Chapter 3
by Douglas, Lloyd C.The next morning, Paulus pushed the sentry aside at the Commander’s quarters and entered without more ceremony than a casual salute. Marcellus pointed to a vacant chair and Paulus accepted it.
‘Hot day, Centurion Paulus,’ remarked Marcellus.
‘Gaza does not believe in pleasant weather, sir. The climate suits the temper of the people. It’s either hot or cold.’ Paulus tipped back his chair and thrust his thumbs under his belt. ‘The Jews have an important festival, sir. They observe it for a week when the moon is full in the month they call Nisan. Perhaps you know about it.’
‘No, never heard of it,’ admitted Marcellus. ‘Is it any of our business?’
‘It’s their annual Passover Week,’ explained Paulus, ‘celebrating their flight from Egypt.’
‘What have they been doing down in Egypt?’ asked Marcellus indifferently.
‘Nothing—lately,’ grinned Paulus. ‘This happened fifteen centuries ago.’
‘Oh—that! Do they still remember?’
‘The Jews never forget anything, sir. Every year at this season, all the Jews who can possibly get there go to Jerusalem to “eat the Passover,” as their saying is; but most of them are quite as much interested in family reunions, games, sports, auctions, and all manner of shows. Caravans of merchandise come from afar to market their wares. Thousands crowd the city and camp in the surrounding hills. It is a lively spectacle, sir.’
‘You have been there, it seems.’
‘On each of the eleven years since I was sent to this fort, sir,’ nodded Paulus. ‘The Procurator in Jerusalem—I think you know that his office outranks all of the other Palestinian establishments—expects detachments from the forts at Capernaum, Cæsarea, Joppa, and Minoa to come and help keep order.’
‘An unruly crowd, then?’ surmised Marcellus.
‘Not very, sir. But always, when so many Jews assemble, there is the usual talk of revolution. They wail sad chants and prattle about their lost heritage. So far as I know, this unrest has never amounted to anything more alarming than a few street brawls. But the Procurator thinks it is a good thing, on these occasions, to have a conspicuous display of Roman uniforms—and a bit of drill-work in the vicinity of the Temple.’ Paulus chuckled, reminiscently.