Book excerpt: Asher, a young Israelite, lives exiled in ancient Babylon. Born with one eye brown and the other blue, he has endured a lifetime of mockery and rejection. No wonder he despises YAH, the god of Israel, for being too weak to save his people from disaster. Asher becomes houseboy to a wealthy Babylonian lady, who tempts him to adopt the faith and culture of his oppressors. He is present when his uncle, the prophet Ezekiel, receives a vision of YAH, commanding him to speak judgment against Israel. Ezekiel's right eye turns blue--just like Asher's. Both men are prophets, but Asher resists that call with all his might. After all, prophets bring bad news of coming doom. Some, like Ezekiel, do crazy things. Prophets are persecuted. No! Far better, Asher reasons, the promise of luxury and power as a Babylonian. But then, some Israelites, including Asher's brother and best friend, Josiah, plot the Babylonian King Nebuchadrezzar's overthrow. Will Asher betray them or join the fight for his people's freedom? More important, will he accept the prophetic burden and pay the price for being a faithful servant of YAH--a price higher than he could have imagined?