Man of God (32 page)

“Do you think I care? Not any more! I’d
rather be dead than…besides, it is only this one guard—most of them
will be around the Circus for the games. Once outside the gate I
can slip away somehow and find the road to Ostia.”

“Are you ready now?”

“Yes. I have nothing here.”

“Come, then.”

Megara explained to the soldiers, with her
own guard affirming that the emperor had granted her permission,
and all left the palace to walk to Simon’s house. She and Paulus
didn’t speak to each other; the five guards remained silent as
well. When they arrived, one of the soldiers ordered his
subordinate: “Check to see how many entrances there are. Three of
us will remain outside, and two inside.”

The two who followed Paulus and Megara into
the house waited unobtrusively in the entrance hall. As they walked
further inside, all conversation stopped. The room was full of
Paulus’ friends, men and women, most of them weeping… and each came
forward to embrace him. He was holding Daphne as she sobbed into
his chest when the voice assailed him again:
“You wanted her!
And Alysia knew it!”

He looked at Priscilla, who came and gently
pulled Daphne away. Lucia touched his arm and indicated a closed
door. “She’s in there. Do you want to see her?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I have already said
goodbye to her.”

An awkward silence fell. Paulus said, “I want
to thank all of you, with all my heart. You are risking everything
to do this. Anyone associated with me is suspect. I know that…God
will reward every one of you.”

Horatius answered, “We are honored to do
this, for God—and for you and Alysia.”

Paulus noticed Megara, standing by herself
across the room.

“Most of you have—met—my former wife, Megara.
She—asked to come here today. I hope you will make her feel
welcome.”

They all looked dubiously at Megara, who
didn’t seem to wish to be welcomed. But Priscilla went to her and
touched her hand. “Have you had breakfast? Come with me…there is
food in the dining room. Paulus, I’m sure you haven’t had any real
food in days.”

“I will eat later, Priscilla—thank you.
Simon, could I speak with you and Susanna?”

Simon led them into his bedroom and closed
the door.

“Susanna,” Paulus asked, “did you see Rachel
yesterday?”

The woman drew a deep breath and looked into
his eyes. “Yes. I told her about Alysia.”

Paulus felt as though someone had kicked him
in the gut. “How—is she?”

“Stunned. Heartbroken. She needs you,
Paulus.”

“
Your daughter has taken the vows. She is
lost to you—she belongs to me!”

Paulus turned abruptly; the room seemed to
undulate like a ship at sea, and he wavered. At once Simon was
beside him, grabbing his arm and pulling him upright.

“You’re not well, Paulus. Sit down.” He and
Susanna lowered him into a chair.

“No. I don’t think I am. But we must plan,
nevertheless. Susanna, can you see Rachel this morning?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Tell her to act as though she’s sick. That
her stomach hurts, or something. Tell the Vestals you’ve sent for a
physician. Simon, we’ll need two horses. One for you, one for me.
Rachel can ride with me.”

“Make that three horses,” came a voice from
the doorway, and Daphne came in, closing the door behind her. “I’m
coming, too.” She went to stand beside Simon.

Paulus stared at them for a moment, and then
actually smiled. “I see. But it will be a long, hard ride,
Daphne.”

She shrugged. “If I can’t make it, I’ll ride
with Simon. But you taught us well. I won’t be a burden—I promise.
And maybe I can help.”

“I’m sure Horatius knows someone who can
provide us with horses,” said Simon.

“I’ll go to the House of the Vestals, as a
physician, and get Rachel. You’ll be waiting nearby with the
horses, and we’ll take whatever route seems best—to get to
Palestine, and Bethany.”

“How will you get away from here?” Daphne
asked.

“I’m not sure yet. It’s not by any means a
perfect plan. It will depend on God’s intervention.”

“What about Megara?” Simon asked doubtfully.
“I don’t trust her, Paulus. What if the emperor sent her here to
spy on us?”

“I think she’s telling the truth. She’s here
to try and escape herself, so whatever she does, let her do
it.”

“In the meantime,” Susanna said, “you must
eat. And there’s the bathing room. Simon has already had water
brought in. After that, I’ll put medicine and bandages on those
wounds. And—I’ve brought one of Flavius’ tunics for you to wear.
You’re—almost the same size. It’s one of his—military tunics. It
should seem…quite familiar.”

