Chapter 6
The Warning

The men dragged the frightened children to the campfire. They were shoved in front of the old man.

“Jonathan and I found these two spies, Father,” said Benjamin’s captor.

Devorah looked up at Mattisyahu, tears in her eyes. “We were trying to find Simon to warn him, to warn all of you,” she whispered.

Mattisyahu’s glare softened as he looked at her. “To warn us of what, child?”

Benjamin rubbed his bruised arms. “To warn you that Antiochus plans to send his soldiers to kill you!”

Mattisyahu studied Benjamin for a long moment. Then he motioned to the man holding Benjamin. “You may release him, Judah.”

Judah shoved Benjamin forward.

“Come here, boy.” Mattisyahu smiled. “Tell me who you are and why you have journeyed here with us.”

“I’m Benjamin, and this is my sister, Devorah. We come from . . . from Jerusalem.” He looked over at his sister.

Devorah continued. “Antiochus’ soldiers took our parents away. We were afraid they would come back for us.”

“We saw you heading away from Modi’in,” added her brother, “and decided we’d better join you because . . .”

“Because we knew we’d be safer hiding with you. If the soldiers were after you, they’d be after us, too,” finished Devorah. “And they are after you, or they will be soon. You have to get ready to fight them!”

Mattisyahu took Devorah’s hands into his own strong grasp. “Child,” he said. “To Antiochus we are like a small band of insects. He will not bother with us. Stay here; you will be safe.”

“You don’t know Antiochus,” snapped Benjamin. “He will come after you!”

“Don’t be fooled, Father.” Judah placed his hand on his sword. “These children are sure the soldiers will fight us because they are spies. How else would they know these plans?”

“If we’re spies,” argued Benjamin, “then why are we warning you?”

“You say we’ll be safe here, but when the soldiers come, no one will be safe!” Devorah looked into the old man’s face.

“Please, send someone to check.” Benjamin softened his voice. “I’m so scared.”

“You would like us to do that, wouldn’t you?” Judah turned to face Mattisyahu. “We’d be walking into a trap!”

Mattisyahu sighed. “Take Jonathan and return to Modi’in. Search the area, determine the soldiers’ plans, then report back to me.”

“But, Father,” Judah protested, grabbing Benjamin and yanking him to his feet. “You can’t let these two spies roam freely. They’re sure to escape and travel back to Modi’in to warn the soldiers.”

Mattisyahu’s brow wrinkled. “I do not think they are much of a threat. But, there is a small cave behind the women’s tent. Put them there and post a guard. We can sort out their story when you return from Modi’in.” He waved Judah and Jonathan away. The two men stomped off and shoved Benjamin and Devorah into the cave.

“Ow!” grumbled Benjamin, bumping his head as Judah tossed him into the cave. “This stupid thing is so small, we can’t even both lie down to sleep at the same time.”

“Well, at least we warned them. Everything will be okay once Judah returns from Modi’in. He’ll tell Mattisyahu about the soldiers and then they’ll have to believe us.”

Benjamin scrunched to the back of the tiny cave. “Ouch!” he cried again, sitting on something hard. He reached around.

“Devorah!” he shouted. “I’ve found Bubbe’s dreidel! Now we can go home!” The children huddled together, glad to be going home. Glad to be free of this nightmare.

Benjamin held onto Devorah while she gave the dreidel a spin. The top picked up speed, faster and faster, until the whole cave swirled.

Then it stopped, just like that!

The Hebrew letter Nun glowed up at them.

Devorah and Benjamin stared at the dreidel. Nun. In the dreidel game it means nothing happens; you neither gain nor lose.

“Devorah!” shouted Benjamin, tears filling his eyes as he glanced up. “It didn’t work! Nothing’s changed!”

Devorah stared out. They were still in the campsite on the dust-covered hillside. Everything was the same as before. Or was it?