That night Magog returned to the camp grumbling, but in good spirits. Evidently he had traded many times with Myra's father. The man had spoken with him about Alian and Naomi and me. He had filled him in on what had transpired in Hebron, telling him of the meeting at the town gate and the ruling that Sallu acted in self-defense. Evidently the two men had spent long enough together for Magog to extol the virtues of Naomi the healer and his good friend, and sometimes business partner, Alian. Magog had assured him that we were reputable people who could be entrusted with his daughter.

Being the astute businessman, he had also struck a bargain to sell the bulk of his wares to him, freeing us to return to Hebron more quickly. Magog was complaining about adding another woman to his entourage while mentally calculating the riches he would gain as a direct result of the addition.

Early the next morning a line of men approached our camp. Myra's father had come to examine Magog's wares and brought servants to carry them back into Zorah. With him he brought his daughter and her maid.

"I am entrusting my daughter into your care," he told us. "I have grave reservations about this journey, but have agreed that she can go with you to see if her presence will help Sallu recover. Her maid will accompany you and has strict instructions to remain with Myra at all times. When the full moon rises, I will come to Hebron. By that time I will have thoroughly investigated the matter surrounding Sallu's injury and will have decided whether to annul the betrothal contract. Letting her go is my way of demonstrating that I have only my daughter's best interest at heart. I know that she is heartbroken over Sallu's situation. I know that she will have no peace until she knows she has done what she can to restore him to health. She has agreed that she will abort her betrothal if I think it prudent, even if Sallu recovers. She feels his health and well being are more important than their planned marriage. No matter what I decide, I expect all of you to abide by my decision."

With that speech, he left Myra and her maid with me and turned to business. After some fierce bargaining, the two men arrived at a price. The servants led the loaded asses into the town. Magog headed into the city with the merchant to feast and then purchase wares to sell in Hebron, telling us to rest well because on the morrow we would return home.

Myra and her maid were to share my humble tent. Although it was a bit crowded, we three were able to squeeze into the small space. We talked, ate a quick dried meal, and talked some more. We were preparing to try to get to sleep early, but as we unrolled our sleeping mats I heard the pound of horses' hooves. I stepped from the tent, raising my hands above my eyes and squinting into the setting sun.

Much to my surprise, Alian jumped from a horse's back. Standing at a distance, holding two sets of reins in his hands, he beckoned to me urgently.

When I cried out his name, he made as though to silence me, so I ran quickly to him.

"We have to leave, Salome! Now!" he hissed.

When I started to question him, he interrupted, "There is no time to explain. They know. They are going to come for you tonight while you sleep. We must get you back to Hebron. Can you ride?"

As I admitted that I could not, a quiet voice behind me stated, "I can." Neither of us had heard Myra approach. As I whipped around and Alian's head snapped up, she continued in a voice of iron, "I heard. I do not know why this man is urging you to flee by horseback, but I have not come this far to be turned back. If you leave, I know my father will make me return home. I must see Sallu. I will tell my maid that Sallu has taken a turn for the worst and that Alian – that  is what you said his name is, is it not – came for us, and we are going ahead to Hebron on horseback. Salome and I can share a mount."

"That will work," I was surprised to hear Alian readily acquiesce. "Only, Salome will ride with me. My mount is larger and can more easily bear the load. We have no time to waste. Tell your maid what you must, and let's go."

And so for the second time, I fled in the night.

Alian took the lead. He had dumped me unceremoniously on the front of his stallion, even though I had thought to ride behind. Myra had proven her statement, agilely mounting the mare Alian had brought for me to ride. As the three of us galloped from camp, Myra's maid stood by the tent as though turned to stone, fear in her eyes. I couldn't help but remember the instructions from Myra's Dad telling the maid not to let Myra out of her sight. I felt sorry for the girl, left behind to bear the brunt of the man's anger.

As we rode, Alian pulled me back against his hard body. As I struggled to keep some space between us, he said in exasperation, "Now is not the time for decorum, Salome. I need to talk to you, so lean your head back against my shoulder where you can hear. And, so I can see to guide the horse," he ended curtly.

In resignation I leaned back against Alian, surprised to find the feel of his muscled chest and his arms around me comforting. In my mind I laughed almost hysterically, ridiculing myself for coveting masculine comfort in such a desperate situation. "Still a spineless dependent," mocked the derisive voice of the Delilah I thought I had silenced when I became Salome.

As we rode, Alian's words banished any pretense that peace could reign in my life.

Alain had been making his way to the roof to check on Sallu. He heard the murmur of Salome's voice and then a masculine response. At first the words were indistinct, but as he got closer, the words, "Then you must be Delilah," were quite distinct. The guilt in the voiced exclamation, "what," halted him mid-stride. Standing with bated breath, he listened to Sallu tell Salome of Samson's love for Delilah. He almost convinced himself that this was simply more fevered ramblings, until he heard the woman's muffled sobs.

