Maximus

by Richard L. Black

  Jacob stared blankly into the fire, not expecting any response from his friend. The tears had stopped flowing but still streaked his dusty face. Before Levi could say anything, Jacob spoke. “They are going to take his life,” he said quietly. “I believe what Aurelius told us. These zealot Sanhedrists will somehow put him to death, and unless they outright murder him they will have to lean on the authority of Rome to do their dirty work. We have to stop it.”

  His comments were interrupted by the sound of approaching hooves. Their attention was drawn to a group of about eight men approaching on horseback, seemingly foreign, certainly not Jewish. The men stopped about fifty yards away and dismounted, making a halfhearted attempt to appear like they were setting up a camp like normal travelers. The sun was still above the western horizon and the subdued orange light of the early evening bathed the rocky hills. Both Levi and Jacob watched their movements, sensing something about them wasn’t right. Most travelers they had encountered along the way were poor. Most of them traveled on foot, though a few possessed a horse or donkey to carry their belongings. Women and sometimes children accompanied them. This was a band of men on horseback, traveling light. It was then Levi noticed the flash of a long, curved sword hanging from the waistband of a large, menacing man wearing a dark turban.

  “It appears we may have unwelcome visitors,” he remarked to Jacob, not taking his eyes off the intruders. Aurelius had told them they would encounter many foreigners traveling to Jerusalem this time of year to visit the temple for the high holy days of Passover. He cautioned them to stay close to the main road to avoid bands of robbers that frequented the highway, taking advantage of defenseless parties camped along the way. The men seemed more interested in looking at Levi and Jacob sitting on the ground by their small fire than they were in making camp.

  “They are likely after our horses,” Jacob said.

  “Well, they will get nothing,” Levi said as he stood and removed his robe, exposing his massive arms and strong legs in his short tunic. He faced the men. They handed the reins of their horses to a member of their band and moved to one side. Their intentions were becoming clear. Levi produced the sling given to him by Aurelius. He found a suitable stone and placed it into the webbing. He whirled it over his head and at the right moment hurled the stone toward the group of horses. It skipped through their feet, causing them to rear. Eyes wide, the horses wheeled, knocked the helpless attendant to the ground, and galloped into the nearby hills. Levi, in the meantime, loaded another stone in the sling and whipped it over the heads of the small band of men standing in disorder. It hissed over their heads, causing them to flinch and duck in response. Jacob had been watching in amusement. With one eye on the robbers, he retrieved the short swords from their bedrolls, still tied to the horses. He tossed one to Levi, who caught it by the hilt in one hand, the sling dangling from his other hand. Jacob removed his long outer robe, and both men tightened the sashes of their tunics to prepare for an attack.

  Levi shouted a curse in Greek at the top of his lungs as he grasped the amulet around his neck in his fist. “By the gods, if you come to harm us, you will be sent back to your own god cut up in so many pieces he will not recognize you.” He then brandished his sword. He lunged and sidestepped, twirled the sword over his head and brought it down fiercely onto his imaginary foe. To see him do it was intimidating and gave the viewer no doubt as to his skills and intentions with the flashing sword. He dropped to one knee and with both hands drove the sword into the ground in front of him with a force that would have pierced the body of any enemy. He bared his teeth and screamed in defiance at the robbers who stood still, staring at him from a distance in disbelief. There was complete silence. Jacob stood behind Levi, sword in hand. The only movement was the shuffling of the two horses that were suddenly skittish from the flailing movements of their master.

  The thieves had chosen the wrong people to rob. The bandit leader turned to his men and with a slight wave of his hand signaled his men that the fight was over. They collected their remaining horses and rode off as quickly as they had come.

  Jacob couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you think they will return?” he asked.

  “Yes, in the dark of night. We should make camp elsewhere, perhaps near another group of travelers to discourage them—and we should set a watch.”

  They hastily put out their small fire, gathered their meager belongings, and mounted the horses to move to safer ground. They returned to the main road and within a few minutes approached a flat area where several groups of people were encamped. They stopped a friendly distance from the largest group and made camp, kindled a small fire, and settled in for the night.

  After a meager meal, they lay quietly on the ground, staring up at the night sky. “Did you expect a response from me earlier, before we were interrupted?” Levi asked.

  “About what?” Jacob responded.

  “About Jesus and Liora and Sariah and all the things you babbled on about.”

  “No—you’re right, I was just babbling,” Jacob responded. “But those things have weighed heavily on my mind lately. I want to be engaged in something that is not centered on killing and subjecting people to rule. We talked about this in Gaul; you know how I feel. My disdain for Roman expansion has not changed—I need to move on.” Jacob once again became passionate in his speech. “My brother, I love Liora, but I realized that can’t be. That’s why I made the decision to leave abruptly—it just wouldn’t work. I know how disruptive that would be to her family. They all may be followers of Jesus, but they are still Jewish. Those traditions run deep. I respect her too much to make her an outcast in her own community.”