Paulus reached out and took her hand. “This
is hard for you, Susanna.”

She brushed at the tears in her eyes. “He is
only going before me…to the place of no more pain, and no more
tears.” She smiled at him. “I know that you know this, Paulus. But
let us try to rejoice! Alysia is not in that body, and she won’t be
in that grave. Because…
he lives
!”

* * *

Horatius was able to send a message to one of
his friends, who would have three horses waiting for Simon near the
Appian Way. Susanna left the house, after attending to Paulus’
wounds, to go to Rachel. As Paulus tied the belt of the crimson
tunic, he, Simon and Daphne had a final word.

“I don’t know if I’m thinking clearly, so the
two of you tell me if this makes sense. When Simon goes for the
horses, you go to your house, Daphne, and get whatever you think
you’ll need, and can be carried. Simon, walk all three horses, and
if you’re stopped, say that you are taking them somewhere for your
master. You might ask Horatius to send one of his slaves to help
you. You and Daphne meet at the Curia Julia, and wait for me. I’ll
go and get Rachel, and return to you. Simon, do you have money?
”

“Enough to last a few weeks.”

“I have money,” Daphne said. “Quite a
lot.”

“Good. I think that once past the Vestals,
the best route will be to head south and west. We’ll cross the
bridge at Tiber Island, leave the horses, and try to find a boat or
a barge to hide on. Failing that, follow the river bank until it
reaches the city wall, get into the water and swim past the wall,
then follow the bank again until we get to Ostia. Once there, we
can decide if we’re going to sail, or go by land.”

“Why must we leave the horses? Why can’t we
just ride along the river until we come to Ostia?” Daphne
asked.

“They could easily overtake us. We’re less
likely to be noticed walking, rather than riding. But we need the
horses to get as fast as we can from the House of the Vestals
across the Tiber. By then, they’ll be looking for us. Once they
discover I’m gone, they’ll search the immediate area, and then
they’ll go to the Palatine for more soldiers. I’m hoping that will
take a while, because most of the guards are keeping order at the
Circus Maximus. And I’m not sure who among the officers knows about
Rachel, and where she is, but it’s only a matter of time before
they figure out that’s where I’ve probably gone.”

There was a thoughtful silence, broken by
Simon. “It seems as good a plan as any, Paulus. But I still don’t
see how you are going to get away from here. And what excuse will
Daphne and I give for leaving?”

“Daphne, you can create a diversion. You are
distraught, or ill, and cannot go on. Simon, you’ll offer to take
her to her house. Once away from the guards, you go for the
horses…and Daphne, you go and get your things. Meet each other at
the Curia Julia, and be as quick as you possibly can.”

“Do you think you can get away during my
diversion?” Daphne asked, her eyes beginning to glow with
excitement.

“I’m going to try. I noticed that all the men
brought mourning cloaks, so we’ll all look alike. Somehow I’ll have
to confuse them.”

“Have someone stay back,” Simon suggested.
“Aquila is about your height. He can follow along at a distance,
and then when you escape, he can step forward. They may not
realize, for a while, that you’re missing.”

“I didn’t want to involve anyone else,”
Paulus answered, reluctantly.

“He’s been very insistent about wanting to
help. They all have. They know you are going to try to rescue
Rachel.”

“It is a good idea, Simon. Let’s do it, then,
if he’s agreeable. Have Priscilla walk beside me, and then after
I’ve gone she can walk with Aquila. That, too, will mislead
them.”

“We should pray,” Daphne said. “We must have
God’s help.”

They waited expectantly for Paulus to begin,
but he said, “Simon…would you?”

Simon shot him a strange look, but voiced an
eloquent plea for God’s protection and guidance. Daphne left the
room, saying she would speak to Aquila and his wife.

“Something’s wrong, Paulus. It’s more
than—what is it?”

Paulus sighed and shook his head, leaning it
back against his chair. “I know that God hears my prayers, but he
is not answering. I believe he is trying me, and I don’t know
if—”

“You’re not having doubts?”

“Not about God. Maybe, about myself. I feel
weak, Simon, in every way…weaker than I’ve ever felt before.”

