"Ah—of course! The sepulchre. Ever have I known that the tent of Shem was raised above the resting-place of Adam, and that it is revealed only unto those whom God wills to behold it."
"Then why," asked Heber, "would my father remove from thence the sacred relics of our house, if they were secure?"
"He desired that thou shouldst bear them," said Canaan, "for in some measure he perceived that the days of Akkad were drawing to their end, and that when its fall came, the tomb of Adam would vanish forever amid the ashes of the city."
"And would it not have been better," said the boy, "if the relics had perished with the bones of their rightful lord?"
"Thy father did not judge so," replied the old man. "He was wholly persuaded that he chose the better part; for it was the only way by which he might preserve alive the last heir of the line of Shem."
"Then… it is I?" said Heber, astonished.
"Even so."
"And what then of the Semites scattered across the world?"
"My noble child," said Canaan gently, "not all who are called Semites belong to the sacred line of Shem. A tree may have many roots; yet God chooses but one. Shem begat Arphaxad, and Arphaxad begat Salah, and Salah begat Heber. The peoples of Elam, of Asshur, of Lud, and of Aram were not numbered among those appointed to inherit the blessing. For long before thy birth, the patriarch Noah spoke, saying that Shem should be the father of all the sons of Heber. Thou, therefore, art the chosen branch, in whom the promise abides."
"What promise?"
"The promise uttered by Noah: that God Himself shall come and dwell in the tent of Shem."
"But the tent is destroyed!" cried Heber. "I beheld its ruins with mine own eyes!"
At this, Canaan regarded him with quiet affection.
"Have patience, my son, and in due time all shall be made plain unto thee."
"But why are the relics so needful? And why should I keep them?"
"Because they are thy safeguard in a world grown hostile, until the promise be fulfilled. Hast thou not remembered the wonder thou didst perform—how thou didst slay the Rephaim, and wound Nimrod in the shoulder? Not by thine own strength was it wrought, but by the hidden power within the lambskin thou didst wear. That garment was part of the raiment fashioned by God for Adam in Eden, and it bore the sign of the dominion given unto him over all living things. For thus did the Lord speak unto Adam: 'All creation is made subject unto thee.'"
Hearing this, Heber lowered his gaze in sorrow.
"And now Nimrod hath taken it from me."
But Canaan sought to comfort him.
"Be not cast down. What else did thy father entrust unto thee?"
Then the boy drew forth from within his garments two white stones, and showing them said:
"Besides these agates, he gave me the sacred flame—but as thou seest, it is now extinguished."
Canaan took the stones into his hands and beheld them with wonder.
"Grieve not over the torch that hath burned out," he said. "For when I fled from Akkad and came unto this cave, I found here a flame already kindled. Though I knew not who had set it there, nor for what purpose, I took it and lit this fire thou now beholdest. Thus, whether by chance or by divine providence, the sacred fire of Abel yet burns."
Even as he marveled at the stones, he hearkened still to the boy.
"Why didst thou return unto Akkad?" asked Heber.
"I had hoped to find survivors," said Canaan, not lifting his eyes from the jewels. "But there were none—only the dead."
"And what then didst thou do with me?"
"I knew thee not when I found thee hanging upon that tree. Yet thou alone hadst not been consumed by the flames. So I took thee down, and seeing a tomb nearby, I laid thy body within and sealed it."
"That was the tomb of Adam," said Heber.
"Now I perceive it so," answered Canaan, "and it was revealed unto me, though I was not worthy to behold it."
"Was that the miracle that restored me to life?"
"Most likely."
"But the tomb was empty! There were no bones within it!"
"Indeed," said Canaan, "and that is because the body of Adam was never laid to rest therein."
"Was it not?"
"Nay. The sepulchre marks only the place where he lay down when he perceived that death was near. His body returned wholly unto the dust, as God had decreed when He pronounced the curse."
"And yet he chose Akkad as his dwelling…"
"He sought to remain as near as might be unto the Garden of Eden."
"And what befell Eden?"
"It remains where it ever was—but the way thereto is barred unto men. Not even righteous Abel could find it. Yet the prophet Enoch was granted the grace to behold it, and an ancient tradition declares that one of its four gates stood even here, within this cave of Machpelah."
At length Heber perceived that all of Canaan's attention rested upon the stones. And the old man, seeing that the boy had marked it, spoke thus:
"Hearken well unto me. Since the beginning, God hath spoken His voice unto but a few among men; and after the Great Flood, Noah alone was granted such speech with the Almighty. Those righteous generations that followed learned the will of God through the knowledge contained within these stones. The sons of Seth called them the Perfect Lights, and sought their counsel in all matters of great weight. I am persuaded that thy father himself consulted them before entrusting unto thee the relics of Adam."
And how do they work?" asked Heber.
"They discern between right and wrong. One is the stone of yea, and the other of nay. When they are consulted, one shall shine, according to the answer given."
"And if neither shines—does it mean that God refuses to speak?"
"That hath never been," said Canaan. "But if ever it should be so, it would mean that the one who seeks counsel is unworthy of the asking."
The son of Salah already harbored his own designs.
"When the hour comes," he said, "I shall use them to learn how best to avenge the blood that was shed in Akkad."
Only then did Canaan lift his eyes from the stones and look upon him, reproving him:
"Take heed, my son. The purpose of these stones is not to foresee the future nor to bend it to one's will, but to guide the path of righteousness."
"To slay Nimrod and avenge Akkad is righteousness," the boy insisted.
"Even if it were so," said Canaan, "far from thee be a life consumed by vengeance. Thy father labored that thou mightest escape the ruin of Akkad, that thou shouldst live to fulfill the high purposes of God—and that is the path thou must walk."
Then Heber lowered his eyes and spoke in a faint voice:
"Forgive my haste. I have not yet wept for my dead, and thus I have not understood the burden laid upon me as the last of the line of Shem. It will take time… and I know not where to begin."
"Then begin thus," said Canaan softly: "by remaining alive and under protection. There is but one way to keep the sacred flame of Shem burning: thou must preserve the seed of the faithful."
"But I am only a child!"
"A child," said the old man, "yet burdened with a great destiny. Keep thyself alive and safe, and in time all things shall be set in order."
"And what use is the sacred flame to me," asked Heber, "if I am not yet of age to offer sacrifice unto God?"
For a time Canaan was silent, deep in thought. When he spoke again, his voice was slow and tinged with sorrow:
"Perhaps thou art not yet called to offer sacrifice."
Heber looked upon him in wonder.
"Not yet?"
"Not yet."
And sitting beside him, the old man continued, his voice faltering:
"It is mine to guard thee—to be thy tutor—until thou hast come of age for the priesthood of thy house."
The boy rose at once.
"Thou canst not take upon thyself the priesthood that belongs only to the house of Shem!"
But the ancient servant of Shem gestured once more toward the stone and said with gentle gravity:
"Sit, and I shall reveal unto thee a mystery that I have borne within me for nearly four hundred years."