The Gate of Heaven (40 page)

Dinah had not been wrong about the festival. She had enjoyed everything tremendously. The music delighted her, for there were musicians from all over the land. They played timbrels and flutes and pipes and some stringed instruments she had never heard before.

The trip had not been hard, and she had delighted at forcing Demetrius to carry more clothing and gear than she would ever use. He had complained about it, and she had enjoyed saying, “Be quiet, Demetrius. You belong to me, and that's all there is to it.”

Now the young women of Jacob's retinue had joined together and were performing a dance. Dinah was especially pleased at this, for she loved to dance. Along with the other young women she moved in an intricate routine they had practiced ever since she was a child. It was a rather sensuous dance, even though they were all clothed in modestly concealing robes. She took a special delight in the movements, lifting her hands and swaying from side to side, and when they broke out into song, her voice could be heard above all the rest.

After the dance, Dinah was laughing and speaking with her friend Shamar when suddenly she heard a voice right behind her.

“That was a beautiful dance indeed.”

Dinah turned and saw a slender young man approximately her own height. He was dressed in such rich apparel that she knew he was of the royal house. She curtsied and said, “Thank you very much.”

“And what is your name, if I may ask?”

“My name is Dinah. I am the daughter of Israel, the Hebrew.”

The slender man bowed, his dark eyes smiling. “My name is Shechem.”

Dinah instantly flushed and was almost tongue-tied. “Prince Shechem?”

“That is my title. You must be warm after your dance. Come over in the shade and let me have my servants bring you some refreshment.”

The other young girls watched enviously as Shechem escorted Dinah to a tent that had been erected for the purpose of refreshment. He called for refreshments and the servants scurried around, quickly bringing two flagons of wine. Shechem took both of them and then handed one to Dinah. He bowed low, saying, “This will not be as good as the wine at the palace, but it will have to do.”

“It's very good,” Dinah said. She was well aware that everyone was staring at her and this pleased her.

Shechem spoke pleasantly of the dance, asked her how she had learned it, and commended her fulsomely. Finally he said, “It would please me for you to meet my father. Would you mind?”

“No, Prince Shechem, not at all.”

Shechem led Dinah to the king, who greeted her with a smile and a slight bow. He listened as Shechem spoke enthusiastically of Dinah's dancing, and when he had finished, he said, “I believe I have heard of your father. His name is Israel?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is he here? I would like very much to meet him.”

“Oh yes. He would be very honored.”

Jacob was indeed there and had been watching the proceedings. When he saw Dinah looking for him, he stepped forward slightly. She called his name, and he came at once and bowed low before the king as Dinah made the introductions.

“It is an honor to meet you, sir,” the king said. “I have seen your beautiful cattle. I'm very interested in such things. Perhaps you would tell me a little of your methods.”

Shechem laughed at his father. “I don't think Israel's daughter and I want to hear about raising cattle.”

“One day when you are king you will have to take care of such things, but run along, son.”

Shechem skillfully guided Dinah out away from the king and her father. They walked through the activities for some time, and finally Dinah said, “I think I must go back to my father now.”

“Of course. It has been a great pleasure.” Shechem's eyes were warm and his smile even warmer. “It occurs to me that we're going to have a celebration at the palace in a week. My father's given me leave to invite any friends I choose. It would please me greatly if you would come.”

Dinah whispered, “Oh, Prince Shechem, I would be delighted—but I could not come without my father's permission.”

“Why, of course you couldn't! Naturally you must ask him. But I will assure you that I could send a group of our soldiers to escort you and also to bring you home again, and you will, of course, bring a chaperone with you.”

“I will ask.”

“I will look forward to it.” He reached out and bowed low. When he smiled his teeth were white, making him look even more handsome. “The festival will be a failure for me if you do not come.”

“I will try,” Dinah whispered. And as she turned from the prince, she immediately began the campaign to wheedle permission out of her father.
He's got to let me go. He just has to!

Jacob proved to be hard to persuade. Dinah, however, had seventeen years' experience of getting her own way from him, and in the end he grudgingly granted permission.

Judah was not pleased. He came to Jacob after hearing of the trip to the palace by his sister and said bluntly, “Father, I don't think you should let Dinah go.”

“Why not, my son? It's an honor for her.”

“She's too young for such things. Visits like that to the palace could turn her head. She won't be satisfied with a plain tent anymore.”

But Judah's words fell to the ground, and Dinah was ecstatic as she began to prepare.

Demetrius heard of the visit from Jacob himself. The patriarch had called him to one side and said, “I want to send a good guard with her, so you and Amasa will go.” Amasa was one of the boldest of Jacob's servants, a proven warrior. “I'll also send Tersa with her as a maid.”

Demetrius said merely that he would be very careful to guard Dinah, but he spoke more plainly to Dinah.

Dinah was shocked when Demetrius walked straight up to her and informed her of his father's command to accompany her to the palace.

“I don't need you to guard me.”

“Your father insists on it, but I don't think you ought to go.”

Dinah stared at him. “It's none of your business, Demetrius. You're always meddling with things that don't have anything to do with you.”

Demetrius shook his head. His lips were set stubbornly. “Servants and slaves hear things.”

“What sort of things?”

“Things about Prince Shechem. He uses women.”

“You don't know that.”

“Everybody talks about it,” Demetrius said. “When he sees one he likes, he just takes her if she's a poor girl. With the richer ones like you, he has to use more strategy.”

