The Twelve

by D A Walmsley

  Before she can say anything John comes out of the house carrying a small sports bag.

  “Are you sure you have everything?”

  “Mum, I’m fine,” he climbs into the bus and sits next to Thaddy.

  “Alright boys!” shouts James as he strolls out of the house.

  He is wearing shorts, a red and yellow Hawaiian shirt and is trying to squeeze a snorkel and goggles into his already bursting bag. He manages to zip it up and throws it towards the minibus. “Load that someone,” he says before disappearing into the garage. When he reappears he’s carrying a football, a couple of tennis rackets and a tennis ball.

  “Er, a little help won’t go amiss,” he says as he drops the tennis ball and it rolls down the drive.

  “James,” says Philip from inside the bus, “I don’t think this is a holiday, mate.”

  “'Course it is, the boss said he was tired, and we’ve just been on a solo mission. It has to be!”

  He passes the football and rackets to Simon, who in turn sends them to the back with all the other luggage.

  “Mustn’t forget the essentials, he dashes back inside, only to reappear carrying two large packs of Goldstar lager, “a little something for the journey!”

  “He’s thought of everything,” smiles Thaddy.

  “Hey, do you think I could fix my surf board to the roof rack?”

  “Just get in,” Simon takes the beer off him, sliding it down the floor and pulls him into the bus.

  Their mum comes over with a bag of goodies, handing it to Philip.

  “Hey thanks,” he says looking in the bag at all the chocolates, crisps and cans of coke.

  “If I’d known you were leaving again I would have baked. Oh, I’ve included a few packets of paracetamols. I know what you lads are like if you’ve been drinking.”

  Andrew thanks her and they all wave as the minibus sets off.

  By the time they get to Capernaum synagogue they have all polished off the bag of goodies. Large crowds mean there is no free space to park nearby. Andrew has to park in a Pay and Display a few minutes away. Walking back up towards the synagogue some people from Tiberius recognise the twelve.

  “We’ve been looking for you, where’s your boss?”

  They follow and find Jesus is standing on the steps of the synagogue speaking to a large crowd, including a TV crew. Matthew notices the three Pharisees from the Old Fig Tree are also in the crowd.

  The twelve push their way to the steps. Jesus is talking about the bread of heaven when he notices them arrive. He stops mid sentence, looking straight at James.

  “What are you wearing James,” who takes his sunglasses off and grins.

  Jesus shakes his head and carries on addressing the crowd.

  “Give us some breakfast,” shouts one of those from Tiberius.

  “Have you only come looking for me because I fed you for free. I am the bread of life, I offer more than what can fill your stomachs - food that will fill your souls. I am from the Father. I have come down from heaven to do the will of my Father who sent me. Not to do what I want. So that those who have seen the Son and believed in him should have eternal life and be raised up on the last day.”

  “He doesn’t make any sense, talking about heaven and his father.”

  “I knew your father, he was Joseph from Nazareth,” says one man.

  “Come on, give us another miracle,” says the TV camera man.

  “I am the living bread, anyone who eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, offered so that the world may live.”

  “Can’t you get your teacher to do something, this is just preaching; it is the religious department’s job.” The cameraman stops filming.

  Matthew watches, noticing that the Pharisees ask the cameraman for the film, or maybe a copy. He must remember to warn Jesus, they look like they’re up to something.

  Now the crowd, many of whom Matthew recognises from the day before on the hill, drift away unsatisfied. Jesus waves the twelve to follow him into the synagogue. Some followers who have been with Jesus from the very beginning walk out passed them, trying to avoid Jesus.

  “Does what I say offend you?”

  “It’s too hard to understand, teacher,” says a man.

  “So you are just going to give up?” The man shrugs and walks away, others follow him out.

  Andrew and Peter call Matthew over.

  “We think it might be a good idea to bring the minibus to the back door and avoid the crowd. Keep an eye out will you.”

  A few minutes later Peter nods over to Matthew.

