Chapter 12

They sauntered down the winding driveway, Voldi leading Darik, who tossed and shook his head impatiently, for he disliked to be led and made no bones about his annoyance. Presently they came out through the imposing gates and upon the broad road, joining the heavy southbound traffic.

‘Where are all these people going?’ Voldi wanted to know. ‘They’re all headed in the same direction. What is it; a fair or a feast-day? Hardly a carnival: none of them seems to be very gay.’

‘Jews are never gay,’ observed Fara, avoiding his query.

‘That’s true enough,’ agreed Voldi. ‘They are a sober lot. But these people look troubled, frightened! Perhaps some calamity has occurred. Shall we inquire?’

She turned toward him momentarily, with indecision in her eyes as if debating whether to explain, but did not reply, which added to Voldi’s bewilderment.

‘You have more than your share of cripples in this country,’ he remarked. ‘And there goes a woman, leading a blind man.’ They drew aside to pass a party of four, carrying a half-grown girl on a cot. ‘What’s all this about, Fara?’ persisted Voldi.

‘They are going out into the country, a little way beyond Bethsaida,’ said Fara, ‘where a village carpenter speaks nearly every day to great crowds. He has been creating quite a sensation. It is believed that he heals diseases.’

‘The Carpenter!’ exclaimed Voldi. ‘The man from Nazareth!’

‘You have heard of him, then?’ Fara searched his eyes.

‘Indeed, yes, all along the way! There was talk of him as far down as Caesarea. It’s a wonder you haven’t tried to see him, what with your curious interest in religious prophets.’ He gave her a teasing smile: she had lost a valuable horse by showing too much concern about an itinerant preacher. Fara accepted his raillery with a wisp of a smile, but sobered to say that she had seen and heard the Carpenter. Voldi’s steps slowed. Cupping his hand under her elbow, he drew her closer.

‘But why are you so mysterious—and reticent—about it?’ he queried. ‘It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Didn’t you want me to know?’

‘I hesitated to tell you, Voldi,’ she confessed. ‘I know how you feel about magic, and miracles, and the weak-mindedness of superstitious people who believe in such things…I didn’t want you to think I had gone crazy.’

‘That sounds a little as if you had been impressed by this fellow. Did you see him do anything out of the ordinary?’