As the sun sank lower in the afternoon sky a slight breeze came up that brought a refreshing coolness to the air. Although it was springtime -- and generally warmer -- there were still occasional cool fronts that swept through the valley.

The amber afternoon light and absence of any schedule made Zack feel very lazy. He decided to take a nap. He knew tonight's dinner would be another long evening of eating, drinking and talking, though free from the formality of religious celebration. It would be more relaxed than the night before. Without rabbinic duties to perform, he could simply enjoy himself. He was the guest now -- and for the rest of his stay at Josh's comfortable home he intended to enjoy himself.

Before making his way to bed, he took a detour to the kitchen in the main house. No one was in the kitchen. Zack collected hot water in a jug to brew the floral concoction he'd been tasked with by the angel. With the jug concealed beneath his robes, he stole quietly from the kitchen's side door on the way to his room.

As he emerged from the doorway, Zack saw that the courtyard was now busy with activity by the cooks and servants. Ann was seated on the couch where he had left her earlier, supervising dinner preparations, issuing orders to her staff.

Now Liz and Mary were also there, curled up asleep together on another couch across from Ann. Their faces wore soft, peaceful expressions. It was a sweet picture -- the two of them together. Like a mother and child should look, he smiled to himself. Like he wished Liz looked more often.

Zack reached their room and pushed open the door with his shoulder. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He opened a shade on the room's only window, so he could see what he was doing.

Placing the earthenware jug on a table near the door, he took the purple flowers from his pocket. He dropped the petals into the warm water, and rocked the container from side to side.

Zack smelled to see if there was any odor to the brew. There was none. He thought to himself that no smell was probably a good thing -- making it easier to hide. He hoped he had the proper ratio of water to flowers since the messenger had not provided a recipe.

With his curiosity peaked, and not sure of what he was supposed to do with the potion, he wondered what effect the brew would have on a person if they drank it. He wondered how it was supposed to be used. Was it to be used as an offering of some type, to attract special notice of the Father?

Inquisitive by nature, Zack brought the jug close to his nose again and swirled the mixture around a second time, sniffing more deeply. There was a slight herbal aroma to it as it steeped.

When he was a young boy, his mother had warned him not to eat these flowers. She said they would upset his stomach, though she never warned against drinking a brew made from them. Would it hurt to take a small sip? Just a little taste, he thought to himself.

He brought the jug to his lips, and took a small sip. He sloshed it around his mouth. There was not much taste to it, he thought.

He stood there for a moment to see if there was any effect from the drink. The brew went down easily. He imagined the liquid traveling to his belly. His stomach felt no different. There was no ache or nausea.

There was though, a pleasant warmth building in the back of his head, which grew stronger. Zack began to feel unexpectedly relaxed and even euphoric. He felt an expanding. He decided to take another sip -- wanting to experience a bit more of the good feeling, wondering what would happen.

Stuffing a cloth into the jug's opening, Zack placed it on the floor behind his side of the bed, hoping to conceal his project from discovery. He walked to the bed and lay down on its thick mattress. He was feeling strangely relaxed but alert at the same time.

Untired now, Zack wasn't sure he could manage a nap. He stretched, yawned deeply, and forced his eyes to shut. He hoped to have another visit from the angel, to find out more about the plan.

Once he got to sleep he began to dream. He was surprised to find himself at the door to Mary's bedroom. Through the door he could see Anne, sitting on the edge of a bed, gently stroking young Mary's hair. It was nighttime. Ann turned to see Zack standing at the door and motioned for him to come into the room.

"Zack, I was just putting Mary to bed for the night. Would you say a short prayer? Your voice is so soothing," she said.

Zack enjoyed praying with small children. Since they had not lived long enough to be cynical like adults, they were still hopeful and believed there was someone listening to their prayers.

Zack wished he still felt that way, though his life had taught him otherwise. Whenever possible, it was important to help others, especially children, to feel good about life. Feeling hopeful was a necessary component to happiness, regardless of circumstances. He began to sing an evening prayer that asked God to shield them from any harm.

Ann sang along softly with Zack, as Mary's eyelids grew heavier and then closed.

"You're really fond of Mary, aren't you Zack," Ann said. "She has a special connection to you, you know." She had a far away look as she spoke. Zack's heart was filled by what she had said. What a beauty Ann was. With her long, dark hair, pulled back into braids wound atop her head.

Zack looked deeply into her dark brown eyes; he felt like he was being drawn into a pool of immense depth. For a moment he was unaware of his surroundings, bathing in the comforting blackness that surrounded him.

"Zackary," an unfamiliar voice, drew him out of his blissful state. He tried to refocus on Ann's face but she was no longer there. He was startled to see a face that was half-bird, half-human. In place of Ann's thin, graceful lips there was a glistening beak for a mouth. The face was connected to a body covered with blue-green and silver scales that sparkled in the lamplight. The being seemed quite large and was now sitting very close to him. Zack felt tiny next to the being and strangely paralyzed.

The being's beak opened as if to speak, but no sounds emerged. Instead, Zack heard a voice within his own head making odd sounds that he could somehow understand.

"If you have no son Zack, a branch of the Sons of Aaron will be severed. A branch that cannot be regrown. The Father's light will be diminished and your great family line will be lost without a son."

"We have heard you pray and have watched you suffer. We know that your marriage to Liz has not been fruitful -- though you have been a faithful husband. You are a good man, who has lived righteously, therefore the Lord God wishes to help you."

"Know this: your special connection to Mary will be the conduit for your hearts desire, and His desire for you both. Accept His help and your line will continue."

"The time will soon be right. We will tell you when, and where, and how. Have faith, and trust in Him. You will be told what to do when the time comes."

(End of Chapter 9)