The Brook Kerith: A Syrian story

  CHAP. XVII.

  As they sat talking the servant brought in a letter which, he said, hasjust arrived from Galilee. The messenger rode the whole journey in twodays, Sir, and you'll have to do the same, Sir, and to start at once ifyou would see your father alive. If I would see my father alive! if Iwould see my father alive! Joseph repeated, and, seizing Nicodemus bythe hand, he bade him farewell.

  Let an escort be called together at once, he cried, and an hour later hewas on the back of a speedy dromedary riding through the night, his mindwhirling with questions which he did not put to the messenger, knowinghe could not answer any of them. And they rode on through that night andnext day, stopping but once to rest themselves and their animals--sixhours' rest was all he allowed himself or them. Six hours' rest forthem, for him not an hour, so full was his mind with questions. He rodeon, drinking a little, but eating nothing, thinking how his father'slife might be saved, of that and nothing else. Were they feeding himwith milk every ten minutes?--he could not trust nurses, nobody buthimself. Were they shouting in his ear, keeping him awake, as it were,stimulating his consciousness at wane?

  Once, and only once, while attending on his father did Joseph rememberthat if his father died he would be free to follow Jesus: a shamefulthought that he shook out of his mind quickly, praying the while uponhis knees by the bedside that he might not desire his father's death.As the thought did not come again, he assumed that his prayer wasgranted, and when he returned to Jerusalem a month later (the new yearspringing up all about him), immersed in a sort of sad happiness,thanking God, who had restored his father to health (Joseph had left Danlooking as if he would live to a hundred), a strange new thought cameinto his mind and took possession of it: the promise given his fatheronly bound him during his father's lifetime; at his father's death hewould be free to follow Jesus; but the dead hold us more tightly thanthe living, and he feared that his life would be always in his father'skeeping.

  He was about his father's business in the counting-house; his fatherseemed to direct every transaction, and, ashamed of his weakness, herefrained from giving an order till he heard, or thought he heard, hisfather's voice speaking through him, and when he returned to hisdwelling-house, over against the desert, it often seemed to him that ifhe were to raise his eyes from the ashes in which some olive roots wereburning he would see his father, and as plain as if he were before hiseyes in the flesh. But my father isn't dead, so what is the meaning ofthis dreaming? he cried one evening; and, starting out of his chair, hestood listening to the gusts whirling through the hills with somelancholy a sound that Joseph could not dismiss the thought that themoment was fateful. His father was dying ... something was befalling, orit might be that Jesus was at the door asking for him. The door opened,and he uttered a cry: what is it? Nicodemus, the servant answered, hascome to see you, Sir. And he waited for his order to bid the visitor toenter or depart.

  His master seemed unable to give either order, and stood at gaze tillthe servant reminded him that Nicodemus was waiting in the hall; andthen, as if yielding to superior force, Joseph answered he was willingto receive the visitor, regretting his decision almost at once, whilethe servant descended the stairs, and vehemently on seeing Nicodemus,who entered, the lamplight falling upon him, more brilliantly apparelledthan Joseph had ever seen him. A crimson mantle hung from his shouldersand a white hand issuing from a purfled sleeve grasped a lance; weapons,jewelled and engraved, appeared among the folds of his raiment, and hestrode about the room in silence, as if he thought it necessary to giveJoseph a few moments in which to consider his war gear (intended as anelaborate piece of symbolism). In response to the riddle presented,Joseph began to wonder if Nicodemus regarded himself rather as a riddlethan as a reality--a riddle that might be propounded again and again, orif he could not do else than devise gaud and trappings to conceal hisinner emptiness, a dust-heap of which he himself was grown weary. Agreat deal of dust-heap there certainly is, Joseph said to himself ashis eyes followed the strange figure prowling along and across the room,breaking occasionally into speech. But he could not help thinking thatbeneath the dust-heap there was something of worth, for when Nicodemusspoke, he spoke well, and to speak well means to think well, and tothink well, Joseph was prone to conclude, means to act well, if notalways, at least sometimes. But could an apt phrase condone theaccoutrements? He had added a helmet to the rest of his war gear, andthe glint of the lamplight on the brass provoked Joseph to beg of him tounarm and relate his story, that burdens you more than your armour, hesaid. At these words Nicodemus was raised from the buffoon to a man ofsense and shrewdness. I have come here, he said, to speak to you aboutJesus. But the story is a somewhat perilous one, and as it rains nolonger I will walk with you along the hillside and tell it to you.

