Starligh - Chapter 2

 Dear Reader,

After the passing of our dear Pauline Lewis, we will continue and finish uploading her whole story 'Starlight' over the next few months. Thank you for your support and faithfulness to Pauline.

Chapter 2

The child had been trembling when she had first arrived, but the security of the old man's arms and yes, a few sips of the precious beer too, and she was quiet, content. But the old man realised that she needed a security that would keep her when she was no longer within this safe circle of his arms. He was old. He would not always be there for her.

He set her in front of him so that she had to look into his eyes.

'So, little visitor who comes to me in the night, what is your name?' The child hesitated. 'Little Mouse?' she queried. Certainly that was the name by which she was known. To be named after this, least of all Egypt's many godsshould have been indignity enough, and a diminutive after that! Well, she was a girl, and girls were not good for anything except to serve.

'No, no, no!' She was almost startled by the severity with which he spoke. 'The night you were born it was a night as tonight. Not moon lit, but the stars were twinkling down as if looking on this tiny babe. They were joyful that you were born, and I knew in my heart that this was your name - Starlight.' Once more he reached out his arms and held the child close to his heart. No matter what your family or others call you, always remember that this is your name - Starlight. Know that the stars are shining down on you, and that God has made you to shine for him.

There are many people who study the stars, and there are some who believe that there is a god, greater than all the gods of Egypt, who made the stars and calls each one by name and who has set each one on its course. ...........

Starlight, for so we must call her from now on, had no idea of how she had made the journey home. It is certain that she had not walked it alone. Had grandfather called on one of his young apprentices to carry the sleeping child to her bed, or maybe the same older brother who alone of their household seemed to have some compassion for his little sister, on finding her bed still empty had come to bring her home?

She did not know, but she knew that she must go again to visit her beloved grandfather Old Asim, the ancient scribe, and hear more about the stars and the one who had set them in the heavens to shine light on the people who otherwise would be stumbling about in the dark.