As the two girls helped Zipporah to sit, Maacah quietly entered the room.

"What's going on here?" she asked sharply.

Surprised, the two girls let go of Zipporah's hands and turned hastily towards their mistress. As Baara began to stammer out an explanation, Zipporah interrupted.

"You needn't fear, mistress," she said turning her head towards Maacah, but remaining seated on the couch. As she spoke a puzzled look came over her countenance, but she didn't falter in her explanation. "I've not given them a potion or cast a spell. The unity you see here comes from the intervention of Baara's God. During the night I had an encounter with Yahweh that resulted in confession and repentance. I have told Mara and Baara of my experience and sought their forgiveness. I am now ready to pay the penalty for my misdeeds."

"If you are truly repentant and have lost your feeling of superiority, why do you remain sitting while speaking instead of standing and bowing in submission as a penitent slave would?" Maacah questioned.

"It seems I may have been permanently humbled," Zipporah replied in a shaky voice. "My mind has told my legs to move, but they've not complied. I can't get my legs to move at all." As she made this admission, tears began to silently stream down her cheeks as she continued in a faltering voice, "In an attempt to avoid one prison, I have created another. I am trapped in an immobile body. I will be dependent on others for the remainder of my life. Yahweh would have been more gracious to allow me to die," she ended in a wail.

Proceeding to the bedside, Maacah said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Hysterics will not help. Perhaps the paralysis is a temporary side effect of the Mandrake. I will consult with the healer. In the meantime, we must assess the extent of your problem."

Going to the foot of the bed, Maacah instructed Zipporah to wiggle her toes. As everyone watched most of her toes remained completely immobile, but her big toe on her right foot twitched slightly. When asked to repeat the movement, though, nothing happened.

"Don't worry," Maacah encouraged. "Trying too hard will only make things worse. No matter how slight, one movement is a positive sign."

Next, Maacah told her to try lifting herself off the pallet by using her arms. When Zipporah managed to raise her backside a few inches off the mat and then lower herself back, Maacah questioned, "Did you lift with your arms only or were you able to flex the muscles in your buttocks?"

Embarrassed, Zipporah replied, "I think I used the muscles in my buttocks."

"That's a good sign," Maacah indicated. "If you can flex those muscles, then you will probably be able to take care of private functions."

Turning to Mara, Maacah instructed, "Go get a shallow bowl from Timna, one of the long ones that is used to mix dough. She can sit on it and try to urinate and cleanse her bowels. If she is able to perform those functions, she should be able to live a somewhat normal life even if she never regains use of her legs. If she can't, she may soon wish she never regained consciousness. We might have to ask the healer to finish what her poison did not."

While this speech may have appeared harsh, Maacah deliberately spoke in such a manner. She assumed someone with Zipporah's spunk would receive the speech as a dare. She hoped it would cause the girl to look past her misery and determine to show everyone that she could overcome the adversity in which she found herself.

After Mara's hasty exit, Maacah requested that Zipporah recount for her the story she had told the girls of her experience with Baara's God. The telling momentarily took Zipporah's mind off her predicament and reminded her that there were fates worse than paralysis. Just thinking about remaining in the place of fire under the care of the evil being made her shudder. By the time she finished her story, Mara had returned with the bowl. Once it was delivered, Maacah allowed Mara to return to her regular duties, but reminded her she would still have to face justice for her part in the previous day's treachery.

Leaving Baara to assist Zipporah onto the bowl, Maacah exited and sent Rhoda to bring the healer. While she waited, she told her sons and daughters-in-law what had transpired during the night. When she asked their wisdom concerning dealing with the matter of the treacherous slaves, there was some discussion.

"I think you should give them what they deserve," Tirzah said. "If Zipporah recovers, she should be put to death for her misdeeds. She has used her knowledge of herbs to make our nanny ill, to abort a child, and has threatened death to others," she noted. "As for Mara, I would recommend she be sold in the market. She is healthy and could bring a fair price. Ridding the household of her should bring harmony back to the slave quarters."

"I'm not so sure," Shepho interjected. "If what mother says is true and Mara's attitude has changed, then selling her could cause unrest among the other slaves. In her case, mercy might be the wise course. But, I agree about Zipporah. We cannot risk her continuing to use her knowledge for evil purposes. She deserves death."

"Perhaps," Arisai commented. "But what if Zipporah doesn't recover? Wouldn't death then be a relief for her? If she remains paralyzed, perhaps she should be made to grind corn every day, and Mara could be assigned to tend to her needs. In that way, both would suffer the on-going consequences for their treachery."

Before the conversation could be concluded, a knock came at the gate and Hegai's "Who?" was answered by Jobab the healer.

"You have given me much to think about," Maacah concluded. "Go about your duties. I will consult with the healer. The decision is not pressing."

