Taxing Times



So caught up is Jacob in his reverie that he misses the small caravan of men from Kerioth who move into the already teeming market place. He looks up to greet Maxim as they pass by the soldiers. Patrius and Longinus move to the opposite side of the road to inspect the caravans camels as they pass. Portimus is up the street settling a dispute between a merchant and his customer. The men leading the camels are on the same side as Jacob, Maxim, and Samuel as they pass.

The flash of the blade in the morning sun comes so quickly that it is gone before Maxim feels the pain. Fortunately, for him, the strike is not true and the slash goes wide of his heart. The blade sinks into his flesh, nicking his lung. The Zealot in the caravan quickly tucks away the knife and moves on as the gasping soldier sinks to the ground.

Patrius and Longinus notice movement where Maxim was standing and keen senses, battle hardened take over. Each draws their short two-edged gladius, and moves through a throng that parts in fear of Romans with unsheathed weapons.

Jacob sees Maxim fall and instantly drops to his side. The wound pulses blood and the carpenter grabs the linen cloth from the cart. The cucumbers spill out of the linen, one landing on the fallen soldiers chest. With one hand, the carpenter presses the cloth over the bleeding chest of his friend and with the other; he grasps the vegetable to throw it aside.

Patrius sees a man, silhouetted in the morning sun, kneeling over his commanding officer with an upraised hand. There is something in the hand. Neither knowing nor caring who the man is, the soldier drives his gladius into the target with vicious fervor. The blade bisects his torso slicing through his lung and spleen, exiting out of the front and almost impaling the prone Maxim.

Patrius withdraws his blade and draws back for a second blow when a hand touches him. He redirects the blow at what he assumes is a second assailant. Rabbi Samuel can only express shock as the soldier thrusts the sword into his chest. Samuel whispers as he sinks to the ground. It is Jacob. He is trying to help.

The Rabbi is dead before Patrius can remove the blade. As he does, a steel grip encircles his wrists. The pain causes him to drop his bloodied blade on the ground where it rests between Jacob and Samuel. As Patrius returns to the wider world outside of his targets, he sees that the entire market has stopped.

Portimus orders him to stand down. Longinus is at his fathers side and puts pressure on the linen covering his wound. While there, he looks over at the fallen carpenter, still clutching a cucumber in his hand. The murmurs of the crowed become and dangerous background to the carnage the two soldiers see. Portimus, the senior of the three standing officers orders the market cleared.

People, outraged but fearful, run in the face of angry Romans with blood on their hands. As soon as the he is sure that the market is clearing, the enraged giant turns his attention to Patrius. How can you be such a fool to strike unarmed men without cause?

The centurion attempts an answer, I thought that the man was attacking Maxim. He chooses the wrong one, Besides, they are only Jews.

Portimuss fist crashes into Patrius jaw so solidly that the young solider will not speak for a week. Picking himself up from the ground, he spits out teeth as the senior officer gives new orders. Return to the garrison and send a squad here. You remain there no matter what happens. You are relived of duty until Maxim or I determine your fate.

Patrius retreats in the face of righteous rage. It will not be the last time he encounters such. Portimus confirms that Maxims wound is not mortal and his suspicion that the Rabbi is beyond help. He moves to Jacob who lies in a pool of his own blood gasping for breath that will not come. The dying carpenter looks into the eyes of Portimus and speaks.

You are all not like that one. Do not let this turn into something that destroys Nazareth. Portimus must lean in closer to the carpenters last words.

The squad arrives and Portimus orders half of them to carry Maxim to the garrison for care. The others load the bodies of the Rabbi and Jacob onto the cart. The soldiers order a vendor who is watching it all to cover the bloody ground with fresh sand. Assured that his father will be cared for, Longinus insists on accompanying Patrius to the home of Jacob.

As they wheel the bodies to the fallen carpenters home, Patrius asks Longinus if he understands Jacobs last words. He knew he was dying and he told me that he forgave Patrius. He also told me that a member of the caravan attacked your father. Then he said the oddest thing. He smiled through all the pain and looked me in the eye. He said, Do not fear this. My grandson will make all things right.