"Then thou wilt1 not go with me this morning?"
"Nay2, I must not; this morning I am to learn how to spin. The mother of Jesus will teach me; afterward3 I shall make for thee a tunic4. Now thou seest what a thing it is to have eyes." Anat looked down at the small hands which lay folded in her lap. "These," she continued, spreading out the slender brown fingers, "have hitherto been as idle as the hands of a princess, but the lady Mary says that they must learn many things, if with them I would serve him that healed me."
Seth looked half regretfully into the eager face. "Then we shall no more dwell by ourselves as heretofore? Hast thou forgotten the desert?"
"I have not forgotten, but I would like to stay here."
"And the dromedary?"
"Thou must find it. It was not I who would leave it without in the hands of a stranger. The lord of the desert is just in requiring it at thy hands."
The lad turned away. "Be it so," he cried angrily. "Till I have found it, thou wilt see my face no more; if that be never, why then----"
"Seth, Seth! Stay a moment, my brother! do not leave me so!" But he was gone, and without turning his head.
"How can I find the beast?" he muttered to himself crossly, as he plunged5 into the labyrinth6 of narrow streets. "I have asked everywhere for the man Gestas, no one knows him; as for the white dromedary, men look at me as if I were a witless fool when I speak of it. If now I were in Egypt, I should offer a libation to Ptah Hotep, or fetch a garland to the temple of the sacred bull, then might I receive wisdom; if I pray to the gods of this land, how will they heed7 me who am an alien?" At this point in his meditation8 the lad flung himself down in the shadow of an archway, his eyes following idly the darting9 flight of the sparrows overhead; something in their noisy crying brought back the memory of the day when he bent10 half distracted over the unconscious form of Anat. "There is a God who can hear somewhere," he said half aloud. "For he both heard and answered the man who healed Anat; yet is it a great thing to heal blindness, I dare not ask him to help me find a beast of burden. Is there not some smaller god who cares for common things? 'Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father.'" Where had he heard those words? It was John who had spoken them after the scourging12 before the council. "That means his father, not mine;" he went on meditatively13, "I am not a Jew. Yet are there sparrows in Egypt also; if I pray to this God, he will not I suppose strike me dead; I will try and see what comes of it. God of this land--Jesus--if that be thy name! I am as thou seest an Egyptian, and I know not what offering is pleasing unto thee; and if I knew I could not provide it, for I am poorer than yonder sparrow. Yet if it be true that thou dost care for such, help me also, I pray thee, to find the white dromedary, which is justly required at my hands by the lord of the desert."
When he had prayed thus, a vague comfort stole into his heart; he opened his eyes and looking down the street, saw coming toward him two men. One of them he instantly recognized as the man in whose keeping he had left the dromedary; with a little cry of joy he started to his feet, but shrank back again into the archway, and seeing a broken place in the wall, he squeezed himself into it and stood motionless. "I will follow after them when they have passed by," he thought within himself. "It may be that so I shall come upon the beast unawares; if he sees me, it will not come to pass."
But the two paused beneath the archway, and finally sat down on the stones, neither of them noticing the motionless figure in the black shadow of the broken wall.
"Give me thy flask14 if thou hast in it a swallow of wine; I am parched15 with the heat," said the one who was called Gestas.
"I have no wine," replied the other; "water is better."
"Pah!" grunted16 Gestas testily17, motioning away the proffered18 flask. "I do not drink water; 'tis fit only for the beasts."
"Thou art assuredly right, good friend; the best of the wine is not too good for thee. Do but a trifling19 service for me, and thou shalt not lack for the necessary gold."
"What wouldst thou?"
The Jew hesitated for a moment as if he scarcely knew how to proceed. Seth cautiously peered out from his hidden nook; he saw that the man was well dressed and had, moreover, an air of importance. He listened eagerly for his next words.
"Thou art the man who witnessed before Pilate against the malefactors, Dumachus and Titus, who afterward suffered with the Nazarene."
Gestas started visibly, he drew away a little and fixed21 his small twinkling eyes on his companion with a mixture of bravado22 and apprehension23.
"What if I be?" he said at length. "I was discharged by the governor with but twenty stripes."
"Ay, but since then thou hast also--" here the speaker lowered his voice so that Seth lost what followed.
Gestas sprang to his feet with a great oath, and half drew his knife. "Thou knowest too much by half," he cried; "I am minded to send thee where thou mayest prate24 of this to the shades."
"Peace, braggart25!" said his companion, a shade of contempt in his voice. "I am not unarmed. But thou canst see that had I spoken the word thou wouldst even now be rotting without the walls. I did not choose, because--thou canst serve me. Sit down and listen."
Gestas obeyed. "It is murder, I suppose," he said sullenly26. "I know you all, you rich men! You force us poor devils to accomplish your black deeds, and dole27 out to us a scanty28 pittance29 from your hoarded30 gold; but if there be other recompense, such as the scourge31 or the cross, it is ours without grudging32. Thirty pieces of silver they paid for the Nazarene; I know, for I saw it."
