“Hello, everyone! Tom here, reporting for HNN News, Planet
Earth,” Tom looked directly into the camera. “Twenty years ago,
El, Chakam, and Our King announced the destruction of Planet
Earth in order to cleanse it of evil.
“However, in order to preserve Their special creation, They de-
vised a way to rescue a sample of Earth’s inhabitants. Yesterday,
having found one faithful man, They revealed Their plan to save a
sample of all her air-breathing species. One man, Noah, will build
a box keeping samples of Earth’s specimens safe. After our encoun-
ter yesterday, he left his livestock with others in his employ and
journeyed back to the core of his farm, where he spent the night
studying.
“I asked permission to remain in order to tell you how this
human reacts to his assignment. Here he comes now.”
“Good morning, Grandpa.” Noah stumbled into the room
with mussed hair and dark bags under his eyes.
The kitchen had a table in the center and all the recent, mod-
ern conveniences arranged strategically throughout the room. A
new wood stove sat beside the table next to the wall, with its metal
pipe climbing out the back and bending into the chimney. Dried
wood was neatly stacked in the corner next to a bucket of water. A
cabinet for storing pots, pans, and dishes, a counter for preparing
food, and a storage bin for flour was on the wall opposite the stove.
A basin sitting on a bench for washing dishes rested in the adjacent
corner.
“Good morning, Noah.” Methuselah’s high-pitched voice
cracked as he scurried about the kitchen. “You’re back early.” He
darted from the stove to the table and handed Noah a cup of coffee.
“Yeah, I met some very interesting travelers.” Noah downed the
coffee, then slumped to the table.
“Oh? How’s that? Tell me while I fix breakfast.” Methuselah
returned to the stove, attending his pancakes.
“Grandpa, why were you named Methuselah?”
“What? They asked about me, did they? Not many of my old
friends left.” He brought a fresh stack to the table. “El told my
father to name me Methuselah. It’s a prophetic name meaning
‘When he is dead it will come.’ Why do you ask?”
“What will come?”
“Oh, I don’t know. The end of the world, I suppose.”
Noah’s cup broke as it hit the floor.
Grandpa turned and studied him. After a long pause, he asked,
“Do you want to talk about it, Noah?”
Noah spoke as best he could, but his voice was very thin.
“Grandpa, what was Enoch like?” he finally managed.
“My father?” Methuselah asked as he handed Noah the broom
Next page: From Chapter Twelve