The shouting came sharp and serrated with anger. Tabitha began to whimper. Sister Ruth held her firmly by the shoulders. “Tabitha,” she said. “Go warn the others! They are in the gardens.”

Anna could see Tabitha’s eyes register the words but her body remained limp. The men’s voices strained as they dug through the rocks at the entrance.

Ruth held Tabitha tight and demanded her full attention. “Their lives are in your hands,” she said. “Go!”

Tabitha jumped up and ran.

“Mother,” Ruth commanded. “We need to move you to your chamber.”

But the old woman did not move. She sat still as if someone were telling her a vital story.

“Mother,” Ruth insisted as the shouting grew louder.

A giant figure, torn and bloodied, toppled into the room. Everyone jumped until looks of recognition crossed their faces. The figure was Sister Joan.

“We were ambushed,” she gurgled through a mouthful of blood. “They … they knew the way to the caves … and hid themselves. I took a shortcut but … they are here,” she said, then stumbled forward.

Sister Ruth ran to help her.

“No! Leave me. Get Mother to her chambers!” she moaned. After issuing her warning, she fell to the floor, weakened from her efforts and loss of blood.

The first man burst into the chamber in a whirlwind of dust. His eyes widened in amazement beneath a bright blue keffiyeh. For a moment Anna thought how strange the sight must seem to him—a group of women, warming themselves around a fire, drinking tea, in a remote desert cave. Gathering himself quickly, the man turned toward Mother Susana and whipped his saber high over his head. The blade whistled like a raven’s wing cutting the air.

“Noo!” the Sisters screamed in unison.

Mother Susana kept still as the man advanced.

Before he could reach her, Joan’s arm snapped like a cobra and sprayed a handful of hot powder into his eyes. The man screamed in pain and dropped to his knees. His saber clattered to the floor as he beat his fists against his eyelids.

Sister Joan lunged toward Anna and seized her by the tunic. Despite her blood loss, she mustered the strength to pull Anna’s face close. “Take Mother to her chamber, now!” she hissed through bloody lips.

Anna’s insides turned to ice.

The man with the blue keffiyeh heard their voices and lunged blindly. He screamed at them, hurling obscenities that Anna had not heard since her time among the shepherds. The other men, having dug their way into the entrance, called out to their comrade.

Terrified, Anna tried to take Mother Susana away, but the man’s violent thrashings were unpredictable and blocked their escape.