  He raised his hand to Joseph, forbidding him to speak, and it was nottill they reached a lonely track that Nicodemus stopped suddenly: hisdeath had been resolved upon, he said, and the two men stood for amoment looking into each other's eyes without speaking. It was Nicodemuswho fell to walking again and the relation of circumstances. He had comestraight from the Sanhedrin, where he defended Jesus against his enemiesand accusers at some personal risk, as he was quickly brought to see byRaguel's retort: and art thou too a Galilean? And walking with his eyeson the ground, as if communing with himself, Nicodemus related thatthere was now but one opinion in the Sanhedrin: Jesus and Judaism wereincompatible; one or the other must go. Better that one man shouldperish than that a nation should be destroyed, he said, are the wordsone hears. Stopping again, he said, looking Joseph in the face: it isbelieved that sufficient warrant for his death has been gotten, for hesaid not many days ago he could destroy the Temple and build it again inthree days, which can be interpreted as speech against the law. Josephasked that a meaning should be put on the words, and Nicodemus answeredthat Jesus spoke figuratively. To his mind the Temple stood for no morethan observances from which all spiritual significance had faded longago, and Jesus meant that he could and would replace dead formulae by areligion of heart: the true religion which has no need of priests orsacrifices. We must persuade him to leave Jerusalem and return toGalilee, Joseph cried, his voice trembling. By no means, by no means,Nicodemus exclaimed, raising his voice and stamping his lance. He hasbeen called to the work and must drive the plough to the headland,though death be waiting him there. But he can be saved, I think,Nicodemus continued, his voice assuming a thoughtful tone, for though hehas spoken against the law the Jews may not put him to death: his deathcan be obtained only by application to Pilate. Will Pilate grant it toplease the Jews? Joseph asked. The Romans are averse, Nicodemusanswered, from religious executions and will not comprehend the puttingto death of a man for saying he can destroy the Temple and build itagain in three days.

