The Last Temptation of Christ Part 14

Jesusa eyes flashed. Though he was in front of such a great mult.i.tude, his heart felt no fear. He parted his lips. aBrothers,a he shouted, aopen your ears, open your hearts, hear the words I shall speak. Isaiah cried: aThe spirit of the Lord has flowed over me, he chose me to bring good tidings to the poor, he sent me to proclaim freedom to the slaves and light to the blind!a The prophesied day has come, brothers. The G.o.d of Israel has sent me to bring the good tidings. He anointed me out in the Judean desert, and from there I come! He entrusted me with the great secret. I received it and came across plains and mountainsa"didnat you hear my footsteps upon the hills?a"I ran here to the village of my birth to announce the happy news for the first time. What happy news? The kingdom of heaven has come!a An old man with a double hump like a camelas lifted his chaplet and cackled, aVague words, the words you speak, son of the Carpenter, vague, groundless words. aKingdom of heaven,a ajustice,a afreedoma and agrab what you can, boys, itas all for the taking.a Iave had enough! Miracles, miracles! I want you to do something here and now. Perform some miracles to make us believe in you. Otherwise, shut up!a aEverything is a miracle, old man,a Jesus replied. aWhat further miracles do you want? Look below you: even the humblest blade of gra.s.s has its guardian angel who stands by and helps it to grow. Look above you: what a miracle is the star-filled sky! And if you close your eyes, old man, what a miracle the world within us! What a star-filled sky is our heart!a They heard him, astonished, one turning to the next.

aIsnat this the son of Mary? How does he talk with such authority?a aItas a devil speaking through his mouth. Where are his brothers to tie him up so that he wonat bite anyone?a aHeas opened his mouth again. Shh!a aThe day of the Lord has come, brothers. Are you ready? You have few hours left. Call the poor and portion out your belongings. What do you care about the goods of this earth? The fire is coming to burn them up! Before the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of fire. On the day of the Lord the stones of the houses of the rich will stand up and crush the inhabitants; the pieces of gold in the coffers of the rich will exude sweat, and over the prosperous will flow the sweat and blood of the poor. The heavens will open, flood and fire will pour down, and the new ark will float above the flames. I hold the keys and I open the ark and select. My brothers of Nazareth, I begin with you. You are the first I invite. Come, enter. The flames of G.o.d have already begun to descend!a aBoo! Boo! The son of Mary has come to save us!a hooted the crowd amid fits of laughter. Several people bent down, filled their hands with stones, and waited.

A running figure appeared at the edge of the square. It was Philip, the shepherd. He had made a dash as soon as he heard of his friendsa arrival. His eyes were swollen and enflamed as from much weeping, and his cheeks had sunk away. The very day he said goodbye to Jesus and the companions by the lake and laughingly called to them, aIam not coming, I have sheep, where can I leave them?a bandits had rushed down from Lebanon and seized him, leaving him nothing but his shepherdas staff. He kept it still and went from village to village, mountain to mountain, an unthroned king, still seeking his flock. He cursed and threatened, sharpened a wide dagger and said that he was going to journey to Lebanon. But at night when he was all alone, he wept. ... He ran now to join his old friends and tell them about his suffering so that all of them could set out together for Lebanon. He heard the laughing and booing. aWhatas going on over there?a he murmured. aWhy are they laughing?a He came closer.

Jesus had now grown furious. aWhat are you laughing at,a he shouted. aWhy are you gathering stones to strike the son of man? Why do you brag about your houses and olive groves and vineyards? Ashes! Ashes! And your sons and daughters: ashes! And the flames, the great bandits, will rush down from the mountains to seize your sheep!a aWhat bandits, what sheep?a grumbled Philip, who was listening with his chin resting on his staff. aWhat are these flames heas bringing us now?a While Jesus spoke, more and more of the soil-colored people of the slums arrived. They had heard of the appearance of a new prophet for the poor and had run. It was said that in one hand he held heavenly fire to burn up the rich, and in the other a pair of scales for portioning out their goods to the poor. He was a new Moses, the bringer of a new, juster Law. The people stood and listened to him, enthralled. It had come, it had come! The kingdom of the poor had come!

But as Jesus again parted his lips to speak, four arms fell upon him, seized him and brought him down from the rock. A thick rope was quickly wrapped around him. Jesus turned and saw the sons of Joseph, his own brothers Simon the lame and Jacob the devout.

aGo on home, homea"inside! Youare possessed with devils!a they screamed, rapidly dragging him along.

aI have no home. Release me. This is my home; these are my brothers!a cried Jesus, and he pointed to the crowd.

aGo home, go home?a The burghers also shouted, laughing. One of them lifted his arm and slung the stone be was holding. It grazed Jesusa forehead: the first drop of blood flowed.

The old man with the double hump screeched, aDeath! Death! Heas a sorcerer, heas casting spells over us, heas calling the fire to come and roast usa"and it will come!a aDeath! Death!a was heard on every side.

Peter raced forward. aShame on all of you,a he cried. aWhat has he done to you? Heas innocent!a A young stalwart flew at him. aIt looks as if youare on his side, eh!a He grabbed him by his Adamas apple.

aNo! No! Iam not!a screamed Peter, fighting to unfasten the huge hand from his throat.

