Chapter Twenty OneWhen Benjamin arrived home, his mother was busy preparing the evening meal and his great-grandfather, seated on his bench in the courtyard, was waiting, eager to know what had happened.
Forthrightly, Naomi asked, “Did you find him?”
“Yes, and he went home,” Benjamin replied. With a sigh of relief, his mother finished her preparations. She knew it would be difficult enough for Evan and Orna to cope with the news about their daughter, without losing a son to the false religion as well. Dousing the fire, she wrapped the pot in the padded cloth and carried it indoors.
Pouring the now warm water remaining in the water skin into the washbasin, Benjamin splashed his face to get rid of the dust and hung the skin on a peg to drain it properly. Fetching himself a drink of cool w