Dinah stared at Demetrius, her anger rising. “You shut your mouth right now, Demetrius! Get out of here! I don't want to listen to you!”

Demetrius knew he could say no more. He turned and walked away, anger in every line of his body.

“He doesn't know anything. I'll show him that I'm able to take care of myself!”

Dinah was in a flurry of excitement planning for her trip. No robe was good enough, and she had almost driven Leah crazy with her demands for new jewelry and new robes. Leah had finally said, “I wish your father hadn't agreed to let you go. No good will come of it!”

Dinah had paid no attention to her. She ignored her mother's concern as she had Demetrius's warning. She was taken off guard, however, when she looked up one day to see a group of camels making their way toward the camp. At once she knew this was some sort of noble procession, and then she saw that Prince Shechem was on the camel in the lead. Her breath began to come quicker, and she flew to her tent and made herself ready. She did not have time to change clothes, but she gave her hair a few brushes and moistened her lips and cleaned her face.

When she stepped outside her tent, she saw the prince getting off his camel. She also saw that Demetrius was standing off to one side. None of her brothers were in evidence as she walked forward.

“Ah, it is the lovely daughter of Israel.” The prince bowed low. “I've come to escort you to the palace.”

Dinah stopped. “But, Prince Shechem, my father was going to send me tomorrow.”

“I know, but the desert is dangerous. I thought it might be better if you would come with some of my own personal guard. You will be perfectly safe that way.”

Dinah was confused. The arrangements had already been made, and she knew it would not please her father if they were not carried out. “I'm so sorry, my prince, but I could not disobey my father.”

Shechem laughed. “Well, you are an obedient daughter. That is good to see.”

“I trust that I am.” Dinah hesitated, then said, “It was kind of you to think of such a thing.”

“Perhaps you would like to go for a ride on one of our beasts, you and I.”

Dinah actually had ridden on a few camels but not in years. The idea of going for a ride with the prince intrigued her.

“Yes, that would be wonderful.”

“Good. Casmir, assist the lady on your beast. She and I are going for a ride.”

“Mistress, I do not think that would be appropriate.”

Both Dinah and Shechem turned to see Demetrius, who had approached.

“Who is this fellow?” Shechem asked, anger beginning to show itself in his features. “He's not one of your brothers, is he?”

“No. He's only a slave. Demetrius, mind your own business!”

But Demetrius well knew what Jacob would have done. “I don't want to be impertinent, mistress, but you yourself know that your father would not approve of such a thing. Nor would your brothers if any of them were here.”

“I tell you go away, Demetrius, or I'll have you whipped!”

“You should,” Shechem cried out. “We don't put up with this sort of insolence in the palace. Go away, fellow.”

Demetrius bowed slightly. “I am the servant of Israel, and this is his daughter. As a good servant, I could not permit such a thing as you suggest, Your Highness.”

Dinah was furious. “Demetrius, I told you to go away! Now, will you obey me or not?”

“I'm sorry, but in this case I cannot obey you.”

“Such a fellow needs to be beaten!” Shechem exclaimed.

“Yes, he does!”

“Casmir, take care of this fellow!” Shechem ordered.

The burly servant of the prince laughed and motioned to the others. “Come along, fellows,” he said. “This slave deserves a thrashing.”

Dinah was suddenly confused. She saw the five servants of the prince advancing on Demetrius, who stood calmly awaiting his punishment. She called out, “Wait a minute—”

But it was too late. Casmir had thrown himself forward. He was a big muscular brute, and the blow he threw should have demolished Demetrius. But Demetrius simply ducked under it and drove his fist into the guard's face. Casmir stumbled backward and sat stupidly, with blood running from his nose and dripping onto his white tunic.

“Grab him!” Casmir shouted.

Dinah started forward, crying, “Oh no!”

But the prince took hold of her arm, saying, “That fellow needs discipline. My men will take care of it.”

Dinah was appalled when she saw all five of the men throw themselves upon Demetrius. He fought hard, but there were too many for him and they were too strong. Finally three of them were holding him down, and the one called Casmir had run to his camel and come back with a cane. He began lashing Demetrius across his fair back.

Dinah cried out, “Don't do that!”

But Shechem said, “You must not allow servants that liberty, Dinah. It is dangerous.”

“Let him go!” Dinah cried. She saw the red welts beginning to ooze blood as the huge man struck with all of his strength.

Dinah could not free herself from the prince's grasp, but at that moment three of her brothers came rushing in—Reuben, Judah, and Levi. Reuben took the situation in with one glance and ran forward. He was a huge, strong man, and his first blow knocked one man completely unconscious. His next blow hit another in the back of the head, and the man dropped as if struck by lightning. The three brothers made short work of the guards, and finally Reuben strode toward Dinah and the prince. His eyes for once were not mild but were blazing in anger. “What is going on here, Dinah?”

Shechem was taken aback. His men were chosen for their ferocity, but these sons of the desert had made short work of them. Quickly he saw that it was time for a strategic retreat.

“I am Shechem, son of King Hamor. I fear we've had a misunderstanding.”

“I fear we have indeed! Why were your men thrashing another man's servant?”

Dinah spoke up. “It was a misunderstanding. These are my brothers.”

“Prince, it is no misunderstanding when you put your men on another man's servant,” Reuben said.

Reuben was the mildest of men, and Dinah had never seen him so incensed. She knew he had become a close friend of Demetrius, and now as he stood towering over the prince, she knew that in his present state he was entirely capable of attacking the prince himself.