One of the men, struggling to catch his breath said, “Damn! They gone!”
Another followed, “Them drag queens...sure can...run!”
* * * * *
The twelve disciples, Jesus and David trudged up a steep hill, which led to a lone dwelling, just outside Bethany. They hadn’t been walking long, but the steep incline took the muscle out of even the fittest man. David, Tom and Jesus led the pack.
Jesus looked at Tom and David, attempting not to smile while doing so. They were both bruised and battered from their encounter with the Porker Palace thugs. Tom had been quick with a cover story; that he and David were mugged, beaten and left unconscious in an alley. “The men who robbed and beat you, were they blind?”
“You’re not going to get into the blind that can see stuff again, are you?” Tom asked.
Jesus smiled, “No. I mean, were they physically blind?”
“Why?” Tom asked.
“You claim that five large men beat and robbed you,” started Jesus.
“Yes...” Tom was unsure as to where this was leading.
“Yet your money purse remains at your hip,” Jesus pointed out.
Tom looked down to his hip, where indeed, his money purse still hung. “Huh, I guess I must have fallen on top of it during the fight. Maybe they couldn’t see it?”
“Maybe they were blind?” Jesus asked with a smile.
“Not likely,” Tom said, wishing Jesus would change the line of questioning. While the truth would never come out, he didn’t want to be seen as a liar, not to his friends anyway. Yet Tom couldn’t resist the opportunity for a friendly jab, “Why don’t you just fix us up with a little God zap?”
David’s head snapped toward Tom, his eyes angry. Tom had just crossed the line with that comment. David turned to Jesus, afraid for what the repercussions for such a statement might be, “We’re fine. Ignore my ignorant friend. His ego was bruised along with his face.”
But Jesus, seemingly unfazed by the dig, said “Healing you would only make you forget more quickly the lesson you’ve learned. Pain and suffering can be wise teachers, and some lessons need to be learned over time.”
Tom mentally sifted through an array of witty replies, but never got the chance to utilize one. “Stop,” Jesus said to the group. At the top of the hill was a large home, built of clay bricks, surrounded by fig and olive trees. Jesus stared at the building, absorbing its shape and the surroundings, like he was remembering. At the top of the hill stood a man, whose presence shouted strength and power.
Lazarus had been working outside all day, and the roots of the stump before him lay exposed, yet still clinging to the ground. Lazarus gripped a rope tied to the stump and wrapped it around his hands and wrists. With a mighty pull and a scream of exertion, he wrenched the stump and all its roots from the earth.
Tom’s eyes widened as he saw the feat of amazing strength from a safe distance. “Who is this guy? Maybe we shouldn’t bother him,” Tom said.
“Stop worrying,” Jesus said, “It doesn’t become you.”
Jesus strode toward the man. Tom wondered what death wish had possessed Jesus now.
Mary, Lazarus’s sister, ran from the house, long black hair undulating through the air behind her, and shook Lazarus by the shoulder. “What is it?” Lazarus asked, knowing the look in Mary’s bright green eyes meant trouble.
Pointing to the road on which the fourteen were walking toward the house, Mary said, “There, on the road.”
From this distance, only the number of men could be made out. Lazarus picked up his shovel and wielded it like a gladiator.
“Get inside,” Lazarus said, “Find Martha, and be ready to run.”
“What about you?” Mary asked.
“My life is inconsequential. I would willingly give it for my sisters’,” Lazarus said, “Now go.”
Mary obeyed her big brother’s request. She ran back inside as quickly as she had run out. Lazarus took a few broad steps toward the encroaching group and shouted, “Stay where you are and state your business.” His voice boomed.
The fourteen stopped in their tracks. Lazarus had a commanding voice and even more commanding body language. Jesus turned to Tom and smiled, “Perhaps we all need to learn a lesson, eh?”
“What? No. What are you—?”
Tom’s brief protest fell on deaf ears. “We’re here to eat your food and be served by your sisters!” Jesus shouted.
