Chapter 11

It had rained steadily all night and was still hard at it when Jairus roused in the morning. He sat up in bed and frowned.

Ordinarily, Jairus would not have cared. Of complacent mind, it was his habit to accept all weathers without complaint. Besides, the country needed rain, for it had been the sunniest autumn that Galilee had seen for many years.

But, much as his cherished gardens and vineyards would benefit by a refreshing downpour, this was clearly an inconvenient day for it, and Jairus was annoyed; so very much annoyed that when Adiel, his uncommonly attractive wife, entered the room, she found him in a posture of dejection, with both hands in his tousled hair. He mumbled a gloomy acknowledgment of her presence without looking up. Seating herself on the edge of his bed, Adiel gently patted him on the shoulder. What was the trouble? Didn’t he like the rain?

‘Any other time,’ muttered Jairus, slipping his arm about her. ‘I was a fool to consent to that meeting here today. These tedious discussions always bore me, even when the day is fine and they can do their dull haranguing out in the pergola. Now we will have them on our hands—all day—indoors—with no chance of escape…But one can’t offend Rabbi Ben-Sholem. He is a good old man.’

‘Yes, dear; he is indeed—though a bit tiresome,’ murmured Adiel. ‘I had forgotten that you were having company today. What is this party to be: one of those dreadful all-day meetings of the Synagogue Regents?’

‘Worse than that,’ sighed Jairus. ‘This is a deputation of priests, scribes, legal counsellors, and such things, who are coming all the way from Jerusalem to decide what should be done with this preaching Carpenter.’

‘Maybe they won’t come,’ said Adiel hopefully, ‘now that it’s such a bad day.’

‘Of course they’ll come!’ grumbled Jairus. ‘They will have been on the road for three days. We may as well prepare for them. They’ll be here. You can depend on that!’ He glanced up, brightened perceptibly, and waved his hand to a pair of smiling, twelve-year-old eyes that had appeared in the crack of the slowly opening door. His invitation brought the happy child dancing into the room. She snuggled down on the other side of her father.

‘Breakfast’s ready,’ she announced gaily. ‘And Rachael says we’re to come directly and eat it, for there’s to be a lot of company here for dinner…What kind of company, father? Will they be jolly—and tell funny stories; or are they the other people?’

Jairus absently fondled his daughter’s curls and replied sadly that they were—he regretted to say—the other people.

‘No funny stories today, Sharon.’

‘Go and tell Rachael we will be there immediately, dear,’ said her mother; and when the child had scrambled out of the bed and was on her way Adiel asked, ‘What are they planning to do to this strange person? You said he hadn’t broken the laws. What charge will they bring against him?’