Chapter 5

‘This led him to talk about the bearing of burdens,’ pursued John. ‘That was the best way to find happiness—bearing burdens for others, whether they were friends or foes. If enemies, they regard you more mercifully; if friends, they love you for it.’

‘I don’t believe that!’ objected Thaddeus. ‘Toadying to enemies doesn’t make them a bit easier on you. They get the idea that you are afraid—and then they do lay it on!’

Many of the fishermen nodded their agreement. John did not pause to take note of this general disapproval.

‘He said the way to find your happiness and peace is in helping other people carry their heavy packs—whatever they are.’ Here John paused so long that they thought he was through. They shifted their position for better comfort, and a few of them made as if to resume their work on the net. Simon stretched, yawned prodigiously, and rubbed his eyes with his big knuckles.

‘And that was all there was to it?’ he queried. ‘Nothing very exciting about such talk. You say the crowd listened?’

‘Yes—we listened. We listened with our mouths open, so our breathing would not interfere with our hearing. As I told you—there is something peculiar about the Carpenter’s voice. He doesn’t talk as other men do. Nobody—ever—talked—like that!’

‘But he didn’t do anything—out of the ordinary?’ James wanted to know.

‘I had decided not to say anything about that; at least, not now,’ faltered John. ‘Because—I know you won’t believe it.’

They all came promptly to attention and were very quiet.

‘It was while he was talking about our finding happiness by bearing burdens. There was a man standing only a few feet away from me who had a paralysed arm—or something had ailed it so that it was much shorter and thinner than the other. But for this bad right arm, he was a pretty husky fellow. I had noticed him petting his short arm as if he was proud of it and wanted people to see it. All of a sudden, he broke into the Carpenter’s speech, and held up this poor thing of an arm, hoisting it up by his good hand; and he shouted out, “How about me, sir? You can see that I cannot bear burdens!”‘

Here John stopped, closed his eyes, and shook his head like an emerging diver.

‘No—no—I cannot tell you!’ he muttered thickly. ‘You will not believe it! If any one of you were to tell me this, I’m sure I wouldn’t believe a word of it!’

‘Say on, Johnny!’ commanded Simon. ‘What happened?’

‘The fellow’s arm!’ John’s voice trembled. ‘It was well, I tell you! It was sound! It was as long as the other!’