The Prescience Page 3

  CHAPTER 7

  WE MATERIALIZED UNNOTICED. Memories from the first century returned with such vividness, it was hard to believe I was four years older. I recognized a couple of Dr. Luke’s patients lying on mats. Chirping birds reminded me of Worldly Crow. I thought he was my feathered friend—until he betrayed me.

  Travelers filled the dusty streets. A food cart under some fig trees with an assortment of delicacies drew hungry visitors. My eyes were drawn to children playing nearby.

  I examined my beige toga and eyed Daniel. “You have a beard.”

  “I do?” He ran his fingers across his chin.

  “We were either gone for a few days or you grow a beard fast.”

  Daniel laughed. “I can’t grow one that fast.”

  I reflected. “The last time I came, by way of the garden, I had to buy something to wear. That’s how I met your sister, Martha.”

  “I remember that,” Daniel said. He focused on Shira. “She looks like a different child.”

  The transformation was remarkable. Her face radiated a supernatural beauty.

  Shira scooted down from my lap. She twirled, stroking her white tunic with her hand. Then she pointed to her new sandals, but her new-found joy quickly evaporated. She frowned. “Mommy.”

  I squatted in front of her. “Your mommy is in heaven.” I pointed to the sky. “With Jesus.”

  She stared up at the sky. After a brief moment of hesitation, a smile crossed her lips. “Angels told me they would take care of Mommy.”

  Daniel’s and my eyes met. At her age, how would she even know about angels? I smiled reassuringly. “She told me she heard angels singing.”

  “Nothing surprises me anymore,” Daniel said. “I still can’t believe I have a beard.”

  A voice shouted. “Daniel?”

  We peered through the shaded doorway. As the man entered the sunlight, he vaguely looked familiar to me.

  Daniel opened his arms. “Ami!”

  As he approached, an older man with a cane followed. Daniel and the two men spoke excitedly as their eyes focused on Shira and me. I sighed—too much explaining to do.

  Daniel introduced me. “Shale, this is Ami and his brother Levi. And this is my betrothed, Shale, and Shira. She is staying with us for a while.”

  The men did a slight bow.

  “Ami and Levi were good friends when I stayed here before.”

  I smiled. “Glad to meet you.”

  An awkward moment followed. Had I missed an important protocol? Or maybe it was me who felt nervous.

  Daniel’s gentle eyes reassured me. “Let’s check in and see what we can find out.”

  Levi waved his cane. “Come visit us after you’re settled. Much has happened in Jerusalem that I want to discuss with you.”

  Shira tugged at my tunic. I could tell she wanted to explore. I didn’t want her to walk around alone, especially here, and I needed to hear what was discussed.

  What should Shira call me? Perhaps Auntie would be good since the dog said she had no other relatives. “Sweetie, you need to stay with Auntie. We’ll go for a walk in a few minutes.”

  Shira frowned impatiently, venturing to the edge of the porch, obviously disappointed. Children’s voices tempted her.

  Daniel’s interest was raised. “So what’s happened since I’ve been gone?”

  “Oh, many things,” Ami replied. “You know about the crucifixion of Yeshua?”

  Daniel nodded.

  Levi leaned on his cane and whispered. “Somebody stole his body from the tomb. The Roman soldiers have been ruthless scouring the countryside looking for him. Hundreds of graves have been dug up. They have questioned his followers, hounded people for clues, and interrogated dozens. Whoever stole the rabbi’s body left his clothes in the tomb. Doesn’t that seem strange, that they would steal a naked dead body? How unclean is that? A Jew would never do that. I don’t even think a Roman would do that.”

  Ami sighed. “I had hoped Yeshua was the long-awaited Messiah.”

  “Maybe he was the Messiah,” Daniel suggested.

  Ami shook his head. “He saved so many others, why couldn’t he save himself? I did hear he appeared to five hundred people in Galilee a week ago.”

  Daniel pointed at himself. “I saw him.”

  Ami’s eyes lit up. “You saw the resurrected Yeshua?”

  Daniel nodded.

  Renewed hope appeared on Ami’s face. “We must talk more.”

