Abigail announced to her guests, the food was ready. “There’s water in the pitcher. So wash your hands before we eat. Mother, you and Odelia may serve yourselves first this evening.”
Tallis no sooner sat down when his wife opened the conversation by asking what he’d done today. “This morning, I visited with Zosimos. He’s a busy man these days. My brother told me he needed to hire another apprentice.”
“Did you see Hilarion?” mother said.
“He didn’t show up for work today. Zosimos didn’t say what happened to him, but the two of us met someone while I was at the shop. He’s a few years older than me.”
“Was this out of the ordinary? I would think Zosimos met new people every day.”
Tallis loved to tease his mother. “This turned out to be an unusual visitor. After we had introduced ourselves, he said to tell you hello.”
Odelia beamed and blushed. “Will you tell me the name of this man, or do I need to guess?”
Tallis couldn’t help but smile. “Of course, I’ll tell you. You’d never guess his name. He said his aunt’s name is Mary, and our relatives live in Cana. His name is Nathanael.”
“Oh, my.” Odelia raised a hand to her cheek as tears filled her eyes. “The last time I saw Nathanael, he was a young lad, and we still lived in Sepphoris. How is he?”
“He looked good, but Nathanael had a lengthy journey to make, so he didn’t stay long. He mentioned he planned to marry soon, and our family would receive an invitation to his wedding.”
“I would love to see him and my family, again. Did he tell you how my aunt is doing? I haven’t seen her in years.”
“No. Nathanael said he was in a hurry to reach Bethsaida to meet with the friend he hoped would serve as his best man. He didn’t say anything regarding his return trip, but he asked me to give you a hug and a kiss from him. So, I will do so now.” Tallis kissed his mother’s forehead and hugged her. Odelia smiled as tears trickled down her wrinkled cheeks. He knew she missed her relatives, but a trip to Cana would be too difficult at her age. Besides, his mother needed to save her strength so she could attend Nathanael’s wedding. “Nathanael asked Zosimos and me to pray for him, so I would like to keep my promise. God, I give thanks to you, and I praise your name tonight. Bless my wife and our families, please. Bless Nathanael. Watch over him and keep him safe so he may enjoy his journey to Bethsaida to visit his friend, Philip. Thank you for hearing my prayer.”
The family sat in silence as Tallis returned to his stool. He had stunned everyone in the room by praying, something they’d never witness before. Nammi and his mother smiled, as did Abigail, but the moment didn’t seem to impress Avidan.
After completing their evening meal, Tallis announced he needed to meet with Gad and his soldiers before they went on duty for the night. Before leaving, Abigail whispered in his ear. “Thank you for praying tonight, my dear. I am proud to be your wife. I love you.”
Tallis reached the marketplace to find Gad and his Conturbenium securing the north gate. “Good evening everyone. I want to thank you for the excellent job you did last night. Tonight, I want us to follow the same protocols though I’m expecting the weather to change. When the storm arrives, I want every man patrolling the waterfront to move under the nearest overhang you can find and still see the lake. Your outer cloaks will help keep you dry, though our helmets don’t provide adequate protection for your face and eyes. Watch for anyone attempting to enter Hammath from the water, but I don’t expect any issues as the waves will make coming ashore difficult. I also want two soldiers to protect the south gate. Close and secure the doors when you reach your post. Gad, come with me.”
Gad had dismissed his troops before the two men walked down the street toward the bathhouses, next to the tower. “We need to talk in private and decide how we should adjust our patrols tomorrow night. Before the attack on our marketplace, my soldiers and I would remain on duty until midnight. After the assault, we extended our patrols to cover the entire night.”
“What do you propose I tell my troops, Tallis?”
“Tonight, I want your soldiers to act like they’re going home at midnight. Tell them to step away from the lake into the darkness. They need to find a secluded place where the spies can’t see them, but they must keep the water in view. The idea is to create the illusion our enemy can attack Hammath because we went home and left our village unprotected.”
