Chapter 25

She slowly nodded her head without looking up.

‘We will never be parted again!’ he declared.

Fara made no reply, but clutched his arms tightly and snuggled her cheek against his heart.

‘Say it, darling!’ he entreated. ‘You are mine now—for always!’

She did not answer, but raised her face to his and impetuously returned his kisses without reserve.

‘So—that is settled!’ he exclaimed. ‘You have made me very happy, dear!’

Gently releasing herself from his arms, Fara steadied her voice to say, ‘Let us sit down—and talk, Voldi!’

Gathering her up in his arms, he carried her back to the stone ledge and sat close beside her. They were both bursting with questions about each other’s recent movements…Oddly enough, they had left Jerusalem by different routes on the same morning…Voldi explained briefly that he had accompanied a caravan bound for Tiberias in Galilee. Fara’s eyes widened.

‘And then what?’ she asked.

Well—then Voldi had left the caravan in the night—in the Samaritan mountains—and had ridden to Joppa and boarded a ship.

She did not press him for further details. After a little silence, Voldi insisted on knowing her story and she told him about her journey to Jerusalem, the wicked trial and conviction of her Master, and she wept pitiably as she remembered her last sight of him on the way to his execution. Voldi held her close and tried to comfort her.

‘You heard nothing more—about his death?’ he asked, gently.

‘Was there more—to hear?’ She raised her tearful eyes to search his face.

‘Much more,’ said Voldi. ‘It sounds incredible, but—well—it is firmly believed by his disciples that Jesus left his sepulchre on Sunday morning and is alive again!’

Fara sat bolt upright and stared soberly into his eyes. Could such a thing be possible?—she wanted to know. Did Voldi believe it?…Voldi didn’t know; didn’t know whether it was possible; didn’t know whether he believed it.

‘But he was a man of singular powers,’ he admitted.