  “Boss it’s time to go, the minibus is here,” says Matthew.

  “This is becoming a habit,” says James.

  They all pile in, but as Jesus is climbing into the front passenger seat he stops and in a rather sombre tone asks, “What about you lot, are any of you going to leave me?”

  They are all surprised and a little insulted that their boss would even ask them such a question.

  “Boss, who would we follow?” says Peter, a little hurt, “we know your words bring eternal life!”

  “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil!” Jesus says.

  They all look at Matthew.

  “Hey, don’t look at me. Thanks a lot, I see nothing has changed, has it?”

  Jesus gets in the bus and closes the door.

  “Er boss, where exactly are we going?”Andrew says, setting off.

  “On to the Tyre & Sidon highway.”

  The highway heads north, leaving behind the hot temperatures of Galilee and up into the cooler Syrian mountains. For the next hour no one speaks. The only sounds are the faint base tones that leak out of the headphones of both Simon’s and Jude’s phones. Jesus has closed his eyes, and though he may not be asleep, the mood in the bus has changed from excited holiday to subdued and contemplative.

  Matthew sits staring out of the window, not wanting to look at anyone. He thought he was making progress, starting to fit in, becoming one of the group. Why did Jesus say such a thing? He is never wrong. It was so assertive, so… he searches for the right word in a vain attempt to explain Jesus’ words. He loses his train of thought as Andrew catches the kerb whilst turning a corner.

  “Oops, sorry, that was a little tighter than I thought.”

  As they head towards the snow topped mountains the warm air gives way to a more cooler feel.

  “Andy, can you turn up the heating?” asks James.

  “It’s fine”, says Thaddy, “someone throw him his bag.”

  “I have goose bumps.”

  “Just put some trousers or jeans on?”

  “Er, I, er, anyone got any spare trousers?”

  A collective laugh breaks out, immediately followed by a universal reluctance to share.

  “I’ll put the heating on for you,” Jesus says, opening his eyes.

  “Thank you.”

  Matthew wonders if it’s a good time to ask why Jesus said one of them is a devil, but he is not that brave. Anyway he doubts he would be told, and what if the boss said it was him. Maybe it’s better just to leave that unanswered.

  “Boss, what’s the plan?” asks Thaddy.

  “Plans, someone mention plans. I think we should start to plan for lunch, I’m starving,” says Peter.

  Matthew checks his watch, it’s 11.05am.

  Up ahead is the border between Israel and Syria. As these countries are both now members of the Union, passports aren’t required. A solitary border guard sitting in a small portacabin doesn’t even look up from his paper as they drive passed.

  “I’ve never been abroad before!” says Simon pulling out his earphones and looking up at the snow topped mountains.

  “I wonder what the food will be like?” says Peter.

  “Is that all you think about?” asks Thaddy.

  “It is when I’m hungry.”

  “Don’t worry, there will be something to eat when we get there,” says Jesus.

  “Good. So where are we goi
ng?”

  “A holiday cottage, just north of Tyre and only a few miles from the coast. We can relax without all the crowds bothering us and you can start the next stage of your training. Plus, it should be warm enough for James to wear his shorts!”

  “See, I told you it’s a holiday!”

  James reaches down to the beer on the floor and opens the pack. “might as well have a sneaky one before lunch.”

  “He never heard the training part did he?” Andrew says to Jesus.

  When they arrive at the cottage it’s bigger than Matthew had expected, six bedrooms and a huge garden, plus the fridge is full. Great, the mobile phone reception is good, forgetting for a moment that he doesn’t have to keep in touch with the office anymore.

  “Oh, there’s only one bathroom!” sighs Thomas, “what’s it gonna be like in the morning?”

  For the rest, their first priority is acquiring a bed.

  “I’m not sharing a double bed with anyone!” says Thaddy as he throws his bag on a single.

  “The Boss should have the double room to himself, only fair,” says Nathaniel.

