Mari hugged me. “I will be praying, Shale.”
Joy surged through my veins after her warm embrace. “Thank you.”
I held the directions in one hand and my bag with the scrolls and wedding invitation in the other. Once I reached the downtown area, I looked for the two-story villa that matched Daniel’s description. After spotting the upper-class, well-manicured dwelling, I headed down the cobblestone street lined with water fountains.
I climbed the steps and knocked, still unsure what I would say.
When the door opened, Nathan greeted me. “Shale!”
I reached out to hug him and saw he had grown into a handsome young man. He had the physique of someone who either worked out or had a demanding physical job.
“Come in, sis, come in.”
Nathan had never called me sis before. He pointed me to the living room decorated with colorful wall hangings, hand-made rugs, and elegant furniture.
“Have a seat on the sofa, and I’ll get Dad. He’ll be delighted to see you.”
I hoped he was right. I double-clutched my bag and glanced around the room. The décor reminded me of his estate in Galilee, but much more lavish.
I heard my father approaching. When he entered the room, the resemblance to his twenty-first century counterpart was remarkable. In fact, he was quite handsome wearing a toga. His darker skin made him look younger.
His voice boomed through the room. “Shale, what brings you to Caesarea?”
He embraced me warmly. I showed him the bag. “I brought you something.”
“Did you bring my scrolls?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Bless you, Shale. You are an angel. I wasn’t sure how I would get back to retrieve them.”
I handed him the bag, and he laid the contents out on the table. There must have been thirty parchments. He pulled one out and opened it. Then he put it back. His eyes turned to me. “Thank you for bringing these.”
“You’re welcome.”
He continued to peruse the ancient books, some more than others, as if taking a trip down memory lane.
“I wanted to ask if you could give two to Daniel. He became quite fond of the Book of Joel and the Book of Daniel.”
Brutus went through the scrolls looking for them. “Yes, of course. I’d be delighted for Daniel to keep those two.”
He handed them to me. “Did he come with you to Caesarea?”
“Yes. As well as Mari and Judd—oh, before I forget, I have something else to give you.” I retrieved the wedding invitation from the bag and handed it to him.
He opened it and smiled. “I always thought that might be a possibility.” He closed the invitation and set it on the table. “Let them know I’m looking forward to attending.”
“I will,” I promised.
“And Daniel, what is he doing now?”
Daniel had told me not to mention anything about his upcoming chariot race. “Tending to business—he’s a hard-working man.”
“And how are you doing?”
I noticed Nathan was listening. “Well, I’m taking care of a young child who lost her family. Daniel and I are betrothed, but we haven’t set a wedding date yet.”
“Wonderful,” my father said.
An awkward silence followed. “Make sure you give those scrolls to him—a wedding gift.”
“Have you read them?”
My father smiled. “Not enough time.”
I changed the subject. “Did you ever get a chance to meet Jesus on one of your trips to Jerusalem?”
“I go to Jerusalem a couple of times each month, but I never got to meet the teacher. I should have made the time. Now it’s too late.”
I nodded. “Of course, I’ve heard reports that he’s been seen alive since the crucifixion.”
My father laughed. “Yes, I’ve heard that, too, but the reports don’t come from reliable sources.”
I couldn’t resist stating my opinion even at the risk of getting into an argument. “So you discount the five hundred eyewitness reports out of Galilee.”
Brutus cocked his head. “That’s unofficial.”
I bit my lip. “What would make it official?”
“I’d like to talk to someone who was there.”
“When Daniel visits, you can speak to him.”
“Daniel heard him?”
I nodded.
My father crossed his arms over his chest as if surprised. “That’s quite remarkable.” Then he quickly changed the subject. “Shale, it’s wonderful seeing you. You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman. I wish I could visit with you longer, but I have an important meeting. How long are you going to be in town?”
I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. How should I respond? “Daniel said he would get by to visit you soon, but I don’t know when.”
“I would love that. Then we’ll have more time to talk about these things. My wife, Lydia, is an excellent cook. We could have you over for dinner.”
I still found it hard to believe he had a secret wife in Caesarea when he was married to Scylla. “I look forward to that.”
His eyes darted about the room. “Well, I must be going, as much as I would like to stay and talk.”
“One other question.”
“What’s that, Shale?”
“Who bought the estate in Galilee?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I had someone to take care of that.”
“I see,” I said.
Brutus gathered the scrolls together and put them back in the bag. “I must be going. Why don’t you stay and visit with Nathan.”
I smiled. “I can stay a little while.”
My father hugged me again and took the scrolls to another room.
“Where are you staying?” he asked when he returned.
“With Theophilus.”
“Oh, excellent. Glad to hear you’re acquaintances.”
“Yes.”
Brutus headed to the door and paused briefly. “It’s so good to see you, Shale. Come back and visit anytime.”
I watched through the window as he walked down the street. He hadn’t changed a bit.
I turned my attention to Nathan. “Have you shared with our father about Jesus?”
“Oh, yes. Many times. Dad listens, but that’s it.”
