No Woman So Fair by Gilbert Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

records of land surveys and civic activities. Businessmen like Garai had quickly found uses for the new system as well. The writing sticks could easily make marks in the damp clay, which would then harden into permanent records. At first the temple scribes had etched pictures of people and animals, but this had become so time consuming that a system of symbols had developed, such as Garai used now. He made a series of marks in a horizontal row going from left to right, and his hand moved quickly as he recorded his business activities.
    As he worked, Garai wondered, not for the first time, if the new materials being developed, such as papyrus, might be more practical for storing large amounts of information. Papyrus reeds could be pressed flat and dried in the sun into thin sheets that would take marks from a small reed filled with a dark liquid. It seemed to Garai that they would take up far less space, but no one had yet figured out how to keep the dark marks from fading. So for this and other reasons, this method had not yet caught on for business purposes, and the cumbersome system of keeping thousands of clay tablets was still the most efficient way of preserving records.
    â€œSir, you have a visitor.”
    Garai looked up at Hazil with annoyance. “I’m working. Who is it?”
    â€œHe says his name is Abram. Shall I send him away?”
    â€œNo!” Garai said quickly. “I’ve been expecting him. I’ll take care of this.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Garai put the clay tablet down, washed his hands quickly, and moved out of the small storeroom into the corridor and toward the courtyard. He found a tall man waiting there, apparently in his thirties, wearing the simple dress of a shepherd. “Abram,” he said. “Greetings. My name is Garai.”
    â€œMy father sends his greetings, sir.”
    â€œCome in. You must wash, and I’m sure you must be hungry. When did you arrive?”
    â€œYesterday.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you come at once?”
    Abram had wound up staying the night in the priest’s private quarters at the temple, where the priest had insisted on having his garment washed and dried before he left. But Abram did not want to get into the story of why he was delayed. He simply said, “I got here rather late in the afternoon, and I thought it might be best to wait until today.”
    â€œWell, I’m glad to see you in any case. Come along, and we’ll give you some refreshment.”
    Abram submitted to Garai’s wishes, and soon he was sitting down drinking a thin, sour-tasting wine while the other man talked. “Your father and I have worked out all of the details—about the marriage, I mean. But now you must let me show you around.”
    Abram nodded at once. “I’d be glad to see your city.”
    â€œI’ll take you down to the river first to see our fleet of boats. I’m sure you’ll be interested in that,” Garai said. “And I’ll have the cook make a special dinner for when we return, and you can meet the family.” He beamed and said, “And, of course, you’ll meet your bride-to-be. I’m sure you’re anxious for that.”
    â€œOf course, sir,” Abram said, inwardly wondering how he was going to get out of marrying the woman Captain Sargon had warned him about. Garai seemed to assume that the marriage deal was already done.
    Abram mulled this over as he accompanied Garai to the waterfront and spent the afternoon looking over the family’s considerable assets. Garai was very proud of his fleet and spoke expansively of the advantages that would accrue to Abram’s family when the two joined forces.
    â€œMy family has been mostly into herds and flocks,” Abram said. “I know nothing about the boating trade.” He hoped Garai would not find Terah’s marriage offer so enticing when he learned of Abram’s business ineptness.
    â€œOh,