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THE SOLDIER AND PRIEST found a place to hide in a small canyon, until patrols from Bet-Yariq quit searching for them.
Salmon developed an idea for a faster, less dangerous method for crossing the river. He tied Pinchas' rope to his own for extra length, then they fastened one end to a tree on the west side of the Yarden. They tied the other end to a log, which they carried upstream until the rope was taut. Then they waded out toward the middle of the river with the log, and when their feet lost purchase, they clung to the log for flotation With both of them kicking and one-arm paddling as best they could, they influenced the drift of the anchored log toward the far bank. It moved in a huge arc, at the apex of which, their feet could touch bottom. They let go of the log and strained against the current to wade ashore.
The crossing had required a lot of energy, but they weren't utterly exhausted like after the first time. After a short rest, they made off for the camp of Yacov, letting their clothes dry on the march.
Y'HOSHUA MADE THE ROUNDS from tribe to tribe, overseeing the training supervised by his field commanders. Most of it was the same battle drills they'd been rehearsing for years.
His shock troops were three of the biggest tribes, armed with spear and shield. They fought primarily in formation. The Gadim were the only tribe completely armed with swords, and they specialized in close-in fighting. Shimon and Menashe were composed entirely of archers, who trained extensively in the use of camouflage. They practiced lying still on the ground, blending in with the scenery, then rising on command to loose showers of arrows from long range. Y'hoshua had three tribes apiece of slingers and javelineers, who maintained spread formations and engaged the enemy from medium range, but he had given one of the javelin-wielding tribes a special assignment. The Z'vulunim, armed with hatchets and other secondary weapons, were busy gathering lumber to build ladders.
Y'hoshua's concept of the operation would be to have Z'vulun use the ladders to scale the walls by night, seize control of the city gate and open it so the shock troops could pour through and swarm the defenses.
When Y'hoshua entered Y'huda's training area, Kalev called the tribe to attention. His marshals, captains and lieutenants relayed the command, and the warriors disengaged from their sparring or marching drills to stand straight, facing their field marshal.
"As you were," Y'hoshua said. "Carry on."
The bizarre weather had given them alternating days of thunderstorms and scorching heat. Today was one of the latter. Kalev glanced at the sun and summoned his marshals. He instructed them to give the men a rest and make sure everyone drank water. This done, he approached Y'hoshua.
Y'hoshua gave him a grin. "How are you, my old friend?"
"As strong as the day you and I left for our reconnaissance," Kalev replied.
The laugh blew out of Y'hoshua in an explosive snort.
"You don't believe me?" Kalev asked, hardening a bicep muscle and slapping it with his opposite hand.
"You've developed a sense of humor in 40 years," Y'hoshua said, chuckling.
"No I haven't. I'm going to keep telling you that until you take it seriously."
Y'hoshua laughed some more, and Kalev chuckled along with him. Once the moment had passed, Y'hoshua said,"After today, I'm going to suspend training. Make sure your men get some rest, eat well, and get a chance for a little merrymaking...within reason. We're crossing over in about three days."
"Three days?"
Y'hoshua gestured somewhere between a nod and a shrug. "Give or take. I'll let you know when to start counting down. But when those three days are over, we're moving out."
"We'll be ready," Kalev said. "But...permission to speak, Sir?"
"Of course."
"I don't understand why you want to attack Bet-Yariq first."
"I know," Y'hoshua replied, with a sigh of his own. "I know. El Elyon sent me a message. There is no doubt who it came from. We attack there, first."
Kalev glanced over his hordes of spear men, then into the sky where Ma'adim was even larger than the day before. "Well, he said Hashem would be our spearhead in this war. It's not us who have to take the city, but him. We just have to obey."
"You're a rock, comrade. A rock." Y'hoshua slapped him on the back. "I've got a special assignment. I need one man from each tribe detached and under my personal command on the day we ford the river. Think over who it is that should represent you."
Kalev nodded, thoughtfully. "Very well."
At the same moment, they both noticed two figures on foot, approaching from a distance. The figures gestured to each other, then at Y'hoshua, who watched with interested silence.
Both the field marshal and his general had lost their near vision years ago, but their eyes could still see sharp at far ranges. As the two figures drew within a couple bow shots, they grew recognizable.
"That's Salmon," Kalev said. "One of my junior officers. The other one looks familiar, too."
"He's one of the priests," Y'hoshua said. "You can start counting down now. We cross in three days."
