The City of Refuge and Other Short Stories

By Terdell Lee Johnson

A collection of five exciting stories of adventure, danger, and miracles. Join a innocent man running for his life after an accidental killing, travel with a rich man who seeks the body of Jesus Christ under the dangerous rule of the Roman government, and bring your imagination along with a fox who has to face a alligator known as the black dragon. Get ready for adventure and a great read!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terdell Lee Johnson
• Release date: Apr 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215235423

Terdell Lee Johnson

Terdell Lee Johnson uses his noodle (brain) to create colorful characters and worlds. He's a military veteran, was a part-time Sunday school teacher for twelve years, and loves a good story with good values. In 2019 he won honorable mention for his short story “The Rich Beggar” in the Writer’s Digest Competition. Aside from novels, he writes short fiction. Although writing is his primary focus, he spends time improving his skills as an author. If he’s not writing, he's reading, or drawing. The Judges Chronicles: The Hapless Hero is the first in the series.

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Terdell Johnson

City of Refuge

Copyright © 2023 by Terdell Johnson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

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Contents

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. The Rich Beggar

10. The Champion

11. Passby

12. Asiago

1

Chapter 1

I didn’t mean to kill him. I swear it.

Josiah’s mother and father sat breathlessly at the news. They watched their son’s troubled eyes wet with tears. Josiah went to explain the whole matter, but before he did, his father held up a hand to stop him.

Give me your word that it was an accident.

Do you not believe me, father?

I have no reason not to, but there are others, my son, who will not take your words as truth.

Josiah knew exactly what his father was talking about. Many within the tribe of Benjamin knew him to be cavalier and childish. Other found him to be nothing more than a troublemaker who had dodged the anger of God for working once on the sabbath by gathering sticks to warm the hearth in the home. If not for his father’s outcry for his life, he would have been stoned a year ago. Because of this, Josiah’s family became a scourge in Benjamin; and as news traveled like the wind, Josiah was known as the Dodger.

As he looked deeply into his father’s stern, yet loving eyes, Josiah sighed heavily.

I give you my word by the name of the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob that I did not intend on killing him. It was an accident.

How did it happen? asked his mother.

Wiping his eyes from the tears, Josiah started. It came to happened that his close friend Aram, and he were chopping wood in the forest. The axe-head from Josiah’s axe came loose and flew back, striking Aram in the skull. The blow was an instant kill. Terrified, Josiah ran to this friend. The blood ran thick and bright from Aram’s head. Josiah called out to his friend, hoping that life still lingered, but Aram was too far gone to hear the voice of the living again.

That when I ran to tell you.

Were there any other witnesses present? asked his father.

No, but I believe Aram’s family knew that he was leaving to visit me.

This is not good. I have no ground to defend you this time. Aram was the youngest son of Elihu, the chief of the tribe Gad. He is a very wealthy man and his temper is like the coming storm from the east: unpredictable. However, I fear the oldest son, Obed. He’s worst then his father in temper and will hunt you to your death.

What I am to do, father? said Josiah, dropping to his knees before him, I meant no harm.

Josiah’s mother went to the open window and looked northward pensively. She came from the window and place a hand on her son’s shoulder.

Kedesh.

Josiah looked at his mother, confused by the word. What does that city have to do with anything?

The city of refuge. said his father nodding slowly.

Josiah’s mother explained. It is a place for people who killed another with no premeditation or ill will. It is your only hope.

Aren’t there seven? said Josiah. Kedesh is miles away. Shechem is closer.

Shechem will not take you, my son, said Josiah’s father. I don’t trust that city and besides, Elihu and Obed have persuasion there. Even in Bezer, Ramoth and Golan are the riches of Elihu known. It is only in Kedesh that Elihu has no bribes there. Flee to Kedesh, we have friends there.

But if I run, it will ensure my guilty. said Josiah

If you don’t, it will ensure your death. announced his father sternly, It’s your only hope of survival. You must—

From outside, there was a commotion. Josiah’s mother ran to the window and looked. A group of men on horses moved languidly down the road, stopping periodically by homes. Josiah and his father came to the window as well. Each man had a studded sheath with three red rubies that held a dagger. Josiah father’s recognized the pattern. It was Elihu’s. Josiah’s heart sped up as he watched a bystander point down the road to their home.

I’m caught! said Josiah. I’m a dead man.

Foolish talk. said his father. We must move quickly!

There wasn’t another word said between the three. Josiah’s mother packed rations for a week’s journey and his father saddled the only horse they had. Josiah kissed his mother and mouthed the steed.

Ride and fas as you can. Your mother and I will delay the men as long as we can. May the God of Israel be with you.

Suddenly, the back door to Josiah’s home flung open. Elihu’s men bared their teeth; and pulling their daggers, cried out,

Murderer! Take his head!

2

Chapter 2

Josiah brought the horse to an immediate gallop. He turned to see his father fighting with Elihu’s men. Before he had time to see the outcome, the horse turned sharply around a corner. He nearly ran over five people as he raced through the narrow streets. Two days ago, Josiah was a carefree young man spending time among his father’s stable learning the way of hostler in hopes of become a servant of the great king Solomon in the chariot cities, but now he was a man running for his life with the slim hope of keeping his head on his shoulders.

Within moments, Josiah was beyond the city’s borders. He looked back to see the frightful image of Elihu’s men chasing him with furious speed. He surmised he had about a half-a-mile stretch on them and that wasn’t much. They were gaining ground and Josiah’s horse had no chance of outrunning them. His only weapons were his wits, and he had to think fast. There was a small unknown city only three miles from his location known as The Hag’s Hold. Yanking the reins, Josiah turned his horse to the right and blazed through the dust. Nothing mattered anymore but to live. He heard the cries of death behind him, but Josiah kept