Finding a Roman guard was not difficult. Finding one who was willing to talk to a Hebrew was. Still, he had to try. He found a Roman centurion who was sitting, off duty, on a street corner.
“Hello.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to know if there is a prisoner in Jerusalem named Dismas.”
“The only way to know is to recognize them at their execution,” said the Roman as he took a swig from his wineskin.
“Is there a way to buy them back?”
“No. If they are marked for death, only a pardon from Pontius Pilate can do that.”
“Is there a way I can get an audience with him?”
“Not for a Hebrew. If you were a Roman citizen, you could.”
“So, I need to find a Roman citizen to go before him.”
“If you can. Most Roman citizens would not dare to go before a powerful governor such as him.”
“I have to say, you are a lot friendlier than most Romans are to the Hebrews.”
“It was a Hebrew who healed my son.”
Ezekiel wanted to ask more but didn’t want to push his luck.
“Well, you have my thanks. You’ve been very helpful.”
The Roman nodded. Ezekiel left puzzled. How am I going to get a Roman citizen to advocate for me? he asked himself.
CHAPTER 34
Hadwin’s ears throbbed, but the pain of the piercing was nothing compared to the hopelessness he felt in his soul. The law was not on his side. He had no rights. All he could do was serve a conniving woman who would sooner see him killed than allow him to see his family. He spent the nights in chains and the mornings in plain sight of her most trusted guards. Escape was out of the question.
Each night he prayed that God would avenge him and set him free to be with his family. He remembered the teachings of the synagogue on Joseph. Hadwin hoped this was a test from God, but he feared it was just an unfortunate circumstance.
When the command came through the guards that Abigail wanted an audience with her new slave, it took the ranks by surprise. Most of the servants and slaves were there only to serve Abigail and her mother. They did not receive an audience.
The ornate furnishings of the hall reminded Hadwin of the Temple in Jerusalem. He walked with the men to a place where Abigail was reclining.
“Leave us,” she told the servants.
Hadwin could see a tear forming in the corner of her eye.
“I hope you understand, I had to save face with the servants. One moment of weakness, and they will turn on me.”
“Spoken like a true Roman,” said Hadwin.
“Only half. My mother had a lover who was a Samaritan. Asher was my half-brother.”
“Well, what do you want with a Hebrew? Now that I am a bondslave, you own me.”
“I will set you free if you can gain me an audience with Yeshua. I met him once, and I must get to know him.”
“That is what this is about? Last I heard he was headed to Jerusalem.”
“You must know him. He doesn’t get called out in the middle of the night to heal someone he doesn’t know.”
“The truth of the matter is . . .” Hadwin thought for a second. “I do know him, but I haven’t seen him in some time.”
“Then tell me, how do I get an audience with him?”
“Set me free for three days. I can get close to him. Then I will bring him back to you.”
“Do you believe me to be simple? Am I stupid? You would be gone in a moment, and I would have to expend enormous energy hunting you down. I will accompany you to Judea. Then you will have no choice but to follow the commands I give. The servants will shear your hair, so there will be no question about the fact you are a bondslave.”
“You enjoy torturing people, don’t you?”
“That’s enough!” said Abigail. “You will do as I say. If you want to live.”
“What if I said I don’t?”
“Guards!” Two men came into the room. Abigail waited for a moment. Then, as if a fire ignited, she brightened up. “Kill him!”
The men drew their swords.
“Wait! I didn’t say I want to die . . . I said what if.”
“Hold it.” Abigail motioned for the men to stop. “I know this is your first day, so I will be kind. You do not have a say. You will speak when spoken to. You will not lash out in any way if you want to live long enough to see your wretched family again.”
“I understand.”
Abigail motioned to her guard. He took the pummel of his sword and slammed it into Hadwin’s back, sending him sprawling to the floor.
“Speak when you are spoken to!” she said. “Take him back to his quarters. Make sure he can travel tomorrow.”
