Fifth Mountain

"I am willing to make a pact: if you do what I'm asking, the religion of the One God will become obligatory in Akbar. You will please Him whom you serve, and I shall be able to negotiate terms of peace."

ELIJAH CLIMBED THE STAIRS to his room in the upper story of the widow's house. At that moment he had in his hands an opportunity that no prophet had ever had before: to convert a Phoenician city. It would be the most painful way to show Jezebel that there was a price to pay for what she had done to his country.

He was excited by the governor's offer. He even thought of waking the woman who was sleeping downstairs but changed his mind; she must be dreaming about the beautiful afternoon they had spent together.

He called on his guardian angel. He appeared.

"You heard the governor's proposal," Elijah said. "This is a unique chance."

"Nothing is a unique chance," the angel replied. "The Lord giveth men many opportunities. And do not forget what was said: no further miracle will be permitted thee until thou returnest to the bosom of thy country."

Elijah lowered his head. At that moment the angel of the Lord appeared and hushed his guardian angel. And he said:

"Behold the next of thy miracles:

"Thou wilt gather the people together before the mountain. On one side, thou shalt order built an altar to Baal, and that a bullock be placed on it. On the other side, thou shalt raise an altar to the Lord thy God, and on it also place a bullock.

"And thou shalt say to the worshipers of Baal: invoke the name of your god, and I shall invoke the name of the Lord. Let them be first, and let them spend from morning until noon praying and calling on Baal to come forth and receive what is offered him.

"They will cry out aloud, and cut themselves with knives, asking that the bullock be received by their god, but nothing will happen.

"When they weary, thou shalt fill four barrels with water and pour it over thy bullock. Thou shalt do this a second time. And thou shalt do this still a third time. Then call upon the Lord of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, asking Him to show His power to all.

"At that moment, the Lord will send the fire from heaven and consume thy sacrifice."

Elijah knelt and gave thanks.

"However," continued the angel, "this miracle can be wrought but once in thy lifetime. Choose whether thou desirest to do it here, to avoid a battle, or in thy homeland, to free thy people from Jezebel."

And the angel of the Lord departed.

THE WOMAN AWOKE EARLY and saw Elijah sitting in the doorway of the house. His eyes were deep in their sockets, like those of one who has not slept.

She would have liked to ask what had happened the night before, but she feared his response. It was possible that the sleepless night had been provoked by his talk with the governor and by the threat of war; but there might be another reason--the clay tablet she had given him. If so, and she raised the subject, she risked hearing that the love of a woman was not in accord with God's design.

She said only the words, "Come and eat something."

Her son awakened also. The three sat down at the table and ate.

"I should have liked to stay with you yesterday," Elijah said, "but the governor needed me."

"Do not concern yourself with him," she said, a calm feeling reentering her heart. "His family has ruled Akbar for generations, and he will know what to do in the face of the threat."

"I also spoke with an angel. And he demanded of me a very difficult decision."

"Nor should you be disturbed because of angels; perhaps it's better to believe that the gods change with the times. My ancestors worshiped the Egyptian gods, who had the forms of animals. Those gods went away, and until you arrived, I was brought up to make sacrifices to Asherat, El, Baal, and all the dwellers on the Fifth Mountain. Now I have known the Lord, but He too may leave us one day, and the next gods may be less demanding."

The boy asked for water. There was none.

"I'll go and fetch it," said Elijah.

"I want to go with you," the boy said.

They walked toward the well. On the way they passed the spot where the commander had since the early hours been training his soldiers.

"Let's watch for a while," said the boy. "I'll be a soldier when I grow up."

Elijah did as he asked.