A PRINCE OF EGYPT ADVENTURE BOOK 1--JOSHUA

A NEW LIFE

MOSES POV
I couldn't believe what I had just heard my "Father" say. All the previous comforts I had of home were now shattered into a million pieces.

What was home? Certainly not here in the palace, if what Miriam had said to me last night was true.

My mother...my real mother had saved my life as a baby...Perhaps Miriam was right about him.

Joshua had told me after that revelation that he was a Sorcerer, here to help. Now I'm bound by the secret he told me. I wasn't to tell "Father" and "Mother". I certainly couldn't tell Rameses.

Now here I was at the place where my "Mother" drew me from the water, my worldview shattered.

"Moses?"

I heard "Mother" now behind me.

"Is this where you found me?" I asked.

"Moses, please try to understand." She said, perhaps trying to soften the blow of the revelation.

That didn't help.

"So...so everything I thought...everything I am...is a lie?" I asked.

"No! You are our son, and we love you." She told me.

"Why did you choose me?"

"We didn't, Moses. The Gods did." She said.

I looked away, unconvinced.

This is your home, my son

Here the river brought you

And it's here the river meant

To be your home.

Now you know the truth, love

Now, forget and be content.

When the Gods send you a blessing

You don't ask why it was sent. "Mother" said.

I leaned into her hug, but I truly was not convinced about her answer.

END POV

While Moses and Queen Tuya talked, I went to find Miriam and Aaron, and proceeded to help them with the work. I was no longer the shah. I was now a Hebrew slave, and my outfit showed as such, with both Hindu and Jewish patterns. My aim was to distance myself from the royal family, while keeping close to Moses as much as possible.

"Last night, the Gods granted me a vision. I'm not merely going to restore this temple. I will make it more grand, more splendid than any other one in Egypt." I heard Rameses lay down the plans for restoring the Temple.

I saw Moses, and Rameses coming over to him excitedly and talking about the Temple, but the younger brother seemed more concerned about his kinfolk than restoring the Temple. I could see in his eyes that his mind was definitely in turmoil.

"GET UP, OLD MAN!"

An Egyptian guard's voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I turned to see an elderly slave trying to pick up a brick, but was too weak to pick it up himself.

"PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT! FASTER!!! MOVE!!!" The guard yelled.

Aaron continued hewing, while Miriam and I watched with horror and disgust at what was going on. The elderly slave tried to pick the brick up but looked so tired he was ready to drop. The guard pushed him.

"I SAID HURRY!!" The guard snapped. He proceed to whip that poor man, possibly to death.

"NO!!!" I yelled in desperation.