Hurriedly they picked up the swords and wooden shields that had been laid out on the deck. Levi almost laughed out loud at the wooden discs. He put his arm through the leather straps; the shield barely covered his forearm from knuckles to elbow. It was no more than half the size of a Roman battle shield, but it would have to do. Jacob waved the sword back and forth, twisting his arm in every direction to gauge the sword’s weight and center of balance. The blade was of an inferior steel and rusty from lack of use and storage in the salty environment of the ship. Fortunately, it was about the length of his Roman short sword.
The pirate ship was not rushing their attack, which gave time for the Egyptian crew to prepare to defend the ship. Akhom, now in full battle armor, was yelling orders with one eye on his men and the other on the enemy ship. He motioned to Jacob and Levi. “I have instructed the old man to stay below; he will be a nuisance in battle. You two must fight. If you fight like your Jewish countrymen, you won’t be much good to me, but we are outmanned and need every healthy man who can carry a sword. Stay behind my men and support them where needed. Try to carry yourselves like soldiers—your lives may depend on it.” Akhom walked away.
Jacob and Levi looked at each other and shared a nervous grin. Jacob said quietly, “Here we are on a peaceful mission to Judaea, and we find ourselves in the middle of another bloody campaign. My wounds haven’t healed from our last one.” He reached down to ensure the bandage on his lower calf was secure. Despite the care the two women at the house of Gaius Valerius had taken in dressing the wound, it was still swollen and tender.
Levi bent down to tighten the laces on his sandals and cut off the excess leather. He had learned a hard lesson as a young soldier about tripping over loose sandal laces. Never again did he go into battle with loose sandals and long trailing laces. Sword in hand, he reached with the other hand to grasp the amulet from under the front of his tunic. He stood tall with the amulet in his fist—calm and ready.
Men at the stern of the enemy ship wrestled with a gangplank secured on one end to a mast-sized post. The other end swung free on a boom secured with ropes. It would be swung over the deck of another ship and lowered for boarding. It was apparent the pirates’ strategy was to ram the Egyptian ship, relying on the forward motion of the two ships to position them side by side and close enough to swing the gangplank over. Jacob saw Akhom position most of his men toward the stern in anticipation of the point of entry being the swinging gangplank. He’s been in battle before, Jacob thought.
A shout rang out from one of the pirates, and in an instant the threatening ship turned sharply into their path. The angle they took would cause the spear to penetrate the forward third of their hull. As quickly as the enemy changed course, the Egyptian captain shouted an order, turning their ship away from the attack. Because of the heavy cargo onboard, however, the response of the Egyptian ship was slower and the angle was not as sharp. The pirate ship rammed the front of their boat, but the massive spear missed and went forward of their prow. The two ships collided with a loud wood-crunching shudder, and crews on both ships were thrown onto the decks as if they were wine goblets falling on a bumped table.
Jacob and Levi, anticipating the blow, squatted and gripped the railing to maintain their balance, popping up quickly when the ship leveled out. The enemy’s gangplank was expertly swung over and dropped with a crash, lodging itself in the rails at the stern of the Egyptian ship and firmly secured by spikes protruding from its bottom. A wave of arrows from the pirate ship was ineffective as the Egyptians ducked down behind the near railing. A shower of spears followed next, for the most part sailing harmlessly over their heads or sticking into the side of the ship, but a few spears did hit their mark, downing at least three sailors. The pirates yelled a war cry and stormed the gangplank into the waiting swords of the Egyptians. The first few enemy attackers were hewn down, but they came too fast and were too plentiful. Eventually they spilled onto the deck of the Egyptian ship. Akhom was in the forefront, swinging his sword and inflicting fatal blows. Levi made his way to the stern with Jacob right behind him. The gangplank lodging fully extended at the stern of the Egyptian ship kept the two ships from drifting side to side, which prevented the enemy from boarding at any other point.
