Chapter 4

Adams Strong‟s words reverberated in her ears as she moved closer to the tree. "We

shall not go near it, nor touch it", he had said, and he was emphatic about it. She looked around, but could not find him anywhere nearby. This, for her, could be a good opportunity to just feel the bark of the tree. She took few steps farther, and she was just one more step away from the tree. She looked around one more time to be sure he was not really seeing her.

Her heartbeat rate doubled, as though she was about to take a major decision in her life. Those words reechoed again: "We shall not go near it, nor touch it". But here she was, so close to the tree, and nothing has happened yet. She summoned enough courage, took the last step, and was side by side with the tree. She was expecting something, a ghost or whatever to jump out of the tree, pounce on her and swallow her up. But nothing happened. Then she told herself, could this be a trick from Adams Strong to keep her away from one of the best fruits in the garden. The answer is only one more action away; touch the tree and pluck the fruit.

She ran her hands on the back of the tree. She liked the feel. It felt strong and tough. The branches are low enough for her hands to reach. She convinced herself that she would not need to jump to get a feel of the leaves. She plucked the first leaf. She held it close to her nose to perceive the scent. She felt it in her brain as the fragrance sent cold chills down her spine.

She went round it and plucked another leaf, and then another, and another. Nothing bad had happened to her yet. She wondered, but he said Mr. Gracious Being warned that we shall surely die, I have plucked three leaves but I am still alive. Could Adams Strong be hiding something from me?

"Good evening Miss Beauty". A voice that sounded very strange to her startled her from behind. She almost fainted out of fear. She looked back to see who was greeting before venturing to exchange the pleasantries. It was Crafty Curl. She remembered seeing Crafty Curl for the first time in her life the day she was going to River Euphrates with Adams Strong. He had told her that Crafty Curl was the serpent that lived with him in the Eden East Gardens. At that moment, she intuitively felt awkwardly restless about being around the snake. She wondered what it was doing there in that hot afternoon.

"Afternoon Crafty", she replied

"I could see you are really enjoying your stay here."

"Oh yes. Thanks. It has been wonderful so far. Adams Strong has been a good company."

"Oh, Adams is a nice guy. Everyone in Eden likes him. He is so jovial and nice to be with"

"You can say that again" she agreed.

"But how have you been coping with feeding." Crafty Curl asked.

"And why did you ask?".

"I thought I overheard Mr. Gracious Being telling Adams Strong not to touch any of the fruits in Eden East". "No he did not. We are free to eat from any of the trees. It is only this particular tree – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - that we cannot eat from."

"Why can‟t you eat from it?"

"Don‟t know! Maybe because it is bitter."

"How can the fruit of such a lovely tree be bitter? I don‟t believe that." Crafty Curl said as he moved closer to the tree in one long twist. He proceeded to pluck a fruit from the tree while Evelyn Beauty watched in amazement.

"Do you care for a taste?" he asked her. "No thanks. We have been warned not to eat from it."

"Well, I don‟t care what you are told. I want to have a feel of this fruit." He took a bite of the fruit and his face came alive.

"This is delicious. How on earth will someone ask you not to eat such delicacy?" he said as he took another bite.

"Are you sure of what you are saying? Can I trust you? I hope you are not just deceiving me?

"Why will I deceive you? Whoever said this fruit is bitter is the greatest deceiver in the whole world." He showed the half eaten fruit to her as he spoke.

As she watched him savor each bite of the fruit, she felt tempted to take a bite, but the words of Adams Strong kept coming back to her, "We shall not go near it, nor touch it". What is the big deal there? She thought. I have already gone near and I have touched it. Nothing bad as happened. Crafty Curl had eaten it, and he said it was good. I can as well have a taste.

"Can I have a closer look at the fruit?" she requested from Crafty Curl

"With all pleasure," he replied. He threw away the shaft of the fruit in his hands, having eaten the flesh. Then he stretched forth and plucked one of the biggest of the fruits on the tree for her.

"Thanks for the effort", she said as she received it from him. She looked closely at the fruit, examining it carefully. It was indeed pleasant to the eyes and good for food. She wanted a taste of it badly. "I remember Adams Strong said that if we eat of it we will surely die." She protested one more time.

"But I have eaten it and I am not dead. Or do I look like a ghost to you? Why will you belief Mr. Gracious Being. He knows that once you eat this fruit, you will become wiser than you are, and you will be like him. That is why he scared you off it. Can‟t you see reasons?"

She nodded in agreement as she took her first bite. She chewed gently at first waiting to see if anything would happen.

"I think I like the taste. It is truly delicious." She took the second bite and then the third. Then she started to eat as though she had been denied food for over a week. In no time she finished the first fruit. Crafty Curl had another ready for her.

"I need to go now. Adams Strong will soon be around. He will not be happy seeing me here" Crafty Curl announced as he takes his leave.

"Thanks Crafty. You are indeed a good friend". She said as she waved him goodbye. "See you some other time." She took another fruit before deciding to take her leave. She took some couples along to show Adams Strong. She was too sure that Adams will like the taste.