“Okay. I’ll give it to her.”
“Good. Now, I need a sign to know that you’ve put the medicine in Scylla’s drink and she has drunk it. What can we use?”
“I could sing a song.”
“Yes, that’s it. Sing that song you sang to me when I was sick with fever. Then Daniel and I will know she’s asleep and it’s safe to sneak inside.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Mari tucked the sleep medicine inside the top of her dress. “You might want to get him right away.”
I nodded. “I’ll be close by,” I assured her. “The sooner, the better. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome.” Mari walked back to pick up the bucket and I waved to her as she threw me a kiss.
I hurried back down the street to let Daniel know everything was good.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“I thought you found out where to go.”
“No, I had to get the medicine from Doctor Luke, the potion.”
I bit my lip. I was always great with ideas but not so much with the details. “How do we know where to go if we don’t know where the king is?”
Daniel ignored my king reference. “That’s for you to figure out. This is your adventure, Shale.”
“But you’re a guy. It seems more natural for you to ask the men than for me.” I went and sat down on a log by Baruch, crossing my arms and fretting. Men could be so stubborn.
A sweet sound interrupted my complaining spirit. I glanced up and saw Much-Afraid approaching, sprinting across the pasture. She greeted me with cheerful yips.
“How did you get here?”
“I dug a hole underneath the fence. Hadn’t seen you all day.”
I scratched her behind the ear as she wiggled all over.
Daniel asked again. “What do you want to do? I thought you knew where he was. Why didn’t you ask me earlier?”
“I did.”
“No, you didn’t.”
A couple of minutes passed as we stared at each other in silence. It was too late to go anywhere and there wasn’t a soul nearby who would know anything about an itinerant preacher or healer.
Soon a sheep approached us from the flock in the nearby field. Sheep never traveled alone because they need a shepherd to guide them. Daniel eyed the sheep curiously.
When the sheep got close enough, he spoke to me. “Shale, I’m Little.”
“Little?”
“You know me.”
“Yes, that’s right. You took Baruch to meet the king.”
The sheep nodded. “Anyone who cries out, I will answer him. Someday people will see the king’s spirit in extraordinary people like Martin Luther, David Livingstone, Corrie Ten Boom, and Hudson Taylor. Today I humbly do the king’s bidding for you. I’m a sheep, like so many others, listening and obeying the great shepherd’s voice.”
I glanced behind the sheep and saw the dozens of sheep on the hill. Why was this sheep called out from all the others?
The sheep answered me without asking. “I was chosen to bring you this message.”
Daniel asked, “Shale, who are you talking to?”
I held up my hand for him to be quiet.
The sheep continued. “Go to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis in the morning and he’ll be there to receive you. Peace be with you, my child.” The sheep turned back in the direction from which he came.
Daniel watched the sheep disappear before saying anything. “Don’t tell me you were talking to that sheep.”
“I was.”
He rolled his eyes. “How do you do that? I didn’t hear anything.”
“Like you can talk to Nathan and I can’t.”
Daniel stared silently at me for a long time before speaking. “So what did the sheep tell you? Or do I even need to ask?”
“You know.”
“Yes,” Daniel said. “We’re leaving for the Decapolis with Nathan.”
“Let’s not wait until the morning.” I stood. “I’m going back to the house to listen for Mari’s singing.”
Daniel nodded. “I’ll stay here with Baruch.”
“Come,” I said to Much-Afraid. “You can keep me company while I wait.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Healing
Hours later, Mari’s melodic voice floated on a gentle breeze from the villa. I had fought hard not to fall asleep. I scrambled back to Daniel who lay on the grass half awake and half asleep. “Scylla is asleep. We can get Nathan anytime.”
Daniel yawned. “Great. Let’s get a few hours’ rest and we’ll sneak him out in the morning.”
“No, don’t wait. Who knows how long the sedative will last.”
“You want me to go right now?”
“Yes.”
