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  Darker Side #4   "In The Beginning..."
  Plot: Chris Delaney
  Writers: Chris Delaney and Marysia
  Editor: Marysia
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   "Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their
habitations. O my soul, come thou not into their secret; unto their
assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a
man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger,
for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in
Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." 
                                                     Genesis 49: 5-7.

    The archaeologists gathered around the camp-fire like children waiting
to be entertained and the older man lifted the replica of the stone tablet
out of the wooden box.  The original lay in storage, never to be touched by
human hands.  He began to speak, "This tablet dates to around 1275BC, the
time of Moses.  Here we stand in the shadow of the temple at Bani Maza and
we can speak of what once lay within.  Let me tell you of the one who was
stricken from the Bible; the abomination who was born of the people of
Israel and will be hunted throughout time until he is destroyed.  Let me
speak of Rahvin ben-Simeon.  Let me speak of En Saba Nuhr.  Let me speak of
the Apocalypse."  He began to read from the tablet.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

     "My name is Nun, he who begat Joshua.  I tell the tale of one whose
name is stricken from all records but this for he has spoken with the
serpent and followed its path.  And he has outlived Pharoahs and Prophets
of the Lord alike; and he has passed throughout the land and spread evil
and destruction; and he shall be known as En Saba Nuhr. The Apocalypse.

     "And Jacob did come unto Egypt and all his seed with him.  Joseph
ben-Jacob was advisor to the Pharaoh of the time and one of the greatest
prophets we have even known of.  Strong was Joseph in the fury of the Lord
and his wrath was terrible to behold.  And it came to pass that Simeon ben-
Jacob; brother of Joseph; begat a son with the daughter of a high priest of
Egypt.  

     "And the child was named Rahvin; and his mothers father raised him for
Simeon was a hard and bloody man with little liking for his own children;
let alone the bastard result of a night's passion.  Rahvin learned many of
the secrets of the priests, some dark and terrible, but was never truly
accepted by them.  His outland blood marked him forever.  And like all of
Israels line he was strong and time seemed barely to touch him.

     "When Rahvin was three score and four years Joseph died; being an
hundred and ten years old; and the people of Israel lost their heart. And
Joseph was embalmed and placed in a coffin.  It is said that Rahvin smiled
at the funeral as the Israelites wept; for Rahvin was a strange man who was
too interested in things best not known.  He did learn of many secrets from
the Egyptian Priests and was thought to watch over the Israelites and tell
their secrets.  But I, Nun, know little for certain of this phase of his
life.  It is known he fought in many battles and was mighty and his foes
did fall at his feet in fear.

     "And Rahvin did leave Egypt and journey to both Nubia and unto Canaan
seeking signs of his father's people who had remained.  Of his findings
there is no word.

     "When Rahvin returned he was beset upon and murdered by a group of
Egyptian men in revenge for his murder of a young nobleman.  That night he
did return from the grave and wreak fearful vengeance against that noble
house.  And Rahvin was sixteen and three score years when first he died. 
And he was marked as unholy for when he died the Lord would not take his
spirit and he was returned.

     "This was one of the happenings that did convince the new Pharaoh that
the people of Israel had grown too powerful; for Rahvin was not seen as
Egyptian by Egypt though neither was he truly seen as one of Israel's sons. 
Pharaoh ordered that the people of Israel have all that they owned taken
from them and they were placed in chains.  None screamed louder nor
resisted harder than Rahvin but he was taken and chained and made to work.

     "And the people of Israel worked in chains at the command of Pharaoh;
and they did build him Pithom and Raamses.  I know nothing of Rahvin during
this period save that he was a slave and suffered under the lash as all of
the Israelites did.  It is told he was quick to rebel and only his strength
did bring him through the danger he created.  Many an overseer died at his
hand though his guilt was never proved.

     "By this time the people did remark on his great age, but few found
comfort in it for slavery had taught him to be cruel and brutal among his
own kind.  And Rahvin was four and seventy years when Pharaoh ordered all
male children of Israel to be cast into the river at birth; and Moses was
born and put adrift in a reed boat.  

     "The story of Moses, who was raised by the Pharaohs' daughter to
become a prince of Egypt, has been told by others.  Moses who was exiled
for having compassion on a slave and sent to the desert.  Here he found
peace in the desert until the Lord spoke to him as a burning bush and
commanded him to defy the Pharaoh.  At this time Rahvin was an hundred
fifty and four years and truly was he sick of life under Egypts rule.  And
Moses unleashed the plagues upon Egypt and the Pharoah freed the children
of Israel and with them went Rahvin.  And they marched into freedom and the
armies of the Pharoah were destroyed by the parting and closing of the Red
Sea.  And they came finally unto Jordan.  But Rahvin was by then gone from
them.

