As Sure as the Dawn(122)

“Jesus, O Jesus,” Theophilus said, going down on his knees.

“Rizpah,” Atretes said, stroking her cheek. “Liebchen, don’t . . .” Her eyes changed subtly. Atretes saw and knew what it meant. “No!” Fear such as he had never known filled him.

He was going to lose her. What would he do when he did? “Call upon your god!” he said raggedly, tears pouring down his cheeks. His fingers bit into her pale face. “Call upon your god now!” He had seen death too many times not to recognize it had come to take her.

Her breathing changed. The harsh and rapid rasping for air slowed and eased.

“I need you,” he said hoarsely.

Her hand fluttered as though she wanted to touch him and hadn’t the strength. She gave a long, soft sigh and was silent. Her body relaxed, and she was completely still.

“No,” Atretes groaned and put his hand to her throat. There was no pulse. “No!” he said in an agony of grief. German words poured like a flood from him, feelings he had kept hidden, feelings he had fought against. He cupped her face with both hands. Her eyes were open, dilated and fixed, unseeing, her lips softly parted. The blood that had been trickling from her mouth ceased. The wound in her chest stopped bleeding.

Rising, Atretes spread his hands palms up, covered in her blood, and bellowed out his anguish. Over and over, he cried out while his son screamed, untended and forgotten.

Theophilus moved to Rizpah’s side and laid his hands upon her. While Atretes poured out his grief and hopelessness, Theophilus poured out his faith in prayer to Christ.

Nothing is impossible for God. Nothing.

No words came from his lips, no clear thoughts filled his head, but his soul cried out to God that Rizpah be returned to them. For the child. For the man still lost in the darkness.

Atretes stumbled away. He couldn’t get his breath. He felt as though someone was choking him. He couldn’t breathe. His mind filled with visions of every life he had ever taken, every loved one ever lost. He sat down hard, his forearms resting on his knees. Head down, he wept.

Theophilus continued to pray.

Caleb pushed himself up and toddled toward his dead mother. Flopping down, he put his head in her lap and began to suck his thumb.

When Caleb’s crying stopped, Atretes raised his head and looked for him. When he saw where he lay, he shut his eyes. How was he going to raise him alone? Theophilus was on his knees, hands firmly covering Rizpah’s wound. What did the centurion think he could do now? What good were his prayers?

“Leave her alone. She’s dead.” Theophilus remained as he was. “She’s dead, I tell you,” he said, shooting to his feet. “Do you think I don’t know it when I see it come?”

His angry words hung on the cold air as a sudden stillness fell over the forest. For a heartbeat it was as though all of creation had stilled, then came a soft whisper of wind. Atretes looked around apprehensively, his skin prickling as the wind whispered around him . . . and he began to shake, afraid of whatever forces moved around them.

A gasp drew his attention sharply, and his eyes widened in disbelief as Rizpah drew in a deep breath, her eyes opening wide as she looked beyond Theophilus. “Jesus,” she said softly in wonder, and Atretes was knocked from his feet. Clutching the earth, he lay flat, face down, trembling violently.

Theophilus lifted his hands from Rizpah and brushed her cheek lightly with trembling hands. “Praise be to God,” he said in a choked voice, overcome. He touched her again, amazed.

“He was with me,” Rizpah said, eyes shining. “I felt him touch me.”

Whatever force held Atretes down lifted as quickly as it had come, and he clambered to his feet. Heart pounding, he came closer, awestruck. “She was dead!” he whispered.

With a victorious cry, Theophilus stood and moved aside, excitement pouring through him. Laughing and crying, he gripped Atretes’ arms. “Tell me now Christ has no power! Tell me he doesn’t live! He was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. Our God reigns!” He released the German and raised his hands in jubilant thanksgiving. “Lord Roi!” His voice rose, carrying through the dark forest, reclaiming it. “El Elyon, God Most High!”

Shaking, Atretes knelt down in front of Rizpah, unable to believe what his eyes saw. Swallowing hard, he reached out to touch her and then drew his hand back. The hair on the back of his neck rose, for her face was aglow as he had never seen it before and her eyes were shining. She was alive, more alive than he had ever seen her. A radiance shimmered around her.

Her eyes met his. “He was here with us.”

“I believe you.”

“Don’t be afraid,” she said and reached out to him. “There’s nothing to fear.” She placed her hand tenderly against his cheek. “God loves you.”