Before the changing of the guard, Tallis and his Decanuses met to discuss some modifications on how to protect Hammath and the lakefront. “I want you to try something new tonight, Bazak. Make sure your men protect both gates as usual. Send two soldiers to patrol along the shoreline then direct them to patrol the village streets. A few minutes later, send the second team along the same route. Repeat this procedure with the last team. Rotate your troops on occasion to avoid boredom from setting in. At midnight, I want all three teams who patrolled the shoreline to hide from view. Direct your men to find locations where they can still see the lake, but become invisible to anyone spying on them. Doing this at midnight is important. I want to create the illusion we’ve gone home by dousing the torchlights. I hope those scouting us will give up and return to wherever they came from.” Bazak nodded. “I also want you to keep watch from your rooftop. I will join you at various times tonight. You and I will focus our attention on those watching us.”
After Bazak had left to meet with his troops, Tallis had Priam follow him to the lakeshore, near the bathhouse. “Today felt like it lasted forever, but I want you to become aware of something before sending you home for the night.” Tallis pointed at the lake. “Look at the water and tell me what you see.”
Priam stared into the darkness for what seemed an eternity, but in reality, no more than a few seconds. “I don’t see anything but blackness.”
“Try squinting. Do you recognize anything?”
Priam appeared frozen in time. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to see, sir. What do you want me to tell you?”
“Ignore the shoreline and look at the top edge of the water. Tell me if you recognize anything?”
“I’m not positive I see a thing. There are four objects on the water. Boats? I’m not sure.”
“Good job. Now, let your eyes adjust to the light for another minute or two. … What are the boats doing?”
“They aren’t moving, sir. I don’t see anyone rowing, and there’s no breeze, so the sails are down. Why are you asking me so many questions, Tallis?”
“Do fishermen work during the night?”
“How would I know? I’m a soldier. Do they?”
“Think, Priam. Why would men fish in the dark?”
“I have no idea, sir. Are you trying to trick me?”
“Not at all, but I want you to think. Doesn’t it make you wonder what the spies are up to? If these men were fishing, wouldn’t they be doing more than hiding in their boats? Should they be casting their nets or hauling them in? The vessels look empty to our eyes, but they arrived somehow, and this isn’t the first time they’ve anchored off our shore and studied our movements.” Priam and Tallis continued to stare into the night, watching the boats bobbing up and down in the swells. “They’re watching us, Priam. It makes me nervous. I don’t like people spying on me. Could it be the same group who ransacked our marketplace? They scrutinize our every move along the waterfront. … They’re planning to attack Hammath again. I can feel it in my bones. I wish I knew when.”
“How do we stop them?”
“I don’t know for sure, but tonight we’ll continue to change our patrol patterns in an attempt to confuse them. Tomorrow morning you and your men will march to Tiberias for training. Before you leave, I’ll give you a message to deliver to Kaleb. Wait for his response. When you return, your soldiers will remain on duty until sunset. Keep your troops moving, and always make sure one team remains visible along the water. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn those hoping to disrupt our lives watch us during daylight hours too. Have a good night, Priam. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Tallis walked to Bazak’s house. His uniform stuck to his back due to the humidity, and breathing became more difficult as he trudged along the roadway. The weather feels more like the month of Ab rather than late Tishri. When do we get our rain, God? So far, everything remained quiet in Hammath as ominous clouds began to descend over the region, as the north wind created whitecaps on the water.
Bazak wasn’t home when Tallis arrived, so he headed toward the south gate thinking his friend decided to check on his troops protecting other parts of the village. “Bazak left a few minutes ago,” Tobin said when the Triplicarious arrived. “He headed toward the lake. If he’s not there, he’ll be checking on the rest of our Conturbenium.”
Returning to the lake, Tallis noticed three soldiers, standing like statues, near the dock, watching the clouds and the waves crashing on the shoreline. “How’s the night going so far, Bazak?”
“All is well.”
“Good. Come with me. I want to show you something.” The pair headed to the tower located at the east end of the north wall. “I don’t think what I’m going to ask you to look for will come as a surprise. What do you see when you gaze into the distance?”
“At first glance, I see the same thing I saw when I was with my men at the pier. Nothing but a mass of threatening clouds and waves rising and falling on the lake. I also noticed the wind is beginning to pick up. It’s getting colder, Tallis, but the longer I looked into the distance, the men with me and I spotted four boats attempting to stay in one place on the lake.”
“They’re watching us, Bazak. Like we discussed this morning.”
Bazak shivered. “If they stay in the water much longer, they may drown. The waves are rising higher than the sides of their vessels. When do you think they’ll attack again?”
“I don’t know, but as long as they can’t figure out how and when we patrol, we may keep them at bay. At least until we can hang the doors and secure the gates. I hope Kaleb authorizes my request. Go finish checking on your soldiers and meet me on my rooftop. We can watch our visitors without them knowing what we’re doing.”
The next morning Tallis met with Priam. “I want you to deliver this letter to Kaleb. Please wait for his response. I’ll talk with you when you return.”
“What if the Centurion doesn’t reply?”
“Return with your men as usual.”
Tallis watched Priam and his troops as they marched to Tiberias. From his position, he also noticed Bazak and his soldiers heading home after completing their night shift. He hoped the morning remained peaceful since he was the only one on duty until the Conturbenium returned from their training session in Tiberias. Tallis knew the tranquil marketplace would turn into a bustling herd of people buying and selling their goods and services within the next few minutes.
