Chapter 22

‘It would be safe enough, I think. I would keep to the main highways—and stop at night in the homes of farmers.’ Esther elaborated her plan. She would provide herself with some inexpensive trinkets—and be a peddler…Yes—and she would try to find a tame little donkey to carry her pack. Proceeding from village to village in the daytime, no harm would befall her.

‘You will need money,’ cautioned Myra.

‘I have money,’ said Esther. ‘Not much—but enough.’

Myra remembered having seen a sign on a paddock gate a little farther up the road, announcing a donkey for sale. Esther came to her feet, eager to find the place. They stopped before the gate and a middle-aged man came toward them. Was it true, Esther inquired, that he had a donkey for sale?

‘What do you want with a donkey?’ he asked, suspiciously. ‘Do you live hereabouts?’

‘No,’ said Esther, ‘I want a donkey to carry a light pack for me on a journey—many miles away.’

‘When are you going?’

‘Early tomorrow morning.’

‘Very well, you may have him—for ten shekels—if you take him at once!’ The man went into the stable and led out a little white donkey.

‘What’s the matter with him,’ asked Esther, ‘that you are selling him for ten shekels?’

‘There’s nothing the matter with him,’ said the man, ‘except that I don’t want to be involved in any trouble. If you’re going away, you won’t be bothered. But I lent him to a man a few days ago who is accused of treason; and I don’t care to be mixed up in it. And you’d better not go through the city when you leave!’

Esther produced the money and the man handed her the halter-strap. The little donkey sniffed at her hands.

‘His name is Jasper,’ said the man, as he turned toward the house.

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