As she led him to the room where Zipporah lay, Maacah told the healer what had transpired medically during the night. She saw no need to tell him of changed attitudes or the supposed intervention of the gods. She knew such information would only be added grist for the gossip mill. She assumed information that one of her slaves had attempted to poison herself was probably already causing enough speculation. She knew Jobab had the reputation of an incorrigible gossip, but he was the only healer with whom she was acquainted.

Leaving Jobab in the courtyard, Maacah entered the room to make certain Zipporah had finished her absolutions and was prepared for the presence of the healer. The basin sat covered on the floor while Baara was helping Zipporah to adjust her dress. The smell in the room was adequate answer as to whether the girl had succeeded in the task set her.

"Take the basin and empty it," Maacah told Baara. "The healer is here. Return quickly in case he needs help in his examination," she instructed.

After Baara exited, Maacah stepped outside and informed Jobab that they would await Baara's return before examining the incapacitated slave. When the three eventually entered the room, the healer went straight to Zipporah.

"They tell me you cannot move your legs," Jobab noted.

"That's correct," Zipporah answered. "Everything seems to work but my legs."

Going to the foot of the bed, the healer positioned himself near Zipporah's feet, saying, "Your mistress tells me you moved a toe on your right foot, but could not repeat the maneuver. I want you to try again. Concentrate on your big toe. Will it to move?"

Zipporah focused on her right foot and willed the toe to move. While only seconds passed, sweat broke out on her brow as she watched the toe. Then ever so slightly, the toe moved away from the others and then back into place. Immediately, she let out her pent up breath. She exulted, "It moved! Did you see? It moved!"

"Yes," the healer replied. "It did move, even if only slightly."

Then reaching out his hand, he pinched a toe on Zipporah's left foot.

"Did you feel anything?" he asked.

"No," the girl admitted.

Running his index finger from heel to toe, he asked again about feeling. Once more the girl felt nothing. Then, he did the same on her right foot. This time, there was some feeling both on the bottom of her foot and in the toe. Repeating the test farther up the leg, the healer discovered that Zipporah had absolutely no feeling in her left leg, but had some residual feeling on the right.

Finally he turned to Maacah and said, "I fear the left leg is damaged beyond repair. Only a miracle will return use of the leg. The right leg, however, may regain some use. She has feeling and with effort can make her toe obey her bidding. Perhaps if she tries hard enough, she can eventually get some use from her right leg. For that to happen, she would probably need someone to massage the leg every day and help her learn to move it again. If she were your daughter, it might be worth the effort. But this one is a slave. She will be useless for a long time and at best only will be of limited service. My recommendation would be that you put her out of her misery. I can provide you with stronger herbs than she used. A drink laced with deadly nightshade would be sufficient. I do not carry death powders with me, but a slave could accompany me back to my abode and bring the necessary potion."

"Thank you, for your advice," Maacah said. "My husband is away in a raid. Once he returns, the decision will be made. If the powder is needed, I will send a slave for it."

Taking his fee, the healer cautioned, "I wouldn't delay too long. You will waste valuable time tending to this one."

After Jobab left, Maacah turned to Zipporah. She lay on the couch, her skin pale and her eyes closed. When the door closed, she opened her eyes and said wearily, "He's right, mistress. I am not worth saving. I have killed an unborn child, poisoned a nanny, performed unwanted surgery on Baara, and plotted against your family. You would be well within your rights to order my execution."

"Is that what you want?" Maacah questioned softly.

"What does it matter?" Zipporah responded. "I don't even know what I want anymore. I thought I wanted death, but was relieved to find myself alive. Now faced with the possibility of being paralyzed or crippled, I think death would be preferable. Yet," she paused thoughtfully, "to ask for death no longer feels right. Still, I cannot care for myself. To keep me alive would be a liability."

"I suppose," Maacah responded. "As I told the healer, the decision need not be made immediately. I think it might be best to await Naaman's return. During the delay, perhaps your body will begin to heal, and we will know the extent of your injury."

Turning to Baara, Maacah asked her to have all of the slaves leave their chores and assemble in the courtyard. Then going to the door, she summoned the adults of the household. She had Arisai lift Zipporah and set her on the bench under the olive tree. When everyone was assembled, Maacah said, "I have decided to await Naaman's return and his wisdom in deciding what to do about Zipporah's transgressions. However, I felt it best to call everyone together for an explanation so rumors would not abound."

Turning to the slaves, Maacah recounted Zipporah's crimes against the family and her attempts to discredit Baara. She then noted Mara's part in the betrayal. Finally, she concluded, "Zipporah will be returned to the women's quarters for the time being. As penance, Mara will tend to Zipporah's personal needs. She also will provide daily massages of her leg and help her to exercise the muscles. Each morning, Hegai will carry Zipporah to the grinding wheel where she and Mara will grind grain for the household."