The other three of Jesusa companions were scared out of their wits. Jacob and Andrew stood by, taking stock of their forces; Johnas eyes filled with tears. But Judas opened a way through the crowd with his arms, pulled the two frenzied brothers away from the rabbi, and undid the rope.

aAway,a he shouted at them, aor youall have to deal with me! Off with you!a aGo to your own town if you want to give orders!a screeched Simon the lame.

aI give orders wherever my fists are, short-leg!a He turned to the four disciples. aArenat you ashamed of yourselves, denying him already! Forward! Form a circle around him so that no one can touch him!a The four were ashamed. The paupers and ragam.u.f.fins jumped forward, shouting, aBrothers, weare on your side! Letas murder them!a aAnd Iam with you too,a cried a wild voice. Philip flourished his staff and pushed aside the crowd in order to pa.s.s through. aIam coming too!a aWelcome, Philip,a the redbeard answered him. aCome, join us! The poor and the wrongeda"all together!a When the burghers saw these slum dwellers rebelling against them, they flew into a frenzy. The son of the Carpenter has come to put ideas into the heads of the poor, to turn the established order of the world upside down. Didnat he say he was bringing a new Law? Death! Death!

They flared up and charged, some with staffs, some with knives, some with stones. The old ones remained on the side and shrieked encouragement. Jesusa friends made their bulwark behind the plane trees at the edges of the square; others rushed out into the open. Jesus himself went forward and stood between the two opposing camps. He spread his arms and shouted, aBrothers! Brothers!a but no one listened to him. The stones were now being slung with fury and the first of the wounded were already groaning.

A woman flew out from a narrow street. A purple kerchief was wrapped tightly around her face, covering all but half of her mouth and her large black eyes, which were submerged in tears.

aFor G.o.das sake, donat kill him!a she cried in her high voice.

aMary, his mother!a people murmured.

But how could the old men pity the mother at this point: they had become rabid. aDeath! Death!a they howled. aHeas come to awaken the people, to incite a rebellion, to divide our goods among the barefooted rabble. Death!a The opponents had now come to grips. Josephas two sons rolled on the ground, howling. Jacob had seized a stone and cracked open their heads. Judas stood with drawn dagger in front of Jesus, allowing no one to approach. Philip remembered his sheep. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he blindly swung his staff at his opponentsa heads.

aIn G.o.das name,a Maryas voice was again heard, aheas sick! Heas gone out of his senses. Have pity on him!a But her cry was drowned in the uproar. Judas had now seized the strongest of the stalwarts and was stepping on him, his knife at his throat. But Jesus arrived in time to pull back the redbeardas arm.

aJudas, my brother,a he cried, ano blood! no blood!a aWhat, thena"water?a shouted the redbeard, enraged. aHave you forgotten that you hold an ax? The hour has come!a Even Peter had grown ferocious, incited by the blows he received. He grasped a huge heavy stone and fell upon the old men.

Mary entered the very center of the brawl and approached her son. She took his hand. aMy child,a she said, awhat has happened to you? How did you descend to this? Return home to wash, change your clothes and put on your sandals. Youave made yourself all dirty, my son.a aI have no home,a he said. aI have no mother. Who are you?a The mother began to weep. Digging her nails into her cheeks, she spoke no more.

Peter slung his stone. It crushed the foot of the old man with the double hump. The victim bellowed with pain and hobbled away, going through the alleyways toward the rabbias house. But at that moment the rabbi appeared, panting. He had heard the uproar and had jumped up from his table, where with face buried in the Holy Scriptures he had been toiling to extract G.o.das will from the words and syllables. But when he heard the tumult he took up his crosier and ran to see what was happening. He had encountered several of the wounded along the way and learned everything. He now pushed aside the crowd and reached the son of Mary.

aWhat is all this, Jesus?a he said severely. aIs this you, the bearer of love? Is this the kind of love you bring? Arenat you ashamed?a He turned to the crowd. aMy children, return to your homes. This is my nephew. Heas sick, unfortunate man; heas been sick for years. Do not bear any malice against him for what he has said, but forgive him. It is not he who speaks, but someone else who uses his mouth.a aG.o.d!a Jesus exclaimed.

aYou keep quiet,a the rabbi snapped, and he touched him reprovingly with his crosier.

He turned once more to the crowd. aLeave him alone, my children. Bear no grudge against him, for he knows not what he says. Alla"rich and poora"we are all seeds of Abraham. Do not quarrel among yourselves. Itas noontime; return to your homes. I shall cure this unfortunate man.a He turned to Mary. aMary, go home. Weall come presently.a The mother threw a final glance at her son, a glance of great longing, as though she were saying goodbye to him forever. She sighed, bit her kerchief, and disappeared into the narrow lanes.

While the people were murdering each other clouds had covered the heavens; rain was preparing to fall and refresh the earth. A wind arose. The stems of the last leaves of the plane and fig trees separated from their branches and the leaves scattered over the ground. The square had emptied.

