Matthew, who had been resting on the side of the boat, craned his head up as though he’d been rudely awakened. “Disgusting. Look at all those pigs. Who would tend such beasts so close to the city?” he said to Tom.
Previously, Tom would have thought such a comment to be peculiar, but having learned Jewish culture, Tom knew that pigs were unfit to eat and were looked down upon severely. The fact that such a large herd was roaming on the hill just outside the city must have enraged every good Jew for miles. But Tom wasn’t inclined to have yet another conversation about the foulness of pigs. He responded with a simple smile and the subject died out.
Within five minutes, they reached the shore. “Someone else can get their feet wet this time!” Matthew yelled, “I’ve spent my time in the water!”
Peter stood and said, “You got more then your feet wet,” as he climbed over the side of the boat, into the water. “Judas, give me a hand.”
Judas rather reluctantly got to his feet and threw one leg over the side. As Judas put his other leg into the water, he lost his balance and fell backwards with a yelp, catching his robe on the oar and ripping it lengthwise. Peter thrust his long arm into the water and pulled the flailing Judas to his feet. Judas was panicked and coughed a large amount of water up after taking a breath. Tom wondered if Judas had ever been submerged in water. The poor man must have sucked in a mouthful.
Judas attempted to collect himself but was clearly distraught. His hands shook as he clutched the side of the boat, knuckles white. Tom felt a deep compassion for the man. “Go ahead to shore, Judas,” Tom said, as he patted Judas’s hand, “I’ll help Peter.”
Judas trudged to the shore and sat down with his head between his knees. Tom and Peter dragged the boat full of men to the shore.
Tom then walked to Judas, who looked up with the sad eyes of a child whose new Christmas present had been broken only minutes after being unwrapped. “Look at this,” said Judas, as he held up his torn robe, “I look like a beggar.”
“Can’t you just buy a new one?” Tom asked.
“It’s not up to me. The tax collector has the money,” Judas whined.
“Tax collector?”
“Matthew, he used to be a tax collector,” Judas explained, “Honestly, I think I could do better with the money, but Matthew insisted he had the most experience.”
“Why don’t you just ask for some?” Tom asked.
“I don’t… I couldn’t…”
“Then I will.”
Judas attempted to stop Tom with an outreached arm, but he was too late, Tom was already approaching Jesus, who was still in the boat.
“Your compassion is growing,” Jesus said, as Tom stopped at the boat.
Tom paused. Jesus turned to him. “Helping those in need… aiding Judas. You’re learning my ways.”
“I haven’t changed since the day we met,” Tom said, knowing full well it was a lie.
Jesus smiled. “So you say. Ask your question.”
Tom felt the urge to argue the point, but could see Jesus already had him against the ropes. “Judas ripped his robe when he fell out of the boat. I was…he was wondering if we could give him some money to buy a new robe?”
“Of course,” Jesus said.
That was easy, Tom thought, and then he went a step further. “Actually, Judas wanted to know if you could put him in charge of the money? Matthew is great with money and has experience as a tax collector, but Judas…he’s just not growing and I think he’s up to the challenge of handling our financing.” Tom smiled, attempting to hide his sarcasm over his, “Judas not growing” statement. He felt ridiculous saying it, but it seemed Jesus was taking his request seriously.
Jesus mulled over the proposal. He called Matthew over and said, “Matthew, could I have the money purse?”
Matthew handed a leather sack full of coins to Jesus.
“Judas will be handling the money from now on,” Jesus said, “It will be good experience for him.”
“Are you sure?” Matthew said.
Jesus nodded.
Matthew smiled and rejoined the other disciples who were mingling with a crowd of people who had rounded the outskirts of the sea in the same time the fourteen had sailed across it. Jesus turned to Tom and said, “If you have not become more compassionate, what are you getting for your good deeds today?”
Tom looked over at Judas, still sitting on the sand with his head down and said, “A friend.”
“Indeed…” said Jesus, as he handed the coin purse to Tom. “Go, tell Judas the good news.”
Tom smiled and said, “Thank you.”
Jesus watched Tom walk away, then balanced himself, threw his leg over the side of the boat and pressed his foot into the wet sand.
Greagor’s muscles twitched as Samuel’s head jerked back so fast that it seemed his neck would snap from the force. Samuel’s eyes ballooned, as if they would burst and he immediately stopped shaking. Slowly, mechanically, Samuel cranked his head toward the East, toward Gergesa.
Greagor gripped his sword and slowly drew it, as Samuel stood to his feet. What in the name of Neptune was this man up to now? Perhaps a lion was prowling the valley? Greagor wished it to be true. Let the savages kill each other.
Samuel’s body became rigid, silent, listening. Greagor looked to the East and saw nothing. Believing confrontation was inevitable, Greagor snapped his fingers once, gaining the full attention of his men. He motioned toward Samuel with his head. All four men slowly drew their weapons.
Samuel took a step forward but was instantly stopped as the chains shackled to his arms and legs grew taut. Samuel looked down at the chains with disgust and growled. He slowly moved his right arm back, letting the chain go slack, and then surged it forward. Clink! The chain snapped like macaroni.
Stepping forward, Greagor moved slowly, shield at the ready with his men close behind him. “Sit back down!” Greagor commanded.
Samuel twisted his body toward Greagor and gritted his teeth together, hissing, “WE WILL NOT!”
Clink! Samuel shattered the shackle attached to his left arm. Only his feet were still bound. Greagor knew that once Samuel’s feet were undone, he and his men would lose their advantage. “Attack!” Greagor screamed, as he raised his sword toward the blue sky. The four soldiers charged, ready to spill blood.
Samuel turned toward his attackers and smiled.
Tom and Judas strolled through the crowded streets of Gergesa. Judas was all smiles, clothed in a new robe and proudly clutching the money purse. They had been perusing the many shops for almost two hours and Tom knew it was time to head back. After the ten-minute argument Tom had with David about going into the city alone with Judas, Tom knew that David would send out a search party if they weren’t back on time. And Tom also knew that he and David were the only two people in the world wearing watches right now, so David would know exactly what time it was and how late they were.
“We should head back to the beach now. The others are probably wondering where we are,” Tom said.
“Just a few moments more. These dates look delicious,” Judas replied, as he eyed a basket of dates being sold by a thick shop-keep.
Tom looked at his watch casually, pretending to scratch his wrist. They still had ten minutes. Tom decided to use the time to get to know Judas a little better. “What happened to you in the water today?”
“What do you mean?” Judas asked, looking down at the ground.
“After you fell in. The water was only knee deep, you could have stood up.”
“I…I don’t know. It happens sometimes. I-I get afraid. I panic. I don’t know why. Water, spiders, snakes, even goats…there are so many things. Sometimes it even happens before I know the danger exists.”
“Extra Sensory Perception,” Tom said without thinking.