The king’s teachings filled my heart—words of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. One afternoon, I was lying on the soft grass in the field and sharing a quiet moment with the animals. Lowly was scratching her back with her legs pumping in the air. Much-Afraid was chasing Cherios. I loved watching them frolic together. A cool breeze pushed the clouds lazily by. The puffy billows reminded me of cotton candy I bought at the fair a long time ago—the time I got sick on the roller coaster.
The chirping of the birds, the buzzing of the insects, even the sounds of silence became gifts that enriched my life. I came to appreciate the value of owning nothing and the lavishness of the ordinary.
Each day, as I enjoyed the beauty of my surroundings, his words came to me and I wrote them down:
“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Still, a shadow lingered over me, and sadness ate at my heart.
I heard Worldly Crow before I saw him. Flapping wings announced his arrival. I peered at him upside-down as I was on my back. “I haven't seen you in a while.”
“I bring terrible news.”
My heart fluttered, and I scooted up to look directly at him. “What news?”
“The king is dead.”
“What?” I cried out. “That’s impossible.”
“The king has been killed—he was hung on a tree between two robbers. Only criminals die like that. Some friends took down his body, and they put him in the borrowed grave of a rich man. It’s Passover for the Jews. They couldn’t leave a dead body hanging over Passover.”
I sat stunned—speechless. How could the king have died? I hunched over, grabbing my stomach. “No, it can’t be.”
“What are you talking about? Who is dead?” Cherios asked.
Lowly and Much-Afraid came running. “What happened, Shale, what happened to the king?”
“Worldly Crow says the king is dead.”
Worldly Crow wiped his eye with his wing, as if he were shedding a tear. He added. “Also, a strange thing happened on the way over here.”
Whatever happened couldn’t make up for what had already taken place. I covered my face in my hands. Tears fell uncontrollably. “I can’t believe anyone would want to kill him.”
Cherios scooted up close and laid her head in my lap. “The king can’t die,” she said. “He’s immobile.”
“I wish you were right, Cherios,” I sobbed, “but I think you mean immortal.”
Lowly sat beside me wetting the ground with pig tears. Much-Afraid buried her head between her paws.
“We need to tell Baruch,” I heaved.
“I’ll go get him,” Lowly said. “He’s feeding on the oats in the cave.”
Worldly Crow cleared his throat and flapped his wings. “A vulture told me on the way over here the king didn’t die. He knows where he is.”
I stopped crying as Worldly Crow’s words sunk into my heart. “What do you mean, he hasn’t died? You said he died and was buried in the tomb of a rich man.”
“There are many stories circulating in Jerusalem. I don’t know what to believe, but the vulture insisted he knows all about the king. He said if you want to see him, for me to bring you.”
“A vulture would take me to the king?”
“That’s what he told me.”
“Vultures eat dead things. Why would I listen to a vulture?”
“Ca-ca. Suppose he’s right? He seemed informed about these things. The vulture knows more about you than I do.”
“Like what?”
“He said you came from far away, that you have friends from the garden, and you should bring your friends, too.”
I bit my lip and studied Worldly Crow. Could I trust him?
I covered my face overwhelmed with grief. “What should I do?”
“We must go with you,” Cherios said. “The king might need help.” She wiggled her nose.
Much-Afraid agreed. “Wherever you go, we shall go with you. We’re friends forever, right?”
“Of course.” If the king were dead, though, did I even want to live? Suppose the vultures had set a trap? Did vultures eat young girls?
Baruch ran up to me, nostrils flared and breathing heavily. His eyes bulged, disturbed by the news from Worldly Crow. “Is it true, Miss Shale? No one would kill the king, would they?”
“Not unless he let them.” I remembered the day when the underling offered the king everything, and he turned it all down. The angels came and brought him food.
I returned to the present. Why would anyone do such a thing? I jumped up and hugged Baruch. “Oh, Baruch, what shall we do? You’re wise. Tell me what to do. Worldly Crow says a vulture wants to take us to the king—all of us.”
Tears coated Baruch’s extra-long eyelashes. “Then we must go. Friends never abandon friends in their need. He’s more than a friend. He’s our king. Yes, we must go. We must go right away.”
I glanced up at Worldly Crow. “Are you sure, Worldly Crow? The vulture doesn’t want to eat us, does he?”
“Vultures don’t kill things to eat. They eat what is already dead.”
I became teary-eyed as I recalled the king—all the magnificent words he uttered and the way he looked at me. I couldn’t bear to think he might be dead. “We shall go and see about the king. After all, he would do the same for us. We’ll go, all of us.”
I looked across the land at my father’s flocks and estate. “I must say good-bye to Mari, in case we don’t come back.”
“Suppose she tries to stop you?” Much-Afraid asked.
“I have a feeling I may not see her again, and she’s been my friend for the last year, since Daniel and my father left.” I glanced around. “Does anyone know where Judd is?”
“In the cave,” Lowly said.
“I wonder if he knows.” I risked a lot—possibly locked up for good. “I can’t go back,” I whispered, “to say good-bye.”
“Why do you talk as if you aren’t coming back?” Baruch asked.
“Suppose it’s a trap?”
Worldly Crow impatiently strutted back and forth on the branch. “Are we going or not?”
“Yes. Let’s go.” I picked up Cherios and climbed on Baruch’s back.
Lowly looked forlorn, hanging his head. “I don’t think I can go. It would look strange to have a pig walking alongside the road outside of Gadara. Jews don’t like pigs. I shouldn’t tempt fate.”
I hopped off Baruch and approached Lowly. It wasn’t enough to pat him on the head. I gave him a big hug. “I love you, Lowly.” I remembered the first time he saw the king and how afraid he was of being eaten. Thank goodness, he didn’t drown in the lake. “You mind the stable, okay?”
A tear dropped from Lowly’s eye. “I’ll look for you every minute until your return. You will return, won't you?”
“I hope so, Lowly. If I don’t, you’ve seen the king. You know the king’s love. You won’t forget, will you?”
Lowly shook his head.
I climbed on Baruch’s back. “Let’s go, Worldly Crow.”
Chapter 34
BETRAYAL