Daniel reluctantly got up and rubbed his eyes. With his athletic build silhouetted against the moonlight, could anything foil him? He looked too strong.
“I’ll walk over with you and wait,” I offered.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Daniel asked.
“Of course I’m sure.” We had to before he changed his mind. I couldn’t bear that we had come this far and not succeed. Just meeting the king again was enough to compel me not to chicken out.
A few minutes later, Daniel and I stood out front. Daniel nodded—as if asking me to pray for him or wish him luck. I did both. He disappeared into the house and I crouched down in the leaves, listening for anything—good or bad. The time ticked too slowly. I blew on my hands and rubbed them together—anything to keep me awake and shoo away the butterflies in my stomach.
Several minutes later, Nathan and Daniel walked through the front door. I sprang from my hiding place. No one else could have snuck Nathan out so quietly. Daniel’s arm was draped on Nathan’s shoulder to guide him as he stumbled in the dark. Soon we made it to the street. I was breathing heavily, releasing pent-up tension.
“Ca-Ca. Where are you going, Shale?” Worldly Crow had found us, and as usual, came at the worst possible moment.
“We’re going to see the king,” I replied. “Shhhh.”
“What?” Daniel asked.
“I’m talking to Worldly Crow.”
“Worldly Crow?” Daniel glanced back at the black bird now following us. He shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever.”
We headed back to our hiding place and prepared to leave. I sent Much-Afraid to the cave, so it was just the three of us and Baruch.
The first hour passed in silence. Nathan and Daniel walked beside me as I rode. Daniel took a few moments and explained to Nathan about the king and my desire to see him healed. Nathan thanked me with his eyes.
We passed through the region of Tyre and Sidon. We approached the Sea of Galilee at dawn, and a little later entered the Decapolis, where we came upon a throng of people gathered on a hillside. I stood on my tippy toes to get a view but couldn’t see towards the front.
“We’ll need to leave Baruch here and walk down,” I told Daniel.
Baruch heehawed. “I want to see the king, too.”
“Sorry, Baruch, not this time. You had lots of time with the king in the garden. This is Nathan’s moment.”
Baruch hung his head, “Yes, Miss Shale. You’re right.”
I patted Baruch on the nose and tethered him underneath a shade tree.
Daniel guided Nathan in front of him and we squeezed our way in among the crowds. I recognized the fishermen who had been with the king in Gadara when he cast out the demons.
One came up and asked us, “What do you need?”
Daniel replied, “We have a young mute man with us who needs healing.”
“The master is busy right now. Can’t you see?” He waved his hand at the crowds amassed on the hill.
Sometimes my persistence, though annoying to some, paid off. “Please let us take Nathan to the healer. We have come a long ways.”
I glanced behind him. We had gotten the king’s attention. I pleaded, “If the teacher could touch Nathan, I know he would heal him.”
The man left and went to speak privately with the king.
A couple of minutes later, the king walked up and greeted us. His eyes showed tenderness and concern. “Follow me.”
The king guided us away from the people to a secluded spot. He then showed Nathan where to sit. After saying a prayer, the king spat onto his hand and touched Nathan’s tongue. Looking up to heaven, he cried, “Ephphatha!”
Nathan opened his mouth wide and moved his tongue for the first time. His eyes grew bright. Laughing, he turned to the king. Speaking as plainly as myself, he talked with an exuberance that amazed me. I was speechless.
Nathan bowed before the healer on his knees, speaking praises. “Thank you, my Lord, for healing me.”
Then he turned to the rest of us. “I can speak. I can speak. Hear me.” He reached over to Daniel and shook him, “I can speak. Can you hear me?”
Daniel nodded.
Nathan went over and bowed before the king once more. “Thank you, Lord.”
The king said, “When you leave here, don’t tell anyone what I’ve done.”
By this time, the crowds had followed us. The people looked on in amazement, shaking their heads.
