6 Days until Launch!
Naomi found Cain by the river, collecting water in a skin. Cain looked up and saw her approach.
"Hey, Naomi!" he cried, waving and grinning from ear to ear as he set his skin on the ground.
"Oh hi," said Naomi, her humming replaced with a stony silence. "Where's Father?"
"Oh," said Cain. "He went to check on Abel. I guess to make sure he wasn't daydreaming again. You know Abel."
"Right," said Naomi. She let out a little laugh for a second before returning her face to a hard stare.
Cain noticed.
“What’s wrong, little sister?"
"You know what's wrong," huffed Naomi.
Cain thought for a moment.
"Wait, you're not still mad about the spider, are you?"
Naomi huffed as she walked past Cain over to his water skin, her back to him.
"Come on," said Cain. "It was just a joke."
Naomi huffed again.
Cain sighed, "Look, I'm sorry. I was just teasing. I won't do it again."
Naomi turned around and stared at him. "Really?" she asked her voice still hard.
"Well…" said Cain, grinning sheepishly. "Not for a while at least. Forgive me anyway?"
Naomi sighed.
"Please?" asked Cain.
"Well, fine," said Naomi.
Cain grinned, "So we're even, then?"
Naomi was about to reply when her eyes went wide with horror.
"What's that?" she shrieked, pointing behind Cain.
"What? Where?" said Cain, turning around to see.
He had only just realized that there was nothing there when he felt the water from his skin being dumped all over him.
Naomi fell over laughing.
"Now we're even!" she giggled.
Cain spun around.
"Come here, you!" he snarled, and pounced on his sister.
"No! No!" shouted Naomi.
She laughed uncontrollably as Cain tickled her into submission.
After what seemed like forever, they stopped to catch their breath.
"Even?" asked Cain, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Even," said Naomi, with a sly smile of her own.
“So,” said a cheerful voice. “Who won?”
The voice belonged to Abel.
“I did!” said Cain and Naomi at once, followed by a simultaneous “Did not!”
Abel laughed. It was then that Adam approached them. Eve, too, had come, hearing the ruckus and wondering what was going on.
"Cain and I are done fighting, Mother," said Naomi.
"Oh good," said Eve. "And what about Abel?"
Naomi and Abel looked at each other. It was only a moment before their faces broke out into a smile.
"Yep," said Naomi. "The whole thing was probably Cain's idea anyway."
"Hey!" said Cain.
"But it's true," said Abel.
Cain huffed, pretending to be offended, though he couldn't hide the smirk on his face.
"Well," said Eve. "Now that that's over with, what else needs to be done?"
"Abel and I already took care of the milking," said Adam.
"You did?" said Cain, "You should have had me help him."
"I don't think so," said Adam. "The last time I did that you and Abel spent the whole time squirting milk at each other."
"I remember that!" said Abel. "We had lots of fun."
"We also had no milk," said Eve.
Cain and Abel laughed.
Eve was about to say something, but a sign from Adam stopped her. She saw her husband regarding their sons with a look of quiet joy on his face. Eve smiled in spite of herself.
"What is it, Mother?" asked Naomi.
"Nothing, dear," said Eve. "Why don’t you and your brothers go play? Your father and I will look after things."
"Huh?" said Naomi, looking towards Adam. "Are you sure?"
Adam nodded.
"Go ahead," he said. "Cain. Abel. I'll come fetch you when it's time to get supper. Until then, have fun."
"All right!" said Cain, jumping up from the ground.
"Hey!" said Abel. "Let's have a race! I'll beat you both to my tree!"
"Nuh-uh!" said Naomi. "I'll win! Just like last time!"
"Well then," said Adam, raising his arm. "Get ready and let's find out!"
"Yeah!" said the three children at once as they lined up in a row, ready to take off.
"Ready!" said Adam. "Set!"
He dropped his arm.
"Go!"
Cain, Abel, and Naomi sped off like shooting stars, the sound of their laughter growing fainter with the distance.
Eve watched them as they went.
Adam came up behind his wife, resting his strong, gentle hands on her shoulders.
Eve smiled. "They're wonderful, aren't they?"
"Yes," said Adam. He leaned over to Eve's head, “I think we should have more."
Eve chuckled, “How many?"
"Hmmm," said Adam moving his face closer to hers, “Let’s say… ten."
Eve spun around to face her husband, her eyes wide with shock, “Ten!"
"Too few?"
