Screams penetrated the night air. The invading army poured over the walls of the city. I raced through the alley desperately hoping there was still time. After an eternity, I came to a door and shoved it open. Not stopping to look, I tore through the room, past servants, lying on the floor, already having taken their last breath. Up the stairs and through the hallways, torches cast eerie shadows along the walls. Bursting into the room at the end, I cast about frantic eyes. There they were. In the middle of the room lay my father, mother, and three younger sisters. I was too late. Stepping carefully, I knelt down beside my father. Scooping up the gold medallion that hung around his neck, I carefully slid it off and placed it around my own. The symbol represented both the position of my family and the gods of my nation. It was my duty to carry it now.

Shock and grief swept through the frame of my fourteen-year-old body as I turned away from the horrible scene. Stumbling, I made my way back to the alley. Just as I stepped through the doorway, footsteps echoed in the street. I turned to look and...

Crack! The stinging whip flashed against the flesh of my back. “Be grateful I didn't kill you, slave! Next time I catch you sleeping, I will! Now, get back to scrubbing those pots. I want to see my face shining in them!” My tormentor glared at me as I turned again to the washbasin. My back burned with the raw wounds as I stared at the dishes. With the nightmare of the past still fresh in my mind, I scrubbed till my fingers bled. Being a slave, even in the kitchen of Pharaoh was no easy task.

There was once a time, a place, when my father ruled as king. As his firstborn son, I had been heir to the throne. But two years ago, that time ended. That place was destroyed. My family was dead. I was now sixteen years old and like millions of others, a slave of Egypt.

As the sun set, I was released to go back to my quarters. I wearily trudged out of the palace and into the narrow street. Even the medallion felt heavy around my neck. Fortunately, my home was only a couple miles away. Picking up the pendant, I hid it under the collar of my tunic.

Commotion suddenly arrested my attention. I looked and saw a runaway chariot flying in my direction. At almost the same instant, I perceived a lad not much younger than I, right in the middle of the deadly path. I lunged forward crashing into the boy, thrusting him out of the way. My body muffled the sounds coming from him as he yelled and screamed underneath me. I rolled over and for the first time, looked at him. I gasped. Horror shot through my frame. He rose, showing himself to be none other than Anubis, the son of Pharaoh, Prince of Egypt. I buried my face in the dirt and begged his forgiveness. Pictures of being beaten to death invaded my mind.

“How dare you even touch me!” the prince hissed. Attendants soon surrounded him, brushing off the dirt. Two men grabbed my arms. The bodyguards held me as though I might attempt to attack or perhaps flee.

“Forgive me, Your Highness, I beg you. I did not mean you any harm, only the chariot...”

“Silence!” The hand of a guard blurred past and left its stinging print on my cheek.

“Enough.” ejaculated the prince. “By what are you called?”

“Roarke, if it pleases Your Highness.” I replied.

“And where were you going?” he demanded.

“Home, Your Highness.”

“Release him.” commanded the prince. The guards looked incredulously at one another and let me fall to the ground. Without any further explanation, the prince turned and began to walk away, his personal servants following. Abruptly, he stopped and turned again, studying me, still crouched on the ground not moving from where they had left me.

“Forget any thoughts of running away or hiding. Return to your normal duties as usual tomorrow morning. If I find you have fled, I will hunt you down, have you beaten, and then pricked with a thousand pins!”

With that, he turned and strode off towards the palace. As soon as he and his entourage were out of sight, I leaped up and fled for home. Panting, I tugged the latch and the door swung open. Relief swept over me as I stepped inside.

“Where have you been? We've been expecting you for almost an hour.” The matronly woman looked up from the table where she, her husband, and her three children sat at dinner.

I washed my hands in the nearby basin of water and joined them at the table before answering. “My apologies, Hannah, for causing you to worry. But I think, that after you hear my story, you will excuse my tardiness.”

Though I called the place my home, neither she nor her family was any relation to me. When I had first been brought to Egypt, the Hebrew family took me in. Simeon and Hannah had two boys and one girl. Gideon, the eldest, was the same age as myself. Ezra, the second born was fourteen, and Jael, the youngest, was twelve.