  “Then take her to Rome, brother. Take her to your home. Your mother and sisters will embrace her. Your mother will convince your father that following your heart is better than following the conventions of Roman society. Your mother never followed convention. She was never caught up in the patrician lifestyle made available to her. She decided to follow her heart and live outside of Rome and its demands. She and your father made it work. And is your mother any less respected? No, she is not. She is beloved, looked upon in almost a higher state. When she accompanies your father to Rome, she is regal and elegant, and women look up to her because she is different and because she is her own master. She alone has decided the course of her life, not the fickle whims of the emperor.”

  Jacob laughed, “You are observant and wise in ways that constantly surprise me, my brother.”

  “Well, it wasn’t very wise to challenge eight bandits. That could have gone a lot differently had they chosen to attack,” Levi said.

  “But they didn’t. You convinced them without saying a word that it would not be prudent for them to move upon us. It was strategic and masterful.”

  “You flatter me, my friend—it was bold but stupid,” Levi remarked.

  “But it worked, and that’s all that matters,” Jacob said as he made himself more comfortable on the hard ground.

  “So why don’t you go back and get Liora and do something bold and stupid—that strategy might work too,” Levi challenged.

  Jacob simply smiled. “Let’s first finish what we came here to do, and then I will think about being bold and stupid.” He pulled the small blanket over his shoulders and rolled over, signaling the end of their conversation.

  Suddenly a scream pierced the night sky.

  Levi was up as quick as a cat, his sword in hand. Jacob sat bolt upright and then stood, tilting his head to determine what direction the scream came from. He retrieved his sword, and the two of them moved quickly and quietly toward the now-muffled screams.

  Soon they could see a campfire in the distance. They could make out shadows of men moving around quickly. As they approached, they could tell it was the same band of robbers that they had occasion to meet earlier, this time picking on a weaker foe. One of them held a woman by the throat, attempting to stifle her screams. Two bodies lay on the ground motionless at his feet. The other men brandished sw
ords and stood guard over a small group of people nearby. Jacob could see now that it appeared to be three men, two women, and several children being held in a tight group. Levi and Jacob glanced at each other and with a few silent motions of their heads and hands devised a strategy. Levi began to circle around, staying outside of the small fire’s light. Jacob moved forward slowly and deliberately. He carefully placed the sword in his sash behind his back, then moved into the light of the fire.

  “Does someone need help here?” Jacob asked innocently. All eyes were on him as he approached slowly with his arms to his side. One member of the band of robbers met him at the edge of the light and held a sword out, pointing directly at him.

  “Just leave, and we will cause you no trouble,” one of the bandits said from his place with the hostages in the background.

  Jacob didn’t move. “I thought I heard a scream.” Jacob looked around. “It appears you’re already causing trouble here,” he said.

  The bandit took a couple steps forward, his large sword still pointed at Jacob. “This does not concern you, Jew. Leave now or you will become part of this,” the leader rejoined.

  “Oh, I think we’re already part of it,” Jacob said. A muffled groan came from somewhere in the background. Levi had grabbed the thief who was holding the woman by the neck and thrust his dagger into his heart from behind. The thief crumpled in a heap on the ground, and the woman renewed her shrill scream. As the bandit in front of him turned to see what was happening, Jacob in one fluid motion grabbed his short sword from behind his back, swung it forward, and caught the robber on the side of his neck, dropping him dead in his tracks.

  The other robbers were confused with the sudden turn of events and the sight of Jacob and Levi walking confidently toward them, swords and daggers in hand. Making a fatal error in judgment, the bandits decided to fight instead of run. The bandits fought wildly but were no match for the skill and strength of Jacob and Levi. As they fought, the women were screaming and the children were crying hysterically. Within minutes, Jacob and Levi had dropped the other six men. When it was over, the two large Romans stood with blood-spattered tunics, looking down at the bandit leader, who had suffered an incapacitating wound. Jacob cautiously knelt down by his side. “Where are you from?” Jacob asked the man, who was struggling for breath.

  “Damascus,” was his feeble response.

  Jacob looked him in the eye and held his sword up for the man to see. “I want you to get on your horse and ride back to Damascus. You tell your friends that it doesn’t pay to ride into Judaea and attack innocent families and rob them. Jews like me take exception to that. I don’t ever want to see you again.” Jacob spat out the words.

  The man shakily nodded his head in agreement, but before he could get up, Levi swiftly rammed his sword through the man’s chest.

  Jacob looked up in disbelief. “What?” was all he managed to sputter.

  “I’ve disposed of an enemy that would soon return to do battle,” Levi said defiantly. He was clutching the amulet around his neck. “These are the same type of scum that killed my family. They do not deserve to live!”

  Jacob stood and looked at his friend, who was visibly shaking with anger.

  “Look at these people they have attacked,” Levi went on, motioning with his sword toward the family that was now huddled together, sobbing quietly. “They have killed their men and left a dark imprint on these women and children that will never leave them.” He looked toward the sky. Jacob saw the tears streaming down his face in the moonlight.

  Levi threw his sword on the ground and held up his bloodied hands. “I’m tired of the conflicts and the killing. I’ve had enough!” he cried out, bowing his head.