Jesus turned to Philip and held out his hand. aPhilip, my brother, welcome.a aIam glad to see you, Rabbi,a the other replied, squeezing Jesusa hand and surrendering his crook to him.

aTake this to lean on,a he said.

aCome, fellow partisans,a said Jesus, alet us go. Shake the dust from your feet. Farewell, Nazareth!a aIall keep you company until the edge of the village so that no one will bother you,a the old rabbi said.

He took Jesusa hand, and they went in the lead together. The rabbi felt Jesusa palm burning in his grasp.

aMy son,a he said, ado not take the cares of others upon yourself. They will devour you.a aI have no cares of my own, Father. Let those of others devour me!a They reached the end of Nazareth. The orchards came into view and, beyond, the fields. The disciples in back had stopped for a moment to wash their wounds in a spring. With them were a good number of the paupers and cripples, plus two blind mena"all chattering and waiting for the new prophet to perform his miracles. They were excited and merry, as though returning from a great battle.

But the four disciples marched along in silence. Uneasy, they were hurrying to approach the rabbi so that he could comfort them. Nazareth, the masteras home, had hooted and banished them: the great campaign had started off badly! And if weare chased out of Cana too, they were thinking, and out of Capernaum and everywhere else around the lake of Gennesaret, what will become of us? Where will we go? To whom will we proclaim the word of G.o.d? Since the people of Israel refuse us and hoot us, to whom shall we turn? To the infidels?

They looked at Jesus, but no one opened his mouth to speak. Jesus saw the fear in their eyes, however, and took Peteras hand.

aPeter, man of little faith,a he said, aa black beast with bristling hair sits shriveled up and trembling inside the pupils of your eyes. It is fear, Peter, fear. Are you afraid?a aWhen Iam far from you, Rabbi, yes, I am afraid. Thatas why Iave come close; thatas why all of us have come close. Speak to us and steady our hearts.a Jesus smiled. aWhen I bend far down into my soul,a he said, aI donat know how and why the truth always issues from within me in the form of a parable. So, friends, once more I shall speak to you in parables: aA great n.o.bleman once commanded a rich dinner to be made ready in his palace for his sonas marriage. As soon as the bulls were slain and the tables set, he sent his servants to announce to those who were invited: aEverything is ready. If it so pleases you, come to the wedding.a But each of the invited found a pretext for not coming: aI bought a field which I must go to see,a said one. aIam newly married myself and canat come,a said the next. aI purchased five pairs of oxen and Iam off to try them out,a the next gave as his excuse. The servants returned and said to their master, aNone of the invited is able to come. They all say theyare busy.a The n.o.bleman became angry. aRun quickly to the squares and crossroads, gather together the poor, lame, blind and deformed and bring them here. I invited my friends but they refused. I shall therefore fill my house with the uninvited so that they may eat, drink and rejoice at the wedding of my son.a a Jesus stopped. He had begun calmly, but the more he spoke the more he thought of the Nazarenes and Jews, and wrath flamed up between his eyes. The disciples looked at him with surprise.

aWho are the invited, who the uninvited, what marriage is it? Forgive us, Rabbi, but we donat understand,a said Peter, scratching his thick head in despair.

aYou will understand,a said Jesus, awhen I summon the invited to enter the ark and they refuse because they say they have fields, vineyards and wives and because their eyes, ears, lips, nostrils and hands are five pairs of oxen which are tillinga"tilling what? The bottomless pit!a He sighed. Looking at the companions, he felt completely forsaken. aI speak,a he murmured, abut to whom? To the air. I am the only one who listens. When shall the desert grow ears in order to hear me?a aForgive us, Rabbi,a Peter repeated, abut our minds are clods of mud. Have patience: they will blossom.a Jesus turned and looked at the rabbi, but the old man was staring at the ground. He had a foreboding of the terrible hidden meaning and his aged, lashless eyes were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears.

At the end of Nazareth, in front of a wooden shed, stood the customs officer who collected the duties. Matthew was his name. All the merchants who entered or left the village had to pay tax to the Romans. He was short, stout, jaundiced; his hands yellow and soft, his fingers inky, nails black; he had long hairy ears and a high voice like a eunuchas. The whole village found him disgusting and hated him. No one would shake hands with him, and everyone who pa.s.sed by the shed looked the other way. Did not the Scriptures say: aIt is our duty to pay tax only to G.o.d, not to mena? This man was a publican, a tax-collector in the tyrantas service. He trampled the Law, made a living from illegality. The air around him was polluted for seven miles.

aMove quickly, lads,a Peter said. aHold your breath. Turn away your faces!a But Jesus stopped. Matthew, standing outside the shed, was holding his quill pen between his teeth. He breathed rapidly, not knowing what to do. He was afraid to stay where he was, yet he did not want to go inside the shed. For ages now he had longed for a close view of the new prophet who proclaimed that all men were brothers. Wasnat it he who one day said, aG.o.d loves the sinner who repents more than he who never sinneda? And another day, hadnat he said, aI came to the world not for the righteous but for sinners: it is with them I like to speak and eata? And another day when he was asked, aRabbi, what is the name of the true G.o.d?a he answered, aLove.a For many a day and night now Matthew had turned these words over and over in his heart, saying with a sigh, aWhen shall I see him, when shall I fall at his feet!a And now, there he was in front of him, yet Matthew was ashamed to lift his eyes to look at him. He stood motionless, head bowed, and waited. What was he waiting for? The prophet would go away now, and he would lose him forever.