Retreating to his room, Alian spent a sleepless night trying to sort out warring emotions. Betrayal over Salome's lack of trust and her deceit battled with memories of her generous nature and her thirst to learn of Yahweh. Sallu's apparent forgiveness clashed with patriotism and the national desire for revenge on the woman who brought down its reigning judge. Stories of Samson's warning for Delilah to wait sparred with reports that the Philistines considered her a heroine for delivering her lover into their hands. Mentally he tried to frame Salome in the garb of a temple prostitute, a sensual temptress reveling in orgies, but his mind kept presenting other scenes: a laughing innocent wringing water from his turban, a patient healer's assistant with compassion in her eyes, singing psalms to soothe a troubled soul.

He tossed restlessly, mentally railing against Delilah, until finally crying out to Yahweh. As he asked God if a woman could change her character so drastically, the buried memory of himself as a prodigal surfaced. How could he stand in judgment of Salome, when he had so wretchedly failed his father? He recognized once again that though he might not have murdered him, his actions had certainly hastened his death, as only the betrayal of a beloved son can. If Naomi could forgive him for his actions against her brother, then Alain had no choice but to forgive Delilah for her treachery towards Samson. After all, only Yahweh could judge the motives of the heart. If Yahweh had brought Salome to His healer, Naomi, who was Alain to oppose the wisdom of the One who sees all?

All of this, Alian told me as we galloped toward Hebron. He told me how he opposed my desire to seek Myra for fear that I would somehow be recognized and arrested. When it was apparent that I planned to go despite his protests, he arranged for Magog's escort so that he could follow at a discrete distance and keep an eye out for trouble.

He had seen Myra's and my flight through the market and followed us to her father's business. He stayed hidden, not wanting even Magog to know of his presence. Today, he had waited in the shadow of the city gates and followed the two men to a crowded Inn where merchants often gathered to eat and barter.

As he sat quietly in a corner hoping his disguise would fool Magog, he heard a merchant say loudly, "I must hand it to you Hebrews. You are a more forgiving lot than us Philistines. Letting the harlot Delilah walk freely in your market and consort with your daughters is most forgiving, is it not?"

"What do you mean?" a man responded angrily. "We would never permit that to happen. Delilah would be stoned if she showed her face in Zorah."

"Perhaps she has a twin sister," the Philistine merchant answered. "All I know is that I am a seller of purple from the Valley of Sorek, the home of Delilah. I saw her run through the market yesterday with a young Hebrew girl and disappear into a clothier's shop."

Immediately the merchants in the crowd began to question him. It was soon determined that the shop belonged to Matthan, who was there eating with Magog. He and Matthan were accosted by the indignant businessmen and questioned about the woman. When Magog admitted that he had found the woman, who went by the name Salome, lying sick and alone by a pool near Hebron the day after Samson's death, the crowd gave credence to the merchant's story. As tempers flared, they began to make plans to bring Delilah to justice. After a heated debate, the men decided it would be best to wait until night had fallen. The girl was not expecting Magog to return until late and would be asleep. They could sneak up on her and take her from her bed, fittingly capturing Delilah in the same way Samson had been taken.

As the excited mob continued to plan, Alian slipped out of the Inn, purchased two horses, and made his way to Magog's camp. He hoped that his swift action would give them enough of a head start to make it to Hebron before the angry mob could catch them.

"If we can get you back to Hebron," he told me, "you will be inside a city of refuge, and Samson's father cannot kill you."

"At least not until after the city fathers rule that I am guilty of murder, not manslaughter," Salome answered quietly.

"I do not believe Yahweh brought you to Hebron only to see you murdered by a lynch mob," Alian responded. "He will provide a convincing argument."

"I am not so sure," Salome countered. "Yahweh is a God of justice, is he not? Samson eventually paid the price for rebellion. Why would I be any different?"

"Samson was in rebellion from a God that he knew intimately. You were not. When you chose to betray Samson, you were acting without having walked intimately with Yahweh. His betrayal of Yahweh was not a first. Although he technically kept his Nazarite vows, he was in open rebellion when he consorted with prostitutes and attempted to marry a nonbeliever. At the end when Samson repented and asked Yahweh to restore his strength, he is said to have warned Delilah not to enter the temple. I think he wanted to give you a chance to repent, too. Is this tale true or is it a romantic fiction?"

Salome admitted that it was true and then told Alian of Samson's direction for her to flee to Hebron.

"When everyone deserted me to help with the carnage at Dagon's temple, I took the opportunity to do as Samson bid," she concluded.

"Why did you choose the name Salome?"

"Is it not obvious?" she asked bitterly. "I thought maybe I could grow into the name. I was leaving behind Delilah the flirt and becoming Salome the peaceful. But I was only fooling myself. There is no peace for a murderess."

"I believe Samson found peace, even in death."

"Then perhaps I will soon rest in peace with him," I quipped.

"Not unless you forgive yourself," Alian noted softly.