“That’s when we have to depend on his
strength, Paulus. Maybe you’ve been depending too much on your
own.”

Paulus rubbed his hands over his eyes. “Yes.
Maybe I have.”

“This is a hard thing, Paulus. But everyone
is praying for you. There are more besides those gathered here—I
think that everyone whose life you have touched, here in Rome, is
praying for you. We spread the word. Many more will be joining the
procession, as we go.”

Paulus didn’t answer at first, then he took
his hands away from his face and looked at Simon. “I could ask for
no greater friend, Simon, than I have found in you.”

“You would do the same, for me.”

“Tell me, what is this I see between you and
Daphne?”

Simon smiled. “I’ve cared for her ever since
she began coming to our meetings. And now, after what happened…I
think she is the bravest woman I’ve ever known. Next to
Alysia.”

* * *

When Paulus and Simon emerged from the room,
the wooden casket had been set on the floor, before the entrance
hall. Horatius had brought four of his servants to carry it; they
had been waiting in the kitchen and now stood in readiness. Paulus
tried to ignore the blow that struck him when he saw it…Susanna was
right, that
wasn’t
Alysia, she wasn’t there…

No one seemed to know what to say. The two
guards waited, watching them curiously. The habits of these
Nazarenes were most peculiar…

Finally Horatius said, “Aquila, will you
recite a psalm of David? And pray for our brothers, Paulus and
Flavius.”

Aquila considered for a moment which passage
to use, and began,
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
want…”

Paulus listened, comforted by the words,
touched by the love being shown him…but he was still in torment,
still calling out to God and hearing nothing in return. How long
would this last—a day, a year? Nevertheless, he prayed silently for
Rachel…and that he would be able to do what needed to be done.

He noticed, with a jolt of surprise, that
Megara had been crying. In all the years he had known her, he
couldn’t remember ever having seen her shed a tear. What did it
mean? She saw him looking at her and turned away…and he put her out
of his mind as he again tried to focus on the situation at
hand.

All the women wore black gowns, and now the
men began putting on their dark mourning cloaks, and drew the hoods
over their heads. They had chosen to wear these, knowing that
Paulus might try to make an escape, and hoping to confuse his
captors. Simon had procured one for Paulus as well, and he drew it
over his tunic and pulled the hood forward. The servants raised the
casket, and everyone followed it out of the house. Four guards
surrounded Paulus, and one walked close beside Megara.

There would be no professional mourners, no
wailing and screaming, as in most Roman funerals. The procession
would continue down the street and turn left onto the Appian Way,
and the casket would be placed inside the tomb that Camillus had
purchased. The narrow streets were far less crowded than usual,
because of the games, and Paulus wished that it were not so—it
would make his disappearance much easier if there were dozens of
men and women scurrying about. He walked directly behind the
casket, with Priscilla beside him, aware that Aquila had not yet
donned his robe and followed at a distance.

Close behind Paulus, Daphne suddenly gave a
cry and clutched at her abdomen. With a flair for the dramatic, she
cried out again and doubled over, as if in excruciating pain. The
guards looked at her…they may not have been attracted by her scars,
but five pairs of eyes were irresistibly drawn to her figure, full
and curvaceous even in the modest black gown…and when she fell to
the ground, their gazes lingered on the inadvertent display of a
slender ankle clad in a bracelet.

It was all over in a moment, but in that
moment Megara slipped into a nearby alley, and Aquila aligned
himself at the edge of the procession, nearer the casket. One of
the guards stood too close to Paulus, and he was not able to move.
His tension increased as Simon helped Daphne to her feet and
offered to take her home. It seemed the opportunity was lost, when
Megara’s guard noticed she was gone.

“The woman has fled!”

The soldier in charge flung out his arm. “Go
after her! You, too!”

Two guards ran back and turned into the
alley. Distracted and alarmed, the guard next to Paulus moved away
slightly, giving Paulus his chance to step aside and be replaced by
Aquila. He removed the robe he wore and folded it, holding it in
front of him…he would need it again. Turning swiftly onto another
street, he ran toward an intersection and turned right, heading in
the opposite direction. He wondered if Megara had escaped…and hoped
she had.