"As for the rest of you," she continued, "you are to go about your usual duties. I don't want to hear gossip about what has happened reported when I go to the market. If any slave is found to be gossiping about anyone involved in this incident, they will be sold. No mercy will be offered. I know I can't keep the healer from talking, but he doesn't know everything. Only I know both what he was told and what you were told. I will know if someone here has a loose tongue," she warned. "You may return to your duties," she concluded, dismissing the assembly.

After Hegai had carried Zipporah to the back, Maacah sank onto the bench under the olive tree, putting her head in her hands and massaging her temples. Baara immediately went to her, saying quietly, "Would you like for me to massage your shoulders, neck and temples, mistress. Perhaps that will help to ease the strain."

Looking up at the young girl, Maacah replied with a slight smile, "That would be nice. My head does not ache, but I seem to be tense. I'm glad these types of decisions are usually the prerogative of men. I wouldn't want the responsibility of resolving such issues."

Sighing as Baara began to massage, Maacah closed her eyes and let the magic created by the girl's supple fingers ease her tension. As she relaxed, her mind drifted to the story Zipporah had told of her encounter with Yahweh.

"Tell me, Baara," Maacah murmured. "Do you think the place of light Zipporah spoke of was the abode of your God?"

"I'm not sure," Baara replied. "The Psalms of David abound with references to Yahweh as light, but I've always thought of light as simply a way to explain the glory of God. The Psalmist talks about the light of God's face shining upon us and walking in the light. When our leader Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, it's said his face was radiant, a reflection of an encounter with Yahweh. It was so bright he had to wear a veil. I suppose the home of Yahweh would be a bright place because darkness hides sin, and sin cannot coexist with God."

"What about the other place Zipporah visited?" Maacah questioned. "Is there a place where evil reigns, and the residents are tortured with fire and thirst?" As she asked, Maacah involuntarily shuddered as though even the thought of such a place was more than she could bear.

"Again, I don't know, mistress," Baara answered. "King David spoke of God's wrath as a consuming fire. The prophets often speak of God's enemies being consumed by fire. But, again, I've always considered these to be word pictures, not a real place where fires burn endlessly and the unrighteous are wasted by thirst."

"Well, I hope the place of fire is merely a word picture," Maacah said. "I quake at the thought that such a place might exist. But, the place of light, peace, and love Zipporah spoke of sounds enticing. Still, I suppose it is too much to ask that one be real and the other a metaphor," she finished with a sigh.

"I suppose," Baara agreed. "Whether the places Zipporah visited were real or imaginary, she certainly was convinced they existed. She says she can face death because it will mean a return to the place of light. She is just as convinced that had she not admitted responsibility for the transgressions of her life, she would have been condemned to the other place of evil. If Yahweh's intent was to convince Zipporah to change her ways, His ploy certainly seems to have worked. It's interesting, though. Zipporah's change seems more motivated by a hope of returning to the place of light than fear of being condemned to the place of fire."

When Baara went for water the next morning, Serah was waiting outside the gate to her home. One look at her face and Baara knew word of Zipporah's poisoning had preceded her.

"Tell me," Serah hissed in a hoarse whisper. "Is it true that one of the young slaves in your house tried to kill herself with poison?"

"I see the gossips have been busy," Baara replied noncommittally.

"They have," Serah acknowledged. "Old Jobab always did like spreading a good story. When he said he'd been called to the house of Naaman because a slave had been poisoned, I feared for your safety. I hadn't seen you for a month. Rhoda told me of your punishment, but I was afraid things had escalated."

"As you can see, I'm fine," Baara answered. "Tell me about the rumors Jobab spread."

With relish, Serah began to recount the tales.

"He told everyone that the house of Naaman is in an uproar. He said two slaves had been gathering Mandrake to poison another, and when the treachery was discovered one ingested the remaining poison. He implied that the whole mess arose because of hanky-panky between women slaves and the men of the household. He said the slave who tried to kill herself spit on the mistress's personal maid, a young comely maiden that any man would gladly bed."

When Baara stopped in mid-stride, looking at Serah in disbelief, she finished hastily, "I'm only telling you what the man said. Everyone knows he's nothing but a gossip and spreads as much conjecture as truth. Anyway, he finished by saying the nanny of one of the sons was supposedly poisoned because both she and the suicidal girl were seeking his favors while his wife is pregnant."

"Have your forgotten the words of wise King Solomon?" Baara asked Serah. "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)

"No, I've not forgotten," Serah insisted. "I've not repeated the gossip to others. I'm repeating it to you at your request."

"I hope so," Baara replied. "It sounds like Jobab has quite an imagination. If I were you, I would take anything he says with a grain of salt."

"I always do," Serah said. "Why don't you tell me what really happened, and I'll correct the gossips."

"I don't really think that will help," Baara responded. "Those who want to believe will. If a correction is circulated, they'll only think someone was trying to cover up something. No, if you want to stop the gossip, just don't repeat it. If anyone asks simply tell them you have heard the story was exaggerated."

With a sigh, Serah agreed to do as Baara requested.