  Nicodemus became prolix and tedious, repeating again and again that itwas the second part of the sentence that would save Jesus, for it wasobvious that though a man might destroy the Temple in three days (agreat fire would achieve the destruction in a few hours), he could notbuild it again in three days. This second part of the sentence provedbeyond doubt that Jesus was speaking figuratively, and the Romans wouldrefuse to put a man to death because he was a poet and spoke in symbolsand allegories. The Romans were hard, but they were just; and he spokeon Roman justice till they came round the hills shouldering overagainst Bethany, and found themselves in the midst of a small group ofmen taking shelter from the wind behind a large rock. Why, Master, it isyou. And Joseph recognised Peter's voice, and afterwards the voices ofJames and John, who were with him, called to Matthew and Aristion, whowere at some little distance, sitting under another rock, and the fiveapostles crowded round Joseph, bidding him welcome, Peter, James andJohn demonstratively, and Aristion and Matthew, who knew Joseph butlittle, giving him a more timid but hardly less friendly welcome. We didnot know why you had left us, they said. But it is pleasant to find youin Jerusalem, for we are lonely here, Matthew said, and theHierosolymites mock at us for not speaking as they do. But you ar
e withus here, young Master, as you were in Galilee? John asked. We knew notwhy you left us. But we did, John, Peter interposed, we knew well thatJesus said to him, when he returned from his father's sick-bed, thatthose who would follow him must leave father and mother, brother andsister, wives and children to live and die by themselves, which is as wehave done. Yes, Sir, Peter continued, freeing himself from John andturning to Joseph, we've left this world behind us, or if not this worlditself, the things of this world: our boats and nets, our wives and ourchildren. All that Jesus calls our ghostly life we have thrown into thelake. My wife and children and mother-in-law are all there, and John andJames have left their mother, Salome. But, said James, the neighbourswill not be lacking to give her a bite if she wants something when sheis hungry. She'll be getting men to fish for her, for we've left herour boats and nets. They've done this, Peter chimed in, and my wife andchildren will have to be fishing for themselves; but we hope they'llmanage to get somehow a bite and a sup of something till the Kingdomcomes, which we hope will not be delayed much longer, for we like notJerusalem, and being mocked at in the Temple. But say ye, Master, thatwe've done wrong in leaving our wives and children to fish forthemselves? It seemed hard at first, and you were weak, Master, andstayed with your father; but after all he has money and could pay forattendance, whereas our wives and little ones have none; ourselves willbe in straits to get our living if the Kingdom be delayed in its coming,for what good are fishermen except along the sea coast or where there isa lake or a river, and here there isn't enough water for a minnow toswim in. Our wives and our children are better off than we are, forthey'll be getting someone to fish for them, and will stand at the doorsat Capernaum waiting for the boats to return, praying that the netsweren't let down in vain; but we aren't as sure of the Kingdom as wewere of a great take of fishes in Galilee when the wind was favourableto fishing. Not that we'd have you think our faith be failing us; we beas firm as ever we were, as John and James will be telling you. AndPeter, interrupting them again, reminded Joseph that if they lackedfaith the promised Kingdom would not come.

  It was Jesus' faith that upheld us, John said, pushing Peter aside, andthe promises he made us that we might hear the trumpets of the cherubimsand seraphims announcing the Kingdom at any moment of the day or night.And making himself the spokesman of the five, John told Joseph andNicodemus that Jesus now looked upon the arrival of the Kingdom as avery secondary matter, and his own death as one of much greater import.He says that he'll have to give his blood to the earth and his flesh tothe birds of the air else none will believe his teaching. He says thatGod demands a victim; and looks upon him as the victim; but if that beso, the world will get his teaching and we shall get nothing, for weknow his teaching of old.

  As Peter has told you, James interrupted, there be no water here, not aspring nor a rivulet, nothing in which a fish could live; we'refishermen stranded in a desert without boats or nets, which would be ofno use to us, nor am I gainsaying it; but if he gives himself as avictim how shall we get back to Galilee? He now talks not of thesematters to us, but of his Father only, and of doing his Father's will.He seems to have forgotten us, and everything else but his Father andhis Father's will, and we cannot make him understand when we try that weshall want money, that money will be wanting to get us back to Galilee,nor does he hear us when we say: our nets and our boats may have passedinto other hands. We know not what is come over him; he's a changed man;a lamb as long as you're agreeing with him, but at a word ofcontradiction he's all claws and teeth.

  The walk is a long one, Matthew interjected, and the taxes will becollected by the time we get back if the Kingdom don't come, and sore offoot I'll be sitting in a desolate house without wife or children orfire in the hearth. But we have faith, they all cried out together, andhaving followed Jesus so far we'll follow him to the end. But we areglad, Sirs, James said, that you've come, for you'll see Jesus and tellhim that we would like to have a word from him as to when we may expectthe Kingdom; and a word, too, as to what it will be like; whetherthere'll be rivers and lakes well stocked with fish in it, and whetherour chairs shall be set; Peter on the Master's right hand to be sure, weare all agreed as to that. But you remember, Master, our mother, Salome,how she took Jesus aside and said that myself and John were to be on hisleft with Andrew one below us? Peter began to raise his voice, and,straightening his shoulders, he declared that his brother Andrew mustsit on Jesus' left. You remember, Master? I remember, Josephinterrupted, that the Master answered you all saying that every chairhad been made and caned and cushioned before the world was. You can'thave forgotten, Peter, this saying: that every one would find a chairaccording to his measure? Yes, Master, he did say something like that.I'm far from saying we'd all sit equally easy in the same chairs, and ifthe chairs were before the world was, all I can say is that there seemsto have been a lack of foresight, for how could God himself know whatour backsides would be like years upon years before they came intobeing.

