Miriam
Victim of Babylon
by
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Murdus approached Miriam. “I will instruct the guards to imprison or kill any of your family who will try to come to you,” he said in his alto voice. “You are now the property of Babylon, and we are your family.” “What will I do for food?” Murdus grunted out an evil laugh. “Huh-h! You will get plenty of food, as the townsfolk will be throwing you their refuse—mixed with stones!” “You know I have done nothing!” Miriam accused more loudly, “I do not deserve to be treated this way! You are only doing this because of my refusal to marry y—” “Silence! There will be no more false accusations against me!” He had said “false accusations” loud enough as if to make sure the guards and merchants could hear. He drew closer and whispered, “Only I will be the one who approaches you. On such occasions, if you’ve had enough, you know what to do.” After a moment, Murdus twisted his upper torso and looked at the street. On the other side of the street there were few houses with spaces between some. Behind the houses was an open field that sloped upwards. He raised a hand as if presenting it all to Miriam. “This is your view of the city. Look deep into its houses and streets and shrubbery, and hope Zoram will be looking back at you.” He turned back to Miriam. “Tomorrow, I will have the king send out a proclamation, announcing the public abuse, torture and ultimate stoning of a confederate to a murder as testified—by—two witnesses. That person will be named—Miriam, daughter of Ishmael the stone mason.” “Where are your two witnesses?” Miriam squinted at him with narrowed eyes. “Actually, I have three: the widow of Labanyu, and his two children, Dalia and Lev.” Miriam showed mild surprise. “They didn’t see anything. I know they didn’t because neither I nor Zoram had anything to do with it, and you know it. I am appalled at how you are letting your lust get in the way of justi—” “I will have the king,” interrupted Murdus quite loudly, “I will have the king invite the public to abuse and torment you, but not until dead; for we need an incentive to draw out your betrothed, correct? I will also have him decree that your stoning will occur in ten days unless your betrothed—Zoram—servant of Labanyu, gives himself up to the overlords.” He waited a moment before saying, “Any change of heart over my proposal?” Miriam stared at him. “Any change of your heart?” She spoke quietly and calmly. “You know I’m innocent.” Murdus looked away at nothing in particular. “You know, it has been said of these three walls that the unfortunate wretch who passes this threshold never returns alive. Only as a bloody corpse.” He raised innocent eyebrows at her. “Without exception.” He smiled at her with aloofness. “But you are a special case, my dear. You could be the only exception. You can escape these walls. But there is only one way out: and that is—into my arms.” He paused only briefly. “Let me know when you change your mind,” said as if he didn’t care, and turned to leave. “You allow your reproductive parts to control your miserable mi—” Murdus whirled and slapped her. “Silence! I and the public are those allowed to fling insults. Any more of that, and I will move up your execution date. How does tomorrow sound?” Miriam allowed no pause. “It’s preferable to marrying you,” she squinted. Murdus ground his jaws together and indicated a small space between his thumb and forefinger. “I am that close, old woman!” He turned without awaiting her reaction.
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About the Book
In Jerusalem in 600 BC, Miriam is betrothed to Zoram, her lifelong love. He disappears on the same night that his master is murdered under mysterious circumstances, and Miriam is left confused and alone. In an effort to bring Zoram out of hiding, officials announce the eventual stoning of Miriam, calling her an accomplice. She is to be abused and tormented but not until dead, for the officials need incentive to draw out her betrothed. There is one thing that could save her, though: marriage to the odious Murdus, who holds her life in his hands. She refuses, and when Zoram never returns, Miriam is left to face death while wondering if she’ll ever uncover the truth behind Zoram’s permanent disappearance. Miriam is an inspiring story of a woman from Jerusalem who strives to take charge of her own life when faced with danger, death, and injustice. Underlying this dilemma is a story steeped in acts of pride, jealousy, and—ultimately—the power that forgiveness brings. Miriam’s fictional story is based on a setting in the Book of Mormon, a canon in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Very believable. Miriam was easy and fun to read. I read it in less than a day.” —Eva Bentley, Doctrinal Scholar “Hard to put down; well thought out; a very good read. Very plausible and logical in relating to the events as they were recorded. I liked the flavor, the narrative, the research. It had a feel of genuineness to it.” —Owen H. Richardson, Author and Artist
About the Author
A Vietnam veteran, Sam Richardson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He went to Snow College, the University of Utah, and later, to Salt Lake Community College. He studied Design, Graphics and Desktop Publishing. He also took two different writers’ courses, one of them being the Famous Writers Course founded by Bennet Cerf and Rod Serling (though these two were not his private instructors), and the other from an award-winning Utah poet. He has illustrated many books and designed many covers (including the cover for this book). He has also done typesetting, editing and ghostwriting, much of it for two Utah-based book publishers. Mister Richardson’s enthusiasm for art has resulted in three features in Utah newspapers, namely: the announcement that he won second-place and three dollars in the Deseret News Buck Rogers drawing contest in 1956, an article in the Church Section of the Deseret News covering the unveiling of a painting he did of the Manti temple for the Snow College LDS seminary in 1967, and an article in the Arts Section of the Salt Lake Tribune covering a class he was giving on cartooning. Sam has written four other fiction books: Soul of Paradise, Carolee’s Shadow, a religious philosophy book called The Devil Loves the Goddess, and Kayleen, It’s Okay to Cry, based on a true story. His non-fiction work includes Becoming True Saviors of Men, Formulas to Move Heaven, The Spirit of God like a Fire Is Burning which contains true stories of miracles in the author’s families, and the families of his cousins with which he grew up and worked, and How to Make Your Own Lathe, Drill Press and Table Saw. Sam Richardson has also published a book of most of the poems he had written by the year 2013. He has published and will be marketing a book his sister—Nancy Petersen—wrote called Terra Magic. Mr. Richardson has taken passages from his journal to create a mini journal dedicated to his sojourn in Vietnam called Sam’s Vietnam. He enjoys many arts: Drawing and Painting, Music, Music Theory, Writing and Poetry. Sam is the widower of Clara Moya, has two children, seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.