Tom audibly gasped. Jesus had gone insane! “What are you doing?” Tom said, “That guy is huge!”
Lazarus held up the shovel, ready to strike down the first man to try. “Turn back the way you came, stranger.”
“Stranger?” Jesus shouted, “I haven’t been gone that long.”
Through squinted eyes, Lazarus attempted to make out facial features.
Jesus pushed on, “Perhaps I should come up there and beat some sense into you!”
Tom looked at Jesus wide-eyed. Tom thought all this God business must have really been going to Jesus’s head.
Lazarus stood up straight and his head tilted. “Jesus?”
“In the flesh,” Jesus replied.
A smile stretched across Lazarus’s face. “Mary! Martha! It’s Jesus!” Lazarus shouted, as his huge feet carried him toward Jesus.
They met halfway and embraced like true friends. Jesus was lifted off the ground in Lazarus’s arms. “It’s been too long, my friend!”
Tom let out a long sigh of relief. He looked at David, “I thought we were all dead for sure.”
“I’m sure that’s the same thing he was thinking.” David said, as he looked at Lazarus.
Jesus was released from Lazarus’s bear hug. He looked at Lazarus’s arms and said, “I see you’ve been working hard.”
“Jesus!” Mary shouted, as she just about barreled him over with a hug.
Tom couldn’t help but smile at such a happy reunion. He could tell these must have been lifelong friends of Jesus, and Mary...was stunning! Her hair looked soft, but not as soft as her face, and her smile—beautiful, the way it pushed her cheeks into firm apples... Tom was pulled from his wistful distraction when Jesus spoke.
“Where is your sister?” Jesus asked.
“When Martha heard who was here, she got to work on a meal for you and your friends,” Mary explained.
“Come,” Lazarus said, “Come inside. Our home is your home. Our food is your food.”
Lazarus led the fourteen men, who Tom knew were all strangers here, toward the house. He had never seen such friendship or generosity. Tom felt instantly at home.
—TWELVE—
Exhale
2005
2:56 P.M.
Arizona
Thirty seconds after David launched into the past in search of Tom, Captain Roberts, George Dwight and Jake Parish entered Receiving Area Alpha. Sally watched as Captain Roberts, who looked out of place in his ancient garbs and modern crew cut, was allowed free access to any and all classified equipment and material that had been transported to LightTech from the future. Roberts didn’t seem to find anything useful in the cluttered room, but Sally was sure he simply couldn’t make sense of anything he was seeing. This was the man her superiors were entrusting to save the world.
“Find anything useful?” Sally asked.
“Nothing of interest,” he replied.
Nothing of interest? Roberts was a joke, Sally thought. Absolutely every device and sheet of notebook paper within the confines of the room was of interest.
“Of course, finding anything of interest is a moot point,” Roberts said, “You and your science team have already combed through this equipment, correct?”
“Of course,” replied Sally.
“Then you tell us. Is there anything of interest that might help our cause?” George asked in a tone that suggested she better tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help her God.
Sally picked up one of the remaining time travel watches and handed it to Roberts. As Sally moved her ar
m toward Roberts, she worked the buttons expertly. Sally was in charge of the science team and held an executive position at LightTech, but had once been a formidable scientist herself. She had studied the watches and had made some discoveries she didn’t want known—not yet anyway. She also wanted to protect her two prized scientists. She had been hard on them over the years and she rarely saw eye to eye with them, but without them, none of this could have ever been possible. And she respected them greatly for that...especially David.
She knew that Roberts would kill them without hesitation. He was the kind of man built for killing, and after the years of training he’d received at LightTech, she imagined he was long overdue to draw blood. She couldn’t let that happen, but she also had to make sure the blood spilled wasn’t her own.