The men threw him into his makeshift dungeon and put him back in his chains. Hadwin remained motionless until the men left. Then, under the cover of darkness, he smiled. There was a hidden promise that he would see his family again.
CHAPTER 35
Abigail went to her quarters as well. She felt something else. A twinge of pity. Hadwin was different from the other men she encountered in her life. He would die for his family. Another emotion crept into her mind. Jealousy. She shouldn’t be jealous of this man. The only person she would die for was her mother, who would likely die in the next few years anyway. Even so, the anger that accompanied these emotions still stirred, causing her to feel unsure of her calculated ways.
Abigail decided she needed to see this rabbi who had told of her past. She didn’t know why she was drawn to him. Everything in her life up to this point was about survival. She raged against being a tool for fortune making. Now it was her fortune, and she felt even worse. Suicide was an option. She contemplated it often. She planned on using the dagger she bought in the market, but now Ezekiel had it.
She knew these were fantasies. Just a way to dream about ending her own pain and suffering. The truth was, she was too afraid to do something like that. She saw the fear in her brother’s eyes as she choked the life out of him. She saw the sadness when she murdered her servant who lied about Hadwin. No matter how she justified those killings, they haunted her. She barely slept. Maybe that was what she needed now. They would travel to Jerusalem in the morning. She heard the famous rabbi was going there next.
She drank some of the stronger wine from her vineyard until she fell asleep.
The next morning came with a vengeance. Abigail crawled from her bed to get ready for the journey. She would take only three servants with her—two guards and Hadwin. Her head was exploding, and light seemed to make it worse. Taking her head covering, she wrapped her head in such a way that she could only look through a narrow slit to reduce the glare of the sunlight. Her servants had already sheared Hadwin’s head. He was in shackles. She mounted her horse, and the servants pulled her horse caravan style. Hadwin bounced along on a donkey behind her.
The going was slow and steady. Abigail noticed the absence of crosses. With Passover coming in a couple of weeks, the Roman overlords must have wanted to be respectful of the local traditions. She knew that, however cruel the Romans were, they were also pragmatic. There was no use in inciting needless violence and protests. Each people group they subjugated was allowed to practice their own religion and elect their own local leaders, as long as they recognized the sovereignty of Rome.
The people they passed seemed happy to go about their business. Abigail wondered why everyone seemed happy just to exist. Her entire life existence had seemed like giving up. She had been abused, married into loveless marriages, and encouraged just to go along. When she finally found the courage to take action, she vowed never to be a slave again. She also vowed never to feel or care for others again. She had stuffed everything down so far that when she started to feel again it made her dangerous. Now she ended lives, making her godlike, but she felt worse than ever before. She would never let on that she could feel again.
CHAPTER 36
Elyam went to the Jerusalem market to get supplies for the
upcoming Passover. He went two weeks early to try to beat the crowds this time of year. Even so it would be nearly impossible to get everything he needed. He walked along the crowded street up to the Temple Mount. After buying his provisions and loading his donkey, he walked in the direction of his home. The bags of grain and jugs of wine were almost too much for the donkey, which brayed under the load. With patience, Elyam led the donkey slowly through the street. The donkey’s progress was so slow that Elyam decided he had to find a place to sit and rest for a moment. He surveyed the crowd as he pulled out an old wineskin. Taking a few swigs and looking around, he overheard someone’s conversation.
“Did you hear? That rabbi who claims he is the Messiah is coming to Jerusalem next week. They say he will overthrow the Romans.”
“I did hear that. He had better be careful. The Romans don’t like talk like that.”
“We’re planning a rally when he rides into the city. Invite all of those who are sympathetic to the cause.”
“Excuse me, sir, did you say he’s coming here next week?” said Elyam.
“Why, yes. I guess I better be more careful about how loud I say these things.”
“It’s alright. I would like my family to be involved if we can.”