  “Yes,” Daniel said. “I have much I want to share with you.”

  Shira stared longingly at a small group of kids a short distance from the porch. I walked over and whispered to her. “You can go and sit with the children, but I will be watching you.”

  Her eyes danced as she ran over to two boys and two girls playing with small pebbles in the grass. One of the girls scooted over to make room. The young girl was a little older than Shira, but none of the children were more than five or six. I turned my focus back to Daniel and his friends.

  “The Romans are everywhere,” Levi cautioned. “A sense of uneasiness has everyone on edge. The Romans are looking for someone to hold accountable for the debacle.”

  Levi quipped. “The soldiers got drunk and fell asleep guarding a dead man’s tomb. How could someone steal his body? Even moving the stone would have taken super human strength.”

  “Unless he did rise from the dead,” Ami countered. “Remember, five hundred people saw him alive. Those are ordinary people, too. Not just his disciples.”

  Levi spit on the ground. “It’s all rumors. Only rumors.”

  “Five hundred people, Levi. That’s a lot of people.”

  The men went back and forth debating what happened. I noticed an old woman wearing a green dress approaching the circle of children. The hag was almost bald with sunken cheeks and a crooked back, causing her to be bent forward at the waist. She held black flowers in one hand and had a brown bag draped over her shoulder.

  When was the last time she had eaten? I imagined her offering flowers to anyone who pitied her for a few scraps of food or a small coin.

  I turned my attention back to the men.

  Ami crossed his arms with an air of authority. “I’ve heard rumors of something happening in Jerusalem during Shavuot. The disciples have been hiding in someone’s home. What will become of us, Daniel? Even Doctor Luke has been on edge.”

  Suddenly Daniel took off, shouting at the top of his voice. “Shira!”

  “My God,” I screamed.

  CHAPTER 8

  THE OLD WOMAN in the green dress was scurrying off, pulling Shira behind her. Daniel reached the would-be kidnapper in seconds and snatched Shira away. Then he punched the wicked crone, and she fell to the ground.

  “Get out of here,” he shouted.

  I had never seen Daniel show violence towards anyone. Who was this mischievous panhandler? Immediately Roman guards appeared and surrounded us. The old woman lay in a heap.

  Daniel handed Shira to me as the guards closed in. Rubberneckers had gathered.

  “Call Doctor Luke,” someone shouted.

  A couple of men ran into Jacob’s Inn. No sooner had the request been uttered than the shyster sprang to her feet.

  One of the guards asked her, “Are you all right, ma’am?”

  She picked up her bag, leaving the flowers on the ground. I was surprised they had wilted so quickly. How could that be? And when had I ever seen black flowers?

  She pointed at Daniel. “You need to arrest that young man. He could have killed me.”

  Where had I heard that voice?

  Bulging eyes and wispy strands of hair made her repulsively ugly, but why would Daniel slug her after he had Shira?

  “Do you have anyone who can take you home?” the guard asked.

  She shook her head. “I’m alone. I must go.” She turned her back on the gathering.

  Why did her voice sound familiar? I had never seen the decrepit woman before, but thank God Shira was safe.

  Dr. Luke
dashed out of the inn as the guards dragged over the chains to arrest Daniel. The doctor hesitated, and for an instant, I thought he might follow the strange beggar.

  Suddenly, one of the guards shouted, “Leper!”

  The Roman soldier bolted to his horse. The other guard did the same. Within seconds, they had fled the scene. Fear silenced the onlookers. No one moved except to back away from Daniel.

  I remembered he had mentioned working at the leper colony. He held up his hands. “I don’t have leprosy.”

  I stared at his hands and didn’t see anything unusual—not that I would know what leprosy looked like anyway, but fear filled my heart to see Daniel behave so erratically. “Why did you strike the old woman?”

  “The ventriloquist,” he uttered.

  Then I remembered the recording on Daniel’s iPhone. How could I forget that voice? Queasiness flooded my stomach, and I collapsed on the ground.

  Dr. Luke ran over to me. “Stay still.”

  Daniel started to rush over, but Dr. Luke held up his hand.

