His elusiveness hurt. “You’re treating me…rudely.” Even if he was in love with Martha, he could still be nice.
I reached out for his arm and he pulled it away.
“Don’t,” he said curtly.
“Fine. Be that way, while Nathan sits in Nazareth crying his heart out because you’re gone and he has no one who understands him, let alone talk to.”
“I can’t do anything about him,” Daniel said tersely.
I shook my head. “Guys are all alike—jerks. I thought you were different. It must be that other woman.”
Daniel’s eyes grew wide. “What other woman?”
“The one I saw you with when I came into town. You know who I’m talking about.”
“No, I don’t.” Daniel seemed perplexed.
“I bought this dress from her when I first arrived from the garden.” I patted my chest. “Martha, she sells feminine things—perfume and such. She has her own booth in town.”
“You mean my sister?” Daniel asked.
“That’s your sister— Martha? The one you were having a lively conversation with earlier today—who you hugged?”
Daniel laughed. “That’s my sister. Back home in my dimension, she runs her own apparel business. Here she does the same thing, though on a much smaller scale. She’s my only family here, except for Mari, though I don’t know what our relationship is.”
“Martha is your sister?”
“Yes,” Daniel said. “Seriously.”
I stared at the ground. “I feel foolish.”
I detected a softening in his voice. “Shale, the real reason I left isn’t because I’m madly in love with another woman, as you’re supposing. Scylla demanded that I leave, and when I heard about the arrangement for you to marry Judd, it got complicated.”
“How so?”
“You just don’t understand everything.” Daniel crossed his arms pensively. “You were given to Judd a long time ago, which I didn’t know. Judd told Scylla it wasn’t right I was spending so much time with you, even though we were just friends.” Daniel leaned over the table and whispered pleadingly. “I don’t feel comfortable being around you now. At least not like before.”
“Are you crazy? I hate Judd, and he’s not even from my dimension.”
“When you’re with the Romans, you do as the Romans do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means what it says. You abide by their rules.”
“Daniel—”
“What?”
“The real reason I came for you is different. It wasn’t because you left me.”
“Why did you come, then?”
I breathed in deeply. “After you left, I took the animals on a short day trip over the hills. We ran into a man who lived in the cemetery, half-naked, full of demons, and—”
“And?”
“Let me back up. The reason we went out for the day was because Judd wasn’t feeding the animals. At least Lowly said he was starving. He wanted to go to a farm some distance away to get food. There wasn’t any place close by with pigs.”
“There aren’t that many pigs in the area because only Gentiles keep them. Pigs are ceremonially unclean and disgusting to Jews.”
I continued. “Later, after the first encounter that terrified me, the wild man darted in and out of the pigs on the hill and sent them scampering. At that moment, a fishing boat pulled up. As the fishermen approached, Cherios said one of the fishermen was the king that I told you about before.”
“The lunatic?”
“He’s not a lunatic,” I corrected.
“Keep going. Get to your point.” Daniel glanced behind me.
“You talk about me being impatient—I traveled on the back of a donkey for three hours to get here.”
Daniel refocused his eyes on me.
I continued. “The wild man ran straight towards the king—the fisherman. The look in the king’s eyes stopped him. Demons left the man and went into the pigs. Then the pigs stampeded into the lake and drowned.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Daniel asked.
“Yes.”
Daniel shook his head. “Shale, I heard a similar story. Gossip travels fast here. You must be exaggerating.”
“No. It’s true. I wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
Daniel remained silent for a minute. “So what does that have to do with me, or us?”
I reached for Daniel’s arm again. This time he didn’t flinch. “I want to take Nathan to see the king. If he could heal that cemetery man, he could help Nathan speak.”
Daniel shook his head again. “No.”
“Look,” I continued, “if the king healed Nathan, he could talk and be normal, right? He’s not stupid, is he?”
“No.” Daniel leaned on the table, propping his chin up on his hand, gazing ahead. After a minute, he leaned back, with uncharacteristic resignation. “Nothing can heal Nathan. He’s been that way since birth.”
“What makes you think the king can’t heal him?”
“How can I believe something so outlandish? Yes, you saw something that you can’t explain, but who knows. Maybe the man wasn’t crazy. It could have been staged.”
“He tried to attack me on the way over to the farm.”
“Maybe that was his practice run before the real thing.”
I bit my lower lip. “Why do you say such things?”
“Shale, that man you call the king—he’s no healer. He’s a charlatan. He’s—nothing.”
“Suppose you’re wrong? Are you going to abandon Nathan without at least trying?”
Daniel stood and started pacing back and forth. A couple of minutes passed in silence. I held my breath—and prayed.
Finally, Daniel stopped. “All right, Shale. I’ll go back with you and see if we can find this supposed healer, but there’s one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“No one else knows I’m back. And once we’ve finished our task, proving to you he’s a charlatan, I’m coming back here, where I belong.”
“Do you hate me for doing this?”
“Do I hate you—for goodness sake, Shale, I don’t hate you. You’re just—so persistent. And I want to honor the customs of the land in which we find ourselves.”