Jesus took a step toward him and said aMatthewa so quietly and sweetly that the publican felt his heart melt, and raised his eyes. Jesus was standing in front of him, looking at him. His regard was tender and all-powerful: it descended to the officeras very bowels, brought peace to his heart and enlightenment to his mind. His vital organs had been s.h.i.+vering, but now the sun fell over them and warmed them. What joy this was, what certainty, what friends.h.i.+p! Was the world then so simple and salvation so easy?

Matthew went inside, closed his ledgers, put a blank one under his arm, wedged his bronze inkwell into his belt and placed his quill behind his ear. Next, he removed a key from his belt, locked the shed and tossed the key into a garden. As soon as he had finished, he approached Jesus with trembling knees. He stopped. Should he go forward or not? Would the teacher offer him his hand? He raised his eyes and looked at Jesus as if imploring him to have pity.

Jesus smiled at him and offered his hand. aWelcome, Matthew. Come with me.a The disciples felt troubled and stepped to one side. The old rabbi bent over to Jesusa ear. aMy child,a he said, aa publician! Itas a great sin. You must listen to the Law.a aFather,a Jesus replied, aI listen to my own heart.a They had advanced beyond Nazareth. Pa.s.sing the orchards, they reached the fields. A cold wind was blowing. Mount Hermon gleamed in the distance, sprinkled with the first snow.

The rabbi took Jesusa hand once more. He wanted to talk to him before they separated. But what could he say? Where should he begin? Jesus claimed that in the Judean desert G.o.d entrusted him with the fire in one hand and the seed in the other. He said he would burn up this world and then plant a new world. ... The rabbi regarded him stealthily. Should he believe him? Did not the Scriptures say that G.o.das Elect would be despised and rejected by men, like a withered tree which has sprouted among stones? It was possible, therefore, possible that this man was the One ...

The rabbi leaned against Jesus. aWho are you?a he asked softly, so that the others should not hear.

aYouave been with me such a long time, Uncle Simeona"from the hour of my birtha"and you still havenat recognized me?a The old manas heart stood still. aItas more than my mind can hold,a he murmured, amore than it can hold. ...a aAnd your heart, Uncle Simeon?a aMy child, I do not listen to my heart. It leads one to the abyss.a aTo G.o.das abyssa"to salvation,a said Jesus, looking sympathetically at the old man. And in a moment: aFather, donat you remember the dream the prophet Daniel had about the race of Israel one night in Babylon? The Ancient of Days was sitting on his throne, his clothes white as snow, the hair of his head like the white fleece of a ram. His throne was made of flames, and a river of flames flowed at his feet. The Judges were enthroned to his left and right. Then the heavens opened up and upon the clouds descendeda"who? Do you remember, Father?a aThe Son of man,a answered the old rabbi, who had been nouris.h.i.+ng himself on this dream for generations. There were even nights when he dreamed the same dream himself.

aAnd who is the Son of man, Father?a The old rabbias knees gave way. He looked at the youth, terrified. aWho?a he whispered, hanging on Jesusa lips. aWho?a aI,a Jesus replied tranquilly, and he placed his hand on the old manas head, as if blessing him.

The old rabbi wanted to speak, but could not open his mouth.

aFarewell, Father,a said Jesus, holding out his hand. aYou must be a happy man, Simeon, for G.o.d kept his word and deemed you worthy of seeing, before your death, what you longed to see all your life.a The rabbi stood and gazed at him with protruding eyes. What was all this around him: thrones, wings and the Son of man upon the clouds? Was he dreaming? Was this the prophet Daniel? Were the doors of the future opening before him and enabling him to look in? He was not standing on soil but on clouds; and this young man who held out his hand and smiled was not the son of Mary, he was the Son of man!

Feeling dizzy, he drove his crosier into the ground and propped himself up on it so that he would not fall. Then he looked, looked at Jesus, who, holding his shepherdas staff, was pa.s.sing under the autumn trees. The heavens had darkened; the rain could no longer hold itself in the sky: it fell. The old rabbias clothes became drenched and stuck to his body. Water ran down from his hair. Though s.h.i.+vering, he remained motionless in the middle of the road. Jesus, followed by his companions, had already disappeared behind the trees, but as the old rabbi stood in the wind and the rain he saw them, ragged and barefooted, still going forward and mounting. Where were they going? In which direction? Would these barefooted, illiterate ragam.u.f.fins set fire to the world? The designs of the Lord are a great abyss. ...

aAdonai,a he whispered, aAdonai ...a and his tears began to flow.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

ROME SITS upon the nations with her all-powerful insatiable arms spread wide and receives the boats, caravans, G.o.ds and produce of all the world and all the sea. While believing in no G.o.d she fearlessly and with ironic condescension receives all G.o.ds into her courts: from faraway fire-wors.h.i.+ping Persia, Mithras the sun-faced son of Ahuramazda, mounted on the sacred bull which is soon to die; from the many-uddered land of the Nile, Isis, who in springtime upon the blossoming fields seeks the fourteen pieces of her husband and brother Osiris, whom Typhon dismembered; from Syria, amid heart-rending lamentations, exquisite Adonis; from Phrygia, stretched out on a bier and covered with faded violets, Attis; from shameless Phoenicia, Astarte of the thousand husbands: all the G.o.ds and devils of Asia and Africa; and from Greece, white-topped Olympus, and black Hades.