“Who is this man that does such miracles? Where does he come from?” they asked.
“He comes from Nazareth,” one person responded.
“Nazareth—can anything good come from there?”
The people were divided on who the healer was. Daniel watched with interest. He and the king exchanged glances. Daniel’s nod towards the king filled me with hope. How long would it be before he understood?
The king’s eyes pierced the darkness of my heart, but I did not feel judged. Goose bumps crept up my arms. Ecstasy overflowed. Joy I had not known flowed through me in a way I didn’t understand. Words weren’t necessary.
The king knew my innermost imperfections but covered my flaws with his perfection. I slipped down and sat at his feet. He placed his hand on my head and prayed, speaking to me softly.
“I love you, Shale, more than you will know. Don’t let anyone steal your joy. There’s no one else like you. Believe.”
I sobbed as I sat in a crumbled heap. I didn’t want what happened between us to end. I was changed but I didn’t know how or what it meant. One thing I did know—I wanted to be a daughter of the king.
Nathan continued walking among the crowds, sharing his healing. The amazement of the crowds grew. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Daniel kept his eyes peeled on the king. The wheels of belief churned in his intellectual mind. He needed more time. The king smiled at me once more as we prepared to leave.
I longed to know him deeply. How could one person be so awesome, so perfect, so loving? I knew he was more than just an ordinary man.
We had almost made it back up the hill when I saw the beggar from Dothan. As he raised his hands towards the heavens, joy overflowed. I rushed up to him and he stopped worshiping to acknowledge me. A questioning look crossed his face.
“You are healed,” I exclaimed.
The man touched his eyes and then thrust his hands into the sky. “The king healed me. I can see!”
“That’s wonderful. Then you know the king, too,” I said excitedly.
The man reached for my hand and squeezed it, as he had done long ago. He smiled broadly. “You gave me a coin once, when I was blind.”
“Yes, I did. And you prayed for me to receive a blessing.”
We stood for a moment, hands locked, and then he let me go. I smiled at him as I walked away.
Daniel called to me, from higher up the hill.
A few minutes later, I climbed on Baruch’s back and readied myself as an ole pro now in donkey riding, but sadness filled my heart. We had to leave too soon. I wanted to savor the memory so it would last forever. And Fifi—I knew he was safe. I had peace. The king’s eyes—they pierced my soul and loved me anyway.
“Shale, are you okay?”
Daniel’s voice jolted me back to reality.
“Yes.” I sat quietly for a minute before continuing. “He’s the king above all kings.”
“You think so?” Daniel was walking alongside Baruch as I sat on the donkey.
“And you don’t?”
Daniel pursed his lips. “I don’t know what to think.”
Worldly Crow landed on a palm tree as we passed by. “That was spectacular. Some kind of magic, uh? How did he learn how to do that?”
“He didn’t learn, Worldly Crow.”
“What’s that?” Daniel glanced at me.
I chuckled. “Oh, Worldly Crow called the healer a magician.”
Daniel grinned. “That’s a thought.”
I turned to Nathan. “What’s the first thing you’re going to say to Scylla when we return?”
Nathan’s eyes were fixated on the ground. He murmured. “I’m not going to say anything.”
“What? Tell me you’re kidding. You’re healed and you’re not going to share with others what the king did for you?”
“Didn’t he tell me not to tell anyone?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think that’s what he meant, Nathan. Really.”
“Then what did he mean when he told me not to tell anyone?”
“I don’t know. Maybe don’t tell people until they are ready to listen.”
“I’ll reveal what the king has done, but only to my father. I want him to hear me first.”
I stared at Nathan. “You mean we brought you all the way out here, risking the wrath of Scylla sneaking you out, and you aren’t even going to speak to her?”
“Besides,” Nathan continued. “I want Daniel to remain with us and not leave. That won’t happen if Scylla knows I can talk.”
