The Lion Killer Chapter Two

 Chapter Two

A Fatal Accident

    Nathan did not go near the Palace of Hur for a long while. The day after Messala had arrived, he had, of course, passed by. He had caught just a glimpse of the courtyard... of Judah, of Miriam, their mother, and of Tirzah. Tirzah... on the arm of the Roman. She was laughing, happy. Her eyes were shining like stars. And he was smiling down at her, with the cruel, mocking smile of a man who has gotten all that he wants... and not by a good way.

    Just seeing them together sent a pain through Nathan's heart. A pain so sharp that he drew in his breath with the suddenness and the force of it. And so he stayed away.

    But on the third day after the arrival of the tribune, the new governor... Valerius Gratus... arrived. And all inhabitants of Jerusalem were ordered to be along the streets that day to welcome him. And so they did. At noonday, when the governor was set to arrive, the streets were lined with countless people, standing still and silent as statues. The drums began to beat, the trumpets play their fanfares. The Jews stood stoically, staring calmly, though with silent hatred, at the triumphal procession of Romans.

    Nathan stood with Isaac the Tanner, incidentally, across the street from the Palace of Hur. He had seen at once, Tirzah and Judah on the roof of the palace, staring down just as silent and stoically as all the others. He could see that Tirzah had been crying for her beautiful eyes were red with tears.

    Slowly, majestically, the legions began to march past. First the trumpeters, then the drummers. And at last, the officers. Nathan was watching Tirzah when Messala came into view. She started and grew pale, following him with her eyes. Judah looked grim, making no acknowledgement that he had seen his friend. Messala had looked up at them, but had also made no acknowledgement. And then he turned, glancing for a moment at Nathan with his steely black eyes... so full of disdain and hatred. Nathan returned that look defiantly.

    The tribune passed by and Tirzah crossed to the other side of the roof, watching him until he rode from sight. The governor was passing just then and she turned back to look. Except for the martial music and the soldier's measured tread, the street was silent... no cheers, no glad welcome. And as Tirzah leaned over the balcony to catch a glimpse of Gratus, a tile slipped beneath her hand and fell crashing to the street below. Nathan saw it fall and his heart sank with it. The governor's horse reared back, Gratus falling against the wall and down to the street below. For one long moment, all was silent. Then the soldiers were at the door of the Palace of Hur, clamoring with their spears, demanding entrance. Those in the street were struck silent with dread.

    Messala had turned back at once and was entering the palace. Crying out, Nathan pressed forward, but Isaac held him back.

    "Think, Nathan!" he hissed angrily. "Don't give any sign... don't try to go to them. Think what they would do to you!"

    "Think what they'll do to the Hurs... to Tirzah!" Nathan shot back angrily, pulling away. But he was surrounded by anxious friends.

    Even then the soldiers were withdrawing from the palace. Nathan could hear cries for help... Tirzah's voice.

    "Messala! Messala, please!"

    She was being dragged from the house, her mother with her, handled roughly by the soldiers. Nathan struggled violently against those who held him back, ignoring their pleading. Somehow he knew he must get to her... though what he could do, he knew not. In helpless panic, Isaac drew back his fist, landing his friend such a blow on the head that he crumpled, insensible, to the ground.

    The entire Hur family... mother, sister, brother, were dragged from their home while the servants cried mercy and the people in the street wept with fear. The governor was helped from the ground... besides a few bruises, he did not seem much harmed. On the palace roof stood the tribune Messala, staring down into the street. He reached out a hand to touch the tiles and one slipped, crashing harmlessly to the ground below. The tiles were crumbling... unstable. It had been an accident and the tribune knew it. But... would he act on it?

    To arrest an old and dear friend... perhaps to be condemned to death... a man who was one of the most powerful men in Judah... Messala was certainly asserting terrible power. The people of Jerusalem knew him, remembered him, as the little boy who had once run through the streets with the son of Hur. To see him return in this way struck a nameless dread in the hearts of all who watched the terrible scene. They knew Tirzah loved him. They knew Miriam had considered him a second son to her, that Judah had been a brother to him. And to see him do this... he would stop at nothing to gain complete control and submission.

    The streets were silent again and nearly empty. The incident seemed to vanish just as suddenly as it had occurred. People went about their business again, trembling with fright as they were. And as they worked, they prayed for mercy... mercy and deliverance.

    Please God, let the Messiah come soon. It is too much for us to bear. Have mercy on us and relieve our sufferings.

    But they prayed silently.

    Nathan still lay on the dusty, now-empty street. His face pale, Isaac half-lifted his unconscious friend from the ground, quickly dragging him into the nearest door, hoping desperately for some measure of safety.

    They were all in danger.