Jacob saw that the contest was turning into a land war on their deck. The enemy archers were wreaking havoc now as seamen were focused on repelling the boarding force and not on protecting themselves from the arrows. Only three Egyptian soldiers were armed with bows and arrows. Overall the Egyptian force was outmanned almost two to one. The outcome of the battle didn’t look good.
The attacking horde poured onto the deck freely as Akhom and his men retreated toward the mainmast in the middle of the ship. Levi claimed his first three victims in rapid succession, hacking, parrying, and blocking with his shield and thrusting forward. He was too fast and skilled for the pirates, who relied on numbers and brute force. Levi cut through the attackers like a scythe through wheat.
Jacob found himself shoulder to shoulder with Akhom. With shields up, they pushed their attack into the face of the onslaught, slowing the forward motion of the pirates and holding firm amidships. Egyptian sailors were falling at an alarming rate. The defenders were as untrained as the attackers. It was a close-in battle of hack and slash, in which strength in numbers usually overcame.
Jacob saw out of the corner of his eye pirates coming in from behind him and Akhom. He turned and fought them off. He broke the outstretched arm of one attacker with a blow of his dull sword, sending him to the deck screaming. With a swift backhand he slashed the exposed neck of another pirate and then crouched and thrust a deathblow to a third as the enemy foolishly lifted his sword with both hands to strike a downward blow against Jacob. Akhom turned just long enough to see Jacob drop the three attackers to his rear.
Levi managed to exchange his inferior Egyptian shield for that of a fallen enemy. It happened to be a Roman shield of leather and brass, obviously booty from another attack. With the larger, more familiar shield guarding most of his upper body, Levi became invincible. He spun and slashed in the small space of the deck. He pushed two of the pirates over the side of the ship with the sheer force of his arm and massive body strength. The enemy began to fall at a faster pace. The Egyptian soldiers had returned to the stern and kept almost a third of the pirates from crossing over the gangplank, effectively reducing the odds against them.
The Egyptian sailors now had the pirates surrounded. The forward mariners had held, and Akhom, Jacob, Levi, and a small group of seamen were slowly crushing them from behind. Within minutes every pirate aboard had been slaughtered. A cheer went up as the fighting stopped.
The pirates remaining on their own ship quickly attempted to disengage the gangplank. Without thinking, Levi climbed onto the raised gangplank, charging over bodies and moving courageously toward the pirate ship. Akhom followed. The remaining Egyptians and Jacob were not far behind. Out here the battle had to be decisive. Neither side would take any prisoners.
The pirates fled the stern of their ship to avoid the incursion led by Levi. They gathered to defend themselves at the bow. Levi, Akhom, and Jacob led twenty or so Egyptians into the retreating enemy with renewed vigor.
Within minutes it was over.
Bodies of dead and wounded men were strewn over the decks of both ships. The surviving Egyptians raised their swords and shields in a victory shout. On the bow of the pirate ship, Akhom looked at Jacob and Levi for a moment and then with his shield bumped each of them on their heaving chest in a gesture of respect.
Akhom shouted to his men, “Clean up this pigsty, and let’s get moving! We have cargo to get to Caesarea!” He raised his sword to salute his men, who gave another victory shout. Jacob and Levi followed him back across the gangplank.
After a land battle, victorious Romans engaged brutal men, called stickers, to comb the battlefield for wounded enemy soldiers. They would thrust sharp javelins through the survivors’ lungs and heart to ensure the
death of the entire enemy force. It was little different at sea.
Akhom’s men scoured the enemy ship for loot. They claimed the fresh water and food stores and found a chest of coins and gold, which they took back to the captain. The bodies of dead and wounded pirates on the Egyptian ship were thrown overboard. The dead Egyptians were gathered on deck and sewn into blankets with their personal belongings and a small ration of food, then with ceremony and great respect lowered into the sea. The wounded were taken below and treated. After much hard work, the heavy gangplank was disengaged and the pirate ship set ablaze with all the dead and wounded pirates still aboard. The smaller front sail of the Egyptian ship was trimmed, pulling them away from the burning boat. Screams could be heard as wounded pirates were burned alive; some managed to roll overboard to a watery death. Battle was a grisly thing on land or sea, and Akhom showed no mercy.
