special preview
40 years earlier
Caleb sank to the ground, dipping beneath the line of the tall grass as the sweat clung to his forehead. Beside him lay the largest cluster of grapes he’d ever seen. He’d discovered them in the portion of land leading up to the mountain range that sat behind him. It had taken him nearly all morning to haul them this far and he was certain he still had a ways to go before reaching the meeting place.
The sun was already overhead signifying noonday. He had to hurry to reach the meeting place by the agreed-upon time. He rose again, looping his arms through the giant stem of the cluster, and began dragging the cluster along the ground behind him.
The trail he cut through the tall grass couldn’t be helped--not if he wanted to bring the cluster back with him. He supposed he might have left it and gone to get help, but he wouldn’t risk losing his prize to any wild animals lurking about.
The landscape eventually evened out, becoming relatively flat and dotted with trees, some he suspected bore nuts. But he chose to move toward the rockier terrain just in case he spotted one of his fellow tribesmen descending from the higher lands.
He struggled with the cluster of grapes until his arms were slick with sweat and his hands ached. No longer hidden by the tall lush grass he decided to take another rest behind an expanse of boulders. He surveyed the land around him and considered the time. He must be close to the meeting place. He should be able to spot someone soon.
Just in the distance, the sharp unnatural angle was his only indication that something man-made lay in that direction. He could also make out the flat space of a road that must lead to the city.
His curiosity was peaked, but looking back at the grapes he’d spent the last several hours carrying he decided against any further exploration. He’d drawn his lot and had been sent to the mountain range to the north and he had not been disappointed by what he’d found. If the grapes at his feet were any indication, this land was truly a land of Promise.
He couldn’t wait to show his younger brother, Kenaz. Kenaz had always had a bit of a wild spirit. To see such a prize, he’d no doubt be just as excited for their promise as Caleb himself was. Not to mention the prospect of a meal that consisted of something other than the manna that rained down every morning.
With such a bounty of grapes, they'd surely be able to spare a lamb and cook up a meal with their last pinch of the precious spices Caleb had brought with him from Egypt, a secret blend given to him by his overlord.
Caleb's mouth began to water from the thought of the meal he and his family would enjoy when he returned. Voices reached him from the west, likely in the direction of the road he suspected ran past him.
In a short time, he saw the shapes of men moving cautiously over the terrain. Caleb recognized Shaphat, the man of Simeon. He was often a proud and violent man, but fortunately, Caleb rarely had to engage with him.
When they had both been selected for this mission, Caleb had determined to steer clear of the man. Nothing good could come of interactions with the men of Simeon, they were too proud. Not to mention, there was too much at stake right now to risk losing his temper.
As the men drew near, Caleb stood, revealing his presence.
“Brothers, I trust we are well met.”
“Caleb,” Shaphat deemed to acknowledge him.
“That is all of us then.” Sethur, the man of Asher, looked around them quickly, his relief palpable.
Caleb scanned the group looking for one face in particular. Not finding it, he spun around scanning the land around them, “Joshua, where is he?”
“How would we know,” Shaphat sneered. “Didn’t he head north with you?”
Caleb ignored the man. They had initially gone in the same direction but Joshua had split off toward the west, toward--Caleb spun back in the direction he’d come.
There had been a city not in the mountains but across the valley on a hill. Would his friend have ventured into that city alone? It was in the right direction. But Caleb knew Joshua to not be a man of unnecessary risk. That was his specialty.
Of the group of them, Joshua was the stoic one who weighed his options carefully before taking action, before speaking. Caleb was more impulsive, curious. If Joshua hadn’t returned there had to be a reason.
Caleb glanced again at the men. They didn’t need to return together, but they would be expected back in two days’ time. They couldn’t wait long.
“I will go to look for him,” Caleb announced before setting off quickly in the direction he’d come. He doubted the others cared what he did, but Joshua would have insisted on the courtesy.
“What are we supposed to do, wait here?” Sethur’s voice carried after him.
Caleb waved a hand back at them as he moved into a quick trot. Luckily he’d left the cluster of grapes tucked on the other side of the boulder from the men and he knew they were not the sort to exert themselves for such a prize so his bounty was safe.
He hurried along, but instead of heading toward the higher ground, he angled for the grove of trees he’d spied earlier. If they were going to make good time, he’d need help carrying the grapes back, and to do that they’d need something to hoist between them.
