Return to Exile

by Lynne Gentry

  “But I promised Mama I wouldn’t leave Laurentius or Junia. And what about Barek? We can’t leave Ruth’s son.”

  “I’m going back for them,” Cyprian said between labored breaths.

  “But Aspasius … his soldiers are coming for you.”

  Cyprian held Maggie’s limp body close to his chest. “We have come to the end of things.”

  Lisbeth placed her palm on Maggie’s forehead. Typhoid’s heat seared her hand. Far down the alley, hobnailed boots marched for Cyprian.

  If she saved her daughter she would lose her husband. Maggie would receive lifesaving drugs, and Cyprian would kneel before the executioner’s sword. The past would forever carry the stain of his selfless blood so that somewhere in the future, a young woman would learn the truth of her father’s sacrifice and weep in appreciation.

  “I shouldn’t have given Aspasius the medicine.”

  “You lived what I have only had the courage to preach.”

  “I didn’t do it out of love. Pytros had a knife to Mama’s throat.”

  “Fear may have been a factor, Lisbeth, but in the end you chose to love someone who did not deserve your sacrifice.” He stroked her cheek. “Promise me you’ll teach our daughter this beautifully illogical love.”

  “You’re not coming with us, are you?”

  He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. His love for a group of people who did not deserve his sacrifice would allow him to do nothing less.

  She withdrew nose plugs from her backpack, and clamped Maggie’s nose. Their daughter was the perfect sum of the best parts of him and the best parts of her. Two completely different sets of DNA woven into an intricate little being time and distance could never separate. No matter how long the time or how far the distance, Maggie’s father was forever captured in Maggie’s regal features, unruly curls, eyes blue as the Mediterranean, and selfless heart.

  “We must be quick.” Cyprian deposited Maggie into Lisbeth’s arms. He removed his sash and lashed Lisbeth’s wrist to Maggie’s. “So you do not become separated.”

  This was it. The moment she’d fought since her arrival. And she was not afraid.

  All this time, she’d believed the reason for her travels into this harsh world a simple one: she was meant to rewrite history. But now she knew she’d been dropped into the middle of these struggles so the past could rewrite her.

  She gazed into Cyprian’s eyes and caught a glimpse of his future, a portion that had been hidden from her until now. Her breath snagged on the clarity. He, too, was not afraid.

  No matter what happened in the next few minutes, Cyprian would follow his destiny. She must follow hers.

  Lisbeth shifted Maggie over her shoulder and took her first deep breath in six years. “I love you.”

  Cyprian took Lisbeth’s face in his hands. “Promise me you will never come back.”

  She could only nod.

  He gently brought his lips to hers. When at last he withdrew, the bittersweet tang of their mingled tears lingered. He kissed the top of Maggie’s head, never taking his eyes off Lisbeth. “I know you will love our daughter enough for the both of us.”

  She did her best to smile, then opened his hand. She pressed his palm against the tiny swimmer painted on the side of the well. “Send us home, my love.”

  Epilogue

  CYPRIAN FELT HIS HEART sink along with his wife and child in the dark cistern waters. The fast-approaching double time of armed men denied him even a moment to mourn. He wheeled from the time portal and ran in the opposite direction. He cut through the tenement alleys, putting multiple turns and as much distance as possible between him and the sounds of soldiers’ boots. Huffing, he scrambled through the deserted market, veered onto one of the major avenues, and raced toward his villa.

  “Barek!” he called as he burst through the door. Overturned mats, smashed pottery, broken vaporizer tents, and the still bodies of Lisbeth’s patients littered the atrium. “Barek!” His calls went unheeded. His anxiety growing, Cyprian picked his way through the mess and sprinted to the gardener’s cottage.

  The door stood ajar.

  Heart pounding, he slowly pushed the weathered wood. “Barek!” Ruth’s son stood with his back to the corner, dagger drawn, his eyes wide and his face ghostly pale. Cyprian held up his palms. “Barek, it’s me. Where are Junia and Laurentius?”