The crew stowed the weapons and began washing blood off the deck with buckets of seawater. When everything was in order, the captain set course and the main sail was trimmed and secured. They could see the black smoke rising on the horizon from the burning ship for a long time as they continued their journey eastward. Levi had picked up a sharp Roman short sword from one of the fallen pirates. He reluctantly gave up the shield and sword to the sailors collecting weapons. He satisfied himself with the thought that they were within his grasp should they have another encounter.
The strain of the battle on Jacob’s leg had caused the wound to open slightly, and it was bleeding. He had suffered a cut on his right forearm, which he did not remember getting. Something or someone had hit him on his tender shoulder, and that was causing him the most pain. Levi appeared to be untouched, except for the blood spattered on him from head to toe. Until he washed with a couple of buckets of water, it wasn’t clear whether any of the blood was his own, but it wasn’t. For all his aggression in the fight, he had come out of it unscathed.
Ezra had remained below during the fight, as instructed. Now he returned to the deck. Upon seeing Jacob and Levi, he embraced each one. No words were exchanged. Then he led them in a reluctant prayer. Jacob and Levi wanted to rest, but they understood the need to keep up the deception. Their ruse was open to serious question, now that their skills as warriors had become known. Jacob observed Akhom and the captain talking and looking curiously at them.
16
After the experience with Jesus in the synagogue and the long talk with her aunt, Liora set her course. Jershon refused to allow her to follow Jesus on his journeys, but she was so determined that he reluctantly gave her permission if her brother would accompany her. David resisted at first, preferring to stay and fish with his uncle and cousins. He hoped that after a few days Liora would reconsider or make friends in the camp who could offer her sufficient protection and thus allow him to return to Capernaum. After all, these were disciples of the Messiah, not robbers and ne’er-do-wells.
Sariah coaxed her parents into letting her go as well, but Jershon made them promise they would return after a week to report on their experience. The next day Jershon, Lamech, and Seth were up early to fish. Liora, Sariah, and David spent the morning preparing to leave. Sariah and Liora gave Naomi a tearful hug. They kissed Raisa and the baby; they would miss him most. Naomi and Esther stood in the road outside the door and waved for as long as they were still visible.
Sariah had learned that Jesus and his apostles were staying at a farm not far from Capernaum and they would be traveling to Bethsaida on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, about the same distance northeast of Capernaum as Magdala was southwest. Within a few minutes, they met a crowd of people on the road just outside Capernaum. Maybe as many as two thousand people were sitting in a field, waiting. One of the disciples told them that Jesus had gone to visit a family with a seriously ill daughter and he would return soon to continue on to Bethsaida.
They had waited no more than thirty minutes when the crowd began to murmur at the sight of Jesus emerging in the distance from a cluster of dwellings. A buzz went through the crowd as the report of Jesus healing the sick girl was passed along. Liora smiled at Sariah with anticipation of the things they might witness in his presence. The walk was slow, hot, and dusty but didn’t deter them.
At about noon the crowd of disciples stopped beside the lake in a large grove of olive trees that provided plentiful shade. A large number of people waited to refill their water bags at a well nearby. Jesus and his closest associates sat on an outcropping of rock not far away. Liora led David and Sariah closer, so they could at least observe him. A small group of children ran noisily up to him. The men around Jesus tried to ward off the giggling children, saying that he needed to rest. Jesus signaled to his friends to cease discouraging the children. Liora heard him say, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” He walked among the children, touching their heads and brushing their tender cheeks. He smiled a wonderful smile, and Liora heard him laugh. He finally sat down on the ground among the children. They sat in his lap, leaned on his shoulders, and snuggled into him, relishing his affection. He talked to them quietly for some time and then sent them happily off.