Reaching the trees at a jog, he make quick work of cutting a branch the width of his wrist with his blade and stripped the smaller branches and leaves in a matter of moments. As he suspected, it was indeed an almond tree whose branches were strong and would certainly carry the weight of the giant grape cluster.
With his stick in hand, Caleb continued northward. He only made it past a few more trees however before he spied a figure ducking and dashing from shrub and shade. He knew the shape of the man immediately.
Caleb ducked and sprinted from tree to tree, from shrub to shrub until he’d circumvented the man and came up just behind him. As Joshua rose again to dash for the trees, Caleb caught him from behind.
“Gah! What--?” Joshua nearly cried out, but cut himself off with his own hand across his mouth. He pulled Caleb with him and peered around the large bush he’d been hiding behind before rising and dashing for more trees.
Caleb made no noise, hurrying after his friend with an occasional look behind them to check if they were indeed being followed as Joshua seemed to fear.
There was no one as far as Caleb could see even as they reached the boulders where he’d left the others. He could hear them arguing as they approached.
“--and I say we leave them. They can make their own--”
Caleb whistled to announce their arrival startling the men to their feet.
“Finally,” Shaphat growled, “did you find him?” It was less of a question and more of a command.
Joshua came to a stop beside him in reply and a visible relief swept through them all. Although they were all men of different tribes among their people, there was still a sense of brotherhood in having been chosen to spy out this land and Caleb suspected that for one to fall, all would feel the effects of it.
“Let move,” Shaphat issued the command as he turned south and hurried in the direction of their camp. The others followed, just as eager to be on their way. Joshua made to go after them, but Caleb grabbed his arm and steered him to his prize.
As he’d hoped, Joshua’s eyes grew large at the sight of the grapes.
“I got one,” Caleb grinned.
“But how--?”
“Here, just help me,” Caleb knelt to insert the branch he’d cut into the neck of the cluster. Joshua moved to aid him when he froze.
Caleb felt it too. Something was different.
Ahead their tribesmen had halted as well, their eyes directed back toward Caleb and Joshua and beyond.
The hairs on the back of his neck rose and Caleb glanced around cautiously as he lowered slightly into a squat. There was a silence that made him question if there had been any noise before. Next to him, Joshua’s eyes reflected the same warning that gripped his heart.
The silence seemed to draw on.
Caleb remained perfectly still until he was certain there was no movement around him, then cautiously he reached again for the cluster of grapes that had come to rest at his feet. Beside him, Joshua hadn’t moved a muscle.
Without warning a massive hand sprang from around Caleb, grasping the front of his shirt, and faster than Caleb could react he found himself flying through the air. He collided with a boulder and crumpled to the ground.
Amidst the pain and shock, Caleb barely registered the flurry of movement as Joshua came running around the boulder followed by some of the others. Caleb couldn’t yet move from the wind being knocked from his chest but he saw the fear that clouded his brothers’ faces.
“It’s a-- it’s a--” Sethur of Asher stammered, “it’s one of them-- one of the Anakim!”
“Run,” Shaphat shouted as he turned and shoved others out of his way in his rush to escape.
Caleb’s lungs burned as breath finally returned to his body, but he was achingly aware that he was vulnerable. He had yet to see the Anakim, the unnatural giant offspring of the Fallen ones and daughters of man, but he didn’t doubt the creature’s existence any more than he doubted his tribesmen had abandoned him to his fate.
Caleb rolled to his hands and knees, taking stock quickly of his options when Joshua appeared from around the other side of the boulder.
An unexpected relief flooded Caleb’s chest at the sight of his kinsman. Joshua had been selected by Moses himself to lead the people into battle once already. Surely one of the Anakim wouldn’t be a match for the man.
Joshua reached for him and with a powerful pull, aided him to his feet, dragging Caleb with him behind the boulder.
“Can you run?” Joshua hissed.
Caleb gave a sharp nod. Whether he could or not, he wasn’t about to let this chance slip by. With only a beat of hesitation, Joshua launched off of the boulder in a dead sprint, but he only made it a stride before a shadow moved too fast for Caleb to track and seized Joshua by the leg.
“I don’t think so,” a booming voice reverberated through Caleb’s chest as he watched Joshua be lifted high into the air. The sun sat behind this giant’s massive form. The creature stood at 8 cubits at least.
But Caleb didn’t have time to consider the size or the implications of such a creature in this land. With a quick flick of his wrist, he released his sling and in one fluid motion had a rock flying through the air aiming for the creature’s head.
