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  “You dreamed about Nidal and his brother?”

  “Yes. I dreamed twice that two men kidnapped my father, and they were holding him hostage in a castle in Nepal. If my dream was true, Tariq and Nidal could be involved in my father’s disappearance.”

  I tasted the stew. “I remember the email your father sent where he said he was being held a hostage there. I wish we could have found him.”

  Daniel nodded. “But remember, Yeshua said he would help me.”

  Reminiscing, I ran my fingers through my hair. I found it hard to believe Daniel had raced chariots after he left Galilee. I lamented I wasn’t with him. Instead, I was held like a prisoner by my stepmother.

  Daniel’s lips tightened. “I can’t remember if I told you, but I almost died in the last race. Cynisca took me to Nidal and Tariq’s rented room to tend to my injuries. While there she told me disturbing things involving the ventriloquist.”

  Daniel looked away. “Sadly, I was blind. God kept me out of the brothels, but I lost God’s protection when Simon confronted me. I refused to repent.”

  “Who is Cynisca?” I asked.

  “Cynisca is the charioteer who trained me.”

  “You mean there are women charioteers?”

  Daniel nodded. “Her father was the high-ranking Roman official in charge of the stables.”

  “Was there anything between the two of you?”

  Daniel laughed. “She was attractive. Perhaps if I had not already met you, I would have been interested.”

  “What happened after that?”

  “Tariq and Nidal coerced Cynisca into finding out where I lived. Or else the ventriloquist told them. They were looking for your scrolls. The ventriloquist knew God wanted me to remain pure as one of the one hundred forty-four thousand evangelists, so she gave Cynisca a potion to seduce me. However, when I almost died, she became spooked. God stopped her from carrying out the ventriloquist’s wicked scheme.”

  I shook my head in amazement. “I’m glad God was looking out for you. Otherwise, you would have died.”

  Daniel eyes moistened. “I know. Cynisca told me the brothers were searching my rented room. We rushed back, only to find they had been there and left. My money was gone. All I had was the small amount on me.”

  I reached across the table and touched Daniel’s hand reassuringly.

  Gratefulness crossed his face. “Cynisca was afraid to stay in Caesarea because of the ventriloquist. I suggested she go to Galilee and stay with your father until I could make it. I wanted to go to Jerusalem first for Passover.”

  “What happened after that?”

  “Her father must not have seen her handwritten message. The Roman soldiers started looking for me, claiming I had stolen the horses. When they couldn’t find Cynisca, they accused me of murder. I found refuge in the temple. The Romans are not allowed past the outer Court of the Gentiles, so I stayed within the inner sanctum during Passover week. That’s how I witnessed what happened to Yeshua.”

  I interrupted Daniel. “How did Nidal end up in Dothan at the inn?”

  “After I retrieved your scrolls, I traveled to Ein Gedi to hide them among the Dead Sea Scrolls. On the way back to Jerusalem, I came across a man who had been beaten. He was lying on the side of the road. I stopped to help him, and when I turned the man over, it was Nidal.”

  I gasped.

  “I was staring at the man who had robbed me. He couldn’t talk and was unconscious. To be honest, I didn’t want to save his life. But I couldn’t leave him to die. I heard God speak to me—not audibly, but I knew it was God. ‘I forgave you of your sins. Can you not forgive this man of his?’”

  “And you did?”

  “I asked God to help me do the right thing. I put him on my horse and brought him back here to the inn. Doctor Luke tended to his wounds, and I left him. When I entered the lobby, God opened my eyes. I recognized Jacob for the first time in this era. He told me to walk outside. When I did, I arrived in the garden and met Yeshua.”

  Daniel’s eyes moistened. “Excuse me, but this part is hard for me to talk about.”

  I glanced over at Shira to give Daniel a moment. She had finished her meal.

  “Can I have the flower?” she asked.

  I handed it to her and she gently stroked it.

  “What happened when you met Jesus?”