“Nathan,” Daniel scolded, “you can’t manipulate people like that. I go where I want. No one controls me, not even you.”
My heart sank. This was not turning out the way I wanted. Already my joy was evaporating. I was still stuck with an evil stepmother, an absent father, betrothed to a man I hated, and the one I wanted to be with was leaving. Anger crept into my thoughts. My good intentions to heal Nathan had not accomplished everything I had hoped for, and yet, the king’s smile still glowed in my mind and his voice lingered in my ears, “Don’t let others steal your joy.”
Worldly Crow cackled. “Ca-Ca. I’ve come from Jerusalem. Many religious leaders say that man is a fraud.”
“What do you know about anything, Worldly Crow? Go away. Let me be.”
With that, the crow took off in a huff and I was left to ponder all these things in my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Secrets Revealed
We were gone longer than I meant to be, arriving late in the afternoon. Daniel wanted to leave, but I coaxed him to stay long enough to put Baruch in the cave and Nathan in the house. Nathan was determined to continue as a mute young man in the Snyder household, much to my dismay.
The three of us were crossing the veranda in the portico when Scylla spotted us. She stood like a statue, hands anchored on both hips. Her malignant eyes rested on me. Even though we were still a good distance away, none of us could escape her toxic wrath.
“This isn’t going to be good,” Nathan said.
Judd stood under a palm tree. His mouth gaped wide when Nathan spoke, but I was too scared of Scylla to think about him. As Scarlet said in Gone With the Wind, I’ll think about that tomorrow.
When we were within earshot, Scylla started in on me.
“Shale, where have you been? You didn’t even tell Mari where you were. I’ve been worried sick about Nathan.”
Daniel took Nathan inside the house. I felt exposed and defenseless. Why did Daniel depart so abruptly?
“We took Nathan to the healer.”
Scylla frowned. “What healer.”
“The king. Some call him master.”
Scylla glared at me. “It’s because of him that your father is stuck in J
erusalem. That ‘miracle worker’ has usurped the Roman government and the religious establishment hates him.” Scylla scoffed. “He’s a Jew and yet the Sanhedrin despise him. What does that tell you? Another John the Baptist—I hear he was beheaded.”
She rolled her eyes. “How can you be so gullible, Shale? So-called healers are a dime a dozen here. They stand on street corners and steal your money. A bunch of charlatans, they are. If Doctor Luke couldn’t heal Nathan, no one can. For Nathan’s sake, I’ll go easy on Daniel.”
“You lied to me,” I said matter-of-factly.
Scylla shook her finger at me. “Don’t ever accuse me of lying.”
“What you told me was a lie.”
“I didn’t lie to you.”
“What did Judd tell you about Daniel and me?” Footsteps approached from behind, but I kept my eyes on Scylla.
She glared—no doubt furious she couldn’t control my every little move or utterance.
The porch door opened and Daniel emerged. He stood tentatively, studying the developing situation.
“Go ahead,” I demanded. “While you’re at it, tell us what you told Daniel.”
“How dare you to speak to me that way.” Scylla thrust her pointed nose into the air. “No matter. You are what you are.”
She turned to Judd and demanded, “Lock her up in her private quarters so she can’t go on any more escapades.”
Judd appeared nervous.
“Do it, now,” she demanded.
Scylla reminded me of a vulture with bulging eyes—her long spindly neck and pointed nose could only be a weak man’s trophy. I hated that she was my father’s prize.
“I want my money,” Judd whispered as he approached me.
“Wait,” Nathan shouted. A voice never heard on my father’s estate filled the portico. He edged his way around Daniel and proceeded to walk towards Scylla.
She gasped and covered her heart. “You—you can talk!”
“I’ve heard it all,” Nathan said matter-of-factly. “Scylla, you’re a deceptive, conniving, vindictive, greedy woman. You don’t care about me or Shale.”
Her eyes boiled with anger. “That’s not true.”
“Be quiet,” Nathan demanded.
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