Before the giant could even turn his head to Caleb, Caleb had another stone flying, aiming for where the creature’s eye should be. Instead of landing, however, Caleb watched in horror as the creature snatched the stone from the air with inhuman speed.
Fortunately, Caleb’s assault proved useful in drawing the giant’s attention to himself and away from his suspended friend. The giant released his hold on Joshua, letting him fall to the earth as he squared up with Caleb.
As the giant shifted his position, Caleb was finally able to see the creature. He indeed stood at least 8 cubits with hair the color of fire that hung around his shoulders in wild waves much like fire itself.
Muscles stretched across the giant’s chest in tight cords barely covered by the animal skin that was strapped across his back and chest. On his massive thighs, there were two blades, each the length of Caleb’s arms bound to the skin with strips of leather.
Caleb took an involuntary step backward as the giant fixed his fierce eyes on him and grinned.
“Caleb, run!” Joshua shouted from somewhere behind the giant, but Caleb was seized by a sudden boldness.
“No,” he shouted back drawing a rumbling laugh for deep within the giant’s chest.
“I don’t know where you come from, thief,” the giant spat the word at him, “but I like your spirit.”
Caleb could have sworn the creature’s canine teeth extended longer, but he wouldn’t be intimidated, no matter how terrifying the giant before him seemed.
“Oh,” he feigned surprise, “were those your grapes?” he gestured to his bounty which lay just beyond the next boulder--the bounty he’d spent hours dragging through the land.
He knew for a fact that they’d come from a wild vine so it was unlikely that they belonged to anyone in the land in particular. Theft was against their law after all, even if it was thieving from their enemy.
The giant sneered at him, again flashing his canines.
“Everything in this land is mine!” His eyes seemed to glow as he said mine, almost in a challenge.
“In that case,” Caleb gave a mocking bow, never one to pass up a challenge, “let me introduce you to the real masters of this land.”
The giant laughed, a deep, throaty laugh. It was almost mirthful if Caleb hadn’t seen the hunger in the giant’s eyes, eyes that never left his face.
Without so much as a twitch, Caleb suddenly found the enormous creature flying through the air at him, much like a lion. He only had half a breath to react, falling forward into a roll. Caleb shoved his arms, too slow for his liking, to propel his body under the giant’s massive airborne form and to his feet.
But the giant moved with the grace of the very animal whose skin he wore. He spun just as he landed and was flying back through the air toward Caleb, catching him with one outstretched hand, and slammed him into a nearby boulder.
The giant’s hand spanned nearly across Caleb’s entire chest, the pressure behind it cutting off all air almost instantly. Caleb clawed at the hand, aware of how pitiful he was at the mercy of this creature. Panic was just setting in when movement out of the corner of his caught his attention.
A rock perhaps the size of his fist flew through the air aiming for the giant. But without even looking, the giant’s free hand sprang out and caught it mid-air.
With a slow smile, the giant turned his eyes from Caleb and fixed them on Joshua who stood a short distance away. Caleb saw the fear in his kinsman’s face, but he also saw the face of the commander that he knew the man to be.
The giant must have seen it too because a chuckle escaped him as he locked his eyes on Joshua.
“Hmmm, I’ve been warned about you.”
The hand holding Caleb against the boulder tightened, but Joshua’s intervention renewed Caleb’s faint glimmer of hope.
“And you are right to fear us,” Caleb growled, using what little breath he had left. He needed the creature’s attention on him long enough for Joshua to do something, anything, if there was any hope of them escaping with their lives.
Strength may be superior, but even a giant can be distracted especially by a blow to his pride. Sure enough, the giant fixed his eyes once more on Caleb’s face.
As he leaned closer to sneer at him, Caleb had the sneaking suspicion that the Anakim could feast on his flesh as easily as they would on that of any animal.
Caleb did his best to glare right back at the giant, praying that Joshua would be quick. Whatever happened next, he probably wouldn’t get another chance to escape.
There was a scuffle of sandaled feet against rock drawing both of their attention back to Joshua who had managed to climb atop one of the nearby boulders. In his hand, he held Caleb’s almond tree branch. He stretched his arm back holding the branch like a javelin.
The giant roared with laughter, the sound reaching deep into Caleb’s chest. Joshua caught Caleb’s eye for a moment before hurling the stick right at the giant’s head.
The giant could hardly be bothered to catch the stick as he lazily scooped it out of the air, but his face betrayed his anger as he fixed Joshua with a stony glare.