“What makes you think they’ll return, Tallis? I’m sure the spies figured out we secure our gates and guard them. So they won’t be able to escape using the main road heading north or south any longer.”
“I want to entice them to re-enter our community, and we’ll surround them, taking as many prisoners as possible. After our interrogations, we’ll deliver them to Herod. Once Antipas deals with our troublemakers, our problems will disappear.”
“Won’t more rise up and take their place, Tallis? Most people despise Herod and his taxes, and many of his soldiers don’t treat our citizens with respect.”
“I have faith our men are the exception. I want our citizens to believe we provide a valuable service, and they can trust us, so they will help us perform our duties better. This is my goal, and the people are warming up to this approach. One day, I hope the people living in Hammath will help us protect our village.”
“That’s a lofty goal, sir, but I agree with you. I’m sure we can convince our citizens to support us.”
“I plan to meet with you and the other Decanuses soon, so we can develop strategies to avert future attacks on Hammath. Keep watch from your rooftop tonight, and sound the alarm at the first sign of trouble.”
Gale force winds whipped through the valley as the rain intensified. The sounds reminded Tallis of an old man groaning in pain, and he hoped Gad and his men found shelter from the storm without compromising their duties. Temperatures began to plunge as the gusts rushed down narrow streets, blowing dirt and sand into the air. Seconds later, thunder and lightning arrived creating a light show and limiting the vision and hearing of anyone outside on this miserable night.
From his rooftop, Tallis heard the sound of voices yelling followed by the blast of a horn. Glancing at the water, he saw a boat approaching the shore before descending the stairs and racing out the door to the street. As he neared the lake, the louder the shouting became. People opened their doors, looking to see what the commotion was. Was Hammath under attack? Tallis reached the road lining the lake and turned right. In the distance, Gad along with four of his soldiers struggled to control two young men as the fought to break free and run to their friends attempting to land their boat on the beach.
“We spotted these two running toward the water, Tallis. They refused our commands to stop. Then they tussled with us, so we restrained them.”
“Take the prisoners to the Tower and shackle them.” The sound of a second horn ripped through the night. The boat. Tallis turned and ran north. Storms form and dissipate faster on this lake than anywhere else in Palestine. Are we under attack from our enemies?
As he ran, Tallis spotted two more soldiers sprinting toward the shore. The sailors, caught in the wrath, struggled to turn their sloop into the wind so they could retreat to deeper water, avoiding capsizing and capture. Didn’t the fools know they’re no match for trained soldiers? Are the men in the boat afraid of Herod’s troops or do they fear for their lives as they fight the storm? Did we avert another attack tonight? Tallis hoped so. He prayed as he continued to run, asking God for a peaceful night from this point forward.
Two young men, close to Hilarion’s age sat on the stone floor of the north tower with their hands secured behind their backs and shackles on their ankles. Gad and four of his soldiers stood over them. Both prisoners shook from the cold, looking frightened, and wondering if they would live through the night.
“What should we do with them, Tallis? Cut their heads off and throw them in the lake?”
The captives screamed, and their eyes bulged when they heard Gad’s question. The Triplicario
us looked at the prisoners then placed his hand on his Decanus’s shoulder. “I want you to interrogate them, but before you do, come with me, and I’ll tell you what questions I want you to ask. We can discuss their future in the morning.” Tallis and Gad stepped outside. “Don’t break any bones or kill them. We need to hold them so we can swap them for Benson.”
Tallis accompanied Gad back inside, glancing at the nearest captive to him and muttered, “Good luck,” and left the building. One of the guards slammed the door shut behind him, and Tallis heard a slap followed by a scream.
The morning brought sunshine as the storm had become a fleeting memory. Bazak and two of his soldiers accompanied their Triplicarious to the Tower. Two knocks and the door opened. The prisoners lay asleep on the cold stone floor.
“Did these fellows cooperate with you last night, Gad?”