After I had finished telling of my recent encounter with the prince, Ezra turned to me and exclaimed, “Well, you aren't the only one that had adventures today. Papa, tell him who you saw as you came home!”

Simeon looked up from his plate and spoke meaningfully, “Moses has returned.”

I returned his gaze with a blank stare. “Who is Moses?” I asked.

Gideon dropped his spoon in his bowl with a loud clank. “You don't know who Moses is?” he exclaimed. “Papa, he doesn't know who Moses is.”

“I can see that.” Simeon returned calmly. “To tell the whole story would take several hours to do it justice, but in short, Moses is the man whom God has chosen to deliver us out of bondage.”

“What? You mean to tell me that this Moses is going to free all of you? Pharaoh will never agree.” I wasn't sure I comprehended what he was saying. The Hebrews had been slaves in Egypt for over two hundred years. There were millions of them. There was no way Pharaoh would consent to simply letting them all go.

“Over four hundred years ago, our God made a covenant with Abraham, our forefather. This is the fulfillment of that promise.” Hannah replied faithfully.

“So, when will all of this take place?” I asked, still doubtful.

Excitedly, Jael explained, “Moses stood before Pharaoh today and told him to let us go. But Pharaoh said no. So Moses turned his staff into a snake but Pharaoh's magicians could also turn theirs into snakes. So Pharaoh still said no even though Moses' snake ate up the others. Moses is going to speak to him again tomorrow.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Turner is currently a first-year student at Fairwood. A homeschool student from McDonough, Georgia, she is the fifth oldest of eight. Before coming to Bible school, Jane spent a year teaching children in Taiwan.

The sun penetrated the darkness over the horizon, as I returned to the kitchen of Pharaoh. Soon after I began my assigned tasks, the overseer briskly approached me. “I don't know what you have done,” he exclaimed. “But the Prince has requested some water to be brought to him and has commanded for you to bring it. Quickly now, dress yourself in these.” He thrust a set of garments into my hands.

Nervously, I carried the tray of water through the halls to the Prince's chambers. The medallion felt cold on my chest as I knocked and entered the door. The Prince reclined on the couch, staring out the window. I carefully approached him and waited. Questions about why I was being summoned filled my mind while I stood, unable to answer any of them.

Turning, he motioned for me to draw near and pour some water. I obeyed and handed it to him. After drinking the clear, refreshing liquid, he spoke. “I will be going out on the river today. You, slave, will accompany me as my rower.”

Picking up a mallet, he hit a gong to summon a servant. “Go to the kitchen and inform the overseer that this slave,” he motioned towards me, “will be attending me for the remainder of the day.” The servant bowed and left to perform the task.

Turning back to me, he said, “I was going to have you beaten for what happened yesterday. Instead, I decided to put you to a more useful task. However, I am most likely to change my mind later. So don't do anything idiotic.”

The morning sun shone bright in the sky as I rowed through the water. Sweat had started to bead on my face as I worked. My medallion burned hot as it thudded against my chest with each stroke. In the distance, I apprehended another vessel gliding in the water towards us. Prince Anubis motioned for me to slow as the other boat approached.

My heart raced when I discovered the opposite craft was occupied by Pharaoh himself. After I nervously lashed the two together, the prince joined his father and quietly conversed with him. What were they talking about? I strained to hear. Where they discussing what had happened yesterday? Had my punishment only been temporarily delayed?

“Pharaoh! Let my people go!” A voice from the bank of the river boomed over the sparkling waters, interrupting the dialog between father and son. I squinted in the glaring light as I looked in the direction of the awe-inspiring sound. A Hebrew man, perhaps in his eighties, stood at the Nile's edge. The other slaves whispered the name, Moses, around me.

Pharaoh gazed in the direction of Moses with eyes that were as cold as ice and as hard as steel. “No.” He replied. “I will not let your people go. Not now, nor ever.”