  About that we will speak later; but now point out the house of Simon theLeper to us where Jesus lodges, Joseph asked. You see yon house, Jamesreplied, and they went forward together, meeting on the way thitherseveral apostles and many disciples; and these accompanied Joseph andNicodemus to the door, telling them the while that Jesus had driven themout of the house. It is a main struggle that is going by in him, Philipsaid, and so we left him, being afraid of his looks. Isn't that so,Bartholomew? And they all acquiesced, and Bartholomew nodded, saying:yes, we were afraid of his looks. It was then that Simon the Leperopened the door, and Joseph, remembering his promise to his father, laidhis hand on Nicodemus' shoulder: I may not enter, he said. I have comethus far but may not go into the house; but do you go in and tell him,Nicodemus, that in spirit I am with him.

  On these words Nicodemus passed into the house, leaving Joseph in thecentre of a small crowd of apostles, disciples and sympathisers inseveral degrees, all eager to talk to him and to hear him say that theyhad but to follow Jesus to Jerusalem and the Scribes and Pharisees wouldgive way before them at once. You that are of the Sanhedrin should knowif we are strong enough to cast them out of the Temple. But, my goodmen, I know nothing of your plot to clear the Temple of its thieves,Joseph answered, and there'll always be thieves in this world, whereveryou go. But the Day of Judgment is approaching. When may we expect hissecond coming? somebody shouted from out of a group of men standing alittle way back from the others, and the cry was taken up. He is comingwith his Father in a chariot, one said. With our Father, somebodyinterrupted, and an eddying current of theology spread through thecrowd. I've come from Galilee, from my father's sick-bed, and knownothing of your numbers and have not seen him these many months, Josephsaid. He is the true Messiah, and we believe in him, was an unexpectedutterance; but Joseph was not given time to ponder on it, for a woman,thrusting her way up to him, cried out in his face: he can destroy theTemple and build it again in three days. And when Joseph asked her whohad said that, she told him that Jesus had said it. He turned to Peter,John and James to ask them the meaning of these words. What did Jesusmean when he said he could destroy the Temple and build it again inthree days? He means, said half-a-dozen voices, that the priests and theScribes are to be cast out, and a new Temple set up, for the pureworship of the true God, who desires not the fat of rams. Josephunderstood that the rams destined for sacrifice were to be given to thepoor.

  If you don't mind, will you be telling us why you refuse to go up withNicodemus to ask Jesus to delay no longer, but to lead us intoJerusalem? he was asked, and perforce had to answer that Nicodemuswished to talk privily to Jesus, at which they pressed round him, andfrom every side the question was put to him: is he going to lead us intoJerusalem? And then Joseph began to understand that these people wouldfind themselves on the morrow, or perhaps the next day, fighting withthe Roman legions, and, knowing how the fight would end, he answeredthem that the Romans would be on the side of the priests and Scribes.Whereupon they tore their garments and cast dust on their heads, and inhis attemp
t to pacify them he asked if it would not be better for Jesusto go up to Galilee and wait till the priests were less prepared toresist him. No, no, to Jerusalem, to Jerusalem, they cried on everyside, and voices were again raised, and the Galileans admitted that theyhad come down from Galilee for this revolution, and had been insulted inthe Temple by the Scribes, and laughed at, and called "foolishGalileans"; but they would show the Scribes what the Galileans could do.Was it true that Jesus was the Messiah promised to the Jewish people bythe prophet Daniel?--and while Joseph was seeking an answer to thisquestion a woman cried: you're not worthy of a Messiah, for do you notknow that he is the one promised to us in Holy Writ? And do not hismiracles prove that he is the Messiah we have been waiting for? None butthe true Messiah could have rid my son of the demon that infested himfor two years; and with these words gaining the attention of the crowdshe related how the ghost of a man long dead had come into her boy whenhe was but fourteen, bringing him to the verge of death in two years--apale, exhausted creature, having no will of his own nor strength foranything. But how, asked Joseph, do you know that the demon was theghost of a man that had lived long ago? Because in life he had dearlyloved his wife, but had found her to be unfaithful to him and had diedof grief twenty years ago, and was captured then by the beauty of myboy; and his grief entered into the boy and abode in him, and would havedestroyed him utterly if Jesus had not imposed his hands upon him andput the vampire to flight. Whither I know not, but my boy is free. It isas the woman says, a man cried out, for I've seen the boy, and he isfree now of the demon. My limb, too, is proof that Jesus is a prophet.And the lion-hunter told how in a fight with a great beast his thigh hadbeen dislocated; and for seven years he had walked with a crutch, butthe moment Jesus imposed his hands upon him the use of his limb wasgiven back to him.