“Each one answered the questions you directed me to ask, sir.”
“Good. Before you leave, fill me in on what our captives told you. I may decide to interrogate them again.”
The fellow with the bruise on his cheek said his name is Deron. I asked him what he was doing in Hammath, and he told me he came to visit a friend earlier yesterday afternoon.”
“Does this friend have a name?”
“He does now, but we needed to help Deron improve his memory.”
“What’s the name?”
“Deron decided his friend’s name is Dan.”
The news didn’t come as a surprise to the Triplicarious. “Did Deron tell you where Dan lives? I hope he gave the same location Addai shared with me.
“On the seventh street. Not too far from the lake.”
“Did the bruise on Deron’s cheek make him smarter?”
“It did, and it convinced his buddy, whose name is Label, to cooperate with us also. Label displayed an excellent memory.”
“Good, sometimes we can learn from the mistakes of our friends. Did either one tell you why they decided to visit Dan yesterday?”
During the next few minutes, Gad continued to brief Tallis. The prisoners came for a social visit a friend. Some other friends brought them to Hammath by boat and planned to pick them up sometime after sundown. Deron and Label often travel by boat, and most of them live in Tiberias, except for Dan. The pair was aware we secured the doors at sundown. Dan had made a special trip to tell his friends we had fortified our gates. The fellows who brought them planned to pick them up at the pier, but they weren’t smart enough to recognize the storm’s intensity.
The discussion ended when Tallis noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Deron tried to sit up. “How does it feel to know your friends weren’t loyal enough to make an extra effort to liberate you?” The captive didn’t respond. “Take him outside, Bazak. I want to talk with him alone. I hope he is cooperative this morning.”
Deron trembled. His eyes glazed over when he heard his name mentioned. Bazak grabbed him, pulled the man to a standing position and shoved him out the door. Once outside, the Decanus bounced the prisoner off the tower wall. Tallis waited for Deron to regain his composure then stepped forward and glared into his eyes before poking his index finger against the tip of Deron’s nose. “I’m going to ask you some questions, and I want you to mull over your responses before you answer. You need to understand, I know the answers to the questions I’m going to ask. It’s to your advantage to tell me the truth rather than to lie to me. If you respond to the questions to my satisfaction the first time, you and Label will live. If not, I can’t be responsible for your future. I won’t strike you, Deron. I will not swear, but I will know if you give me an honest response. Do you understand what I expect during our talk this morning, Deron? I hope so.”
The lad dropped his head, and his voice trembled, ruining any attempt to hide his fear. “Yes,” he said.
“Look at me Deron. Good. First question. Do you have a friend named, Hilarion? Yes or no.”
“Yes.”
“Good. So far you’ll live. Do you know his brother, Zosimos?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for your honesty, Deron. How often do you visit Hilarion or Zosimos?”
“I see Hilarion every day. Zosimos owns the business, but I don’t go to visit him.”
“How many of your friends visit the blacksmith’s shop during the day?”
“Most of them, I suppose. We meet Hilarion there.”
“Hilarion works to support himself. How do you earn money to survive?”
The young man’s eyes darted back and forth, looking confused, or for a way to make a quick escape despite his shackles. “I’m looking for a job, sir. My father won’t allow me to live at home any longer since I’m not employed.”
“Didn’t you work as an apprentice growing up?”
“I … I did, but my master fished for a living, and he drowned one morning during a storm. A giant wave crashed over his boat and we sunk. Three others perished with him. Two of us survived the ordeal.”
Tallis closed the distance between the two. So he was eye-to-eye with his prisoner. “Three weeks ago four men entered Hammath and killed two of my soldiers. One of those men with you was Hilarion, wasn’t he? Who killed them, Deron? You?”
Deron’s body began to convulse as he started to collapse, but the Triplicarious grabbed his arms, preventing him from hitting the ground. “No! I didn’t kill them. I wasn’t there. Honest.”