With that, Moses took hold of his staff and stretched it out over the water. I strained to see what was happening. Using my hand as a shade from the sun, I studied the shoreline. Was that the shadow of the reeds in the water? No, it couldn't be. It was growing larger and spreading in this direction. What was it? Soon, the murky waters had come all the way to the edge of the boat. I, along with several others, reached down and dipped my hand over the side. Drawing it back out, I brought it to my lips.

Hastily, I spewed the liquid from my mouth. The red dye stained my clothes and hands. It was blood! Fish began floating belly up on the water. My stomach was not strong enough for such a sickening smell. Prince Anubis leaped back onto the boat and ordered us to return. Apparently his desire for enjoying the day outdoors had suddenly dissipated as well.

For an entire week, the Nile was bloody red. Water was scarce everywhere, even in the palace. In the slave quarters it was practically non-existent. Hundreds of people fainted and even died of dehydration during the long workdays with the sun beating on their backs and no hope of relief.

On the eighth day, I awoke with my mouth parched with thirst. Immediately, I was aware of a change in the air. The stench that had been so prevalent for the past week had disappeared. I rose from my pallet as Hannah offered me a cup. Taking it, I drank. A cool, clear, refreshing liquid ran down my throat.

Shouts of celebration rang through the streets as I made my way to the palace. The blood was gone, water had returned in abundance. I rounded a corner and stopped. There, right in front of me, looking as placidly as one can, sat a small, greenish-brown frog. Though it seemed rather peculiar that one would be just sitting in the middle of the road, I didn't think much more about it and continued on my way. But the closer I came to the palace, the more I began to notice them. Soon, I saw them everywhere. When I finally reached the apartments of the prince, I was sure there was something behind the excessive population of frogs.

I quietly expressed my suspicion to one of the other slaves. He irritably informed me that Moses had been to see Pharaoh again this morning. He had told Pharaoh to release the Hebrews. When Pharaoh refused, Moses' God caused the frogs to come.

They were everywhere. Not only were they outside, but inside as well. From the home of the lowliest slave to Pharaoh's own apartments, no corner or crevice was found in which frogs were absent. As much as one might have desired to, it was unthinkable to kill even one of the small green beasts. After all, the Egyptians considered them to be divine.

Ironically, the next day, all the frogs were dead. Pharaoh had demanded that Moses take them away and he had obliged. Again, Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. Again, Pharaoh said no. So, Moses sent another plague. Every day, Moses asked the same request. Every day, Pharaoh gave the same answer. For a week and a half this continued.

One day, lice would be covering every living thing of Egypt. People shaved their heads, hoping to rid themselves of the pests. The next day, swarms of flies buzzed all around, getting into peoples food. The only relief was in the communities of the Hebrews. Their God protected them.

When diseases spread among the livestock, it killed off thousands of cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, and sheep. But once again, the Hebrew animals were spared. Throughout all of this, I continued to serve the prince.

Then the boils came. Red, pus-filled sores broke out on the bodies of both master and slave of Egypt. The prince lay on his bed, writhing in agony. I rubbed lotions and oils on his skin in order to alleviate some of the pain. Finally, sundown came and I was released to go home. As I walked down the street, I unconsciously started scratching. Realizing what was happening, I ran home. The itching increased as small red spots broke out on my skin.

The next day, I never left my pallet. I didn't care what the prince did to me. Perhaps he would kill me, and then my misery would be over. The blistering sores covered my entire being. Hannah did all she could to help, but it was to no avail. Neither her family nor any of her people suffered from the sores. But I was not Hebrew. I scratched and scratched. My fingers grew weary before the itching was relieved. I found a broken piece of pottery and used it against my skin. Soon, trails of blood ran down my arms and legs. Yet, I continued to scrape at them, obsessed in relieving the greater pain. There was no hope of sleep.

Eventually, sometime during the wee hours of the morning, I drifted into merciful unconsciousness. I awoke a few hours later as the sun rose over the horizon. I looked past the medallion that still hung around my neck and down at my arms and legs. Blood still stained my clothes and blanket, but the sores were gone. I had never felt more relieved.

