Chapter 24

It was a long speech, coming from Voldi, who was habitually laconic, and Mencius regarded him with fresh interest.

‘That raises an important question,’ he said. ‘If this generation paid no attention to his panacea for the world’s agonies, what hope is there for better success with the next generation?’

‘In other words,’ interposed Paulus, ‘what’s the good of his resurrection—assuming it to have happened? The world doesn’t want him: didn’t want him last week; won’t want him next week!’

‘You’re a cynic, Paulus,’ drawled Mencius.

Paulus grinned, shrugged, toyed absently with the handle of his dagger, and mumbled that his occupation was not calculated to make a man sentimental or optimistic.

Apparently having had his fill of this inconclusive discussion, Voldi said he would be on his way. Paulus suggested that he spend the night at the fort and leave in the cool of early morning. Mencius too thought this was sensible. Paulus extended the invitation to the Proconsul, but he declined. Fulvius might think he had got into trouble. After an early supper under the trees, farewells were said, and Mencius departed for Gaza at sunset.

The air grew cooler as twilight came on; and Brutus, seeming anxious to stretch his long legs, quickened his brisk trot to a canter. After half a mile, he suddenly threw up his head, laid back his ears, and increased his speed, Mencius wondering why a horse so intelligent as Brutus should be eager to get back to his sweltering stall in the hold of The Vestris.

Now Mencius himself heard the distant hoof-beats to the rear. Brutus had remembered an unpleasant incident on this road and wanted no repetition of it. The sound of hoof-beats was increasing. Mencius turned in his saddle and saw, through the gloom, a rider rapidly overtaking them on a tall white horse. Brutus, who had no intention of being outrun, leaped to a greyhound gallop, putting everything he had into it, but his pursuer presently drew alongside, making no effort to pass.

Mencius stared hard into the face of the stranger and was amazed to see a mere youth, clad in white, whose disarming expression of good-will caused the Proconsul to check his speed, an action immediately followed by his unexplained companion. After some effort they tugged their panting horses to a walk. Mencius spoke:

‘That’s a very indiscreet thing to do, my boy, overtaking a man in the dark, on a bandit-infested road, without giving a sign of your intentions.’

‘I shouldn’t have done it,’ admitted the handsome youngster, ‘but you have a very fast horse, Proconsul Mencius, and it’s so rarely that Israfel has a chance to let himself out; and he was enjoying himself so much, sir.’

‘So were you, I think,’ commented Mencius dryly. ‘I see that you know my name. And who are you? Where do you hail from? I’m sure you don’t belong in this poverty-cursed neighbourhood. What’s that insignia on your tunic? I don’t recognize it.’

‘It’s the cross on which they crucified my King.’

They halted their horses now, and Mencius turned Brutus about so that they faced each other directly.

‘There are tales in circulation,’ said the Proconsul in an unsteady voice, ‘that he returned to life. Have you any information on that?’

‘That is what I came to tell you, sir.’

For the next few minutes the young courier talked earnestly, the bewildered Proconsul listening in silence.

‘It all seems very strange,’ said Mencius; ‘but I’ll be there.’

‘The Coppersmiths’ Guildhall,’ said the messenger, gathering up his reins. He spoke quietly to ‘Israfel,’ who bounded away into the darkness. And by the time Mencius had turned Brutus about in the direction of Gaza, the sound of the hoof-heats was faint in the distance.

* * * * *

And so it was that in strangely convincing dreams, and by intuitive, compelling impulses, and many other indubitable signs, one hundred and twenty men, having no consultation with one another, turned their faces toward Jerusalem, arriving mid-morning of the Day of Pentecost, to receive tidings concerning the future of the Kingdom. Nothing like this had ever happened in the world before.