THE WATCH AT JOPPA

A Promise Written Before Time

PROLOGUE The Sea

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Joppa was waking.

The sun had just begun to rise over the sea, turning the water from dark blue to silver. Fishermen were already moving along the harbor, preparing their boats for another day. The smell of salt and fish filled the morning air, and the cries of gulls echoed above the sound of the waves.

Miriam stood beside her father near the edge of the harbor.

She was only eleven years old, but she had always loved the sea.

There was something about it that made her wonder.

It stretched farther than her eyes could see. Every morning it seemed to whisper the same question.

What is beyond the sea?

Miriam looked up at her father.

“Father?”

He looked down at her and smiled.

“Yes, Miriam?”

She pointed toward the horizon.

“What is beyond the sea?”

Her father followed her gaze.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

“More of God’s creation.”

Miriam looked at him.

“More?”

He nodded.

“More than we can see. More than we can imagine.”

She thought about that.

“Have you ever seen what is beyond it?”

Her father smiled.

“No.”

“Then how do you know?”

He looked toward the horizon again.

“Because we do not have to see everything to know that God made it.”

Miriam was quiet.

Her father knelt beside her.

“Remember this, little one. The world is much bigger than what our eyes can see.”

Miriam nodded.

“And God is bigger still.”

She smiled.

“I know.”

Her father kissed the top of her head.

“Go, but don’t wander too far.”

“I won’t.”

Miriam ran toward the shore.

Her father watched her for a moment before turning back toward the day’s work.

Neither of them knew that this morning would be different from all the mornings before it.

Neither knew that Miriam was about to see something no one in Joppa had ever seen.

Something that did not belong there.

Something that had fallen from a place beyond her understanding.

The waves rolled gently onto the shore.

Miriam walked along the water, letting the cool foam wash over her feet.

She picked up a small shell and held it to her ear.

Nothing.

She laughed softly.

Then she heard something.

Not the sea.

A sound.

A faint ringing.

Miriam stopped.

She looked around.

The beach was empty.

The sound came again.

Beep.

She followed it.

Near a cluster of rocks, something was lying half-buried in the sand.

If you would like to continue Miriam’s story, discover the complete book, The Watch at Joppa.