The oasis at the foot of the mountain was a welcome sight to the hundreds of people gathering there. The lush vegetation of the ferns and splendid palms gently swayed in the light breeze and the cool water was invitingly refreshing.
They had travelled far and many had perished in their desperate attempt to escape to a better life, a life of hope and promise.
Their leader was now ahead, he had no need of such bodily comforts as he struggled on further and further climbing to a great height towards his destined path.
Below, his people waited, they had set up camp and spoke fervently about the ‘new life’ ahead of them. They slept soundly that night their leader waiting on the mountain for the sign that had been promised to him.
By morning with still no word the people became bored of waiting for their leaders return and excitedly planned their own path to follow. After some time their leader returned carrying the life plan that would guide all who wished to follow to a better life.
On seeing his people’s impatience and greed the leader in his rage destroyed the life plan, smashing it into many pieces on the rocks.
In 1998 I was standing in the Sinai Dessert. The sun’s rays had scorched every living thing within its reach and the dessert was barren. Just minutes, and then I must find shelter back in the air- conditioned gleaming white truck. In the sand my foot struck a piece of rock it glinted in the sunlight. I bent down to pick it up and ran my fingers over the sharp crevices that layered its structure, my brother-in-law informing me that this was a piece of petrified bark from a tree.
Turning it over in my hand. The under surface felt smooth and strangely cold. Turning the bark over I saw a piece of grey flint which had embedded itself into the petrified wood.
Ancient flint would interest my archaeological friend back home. With a small penknife, I prised the flint from the bark, surprised at the ease at which it separated. But the grey shard had been hiding a much more intriguing secret.
Its edges, crumbling as if it had been smashed showed the unmistakable markings of Hebrew inscription; too faded to decipher. I traced the indentations of the lettering with my finger. The flint separated from its resting place and fell into the sand. A sudden gust of wind whipped up the sand in a frenzy and covered the written word.
Someone… had determined a man’s rage is best buried and laid to rest.
(c) 2024 Lillian Bradbury.
“The Find” is a captivating short story that weaves together ancient history and personal discovery. Set in the Sinai Desert in 1998, it follows a narrator who discovers a peculiar piece of petrified wood containing a hidden fragment of flint with Hebrew inscriptions. The story masterfully builds tension as the narrator uncovers what appears to be a piece of the shattered tablets from Moses’ descent from Mount Sinai, only to have it disappear back into the desert sands through a sudden gust of wind – nature’s way of preserving an ancient secret.
“Welcome to my World” is a delightful collection of short stories and poems by Yorkshire author Lillian Bradbury, offering readers a window into her imaginative mind and the picturesque town of Pickering. Through her whimsical musings and provocative poetry, Bradbury invites us to explore deeper fantasies about what might have been. If you enjoy stories that blend everyday observations with touches of mystery and wonder, you’ll find yourself at home in Bradbury’s world.
