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Part Five
HEROD
Sundown found the caravan scrambling.
Shimei grabbed the staff Gasper had provided him and made it
to the camel to load up.
Baanah watched him trying to stuff the staff through the
saddle. “Can’t you find
another stick next time we stop, Shimei?”
The camel had been watching Shimei, too.
Its eyes wide every time Shimei poked his hide with the
staff. “I guess it
doesn’t make sense to take something that should be available at our
next camp.” Shimei
admitted and threw the staff down.
Melichoir asked Shimei, “Why does a fine young man need a
walking stick?”
Shimei, perched atop the saddle showed him his still swollen
ankle. “Baanah and I
climbed trees in the
Lebanon
woods. We had fun, but
I’ve been in paying for that fun ever since.”
“Did you fall out of a tree, Shimei?” Melichoir asked, eye
brows raised, scratching his head.
“Yes. It was
silly, missing that branch.
I was sure my foot was secure.”
“It’s not fun being young unless you have something to be
sorry for.”
“That has much truth, to be sure,” Gasper agreed.
Belthasar looked from one man to the other as he got on his
saddle in front of Shimei.
He nodded his head and said, “Don’t we all have stories to
tell? Do you want me to
hold your ankle tonight during our drive, son?”
“It will not throb if it’s elevated.”
Melichoir said.
Shimei sighed and brought his leg level to his Dad’s waist.
“It did help when you held it yesterday. Thanks.”
Belthasar searched the sky.
The leading star was not visible.
He looked around, everyone was looking at him, waiting go
proceed. He shrugged
his shoulders and sighed.
Then he bravely announced, “Next stop,
Jerusalem.”
They drove straight through to the outskirts of Jerusalem. “What say you?”
Belthasar asked Gasper and Melichoir. “Do you want to proceed
into the city now, or visit Herod tomorrow?”
“I say we get some rest, we’ll need to be sharp when visiting
King Herod.” Melichoir
said. “It’s been a long
almost two full days, Belthasar.
I am weary.”
Gasper nodded his head and agreed, “I’m overwhelmed, to be
honest. Tired, but
anxious with excitement.
You’re right that we’d better have all our wits sharp before
walking into a lion’s den.
My vote is to enter the city early tomorrow.”
“So, let’s scrounge up some grub.
Sleeping will be the problem, as excited as we are…being so
close, it’s hard to remain focused.”
Melichoir said.
Word spread throughout the caravan. Tomorrow will be the day.
The ‘King Delegation’, what they named the three, will go into Jerusalem to speak to
Herod.
Changing into new
tunics put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Shimei and Baanah had slept some, as did the men.
“I’m ready, aren’t you, Baanah?” Shimei said.
“You bet I am!” Baanah answered, straightening his tunic,
clasping his belt.
“I’ll find you a staff, Shimei” his Dad said.
Shimei carried the staff.
It made him feel important as the three camels delivered them
to the palace. People
gaped at seeing the procession heading up the royal road. Shimei
felt like waving, but refrained.
They wonder who we are
and why we’re here, he thought. He felt as though he held a
secret no one else knew.
Once inside the palace, a page learned their purpose and
said, “Wait here.” The room was full of people waiting audience
before the king. A hum buzzed in the air; some people grew loud when
gesticulating their points to each other.
Gasper said to the others, “I ask you to allow me to do the
talking to King Herod.
I memorized the prophesy in case he is curious, and I will tell him
what we know. Let the
chips fall where they may.
He may kill us…you realize that possibility?”
Shimei and Bannah’s jaws dropped open at the shock of
realizing their lives may be in jeopardy.
Melichoir said, when he saw the shock on the faces of the
boy-men, “Herod’s temperament is well known.
He won’t be pleased, that’s for sure. Thank you for taking
the brunt of his wrath on our behalf.”
Belthasar put his arm around Shimei when he said, “Gasper,
you are the eldest, it is your right to be our spokesman.
May God guide your words and protect us from harm.”
At once a door flew open, admitting a large man with a
scowling face and wiry curly- haired beard, clipped short. He
exhibited a gruff demeanor, wearing a gold crown with a variety of
stones imbedded, and wearing a purple tunic.
He growled, striding to his throne. His bare legs ended into
sandals that clapped on the marble floor as he walked.
His generous expanse
collapsed into his throne with a plunk.
He placed his scepter at his side.
Is that to remind us of his
power? Shimei
wondered.
“You!” He
pointed at them. “I am
told you came a long distance to meet with me.
What can I do for you gentlemen?”
Gasper said as they rose and approached the throne, “Remember
to bow—low!” he whispered.
He stopped just beyond the first step; the others lining up
behind him. He began,
“Long live King Herod!” Gasper swiped the turban from his head,
bowing low.
They others behind him followed suit.
“Thank you for this audience, Sire.