  Another came forward and showed his arm, which for many a year had hunglifeless, but as soon as Jesus took it in his hand the sinews reknitthemselves, and now it was stronger than the other. And then a womanpressed through the crowd, and she wished everybody to know that a fluxof blood that had troubled her for seven years had been healed. But thepeople were bored with accounts of miracles and were now anxious to hearfrom Joseph if Jesus was going up to Jerusalem for the Feast of thePassover. But, my friends, I have but just returned from Galilee, andhave come from there to learn these things. He is watching for a signfrom his Father in heaven, a woman cried, shaking her head. A man triedto get some words privily with Joseph: will he speak against the taxes?he asked, but before he could get any further Nicodemus appeared in thedoorway, and the people pressed round him, asking what Jesus had said tohim, and if he were coming down to speak to them. But before Nicodemuscould answer any of them the lion-hunter cried out that a priest was notso terrible a beast as a lion, and while he was with them Jesus hadnothing to fear. At which his enemy in the crowd began to jeer, saying:Asiel wears the lion's skin, we all know, but he has never told anybodywho killed the lion for him. And the men might have hit each other ifthe woman who suffered for seven years had not cried out: now, what areyou fighting for? know ye not that Jesus cannot come down to us, for heis waiting for a sign from his Father? From our Father, John thunderedout. Nicodemus said he had spoken truly, and the crowd followedNicodemus and Joseph a little way. Do not return to the house of Simonthe Leper. Leave Jesus in peace to-night to pray, meditate, and rest,for he needs rest. He'll lead you to Jerusalem as soon as he gets a signfrom our Father which is in heaven, Nicodemus said.

  At these words the people dispersed in great joy, and Joseph andNicodemus walked on together in silence, till Joseph, feeling that theywere safely out of hearing, asked if Jesus spoke of his intention totake Jerusalem by assault. Nicodemus seemed to examine his memory for amoment, and then, as if forgetting Joseph's question, he began to tellthat Jesus was standing in the middle of the room when he entered,seemingly unaware that his disciples were assembled about the house. Hiseyes fixed, as it were, on his thoughts or ideas, he did not hear thedoor open, and to get his attention Nicodemus had to lay his hand uponhis arm. At his touch Jesus awoke from his dream, but it seemed quite alittle while before he could shake himself free from his dream, and wasagain of this world. Joseph asked Nicodemus to repeat his first words.Was he violent or affectionate? Affectionate, gentle, and winning,Nicodemus answered. A few moments of sweetness, and then he seemedsuddenly to become old and wild and savage.