As the morning stars began to fade, Tallis noticed five men approaching the village gate. He ducked into the shadow and waited. The Triplicarious didn’t recognize any of them. Squinting didn’t help either, and he reached for his horn. As the group entered Hammath, Tallis stepped into view, hoping to prevent any altercations from occurring on his watch. “Good morning and welcome. How may I assist you?”
“We’re looking for a Triplicarious by the name of Tallis. I have a letter for him from his Centurion, Kaleb.”
“I am Tallis.” Taking the parchment, he broke the seal. “This document commissions our carpenter to build new doors so we can secure our gates.”
“We came to help a carpenter by the name of Moss during the construction process. Do you know where we can find him?”
“Follow me. I will introduce him to you.”
Six men managed to squeeze into Moss’s shop as he pulled an apron over his head. “Good morning. These fellows brought a letter from my Centurion. It commissions you to build four doors so we can secure our gates during the night. It also authorizes me to work with you on how I want the doors constructed. These fellows came to assist you.”
“Let me see the letter, Tallis. … The pay is good. My other jobs can wait. Tell me how you want these doors constructed.”
Moss listened to the instructions given to him. “I want braces for three beams to secure the doors. I would like one beam at head height, the second at my waist level, and the third at my knees. Make an extra six for backups.”
“Moss smiled and nodded. “With these men to help me,
I can do what you ask, Tallis.”
“Thank you. Do you have enough materials to complete the job?”
“I expect a load of cedar to arrive later today, but I can start with what I have on hand. Let me measure the gate openings, so I know where to begin. I want to thank you for including me on this project, Tallis. I will remember your kindness.”
Two of the helpers joined Moss and the Triplicarious at the north gate. “How long will this project take?”
“Everything depends on how soon my lumber arrives. I wish we had a smithy with a shop in Hammath, but I suppose there isn’t enough business to support one. So, to answer your question, two or three days at the most.”
“I know you’ll do your best. We need the doors, but they must be stout enough to secure our community from outside troublemakers.”
“Rest assured I will make them strong, Tallis.”
“Thank you, Moss.” So far the day had gone better than expected.
Leaving the carpenter’s shop, Tallis discovered the courtyard had filled with people. He watched Abigail, Nammi, and his mother carrying their baskets in the distance. It had been two days since he’d spent time with his wife. Tallis waved and headed down the road toward the south gate. It was time to patrol the streets and along the lake.
The morning passed without incident, but Tallis became curious regarding the progress made on the new doors, so he returned to the carpenter’s shop to touch base with Moss or his new assistants. Two helpers sawed long planks outdoors because they wouldn’t fit inside due to their length. Another pair cut shorter pieces on workbenches inside. Their efforts pleased him, and as Tallis turned to leave, Zosimos entered the shop.
“What brings you to Hammath, brother?”
“I brought some hinges and supports to hold your beams in place on the new doors.”
“It’s good to see you. I hope life is treating you and Ya-el well.”
“Life is getting better for us, thank you.”
Tallis didn’t know how Zosimos could live with someone possessing a voice like his wife’s. “I hope we can talk when you finish here. Our lives are too busy for us to spend much time together. Besides, our mother would love to visit with you if possible before you return home.”
“I would love to stay and chat with you, Tallis. Give me a few minutes to meet with Moss before I join you.”
“You’ll find me near the north gate or chatting with people in the marketplace.”
“The orders from the Army keep me busy, but I don’t mind. The money is pouring in, so I’m trying to save as much as possible. The good times won’t last forever. I wish I had more time to spend with my family and to run. I miss heading out into the countryside, but we don’t always get what we want, I suppose.”
“How long has it been since you enjoyed a long run?”
“I haven’t had the time since Nikolaos awarded me the contract.”
Tallis rehashed is brother’s statement. This means Zosimos can’t be a member of the group who killed my soldiers. It’s time to focus my attention on Hilarion. “Won’t your agreement with Herod keep you financially secure for a long time?”
“It should, but you never know when something will happen, and the Tetrarch finds himself without a job.”
“Do you think the Romans will tire of Antipas and his games? They might exile him if he keeps creating problems for Caesar.”
“Anything’s possible, but you realize people don’t want the Romans telling us what to do either.”
Tallis and his brother spent the next few minutes discussing God and the long anticipated coming of the Messiah. Of course, they didn’t agree on the timing of this event, but as the brothers reached the synagogue, Zosimos brought up something interesting. “Rumors say Herod fears a man wandering along the Jordan River, calling people to repent from their wicked ways. They call him the Baptizer, but his real name is John. Make way for the coming of the Lord, he cries out as he travels the roads.”
“Is this the man who lives in the desert, eats wild locusts and wears clothing made of camel’s hair? If so, do you believe God would send somebody like John to save His people?”
“Trust me, big brother. There is more going on than you or I can fathom. God keeps his promises. Anyway, the Baptizer called out Antipas for marrying his brother’s wife, so something is bound to happen soon.”
“Stop talking like a crazy man, Zosimos. I’m much too busy trying to protect Hammath. Remember, when Herod falls the Romans will take charge within hours. I’d rather live under our current government. I don’t want a Roman boot pressing down on my neck.”
Tallis opened the synagogue door for Zosimos, as he wondered how proficient his brothers were at rowing a boat. Do my brothers have a connection with the disruptions occurring in our community? What if the things people say concerning the Messiah come true?
Chapter 17
Watch Your Back Page 16