A stones-throw |
| wild beasts over-ran all of Egypt. | | | | further and Manthro stopped, |
| Then did Pharaoh send for Moses and Aaron, "Take | | | | "This is as far as I go. You must find the girl's family |
| your people and go pray to your god - so take away | | | | and stay with them this night. With my blessings, go." |
| the beasts." And Moses appealed to God, but when | | | | Binay and Manthro embraced each other, kissing each |
| the beasts were gone, Pharaoh relented of his | | | | other on the cheeks. Then Manthro turned and |
| promise and did not let the Hebrews go. | | | | walked back to the palace grounds. |
| Then Moses said to Pharaoh, "Cattle in Egypt will die | | | | Binay took Lansel's hand in his as they walked quickly |
| on the morrow, except for Goshen, if you do not let | | | | toward the slave section of Goshen. Darkness was |
| my people go." But Pharaoh's heart remained | | | | falling quickly. Lansel led the way to her house, then |
| hardened, he would not let the Israelites go. | | | | ran ahead to greet her family. She introduced Binay |
| Then Moses and Aaron took soot in their hands - | | | | to her father, a heavy-set, gruff-looking man, and |
| looking to see that Pharaoh was watching from his | | | | her older brother Chadaric - both men were leaving |
| promontory - and threw it heavenward. Moses said, | | | | to help prepare a lamb for a sacrifice and feast for |
| "This shall become boils and inflammation upon the | | | | that evening - as had been instructed by Moses. Her |
| skins of Egyptians." And so it did - but Pharaoh's | | | | mother and sister were visiting Egyptian neighbors, |
| heart remained hardened. | | | | Chadaric called out as he left. |
| And Moses then said to Pharaoh, "Tomorrow there | | | | They were soon told why. Moses and Aaron had |
| will be hail and fire and thunder, destroying cattle, | | | | directed all the Israelites to do several things this |
| even trees, if you do not let our people go." And | | | | night: firstly to sacrifice a lamb or goat to God - to |
| Moses stretched forth his staff, and hail and fire and | | | | be eaten by kin families along with unleavened bread |
| thunder descended over Egypt, destroying cattle, | | | | - since there would not be enough time for full |
| even trees; only in Goshen there was none. | | | | baking; secondly to take along the bowls of dough |
| II - Circa 1300 BC, Egypt; Moses and the Ten | | | | for unleavened bread for the first week of traveling; |
| Plagues: "The Nile is Blood" to "Death of the | | | | thirdly to ask neighbor Egyptians for items of |
| First-Born"! | | | | precious metals and jewelry - promising, somehow, |
| Cont'd. | | | | that they would be responsive to such requests. |
| After that plague, Pharaoh called for Moses and | | | | Finally and most importantly, Moses told them they |
| Aaron, "Entreat your god that there be no more." | | | | must daub the blood of their sacrificed animal on the |
| And Moses lifted his hands and the hail and thunder | | | | doorposts and lintels of their homes - so the Angel |
| ceased. But Pharaoh again hardened his heart. | | | | of Death would "pass over" their house - also for all |
| Then Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, "If you do | | | | Hebrews to remain within their homes the entire |
| not let us go, on the morrow will come locusts and | | | | night. |
| eat everything that yet remains green in your land, | | | | When Lansel's mother and sister returned they |
| even every tree." And the Egyptians cried out to | | | | welcomed Binay, as she had told them about him |
| Pharaoh, "Let the Israelites go." And Pharaoh asked | | | | during her occasional visits home. However, everyone |
| Moses, "If I let you, who are you that will go?" | | | | was busy with the evening's required activities. They |
| And Moses answered, "All will go, young and old, and | | | | were joined by two cousin families for the feast of |
| with our flocks and herds." | | | | roasted lamb; all participating in the dipping of hyssop |
| But Pharaoh said, "No. Only the men can go." | | | | in the lambs blood and daubing it on the doorposts |
| So Moses stretched out his staff, and an East wind | | | | and lintels of their homes; the meal of lamb, bitter |
| arose, carrying hordes of locusts so as to blacken | | | | herbs and unleavened bread was perfunctory and |
| the sky, and they descended upon Egypt until not a | | | | quick, as all needed to pack belongings for the |
| green leaf remained in all the land." | | | | planned departure on the morrow. The meal was also |
| Then Pharaoh called for Moses, "I have sinned against | | | | very quiet, everyone speaking in hushed tones, |
| your god - withdraw the locusts." | | | | knowing that this night would be forever memorable. |
| Therefore Moses entreated God to withdraw the | | | | As the women cleared the table and the other |
| locusts - and a strong West wind arose and carried all | | | | families left, Lansel's brother Chadaric, took Binay to |
| the locusts into the seas - but Pharaoh hardened his | | | | an anteroom and prepared a make-shift bed for him |
| heart again and would not let the Israelites go. | | | | on the floor. Gradually the house quieted as |
| Then Moses stretched out his hands to heaven - and | | | | everyone retired. |
| darkness fell. For three days and nights there was | | | | At midnight, shrieks and wails began being heard |
| absolute darkness upon the land. | | | | from the Egyptian section, but the Hebrews |
| Manthro called Binay to again secrete himself in the | | | | remained inside their homes. |
| second floor drapes to see the coming meeting | | | | |