     "For Jacob had cursed two tribes of Israel for their bloody deeds in
the name of the Lord.  The tribe of Simeon and the tribe of Levi were they
cursed.  But Moses had risen from the tribe of Levi and so the curse upon
them did become a blessing and they became the priests of the Lord.  But
the tribe of Simeon had no such saviour and and from them came Rahvin.

     "Rahvin joined the long march of the people of Israel from Egypt.  And
he was old then, so old that none believed his true age but instead thought
his claims of seeing the father of Israel as idle boasts.  He chafed at the
restrictions set upon him and hungered for power yet he dared not challenge
Moses for the glory of the Lord shone upon his brow and it was terrible to
behold.  It was for this reason that Moses concealed his features from all
and that Aaron was the leader of the people.  

     "But one day chance called to Rahvin and gave him a chance to war
against the man he hated and resented.  It came to him in the form of a
serpent that bit him one day as he gathered manna in the desert.  He had
wandered far from the others for he greatly resented them and they greatly
feared him.  He was reaching down when a large Cobra struck him in the leg
and bit him deeply.  He reached for his sword but stopped when the snake
did speak to him.  

     ""Greetings, Son of Simeon." it spoke.   

     "Rahvin muttered a curse and looked at the snake in shock.  The 
venom burned in his blood and he was sore afraid.  "What sorcery is this
that a snake should talk?  Are you some demon seeking to take me?  You will
find me no easy prey, serpent!"

     "And the snake saith, "Really?  I would have thought you would be
honoured to have been bitten by me.  For It was my jaw that bit Ra himself,
first Pharaoh of Egypt, and anointed him holy by the agony I inflicted. 
And it was I who tempted Eve and damned all women by it.  Feel honoured
child of Israel!"

     ""Honoured by you?  I who have seen centuries pass?  It will take more
than a mouth to make me believe you, serpent!" said Rahven.

     "To which the snake did answer, "I stood by the shoulder of Yahweh
when the world was created.  I watched as the wisest of the angels, the
captain of the host of heaven led his armies in revolt and stood idle as a
third of the angels of heaven fell.  I have seen more than you, mortal, and
I will still be here when you are gone.  I will deliver your foe into your
hands in return for a boon I shall ask of you."

     ""What have you to offer me and what price is this you ask?"

     ""You were born different than other men in more than just your 
long years.  The venom in your blood shall make the latent power in you
ripe that you might use it to battle your foe.  You shall be the lord of
Canaan, I have foreseen it!" 

     ""The price, belly crawler, what do you ask for this?"

     ""That you have the people of Israel worship me instead."

     ""That is all?  You sell yourself cheap."

     ""Really?"

     "Rahvin knew that the creatures words were true and he could feel the
power that did flow through his ancient body.  And he dropped the food he
was carrying and hefted his mighty blade and headed forth to confront the
lawgiver himself.  He found Aaron and Moses in their tent arguing about the
path of the march.  Moses claimed that they must go forth to a mountain
where they would receive the instructions of the Lord.  Aaron asked why
they must march away from the promised land to get these laws that surely
could be given to Moses in the place they were.  For if Yahweh was speaking
to Moses why did not Moses ask for them now?  Moses told how it was a test
of faith when they heard the strangled cries of the guards outside the
doors of the tent.  

     "Aaron drew his short sword and flung himself against the intruder but
was batted away like an insect in a shower of blood.  Moses rose to face
the intruder.

     "And Moses did warn Rahvin from the path of evil. "It is not too late
to turn aside from your path.  I warn you, Rahvin ben-Simeon, ask for the
Mercy of the Lord and it will be given.  Throw down your sword and we will
pray for his blessing together!"

     "But Rahvin was taken by the devil and spake, "What need do I have of
a God?  I am like unto a God myself.  Tell Yahweh that I reject his mercy!" 
Rahvin lunged and swung at Moses but was defeated by a staff that moved
with blurring speed.  Moses backed up as Rahvin kept swinging until they
were in a public square.  

     ""You have rejected the mercy of the lord and I curse you to a 
life of unending struggle."  The people gathered and watched the fight
until a lightening fast blow from Moses brought Rahvin to his knees.  

     ""Repent, and ask the forgiveness of the lord and you will do his
bidding that you may repay the cost of your sin."