  The two men stopped on the road, and Nicodemus looking into Joseph'seyes, said: I asked him if he were going up to Jerusalem for the Feastof the Passover, and after speaking a few words on the subject he brokeout, coiling himself like a diseased panther meditating on its spring,and as if uncertain if he could accomplish it, he fell back into a chairand into his dream, out of which he spoke a few words clear andreasonable; and then with a concentrated hate he spoke of the Temple asa resort of thieves and of the priests as the despoilers of widows andorphans, saying that the law must be abrogated and the Temple destroyed.Until then there would be no true religion in Judea. It is like that hespeaks now; the one-time reformer sees clearly that the Temple must go.And would he, Joseph asked, build another in its place? I'm not surethat he would. I put the question to him and he was uncertain if the oldfoundations could be used. The old spirits of lust, and blood, and moneywould haunt the walls, and as fast as we raised up a new Temple thespirits would pull it down and rebuild it as it was before. We areforbidden by the law of Moses to create any graven image of man, of birdor beast. Would that Moses had added: build no walls, for as soon asthere are walls priests will enter in and set themselves upon thrones.The priests have taken the place of God, and I have come, he said, tocast them out of their thrones, and to cut the knot of the bondage ofthe people of Israel. I come, he said, with a sword to cut that knot,which hands have failed to loosen, and in my other hand there is atorch, and with it I shall set fire to the thrones. All the world as yeknow it must be burnt up like stubble, for a new world to rise up in itsplace. In the beginning I spoke sweet words of peace, and they were ofno avail to stay the sins that were committed in every house; so now Ispeak no more sweet words to anybody, but words that shall divide fatherfrom son, and mother from daughter, and wife from husband. There is noother way to cure the evil. What say I, he cried, cure! There is none.The evil must be cut down and thrown upon the fire, and whosoever wouldbe saved from the fire must follow me. The priests hate me and call mearrogant, but if I seem arrogant to them it is because I speak the wordof God.

  And then, seizing me by the shoulder, he said: look into my eyes andsee. They shall tell thee that those who would be saved from the firemust follow me. I am the word, the truth, and the life. Follow me,follow me, or else be for ever accursed and destroyed and burnt up likeweeds that the gardener throws into heaps and fires on an autumnevening. Yes, he cried, we are nearing the springtime when life shallbegin again in the world. But I say to thee that this springtime shallnever come to pass. Never again shall the fig ripen on the wall and thewheat be cut down in the fields. Before these things come to pass intheir natural course the Son of Man shall return in a chariot of fire tomake an end of things; or if thou wilt thou can say that he'll come notto make an end but a new beginning, a world in which justice and peaceshall reign. And it is for this end I offer myself, a victim to appeaseour Father in heaven. I'm the sacrifice and the communion, for it is nolonger the fat of rams that my Father desires, but my blood, only that;only my blood will appease his wrath. As I have said, I am thecommunion, and thou shalt eat my flesh and drink my blood, else perishutterly, and go into eternal damnation. But I love thee and---- Andafter a pause he said: those that love God are loved by me, andwillingly and gladly will I yield myself up as the last sacrifice.

  Nicodemus stopped, for his memory died suddenly, and, unable to discoveranything in the blank, he turned to Joseph and said: he speaks with astrange, bitter energy, like one that has lost control of his words; heis hardly aware of them, nor does he retain any memory of them. They areas the wind, rising we know not why, an
d going its way unbidden. I haveseen him like that in Galilee, Joseph answered. Ah! Nicodemus answeredsuddenly, I remember, but cannot put words upon it. He said that beforethe world was, he and his Father were one, and that his great love ofman induced him to separate himself----

