Overview
The last thing fourth-grader Kai Wells remembers (before the world as she knew it disappeared) is being surrounded by bullies on her walk home from school. What happens next can't be explained as Kai finds herself on the run for her life in ancient Egypt! Imagine. . .The Ten Plagues is the second release in an exciting, brand-new epic adventure series for kids ages 8 to 12 written by schoolteacher Matt Koceich. The Imagine series brings the Bible to life for today's kids as they ponder what it would be like to live through a monumental biblical event.
Don't miss Book 1 in the Imagine Series--Imagine...The Great Flood
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781683226758 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Barbour Publishing, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 03/01/2018 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 112 |
| File size: | 518 KB |
| Age Range: | 8 - 12 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
PRESENT DAY
FLORIDA
Kai Wells clenched her fists and stared hard at the girl who stood across from her. Her friends had left her alone, each scampering off to safe places, far away from the towering threat known as Vivian Gold. It had come to this: a face-to-face confrontation, off school property so no teachers would ruin the fight.
Kai kept her eyes locked on the tall girl with tangled black hair who faced her. The bully.
Vivian Gold. The human monster that quiet people feared. Anger. Threats. Pain. Kai tried a quick assessment of possible escape routes, but there weren't any. Not today.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson on how to keep your pretty little mouth shut, Wells." The bully said Kai's last name like it was a bad word.
A young man jogged toward them, white earbuds in, oblivious to Kai's predicament. He even smiled and waved at her as he ran by.
"Vivian, this is ridiculous. We used to be friends. Played soccer at recess together. Why are you doing this?"
But Kai already knew the answer. She was just buying time. A month ago, she went to the bathroom after recess and saw Vivian shove another girl into one of the stalls. The girl asked her to stop, but Vivian had a much different agenda, and stopping wasn't on it. Her idea of justice was a hard shove and a handful of punches. Vivian yelled at the girl ... something about not bringing extra lunch money. Kai tried standing between the two girls, but Vivian shoved her out of the way. That's when their teacher walked in and saw Kai on the ground with Vivian looming over her.
"You just had to play hero and get in my way. Mr. Kay called my mother, and I got grounded. She took away my party too. All because you had to stick your nose where it didn't belong."
Vivian closed the gap between herself and Kai. She smiled. Her loose-fitting red shirt was the color of blood and hung all the way down to her knees. Her jeans were smeared with grass stains.
Kai ignored the girl's rude words. It was one thing to have a bad day and say something unkind, but Vivian Gold was every bad day wrapped into an oversized body who spoke fluent Mean. Kai considered her options, but there weren't any. It was time to face her fears.
She unclenched her fists. "You shouldn't have hurt that girl. Doing that because she didn't give you her money was dumb."
Vivian shoved Kai. "And you should mind your own business. It's your fault this is happening."
Kai regained her balance. Even if she lost the fight, she wasn't going to turn her back on this girl. She took a deep breath. Her phone was in her backpack. She'd call her father to come pick her up.
Two new girls came running up from the school parking lot. Kai quickly saw who they were and that they weren't coming to help.
"Hey girls," Vivian said. "Just in time to watch me knock out Wells. It's going to be epic."
Kai reached around for her backpack. As she knelt down to unzip it, Vivian's right hand shot forward and snatched it away. "Good try, punk."
Vivian reached into the backpack. She fished around and came out holding Kai's cell phone. "This what you were looking for?"
"Give me that." Kai knew the order was useless on Vivian but tried anyway.
"Ha! I'm going to give you one last chance to avoid a miserable ending to this day. One chance."
"One last chance to do what?"
Vivian looked confused. "Really?"
Kai shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm giving you the chance to forget everything you saw in the bathroom. I'm giving you the chance to tell Mr. Kay that you were mistaken and that I wasn't doing anything to that 'poor girl.'"
Kai lunged forward in hopes of grabbing her phone, but Vivian was too tall. She raised the phone just out of Kai's reach.
"Kai, I used to think you were really cool. I even remember my first day of school. I was the new kid, and you made me feel welcome."
Kai remembered. Vivian had on the same oversized red shirt and the same dirty jeans. All the other kids were afraid to approach her, but Kai went up to her anyway. "Then why are you doing this?"
Vivian walked Kai's phone over to the gutter where a storm drain waited like a hungry, openmouthed creature eager to be fed. "I'm done talking. If you want this back, you will listen carefully and do what I say."
The two girls, Vivian's toadies, came up and stood right behind Kai.
"Go ahead." Kai was ready to get her phone back and go home.
More kids were walking toward her, interested now in watching the scene unfold.
"I'm going to give you some responsibilities, and if you do your best with them, then you'll enjoy the rest of your school year."
Kai closed her eyes and wondered what on earth Vivian Gold was about to propose. Whatever it was, Kai wanted no part of the plan. All she wanted was her phone back.
"First, you're going to school tomorrow and you will tell Mr. Kay that I had nothing to do with that girl falling in the bathroom. Got it?"
Kai was not about to lie for this bully. But she wanted her phone back. "Got it."