Daniel plopped down on the chair, heaved a sigh, and glanced away. “Even if Judd hadn’t been chosen for you, I needed to leave.”
“How do you think I felt when I found out you were gone without saying good-bye?”
“I wasn’t sure. This was arranged in the past before your father married Scylla. In the heat of the moment, I wanted to appease her. I was afraid to consider you—I might make the wrong decision. Perhaps I acted rashly, without considering Nathan’s needs. I wish I knew what to do for him.”
I fancied if I should confess my love to Daniel—but perhaps it was better to let him wonder. Anyway, he probably knew since he could read my mind. “You will come back with me?”
“Yes, but only with the conditions I gave you.”
“Where will you stay?”
“Out of sight.” Daniel laughed. “Seriously. You need to find out where that lunatic is hanging out. It won’t be easy.” He eyed me perceptibly. “How did you get here? I mean, what did you tell Scylla?”
“Nothing. I promised Judd a golden nugget for his help.”
“With gold?” Daniel’s eyes widened. “I won’t ask where that came from.”
“I thought you could read my mind,” I teased.
“I can, but I have to put effort into it.” Daniel leaned forward and whispered, “You didn’t steal it, did you?”
“Of course not,” I said indignantly.
Daniel tugged at his tunic, deep in thought.
I glanced away. I knew he was trying to read my mind.
“So you got it from the garden,” he stated.
“Yes.”
“Kol HaKavod. Well done.”
I laughed at his mind-reading ability. I had never t
old him anything about finding golden nuggets in the garden.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.
“Nothing. Judd was to tell Scylla I went to search for my father in Jerusalem. She won’t expect me back for a few days.”
“We’ll need to sneak Nathan out of the house. That won’t be easy. Nathan never goes anywhere.”
“We have time, before Judd wants his golden nugget or thinks I’ve betrayed him.”
“Don’t worry about Judd. We’ve enough to think about just taking care of Nathan. Let’s go.”
We headed back to the front of Jacob’s Inn to retrieve Baruch. Daniel led the way. Then he paused and touched my arm. “Wait here, Shale, for a second. I need to get something from Doctor Luke. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Like what, what do you need?”
“Potion, so Scylla will sleep like a baby.” Daniel disappeared inside.
I felt anxious—suppose he meant to leave me here and not come back? Why did I have such doubts? I glanced around. Was there something evil lurking nearby? I sensed something that made me uneasy.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Enchanter Casts a Spell
I stood beside Baruch, rubbing his back.
“You succeeded,” Baruch said. “I didn’t know how you would get him back.”
“Only to take Nathan to the king,” I reminded him. “Let’s hope the king does more than heal him.”
“Like what?” Baruch asked.
“Give me the desires of my heart.”
“And what might that be?”
“Lots of things. Just imagine.” As we waited for Daniel, I saw something move in the grass—like the last time when we stayed at the inn. The grass was too long to see from so far away. I walked over, curious, to see what it was. Suddenly, a black snake shot up into the air and flicked his tongue at me. His flashy eyes caught mine and wouldn’t let go. I was unable to turn away, hypnotized.
I stared, fixated on the animated creature. I had never seen a snake behave in such a strange way. He began to sway back and forth to drum beats that picked up in intensity. He called my name. “Shale, my bright and beautiful. I know what you long for, even though you haven’t figured it out. I can give it to you.” The creature spoke eloquently, and whispered one word that pierced my heart.
I nodded. “Yes, that’s it. Love.”
“Oh, Shale, you’re so beautiful.”
I touched my cheek. “Am I?”
The snake danced on. Soon more snakes appeared cavorting along with the first one, and the vile creatures turned into handsome men smiling and sending air kisses. Then they changed back into charming snakes attempting to lure me closer.
Baruch whinnied and stomped his hoofs. Why was he doing that?
“Shale, you deserve so much better. Come closer. I can make you feel wonderful. I understand you, Shale, you poor girl who has suffered so.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the enchanter. “You understand me?”
The snake danced charmingly. “Do you trust me?”
“I don’t know.”
“You long to be loved, don’t you, sweetheart?”
“Yes, but you’re a snake. What do you know about love?”
“I can make it so that you will always feel loved. Would you like that?”
“Yes.”
“I can make handsome men desire you.”
I sensed something was wrong but the creature was irresistible. I couldn’t turn away. A Gardenia scent, my favorite flower, whisked me to a far-away utopia. Tapping my feet, I swayed my arms to soft melodious strings that kept rhythm with the drums. The serpent, along with its entourage, came closer. The alluring creature spoke pleasant words to me. So pleasing was the sound of my name. The catcalls entreated me to let myself go free and the winsome smiles engaged me. Love filled the air as the snake eyes desired me, but another voice spoke. The sound was far away.
“Go away,” I demanded. “Leave me alone.”
I took another step and reached out to touch the sorcerer.
“I’ll make you a beautiful princess,” he promised.
The desire to be talented and sought after by handsome young men consumed me.
Footsteps approached and a familiar voice addressed me in a calm whisper, “Shale, come to me.”