She receives all the G.o.ds; she has opened roads, freed the sea of pirates and the land of bandits, brought peace and order to the world. Above her is no one, not even G.o.d. Under hera"everyone. G.o.ds and men: all are citizens and slaves of Rome. Time and s.p.a.ce are richly illuminated scrolls rolled up in her fist. I am eternal, she vaunts, caressing the two-headed eagle which, having folded its blood-stained wings, reposes at the feet of its mistress. What splendor, what irremovable joy to be omnipotent and immortal, thinks Rome; and a wide fat smile flows over her fleshy rouged face.

Contented, she smiles ... and forgets. For whom has she opened up the routes of land and sea, for whom has she toiled for so many ages to bring safety and peace to the world? This never even crosses her mind. She conquered, made laws, became rich, stretched herself over the entire universea"for whom, for whom?

For the barefooted man who at this moment, followed by a swarm of ragam.u.f.fins, is proceeding along the deserted road from Nazareth to Cana. He has nowhere to sleep, nothing to wear or eat. All his larders, horses and rich silks are still in heavena"but they have begun to descend.

Holding his shepherdas staff he marches with b.l.o.o.d.y feet amid dust and stones. Sometimes he halts, leans on the staff and without speaking sweeps his eyes along the mountains and then above the peaks to a light: G.o.d, who sits on high and keeps watch over men. He raises his staff, salutes him, and then resumes his journey. ...

They finally reached Cana. At the well outside the village a pale young woman with swelling womb was happily drawing water and filling her jug. They recognized her. It was the girl whose marriage they had gone to in the summer. They had expressed their wish at that time that she might have a son.

aOur wish has been fulfilled,a Jesus said to her, smiling. She blushed and asked if they were thirsty. They were not, so she put the jug on her head, went into the village and disappeared.

Peter took the lead and began to knock at all the doors, running from threshold to threshold. A mysterious drunkenness had swept him away. Dancing, he shouted, aOpen up! Open up!a The doors opened and women appeared. Night was falling; the farmers were returning from their fields. aWhatas up, friend?a they asked, surprised. aWhy are you pounding on the doors?a aThe day of the Lord has come,a Peter answered. aThe deluge, men! We carry the new ark. All believers: enter. Behold! the master holds the key. Step lively now!a The women became frightened. The men approached Jesus, who was sitting on a rock now and inscribing crosses and stars in the soil with his staff.

The sick and the lame from the whole village gathered around him.

aRabbi, touch us so that we may be healed. Say a kind word to make us forget that we are blind, crippled and leprous.a A tall, aristocratic old lady dressed all in black cried, aI had a son and they crucified him. Raise him from the dead!a Who was this n.o.ble old woman? The astonished farmers turned. No one from their village had been crucified. They looked to see where the voice came froma"but the old lady had disappeared into the twilight.

Bowed over the soil, Jesus inscribed crosses and stars and listened to a trumpet of war which was descending the hill opposite. Heavy, rhythmic marching was heard, and suddenly bronze s.h.i.+elds and helmets flashed in the light of the evening sun. The villagers turned; their faces grew dark.

aThe confounded hunter is returning from the chase. Heas gone out again to catch rebels.a aHe brought his paralyzed daughter to our village to be cured, so he says, by the pure air. But the G.o.d of Israel keeps a ledger and records and does not forgive. The soil of Cana shall bury her!a aDonat shout, wretchesa"here he is!a Three hors.e.m.e.n pa.s.sed before them. In the middle was Rufus, the centurion of Nazareth. Spurring his mount, he approached the crowd of peasants. aWhy have you a.s.sembled?a he shouted, lifting his whip. aDisperse!a His face was afflicted. In several monthsa time he had grown old; his hair was turning gray. He had been broken by his pangs of grief for his only daughter, who one morning had suddenly found herself paralyzed in her bed. As he charged and dispersed the villagers, he glimpsed Jesus sitting off to one side on a stone. Suddenly his face lighted up. He spurred his horse and approached him.

aSon of the Carpenter,a he said, ayou have come from Judeaa"welcome! Iave been looking for you.a He turned to the villagers. aI have something to say to him. Go away!a He saw the disciples and paupers who had followed from Nazareth, recognized several, and frowned.

aSon of the Carpenter,a he said, ayou have helped crucify others; take care you donat get crucified yourself. Do not touch the people; do not put ideas into their heads. My hand is heavy, and Rome is immortal.a Jesus smiled. He knew very well that Rome was not immortal, but he did not speak.