“Well, just show up and bring something you can wave in the air. If enough people show up, then maybe Pilate will have to listen to us.”
“One can only pray,” said Elyam. When he felt like he had rested enough he led his donkey through the crowd. Upon arriving home, he unloaded his supplies and kissed Bathshua on the cheek.
“I believe this is going to be the most memorable Passover celebration yet.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Oh, just something I heard in the city.”
Elyam sat on a wooden bench. He needed rest, and it was still early in the day. Bathshua brought him a bowl of dried dates.
“Thank you, my dear.”
“Well, I know that this year is going to be bigger. Ezekiel might be coming. And, well, it seems that many of our friends will be stopping by.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. I hear that Yeshua is going to be here, and he is staying through Passover.”
“Here, or in Jerusalem?”
“Jerusalem. Not here. I don’t know what we would do if he came here.”
“According to the rumors, you could just give him some fish and a little bread, and five thousand people would be fed.”
“This is no time for jokes. I know that the Sanhedrin are not happy about it. It seems his popularity with the common folks is a threat to their power.”
“They see everything as a threat to their power.” Elyam took a swig from his wineskin. Bathshua continued grinding grain on the stone and making bread. He rose from his perch and walked up behind her. Hugging her gently, he whispered into her ear, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know it’s going to be really big. In my prayers I felt God speaking to me.”
“I believe you. I know it will be tough for a while, but we always get through.” Bathshua smiled and put her hand on his. The flour left a mark, so she touched his face. Laughing, Elyam dipped his hands in the flour and chased her outdoors where they saw Rina, Ester, and Aaliyah walking up the path. Straightening up, Elyam hid his hands behind his back.
“Hi, ladies,” he said. Bathshua could not hide her laughter. The three women looked at each other and then back at the grandparents.
With one quick motion Elyam took his flour-laden hands and rubbed them on Aaliyah’s face as well, causing Aaliyah and Rina to run into the house and grab fistfuls of flour and chase each other.
“Come on, we are all adults here. We should not act like children,” said Ester. At that moment a fistful of flour exploded onto her tunic. A smile spread across her face as she chased her daughter all around the outside of the house.
Each one laughed so hard it seemed their sides would split open. It was as if a great weight lifted off their souls.
Looking up Rina saw Ezekiel coming up the road. “Ezekiel!” She ran to him. Giving her a hug, he greeted the rest of the family.
“What’s going on here?” said Ezekiel.
“Oh, we were just having a bit of fun,” said Elyam. He could see that Ezekiel was forcing a smile. “Alright, everyone, let’s get cleaned up and tonight we will celebrate Ezekiel finally coming home to Jerusalem.”
Each of the women went inside to clean up, leaving Elyam and Ezekiel outside to talk.
“I can see you’ve not lost your enthusiasm for life,” said Ezekiel.
“Ezekiel, it is why I have lived so long. You need to learn to lighten up a little. Yahweh did not make us for pain, he made us to enjoy life.”
“I wish I had your spirit, Grandpa.”
“You are a lot like your mother. You work very hard, and sometimes I see the joy of your work in your eyes. As for me, I am too old to work so hard,” said the old man. Ezekiel smiled. His grandfather could always put him at ease in any situation. When the women were finished, the men went in to clean up.
At the evening meal they laughed at Elyam’s story of his trip back to Tiberias. The mood was lighter than Ezekiel remembered. The secret of Hadwin’s captivity etched its way into his mind, and he forced himself to be happy. They all stayed up late talking about old times and people they once knew.
The next day Ezekiel woke with a start. He had missed his family so much. He didn’t realize how much until his return. He was thankful for one night of peace.
Still, when everyone was asleep, he could sense himself boiling. Each thought was of Hadwin. He had to make good on his promise. He had to save his father, protect Rina and Ester. The weight was now on him. He had no idea how he would accomplish this. If the idea of marching up to a Roman guard and trying to facilitate the exchange of the dagger for his father seemed crazy, it’s because it was. The Romans were an elite force, and even their prison guards were tougher than most. He would need to be patient, find the right moment, and buy his father out of prison. It was not unheard of. Many of the social elites had bought their way out of prison. Ezekiel hoped the dagger would be enough.