"Adam! My body can only take so much! You know how painful it is for me."
"But you're always so happy afterwards," said Adam, smirking. "And …before."
"Oh," said Eve, her eyebrow raised. "You'll make it worth my while?"
Adam moved in close to Eve, his face close to hers once again, "Don't I always?"
He stole a kiss.
Eve laughed.
"How long has it been?" asked Adam.
"Too long," said Eve.
Adam grinned, "What do you say we… make the children sleep outside the cave tonight?"
"That depends," whispered Eve.
"Depends on what?" said Adam.
Eve backed away and pointed at Adam, “On what you bring me home for dinner, Husband."
Adam was taken aback, "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I am," said Eve. "And you better bring back something good, or you'll be the one sleeping outside the cave."
Adam's eyes went wide, and then narrowed as he gave her a knowing look.
Both the man and his wife stared hard at each other, trying to look serious.
It didn't work.
First Eve's, then Adam's face broke into a smile.
They both laughed out loud as they fell into each other's arms.
* * *
The evening breeze blew upon the grass as a herd of wild boar stopped for a drink at their favorite watering hole. The biggest and strongest male butted past the others, insisting with a loud grunt that he be allowed to drink first. He greedily stuck his big ugly snout in to the water, not noticing the little bubbles on the surface of the water slowly moving towards him.
In a flash, a pair of hands struck out from the water, grabbing the boar by his tusks and dragging him kicking and squealing into the water.
The rest of the herd flew into a panic and ran. Just as they were taking off, two tall, hairless creatures leapt out from the brush, each wielding a small stone knife. The larger of the two ran up to the nearest boar, grabbed it by the tusk and slit its throat in a single graceful motion. The smaller one leapt into the fray, missing his target at first, then grabbing it by the hair and stabbing it in the ribs before it could drag him off.
The rest of the herd scattered, leaving their fallen brethren behind.
"Well," laughed Abel. "We sure showed them, didn't we, Father?"
"We did," said Adam, letting out a hearty laugh of his own.
Their laughter was interrupted by a big slashing sound. Adam and Abel turned around to see Cain emerge from the watering hole, gasping and panting for breath as he dragged the carcass of his prey up behind him.
"Got him," said Cain.
"You could have just cut him, Cain," said Abel.
"Where's the fun in that?" said Cain.
"Well," said Adam, "I hope you can carry it back with you."
"No problem," said Cain, hoisting the carcass onto his back, only for him to stumble under its weight.
Abel laughed.
"It didn't seem so big before I killed it," said Cain, righting himself. "Do you want this one, Father?"
"What have I always told you, Cain?" said Adam.
Cain sighed, "You kill it, you carry it."
"Right then," said Adam. "Let's get these home. Your Mother and Naomi are waiting for us."
The man and his sons walked back home, carrying their trophies on their backs.
* * *
Eve was amazed at the bounty her husband and sons had brought home.
"Three whole boars?" she said with an interrogating glare at her husband. "Do you really think we need that much?"
"Well," Adam said, "We can't hunt tomorrow. No work on the Sabbath, remember? Besides, knowing our boys, I doubt we'll have much left afterwards."
Cain and Abel snickered.
"So," said Adam, "Is this good enough for you, honey?"
Eve sighed, "I guess I can do something with it.” A sly smile crept onto her face.
True to her word, Eve prepared a feast for her family: roasted meat from the hunt, which Cain and Abel made short work of, as well as fruits and vegetables from her garden. Naomi had joined them, bringing with her a little wooden flute Adam had made for her as a birthday present some years ago. Lamby had joined them too, though Abel had to feed him discretely to avoid the ire of his mother.
When everyone had eaten and was satisfied, Eve turned to Naomi, "Is your song ready, dear?"
“Almost,” said Naomi. “I don't have words for it yet, but I can play it on my flute if you like."
Everyone nodded and cheered. Even Lamby let out an approving bleat.
"Well, all right," said Naomi.
She stood in the midst of them, raised her flute to her lips, and began to play.
Her song started off light and slow, like the patter of little feet, weaving around from high notes to low notes, gradually getting slower until it seemed to stop. And then, just when it seemed as if it had ended, the song came back to life, the notes smooth and soaring like the wind. Naomi began to dance during this last part, as though she herself were flying with her song out into the sunset.
Finally, with a long high note played smooth as water, Naomi brought her song to a close.