The grumbling farmers had dispersed. They stood off at a distance and stared at the three rebelsa"a tall old man with a forked beard, and his two sonsa"who had been captured by the legionaries and were now being transported, loaded in chains. All three, with heads held high, gazed over the Roman helmets, trying to see the crowd, but they saw nothing, nothing except the G.o.d of Israel, erect in the air, and angry.

Judas recognized them. He had once fought side by side with them. He nodded, but they, blinded by G.o.das splendor, did not see him.

aSon of the Carpenter,a said the centurion, bending low while still mounted on his horse, athere are G.o.ds who hate and kill us, others who do not deign to look down and see us, still others who are well disposed and exceedingly merciful, and who heal the sicknesses of unfortunate mortals. Son of the Carpenter, to which of these categories does your G.o.d belong?a aThere is one G.o.d,a Jesus answered. aDo not blaspheme, centurion!a Rufus shook his head. aI donat intend to enter into a theological discussion with you,a he said. aI detest the Jews and if you donat mind my saying so, all of you harp on G.o.d incessantly. The only thing I wanted to ask you was this: Can your G.o.d ...a He stopped. He was ashamed to condescend to ask a favor of a Jew.

But straightway a narrow, virginal bed arose in his mind and lying upon it, motionless, the pale body of a young girl with two large green eyes which looked at him, looked at him, and implored him. ...

He swallowed his pride and leaned even farther over on his saddle. aSon of the Carpenter, can your G.o.d heal the sick?a He looked agonizedly at Jesus. aCan he?a he asked again, seeing Jesus silent.

Jesus slowly rose from the rock where he was sitting and approached the rider. a aThe fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the childrenas teeth are set on edge.a Such is the law of my G.o.d.a aUnjust!a shouted the centurion with a shudder.

aNo, just!a Jesus contradicted him. aFather and son are of the same root. Together they rise to heaven, together they descend to h.e.l.l. If you strike one, both are wounded; if one makes a mistake, both are punished. You, centurion, hunt and kill us, and the G.o.d of Israel strikes down your daughter with paralysis.a aSon of the Carpenter, those are heavy words. I happened once to hear you speak in Nazareth, and your words then seemed sweeter than what would be suitable for a Roman. But now ...a aThen the kingdom of heaven was talking, now the end of the world. Since the day you heard me, centurion, the just judge seated himself on his throne, opened his ledgers and called for Justice, who came, sword in hand, and stood next to him.a aIs yours, then, one more G.o.d who goes no further than justice?a shouted the exasperated centurion. aIs that where he stops? What then was the new message of love you proclaimed last summer in Galilee? My daughter doesnat need G.o.das justice; she needs his love. I seek a G.o.d who surpa.s.ses justice and who can heal my child. Thatas why Iave moved every stone in Israel to find you. ... Lovea"do you hear? Love, not justice.a aMerciless loveless centurion of Rome: who puts these words into your savage mouth?a aSuffering, and my love for my child. I seek a G.o.d who will cure my child, so that I may believe in him.a aBlessed are those who believe in G.o.d without requiring miracles.a aYes, blessed. But I am a hard man and not easily convinced. I saw many G.o.ds in Romea"weave got thousands locked up in cagesa"and Iave had enough of them!a aWhere is your daughter?a aHere. Sheas in a garden at the highest point in the village.a aLet us go.a The centurion braced himself and jumped off his horse. He and Jesus marched in front. Behind them at a distance came the disciples, and farther back still, the crowd of peasants. At that instant Thomas, rapturously happy, emerged from behind the legionas rear guard. He had been going behind the soldiers, selling them his wares at an immense profit.

aHey, Thomas,a the disciples shouted at him, ayouare still not coming with us, eh? Now youall see the miracle and believe.a aIave got to see first,a Thomas answered, aand to touch.a aTouch what, you shrewd merchant?a aThe truth.a aDoes truth have a body? Whatas this youare piping, blockhead!a aIf it has no body, what do I want with it?a said Thomas, laughing. aI need to touch things. I donat trust my eyes or my ears; I trust my hands.a They reached the highest part of the village and entered a cheery whitewashed house.

A girl of about twelve years of age was lying on a white bed, her two large green eyes open. When she saw her father her face lighted up. Her soul shook violently, trying to lift the paralyzed body, but in vain; and the joy on her face went out. Leaning over, Jesus took the girlas hand. All his strength a.s.sembled in his palma"all his strength and love and mercy. Without speaking, he pinned his eyes onto the two green eyes and felt his soul flow impetuously from the tips of his fingers into the girlas body. She looked at him ardently, her lips just parted, and smiled.

The disciples tiptoed into the room, with Thomas first and foremost, his sack of wares over his back and his horn under his belt. The peasants scattered throughout the garden and narrow lane. Everyone was holding his breath and waiting. The centurion, leaning against the wall, watched his daughter and struggled to hide his anguish.

Little by little the girlas cheeks began to redden, her chest swelled, she was permeated by a sweet tingling which pa.s.sed from her hand to her heart, and from her heart to the very soles of her feet. Her entrails rustled and stirred like the leaves of a poplar caught in a gentle breeze. Jesus felt the girlas hand beat like a heart and return to life in his grasp. Only then did he open his mouth and speak.

aRise, my daughter!a he gently commanded.

