The flat hot land and the rising Pyramids. This was the land of Egypt. And it was built on the backs of Hebrew slaves.
Even now, they were working laying bricks for the Egyptians.
They mixed the bricks and lifted them to the buildings and lay them. All the while being whipped by their sadistic masters.
The Hebrews lifted their voices in a song, a prayer to God, for deliverance.
Meanwhile near the Nile, a woman named Yocheved prayed a different prayer.
Pharaoh Aknamkanon had ordered the death of all Hebrew baby boys. Yocheved had a beautiful son and she could not bear to have him killed.
So she sang to him and placed him in a basket.
"Go Shizuka. Protect your brother!" Yocheved said.
Shizuka followed her brother's basket as it dodged boats and crocodiles, all the while protected by their prayers, by God.
Then, her hopes were dashed as it swayed into the palace and into the waiting arms of Queen Tuya.
"Step back Seto." Tuya said and took out the baby. "Ah! A child...this will be your new baby brother. I shall call him Atem."
Shizuka sighed and fell against the pillar. "I pray brother that you will grow up safe and come back to be our deliverer."
As the sun set, the cries of "Deliver Us!" Could be heard throughout the land of Egypt.
Time would only tell if Atem would answer the call.