     ""Forgiveness for what old man?  For choosing not to follow the
half-baked God of a bunch of savages?  I spit on your forgiveness."  He
raised his hands and fire shot forth to strike Moses.  The prophet stood
against the fury showing no sign of effort.  

     ""You reject the Lord's forgiveness and show yourself a fool 
indeed.  I curse you to unending pain for as long as you shall walk this
earth."  Rahvin screamed and grappled with the prophet.  

     ""I shall triumph for it was foretold by a royal serpent!  I will kill
you now, Moses of the tribe of Levi, and I will feast on your heart."

     ""Ask now and the Lord may yet grant you a boon.  If you fall to 
your knees and beg he will send the Angel of Death to you and you shall not
die damned but instead find peace in death.  Reject the words of the father
of lies and put your faith in Yahweh."

     ""Never!"  Rahvin tore upon the cowl that covered the face of 
Moses and looked upon his features.

     "And Moses spake, "You have rejected the God of your fathers and are
forever damned.  Your eyes are forfeit for you are not worthy of having
seen even a pale reflection of the glory of God.  I cast you out, foul one,
and I command that your name be forever stricken from the history of the

people of Israel.  Rahvin no longer, I name you truly En Saba Nuhr and I
condemn you."  Rahvin felt his eyes melt from their sockets and fell to the
harsh desert ground.  The people who had watched the fight fell to their
knees before Moses and none argued his words further.  They packed up their
beasts of burden and headed forth to the mountain, leaving En Saba Nuhr in
their wake, a broken man.

     "As he lay there in the sand and the darkness, a serpent 
approached him and spoke into his ear.  He listened and after a time he
rose and marched south.  His native eyes were gone forever but the day
would come that he would look at the world through new eyes.  Ever after he
took the eyes from all who saw his power for he would not be less than the
Lord of Hosts in this.  He did become a Pharaoh of Egypt and will be
accounted as a god by all the peoples of the earth at one time or another
for so it has been forseen.  But he will be a god of death and destruction
and all will learn to fear his coming.

     "And when Moses died the cursed one was an hundred ninety and four
years; and still he lived on.  And now I, Nun, am old and soon to go to the
Lord and I write this tale to warn my sons and their sons to fear he who is
called En Saba Nuhr and to turn him away.

----

     "The archaeologist paused in his reading and took a sip of water. He
glanced around at his listeners and saw wonder and not a little fear in
their eyes. "This was the end of the original piece," he told them. "But
later a little more was added by someone else. Possibly a child of Joshua
but we cannot be sure." He continued.

----

      "I continue the story of Rahvin who became En Saba Nuhr.  I tell you
that he did watch in anger as Joshua carried the arc of the covenant forth
to deliver the wrath of God.  And I tell you that En Saba Nuhr was in fear
of the arc and did cower behind his followers that the Lord might not smite
him down.  And En Saba Nuhr did see the children of Simeon gifted lands of
the people of Judah and it angered him for in one breath he wished his
people to be strong yet in the next he did despise them for bowing once
more before the Lord their God.  

     "And En Saba Nuhr did bide his time until the death of Joshua.  And En
Saba Nuhr was two hundred ninety and four years when Joshua died.  And now
he hath taken the name Baal and is worshipped as a God and I am afeared of
him and I pray to the Lord to protect me from him and his followers.  For
the Lord will protect his own.

     "I too warn my descendants and all the children of Israel to fear the
Apocalypse for he has cast aside the Lord our God and seeks to be unto him. 
But lo he will be destroyed by the Lord for the Lord is mighty and His
wrath is great.  And the arc will lay him down low before the Lord, so it
is foretold."

----

     The stone tablet was replaced in its box and the archaeologist looked
round the group. "Well?"

     They looked nervous. Well what?

     "I have read you this for a reason," he told them. "I have read you
this because I am a descendant of Levi and this tablet is part of my
inheritance. I have read you this because I wish you to aid me in my search
for the arc of the covenant, for only by that can En Saba Nuhr, Apocalypse,
be defeated."

     He looked at them, they did not believe him. It did not matter. It had
piqued their interest and should they find the arc of the covenant he would
know of it.

     As they walked away, chattering and laughing, he moved off into the
shadows and his form changed. All that could be seen was a glint of metal
and a red diamond as Sinister vanished into the night.

-- 
       *Marysia*         | "Some fruitloop waving around the 2nd law of
 Keeper of the Labyrinth Flame |    of Thermodynamics like it's a signed
  and Holy Virgin of Scotland  | confession from God isn't going to convince
 http:\\minuteman.com\x-writers|    me evolution is a hoax."   Vermillion