The girl moved peacefully, as though recovering from numbness; stretched herself, as if waking up; then, propping her hand against the bed, lifted her bodya"and with one jump was in her fatheras arms. Thomasas swivel eyes popped out of his head. He extended his hand and touched the girl, apparently wis.h.i.+ng to make sure she was real. The disciples were astonished and frightened. The crowd, which had swarmed around, bellowed for an instant and then, terrified, became immediately mute. Nothing was heard but the girlas refres.h.i.+ng laughter as she hugged and kissed her father.

Judas approached the master, his face angry and evil.

aYou dissipate your strength on unbelievers. You help our enemies. Is this the end of the world youave brought us? Are these the flames?a But Jesus, hovering far away in dark skies, did not hear him. He had been frightened more than anyone else at the sight of the girl jumping out of her bed. The disciples, unable to contain their joy, formed a circle and danced around him. Soa"they had done well to abandon everything and join him. He was the real thing: he performed miracles. Thomas placed a scale in his mind and weighed. On one tray he put his wares, on the other the kingdom of heaven. The trays oscillated for some time and finally stood still. The kingdom of heaven was the heavier. Yes, it was an excellent risk: I give five, I might get a thousand. Forward, then, in G.o.das name!

He approached the master. aRabbi,a he said, afor your precious sake Iall portion out my wares to the poor. Please donat forget it tomorrow when the kingdom of heaven arrives. Iam sacrificing everything to come with you, for today I saw and touched the truth.a But Jesus was still far away. He heard but did not answer.

aIam going to keep only my horn,a continued the former merchant, aso that I can blow it to a.s.semble the people. Weare selling new wares, immortal onesa"and free!a The centurion, holding his daughter in his arms, came up to Jesus. aMan of G.o.d,a he said, ayou revived my daughter. What favor can I do for you?a aI freed your daughter from the chains of Satan,a Jesus answered. aYou, centurion, free those three rebels from the chains of Rome.a Rufus bowed his head and sighed. aI cannot,a he murmured sadly, atruly, I cannot. I took an oath to the Roman Emperor, just as you took an oath to the G.o.d you wors.h.i.+p. Is it right to betray our oath? Ask me any other favor you desire. Iam leaving for Jerusalem the day after tomorrow, and I want to do this favor for you before I go.a aCenturion,a Jesus replied, aone day we shall meet in holy Jerusalem at a difficult hour. I shall ask the favor of you at that time. Until then, be patient.a He placed his hand on the girlas blond hair and kept it there for a long time. He closed his eyes, felt the warmth of the head, the softness of the hair, the sweetness of womanhood.

aMy child,a he said at last, opening his eyes, aI am going to tell you something which I donat want you to forget. Take your father by the hand and lead him to the true road.a aWhich is the true road, man of G.o.d?a the girl asked.

aLove.a The centurion gave orders. Food and drink were brought, tables set.

aBe my guests,a he said to Jesus and the disciples. aTonight you shall eat and drink in this house, for I celebrate my childas resurrection. I have not been happy for years. Today my heart is filled to overflowing with joy. Welcome!a He leaned over to Jesus. aI owe a great debt of grat.i.tude to the G.o.d you wors.h.i.+p,a he said. aGive him to me so that I can send him to Rome along with the other G.o.ds.a aHe will get there on his own,a Jesus answered, and he went out to the yard in order to breathe.

Night fell. The stars began to mount the sky. Below in the tiny village the lamps were lighted and the eyes of the people gleamed. This evening their everyday talk rose one degree higher than usual, for they sensed that G.o.d, like a kind lion, had entered their village.

The tables were set. Jesus sat down among his disciples and divided the bread but did not speak. Within him, his soul still anxiously flapped aits wings as though it had just escaped an immense danger or completed a great and unexpected exploit. The disciples around him did not speak either, but their hearts bounded for joy. All these ends of the world and kingdoms of heaven were not dreams and mere excitement, they were the truth; and the dark-complexioned, barefooted youth next to them who ate, spoke, laughed and slept like other men was truly the apostle of G.o.d.

When the meal ended and all the others lay down to sleep, Matthew knelt below the lamp, drew out the virgin notebook from under his s.h.i.+rt, took his quill from behind his ear, leaned over the blank pages and remained meditating for a long time. How should he begin? Where should he begin? G.o.d had placed him next to this holy man in order that he might faithfully record the words he said and the miracles he performed, so that they would not perish and that future generations might learn about them and choose, in their turn, the road of salvation. Surely, that was the duty G.o.d had entrusted to him. He knew how to read and write; therefore he had a heavy responsibility: to catch with his pen all that was about to perish and, by placing it on paper, to make it immortal. Let the disciples detest him, let them not want to frequent his presence because once he was a publican. He would show them now that the repentant sinner is better than the man who has never sinned.

He plunged his quill into the bronze inkwell and heard a rustling of wings to his right. An angel seemed to come to his ear and dictate. With a sure, rapid hand he started to write: aThe Book of the Generation of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. Abraham begot ...a He wrote and wrote until the east began to glow bluish-white and the first c.o.c.k was heard to crow.

