* * *
“He has been cut off from his people because of you. Leave him,” Jesus demanded.
“He will not like it. He worships us,” the demons advised.
“It matters not. You must leave.”
The demons knew they could not stand and pleaded, “Do not send us from this country.”
Jesus, set to forcefully tear the demons from the man, was distracted by the sounds of a herd of pigs moving through the grasses at the base of the mountain. “You may enter into the
swine. Leave the man. Enter into the swine and I will not send you away.”
“He will not like it, but so that we may live,” the demons agreed.
The mist appeared from the man’s skin and blew past Jesus and out from the cave and into the large heard of swine. Avernus’ body fell to the ground in a deep sleep.
Jesus called to John and James to help carry the hurt man back to his village. James and John had new bruises and cuts about their arms, legs and faces. Jesus ignored their state and the three men carried Avernus to town, past the herd of two thousand pigs that had become choked in the sea, past the swine herders who grasped their heads in their hands in disbelief.
* * *
Word of Avernus’ arrival preceded his coming and the judges and Avernus’ family were waiting as Jesus and his disciples carried the supine body to his home for the first time in many months.
The woman and her sons did cry. The judges did demand explanation.
As Jesus told the tale, the pig herders could be heard approaching, loudly proclaiming to all who would listen of the fate that befell their herd. When they entered into Avernus’ home, they demanded to know what happened to their swine.
Jesus began the tale again, of the possession, of the demons’ offer, of the swine, and as the herders and judges became angered, John and James shared a look of amusement.
When Jesus was finished, the judged conferred and announced, “You must leave,” to Jesus and his apostles.
* * *
James and John stowed the belongings on the ship and remained aboard as Jesus slowly walked the dock.
James struck John across the leg with a wet reed. John held his brother by the throat out over the side of the ship.
Jesus ignored the sounds of His disciples but was taken by surprise when Avernus approached. He had quickly bathed and put on clean clothing but still smelled of the tomb and of the demons.
“My Lord, I beseech you, take me with you. I no longer have a place here,” Avernus begged.
Jesus placed a hand on Avernus’ shoulder and said, “No, my son. You must go home and tell your friends of the great things the Lord did for you, and of the compassion the Lord has for you.”
Jesus removed his hand and climbed into the ship. John pulled James back over the deck and the two disciples cast off the mooring lines.
Avernus watched as the ship slowly drifted back across the sea.
* * *
In his home, the first night in many, Avernus did not eat or drink. He did not hold his wife or his children.
He sat on his bedding and held the destroyed chains and shackles into which he was put when the mist first came into him. He wept continually.
His wife came into their bedchamber and asked, “What is it, Husband?”
Avernus could not summon the courage to lift his head. Thus, his wife could not understand his answer. “I prayed my God speak, and He tore me asunder.”
John Lemut is a writer (and editor, apparently) from Wisconsin. Contact him through his website where you can also view his bibliography (complete with links if you wanted to, like, buy his assorted stories), read some free fiction, and maybe learn a little something about what makes him tick: johnrambles.com.
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