  Barek shook his head as if he didn’t understand Cyprian’s question.

  “Where are they, boy?”

  Barek stepped aside. Laurentius had his face buried in Junia’s shoulder, and she had her arms wrapped tightly around him.

  “Is everyone all right?” Cyprian rushed to the little huddle. “What about Naomi and the Ciceros?”

  Barek pointed, and Cyprian turned to see them hiding behind the door.

  Junia was the first to snap from their terrified trance. “Aspasius is dead.”

  Cyprian dropped to his knees. “What? How? When?”

  “Aspasius is dead,” Barek repeated. “And Magdalena has been arrested for his murder.”

  Acknowledgments

  AS WITH ANY WORK of fiction, it takes a lot of real people to transfer the story from an author’s head into the hands of faithful readers like you.

  A special thanks to the young doctor who diligently pores over my attempts to practice twenty-first-century medicine with only a stethoscope and a bag of herbs. My blatant malpractice for the sake of story drives her crazy.

  Writing about the early church would be difficult without the help of the young theologian who constantly sends interesting pieces of sound research my way.

  Keeping the time travel rules straight would be impossible without my time travel consultants. You know who you are. Even though you do seem a bit confused about what century you actually belong in, I’m grateful you’re willing to make this journey with me.

  I’m grateful to Graham Ellis, a high school student wise beyond his years, for his invaluable help with the typhoid research.

  My incredible Street Team continues to tell everyone they know about this series. Their enthusiastic support and continual prayers are constant sources of encouragement. Thanks, girls.

  I am blessed to be part of a group of writers who meet every Tuesday. These dear friends motivate me to be a better storyteller. Then there’s my writing partner, Kellie Coates Gilbert. On the days when I wearied of slogging through, she would put her foot in my back and not let up until I had finally pushed through. A friend who won’t let you settle for less than you can be is a true friend.

  To my wonderful family I pray my work will make you as proud of me as I am of each one of you.

  My publishing team at Howard is top-notch. Beautiful cover and layout designers. Stellar sales, marketing, and publicity gurus. Brilliant editors such as Jessica Wong. This woman knows how to polish a story without dulling the spirit of the creative types she shepherds.

  And finally, all praise, honor, and glory to a God whose perfect love compelled him to come to this sick and dying world and dwell among us.

  Introduction

  LISBETH HASTINGS, A TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY doctor, travels back in time to third-century Roman Carthage once again to rescue her husband from martyrdom, but the arrival of a second epidemic forces her to make the impossible choice: save her husband or save her daughter?

  Topics and Questions for Discussion

  1. As the book opens, Aspasius is rotting from the inside out, and in an effort to cover his decay, he douses himself in expensive nard. We often go to great lengths to mask what is eating at us. What are some ways you hide your secrets? What are the dangers of letting those struggles fester?

  2. While Cyprian wastes away in exile, he continually replays his last conversation with Lisbeth. When unexpected ­tragedy strikes, those final conversations can plague us, especially conversations we regret. Does hindsight clarify or cloud the ability to move forward? Why?

  3. Cyprian’s refusal to reconcile his current life situation with the life situation he
’d hoped for almost leads to his arrest. His anger rises again when he realizes he is “a man uncertain of where to place his feet.” How do you think his dis­appointment plays into his crisis of faith? What do you do when your expectations and reality do not match?

  4. Cyprian was raised in the social-class traditions of Rome. When he converted to Christianity, embracing equality was difficult. What are some struggles new Christians face today? How can the church aid these difficult transitions?

  5. Based on her past experience, Lisbeth intends to return to the third century armed with the knowledge and supplies she will need. However, despite Lisbeth’s best preparations, she discovers that she has underestimated everything. What is the value of being prepared? How do you handle it when life throws you a change of plans?