  “Why doesn’t Peter take the other and I’ll take the blow up mattress on the floor,” says Andrew. The rest scramble for the twins.

  Matthew sharing a room with Alphie had very little sleep and was quite happy to get up early. The previous evening they’d gone through all the beer and even polished off the bottles of wine found in the pantry. Peter, after talking to his missus and kids, had spent the rest of the evening working out a rota for the cooking and washing up. This morning he seems to have overlooked two rather large and annoying problems.

  “Morning Matt, it’s not exactly a holiday is it?” says James, as he burns the twentieth piece of toast.

  “Thought you two said you could cook?”

  “It’s a lot more difficult than I thought,” says John.

  Matthew sees they have made drinks, he sniffs it, ughh, “What is this?”

  “That’s coffee.”

  “It smells and looks like tar.”

  “I don’t understand? Mum makes it look so easy!” says John.

  “It’s not my fault, there must be something wrong with that toasting machine,” adds James putting another burnt offering on top of the pile.

  Sitting at a table with a drink is Alphie, “I made my own, they swore they didn’t want my help.”

  “Maybe we should eat out for breakfast,” says Philip when he comes in.

  “At least Peter is on for this evening meal, I hear he’s quite the chef,” says Alphie.

  “Only with fish,” says John.

  What a difference a few miles makes. Over the border there isn’t the clamour for Jesus. Some of the lads, Jude, Simon and especially James have started to really enjoy being in the public eye. Matthew hates it, it’s one of his biggest concerns. Also, when there are crowds the lads don’t get as much quality time with their boss as they would like. So this is a nice break. They can learn from their teacher in private and not be embarrassed when they ask seemingly obvious questions.

  Walking along the seafront, in the late afternoon sun, Thomas doesn’t look happy and soon starts to complain, “look at my jeans.”

  All up the front are splashes of wet sand and mud, from walking closely behind Jesus.

  “No offence Boss, I’ll just move away from you. I don’t have any more clean jeans.”

  “You should be pleased” says Matthew, who is walking at the back of the group.

  “What do you mean?” asks Thomas.

  “If a pupil of a Rabbi was seen to be covered in the dust of his Master, he was regarded as the favourite or the most keen student.”

  “Who told you that?” asks Simon.

  “I read it somewhere.”

  Jesus doesn’t say anything, he just keeps on walking, probably knowing that behind him there is a scramble to get in pole position, though Thomas has now decided to hold his ground.

  Matthew doesn’t get involved, preferring to stay at the back, for now anyway. As they walk up on to the main road a woman catches his eye, she is just getting into a parked car. He sees her look at him, quickly close the door and grasp at her handbag. As he walks past he hears a mechanical clunk as she locks herself in.

  Oh that’s just great, do I look like I’m going to nick your purse. He considers shouting at her, pointing out that he has changed from the violent collector he once was. Maybe not the best move, especially as the guys he is with are still pushing and shoving each other to the extent that they will probably need to be wrestled apart. His hand automatically goes to his gun in its holster. His thoughts drift back to a time when he would have revelled in the fact that people were scared of him.

  “PROPHETIC! That was the word I was trying to think of yesterday, huh, funny how that happens isn’t it” says Matthew.

  The others all turn round, looking at him in bemusement.

  “You talking to yourself again Matt?” asks Peter.

  Matthew nods, and they all carry on walking.

  As they continue to walk along the seafront someone recognises Jesus and starts running towards the group.

  “Is that you, Son of David?” shouts a young woman.

  Jesus ignores her and keeps on walking.

  “What does that mean?” asks James.

  “It means she knows who the Boss is,” says Nathaniel.

  “Oh great, if she keeps on shouting like that so will everybody else,” says Thomas.

  As the woman gets nearer, her voice becomes louder and more desperate. “Have mercy on me, Sir!” Jesus carries on walking and doesn’t even turn to look at her.

  “My daughter is in a terrible condition, please help.”