We come after
following a star in the east,
seeking directions on
finding he who is born King of the Jews.”
Herod squinted at Gasper, surprised.
Suddenly his eyes grew wide, raising his brows, his scowl
deepened. “What star?”
he demanded.
Gasper swallowed hard.
He began again.
“A star out of Jacob,
sire. We have come to
worship him. Your
majesty.”
King Herod’s furrowed brow deepened.
“What King of the Jews are you speaking about?”
he demanded.
Gasper looked to Belthasar who nodded encouragement.
He turned back to the king and said words that he’d
memorized.
“ ‘Out of thee shall come
forth unto me that is to be ruler of
Israel: whose goings forth have
been from of old, from everlasting.’
Would not this be King of the Jews, Your majesty?”
Herod grasped his scepter, his face contorting.
He sprang to his feet screaming, “Bring in my chief priests
and scribes!” Then to
the company before him, he said, “Return tonight.
I will prepare a banquet in your honor.
Give your names to my clerk before leaving.”
Gasper breathed a prayer of thanks.
Bowing low to the ground he said, “As you wish, Sire.
By your leave, then…”he looked towards Herod who summarily
dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
The group scuttled out of Herod’s sight into the waiting area
where they first entered the palace.
Immediately, they were surrounded by people who overheard
what was just revealed.
“Please sirs, tell us more!”
one said to Gasper.
“Yes, what is this about a King of the Jews? Ruler out of
Israel?
?” another quizzed.
“We have been awaiting a Messiah…could he be the one?”
a third asked, beseeching.
Gasper held up his hands to quiet therm. Having hobbled
slowly, Shimei stood behind the throng, staff in hand.
Baanah joined him, Belthasar by his side.
They heard Gasper speak, “I
told you what I know.
What you heard in there is a prophesy foretold to me…and to these
men who accompany me.”
“But a star?” someone asked, clearly intrigued.
“Yes, a new star appeared and we chose to follow it to find
out where it leads. My
friend is an astronomer from
Persia.
Tell them, Belthasar.”
He said, pointing to Belthasar.
The crowd divided into two,
Belthasar and Gasper fielding questions.
Melichoir stood aside, smiling and watching.
Someone broke his concentration by asking him, “And you, sir,
you know of these prophesies?”
“I do. I am from
Midian, a long way from where these two came.
We met coincidentally at a camp one day north of Jerusalem.
It is quite a story.
To him who believes, this is answer to prayer.”
A group of men who bore many scrolls ran into the throne
room. Baanah and Shimei
knew their presence was demanded.
It would be good not to keep Herod waiting in his current
mood. “Boy will they
have questions to answer!” Shimei said, smiling.
Baanah put a hand on Shimei’s shoulder and jutted his chin
towards a bench. “Let’s wait there, we can hear what’s being said.”
Shimei face, flushed with excitement, said, “Do you believe
the bad temper of that king?”
“Yeah, he could have had us all killed on sight. I do believe
that he’s paranoid about his throne.”
Baanah said, nodding knowingly to Shimei.
A clerk came to the boys and sat down with a scroll.
“Hi there, lads.
Please give me the names of your company.
You will be honored tonight with a banquet, and King Herod
wants to announce your presence.”
“This is really an honor, sir” Shimei said.
He pointed to the folks in their company naming them and
assisting in the spelling, which Baanah helped.
They guessed at how to spell Melichoir.
As the crowd dispersed, the three men remained.
They talked together, then turned to the younger.
Belthasar asked the boys, “Want to roam
Jerusalem, and see the sights?”
“You betcha!”
Baanah said, helping Shimei to his feet.
Shimei winced, but stood tall.
He said, “This is the adventure we came for—let’s go!
Either my ankle will get better or worse.”
Halfway through their walking tour, Belthasar rented a donkey
for his son. Riding on the donkey brought much joy to Shimei.
He said, “I feel like royalty riding a donkey through the
streets of Jerusalem.”
Belthasar said, “You’re royalty to me, my son.” He rubbed
Shimei’s head, relieved to ease his son’s pain.
They walked the city and saw the sights.
Seeing King Herod's temple was the highlight of their tour. “Wow!
That is the grandest thing I ever imagined!”
Shimei yelled to the group.
Gasper quoted words from his learned past, “That
all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that
there is none else…let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord
our God, to walk in his statues, and to keep his commandments.”
“It is a marvel, for sure!
It compares to the pyramids in Egypt.”
Melichoir said.
“You’ll have to see Egypt for
yourselves. The pyramids cannot be described with words.
Seeing is believing.
My faith believes the star will reappear.”
Shimei’s ankle was throbbing by the time they returned to the
palace. But he was so
happy! Smiling ear to
ear, he stalled the donkey.
“I’m famished, Dad.
How about you?”
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