  Daniel took in a deep breath. “Yeshua shared many things with me, assuring me that my father was safe. You pretty much know the rest.”

  “Do you think Nidal will know you’re the one who rescued him?”

  Daniel shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  I reached over and touched Daniel’s hand again. “Let’s hope he knows something about your father.”

  CHAPTER 11

  SHIRA SLID OFF her chair and nudged me. “Auntie, can we go outside?”

  “How about a walk?” I suggested.

  Daniel smiled. “That sounds good.”

  Shira ran out to the portico as we trailed her. She hurried down the walkway searching for her new friends from earlier, but they had left. Her shoulders drooped as disappointment set in.

  “I bet they’ll be back tomorrow,” I offered. I noticed the sun was low in the sky. “It’s evening and almost time to go to bed.”

  Daniel reached for my hand. “Shale, you can’t let Shira out of your sight—ever.”

  “I’m sorry, Daniel. I shouldn’t have let her go over there by herself. I never dreamed someone would try to kidnap her.”

  “It wasn’t just someone. It was a demon.”

  I shuddered. “Do you think she’ll come back?”

  “You know who she is now. But even in the inn, keep your eyes glued on her. Only God knows why she’s here, but the demons want her. It scares me.”

  I squeezed Daniel’s hand. “I promise, it won’t happen again.”

  We walked along in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the quietness of the evening. I found myself wondering what we would do differently if Shira wasn’t with us.

  “Are you speaking to Shira in English or Hebrew?” Daniel asked.

  “English.”

  Daniel shrugged.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m hearing you in Hebrew.”

  “Seems like we had this conversation before. Didn’t we?”

  “Strange,” Daniel said. “The seventh dimension is different in some ways, but not in others.”

  “Maybe language is the same here. Perhaps the confounding of language was only necessary in our own dimension to prevent dictators from assuming global power—like Nimrod.”

  Daniel raised his eyebrow. “And Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Pol Pot, Kim Jon-Un, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and now the Antichrist.”

  “I wish your brother had told us who he was.”

  “We’ll find out soon enough.”

  I watched as Shira probed flowers and rocks and whatever caught her attention. She would occasionally look back to make sure we were following.

  Daniel pointed straight ahead. “You know where this road leads?”

  I shook my head. “No. Where?”

  “This goes to the leper colony, about thirty minutes on foot from here.”

  “Was it depressing?”

  “Leprosy is like a living death in the first century. Everyone dies. However, Simon and nine others in the colony were healed by Yeshua.”

  I glanced at Daniel’s face, still fearful I might see something. “You didn’t worry about catching it?”

  “Not really,” Daniel replied. “I think it takes a lot of exposure. I mean, I don’t think it’s that easy to catch.”

  I leaned into Daniel gently. “I still don’t think I would have risked it.”

  Daniel hugged me at the waist. “God didn’t call you to risk it. He doesn’t call you to do something unless he gives you the strength to do it.”

  I admired Daniel’s wisdom. The sun dipped further on the horizon. “Perhaps we should head back.”

  Daniel nodded. “Let�
�s wait till the morning to visit Nidal. I should spend time in prayer, and you can put Shira to bed and have a few minutes to pray.”

  I pressed Daniel’s hand. “I want to be there when you speak to him.”

  “In the morning, after breakfast.”

  I nodded. “Sounds good.”

  “Ca-ca. Shale.”

  I would recognize that call a hundred years from now, even if he hadn’t said my name. “Did you hear that?”

  “The crow?” Daniel asked.

  Worldly Crow took to the air as we passed and landed nearby in a woody tree. He gazed at me with great intensity. “Shale Snyder, you’ve grown into a young lady. How old are you now?”

  I wanted to pretend I didn’t know what he said to me. Anger welled up as I remembered how gullible I was.

  “Ca-ca, Ca-ca. Shale, only a couple of months have gone by since I saw you last. Do you have that horrible aging disease to grow old so quickly?”