  To Matthew’s surprise, Jesus still refuses to turn round.

  “The boss isn’t interested, shut up and go away,” says James.

  She ignores him and screams even louder. Jude tries to push her away, but with little effect.

  “Boss!” says Peter, John and Andrew, “do something, this woman won’t stop following us. Make her shut up and send her away. Soon everybody will know who you are.”

  Jesus stops, and slowly turns round to see the woman for the first time.

  “I was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

  The woman approaches Jesus, kneels down and begs him, “Lord, help me!”

  “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” Jesus replies.

  “Yes Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from the masters table.”

  Jesus smiles at her. “You are a woman of great faith, get up, your daughter is now healed.”

  As the woman starts to get up, her mobile begins ringing. “Hello, she is what, completely better?” She runs off the way she came, shouting, “You healed her! Thank you Jesus, thank you.”

  “She’s gonna tell everybody!” says Thomas.

  “Does that mean we’re packing up and moving on?” asks Alphie.

  Jesus nods, “back to Israel, but at least we won’t have to eat any more of James’ cooking.”

  Chapter 21

  “There you are, sir. What are you doing all the way down here?”

  Annas is in the Temple basement where all the Temple post is sent to be sorted. He is sitting on a plastic chair watching a monitor. In his hand is a remote.

  “Watch this,” he says.

  A recording of Jesus on the synagogue steps in Capernaum begins to play.

  “I have come down from heaven to do the will of my Father who sent me. Not to do what I want. So that those who have seen the Son and believed in him should have eternal life and be raised up on the last day.”

  “Interesting, isn’t it,” says Annas, rewinding it and watching it again.

  “Yes sir, very, but why down here. Are you OK?”

  Annas starts the recording once more and only looks up at the end.

  “Right, Jonathan, you’re here, good, get the disc out of that thing will you,”
pointing to the DVD player. Jonathan ejects the disc and after he is unable to see the packing it came in, slides it safely into his jacket pocket and hurries to catch up to his boss as Annas is walking out of the room.

  “Right, what about my two o’clock meeting?”

  “Sir, it’s gone three, I cancelled it when you were nowhere to be found.”

  “Well, you had better rearrange it, let’s say by the time I get back to my office. Oh and watch that DVD yourself, see what you make of it.”

  Two guards appear, ready to escort Annas. Jonathan gives them a stern glare.

  “I had the whole temple guard out looking for you sir, not to mention the palace guard and the police. Oh, this is going to get embarrassing. Protocol, protocol, please keep in touch at all times?” He takes out his phone as he hurries behind Annas and the two guards. “No signal, huh.”

  “No use trying to use that down here, the walls are so thick, nothing works,” says one of the guards.

  He points to his radio microphone, “not even these.”

  When they get up to the ground floor his phone rings.

  “Hello, yes I’ve found him, false alarm, everything is now under control, thank you, yes, I’m sure, that’s right, thank you.”

  “I’ll see you back at the office, you’ve got meetings to arrange,” Annas says to Jonathan.

  Annas takes in the Temple floor, even managing to listen in at one of the scripture lessons, to the pleasure of the priests but much to the annoyance of his guards, all the time letting the recording of the Carpenter play over in his mind. After half an hour a guard whispers it’s time for them to leave and he is ushered quickly back upstairs to the safety of his office chambers.

  Annas marches straight into his office. “Well, is he here?”

  “Yes Sir.”

  Standing in front of his desk is a Union soldier.

  “I was wondering whom they might send.”

  “Captain Anthony Roberto, Centurion in the 31st Battalion of the Union Army, Sir,” says the soldier.

  “Career soldier I presume?”

  “Yes sir, I was born in Italy and joined the Union Army straight from school, Sir.”

  Annas thought this might happen. He sits in his chair behind the desk and offers the Captain a seat.

  So, the governor’s office is wasting my time. Captain Roberto will have no knowledge of the minutiae of the security situation.