Though I had completely recovered, I did not return to the palace. To make such an attempt would be suicidal with the weather in its current condition. Hail, the size of pomegranates came crashing to the earth. The supernatural storm did not stop there. Flames burst forth from where the hail landed, wrecking havoc on the Egyptian communities. Many who stepped out into the storm never returned. Again, I was grateful that I lived in the home of Hebrews. Their God protected them once more.

The following morning, everything was quiet. The hail had quit falling and now lay silent on the ground. The fires were extinguished and all that remained was the occasional thin tendril of smoke rising from piles of rubble. I returned to the palace and did all that the prince commanded.

That evening, a gentle breeze followed me home, giving pleasant refreshment. As the night wore on, the breeze increased into a strong wind. Early, the next morning, I rose from my pallet with a loud buzz ringing in my ears. Normally, the sky would have been getting brighter as the sun rose in the east. But today, things were not so. Instead, a perpetual dusk hung in the air. The cause of this, as I soon discovered, was from billions of locusts. The gigantic grasshoppers were everywhere. They made the flies that had been here before seem like gnats. In great numbers, they devastated all remaining plant-life in Egypt. When evening came, they forsook what was now a barren wasteland and were caught up in a strong wind.

Finally, two days after Moses blotted out the sun, yet another plague of judgment on Egypt, he called for an assembly of the heads of each household in the Hebrew community. They gathered at noon in the center of the city. As it was pitch dark outside, even Pharaoh could not make us work. Torches were lit and Moses' face glowed above the rest of the people as he stood in the back of a wagon. Raising his voice, he instructed them in what they were to do. The message was passed throughout the crowd until everyone knew and understood.

When Simeon returned from the meeting, he gathered his family around him and told them all that Moses had said. “Tonight, all the firstborn will die in Egypt.” Everyone gasped and looked at Gideon. Jael started to cry.

“Now, dry your tears, all will be well. Moses has told us what to do so that Gideon's life will be spared. But it is not only Gideon we need to be concerned about.” With this Simeon looked at me. “Roarke was the firstborn in his family as well.”

“But I am not Hebrew or Egyptian.” I protested.

“It doesn't matter. All the firstborns in Egypt will die.” Simeon explained.

“Did Moses say how to save him too?” Gideon asked, looking at me.

“Yes. We are to choose a male lamb that is perfect and no older than a year. The one that was born a couple months ago will do. Moses said we should kill it and brush its blood across our doorposts. Then when the Angel of Death comes by, he will see the blood and not enter.”

Simeon continued to explain all that Moses had spoken “We will be leaving very soon, I think.” He said in conclusion. Rising, they began carrying out the detailed instructions.

Simeon and Gideon went out to the shed. A few minutes later, Gideon came back with a bowl. Seeing the red liquid, bile came into my mouth as I remembered the day on the river. I swallowed and assisted him in brushing the blood on the doorposts of the house with branches of hyssop.

Just as we were finishing, Simeon returned with the carcass of lamb in his arms. As he roasted it over the fire, Jael and Ezra made some bread for the meal. “Remember,” Hannah told them. “Do not put any leaven in it. There isn't enough time to let it rise.”

At the time when the sun would normally be seen sinking below the horizon, we sat down at the table. Roast lamb, flat bread, and bitter herbs lay before us. We ate quickly, fully dressed. We even had our sandals on. Simeon had his staff propped against the edge of the table.

“Why are we eating in such a hurry?” Jael asked.

“Well, that is because tonight, Jehovah will pass throughout all of Egypt and kill all the firstborns who don't have the blood on the door posts.” explained Simeon.

“And tomorrow, Pharaoh will let us go and we will be free!” said Ezra excitedly as he stuffed another bite of food into his mouth.

When the meal was finished, we cleared the table together in silence. A heavy weight hung in the air as we each contemplated what was going to happen this night. We lay down on our pallets and drifted off to sleep.