Vivian tossed Kai's cell phone down the storm drain.
"What are you doing? I just said I'd do what you asked!"
Vivian inched closer. "Please. I'm not stupid. We both know you said that just to get your phone back."
The girls behind Kai shoved her forward. Now she was a foot away from Vivian Gold's bloodred shirt.
"But now that I have your attention, I think you might start meaning what you say."
Somehow more kids materialized, standing in a sloppy circle around Kai and her nemesis. One kid started talking louder than the others. The word fight rose above the rumbling of expectant voices.
"Vivian —"
Just as the name came out, the girl in the bloodred shirt shoved Kai with more power than the first time.
The sound of fight got louder and louder. Kai didn't want to fight, but she didn't want to run away.
The bully closed the space between them, palms open.
"Vivian, you're making a mistake. You're going to —"
"Shut your mouth!" Vivian Gold's right fist exploded outward, connecting with Kai's face. Her world flashed white from the pain.
Yelling and cheering rang through Kai's brain, mixing with the hurt and confusion. She thought she saw a teacher running up to stop the fight. Kai tried to shake off the blow, but she stumbled backward. This time, the girls behind her moved out of the way and let her fall.
Kai felt someone catch her. She was still trying to get her bearings, but she was certain it was a teacher. All she could make out were long blue sleeves that covered the person's arms. Pain shot through her, causing Kai to keep her eyes closed.
More shouts. This time from the one who caught her.
"Everyone, go home!"
Kai thought she heard a second command. It sounded like, "Open her eyes," but that didn't make sense. Kai was just confused because of being hit and then falling.
Kai pushed back against the pain and opened her eyes, but what she saw wasn't what she expected.
What she saw blew her mind.
CHAPTER 2
ANCIENT EGYPT
An unseen power seemed to erase the neighborhood from around Kai. The street, Vivian, and the collection of onlookers were wiped away in the blink of an eye.
Literally.
But in the wake of her world disappearing, a flood of new sights that made a completely new land came like the soft, comforting tendrils of a wonderful dream.
The sidewalk Kai had been standing on was now a field of tall, swaying grass. Next to the field ran a wide indigo river. A radiant sun cast its rays over the water making the surface sparkle like it was covered in diamonds. Kai blinked, expecting Vivian's harsh face to be back in front of her. But the idyllic scene remained.
As mesmerizing as it was, Kai began to panic. She reached for her cell phone. Calling her dad would solve this problem. He'd get in the car and come pick her up. He'd reassure her everything was going to be okay. He'd tell some jokes on the ride home, and the stress of Vivian Gold would be washed away. But then Kai remembered her phone was now lying at the bottom of the sewer. And her mom was out of town on another business trip, so she was out of options.
Kai's imagination ran ahead of her, making her start to believe that she had somehow been transported to a faraway place. A magical land where sunlit, diamond rivers made their way through fields of deepest green.
Kai laughed. This whole change in scenery was nothing more than her brain's version of "seeing stars" after being beat down by Vivian Gold. She turned around, trying to test her theory. But where the school should have been, there was now a wide-open field with three grazing horses, all the color of midnight.
Kai started walking toward the beautiful creatures. As she got closer, they stopped eating and raised their heads to consider if she was a threat. After a few seconds, they lowered their heads and resumed their grazing. With a few more courageous steps, Kai reached the closest of the three horses. She put out her hand to touch it, when she heard a shout.
"Don't touch them!" A man's voice ordered her to stop.
Kai froze at the sound. It had just been her and the horses in the field. Now she turned and saw a young man. He wore a sand-colored tunic that came down to his knees and nothing on his feet. His black hair was cropped short and stopped above his ears. As he stepped closer, Kai noticed he wore black eyeliner.
"Those horses belong to the pharaoh."
The pharaoh?
Where in the world am I?
There was something about the man's deep voice that made Kai feel she wasn't in danger. She stuck out a hand to greet him. "I'm Kai."
The stranger stared at her for a while. "Kai?"
"Yes. What's your name?"
The man put his hand out and shook Kai's. "My name is Amenken, but everyone calls me Amen."
Kai smiled. "Amen, like the end of a prayer. Cool."
The man looked at Kai like she was out of her mind. "What do you mean?"
"A-m-e-n, amen. Like, God, please help me ... Amen."
"No, not ay. Ah like Ah-min. Like, Hello, my name is Amenken."
Kai laughed, and the man did too. She turned to look at the horses again.
"Amen, I mean Ah-min ..."
"Yes, Kai." The man stood next to her and faced the animals.
"You said the horses belong to the pharaoh?"
"Yes, Kai. Ramesses."
Kai felt light-headed. She blinked a few times. Vivian had obviously hit her so hard she was seeing a handsome man wearing black eyeliner and beautiful horses grazing in a field. "Where am I?"
"Kai, you are here in Pi-Ramesses. That river over there is a branch of the mighty Nile. Now, may I ask you a question?"
As much as Kai would rather be in this beautiful place instead of back home fighting with Vivian Gold, something wasn't right. "What — what am I doing here?"