We talked for the better part of an hour, reminiscing about our time together in Galilee, meeting Jesus at the Decapolis, and the miracle the King performed on Nathan. My half-brother would still be tongue-tied had Daniel and I not snuck Nathan out of the house in the middle of the night.
As I left, I was assured that Nathan’s love for Jesus had not wavered. That made the trip here to meet my father worthwhile, but his disturbing words rang in my ears all the way back to Theophilus’ house. “Dad listens, but that’s it.”
CHAPTER 59
TWO WEEKS LATER
THE DAY FINALLY arrived—the day I hoped would never come. I arose early and prepared Daniel a light breakfast, one of his favorites—home-made bread with humus, figs, olives, and dates, as well as a fresh filet of fish from the Mediterranean, topped off with fresh grape juice.
Daniel sat across the table from me. No one else was awake. How his appearance had changed since we first arrived in Dothan. He had a full beard again, and after five weeks of training, his body tone and muscle gain amazed me.
He was more quiet than usual, and I was afraid to say too much. I didn’t want to take away his focus for the race.
“Can I say the blessing?” I asked.
Daniel smiled. “That would be great.”
We bowed our heads. “Thank you, Jesus, for the blessings you give us. Help Daniel to win this race for your glory. I pray the prize money could help Cynisca’s father to pay off outstanding debts as a result of Daniel’s actions, as well as compensate Justinian for the unfair advantage Tariq has had racing as a Nephilim.
“Lord, I pray for Daniel’s protection. I pray that it will be a clean race. Help me to trust you for his safety. Also, please help
Daniel to learn about his father. Thank you for this food that you’ve given to us in abundance. Amen.”
I watched as Daniel poured enough servings on his plate for three people—maybe enough to feed a giraffe. I had never seen him eat so much as he had eaten since he had begun training.
He was wearing his usual toga. I had hoped he would dress in his racing attire, whatever that was, but he hadn’t. I’d have to wait until the race.
“Will you change before you get to the hippodrome?”
Daniel laughed. “I won’t change until the very last minute. Remember, it’s a surprise. No one knows I’m racing, and we don’t want to give a hint.
“That way Tariq has no idea, and we don’t risk the Romans coming after me. It’s not that I think they would, but I have a sense of uneasiness with them. Once the Romans see how excited the spectators are, they won’t want to capture me until afterwards.”
“What about after the race?”
Daniel reassured me. “Justinian dropped the charges. All I’m concerned about is winning the race.”
What would happen if Daniel lost? I couldn’t go there. He had to win. God was with him. I had to trust God.
Daniel finished his meal and I walked over and wrapped my arms around him.
“Daniel, I have faith God will help you to win. May he be with you and give you strength.”
Daniel lifted my face to his and kissed me. “Do you remember where I told you to sit? Two seats, one for you and one for Shira, have been reserved.”
“Shira and I will be there, but I haven’t convinced Mari and Judd to join us.”
Daniel shrugged. “I wouldn’t expect them to come. They’re working on their wedding plans. It’s not important to them. Don’t take it personally.”
I clasped my hands. “I know, but it would have been nice to have their support.”
Daniel stepped back. “I must be going.”
I walked him to the door, trying not to be clingy. I hoped for another embrace, but he stepped outside and kept going. “Shalom, my darling,” he said as he walked away.
“Goodbye,” I whispered under my breath. He had never said that to me before. Oh, how I loved the way that sounded.
CHAPTER 60
AFTER BREAKFAST, I dressed Shira in a new blue toga Mari had made for her, and we headed into town—along with thousands of others.
Shira pointed. “Auntie, look at all the people.”
We had a ways to walk since the hippodrome was on the south side. Walking with a three-year-old among such a mob scared me. I held Shira’s hand tightly and warned her. “You must hold my hand. I don’t want to lose you.”
We passed through the downtown gates as hordes descended upon the heart of the city. The festive air reminded me of attending my high school football games, but they were always boring.
Soon we came to a bazaar that lined the façade along the harbor. The sun streamed through the clouds casting light and dark shadows over the Mediterranean. Several fishing boats anchored along the shore had attracted birds hoping for an easy meal. Many fishermen had secured a prize spot to sell the “fresh catch of the day.”
Shira pointed to several children gathered around a booth. “Can we go over there?”
As we approached, I saw a large collection of children’s chariots, horses, and dolphins. Clothing was also on sale that I assumed were replicas of the charioteers’ team outfits.
Shira pulled on my hand. “Can you get me something?”
“Maybe one small thing.”
Shira’s eyes fell on the dolphins. She leaned over to examine them.
I picked one out. “Do you know what it is?”
“No”
“It’s a dolphin. It swims in the ocean.”
“Oh.”
“But I don’t think we should get it.”
Shira looked disappointed. “Why not?”
“What if you drop it? It’s breakable. Why don’t we get something that’s made out of wood, like one of the horses?”
We edged over to where they were and she pointed at a baby horse. “I like that one.”
I picked up the wooden horse and placed it in her hand. She turned it over. “Is it a girl?”
