Shinar
The chariot ride to the palace proved agonizing. Terah had intimidated Yadidatum into silence, or so he hoped. But little Terah screamed the entire trip, as did big Terah’s tender wounds. He insisted Ikuppi maintain at least a moderate pace, but Terah had to fight to keep his balance, and every bump and sway tortured him all the more.
“Silence that child!” he shouted at the midwife.
Yadidatum pressed the baby to her chest and turned away, mumbling, “You ask too much of a newborn.”
“You are going to regret—”
“Sir, I apologize, but the child is hungry and probably wet. And after having been safe in the womb for so long, he is being shaken about over an unforgiving road. Anyway, may I ask what business a servant’s baby has at the palace?”
Terah glowered at her and turned his face toward the city, willing it to appear on the horizon. “Careful you don’t write your son’s death sentence, woman,” he murmured over the piercing cries of the child. He leaned toward Ikuppi’s ear. “You will corroborate my account of her insolence.”
“If you report it to the king, Terah, he will demand to know why you have not slain her yourself.”
“I’ll tell him I did not want to upset my wife, who does not yet know my decision on behalf of the throne.”
Ikuppi said, “You know that anyone involved in this—including Belessunu—will be put to death as soon as it is found out.”
“That is a risk I must take. My son is to be a father, that’s all I know, all I care about.”
“Even over Belessunu’s life?”
“She is no threat to the throne. He will assume she left me when she learns what I have done.”
“He will pursue Abram, Terah! Will he not find Belessunu with the boy?”
“Don’t underestimate me, Ikuppi. The king will never find them.”
“I pray you are right.”
“You are a true friend.”
“No,” Ikuppi said. “I have told you, I can no longer be your friend if you insist on carrying out this evil.”
“Ikuppi! I am saving my son! What else can I do?”
“This deceit will curse you. I cannot support it.”
“Do today as I instruct you, and I will ask no more.”
“I could do no more anyway. I told you of the king’s intentions so you and your family could cast yourselves upon the mercy of the gods.”
“Nimrod himself is one of the gods.”
“I pray you will not force me to go through with this, Terah.”
“Do not forget whom you serve.”
“I will never be able to forget.”
Mutuum’s baby continued to wail as Ikuppi slowed the chariot to maneuver through the city gate. Terah covered his own face as people stared.
“Park in the paddock behind the palace and be sure Nimrod is holding court. And bring me a cape.”
“A cape?”
“You see how people look at me, man! I must explain my condition when I enter court, before I let the king see me this way. Your own cape would fit me.”
“It will be the first thing the king notices.”
“I’m taking a servant and a baby in there, and you think Nimrod will care what I’m wearing?”
“You can’t cover your head in the presence of the king.”
“Better than his seeing my face before you have prepared him.”
“Wait!” Yadidatum whispered desperately. “You’re taking me before the king? Servants are not allowed in the court!”
“It will be all right,” Terah said. “Do as I say and not only will you be spared, but I will look into your son’s case as well.”
She looked as if she was about to cry. “I will do anything you ask.”
“Tell the king you delivered this baby.”
“I did!”
“That I am the father and—”
“You!”
“—that Belessunu is the mother.”
“What?”
“That we named him Amraphel.”
“The king’s name? But Mutuum and his wife named this boy after you!”
“Do you want my help or not, Yadidatum?”
“Of course I do. While we’re here, might we be able to see my son?”
“Let’s see how you perform.”
The baby stopped crying and went limp. She repositioned him over her shoulder and he sighed. “Wore himself out, poor thing,” she said.
Terah sent Ikuppi off and motioned Yadidatum close. He spoke softly, earnestly, trying to set her at ease. “Give me no reason to have you executed or your son mutilated. As Ikuppi told you, I don’t even need cause, and if I did, I could say anything I wanted. The king will not want to be bothered with a case involving a servant—you or your son. I can make this turn out as you wish, but you have two stories to tell.”
“Two?”
“One in the king’s court, and one to Mutuum and his wife.”