"What if it be thirty pieces of gold this time?" said the Jew softly. "The Iscariot was an ignorant Galilean; he was satisfied with the silver. It was enough," he added with a shrug33, "for he hanged himself immediately thereafter because of his remorse34. Now thou wouldst not do that, I dare venture?"
"I? Never! Else I had been dead a score of times already. But the matter in hand, what is it? I make no bargain, understand, till I know."
"'Tis simple enough--and--safe. Only the disposal of a man without family, and--yes--without friends. He is moreover blood-guilty; his removal is therefore lawful35."
"Why then dost thou----"
"Why do I not perform the deed myself? A proper question; thou hast understanding. It is--most sapient36 Gestas--not my affair. I represent another; that other is not in a position to avenge37 himself personally, nevertheless he will be avenged38. Wilt thou undertake this--for thirty pieces of gold?"
"Ten pieces now--thirty afterward, and I will do it."
"Say five now!"
"Nay, ten; I have no mind to risk my life for a pittance."
The other produced his wallet, albeit39 with some show of reluctance40, and passed it into the hand of Gestas. "There are just ten pieces within," he remarked. "Thou mayest count them."
Gestas fumbled41 over the coins deliberately42, counting them in a sibilant whisper. "One--two--three--four--five--six--seven--eight--nine--ten. Yes ten--and a bit of silver." Then he lifted the pouch43 to the light and looked at it critically; "I will keep this also--and the silver," he added with a knowing leer.
"Of course, keep that also," said his companion, eying him with an inscrutable smile. "But I have not told thee the man's name. His head must thou deliver to me this very night at midnight, if thou wouldst receive the thirty pieces. It is known to me where thou art encamped with thy followers44."
"I make no secret of that," said Gestas with a boastful laugh. "There is good water for our beasts in the valley of Hinnom, and it is not too far from the highway. If therefore thou wilt be in waiting just without the Jaffa gate, the head shall be delivered into thy hand at the hour named; if not to-night, why then to-morrow night; one must have time to snare45 the bird. But thou hast not yet told me the name."
"True; well then listen!" leaning forward, the Jew whispered for a little space into the ear of Gestas, who nodded twice or thrice as if he understood.
"I know the man," he said. "No one better; he should by right be about another business," then he laughed aloud as if something afforded him much secret amusement. "I have done for the father, I am once avenged; now I will be twice avenged, which is better. I know also how to lure46 him into a safe place. Thou wilt not fail with the thirty pieces?"
"I swear by the Temple that I will not fail."
"Good! Now there is another matter; I have in my camp a dromedary of great swiftness which I wish to dispose of at a fair price; the animal is young, docile47, well trained; it is moreover of a white color; I have never seen the like. I bought the beast of a caravan48 and paid for it a great sum."
"No doubt," replied his companion suavely49; "but let us first finish the matter in hand. One thing at a time, and diligently50 done, maketh a well ordered life," he continued piously51. "So then I leave the affair in thy hands."
"Thou mayest trust me!" cried Gestas with a great laugh; he rose as he spoke11 and brought down his broad palm on the other man's shoulder with a sounding thwack. "Thou hast made no mistake in putting the matter into my hands, it will--" here he stopped short and stared fixedly52 into the shadow of the arch. "Body of Jove!" he exclaimed. "It seems that we are not alone!" And reaching forward, he grasped the wretched Seth by the shoulder and dragged him forth53 into the sunlight.
"What wast thou doing there, thou devil's imp20? Nay, but thou shalt answer dearly for this."
But Seth had not shifted for himself all his thirteen years of life for naught54. He instantly perceived that the man did not recognize him; rubbing his eyes stupidly, he stammered55 out something about sleeping soundly. Then he stretched out his hand toward the Jew who was regarding him suspiciously from under his bent brows, and whined56 out a petition for alms.
"Wilt thou that I give thee a gold piece?" said Gestas in the Greek tongue.
Seth regarded him blankly. "I do not understand, honored sir," he said humbly57.
The companion of Gestas looked relieved. "It is safe enough if the beggar understood us not," he said. "Best take him along with you and make him secure till afterward; then release him."
"It may be that he doth not understand," rejoined Gestas, staring fixedly at the lad with his fierce red eyes; "yet there is but one kind of a man who can be trusted to tell no tales, and that is a dead man. All languages are alike to the tongue that hath ceased to move; any other tongue is to be feared."
The other shrugged58 his shoulders indifferently. "Ah well, do with him as thou wilt; life can be nothing to such as he. Only take him away. Till the hour and place of our agreement, farewell!" and turning he walked rapidly away, without once looking behind him.