  6. As Lisbeth works to reconcile her decision to meddle in the past with God’s purpose for today, she digs into the Bible for any clues about time. If you could time-travel, would you change something you regret? What would that be? If you could successfully alter the past, would you be a different person today?

  7. Like many who desire to do it all and get it all right, Lisbeth struggles with control. In the end, she realizes control is an illusion. Name some things over which you have no control. Name some things you can control.

  8. Barek questions the church not raising arms against people doing wrong. “‘Turn the other cheek,” his father’s voice rang in his head. In truth, he knew full well he was turning a blind eye to their suffering, and he hated how the teachings of the church had turned him into a coward.” What’s the difference between turning the other cheek and ignoring a situation? In your opinion, is turning the other cheek bravery or cowardice?

  9. Cyprian struggles with the idea that someone in the church could betray him, especially after he’s done so much for them. How does Felicissimus’s relationship with Cyprian parallel our relationship with God? Do you think God wearies of our ingratitude? Discuss how we sometimes betray that relationship.

  10. Lisbeth is struck by the fact that we take nothing with us when we die. Everything we hold dear in this life will be left behind in the next. What we can leave behind is our legacy. How will people in the future remember you?

  Enhance Your Book Club

  1. Maggie fears tight spaces, and Lisbeth fears losing control. ­Cyprian fears failing those who are depending on him. How did fear cripple these characters? Share as a group about what fears you would overcome if you could each choose one, and schedule a time to take a step of faith together.

  2. In Ruth’s discussion with her teenage son, she tells him, “In the end, service changes not those who are served but those doing the serving.” What do you think she meant? Share a time when doing something for someone else changed your life. Discuss ideas of how your group can serve the community together, and put it on the calendar for your next group outing.

  3. People walk away from faith for many reasons. Compile a list of some of those reasons and think of people in your life who have left or are struggling with their faith. Discuss together what you can do to show the love of Christ. Then choose at least one person to encourage.

  A Conversation with Lynne Gentry

  Healer of Carthage ended with such a cliff-hanger. Did you know even as you were writing the first book what would ­happen in the second?

  Return to Exile is the middle of what was originally one story. So yes, I knew some of the things that had to happen. However, I love experiencing the story along with the characters, which means I’m often surprised. For example, I had originally planned for Lisbeth and Maggie to get separated because Maggie refused to enter the time portal. I was ­writing along, and all of a sudden that little sprite ran and jumped in after her mother. I literally screamed, “Noooooo!” And then I thought, Now what? Having Maggie in the third century changed the whole story in ways I never planned but absolutely love.

  How did you work on developing already familiar characters even more in this second installment? How do you see the ­difference between their growth in the first book and this one?

  Life never goes exactly as planned. Unexpected twists and turns can create hard times that test the mettle of a person. According to Cyprian’s own words, he struggled with his faith. Leaving his pagan beliefs behind was difficult, especially when it seemed that this new God he’d chosen had forgotten him. This was shocking to me. Here was this man who changed the world, and he wrestled with his faith. Just like me. So ­Cyprian was easy. I just put myself in his shoes and asked God, “Why me?” Lisbeth was a little bit harder. In the first book she is this headstrong heroine who thinks only of herself until the very end. Now that she’s a mother, and wants to be a good one, she no longer has that ­luxury. But her character arc started coming together when I realized good intentions don’t always bury selfish desires.

  We meet and get to know the church more in this book as we’re introduced to various characters such as Quinta, Metras, and Natalis. Did you have a favorite of all these new characters?

  All of these people represent different stages of faith. Natalis’s faith is young and unscarred by trials. Quinta’s faith is in the midst of storm. Metras’s faith has weathered hard times and made him a better person. My faith has undergone all of these stages. I would have to say Metras’s faith journey gives me hope. In the end, I want my struggles to shape me into the image of Christ.

  You write from a lot of different points of view. Was that very difficult to do? Did you ever get confused switching back and forth?

