***
The next day proved to be almost as tedious as the last, for Lucius Tullius. Though well rested now, the worry he felt for Procula, not only for being suspected but also for their fragile friendship, made his fourteen hour watch over Jesus' tomb the next day extremely endless. Fortunately for Lucius, grumpy old Cicero had been replaced by a more friendly face: Marcus.
'Well well well!' Marcus called as Lucius approached the tomb, replacing a soldier with heavy eyes. 'Look who finally managed to arise from his bed.'
'I am perfectly on time, Marcus.' Lucius said, taking up the spear and standing with it beside his friend. 'You are early.'
'A good soldier is always early.'
'And when did you decide to become one of those?' Lucius retorted. Marcus grinned.
'In all truth, brother,' Marcus said, looking down, 'I am glad to have you alone, at last. I have some...concerns. Suspicions, you may even call them.'
Lucius looked across at him.
'Regarding whom?'
'You! These two days past you have been, shall we say, distracted.'
His breaths were getting shallower and shallower. 'First, in the marketplace when the riot broke out you vanished for a few minutes, then returned breathless and blushing. You have been contemplative ever since. On the hill you were almost somewhere else entirely! And yesterday, Octavius caught you sitting in the prison, appearing exhausted.'
'Are you accusing me of something, Marcus?' Lucius asked sternly. Marcus eyed him up and replied,
'Are you in love?'
Short of words, Lucius burst out laughing. Marcus frowned. 'What is so funny, Lucius?'
'Marcus!' he panted when he could breathe, 'I am not in love.'
His friend lowered his eyes bashfully.
'Oh.'
'How could I be? There are few Roman women in Jerusalem, and fewer attractive ones!'
'I, I thought,' Marcus stammered, 'that perhaps you had found a Hebrew maiden.'
'A Hebrew!?' Lucius laughed all over again. 'Marcus, I would sooner marry Hortensia.'
Appeased by Lucius' amusement, Marcus laughed now too.
'Oh I am glad, brother.' he said, smiling. 'I could not imagine the Roman army without you!'
Slightly disturbed by that idea, Lucius cleared his throat and straightened up. When he glanced behind him at the massive boulder rolled in front of Jesus' tomb, his heart smote him for ever laughing so soon, so easily, so close to the Son of God's corpse.
***
Eager to show the people of Jerusalem that the governor was still proud of his decision to slay Jesus, Pilate sent his wife into the marketplace again the next day, parading her around like a mindless, golden statue. Once again her orders were to 'show everyone how at peace you are with my noble decisions'. That meant she must plaster a fake smile onto her adorned face and shake as many hands as she could. Claudia's soul loathed the factitiousness routine of it. But with two eunuchs at her sides and nothing else to occupy her day, she could hardly refuse.
'Procula?' Talia called out from the doorway of her chambers earlier that morning.
'Yes, Talia?'
'The, the eunuchs are asking after you, Procula. They say the day is far spent already, and you must leave for the town now before the streets empty -'
'How was your Passover evening, Talia?' Claudia asked casually from within her chambers, as she climbed into her dress. Her servant hesitated.
'Fine, thank you. How was the dinner party last night?'
'Boring. Pointless.' Claudia replied. Her servant was silent once again, but after a minute or two, had to remind her mistress to make haste.
'I am ready.' Claudia eventually sighed. She stepped out of her chambers and into Talia's view. She had stalled for as long as she could, knowing that Lucius kept watch over the town prison in the day; now she hoped that when she finally did reach the marketplace, he would be gone.
'You look beautiful, Procula.' Talia told her, clearly proud of her own work. Claudia bowed her head gratefully, and followed the servant girl down the corridor to her impatient chaperones.
YOU ARE READING
The Stranger of Galilee
SpiritualHolding her breath, Claudia lay her head down against the ground and willed herself to be somewhere else. Anywhere else. When she had desired more adventure in her life, this was not at all what she meant! While the garden they were in was beautiful...