Screams penetrated the night air. The invading army poured over the walls of the city. I raced through the alley desperately hoping there was still time. After an eternity, I came to a door and shoved it open. Not stopping to look, I tore through the room, past servants, lying on the floor already having taken their last breath. Up the stairs, through the halls, torches cast eerie shadows along the walls. Bursting into the room at the end, I...

Jerking, I sat up on my pallet. I had been dreaming again. It was the same nightmare that had plagued me each night for the past two years. I looked down. The medallion still hung at my chest as it had since the day I had lost everything. The sun was just rising. After three days it wasn't dark any more! But wait. I heard something. Suddenly, it dawned on me. It was the same sound that had haunted me both night and day for the past two years. The others in the house woke around me as the voices of millions rose together in despair as they awoke to find that their children were dead. Such a sound had never been made in the entire history of humankind.

Tugging my tunic over my head, I stepped out into the sunlight. I covered my ears as the screams reverberated through the streets. The sounds of anguish continued for hours. But gradually, they were overpowered by another sound.

Slaves, Hebrews flooded from their houses. Singing and dancing, people ran through the streets. They rejoiced with great reason: they were finally free. With this last, devastating blow, Pharaoh had released them. More than released—the sooner they were gone, the sooner he would be happy. For even Pharaoh's household had not been spared this last judgment. Prince Anubis had also died in the night. Soon, evidences of packing were seen throughout the entire city.

I sat in a corner of the house in silence. Thoughts ran circles in my head as I fingered the medallion. Hannah and her children were packing. Simeon looked up from his bag and sat down beside me. “What's wrong?” he asked.

“I don't know...it's stupid of me really...I'll be ok.” I mumbled slipping the medallion back under my tunic.

“Oh, no you don't. You're not getting off that easy. Something is wrong and you need to tell me what it is.” He persisted.

“I should be glad you are free...and I am. It's just that...” I trailed off.

“It's just what?” Simeon prodded.

“Well, you're free. Moses has liberated you and Pharaoh is practically driving you out of Egypt. You will be going away, leaving. But I am not Hebrew; I am not free. You will go; I will stay.”

“Do you want to stay?” he asked.

“No, but I have no choice.” I said, despairingly.

“You have been like a son to me. Gideon loves you like a brother. Ezra and Jael would also be sad to leave you behind.”

“Your family has been more than kind to me.” I responded dolefully. “You comforted and cared for me when I was first brought here. You have been like a family to me since that time. I also think of Gideon, Ezra, and Jael as my siblings. But as much as I love this family, I am still not Hebrew.”

Simeon looked at me and stared into my dark eyes. Finally, he said, “There are others like yourself who wish to go with us. Moses has said that if one who is not Hebrew were to abandon all ties to his former nation and follow our laws instead, he would be allowed to go as one of us. He would be treated as though Hebrew blood flowed through his veins. Would you like to do this?”

I thought about what he said. If I agreed, I would never return to my home country...but there was little chance of that anyway. I didn't want to stay in Egypt. Even if I were to earn my freedom some other way, my former home was destroyed. There was nothing to go back to.

Returning Simeon's gaze, I replied, “Yes. I will go with you. My country is no more; my family is gone. There is nothing for me here. I will follow your people and your laws as long as I live.”

“Welcome to the family!” Simeon grinned as we stood.

We joined the rest of the family and packed. When all was ready, we proceeded with a multitude of others, walking triumphantly through the streets. Passing through the gates of the city, I lifted my face toward heaven and gave a shout, my voice blending with the millions around me. Freedom! No longer was I a slave of Egypt.

I reached down and took the medallion in my hands. Slipping it off my neck, I dropped it on the ground. Dust from the feet of the others soon covered it forever. No more was I captive to the memory of my past. True, I would remember my history. I would never forget those that had given birth to me and raised me. But I would not be a slave to it any longer, wishing to go back to the way things were. And the gods of my family, they had done nothing except bind me. What were they in comparison to the One who had given freedom? With that medallion, they died as well. A weight far heavier than any piece of gold fell away from me. At last, I was free!