  I did my best to hold back tears. How could so much go wrong so quickly?

  Dr. Luke called out to a friend. “Abbey, can you take care of Shira while I help Shale.”

  Abbey took Shira from me. Dr. Luke helped me to relax and gave me some water.

  After a few minutes, I felt better.

  “You need food,” Dr. Luke said, “and a good night’s rest.”

  I thanked him. “I’m feeling better already.”

  The doctor turned his attention to Daniel.

  Again, my betrothed held up his hands. “I don’t have leprosy. The guards were mistaken.”

  Dr. Luke examined Daniel’s extremities. Several anxious seconds passed. “You’re right. I don’t see any leprosy on you.”

  I took a deep breath. Could I believe the doctor? “Daniel, can I see?”

  He walked over and spread out his hands. I checked them but didn’t know what to look for. “What should I see if someone has leprosy?”

  Dr. Luke replied, “You would see skin sores, like pale-colored lumps.”

  Did God make it appear as if Daniel had leprosy to the Roman soldiers to keep him from being captured? I would never let Shira get more than two feet from me again.

  Daniel and Dr. Luke began to talk about other things, and I stood and walked over to Abbey. “Thank you. I feel much better.”

  The young woman took my hand in hers. “Any time you need me, I live over there. Our daughters are friends now.”

  Shira was sitting happily beside her child.

  Then Abbey whispered. “I hope that woman doesn’t come around again.”

  I nodded. I took Shira by the hand and returned to Daniel. He wrapped his arm around my waist, squeezing me tightly.

  Dr. Luke reassured us. “Shale, strange things have happened in Jerusalem recently, but God is in control. Keep your faith. I sensed an evil spirit in that woman. I hope she doesn’t come back.”

  I nodded.

  Dr. Luke gestured with his hand. “I see no leprosy on Daniel.”

  I brushed my hair back from my eyes to check Daniel’s hand and face one more time. The doctor’s calm demeanor and kind eyes reassured me. “Thank you, Doctor Luke.”

  His announcement that Daniel was fine allayed the borderline panic of the rubberneckers, and the crowd began to disperse. I glanced up the empty road where the ventriloquist had disappeared. Good riddance.

  CHAPTER 9

  WE FOLLOWED DR. LUKE into Jacob’s Inn. A large lobby that doubled as a dining hall extended to the right of the check-in counter. The rooms were behind the restaurant down an adjoining hallway.

  In the dining room, the wooden tables were decorated with freshly cut roses. The stone floor was spotless. Memories of Daniel’s brother, Jacob, sweeping the floor returned. I had no idea who he was back then.

  “Do you have a room?” Dr. Luke asked.

  Daniel nodded. “We should.”

  “If you have any problems, come get me.” Dr. Luke leaned into Daniel. “Stay away from the Romans. Once they make the connection you’re the charioteer who stole those horses and kidnapped that girl—and I know you didn’t after talking to Theophilus—they may come after you. They could even find a way to link you to the disappearance of Yeshua’s body. Pilate is desperate to find the culprit.”

  Daniel nodded. “I’ll be careful.”

  We watched as Dr. Luke turned his focus to others, probably patients. A small child tugged on his white toga. I imagined the astute physician dressed as a twenty-first century surgeon in a white coat and blue scrubs. Why was it doctors just had a certain look about them?

  Shira lifted up her arms for me to hold her as Daniel walked to the counter to speak to the attendant. “I believe we have two rooms reserved—Daniel, son of Aviv, from Jerusalem, and Shale, daughter of Brutus, from Galilee.”

  The man searched through his list of guests. “Yes, I have a Daniel, son of Aviv, and Shale, daughter of Brutus.”

  Shira brushed her finger along my lips and I reached out and kissed her hand.

  “Auntie?”

  I nodded.

  “I need to go potty.”

  “Can you wait a minute?”

  She nodded and clasped her hands around me. I patted her on the back and sighed. They didn’t have toilets in the first century. How was I going to handle this with a child?