They departed, with Thomas and his horn in the lead. He sounded it, and the village awoke. aFarewell,a he shouted, asee you soon in the kingdom of heaven.a Jesus came from behind with the disciples and the mob of ragam.u.f.fins and cripples from Nazareth, who still followed him, augmented now by new ones from Cana. They were waiting. He canat possibly forget us, they said to themselves. The blessed hour will come when heall turn toward us too, and rid us of hunger and disease. ... Today Judas remained at the end of the procession. He had found a set of large traveling bags and he halted before each door and spoke to the housewives in a half-beseeching, half-threatening voice. aOn our side, we work for you, poor things, so you can be saved. On your side, you can help usa"keep us from starving to death. You must know that even saints have to eat to get strength to save mankind. Some bread, cheese, raisins, dates, a handful of olives: no matter what it is, G.o.d writes it down and repays you in the next world. You give one split olive and heall repay you with a whole orchard.a And if any housewife dallied in opening her larder, he shouted at her, aWhy so tight-fisted, lady? Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, or even tonight, the heavens will open, fire will fall and of all your goods nothing will be spared except what you give to us. If youare saved, you miserable creature, youall owe it to the bread and olives and bottle of oil you gave me!a The frightened women opened their larders, and by the time Judas reached the edge of the village his sacks were overflowing with alms.

Winter had begun; the earth s.h.i.+vered. Many trees, standing completely bare, were cold. Othersa"the olive, date, cypressa"were blessed by G.o.d and retained their finery intact summer and winter. Similarly with men: all the poor were cold, like the bald trees. ... John had thrown his woolen robe over Jesus and now, s.h.i.+vering, was in a hurry to reach Capernaum in order to open his motheras trunks. Old Salome had woven many things in her lifetime, and her heart was n.o.ble and generous. He would portion out warm clothes to the companions, and devil care if old lickpenny Zebedee grumbled. It was Salome, with her obstinacy and sweetness, who governed the house.

Philip was hurrying too, his thoughts on his bosom friend Nathanael, hunched over as he was all day long in Capernaum, sewing up and patching sandals and slippers. His life was being lost in this way. Where could he find time to lift his mind to G.o.d, to lean Jacobas ladder against the heavens and mount! Oh, when will I get there, Philip thought, to unveil the great secret to the poor wretch, so that he too can be saved!

They took a turning, leaving Tiberias behind them on their lefta"Tiberias, despised by G.o.d, with its Baptist-murdering tetrarch condemned to the fires of h.e.l.l. Matthew approached Peter to ask him everything he remembered about the river Jordan and the Baptist, so that he could write it all down event by event; but Peter recoiled and turned his face aside to avoid inhaling the publicanas breath. Saddened, Matthew wedged the partly filled notebook under his arm. He lagged behind and, finding two Garters who went to and from Tiberias, questioned them in order to learna"and to set down in his booka"how the wicked murder took place. Was it true that the tetrarch became drunk and that his stepdaughter Salome danced before him naked? Matthew had to learn all the details in order to immortalize them in writing.

They had by this time arrived at the large well outside Magdala. Clouds had covered the sun: a pale darkness fell over the face of the earth. Black threads of rain hung down, joining sky and soil. ... Magdalene lifted her eyes to her skylight and saw the heavens blacken. aWinter is upon us,a she murmured; aI must move quickly.a She twirled the bobbin and began with great speed to spin the choice wool she had found. She intended to weave a warm cloak for her beloved so that he would not be cold. From time to time she glanced toward the yard and admired her grand pomegranate with its burden of fruit. She was guarding the pomegranates and not cutting them, for she had vowed them all to Jesus. G.o.d is exceedingly merciful, she reflected. One day my beloved will again pa.s.s through this narrow street, and then I shall fill my arms with pomegranates and place them at his feet. He will bend over, take one and refresh himself. ... While spinning, and admiring the pomegranate tree, she turned her life over in her mind. It began and ended with Jesus, the son of Mary. What sorrow, what joy she had had! Why had he left her, opening her door on that final night to flee like a burglar? Where had he gone? Was he still wrestling with shadows instead of digging the soil, fas.h.i.+oning wood or fis.h.i.+ng the sea; instead of having a wife (women were G.o.das creatures too) and sleeping next to her? Ah, if he would only pa.s.s once more through Magdala so that she could run and place her pomegranates at his feet, to refresh him!

While she meditated on all this and rotated the bobbin with her quick, skilled hand, she heard cries and tramping in the street and the sound of a horna"halloo! wasnat it cross-eyed Thomas the peddlera"and then she heard a shrill voice.

aOpen, open your doors. The kingdom of heaven is here!a Magdalene jumped up, her heart leaping for joy. He had come! He had come! Cold and warm shudders pa.s.sed through her entire body. Forgetting her kerchief, she rushed out, her hair flowing down to her shoulders. She went through the yard and appeared on the doorstep. Then she saw the Lord. Uttering a joyous cry, she fell at his feet. aRabbi, Rabbi,a she purred, awelcome!a She had forgotten the pomegranates and her vow. She hugged the sacred knees, and her blue-black hair, which still smelled from its old accursed perfumes, spilled out over the ground.