I chuckled. “Yes, it’s a girl.”
Satisfied, she handed it back to me. “Can you get it?”
“Sure.” I only had a small amount of money Mari had given me for the day, but enough for one purchase. After paying, we rejoined the growing sea of people. Daniel’s race would be one of the first ones since he was racing with only two horses.
I heard music coming from somewhere and looked around. A parade was approaching the forum, slowly making its way along the cobblestone road. At the head of the parade was a dignitary, followed by charioteers. They looked like the teams as they wore colored tunics with sleeves that were red, white, blue, and green.
Shira leaned on my arm. “There’s Daniel.”
I squinted to see. How did she spot him so quickly? Was that him? He had shaved. I didn’t think he saw us, even though we both waved. His attention was diverted elsewhere.
Singers, musicians, clowns, mimes, tumblers, belly dancers, and people dressed in strange costumes followed the teams.
Daniel didn’t tell me this was such a celebration. I found myself getting caught up in the excitement—enough that I could put thoughts of defeat or death out of my mind temporarily.
The patrons entered through a different gate than the participants, so we watched as the parade disappeared into the hippodrome. I was anxious to get inside.
Shira jumped up and down. “I can’t wait to see Daniel.”
The trumpet sounded and my heart skipped. I panicked that if Daniel raced first, we may not make it inside in time.
At last the line started moving and we made progress. Once inside, the interior took my breath away. The size of the hippodrome was bigger than any stadium I had ever seen. The roar was deafening, only trumped by the trumpet.
I had no idea what to expect, but it appeared as though part of the fanfare leading up to the first race included the charioteers and horses taking a lap around the track. That way the patrons could see the teams before the races started. I was glad as that would give us a chance to find our seats.
I saw in front of the track at ground level the box seats for high-ranking officials. Daniel had said there were a few seats reserved for friends and relatives of the racers behind the bureaucrats. As the charioteers progressed ceremonially around the track, the noise ramped up louder.
I pulled Shira along. “Hurry. The races will be starting soon.”
We stumbled and a disgruntled man shouted profanities at us, but I ignored him. I finally carried Shira thinking it would be easier. She clasped her hands around my neck, digging her toy horse into my back.
It took me half a second to find Daniel in the ceremonial procession. Most of the gladiators were racing with four horses, but some had two. I didn’t know Tariq’s team colors. I should have asked.
Horses with banners led the full complement of teams. The trumpet played louder as the oblong dirt track baked in the sun. Fortunately a cool, salty breeze from the ocean made it tolerable.
The team competitors looked fierce, hardened, and determined. I was too biased to think they were more intimidating than Daniel. He had trained hard for five weeks and had won many races previously. I prayed, nonetheless. “Please, God, help Daniel to win.”
Several of the charioteers waved at the fans and the throngs roared back. When I glanced at the other end of the hippodrome, I could see men gesticulating with their hands as they stood in front of overcrowded tables. Transactions were being carried out at a frenzied page. Something told me they must be placing bets.
I focused on finding our seats knowing the first race would start shortly. A few magistrates were still arriving and I figured the festivities wouldn’t start until the VIPs were seated. The dignitaries stood dressed in exquisite togas. I was surprised that as many women filled the se
ats as men.
Behind the upper echelon stood at least a dozen soldiers decked out in Roman accoutrements. Helmets with red fans on top, spears pointed at the sky, and colorful red and white skirts that reached their knees spoke of authority. Their appearance was enough to intimidate anyone bold enough to confront them. Fear crept into my thoughts…what if?
We made it to the area reserved for guests of participants. I set Shira in the chair beside me. The dignitaries were below us. To our right was the entrance for top officials. A man in a purple robe wearing a crown descended the steps and sat on a throne. Those around bid him upmost respect.
Who else could that be but Pontius Pilate? The pageantry was beautiful, but it would have been better if it were only a movie. This was too real.
At last the horses finished their final turn on the track and cantered to the entrance where the race would begin.
In the center of the forum were dozens of marble statues. One tall statue must have been of Caesar. His statue seemed to be on every street corner. Next to him mounted high on two poles were a row of dolphins. I had no idea their purpose.
The horses, chariots, and drivers disappeared through a large gate at the far end of the hippodrome. The trumpet sounded again. The racing fans around us leaped from their seats waving handkerchiefs.
Over the clamber a man on a loud speaker announced names and teams.
“Our first charioteer is Tariq Naser of the Green Team. He has won twenty-nine straight races.”
He came out and took a bow, and the multitude roared.
After a respectable pause to allow the fans to settle back into their seats, the announcer said the second name. “Welcome back, Daniel Sperling, charioteer for the White Team.”
A stunned silence followed. Slowly, a few started clapping. Soon the whole hippodrome erupted in cheers and applause.
Since I was sitting so close to the dignitaries, I saw concern cross some of their faces. A barrage of activity followed. Several guards ran over to question their superiors.
I turned my attention to Daniel who took a bow, waved at the fans, and then walked back through the gate.
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