  Daniel took two large wooden keys from the attendant as the man pointed to the hallway. “Through there. The rooms are next to each other.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “As Jacob promised,” I said. Daniel handed me one of the antiques. Despite being archaic, I remembered they worked quite well.

  We found our rooms, and I took Shira to the latrine. It was the same as before, a trench of sorts, with running water passing through it to take away the waste. I was surprised she didn’t question anything. Perhaps she was too young. I’d have to readjust to living like a cave woman. I’d sure miss the conveniences of the twenty-first century.

  When we returned to our room, Daniel was waiting.

  “Maybe we should eat,” I suggested.

  Daniel eyed Shira. “Why don’t you and Shira grab a bite, and I’ll pay Nidal a visit.”

  “But I want to come with you.”

  This was too important for me not to be with him—our main reason for coming to the seventh dimension. What did Nidal know? I wanted to hear every word.

  Daniel acquiesced, glancing at his hands.

  “Why did you work with the lepers?”

  “Doctor Luke found it hard to get people to take them food. God used the lepers for good. Yeshua healed them. I wouldn’t have met Mark and his uncle, Simon, if I had not taken them food.

  “Besides that, without their concern, I wouldn’t have become a believer. Simon confronted me with my sin in Caesarea. I had given up my faith for fame and money. Mark was the one who found me when I returned to Jerusalem.”

  I admired Daniel for his desire to help them, but I still didn’t like that he had been around lepers.

  He stood. “Let’s get something to eat.”

  CHAPTER 10

  SOON THE SERVER set lentil stew and barley bread in front of us, seasoned with spicy herbs. The aroma whet my appetite. We joined hands as Daniel said a quick grace. Shira mimicked us, and I blew on her food to cool it. She dove in with her hands.

  “Do they have utensils?” I asked.

  Daniel shrugged. “Let me ask.”

  A few minutes later, the server brought us spoons. I handed one to Shira.

  After eating some of the bread, my mind drifted to Nidal. “Daniel, you and your brother talked about Nidal and getting information from him. I don’t remember you telling me anything about him.”

  Daniel raised his mug and took a couple of swigs and burped. His cultured refinement seemed to have been left behind in the twenty-first century. I frowned to show my disapproval.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  I lea
ned forward. “Who is he?”

  Daniel sat back and crossed his arms. “When I took your brother Nathan to your father in Caesarea, I asked Brutus for the money he owed me. While there, your father suggested I contact a friend of his who was looking for a charioteer. I went and introduced myself to him, and he explained to me his team had not won in several months because of two new competitors, Nidal and Tariq Naser.”

  Memories of our time in Nepal filled my mind. “I remember you mentioned the Naser brothers when we were near Mount Everest.”

  Daniel spoke in almost a whisper. “His best charioteer, who had taken too many risks in an attempt to beat the brothers, had been trampled to death.”

  I shivered at the thought. “That’s terrible.” I was glad Shira didn’t hear.

  Daniel sat forward and took another piece of bread. “Dominus offered me the job. The downside is it made me equal to slave status in Roman society, but the earnings were substantial.”

  “How much did Dominus pay you?” I asked.

  “Once I started winning, I was making in one race what had taken me three months to earn working for your father. I raced for over a year and made more than enough money for medical school.”

  Daniel reminisced. “I even dreamed of marrying you and buying you a house.”

  “What happened to your money?” I asked softly. “You don’t have it now.”

  “Nidal and Tariq found out where I lived. Probably the ventriloquist revealed it to them. They broke into my rented room. They were looking for the scrolls, but they found my money.”

  I glanced at Shira who was cleaning her plate. The spoon had been tossed aside in favor of eating with her fingers. “How did they know about the scrolls?”

  Daniel took a sip of tea. “I noticed at one of the races that Nidal had a tattoo, but it wasn’t an ordinary tattoo. It had a strange creature on it, which I recognized as a yeti, the creature we later encountered when we were in Nepal. When I saw the tattoo on Nidal’s arm, I made the connection he must be from the future. It wasn’t the kind of tattoo that would be associated with the first century. That prompted me to wonder if he and Tariq were the two men I’d seen in my dreams.”