“But you were there, weren’t you. You and Label. Both of you were, and you murdered my men.”
“I didn’t kill anybody. You can’t blame me. I wasn’t there. Hilarion told me the soldiers came out of a house as he and his friends walked along the street. He said it was Ranan and Ian. They killed your men. They had knives with them.”
Deron’s response caught Tallis off guard. “Do you carry a knife sometimes?”
“No, sir. I don’t own one. I lost my knife when my master died in the storm.”
Tallis grabbed Deron by his tunic and raised his voice with each question. “You better not be lying to me. If you knew who killed my men, why didn’t you come forward so we could apprehend their killers? Why didn’t you help us, Deron.” The captive could feel the soldier’s hot breath on his face. Tallis wanted to grab the lad’s puny neck and squeeze until his eyeballs popped out of Deron’s skull. The Triplicarious needed answers, and he wanted Benson freed.
“I don’t know why. I was afraid.”
“Afraid? Afraid of who? Your friends or me? Were you scared your companions might kill you, Deron? Are you a coward?” Sweat began forming on the prisoner’s face, his eyes continued to dart from side-to-side, as he fought to find the words to make the questioning stop.
“I don’t know. I don’t know.” Deron sobbed as Tallis lowered him to the cobblestones.
“Sit down, Deron. It’s okay. I want to change the subject. Make things a bit easier for you. Deron slumped back against the tower wall, trying to control his emotions. “Do you know a young man by the name of Zamir?” Deron’s trembling intensified when he heard the name. Tallis thought the lad might faint. “How long have you been friends with Zamir?”
“I can’t remember not knowing Zamir. We grew up together. I was friends with his brother before he died.”
“Zamir’s a wealthy young man, isn’t he? I understand his father and younger brother died last year.” Once again, Deron nodded. “You live with Zamir, don’t you? He took you in when your father threw you out of his house.” Tallis paused and smiled at his prisoner. “Sometimes you don’t stay with your friend. You reside with Hilarion on occasion. Right?”
Deron managed to whisper, “Yes,” before he turned his head and wept.
Tallis didn’t show any mercy toward his captive. “Did you say, yes, Deron? I couldn’t hear you.”
“Yes!”
“Much better. You’re a smart young man. Tell me, when does Zamir plan to have his friends attack Hammath again? Will his friends return tonight, tomorrow, next week, or after the winter rains? When is the next a
ttack coming, Deron?”
The teary-eyed man raised his head and looked into the eyes of his captor. “I don’t know. Zamir hasn’t told me.”
“Does Hilarion know the answer to my last question?”
“You’ll need to ask him. The two of us haven’t discussed the idea of another attack.”
Tallis decided to change topics to see what else Deron might know. “Where is Zamir hiding my soldier, Benson? At his country estate near Magdala?”
“Yes.”
“Is he still alive?”
“He was the last time I stayed with Zamir.”
“What does Zamir plan to do with Benson? Kill him? I hope not for your sake.”
“Zamir doesn’t share his plans with me, sir. The only thing I know is your soldier was still alive the last time I stayed at the estate.”
“Deron, let’s discuss the next attack on Hammath. Who helps Zamir plan? Who scouts for him? And who arranges for the boats to transport his friends when they come to spy on our patrols during the night?”
“Zamir has a friend named Adar who serves as his assistant. He arranges for the boats and decides who will spy each night. Adar has many friends, so does Zamir. I don’t know most of them.”
“How many people live with Zamir at his estate?”
“Only Adar resides with him now.”
“No one else lives on the property?”
“Zamir has a caretaker who lives in a small house outside the walls of the compound. I don’t know the man’s name. Zamir might have one or more guards working for him, but I haven’t been to Magdala for more than a week.”
“Thank you, Deron. I’m going to help you stand now. Then we’ll go back inside. I will bring you and Label something to eat. For now, the tower will serve as your new home. Get used to the place.”
Chapter 21
Watch Your Back Page 20