Liora pondered the meaning of what she had witnessed, deducing that the kingdom of God must be full of children. It made her wonder if she would someday have her own children. She would take them to sit at the feet of Jesus, who would touch their faces and laugh with them. The thought pleased her.
David pointed out to Liora the contemptuous Jewish elders who were sitting in a group by themselves, talking quietly.
“They slither after him like snakes, waiting for him to say something that will allow them to strike,” Liora said with disdain.
“These same men were at the synagogue yesterday,” said David. “I don’t understand their attacks.”
“They question his authority, David,” Liora replied. “It’s not obvious to them, as it is to us. They want proof. They’ve seen him perform miracles; you’d think that would be proof enough of his authority.”
The three new disciples made themselves comfortable and ate some of the food that Naomi had prepared. Liora could not take her eyes off Jesus. After talking with the children, he spoke with a few of the disciples near where he was sitting. He smiled, apparently at ease with the people. It seemed everyone wanted to be near him and talk to him. Liora was satisfied watching from a distance, hoping he might preach to all of them at some point in the journey. He returned to his apostles and lay down near them in the grass to rest. Liora thought how tired he must be. He had no peace or rest even among those who loved him, yet he always appeared to be of good cheer, willing to stop and talk to people or bless them. What an amazing man, she thought.
They rested for about an hour, and then Jesus arose to continue the journey to Bethsaida. It took a few minutes before Liora, Sariah, and David even started to move, so great was the mass of people stretched out along the narrow road. The dust the crowd kicked up was stifling.
At Bethsaida, Jesus and his apostles disappeared into a house. The disciples found shade among the olive groves and set up camp. They would wait until Jesus moved on or found a place to preach to them. Liora, David, and Sariah settled under a small shelter David made of some dead branches and a blanket that gave them additional shade and some small degree of privacy. They were willing to wait, whether for an hour or days, to see and hear Jesus again.
17
Jacob awoke about sunset. Someone had dressed the wound on his forearm and rewrapped the wound in his calf. He started to sit up, but the deep bruise in his shoulder gave him considerable pain. He watched as the bodies of three more Egyptians who had succumbed to their wounds were being lowered into the sea.
He and Levi had estimated that twenty to twenty-five crewmen had been slain in the attack. That was close to half the number who had sailed from Ostia. It took about ten sailors to man the sails and keep the ropes in order on deck. The rest were likely oarsmen. Jacob realized the journey acro
ss the Great Sea, sitting at the feet of Ezra discussing philosophy and Jewish culture, had suddenly turned into a vigil for the enemy, whoever they were. The remote possibility of an attack had become a reality, and Jacob wondered whether they could sail all the way to Caesarea without being attacked again. They hadn’t even sailed far enough to be south of the island of Crete, where most pirate attacks occurred. It seemed that for most of his life he had been on the lookout for one enemy or another. Could a man find anyplace in the world where he need not worry about the threat of some enemy?
“Jacob!” Levi shook his friend. “Wake up.”
Jacob rolled over, careful not to lean on his injured shoulder. Levi and Ezra were sitting up, and Akhom had joined them, sitting on a low wooden stool. Darkness had fallen, and the fire had been restarted in the cauldron. The torches fore and aft burned brightly once again. Fresh fruit and meat still steaming from the flame were set on large plates next to them. Jacob sat up as Akhom poured wine from a goatskin bag into goblets he had brought from the captain’s table.
“You fought like lions today, my Jewish friends. I am reluctant to say it, but we owe our victory to you both.” He proposed a toast, and they all drank. Jacob savored the taste of the excellent wine. “Tell me where you learned your skills,” Akhom said.
Jacob answered, “We’ve spent some time in Rome. The soldiers were kind to us.”
Akhom laughed. “You could teach the Romans a thing or two. They fight no better than the rabble of pirates today, and they have less passion.” He laughed again.
Jacob glanced at Levi, silently warning him to hold his tongue, and then changed the subject. “Thank you, sir,” Jacob said respectfully.
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