As she brought her flute down, her audience leapt up and cheered, clapping their hands. Cain and Abel ran up to her and gave her a great big hug, while Adam affectionately tousled her hair.
"That was amazing, Naomi," exclaimed Eve.
Naomi laughed. “Thank you very much," she said as her Father and brothers finished their displays of affection.
"What's it about?" asked Cain.
"Well," said Naomi, "It's about a butterfly. He starts as a caterpillar, and then he goes into a cocoon for a while, and when he comes out he has wings and starts flying around."
It was then that Naomi noticed that Abel was looking at her, a very thoughtful and curious expression on his face.
"What is it?" asked Naomi.
Abel smiled, “You’d make a very pretty butterfly, Naomi."
"Oh," said Naomi. "You think so?"
"Uh-huh," said Abel. "When you were dancing, it was like you were flying. All you'd need are some pretty wings."
"Oh," said Naomi, blushing and giggling. "Thank you."
"That's a great idea!" said Cain. "Mother, may we put Naomi in a cocoon?"
Naomi's turned pale.
"You'll do no such thing, Cain," said Eve, glaring sternly at him.
"Aww," said Cain. "But I want her to grow wings."
"Yes!" Able piped up. "Pretty wings for Naomi!"
"Now boys," said Adam, "We don't grow wings like butterflies do."
"Have you tried before?" asked Cain.
"Well, no," said Adam.
"Then what's the harm in finding out?"
A little whimper escaped Naomi.
"Don't worry Naomi," said Eve. "They aren’t going to do anything to you."
She glared at her sons, “Are you?"
Abel sighed and shook his head.
"No, Mother," said Cain.
* * *
That night, Adam and Eve insisted that Cain, Abel, and Naomi sleep outside. The three children, somewhat bewildered, agreed to relocate to the garden.
Unable to sleep, Cain walked about among the trees. He found Abel near the edge of the garden, lying awake on the grass, gazing up at the moon in the sky.
"Can't sleep?" said Cain.
Abel shook his head.
"Me neither," said Cain as he sat down next to his brother.
"Hey Cain?" asked Abel.
"Yes?" said Cain.
"Why do Mother and Father make us sleep outside sometimes? Did we do something bad?"
"Well," said Cain, "I asked Father about it once, and he just said he and Mother need time alone, like they were before we came along."
"You mean they want to pretend we're not here?" said Abel, his voice filled with alarm.
"I guess," said Cain.
"Oh no!" said Abel, "What if they like it better that way? What if they decide they don't love us anymore?"
"Oh, don’t be silly," said Cain, "I mean, you like going off by yourself sometimes, and you don't stop loving the rest of us, right?"
Abel stopped and thought for a moment, "I guess you're right."
Cain laughed, "See? Nothing to worry about."
They both went silent as the wind blew gently across the tops of the trees.
"Well," said Cain, "We'd better get to sleep. Or at least be quieter. We don't want to wake Naomi."
"Yeah," snickered Abel, "We can't do that. We'd never find a spider in this light."
Cain and Abel began to laugh.
"I heard that!" said an irritated voice from behind them.
The boys jumped up and spun around.
"Hi Naomi," said Abel, a bright smile on his face.
Naomi was not smiling.
“Hmmph!” she said.
Abel laughed, but Cain merely smiled.
“Can’t sleep either, Naomi?”
Naomi yawned before she could answer.
“I could sing for you if you like,” said Cain. “I’m not as good as you, but…”
“I’m a big girl now,” huffed Naomi. “I’m not a baby.”
“I won’t tell Mother and Father,” said Cain.
“Me neither,” said Abel.
Naomi eyed the two of them and sighed.
“Oh, all right,” she said, “One song. But that’s it.”
“Of course,” laughed Cain.
Naomi threw a blanket over herself and lay down on the ground beneath a tree. She had enough dignity left to not want to be tucked in.
Cain sat down next to her, and sang in a soft voice:
The weary Sun has gone to bed
And in the West lays down his head.
The Angel sees the time is right,
And cloaks the Earth in gentle night.
The Moon is dancing in her way
And all the stars come out to play.
But while their nightly watch they keep,
For us it is now time to sleep.
Be still, my love, be not dismayed,
Of darkness be you not afraid.
The dawning Day shall come again,
And I am with you until then.
It was an old song; one that Eve had song to them when they were children. As usual, Naomi was asleep almost as soon as it was done. Abel had nodded off too.
Cain smiled at them, and lying down, he drifted off to sleep.