Daniel was too late. I didn’t want him anymore. I laughed.
“Shale, come to me.” The snake used the same words as Daniel. I stared into the depths of the creature’s eyes and evil pricked my soul.
“Give me your hand, Shale, now,” Daniel demanded. “I’m going to pull you towards me.”
I reached back and Daniel’s hand clasped mine. Tugging at me, he drew me back. I wanted to jerk my hand away. The snake still held me within its clutches, hypnotizing me, refusing to let me go.
“Shale, look at me,” Daniel demanded.
The snake persisted. “I can give you everything you want.”
I felt trapped between the two—why was it so difficult to choose? Suddenly a white dove passed overhead. The unexpected movement surprised me, enough to break the spell. I collapsed in Daniel’s arms, burying my face in his chest.
Daniel wrapped his arms around me. “You’re okay, thank goodness. I felt you might be in danger, and when Baruch whinnied, I came out to see. Next time I won’t delay.”
Several men nearby shouted for help and hurried over to see the black cobra. A commotion ensued, though I was too afraid to watch them kill it.
I had witnessed that darkness before. Now I knew what it was. The serpent reminded me of the cartoon characters that covered my bedroom walls, the king’s temptation in the wilderness, the snake that slithered through my hand in the garden, the wiggly shapes the vultures chased, and the vile creatures that entered the pigs.
I exhaled. The darkness still invaded my mind and filled me with terrifying images. I feared fear itself, the worst kind of darkness, but I’d soon learn this was just the beginning of the battle for my soul.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The Sheep
As we headed back to my father’s villa among the rolling hills of Galilee, I didn’t want to talk about what happened. Although Daniel left me alone to sort it out, his presence walking alongside Baruch and me was reassuring. I was glad not to be alone, but I couldn’t share with him my innermost struggle. Why did I have this feeling that something evil wanted me?
Upon returning, we stopped beside the road a couple of hundred furlongs from my father’s estate. Here we got into a heated discussion about how to get Nathan out of the house that night.
“I think you should have Worldly Crow create a distraction with Mari and you put the potion in her wine,” Daniel insisted. “After all, he’s good at causing diversions.”
“Mari promised me she would do anything to help me, and I don’t trust Worldly Crow. I don’t trust any crow.”
We were at an impasse. To get this far and disagree on such an important detail was infuriating. Baruch understood but merely acquiesced without taking sides.
Daniel inspected the potion in the flask and gently shook it. “You get one chance to get this right. Scylla would be furious if she knew you were doing this.”
“I know. Mari cares about Nathan. She’s kind. Knowing we’re taking him to be healed will motivate her to go along with us.”
Daniel listened but appeared unconvinced.
“It’s better that Mari help us rather than try to sneak Nathan out—as long as we’re back by the time Scylla wakes up. Did you find out where the king is?”
“Me?” Daniel asked.
“Yes.”
“The fisherman, you mean?” Daniel set the flask down and leaned back on his side, propped up on his elbow admiring the field. The sun had dipped behind the trees on the horizon. “I refuse to call him a king.”
The way Daniel said it, he was adamant.
“Fine—the healer,” I said reluctantly.
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
The reddish glow on Daniel’s tan face and brown hair made him appear even more handsome than usual.
“You better go and tell her,” Daniel said. “I’m anxious to get started. May God grant us success.”
I stood and brushed the dirt from my dress. “Wish me luck.”
“No, not luck. I’ll be praying. Don’t forget this.” Daniel handed me the potion.
“Thanks.” I smiled and headed up the road towards my father’s estate. The evening sun had sunk below the green fields and dusty road. The air was heavy with humidity. Perhaps rain was imminent. Some doves cooed from the trees and a flock of sheep grazed on the hill.
Did Daniel ever say if he knew where the king was? I should have asked when we were in town but the cobra encounter befuddled my thinking.
I listened from the corner of the house for Mari—rattling of dishes, shaking out the rugs, even her voice. Not hearing anything, I stole around to the other side. She was lugging water from the well. That was my chore, but since I wasn’t here, she had to do my job, too. She was too visible for me to run and greet. I might be seen by Scylla or Judd. I’d wait until she was closer.
A few minutes later, I whispered to her. Mari stopped abruptly and looked around.
“Mari, it’s Shale, over here.”
She grinned. “Shale, you’re back.”
“Come here and act normal. You never saw me, okay?”
“Okay.” Mari looked perplexed but glad to see me.
“Set the water down and I’ll explain.”
“Sure.”
I told Mari the details of our plan. “Put this medicine in Scylla’s wine tonight. It will make her very sleepy. Daniel and I want to take Nathan to be healed by the king—the teacher who is performing miracles, but Scylla wouldn’t let me if she knew. We’ll get Nathan as soon as she’s asleep and leave immediately, if all goes according to plan. We should be back before she wakes up. Can you do this to help us?”
Mari nodded. “I’ll do it for Nathan.”
“Awesome.” I reached over and gave her hug. “Here, take this.”
Mari examined the flask and smelled the mixture. “What is it?”
“It’s a sedative—will make her fall asleep.”
The Door Page 14
