The Last Voyage of the Emir

by David Riley

  “Ok, Paul, we will consider this. I appreciate your sharing this with me,” Julius said, noncommittally.

  As Paul walked away, Julius raised his eyebrows and shook his head as he smiled at Gaius. “Well! I guess I have my orders!” he said jokingly.

  Gaius chuckled slightly. “Good luck with that! How are you going to tell the Captain that the prisoner thinks we should stay here?!”

  “Maybe I’ll let you take on that task! It will be good training for you!” Julius said with a grin.

  “I think I better go check with the officers on how the guard assignments are coming along!” Gaius said with a laugh. He excused himself and walked away still smiling.

  Julius turned to look out at the port, bustling with activity. His smile faded as he considered Paul’s words. Paul spoke with authority and was very convincing. Maybe he should not be so quick to dismiss what Paul had said. He mulled this over in his mind. Paul appeared to have personal experience with unexplainable miracles and a profound connection to his God.

  He had felt moved many times as he overheard Paul’s teaching. Julius was intrigued by Jesus and the amazing things He was reported to have done. He had seen the lives of the prisoners change as they had confessed their belief that Jesus had returned from the dead. He had even heard stories that had spread through the Roman army about the crucifixion and then the body disappearing.

  When Julius was ordered to Caesarea a few years prior, it was to replace another centurion named Cornelius. Rumors had spread that Cornelius had become a follower of Jesus5. Before meeting him, Julius was angry that such a high-ranking soldier would turn his back on the emperor to follow another god. When they met to transfer command, however, Julius was surprised by the man. He was humble and confident and carried himself with dignity and authority without seeming arrogant. It was evident that there had been a profound effect on his life, and he was preparing to travel to teach others about Jesus. Julius had considered this a waste of training and did not understand why Cornelius would throw away his life on such an endeavor.

  Now, after hearing Paul’s teaching, he saw Cornelius’ decision in a different light. Could there really be some truth to the claims that Jesus had actually come back to life? It seemed so unbelievable! Surprisingly, Gaius was his closest source of information on this.

  Gaius was a third-generation Roman soldier. His grandfather served under Herod the Great, but something had happened that had caused him great depression and anguish, leading him to drown himself in alcohol. Growing up in such a contentious home, Gaius’ father had left as soon as he was old enough to join the army.

  His father had served for many years and eventually was assigned back in Jerusalem, just as his father before him had been. His promising career was derailed, however, by the events of that momentous day.

  Initially, Julius had dismissed the rumors about Jesus as tall tales. However, they did not fade with time, but instead the stories about Jesus had spread as His followers had dispersed through the Empire. Then, when Gaius had related his father’s firsthand account, Julius began to reexamine his initial impression. Now, he had heard Paul teach with authority about the same topics. His mind whirled when he considered the possibility it could actually be true. He would need to talk further to Gaius and to Paul when he had time, but not now. He had to prepare to go ashore with the captain.

  Notes:

  5 See Acts chapter 10.

  Chapter Nine

  As the deckhands held it steady, Julius and Captain Sahaq climbed down the rope ladder to the small boat bobbing alongside. The captain had ordered one of his crew to row them ashore for their conference with the harbormaster.

  “Captain, have you had any more thoughts about where to wait out the winter?” Julius asked as they made their way past another ship anchored nearby.

  “It seems many of the crew prefer going on to Phoenix,” the captain answered. “Seeing these other ships in port, I am inclined to look for a less crowded place to stay. And they tell me there are many good options for lodging and for food there. We’ll know more after we talk to the harbormaster.”

  Julius considered this, recalling Paul’s admonition about the dangers of going on. “You know, I have heard from some under my command who feel it is safer to stay here rather than risk going any further,” he said, choosing his words carefully.

  Captain Sahaq looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Is that so? And what is their basis for this opinion? Do they have as much experience with sailing in these waters as my crew?” he responded, his tone defensive.

  Julius lowered his gaze. “No, no, that is not the case. They just expressed a concern and I wanted to pass it along.”

  “Well, I think they would be wise to leave such decisions to the sailors,” the captain said dismissively. “Phoenix is only a few hours further, and if my crew vouch for it, I am inclined to give it some consideration.”

  “Of course, captain,” Julius said. “I’m just passing along one opinion. We can reserve judgment until we get more information.”

  “I imagine since it is already almost midday that we will be here at least overnight. That will give us an opportunity to see what accommodations they have to offer here.”

  As they made their way to the dock, Julius took in all of the activity around them. There were two other ships in addition to the one they just passed, all three smaller than their own. The decks were lined with crew and passengers watching the hubbub. There were several small boats ferrying passengers and supplies back and forth from ship to shore. The single dock in the port was crowded with men carrying bags and boxes of supplies. The air was filled with shouts and conversations and creaking of ships as well as lapping of water against the oars. Cries of birds surrounded them as the seabirds swooped down to the water and strutted on the shore. It was more entertainment than he had had since leaving Myra.