  At that moment a man came out from the shadow of a rock and approachedthe wayfarers, who drew back quickly, thinking they were about to beattacked. It is Judas, Joseph whispered, one of the apostles. You haveseen Jesus? Judas asked breathlessly, and when Nicodemus told how Jesushad said he would go up to Jerusalem for the Passover he cried out: tolead us against the Temple? He must be saved. From what? Nicodemusasked: from his mission? He must go on to the end with the work he hasbeen called out of heaven to accomplish. I can see that you have beenspeaking with him. Called out of heaven to accomplish! And then,clasping his hands, Judas looked with imploring eyes upon them: savehim, he cried, save him, for if not, I must myself, for every day hispride redoubles and now he believes himself to be the Messiah, theMessiah as sent by God, Judas cried. By whom else could he be sent?Joseph replied. If he be not taken by the priests and put to death hewill be driven by the demon into the last blasphemy; one which no Jewhas yet committed even in his heart, and if that word be spoken all willbe accomplished, and the Lord will choose another nation from among theGentiles. He will declare himself God, Judas continued. Nicodemus andJoseph raised their hands. He speaks already of the time before theworld was, when he and his Father were one; and setting aside theScriptures in his madness he has begun to imagine that the angels thatrevolted against God were changed into men, and given the world forabode till their sins so angered the Father (remark you, of whom Jesuswas then a part) that he determined to destroy the world; at which Jesusin his great love of men (or of fallen angels, for betimes he doesn'tknow what he is saying) said he would put Godhead off and become man,and give his life as atonement for the sins of men. Sirs, I'll ask youhow God or man may by his death make atonement for the sins that menhave committed? Hear me to the end, for as many minutes as you havelistened, I have listened hours. By this sacrifice of his life histeaching will become known to men and he will reign the one and onlyking till the world itself crumbles and perishes. Then he will becomeone with his Father, and from that moment there will be but one God.These are the thoughts, noble Sirs, on which he is brooding, and if hego up to yon town it will be to---- Judas could not bring himself topronounce the words "declare himself God," so blasphemous did they seemto him. And before the wayfarers could ask him, as they were minded to,if he were sure that he had rightly understood Jesus, the apostle hadbidden them farewell, and, running up a by-track, disappeared into thedarkness, leaving behind him a memory of a large bony nose hanging overa thin black moustache that barely covered his lips.

  As they walked towards the city, over which the moon was hanging,filling the valleys and hills with strange, fantastical shadows, theyremembered the black, shaggy eyebrows, the luminous eyes, and thebitter, penetrating voice, and they remembered the gait, the longstriding legs as they hastened up the steep path; even the pinched backoften started up in their memory. And the next three or four days theysought him in the crowds that assembled to make the triumphal entrywith Jesus into Jerusalem, but he was not to be seen; and if he had beenamong the people they could not fail to have discovered him. He is nothere to welcome Jesus, Joseph muttered under his breath, and added: canit be that he has deserted to the other side?

  He is a sort of other Jesus, Nicodemus said. But yonder Jesus comesriding on an ass, on which a crimson cloak has been laid. As Jesuspassed Nicodemus and Joseph he waved his hand, and there was a smile onhis lips and a light in his eye. He seems to have become suddenly youngagain, Joseph said. He is exalted, Nicodemus added sadly, by hisfollowing. And they counted about fifty men and women. Does he thinkthat with these he will drive the Pharisees and Sadducees out of theTemple? he added. He is happy again, Joseph answered. See how he liftsup the fringe of the mantle they have laid upon the ass, and admires it.His face is happier than we have seen it for many a day. He likes thepeople to salute him as the Son of David. Yet he knows, Nicodemus said,that he is the son of Joseph the Carpenter. Ask him to beg the peoplenot to call him the Son of David, Joseph pleaded. And, running after theass, Nicodemus dared to say: ask the people not to call thee the Son ofDavid, for it will go against thee in the end. But Jesus' heart at thatmoment was swollen with pride, and he answered Nicodemus: what thouhearest to-day on earth was spoken in heaven before our Father bade thestars give light. Be not afraid for my sake. Remember that whomsoever myFather sends on earth to do his business, him will he watch over. He hasno eyes for me, Joseph said sadly, for I left him to attend my father insickness. And, taking Nicodemus' arm, he drew him close, that he mightmore safely whisper that two men seemed to be searching in theirgarments as if for daggers. Nicodemus knew them to be hirelings in thepay of the priests. Look, he said, how their hands fidget for theirdaggers; the opportunity seems favourable now to stab him; but no, thecrowd closes round his ass again, and the Zealots draw back. God savedDaniel from the flames and the lions, Joseph answered. But will he,Nicodemus returned, be able to save him from the priests?