LOCKDOWN 

By Tessa Harvey

Part Two (of Two)

    A flicker of movement caught the man's eye. Curious, he straightened. A small lizard poised, regarding him fearlessly. Strangely he noted it was rearing on its back legs. Lizards ran on all fours...........Wincing, as his muscles ached, the carpenter stared. The little creature stared at him right back. Another flicker of movement and another lizard stood by his foot. They seemed to regard him, hungrily, little eyes predatory and dark. Chiding himself for a fool, he moved back. At that moment, the animal opened his mouth, rows of serrated teeth gleamed. 

    Suddenly there was a thunderous roar, a new sound, echoing, echoing. Great clouds had been gathering, the air heavy, sky darkening. It sounded as though the the sound had come from the lizard. For an instant, the creatures seemed to grow, to tower in the strange uncertain light. 

    Noah blinked. The lizard forgotten, animals were streaming towards him. For years, he and his family had wondered how all would fit. He saw now how many were young and small.

    They strode, plodded, crawled, hopped and flew over the gangway he had been completing. His wife, his sons and their wives had been storing food for a long time........

    Now he saw them hastening, laden with more stores. Quickly he helped them and the tide of animals flowed around them, immense, unafraid and unstoppable.

    His wife was panting. "Rest," he urged, concerned. "Not time," she gasped.

"We will return for the rest," the young people called, and sped away. "Have I time to warn the people one more time?" Noah pondered, regretting the time wasted on useless curliques and decorations while he had been bored and slightly resentful. Such long years to build. Endless.

    Then, suddenly, the supplies were loaded, his family gathered round the door, the last few animals skittering aboard. "What about that young dark woman, that family?" he pondered and stepped towards the doorway.

    He saw his youngest son also reach out an arm as though willing others to come. For long years they had warned others. They had been mocked and derided. No one listened for long or at all.

    Suddenly the door slammed shut as the last shiny beetle flew in. The heavens, the deeps burst open.

    God had shut the door. The window opened a crack, water collecting softly in a huge container. Several birds flew in, exhausted. They carried some worms, insects, sodden bees hung on their feathers.

    Noah cradled them in his large scarred hands. The worms and insects he gently placed in prepared lodgings. The Rain tore down, the noise terrible. He closed the window and wept for the lost, the ones who had refused to come - unbelieving, mocking, chained to darkness as now.

    The boat lurched and floated. The builder gathered his family and they prayed, and slept, as did many of the animals.

    The Creator cradled the Ark and thought of the future and of His Son.