Chapter 17

A week later, Felix returned from his journey. Voldi searched his friend’s face anxiously as he entered the cell, and was relieved to note that he bore no evidence of trouble.

Felix had taken the letter to David’s house, as they had planned. He had been much impressed by the old man’s sagacity, and wanted to talk about him and the hospitality he had shown.

‘But—what about Fara?’ Voldi begged to know.

‘She wasn’t there,’ said Felix. ‘Fara is on a tour of the country with this wonder-working Carpenter and his companions.’

‘But—that’s impossible!’ protested Voldi. ‘She had been much impressed by this young prophet; but I cannot imagine her following him about. Fara is not a religious person at all!’

‘Perhaps not,’ conceded Felix, ‘but she is infatuated with the Carpenter. When you were there, this woman, Hannah, with whom she lodged, was very ill. Some days later, when her life was despaired of, the Carpenter came and healed her. Fara believed it was a miracle; no less. She confided the whole story to old David; told him the Carpenter had healed her, also.’

‘Healed Fara? And what was her trouble?’

‘A bit of a riddle turns up at this point,’ said Felix. ‘She told David that the Carpenter had healed her mind, lifted some intolerable burden. The good old fellow wouldn’t say what the burden was. Perhaps he didn’t know. More likely he knew—but wouldn’t tell…My own guess is that the Carpenter talked her out of her vow.’

‘That’s probably it,’ thought Voldi. ‘I hope so!’

‘She left a verbal message for you, with David, in case you came while she was absent. Fara is very anxious for you to return to Arabia. She intends to stay in Galilee and assist this Jesus, the Carpenter.’

‘Assist him? How?’

‘David says she is helping to take care of the sick children who are brought to the Carpenter for healing. He thinks she is paying a debt of gratitude for the miracle he performed on herself.’

After a long interval, Voldi said, ‘That ends it, I suppose. She will give her life to this Jesus. Well, it might be worse. She never could have done—the other thing.’

‘Oh, it might have been possible,’ reflected Felix. ‘Fara could have found employment in the Tetrarch’s household easily enough; could have become a trusted servant; could have killed him. It would have been suicidal, of course; but—she could have done it.’

‘It’s a disgrace to Arabia that this fellow is allowed to live!’ muttered Voldi.

‘I agree with you,’ nodded Felix.

‘Perhaps you think it’s my job now,’ wondered Voldi.

Felix made no reply to that. Rising, he said he would return tomorrow.

‘You do think that, don’t you?’ insisted Voldi, clutching at his friend’s sleeve.

Felix gave an enigmatic grin and dismissed the query with a shake of his head—which Voldi could interpret any way he liked.

‘By the way,’ he said, at the door. ‘Darik is in fine condition. He is being exercised every day. When you get out of here, he’ll take you—anywhere!’

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