Sally pressed the final button on the watch; she finalized the changes she had swiftly made to Roberts’s landing zone, placing him ten miles outside his intended target area. The plan was to give him a hike, and hopefully give David a little more time. Beep, beep. Sally froze. She didn’t expect the watch to make any kind of confirmation noise. Roberts squinted at her and she could have sworn his hand moved toward his knife. Sally worked hard not to panic in the following seconds. She knew that even the oddest change in facial expression might draw suspicion. Sally felt a deadweight pulling down on her shoulders. Would her attempts to slow Captain Roberts be found out? Sally glanced at the watch as casually as she could manage.
Thank God! Sally’s tense muscles relaxed. “Top of the hour, gentlemen.”
Sally handed the watch to Roberts. It was 3:00 p.m.
Roberts slipped the disguised watch onto his wrist and glanced at the face. “How’s this doohickey work?” he asked, causing Sally to roll her eyes.
George and his assistant Jake looked at each other with a tinge of embarrassment. All the years of training and education and Roberts was still a simple-minded buffoon. Sally saw the exchange and attempted not to smile.
“Push this button once to go back to the prearranged time and place. This has already been programmed,” explained Sally, as she pointed to the appropriate buttons. “Push the same button twice to come back. That’s it; even a seven year old could work the watch.” Sally was pushing it, and she knew it.
Roberts checked his weapon quickly, making no attempt to hide his angry glare at Sally, as he walked to the center of the room and turned around. “Be back in a minute.”
Captain Roberts pushed a button on the watch and waited to be transported back in time. Nothing happened. “It’s the other button, the one above that,” Sally said, her smirk impossible to hide.
Roberts pushed the correct button and a blue pulse of light began to flash in front of him. Sally, George and Jake backed quickly out of the room and watched through the glass as Captain Roberts exploded back in time to kill their best and brightest.
Sally turned to George and asked, “So what’s our backup plan if Roberts fails?”
“He won’t fail,” said George with feigned confidence.
“Nonetheless, I’m sure you have a backup plan. What is it?”
George motioned to Jake to explain. Jake stepped forward and said with forced casualness, “We’ve developed a series of miniature robots that can—”
“Robots? Cut the crap and tell me the truth.” Sally didn’t feel like being jerked around.
“No joke,” Jake said, as he pushed his glasses further onto his nose. “The I-Fly 100 robotic insect series. Each is equipped to deliver a lethal sting that will mimic an allergic reaction. We’ve tested it on several employees already.”
Sally was aghast.
“Not to worry, Sally,” George added, “We have an antidote. No one died during the testing.”
“The robots are designed to fly, look and act like common pests. They have built in facial recognition software and can operate for seven days using micro fuel cells and solar power.”
“How quickly does the poison act?” Sally asked, her stomach knotting.
“Depends on the target,” George said with pride. “If healthy, it could take up to two days.”
“And you have these all ready to go?” Sally asked.
“Three of them, yes,” George said, “You don’t have a problem with this, do you?”
Sally was testing her facial control today. “Of course not. I just want to be kept informed from now on.”
“Naturally,” George said.
“You said you had three. One for David, one for Tom, who is the third for?” asked Sally.
“Captain Roberts, of course. Should he fail to return, his life is subject to termination as well,” Jake explained with a smirk that said, “Well, duh.”
Sally wished she could punch the little brownnose, but instead said, “You’ll let me know when your robots are ready to be sent back?”
“I promise,” George said with a toothy grin.
“Good,” Sally said, wishing she had something more stinging to say. She pivoted expertly on her heels and strode away.
Jake looked at George and asked, “Think she’s still with us?”
“Sally’s a team player, Jake, always has been,” George said.
Jake watched Sally walk away.
George stretched his neck and then said with a smile, “Besides, if Sally becomes a problem, there’s always robot number four.”
Jake smiled.