Joshua, teetered on the boulder a moment, the momentum of his toss having thrown his weight off balance before he finally fell backward off of the boulder and out of sight. It was just enough of a distraction for Caleb to make a move.
Seizing the giant’s pinky finger with his left hand, he grabbed his own wrist with his right hand and pulled as fast and as hard as he could.
As expected, the giant’s grip loosened and Caleb managed to free himself, falling to the ground before the Anakim could reposition his grip. As he fell, Caleb angled for the giant’s massive thigh.
Using the force of his fall, Caleb grasped the handle of the giant’s viscous-looking blade and clung to it hoping that his weight would be enough to dislodge the weapon.
Miraculously, because Caleb was aware it couldn’t be anything but a miracle, the blade slipped easily from the leather binding. As he landed, Caleb spun with all his force lodging the blade into the back of the giant’s knee.
There was a roar above him and Caleb didn’t have time to block the oncoming blow from the almond tree branch that the giant still gripped in his hand. The stick collided with Caleb’s chest, lifting him again off his feet and hurling him through the air and into the dirt.
Caleb took the impact of the fall with his back as he clutched the almond branch in his arms tight to his chest. He became aware of a warm sensation spreading across his chest right where he’d been hit.
Joshua appeared almost instantly from behind a nearby boulder and scrambling grabbed Caleb’s shirt and dragged him away from the fuming creature.
Caleb saw the giant yank the blade that was left lodged in his knee from his leg and hurl it away from him. Blood shone as it ran from the wound.
Caleb scrambled on his hands and knees for the cluster of grapes that lay only a few cubits away.
“Leave them!” Joshua hissed.
“No!” Caleb jabbed the almond branch through the neck of the cluster with one hand and sprang around it ready to lift.
From the other side of the boulder the giant growled, no hint of humor remaining.
“I will feast on your flesh,” he purred as his voice moved closer at what seemed to be a leisurely pace, “and on the flesh of your people.”
Caleb suspected the Anakim’s leg wasn’t working properly hence the slowness of his movement, though he wasn’t certain that the creature felt any pain. If he did, it didn’t reflect in his voice.
Determined to bring back his prize, Caleb shot a look at Joshua and lifted up his end of the branch. With a quick huff of exasperation, Joshua grabbed the other end and rose to his feet lifting the cluster successfully off of the ground, just as Caleb had hoped.
The massive shadow of the angered Anakim darkened the ground just past their rocky cover, but Caleb and Joshua surprisingly in synch took off at a sprint, giving the giant a wide berth as they sprang around the boulder, finally heading in the direction of their camp.
Caleb saw the giant stumble to intercept them, but his injury had in fact rendered him nearly incapacitated at least for the moment, just enough for them to escape.
A roar accompanied them as the two sprinted across the valley in pursuit of their tribesmen. As the sound, at last, died down and the immediate threat of the Anakim creature finally fell behind them, they both slowed to a jog, their breath still coming in gasps.
Each breath sent a searing hot pain across Caleb’s chest. His shirt clung painfully to his chest.
“You had to argue with him, didn’t you?” Joshua threw a look at Caleb. Caleb quickly adjusted his shirt, grateful for the dark colors that concealed the wound beneath.
“Next time we meet,” Caleb forced a grin as he looked back at his friend, “I’m going to take his head.”
“You’ll need a blade for that,” Joshua huffed, but Caleb only grinned wider as he withdrew one of the Anakim’s viscous-looking blades from within his shirt. He hoped Joshua didn’t notice the streaks of blood smeared on the edge or at least that Joshua didn’t suspect whose blood it might be.
“Where did you-- how did you get that?” Joshua nearly whispered in awe.
The giant’s roar in the distance was answer enough.
“I guess he didn’t realize I’d taken the other one either,” Caleb chuckled as he gripped the blade in his free hand.
It was as long as his arm, sharpened on both sides, and came to a point that would easily skewer a man. It was indeed a sight to behold, much less to wield.
Joshua laughed in reply, shaking his head on the other side of the branch as the cluster of grapes hung between them. Caleb wanted to laugh again just from their sheer good fortune, but the pain in his chest kept his celebration short.
They’d come face to face with one of the legendary Anakim and had both survived the encounter with nothing more than a few bruises. At least that was what all Caleb was going to share. In all honesty, they should both had lost their lives!
Caleb looked again at the blade in his hand and gripped the handle tight. He felt the sting of the cut across his chest. Next time they met the Anakim, he promised himself, he’d be ready, more than ready. He would be victorious!