  How rude. Dr. Luke didn’t seem to notice any difference. Did I look that different? Or was he taunting me to get me upset?

  “I’m quite well, thank you, Worldly Crow. I’m not ill, and you should mind your own business.”

  He cocked his head. “You’ll be an old lady in no time.”

  I picked up and rock and threw it at the annoying bird. “Go away, hear me?”

  Of course, I was a bad shot and missed him by several feet, but he got the message. He fluttered his wings and took off in a huff.

  “What was that about?” Daniel asked. “Throwing a rock at a bird.”

  “Not any bird. He insulted me.”

  Daniel frowned. “Are you going to let a crow get you that upset? What about Shira? What kind of example are you setting, throwing rocks at birds?”

  “She didn’t see me. I don’t want him around me or you or Shira.”

  The light-hearted walk had been fritted away by my strong reaction. I immediately regretted it.

  “Maybe it’s time to head back,” Daniel said.

  I called for Shira and she hurried along after us.

  Once back at the inn, Daniel walked us to our room. We stood at the door for a minute as I found it hard to say goodnight. Daniel’s room was next to ours, but I longed to share a room with him. Having Shira made that impossible, but if we got married…

  “Daniel?”

  “Yes,” he replied.

  Shira had run into the room and sat on the bed. She was already falling asleep. I peered into Daniel’s eyes. “When do you think we can get married? Then we wouldn’t have to have separate rooms.”

  Daniel hesitated. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it since we got here. So many other things…”

  I dropped my eyes, somewhat embarrassed by my frankness. “I understand. I thought about how much easier things would be.”

  Daniel leaned over and kissed me. “We’ll know when it’s the right time.”

  I nodded. “Good night.” I closed the door and locked it. Leaning against the doorframe, I could still feel his lips pressing mine.

  “Auntie, are you okay?” Shira asked.

  I chuckled. “Yes, sweetheart. I thought you were asleep.”

  I forced myself to put Daniel out of my mind. Maybe there was something in my bag Shira could wear. I opened it expecting to find my twenty-first century clothes. To my surprise, I discovered first-century robes. I sifted through the bag to see if anything would fit Shira. At the bottom was a small tunic. I helped her to put it on and then noticed the water bucket next to the door. “Here, let’s wash your feet.”

  Shira bounced over to me and sat, pointing her toes.

  I poured the water over them and gently massaged her feet. It didn’t take long, and then I tucked her into bed. She closed her eyes before I had a chance to say her prayers. I whispered, “Please help us, Lord. Daniel and I need you more than ever.”

  It didn’t take long to wash myself off with a soft washcloth. Too tired to pray another word, I quickly fell asleep on the bed next to Shira’s.

  CHAPTER 12

  SHIRA’S SCREAMS SHATTERED the stillness. I jumped up and ran over to her. The horror of her near kidnapping exploded in my mind, but it was dark, and I couldn’t see.

  With an unsteady hand, I managed to light an oil lamp. As the light flickered, I skirted over to her bed. Relieved, I saw Shira’s small frame half covered by the blanket.

  Was the door locked? I checked twice. Then I went back to her, hovering over her like a mother hen. She seemed to be in a trance.

  “Shira, wake up. Auntie is here.”

  Her eyes moved around the room, but she kept crying. I shook her gently. Was she awake or asleep?

  “Auntie is here, Shira.” I took her in my arms, but she seemed unaware of anything. She lashed out at me. What did I know about taking care of a three-year-old?

  “Oh, God, what should I do?” I climbed into her bed and cuddled up beside her. I sang the first song that came into my mind.

  “Jesus loves me, this I know,

  For the Bible tells me so.

  Little ones to him belong,

  They are weak but he is strong.

  Yes, Jesus loves me,

  Yes, Jesus loves me.

  Yes, Jesus love me,

  For the Bible tells me so.”

  Shira’s cries ended, and her breathing returned to normal. I gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks. She soon dozed off, although she never appeared to have awakened.

