Petra, Jordan
Queen Lenore encouraged him, "Never give up. You are so close." "I never quit," said Tex with a grin on his handsome face. He could hear the sound of the rope lowering the target back into place. Then he focused his spirit on the task at hand. He swung with all of his might. Tex hit the piñata and then it exploded with candy and fireworks. A tiny rocket grazed his ear leaving a scorch mark. The shockwave knocked him on his butt. The three women screamed in shock and dismay. The kids cheered as they scrambled to pick up all of the candy raining down in the old throne room. The men stood their ground like carefree gods. On queue, the orchestra launched into a victory tune. During the split second flash, Tex heard a verbal vision from heaven. The living words painted a saga in the spirit. He was instantly in the past with King Solomon of Israel and King Hiram of Tyre on their last voyage to Ophir.
The verbal picture was narrated by Honey Arcana, but the person that Tex was focused on was the eldest daughter of Solomon. He somehow knew that her mother was Shulamith the princess bride from the Song of Songs. The young woman's name was Sulmina. Her inner and outer beauty was beyond compare. In the wink of an eye the royal fleet was docked in the legendary land of gold. The new faithless ruler of Ophir hated Solomon and Israel, so he promised that there would be no more shipments. Ebony slaves loaded the golden cargo that was in the shape of six foot long rods and teardrop cannon balls. One small ship almost sank on the return voyage. After docking at the city of Ezion-Geber, the tiny ship was hoisted into dry dock for repair. The Israeli soldiers loaded the gold onto a well-guarded royal caravan. There were hundreds of pack animals, camels and wagons. King Hiram told Solomon honestly that he was also tired of giving to Israel. Then the caravan was attacked on the shoreline by Edomites. The empty ships were burned and then they sank beneath the waves. Hundreds of soldiers were killed by the sword. The kings and the royal guards escaped on horseback to the north. The treasure laden wagons were spirited away by the thieves.
Inside of the vision, Tex fell in the path of the fleeing royals. The daughter of Solomon alone saw him. She tried to comfort him in her arms like a young mother. Sulmina whispered to Tex, "Praise God the Father of mercies. Now I can be free from the doomed destiny of my greedy father, the Preacher. He calls himself Ecclesiastes, but he is too late for me." As the young woman ran away Tex asked the spirit of his wife, "Did she survive? What happened to Sulmina?" Reality slowly overcame him as Honey answered, "She escaped to her mother's relatives in the vineyards of Baalhamon. She abandoned living in a palace for a real life overflowing with love, security and blessings."