  They came to the dock and waited as another dinghy pushed off to return to their ship. Then they tossed their line to the dock worker who deftly tied it to the bollard and leaned down to offer a hand as they climbed ashore. The captain instructed his crew member to return to the ship and to tell Rayiz to send men ashore for fresh water and food for the crew and passengers.

  As they strode down the dock to shore, Julius was surprised by the odd, unsteady feeling of walking on solid ground. He almost stumbled a few times and had to catch himself against the captain, apologizing.

  The captain chuckled. “It takes a little time to readjust to land after being on the ship! You’ll get used to it soon. Just widen your stance a bit until you get your land legs back.”

  Julius nodded, a bit embarrassed. He felt a little silly walking that way, but it did keep him on his feet and he was able to walk more or less in a straight line. Within a few minutes, it was less noticeable.

  Captain Sahaq headed for a building to the east of the dock. The sign on the door indicated it was the office for the harbormaster. There were three men waiting at the door. As they approached, the door opened and a man exited as the first man in line entered.

  They greeted the remaining men and learned that they were from the ship anchored closest to theirs. They had just arrived in port earlier that morning and the crew was eager for shore leave. They had come from Sicily, and it had been slow going with the unpredictable winds. They had come through a squall two days before that had caused a lot of concern at first but it had quickly subsided. They had to bail water for a day after that but the ship had come through it unscathed. The crew, on the other hand, were young and many were on their first voyage. Several of them were seasick and they were still recovering.

  Captain Sahaq shared with them the details of their own voyage. They were impressed by the size of the grain ship and began discussing technical aspects of the ship and its operations. Julius felt like he was listening to a foreign language and he could tell this conversation could go on for a while. He decided to walk down the street to see what was nearby.

  There were several
open stalls selling fish and fruit to the seamen gathered around. A little further inland, there were a few inns that offered rooms to rent as well as food. It was a nice-appearing port. He was aware of a few passers-by staring at his uniform and realized there were no other Roman soldiers in view. He made a mental note to ask about the nearest garrison.

  He returned to the harbor office and found that the captain was waiting alone, the other two men having entered the office.

  Captain Sahaq greeted him as he approached. “It seems the ship those men are with will be staying here for the winter. The other captain that came out as you were walking is also planning to winter here. He was expecting a companion ship to arrive this afternoon, joining them. It appears this will be a fairly crowded port!”

  Julius cringed at this. “I guess we will have to see what other options we have,” he said.

  A few moments later, the door opened and they were summoned in to see the harbormaster. He was a rotund, bearded man with a gruff voice. He seemed to have a permanent scowl, but as he talked it was apparent he was actually quite jovial, with a dry wit that set them at ease.

  The captain made introductions and gave him the information about their ship, its crew, and the soldiers and prisoners it was transporting. When he mentioned the number of people onboard, the harbormaster interrupted.

  “Whoo!” he exclaimed, subconsciously tugging on his beard. “You have 275 people? That will be a challenge. We already have three other ships before you that are wintering here and a fourth that has been registered by the captain that was here just an hour ago! We will have to do some checking on what is available for supplies and food, but there may not be lodging available for your passengers who don’t want to winter onboard the ship! I’m sure we can make do, but I’ll need to make arrangements for further supplies,” he said as he scribbled some notes on a parchment.

  The captain frowned at this. “I feared that may be the case. Some of my crew had been through these parts before and mentioned Phoenix. What can you tell me about that harbor?”

  The captain put down his quill and looked up grinning. “Phoenix, you say! They do have certain, ahem, “amenities” that the crews find appealing. That is true!” he chuckled. “They have a nice harbor. Not nearly as nice as mine, mind you! But it can accommodate a ship like yours just fine. Last I heard, they only have one small ship planning to winter there.”

  Julius spoke up. “What do you mean by amenities? Are there facilities that could accommodate a squad of my men on shore leave for a short time if we rotate them?”

  “Yes, they have three inns near the port and I’m sure your men will find the women there quite eager to accommodate them,” he said with a wink.

  Julius’ expression hardened at this as he imagined the discipline problems this could cause with his men. He glanced at Captain Sahaq but could tell from his expression that the captain had already made up his mind to move on.

  “It sounds like we would be best to go on to Phoenix,” the captain said. “We will anchor here for the night and replenish our water supply before moving on tomorrow.”

  The harbormaster nodded. “I hate to lose your business but I understand, and I fear we may struggle to meet your needs here. We’ll be happy to have you here for the night. You’ll find the inns have good ale and Eunice just down the street is a great cook. I have been there many times as you can see!” he said, rubbing his ample stomach.

  The captain and Julius laughed at this. “A hot meal sounds wonderful,” Julius agreed, and Captain Sahaq nodded in agreement as Julius pushed back his chair preparing to stand.

  “One more thing,” the captain said, and Julius settled back in his seat again. “Any more information about the weather? One of the captains that was here before mentioned a squall that sickened some of his men and caused them to take on water.”

