The story about a perfect garden is forbidden. People say,
‘Do not go upriver! Do not talk about these old myths!’
Enoch wonders as he frequently questions.
‘Does it still exist? Why did Adam disobey God if Eden was such a wonderful place?’
Then there are the rumors of Eve being a very strong-willed, unhappy person. By all accounts she is still alive.
‘Could we ever meet Adam and Eve?’
Orna is interested in a journey like that. She says,
‘How wonderful if the older children would go too.’
Whenever they follow the river upstream, they sense an unusual feeling of fear mingled with excitement. Both agree about the warm feelings this unknown territory elicits.
Orna puts pressure on Nokh to slow down. She knows he is driven and it makes her uneasy. He feels her hesitancy and concludes,
‘It is about the festival. Her real concern relates to the children and how our absence will affect their futures.’
Retaliation for missing the monthly feast definitely affects each child in their ever-growing family. Enoch thinks about Adam’s wife, his grandmother many generations back:
‘ Why did Eve have the reputation of taking matters into her own hands? Did she know that she was a difficult woman? Did she care?’
Such thoughts bother him. Then there is the controversy of food. Food problems surround their home because of his chosen work: A maker of instruments of death!
Enthusiastic followers of progressive rulings teach that eating any flesh from living things was evil. Enoch takes a moderate position. His father and even his grandparents were all comfortable with the killing and eating of animals, fish, and fowl.
Such incredible tastes and textures, when prepared carefully with herbs and required amounts of salt, brings much pleasure. Balanced diets give them strong bodies.
Those who care prepare oils infused with precious seasonings, salts, seeds, olives, grapes, flowers, and peppery things. Enoch’s family learns the skill of nurturing distinct types of olive trees.
Food discussions bother Nokh but this is only a small part of working through the larger disagreements about the old stories.
He recalls with apprehension when Ywek, Khman’s brother, came into the dart shop to purchase arrows for hunting. He said,
‘I’ve heard you are fascinated with our ancestors toward the old dwelling places. Is that true?’
Nokh hesitated more than usual.
‘My wife and I have wondered if the old stories convey God’s truth.’
He knew what they were planning would surely arouse an angry response.
‘We have studied our genealogy and there is much that we believe.’
Ywek replied with a face that Nokh will never forget,
‘When will you learn? You may make the most perfect javelins in town, but don’t expect that to save you from the wrath of God!’
With that outburst he grabbed the arrows, paid his bill, and left without another word.
Scars on his shoulders caught Enoch’s eye as an exquisitely woven, loosely draped garment exposed much of his upper body. Men dressed, with little thought of protection from cold temperatures for they had none. These customs exposed incredible bodies and physical perfections which had been given by a loving creator.
Now, for the first time, Enoch knew a dividing line he could never cross. This division, like a well-built, sturdy fence, blocked men from men.
‘How can he mutilate his body like that? I know this is what festival feasts are encouraging people to do. God does not ask this of us!’