‘A sword,’ repeated Ignatius.
‘It was the one used to pierce the side of our Lord on the cross.’
‘A sword, not a spear?’
‘A sword,’ replied Benny.
Ignatius seemed spellbound. His eyes didn’t blink for a full thirty seconds. The sword, if it still existed, would be a relic to rival even the Holy Grail itself. He was almost afraid to look at Stroud whom he sensed was positively shaking with excitement.
‘What was this mission?’ he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
‘Paul’s real reason for wanting to go to Rome was not to complain about his earlier treatment; he really wanted to try and convert the Emperor Augustus to the way of our Lord. If anyone could do it, Paul could. He burned with an inner fire that people found impossible to ignore. They listened when he spoke. They wanted to believe.’
‘So Paul left Sidon with the sword. What happened next?’
‘We had to sail south of Cyprus because the winds were in the wrong direction. We should have taken that as an omen. Things didn’t go well at sea. We seemed always to be either becalmed or struggling to make progress against headwinds. It was never easy.’
‘But you did make progress?’
‘We eventually reached Myra where Marcus had us transferred to a larger vessel sailing out of Alexandria to Rome.’
‘Did conditions improve?’ asked Ignatius.
‘No, we were becalmed again for many days and then, when we did get going, we lost two of the crew overboard. Finally we got caught in a storm and ran aground off Melita.’
Ignatius looked at Stroud and mouthed the word ‘Malta.’ He turned his attention back to Zur. ‘What happened then?’
‘The ship broke up on the rocks and we were thrown into the sea but we all managed to make it to land, some swimming, some hanging on to bits of wood, others being kept afloat by their friends. The God of Israel was with us that day.’
‘What about Paul?’
‘He was always a tower of strength. As soon as we reached the shore, he organised us into working parties. Some were detailed to build shelters, others to collect wood for the fire. I had to forage for food. As it turned out, there was no need. The local people were very friendly. They lit fires, gave us food and provided us with shelter until we got organised.’
‘And Paul? What did he do?’ asked Ignatius.
‘Paul was taken to see the governor of the island, a man named Publius and they became friends. As I said, Paul was good with people. Publius invited him to stay in his house and arranged living quarters for the rest of us until a ship could be found.’
‘Where was the sword all this time?’ asked Ignatius.
‘Paul kept it with him.’
‘Did he have it when he left the island?’
Benny appeared to hesitate. ‘I suppose,’ he said.
‘You suppose?’ repeated Ignatius slowly. He said it in almost threatening fashion. ‘Think!’
‘I... can’t remember.’
‘I think you can,’ said Ignatius. ‘Tell me!’
‘There were lots of problems over the sword. Important people on the island got to know about it. Some of them wanted to buy it.’
‘Buy it?’ exclaimed Ignatius.
‘They offered Paul as much gold as he could carry if he would leave the sword behind on the island but he said no. Selling it was unthinkable.’
‘So if he didn’t sell it... what happened to it?’
‘Two men broke into Publius’s house one night and tried to steal it. They were caught and punished. They had their hands cut off. Both of them bled to death.’
‘Who ordered that? Publius?’
‘No, they were servants of a rich merchant, Salicus of Mdina. Salicus himself ordered it. He even carried out the sentence himself.’
‘What would servants want with such a thing?’
‘Everyone knew that Salicus himself had ordered them to steal it but no one dared say it. He was such a powerful man, second only to Publius on the island.’
‘So the sword was safe.’ Ignatius suddenly changed tack. ‘How long did you all stay on the island?’
‘About three months.’
‘And then you set sail once more for Rome?’
‘There was a ship that had been wintering in the harbour. When it left for Syracuse, it took Paul and the others with it.’
‘But not you?’
‘I had to stay behind... I was sick.’
‘And the sword?’
‘Paul must have taken it with him.’
‘I think not,’ hissed Ignatius as if he was pronouncing a death sentence.
Benny started to sweat profusely.
‘That sword never left this island or history would have said so.’
‘I don’t know what you mean...’
‘I think that the sword was stolen from Paul by one of his own people. You!’
‘No! No!’
‘No mention of that sword was ever made again in Christian annals. It never reached Rome. It must have stayed in Melita... just like you did. Salicus bribed you to steal the sword after his own men failed, didn’t he? He knew you were the weak link in the chain just like I do. It’s written through everything you’ve told me. You weren’t converted to Christianity in jail. You just saw a way out of prison and, like the opportunist you are, you took your chance. Now, I’ll ask you again. What happened to the sword?’
Zur’s breathing became laboured and irregular as he tried to fend off Ignatius’s barrage of questions and accusations. Stroud was becoming anxious but Ignatius was not to be swayed.
‘You weren’t left behind because you were sick,’ snarled Ignatius. ‘You were a prisoner of the Romans! They wouldn’t leave a prisoner behind because he didn’t feel well! They would have put you to the sword and thrown your body to the fishes without a second thought! You stole the sword and made a run for it. You went into hiding and if I’m not mistaken, you hid in the house of Salicus, something you arranged beforehand. Admit it! Salicus bribed you to steal the sword didn’t he?’
‘Who are you? How do you know these things?’ Benny cried out.
‘I’m from the future. Call me part of your eternal damnation if you like,’ rasped Ignatius.
Benny let out a cry that made Stroud warn Ignatius. Ignatius held up a palm and continued with his questions. ‘What happened to the sword?’
‘I don’t know.’
Ignatius picked up one of Stroud’s shunt needles from the tray and took off its plastic shield. With a sharp downward movement, he pushed the needle in up to the hilt in the upper aspect of Benny’s thigh.
Benny’s eyes opened wide like a fish lying on a slab and he let out a scream of pain. Ignatius remained as emotionless as ever. ‘Now then,’ he said, ‘Are you going to answer truthfully or am I going to investigate your capacity for pain?’ He moved the base of the needle with a circular, grinding movement as if to illustrate his point. Zur cried out again and said, ‘All right, I’ll tell you... no more... no more.’
‘Go on.’
‘I did steal the sword for Salicus. He said that he would hide me in his cellars and give me my freedom when Paul and the others had left the island. I didn’t want to let Paul down but being a prisoner of the Romans was no life for any man.’
‘And the sword?’
‘It brought nothing but misfortune to Salicus and his family.’
‘How so?’
‘Salicus’s wealth came from his ships. He had a fleet of five, which sailed the Mediterranean, bringing spices from the east. Two were lost in storms before three months had passed. His wife died of a terrible disease that made her waste away and their only son was found dead in his bed one morning. No one knew why.’
‘And Salicus blamed the sword for this?’ said Ignatius.
‘He was convinced of it,’ said Zur. ‘He said he could feel its malevolence whenever he held it in his hand.’