Chapter 14

‘Perhaps it’s because the Jews aren’t so much interested in horses,’ guessed Voldi. ‘The Syrians pay a better price.’

They were proceeding southerly on the coast highway, at a leisurely canter.

‘Tell me about this camel-auction,’ said Felix.

‘I never attended it,’ said Voldi. ‘I never was in Jerusalem.’

‘What is this Pentecost business about?’

‘I don’t know,’ admitted Voldi. ‘It’s a Jewish feast-day; fifty days after—after something; I forget what.’

Felix counted on his fingers, and thought it might be fifty days after the Passover. Voldi nodded uninterestedly and said he supposed that might be correct. The horses, impatient over their mincing canter, changed their gait to a brisk trot. After an interval of silence, Felix slowed his filly to remark:

‘The reason I happen to know about this annual Passover business: the Tetrarch always returns for it in the spring. He winters in Rome, and turns up with the sparrows about the Ides of March; makes much ado over his gaudy trip to Jerusalem. You’d think the Emperor had arrived. He has a toy Embassy over there; holds court for a couple of weeks; celebrates the Passover; and hurries back to Tiberias for the summer…But—I suppose you know all about that.’

Voldi showed no interest whatsoever in this discourse and abruptly changed the conversation by remarking that the stableboys at The Agrippa had been taking good care of Darik.

‘See how his coat shines!’

‘They’re probably feeding him on eggs,’ said Felix. ‘You’ll be paying plenty for Darik’s shine!…It won’t be long now until Antipas appears. He will arrive on the Emperor’s barge. You may have a chance to see him.’

Voldi showed vexation.

‘You’re wasting all that on me, Felix,’ he declared crossly. ‘My errand in this country does not concern old Herod Antipas. You surmise that because I am an Arabian I have designs on the Tetrarch. I am here on another matter.’

‘I see you don’t want to tell me,’ said Felix reproachfully. ‘Perhaps I could have helped you.’

‘Perhaps—but perhaps not,’ said Voldi. ‘We’ll see. Meanwhile, let us have no more talk about Antipas. I have no business with him.’