For an instant Seth meditated59 flight; but the burly figure of Gestas was planted directly in front of him; to elude60 him would be impossible. Raising his eyes he saw the brown head and bright eyes of a sparrow, perched securely upon the ledge61 of the arch above him; the little creature was regarding the scene with apparent curiosity. Presently with a wild cry it darted62 away to join its fellows. The lad followed its flight with envious63 eyes, and for the second time he remembered the strange words of John, "Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father." Again he prayed to the unknown God who minded even the little wild things of the air, and as before he was comforted.
Gestas was evidently considering the situation with care, for he continued to stand silent before his prisoner, his arms akimbo, his small savage64 eyes riveted65 upon the figure before him. "Wouldst thou that I release thee?" he asked suddenly in the Greek tongue.
"If it please thee, good sir," responded Seth, quite off his guard.
Gestas smiled evilly. "It doth not please me, boy. Now march before me--so. Remember that I have in my hand a knife." And grasping the boy by the shoulders, he shoved him with a kind of terrible gentleness into the street.
Like one in a dream the lad walked before his captor. From time to time he looked wildly about in the vain hope of rescue, but the few passers-by went about their business with unseeing eyes, and an occasional prick66 of the knife from behind warned him that instant death awaited him should he venture to cry out. At length they had passed quite out of the city; here Gestas paused for a moment, and seeing that no one was by, he proceeded to bind67 the lad's hands securely behind his back.
"Thou art such a proper liar," he remarked with a grin, "that I am minded to leave thee alive for a while longer." Seth made no reply, nor did he cry out when Gestas playfully thrust the knife within a hair's breadth of his throat.
"If I must die," he thought, "I will at least die like a man." Then he remembered Anat sitting happily at her spinning at the feet of the gentle Mary; the tears rose to his eyes and brimming over rolled in great drops down his brown cheeks. He shook them off valiantly68. "Tears do not become a man," he said to himself sternly.
"Come, come, my lad," cried Gestas, "my business requireth haste as well as diligence. We must be getting on." Then feeling very merry indeed, he put up his knife and fetched out his newly-acquired pouch; shaking it so that all the gold pieces within clinked musically, he strode along, chanting a pagan rhyme of Bacchus and the pleasures of the vine.
After a time they reached one of the narrow denies which wind between the hills on either side of the Valley of Hinnom, and here they presently came upon the encampment, cunningly placed within a copse of low-growing trees on the edge of a stream.
Half a score of men were scattered69 about upon the greensward, some of them eating and drinking, others playing at dice70, and others still stretched out at full length in the shade asleep.
The arrival of Gestas and his prisoner was greeted with a shout of laughter. "Ha! our worthy71 chief hath made a notable capture," cried one, sauntering up to Seth and looking down at him. "A mighty72 man of valor73 is he truly to accomplish the overthrow74 of such as this. How many bags of gold didst thou take from him?"
Gestas winked75 significantly. "I shall take three, if the gods prosper76 me," he replied; then he bound the lad's ankles together, and bidding the man keep an eye upon the prisoner, he threw himself down upon the ground and demanded food and drink. Two or three others gathered about him, and to these he talked rapidly in low tones as he ate; but nothing of what was being said reached the ears of Seth, who was beginning to suffer intense agony from the tightness of the cords with which his wrists and ankles were bound.
He ventured at length to speak of this to the man who had been detailed77 to watch him; his guard good-naturedly loosened the bonds, then relapsed into a doze78, which presently deepened into a heavy sleep.
As the hours crept slowly by, Seth worked cautiously and unceasingly to loosen further the cords at his wrists. Towards evening he found to his intense joy that his hands were free. No one noticed him; the man at his feet still slept heavily; and after awhile he ventured stealthily to undo79 the thongs80 which bound his feet together; then he sat motionless, not daring to stir till the shadows should deepen.
As evening drew on, Gestas accompanied by two of the other men left the camp; he cast a glance in the direction of the lad as he passed by him, and hesitated for a moment as if he were minded to examine his bonds, but finally went his way. No sooner had he disappeared, than the lad crept away among the trees and bushes; before many minutes he had reached the edge of the thicket81, here he paused breathlessly to listen, then rising to his feet, ran like the wind in the direction of the city.
"I must find Ben Hesed," he said. "He will know what to do."
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1
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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7
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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9
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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10
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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12
scourging
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| 鞭打( scourge的现在分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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13
meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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14
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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15
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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16
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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18
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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prate
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| v.瞎扯，胡说 | |
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braggart
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| n.吹牛者；adj.吹牛的，自夸的 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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dole
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| n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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pittance
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| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
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hoarded
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| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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39
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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41
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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42
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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43
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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44
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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45
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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46
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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47
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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48
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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49
suavely
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50
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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51
piously
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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52
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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53
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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54
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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55
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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57
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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58
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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59
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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60
elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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61
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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62
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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63
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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64
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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65
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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66
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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67
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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68
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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69
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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70
dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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71
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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72
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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73
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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74
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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75
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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76
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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77
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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78
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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79
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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80
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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81
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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