Sleep eluded him for most of the night. Only when the first rays of the rising sun poked their way through the window opening did he finally fall asleep. The rest of the family rose with the sun. They knew Ezekiel was exhausted, and so they each did their best not to wake him.
CHAPTER 37
Hadwin rode his horse in a slow and steady plod behind Abigail. He had not said much to her since his captivity, only enough to stay out of trouble. He knew there was an ulterior motive behind her “kindness,” and with each clop of a hoof he knew he should escape. The problem was that now he would look like an escaped slave, a crime that brought severe punishments. The physical signs of his slavery—the shaved head and pierced ears—would be a dead giveaway that he was on the run. Still, he thanked God that he was alive. Hope, however slight, trickled into his soul. He was going to Jerusalem. He might see his family again.
“Keep up!” shouted Abigail. Hadwin quickened the pace of his horse.
“I’m doing my best here.”
“Shut up! You are now a slave. You only speak to me when I ask you to.”
Everything in Hadwin wanted to fight back. He knew it would not end well here.
“You know I could serve you better as an adviser rather than a slave.”
Abigail motioned to one of her guards. He rode his horse back to where Hadwin had stopped. Pulling out a whip, he lashed it across Hadwin’s back. The wooden hooks woven into the leather straps dug into his flesh, pulling him to the ground. A hot streak of pain shot through Hadwin’s whole body as he lay on the ground. He looked up. Abigail was enjoying this. She sat on her horse staring at the spectacle.
“Get up,” he heard her say in the distance. The throbbing in his head reminded him of the Roman war drums he heard as a child when the Roman legions embarked on a new war. He tried to get up, but his body revolted. He felt two
sets of hands pull him to his feet.
“I’m not going to tell you again. You address me when I ask you to.”
He tried to get back on his horse, but he was too weak. One of the guards grabbed him around his legs and hoisted him to the back of the animal. Slowly Hadwin was able to get his legs situated on the animal and sit up.
“We’ve lost enough time here. Let’s keep moving,” said Abigail. Once they neared the city of Jerusalem, Hadwin could see the familiar site of the Temple Mount overlooking the narrow streets and marketplaces. His ears still throbbed. He could barely keep his eyes open even while riding on the back of the animal. His plan was to cut his earlobes off once he found a time when he could escape. Then he could blame it on the cruelty of robbers who thought they could have a laugh at his expense. He knew it was not likely to be successful, but he had to try. Hadwin had no intention of being a captive for very long. He could not figure out why Abigail was in such a hurry. Yeshua would likely be in Jerusalem through Passover.
The crowds of people began to gather in numbers Hadwin had never seen before. He could see that it made Abigail nervous. The crowds were so large that Abigail and the guards dismounted to lead the horses through. Hadwin didn’t want to walk. He had not recovered from the beating. However, his better judgment took control and he dismounted, groaning the whole time. Everyone had palm leaves in their hands. How peculiar, he thought. Then the crowds parted, and people were throwing their coats on the ground. He could barely see a man on a donkey. The crowd cheered so loud that it hurt Hadwin’s ears. He recognized Yeshua. It made him smile. The people were shouting phrases like “Here comes the Messiah to save God’s people from tyranny!”
Hadwin knew language like that could get someone killed. The Romans did not like anyone challenging their power. It did not matter whether he claimed to be divine or not. Following through the crowd, Abigail and her guards kept moving. Hadwin thought if he could make a run for it then he could possibly be free. However, he didn’t know how Abigail would make his family suffer if he did. He pushed himself through the crowd to catch up to the guards. It was better that he make his escape when they were not in Jerusalem. They stayed until the crowd died down.
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