All Living : A Seedvision Saga (9781621473923) by Michael C. Humphrey Read Free Book Online

searching for hidden motives behind his eyes. Finding none, he lay down on the bank and, putting his lips to the water, drank as if he could wash away his shame. Quenching himself he sat up and began to throw fist-sized rocks into the creek. From where he sat, unnoticed, Kole could hear the kerplunks as the stones hit the flowing water.
    Abel sat down beside his brother. “Cain, you are loved by the Lord as a son,” he said, searching the sky for soothing words.
    “Why then am I not accepted if I do well?” Cain asked. “If what I am doing is not doing well enough, then I can only continue to fail. I am doing the best I can.”
    “We can all do better, Cain,” said Abel.
    “Do you believe that, Brother? Was not your lamb found worthy of acceptance? What more can you do?” Cain challenged.
    “I may not find acceptance every time, my brother. I can only have faith that the Lord will lead me to choose rightly. I would put to you a question, Cain.”
    “What might that be,” Cain retorted.
    “Why did you not sacrifice a lamb? You have some animals. Why not follow Father’s example and present one to the Lord?”
    “You also found my offering unacceptable, Little Brother?” Cain bristled.
    “No, Brother, I am no judge of what is acceptable to the Lord. It is an innocent question, simply put.”
    “Simple to one who cares for many animals and has nothing to lose. You can sacrifice lambs all day and not notice the difference from your herd. I gave of my abundance. I have but few sheep and would sorely feel the loss.”
    Abel sat in silence with his brother after that. They watched the water flow past them, marking the time. Kole sat in his own seclusion, wondering how his brothers would resolve the events of this remarkable day.
    “Cain,” said Abel quietly, “I need to thank the Lord for accepting my offering. I would like for you to remain here with me, to thank Him with me.”
    “I have nothing to thank the Lord for this day,” said Cain, tossing another fair-sized rock into the creek.
    “Nothing for which to thank the Creator of all?” asked Abel with surprise. “Surely you don’t believe that, Cain. He has given you skill and talent, health and opportunity. He has provided this vast land to explore and cultivate, created parents for us who are both patient and wise. We have received many blessings from Him. We should be thankful.”
    Cain grunted.
    “Tomorrow we can try again together, Brother. I will give you some of my flock if you like, and you can choose the best of them to sacrifice.”
    “I don’t need your charity. You are still my younger brother, and you’d do well to remember that,” said Cain, rising to his feet, the rock he had been about to toss into the current still in his hand.
    “Cain,” said Abel, looking up at him. “It is not charity I offer; it is harmony. You sing and I will play. We will together make a joyful noise to the Lord.”
    “I do not sing, Abel,” Cain responded, “and you play enough for the both of us. I am not inclined to remain here with you any longer. Counsel yourself, but do not attempt to counsel me anymore this day.” Cain started walking through his fields back toward his camp.
    “Cain,” Abel yelled, turning his head, trying to salvage the situation. “You would do well to take counsel from any source you can find. What you need is to tell the Lord that you are sorry. Ask him to forgive you and offer him a blood sacrifice.”
    “If you want blood, brother, then I shall give you some,” said Cain, spinning around, throwing the stone in his hand at Abel with all the anger he had accumulated over the past few hours. He didn’t just throw the rock at Abel. He threw it at his pain and embarrassment. He threw it to smash the humiliating experience of that afternoon, to break the pattern of anger, frustration, and sorrow he felt. He wanted to hurt himself, if only to feel more in control of his own course. Like the creek, he was hitting every stone