  Jacob returned the sword to his sash and placed an arm on Levi’s shoulder. “I’m tired of this too, my brother.”

  He stepped forward and hugged Levi. Jacob knew his brother was shedding tears held inside for a long time. Tears for his family, tears for comrades lost in battle, and even tears for the noble enemies he had slain out of allegiance to Rome. Jacob was witnessing his brother’s discovery of remorse, humility, and penitence. He knew Levi had turned a corner and would never be the same. Jacob silently wept with him.

  “Thank you. Thank you for what you have done.” The patriarch of the family approached the two defenders. “We have traveled from Cana. My family is going to Jerusalem for Passover. If you are going to Jerusalem, won’t you please travel with us? We can feed you. This is a terrible setback but we are determined to move on—we must,” he said, clutching his hands together.

  Jacob looked into the cloudy and pleading eyes of the old man standing before him. He reached out his hand and touched his arm. “I am sorry this has happened. I am glad we were nearby and could help. I only wish we had come sooner. We will help you clean up and stay with you for the remainder of the night, but in the morning we must move on alone. You will be fine if you stay on the main road. There are plenty of travelers for protection.”

  Jacob and Levi dragged the bodies of the robbers outside the camp and left them in a heap behind a small rise. They gathered the swords and daggers and purses of the eight men. They helped the two younger men traveling with the group to dig graves for their slain family members, who happened to be the husband and teenage son of the woman who was being held by the robber when Jacob and Levi had arrived. She wept uncontrollably as the four men wrapped the bodies in robes and placed them in the shallow grave.

  Jacob and Levi retrieved their belongings and horses from their nearby camp and returned to sleep with the mourning family. At sunrise, the women served them fresh bread and warm grain porridge covered with honey. The meal was excellent and filling. Levi took the best of the robbers’ horses, handing the reins of the others to the man in the group who appeared to be the oldest. “Take these horses with you. Keep them or sell them in Jerusalem. They appear to be of good stock and should bring you a handsome profit. The swords and daggers are equally valuable, and I am sure there is a trader who will pay you a worthy sum for them.” Then he handed the man the good-sized purse of coins the robbers had possessed. The man wept with gratitude.

  As Jacob and Levi took their leave, the woman who had lost her husband and son rushed to Jacob and hugged him tightly. She had no voice left and was frail and drawn. She looked up into his eyes and hoarsely said something that Jacob did not understand, but he knew it was a blessing of sorts. Then she turned and hugged Levi. As she did so, she reached up, put her hand on the amulet around his neck, raised it to her lips, and kissed it lightly. She repeated the same blessing and gently placed the misshapen piece of gold back in its place against Levi’s chest. He embraced her and kissed her on the forehead.

  The two Romans walked away from the camp as the family called out blessings and farewells. They walked silently for some time along the main highway to Jerusalem, leading their four horses.

  It was almost an hour before Jacob finally spoke. “You know, my brother, there’s a place for soldiers who protect the innocent. What we did back there was a good thing.” He placed his hand on Levi’s shoulder. Levi didn’t look up. Jacob let the silence continue.

  After a few minutes Levi responded. “I know what we did was good—and necessary. But it hit me that many of the enemies we have slain over the years had wives, mothers, and families like that woman who lost her son and husband. We have killed a lot of sons and husbands.” He paused. “The men we killed last night deserved to die.” He paused again. “But it’s too easy for me to kill people. I’m weary of it. I think I understand now how you feel. Remember how I pined for a sword on our sea voyage? I felt naked without it. Now I am not sure I ever want to carry one again.”

  29

  Late the following day, the sun began its slow shift to the west. The two Roman travelers climbed a steep and long rise, pausing at the top to enjoy the view before them. Far off in the distance they caught their first glimpse of the great city of Jerusalem.

  Smoke and dust arose from vari
ous points, telling of hearth fires and the movement of thousands of people. It was not as grand as Rome. The city was a mixture of low mud and stone buildings and taller structures made of chiseled limestone. Portions of the great walls surrounding the city could be seen, walls built by King David and his son Solomon and later expanded by Herod. Jacob studied the city in the distance and made out what he believed was the temple spoken of by Jershon. It was surrounded by its own wall, and although it appeared small on the far horizon, it was clearly one of the larger structures in the city.

  Next to the temple, Jacob could see the Herodian fortress of Antonia. Its high towers that Aurelius had mentioned reminded him that there was a garrison of Roman auxiliary soldiers in Jerusalem, and they would, no doubt, encounter patrols regularly, especially with the influx of so many pilgrims. Jacob had become comfortable looking like an ordinary Jew and doubted the soldiers would pay them any heed.

  Sight of the city filled them with adrenaline, and they rode on with renewed purpose. They hadn’t talked about the upcoming meeting with Pontius Pilate. During the short journey, Jacob had formulated the report in his mind but wanted to talk to Levi about it. More important, he wanted to talk to Ezra. “How do you think we will find Ezra in this mass of people?” Jacob finally asked Levi.