  When I was sure she was all right, I climbed back into my bed and pulled the covers over me. I wasn’t sure if I should stay awake.

  “You didn’t pray,” a voice inside my head accused me.

  “Singing is praying,” I murmured. Nevertheless, I prayed. “Dear God, please help me with Shira. Help Daniel when he meets Nidal. Please keep the evil one from us.”

  Peace came over me, and I drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 13

  THE NEXT MORNING, I heard a knock. Shira was still asleep, so I scooted off the bed and hurried to the door. “Daniel?”

  “Have you eaten?” he asked.

  I rubbed my eyes. “What time is it?”

  “I don’t know. Clocks haven’t been invented.”

  “Not funny,” I said under my breath. “No. Give us a few minutes. I’ll meet you in the dining hall.”

  Daniel’s footsteps clicked away as I heard Shira calling me. “Auntie?”

  I turned and smiled, trying to appear more cheery than I felt. “Sweetheart, let’s get dressed so we can get something to eat. Do you need to go potty?”

  She nodded, stretching out her thin arms. Did she remember anything from the night before? I would ask Daniel about what happened.

  *~*~*~*

  We entered the lobby a short time later. Daniel sat next to an open window conversing with Dr. Luke. The dining hall was filled with patrons, and friendly voices created a family-like atmosphere. A gentle breeze whipped the window curtain back and forth as the sweet smell of rose oil and cloves drifted through the room. The two men stood as I approached, and Daniel hugged me warmly. “I hope you slept well.”

  I nodded. “Feeling much better today.”

  “I’m delighted to hear the good news about you and Daniel,” Dr. Luke said.

  I glanced at Daniel. Did he mean our engagement?

  Dr. Luke’s eyes focused on Shira. “And how old are you, Princess?”

  She held up three fingers. “Three.”

  “What a big girl you, are,” he praised her.

  Of course, that delighted her, and she showed off her sandals to the doctor. “See my new shoes?”

  The doctor chuckled. “You are a princess.”

  The server brought us bread and figs, and we made small talk. At last, Dr. Luke stood. “We can get that taken care of, Daniel, but I wanted to talk to you first.”

  My ears perked up. Get what taken care of?

  “After I visit, I’ll get back with you,” Daniel replied.

  Dr. Luke said goodbye.<
br />
  Once Shira was eating, I asked Daniel, “Get what taken care of?”

  Daniel placed his hand on mine. “Love you.”

  I smiled, trying not to be impatient.

  Daniel leaned over the table. “How is my princess this morning?”

  Shira’s eyes lit up, but she kept eating.

  “She woke up in the middle of the night, Daniel.” I mouthed, “screaming.”

  “At what?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. It was like she was still asleep, but I couldn’t awaken her.”

  Daniel ran his fingers through his hair. “I think they call them night terrors.”

  I put my spoon down and took a sip of water. “What’s that?”

  “When I was at the Family and Youth Treatment Center, I heard about it. It can happen when someone has been traumatized. A person wakes up in an altered state of reality.”

  “I sang ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ Eventually she settled down and went back to sleep. It was like she was awake but she wasn’t. She didn’t even seem to recognize me.”

  I leaned into Daniel and whispered, “You don’t think she has a demon, do you?”

  Daniel shook his head. “It’s a psychological phenomenon. You’re being paranoid because of the ventriloquist.”

  I tried to relax. “I glanced at Shira who was absorbed in her food. Her hair needed to be brushed. I should have done that, I chided myself.

  I shifted my focus back to Daniel. “So what was Doctor Luke referring to?”

  “He said Nidal has recovered from his injuries. He asked me if I knew his immediate family. Of course, I told him I didn’t.”

  “Anything else?”

  “He said Nidal was reluctant to talk, but was grateful to be alive. He also said he was anxious to meet the person who saved his life. Apparently, Nidal doesn’t have any recollection of me bringing him to the inn.”