Delilah. Eleanor Jong De

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СКАЧАТЬ such high words about making an example to end the petty squabbles between our peoples. Was that empty talk?’

      For a moment, Samson’s anger seemed subdued.

      Achish lifted both arms in frustration. ‘Of course not.’

      ‘Then she is still to be married to me.’

      Delilah rolled her eyes. He was going round in circles!

      Achish’s tone changed to that of a father speaking to an unruly child. ‘Not now that she has married Lord Phicol.’

      ‘Then you agree you have broken the contract.’ Samson pounded his fist into his palm.

      Delilah winced at Ekron across the hallway. It seemed that the giant was exhibiting some self-restraint, but how long would it last? If anything, he was more terrifying than he’d been at the ceremony, for his rage was just below the surface now, dark and threatening like a late summer storm.

      ‘But surely you see that the marriage to Hemin could never have taken place after the way you behaved,’ said Achish. ‘You terrified her, you assaulted me, and the spectacle you caused disgraced my family in front of our community.’

      ‘Your miserable dowry disgraced me in front of my people too—’

      ‘It’s our custom!’ said Achish.

      ‘You must compensate me then for the broken contract. That’s your responsibility.’

      ‘I will not compensate you while we disagree about who broke the contract.’

      Delilah’s fear gave way to pride. That’s the way to deal with a bully. Tell him straight.

      It seemed to work. Samson softened his wide stance and took a deep breath. ‘When we first met, Achish, when we negotiated, you assured me that this match had your blessing, that it would bind our peoples together. Did your words mean nothing? You said the seeds of distrust were sown in the land our peoples share; would you now water them?’

      Samson’s words were spoken in, if not a gentle tone, at least a reasoned one. And they took Delilah by surprise. Achish sighed, and let his hands drop to his side. He uttered a word, and Delilah could have sworn it was her name. Ekron looked suddenly pale. She strained her ears.

      ‘I will offer you my other daughter,’ said Achish. ‘Delilah.’

      She was on her feet before her stepbrother could stop her, running out onto the verandah.

      ‘How could you do that, Father? How could you possibly offer me to this brute without consulting me first?’

      Achish opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.

      Samson glowered down at Delilah, then flicked at the air with his huge fingers. ‘You offer me this shred of a girl who tried to break my skull?’

      ‘You broke the jug with your big fat head!’ Delilah shouted back.

      Samson’s face flushed dark with blood, and he ran a hand roughly through his braided locks.

      ‘Daughter, please—’ said Achish.

      ‘How can you possibly plead with me, Father, when you offer me up like a sacrificial lamb? I’d rather walk into the arms of Molech, God of Fire, than lie with him!’

      ‘Delilah, this is a business transaction—’

      ‘Is that what you think of me? Like a jar of wine or a bolt of cloth? I saved your life from this animal, and now, when he turns up his nose at your first daughter, you offer him your second!’

      ‘Lilah!’ Ekron pulled at her arm, but she shoved him back.

      ‘And you,’ at this she turned on Samson, ‘you’re probably used to people bowing down in fear and getting what you want. Well, I’m no girl: I’m woman enough to stand up to you and your ways.’

      Samson shook with a deep, guttural laugh and poked his finger into Achish’s shoulder. ‘Your first daughter was a disappointment, but this one is an insult.’

      ‘Don’t talk about her like that,’ said Ekron, stepping in front of her.

      Samson peered down and faced him full square. ‘Will you take me on again? Must I swat you like a locust?’

      ‘No!’ said Achish, moving Ekron out of the way. ‘I won’t have more bloodshed on my property.’

      Ekron unclenched his fists but didn’t step back. ‘If you’re going to marry my sister,’ he shouted at Samson, ‘you should treat her with the respect she deserves.’

      ‘Ekron!’ Delilah turned to face him. ‘How could you take your father’s side?’

      ‘The girl is right,’ snapped Samson, ‘you know nothing of the ways of my people or our troubles in this land. You meddle with all the confident stupidity of youth.’

      ‘You’re nothing but an Israelite brute!’ she shouted.

      Samson’s blue eyes were as cold as mountain snow. ‘You would rather lie with Molech than me, would you? Then you shall have your wish.’

      Delilah held his gaze for as long as she dared, and every moment seemed to shrink her further, but just as she feared her nerve would fail her, he turned away and strode rapidly down the track towards the road.

      ‘Thank Ba’al he has gone,’ said Ekron. ‘Father, are you all right?’

      ‘I’m as well as can be expected – Delilah, wait. Wait, please!’

      But Delilah was running off down the hill into the vineyard as fast as she could. The plaintive calls of Ekron and Achish fluttered at her shoulders but soon she was out of sight of the house and she doubled back across the rows, seeking out her childhood hiding place among the vines. Ekron would look for her at her father’s grave; he still didn’t know about this little burrow.

      She paused in the cool, quiet leafy haven. Her nerves felt raw, her anger all-consuming. How could Achish have said those things? A business transaction! She knew that wives were listed by many men in the family accounts, and that when the time came she’d have to accept her place. But to be given up like that, without any apparent thought or consideration as to her feelings. It was too much to bear.

      Thank goodness Hemin had not been there to witness the scene. She’d hear about it in time, surely. If not from Ekron, then via Ariadnh. And then she would gloat over how Delilah had been offered as second-rate compensation to the mountain thug.

      Even after her fury had abated and she began to calm down, she couldn’t decide which was worse – to be offered to Samson or be rejected by him. Had Achish consulted her first, perhaps she might have agreed to be offered in Hemin’s place as a way of keeping face for the family she’d grown up in. Achish had been so good to her, and for some time now he’d let her help cut the vines and learn to blend the vintages. If he had only asked her first. Well, it would have been a way to show him she was grateful for all he’d done for her and her mother.

      Her thoughts were disturbed by the rustling of branches in the next row, and Delilah СКАЧАТЬ