"Kai ..." Amenken regarded the horses for a while. "Kai, I don't know the answer to that question."
"Okay, what was your question?"
"Where are you from? I've never seen anyone dressed like you are."
"I'm from Florida. Do you know where that is?"
Amenken paused and thought about Kai's answer. "No, I've never heard of this Florida. Is it as beautiful as our home?"
Kai laughed. "Yes." Then after a pause she asked, "Can you show me around?"
Amenken led Kai up a dirt path that cut through the field, leaving the horses behind. The path quickly gave way to a dirt road that led all the way to the edge of the Egyptian city. At the crest of the hill that marked the end of Pi-Ramesses, the land fell back down into a wide-open valley. Filled with makeshift shelters, the valley was like a human sea.
"The Israelites."
"You mean like Moses?" Kai couldn't take her eyes off the crowd of people that filled the valley.
"Do you know him too?"
"Yes. I mean no, not really. I've read about him hundreds of times."
Amenken pointed to a cluster of tiny tent shelters closest to where they were standing. "That's where the one named Moses stays. The pharaoh's guards move on horseback all day and night around the perimeter of the valley making sure the people down there don't try to escape."
Kai couldn't believe it! She was actually experiencing the epic Bible story where Moses had to confront the pharaoh and help lead the Israelites to freedom. Past the soldiers on horseback. Through the Red Sea. And all of that only after the ten plagues fell over the land. Crazy enough to imagine, let alone be a part of it. "Earlier you said you needed my help?"
Amenken continued, "Yes. There's a young Hebrew girl named Lily. She was caught bringing water from the Nile to her family. One of the guards threatened the girl's father, saying he would hurt Lily's mother if the girl continued to take water from the sacred river."
Kai already felt a connection to Lily. The guard was acting like a bully if he had a problem with a little girl getting water for her family.
Amenken grabbed Kai by the arm. "Come, we have to hurry. The guards are approaching." He started back in the direction of the city. Kai kept pace.
"All the Hebrew people are here to work for Ramesses. They are given a meager amount of food and water each day. I asked Lily why she also goes to get more water from the river. She told me her family gives it to the sick. That the portion they get during the day isn't enough."
Kai looked over at Amenken. "Why are we running?"
"I work for the pharaoh's guard. I make the blades they wield in battle. I am at the river more than anyone to cool off from all the fire used in my work. I met Lily, and my heart was moved by her story." The man stopped talking and looked over his shoulder. He picked up the pace. Kai somehow managed to keep up.
"I started helping Lily get the water back to her people. One of the guards, Horus, saw me come from the valley. His name means 'falcon.' He knows something is going on. He constantly watches."
The pair jogged farther down the dirt path in silence.
Kai couldn't help thinking her dream was so realistic. Just minutes ago she was being shoved around by Vivian Gold, and now she was running across an ancient Egyptian city.
"STOP!" The booming voice came from one in authority.
Kai didn't have to turn around to see who issued the command.
The bird of prey.
The falcon.
CHAPTER 3
Kai followed her new friend through a maze of houses and backstreets. Past men and women who looked at her as though an alien spaceship had just dropped her off. Kai looked back and was grateful to see the guard was no longer in pursuit.
Winded, she was relieved when Amenken finally stopped in front of a house with a spacious courtyard in front.
"Hurry inside. This is our home."
A woman appeared in the doorway.
"My wife, Betrest."
Kai shook the woman's hand. Amenken moved behind the older lady. "Come, beloved. Horus has followed us from the fields, and it was not to shake our hands."
"Should I make a meal for our guest?" Betrest asked.
"Yes, and I will stay outside in case the falcon returns."
Amenken's wife invited Kai to help prepare a simple meal that resembled a fish soup with flatbread. There were three small bowls filled with dates, peas, and beans.
"We are glad you are here. The others who have come before were like family to me and my husband."
"Others?"
"Yes, people who dress as you. You are not the first to visit."
Kai had no idea how any of this was happening. She couldn't understand how she was able to experience ... This place. This time. She shook her head in disbelief.
The sun soon disappeared, replaced by a darkness Kai had not felt back home. Here in this otherworld, the night came like an army of silent shadows.
Amenken returned, worry lines etched across his face. "Horus sent one of his men with threats. If I help you, there will be consequences."
Kai's brain was on overload. For some reason, here in this place, she was a threat. That was hilarious. "I don't want to be a problem. I just don't understand how I got here."
Amenken smiled, losing his worried look. "We'll take care of you. Everything will work out at the right time. It always does."
Betrest placed three wicker mats on the ground in a triangle. "Sit."
Kai obeyed. This was a far cry from her family's dining room table, but there was something intimate about sharing a meal like this. Amenken sat on another mat, while Betrest placed the food in the middle.
Kai had a random thought about her dad. Was he looking for her? Was he freaking out because she wasn't home from school yet? How long had it been since she arrived in this foreign land?
The food tasted surprisingly good. The three ate in silence and didn't take long to finish the meal.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Imagine The Ten Plagues"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Matt Koceich.
Excerpted by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc.
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