* * * * *
The laughter from Lazarus’s home could be heard clear to the walls of Bethany. The past four hours since their arrival had been filled with storytelling, camaraderie and fine dining. The seating was a bit awkward, lounging around a short table from which people would scoop food with unleavened bread. It wasn’t Peggy’s, but Martha could cook like no other woman in ancient Israel—Tom was sure of that. He was smitten with their hosts. Lazarus was strong as an ox and as funny as a cat in water. Martha was an amazing host, never stopping to eat, drink or talk. The woman was a machine. And Mary...sweet Mary. Every time Tom’s eyes met with hers, even for the briefest moment, his stomach would turn over. Tom hoped their stay at the home would last longer than most stops.
Half the group, including Tom, Jesus, Matthew, Peter, Judas, Lazarus and Mary sat in one room together, while the rest of the disciples dined in a room across the hall. David had gone outside more then an hour ago and had yet to return. Tom wondered if David had returned to the future again without telling him. Whatever the reason for David’s disappearance, Tom wouldn’t let it distract him from the incredible time he was having.
Martha buzzed between the rooms and through the corner of her eyes saw Mary laughing flirtatiously with Tom. “Having fun?” Martha asked her with a steely glare.
Jesus looked up at Martha and his smile faded slightly. Trouble was brewing. “What troubles you, Martha?” Jesus asked, as though clueless.
“Do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?” Martha asked.
Jesus smiled pleasantly, “Martha…you’re worried about so many things, but only one thing is needed.”
Martha puts her hands on her hips, waiting to hear what Jesus had to say. “Mary has chosen what is important and we won’t take that from her.”
Martha’s lips pursed tightly and her eyebrows sank.
“I only mean that my disciples are grown men. Let them tend to their own preparations and join us. We’ve hardly seen you,” Jesus said with a genuine smile.
Martha softened a little. Jesus was getting through. “Stop this foolishness and join us, Martha!” piped in Lazarus.
Martha lost any pleasantness and shouted, “I will not!”
But before Martha could retreat, Lazarus took her by the wrist. “We’ll see about that!”
With a strong tug, Lazarus pulled Martha down onto his lap and began tickling her. The room erupted with laughter, while a furious Martha squirmed and screamed in anger, “Let go of me! Lazarus! You stop...HA! Right now! HA HA! Ahhh ha ha ha!”
Lazarus’s tickling worked magic and Mar
tha’s anger became undone. Tom watched the entire event unfold as though he were watching a brilliant movie. His own family had been as dysfunctional as they come. He was never close to his parents and his brother was a moronic bully. The only person he was proud to call family had been snatched from him. Tom caught Mary’s eyes as thoughts of Megan entered his thoughts. He was consumed with guilt. The single reason for him being here, in the home of Lazarus, sharing dinner with friends and staring at a beautiful woman was because Megan had died so many years ago.
And if she hadn’t died? If Megan had survived? What would she look like now? Would they have children? Stuff stockings at Christmas? Celebrate birthdays? Tom’s mind flooded with images of Megan, of their non-existent children, of the life he could have had.
The captivating eyes of Mary were too much for Tom to take. He couldn’t betray the memory of Megan, not here, not like this. Tom stood and subtly wiped the wetness from around his eyes. “Where are you going Tom? Martha was just about to serve us dessert!” Jesus said with a laugh.
Martha ribbed Jesus and said, “You hush!”
“I just need some fresh air, to clear my head,” Tom said.
“Maybe you’ll find David while you’re out there? He’s missing the fun!” Matthew shouted with a chuckle.
“I’ll send him in if I see him,” Tom said, as he left the room.
“Clear his head! As though it were dirty!”
Tom listened to the room laugh at his expense. He often forgot that modern expressions didn’t always translate very well. It was something that he couldn’t quite master and it almost always got a laugh. Not that it bothered him, but he knew it bothered David.
Cool, crisp air filled Tom’s lungs as he breathed deeply. His thoughts became clear and the feelings of inner turmoil faded...if only for a moment.
“Thomas?” asked a sweet voice.
The Didymus Contingency Page 13