  The harbormaster frowned. “Aye, I’ve heard from a few that it was a pretty strong blow, tearing some sails and putting some water in their holds. Of course you’ve sailed these waters enough to know how bad the storms can be. This was nothing but a sprinkle compared to some. We’ve had a good stretch of fair weather and only light rain two days ago. I don’t expect any problems. I can usually feel it in my knees when there’s something about to happen and I feel well enough to go dancin’! I think we’ll be fine for a good stretch.”

  “Good to hear,” the captain said, relieved. “We will spend the night and plan to depart in the morning.”

  With that, the men stood and thanked the harbormaster for his time and left the small office.

  Chapter Ten

  Julius and the captain walked back toward the dock, and then the captain excused himself to return to the ship to inform his crew of the plans.

  Julius walked on down the dusty street to inquire at the inn about a room for the night. He was eager to spend a night off the ship, back on more stable ground without the constant rocking motion.

  He found the place the harbormaster had mentioned and went in to get something to eat. It was fairly crowded with a few tables full of obvious sailors from one of the ships in port, noisily discussing their travels and adventures. There were a couple of tables where some townspeople were eating quietly. In the corner was a table where a lone, disheveled-looking man was hunched over his meal.

  Julius found a table against the wall and sat down. He could see the kitchen area and saw a middle-aged woman working over the oven, wiping her brow. He guessed that must be Eunice. A teenage girl hurried over to his table and asked what he wanted to drink. After taking his order, she rushed away to the kitchen.

  Julius stretched his neck back and forth and sat back in his chair. It felt good to be alone after the weeks on the ship with soldiers, prisoners, sailors, and passengers. The hubbub in the inn around him was in some ways soothing background noise compared to the noise on the ship. He let his mind wander, thinking about Rome. He had not been there for years. He was excited to see the center of the World’s power once again. However, his excitement was tempered by his memory of the decadence he remembered seeing there, including the carnage of the Coliseum. He was embarrassed now about his enthusiasm for watching the gladiators slaughter each other. Even more troublesome to his soul were the memories of how the crowd cheered as the Christians were executed by sword and wild beasts. He was keenly ashamed of joining in the cheers. Now, having spent time with Paul, his prisoner, he had a new appreciation for the courage and faith with which the poor victims faced their certain death, some of them even singing or kneeling in prayer. There were none of the screams or pleadings or weak attempts at self-defense offered by other prisoners that faced similar fates.

  His reverie was interrupted by the girl bringing a mug of ale for him. She quickly ran down the choices for food, and he gave her his request as she quickly moved on to another table.

  As he settled back in his chair, he glanced around again. He saw two men rising from a table further back, appearing to have come to some agreement as they shook hands. Now that his eyes had adjusted, he could see more details. He was surprised to see one of the men was a Roman soldier. As they walked across the room, they passed by Julius and the soldier paused, surprise on his face. Julius raised his arm in salute as the soldier returned the gesture.

  “Greetings!” he said. “I am Darius, Centurion of the Athenian regiment.”

  Julius smiled as he rose, holding out his hand in greeting. “I’m Julius, from the Augustan regiment. I wondered if there were other soldiers around. Are you traveling on one of the ships in the harbor?”

  Darius shook his hand, smiling in return. “Yes. I received transfer orders to go to Palestine. It seems the governor there is troubled by some religious conflict between the Jews and some new sect. I just received my promotion and am being transferred there to meet my new regiment. I paid for passage on a ship heading that direction, but with the season being so late, they decided to winter here. I finally found someone willing to transport me to the mainland so I can continue
my journey overland. I just made the arrangements. He wants to leave in the next hour so I am heading back to the port. What about you?”

  “What a coincidence! I just left Caesarea in northern Palestine. My cohort is transporting a group of prisoners to Rome,” Julius answered.

  “Ah, Rome!” Darius exclaimed. “I would love to go back there again. There is so much to do there! So much excitement! Are your prisoners bound for the Coliseum?”

  Julius shook his head. “No. In fact I think they may have something to do with your future post. The main prisoner I am transporting has become rather well known around Asia Minor. He has traveled extensively, preaching a new religion. He does not seem to be a troublemaker from what I have seen, but I have heard stories that he was thrown out of several towns. In fact, he was the main focus of the riots in Ephesus a few years ago that you probably heard about. He escaped before being attacked, but one of the other prisoners in my charge was imprisoned in Ephesus as well.”

  “Oh, I wish I had time to sit and talk with you about this!” Darius said. “I would love to hear more. I am curious, though. Why is a religious prisoner being transported to Rome? It seems unnecessary.”

  “He exerted his rights as a Roman citizen to stand trial before Caesar,” Julius answered. “He had been threatened by a group of Jews that had lain in wait, hoping to kill him, so my cohort is tasked with seeing that he arrives safely. I must say I am eager to get there. I am not cut out for sea travel. It is very nice to be on land, even for a night.”

  “Only a night?” Darius asked. “Are you not going to winter here?”

  “No, we are on the Alexandrian grain ship, and there are more than 250 people. The harbormaster told us he is fully booked with ships wintering here. The captain wants to go on to Phoenix.”