Man of God
Page 26
“I am up at the crack of dawn to give you one last chance, Paulus Valerius Maximus, to renounce this dead Jew who has everybody fooled into thinking he is a god!”
“He is God, and one day you will bow before him.”
“I bow before no one! But, if you will bow before me, I will not only spare your life, but forgive your treasonous activities, restore you to your legion, and give back all your properties.”
He waited, staring at Paulus greedily.
“These things would mean nothing to me, were I to deny the savior of my soul.”
Caligula scowled, and then said, almost with an air of desperation, “If you will bow to me, Valerius, I will call off the search for your daughter.”
“My daughter is in the hands of God.”
The emperor’s demeanor abruptly changed to one of utter and complete rage. “Fool!”
“Let him take your sword,” Claudius urged, “and end his own life, your divine Majesty.”
The redness in Caligula’s face faded. He said slyly, “Indeed. Take it, Paulus Valerius, and die as befitting a Roman!”
Paulus looked at Claudius and gave him a nod, his eyes thanking the emperor’s uncle for his many attempts to help him. Then his gaze returned to Caligula. “My life was bought at a price, Caesar, and is not mine to take.”
“Then you are a coward as well as a fool! Incitatus has more sense than you Nazarenes! There is but one Lord, and one King!”
“Yes,” said Paulus. “There is. His name is Jesus Christ.”
Before he had even spoken the words, the black emptiness in Paulus’ soul was filled with light. It blazed inside him with such intensity a shudder went through his body, and the knowledge of God filled his heart with an overpowering sense of comfort, and love, and courage. Something had happened in the spirit world, something unknowable by mortal man, and he felt the brooding sense of evil depart from him.
He moved and put his hand to his forehead as pure elation coursed through him, almost more than he could stand. He swayed a little, as if dizzy. Observing this, Caligula’s impotent rage turned to sarcasm.
“Have you been drinking, Valerius, or are you about to faint?” He looked at the surrounding soldiers, expecting them to grin with disdain, but they remained solemn, and silent. It made him even angrier.
“Your Jesus is a fake, a fraud! A liar!”
Deliberately, Paulus put both hands at his sides, standing straight and still. “He is the way, and the truth, and the life, and no one goes to the Father except through him. These are not my words, Caesar. They are his.”
The emperor’s eyes bulged. “Stop it! I’ve heard enough from you! Paulus Valerius, your name shall be stricken from every record, erased from every monument, and you will be forgotten by everyone!” He turned his head sharply. “And you, Flavius! You have caused me much grief! I have brought some of your fellow Praetorians here, to see how we deal with such deceit!”
“It was never my intention to deceive, your Majesty. But I cannot and will not deny my Savior, Jesus Christ.”
“Stop saying that name!” Caligula seemed about to explode. “Kill him!”
The executioner stepped forward. Flavius smiled briefly…not in defiance, but in peace, and confidence. Paulus said quietly, “To God be the glory, Flavius.”
In the manner of a doomed gladiator who has either fallen to his opponent or performed badly, Flavius dropped to his knees, and lifted his head to bare his neck. The executioner raised his arm, bent at the elbow, and plunged the sword through Flavius’ throat at a downward angle, into his heart. Slowly, as Paulus’ breath caught and held for a timeless moment, his friend fell over on his side.
Chaerea and several other Praetorians exchanged glances. As one, they placed fists over their hearts in salute to their fallen comrade. The rest of the soldiers did the same. Caligula saw them, opened his mouth to protest, and then shut it again.
“Well,” he cried at last, “what are you waiting for?”
“To your knees,” the executioner growled.
Paulus stepped forward. A wave of acute sensibility washed over him, an awareness of the soundless voices of all the believers praying for him at that moment. He was filled with the same peace and assurance he had seen in Flavius. Something, Someone, touched his very spirit, urging it onward…it was already beginning to leave his body…
The emperor had fallen backward, stumbling, refusing to watch. He whirled; his hob-nailed boots clattered and rang in the silence of the passage, and he fled as though pursued by unnamable horrors.
Paulus knelt and raised his head. His gaze lifted slowly to the sky, and the heavens opened for him.
THE END
Author’s Note:
Paulus (not to be confused with the Biblical Paul), Alysia, and Rachel, are fictitious characters. (Alysia is based on a real-life person mentioned in the book of John, Chapter 8.) Others, such as Simon of Cyrene, Priscilla and Aquila, were real people placed within this work of fiction. The word “Christian” is not used in this novel, since it was not known to have been in use until at least the late 40’s. If you are interested in reading the predecessor of this book, Woman of Sin, or any of my other books, you may find them by clicking HERE or by visiting my website at http://www.debradiaz.com/.
Thank you for your interest in my books!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author Debra Diaz grew up in Memphis and now lives in north Mississippi. She’s written several novels in the historical fiction genre and one contemporary mystery for young readers. She has worked as a columnist and feature writer for a local newspaper, and between other jobs has owned and operated a writing service. Her goal as a writer is to not only entertain, but to challenge and inspire!