  Managing a large cast on the page is a lot like managing one on the stage. I love that. To me, it is exciting to pop into someone’s shoes and look at the world from their eyes. Whenever similar phrases in narrative or dialogue sneak in, I realize those came from me, not the character. Writers can’t help but bring their past experiences to their characters. The challenge is to spread our junk around so that we create cast ­members capable of standing on their own.

  As you were writing about the choice Christians made between obtaining a writ of libellus for their own safety or ­defying the Roman edict, were you thinking about the similarity between that and the situations people have been in more recently, such as German Christians during the Nazi regime or the ­persecuted church in China?

  When it comes to defending my faith I would like to think I would have the same courage many believers have demonstrated throughout history. But I confess, there’s a bit of cowardice in me. The thing that struck me during this research process was how much Christians have suffered for their choices. According to a recent survey at least 75 percent of ­religious persecution around the world is directed at people of the Christian faith. I believe the day is fast approaching when the church will find itself backed against the wall. I pray that when that day comes, I will have the courage to join the ranks of those who stared down arena cats, the guns of Hitler, or the imprisonment of the Chinese.

  Tell us a little about the research you had to do while writing Return to Exile. Was there anything you found that surprised you?

  Research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I start out looking for one thing, and that always leads to another and another and another. I think the discovery that surprised me the most was the personal struggle of Cyprian. His extensive writings gave me a glimpse into a flawed man. Realizing that God used Cyprian despite his ­imperfections gives me a great deal of hope.

  What do you want readers to take away from this novel as ­opposed to Healer of Carthage?

  Like many people, fear of failure has held me hostage. It has only been through the perfect love of Jesus Christ that I have found the courage to accept my imperfections. If the struggles Lisbeth and Cyprian faced encourages one reader to cast aside fear, I know there will be singing in heaven.

  Can you give us any hints about what’s coming next as you ­conclude The Carthage Chronicles?

  I guess what you’re really asking is will Lisbeth and Cyprian be reunited? Will Cyprian face
the chopping block? If I told you, then you wouldn’t need to buy the third book. I do know this: there’s a new guy in town. If you thought things were bad in Return to Exile, they get a whole lot worse before they get better in Valley of Decision.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from

  Valley of Decision,

  the exciting conclusion to The­­ ­Carthage Chronicles!

  1

  DR. LISBETH HASTINGS CHECKED her watch as she fished her buzzing cell phone from the pocket of her white coat. “Make it quick, Papa. I have a department meeting in five.”

  “Maggie’s gone,” he blurted.

  Lisbeth set a stack of charts on her desk. “Slow down.”

  “That fancy art college called.” Panic expanded the fault line in his voice. “She’s not been to a single class since we hauled her to Rhode Island.”

  “I talked to her on her birthday.”

  “That was almost a week ago.”

  Lisbeth glanced at the framed photo of Maggie standing outside her freshman dorm with one arm draped around her, the other around Papa. “She was excited about turning eighteen and being able to make her own decisions.”

  “What did you say to that?”

  “When you start paying your own bills, kiddo.”

  “Could she possibly gain access to the inheritance your grandfather left?”

  “I just set her up with an account that automatically transfers money once a month.” Lisbeth could feel her heart rate increasing. “Give me a second.” A few furious clicks on the computer and Maggie’s account transactions appeared.

  $1,279. Tunisair. Charged at 12:02 a.m. Six days ago. The day Maggie turned eighteen.

  Lisbeth’s body prepared to run. “Grab my emergency bag and passport. I’ll meet you at DFW.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Where I never wanted her to go again.”

  Twenty nail-biting hours later, Lisbeth and Papa set foot on African soil for the first time in more than twelve years.

  “Maybe we can catch her before she finds someone to take her to the desert.” She threaded her arm through her father’s. None of her arguments had convinced him to stay behind, and this time she was grateful. “I’m going to try calling Nigel again.”