the jacket (the star-rover)-第38章

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could　not　distinguish　how　much　of　the　ferment　was　due　to　the

teachings　of　the　wandering　fisherman；　and　how　much　of　it　was　due　to

Jewish　hatred　for　Rome。



〃A　tithe；　no　more；　and　maybe　not　so　much；　is　due　to　this　Jesus；〃

Pilate　answered　my　query。　　〃Look　to　Caiaphas　and　Hanan　for　the　main

cause　of　the　excitement。　　They　know　what　they　are　about。　　They　are

stirring　it　up；　to　what　end　who　can　tell；　except　to　cause　me

trouble。〃



〃Yes；　it　is　certain　that　Caiaphas　and　Hanan　are　responsible；〃　Miriam

said；　〃but　you；　Pontius　Pilate；　are　only　a　Roman　and　do　not

understand。　　Were　you　a　Jew；　you　would　realize　that　there　is　a

greater　seriousness　at　the　bottom　of　it　than　mere　dissension　of　the

sectaries　or　trouble…making　for　you　and　Rome。　　The　high　priests　and

Pharisees；　every　Jew　of　place　or　wealth；　Philip；　Antipas；　myselfwe

are　all　fighting　for　very　life。



〃This　fisherman　may　be　a　madman。　　If　so；　there　is　a　cunning　in　his

madness。　　He　preaches　the　doctrine　of　the　poor。　　He　threatens　our

law；　and　our　law　is　our　life；　as　you　have　learned　ere　this。　　We　are

jealous　of　our　law；　as　you　would　be　jealous　of　the　air　denied　your

body　by　a　throttling　hand　on　your　throat。　　It　is　Caiaphas　and　Hanan

and　all　they　stand　for；　or　it　is　the　fisherman。　　They　must　destroy

him；　else　he　will　destroy　them。〃



〃Is　it　not　strange；　so　simple　a　man；　a　fisherman？〃　Pilate's　wife

breathed　forth。　　〃What　manner　of　man　can　he　be　to　possess　such

power？　　I　would　that　I　could　see　him。　　I　would　that　with　my　own　eyes

I　could　see　so　remarkable　a　man。〃



Pilate's　brows　corrugated　at　her　words；　and　it　was　clear　that　to　the

burden　on　his　nerves　was　added　the　overwrought　state　of　his　wife's

nerves。



〃If　you　would　see　him；　beat　up　the　dens　of　the　town；〃　Miriam　laughed

spitefully。　　〃You　will　find　him　wine…bibbing　or　in　the　company　of

nameless　women。　　Never　so　strange　a　prophet　came　up　to　Jerusalem。〃



〃And　what　harm　in　that？〃　I　demanded；　driven　against　my　will　to　take

the　part　of　the　fisherman。　　〃Have　I　not　wine…guzzled　a…plenty　and

passed　strange　nights　in　all　the　provinces？　　The　man　is　a　man；　and

his　ways　are　men's　ways；　else　am　I　a　madman；　which　I　here　deny。〃



Miriam　shook　her　head　as　she　spoke。



〃He　is　not　mad。　　Worse；　he　is　dangerous。　　All　Ebionism　is　dangerous。

He　would　destroy　all　things　that　are　fixed。　　He　is　a　revolutionist。

He　would　destroy　what　little　is　left　to　us　of　the　Jewish　state　and

Temple。〃



Here　Pilate　shook　his　head。



〃He　is　not　political。　　I　have　had　report　of　him。　　He　is　a　visionary。

There　is　no　sedition　in　him。　　He　affirms　the　Roman　tax　even。〃



〃Still　you　do　not　understand；〃　Miriam　persisted。　　〃It　is　not　what　he

plans；　it　is　the　effect；　if　his　plans　are　achieved；　that　makes　him　a

revolutionist。　　I　doubt　that　he　foresees　the　effect。　　Yet　is　the　man

a　plague；　and；　like　any　plague；　should　be　stamped　out。〃



〃From　all　that　I　have　heard；　he　is　a　good…hearted；　simple　man　with

no　evil　in　him；〃　I　stated。



And　thereat　I　told　of　the　healing　of　the　ten　lepers　I　had　witnessed

in　Samaria　on　my　way　through　Jericho。



Pilate's　wife　sat　entranced　at　what　I　told。　　Came　to　our　ears

distant　shoutings　and　cries　of　some　street　crowd；　and　we　knew　the

soldiers　were　keeping　the　streets　cleared。



〃And　you　believe　this　wonder；　Lodbrog？〃　Pilate　demanded。　　〃You

believe　that　in　the　flash　of　an　eye　the　festering　sores　departed

from　the　lepers？〃



〃I　saw　them　healed；〃　I　replied。　　〃I　followed　them　to　make　certain。

There　was　no　leprosy　in　them。〃



〃But　did　you　see　them　sore？before　the　healing？〃　Pilate　insisted。



I　shook　my　head。



〃I　was　only　told　so；〃　I　admitted。　　〃When　I　saw　them　afterward；　they

had　all　the　seeming　of　men　who　had　once　been　lepers。　　They　were　in　a

daze。　　There　was　one　who　sat　in　the　sun　and　ever　searched　his　body

and　stared　and　stared　at　the　smooth　flesh　as　if　unable　to　believe

his　eyes。　　He　would　not　speak；　nor　look　at　aught　else　than　his

flesh；　when　I　questioned　him。　　He　was　in　a　maze。　　He　sat　there　in

the　sun　and　stared　and　stated。〃



Pilate　smiled　contemptuously；　and　I　noted　the　quiet　smile　on

Miriam's　face　was　equally　contemptuous。　　And　Pilate's　wife　sat　as　if

a　corpse；　scarce　breathing；　her　eyes　wide　and　unseeing。



Spoke　Ambivius：　　〃Caiaphas　holdshe　told　me　but　yesterdaythat　the

fisherman　claims　that　he　will　bring　God　down　on　earth　and　make　here

a　new　kingdom　over　which　God　will　rule〃



〃Which　would　mean　the　end　of　Roman　rule；〃　I　broke　in。



〃That　is　where　Caiaphas　and　Hanan　plot　to　embroil　Rome；〃　Miriam

explained。　　〃It　is　not　true。　　It　is　a　lie　they　have　made。〃



Pilate　nodded　and　asked：



〃Is　there　not　somewhere　in　your　ancient　books　a　prophecy　that　the

priests　here　twist　into　the　intent　of　this　fisherman's　mind？〃



To　this　she　agreed；　and　gave　him　the　citation。　　I　relate　the

incident　to　evidence　the　depth　of　Pilate's　study　of　this　people　he

strove　so　hard　to　keep　in　order。



〃What　I　have　heard；〃　Miriam　continued；　〃is　that　this　Jesus　preaches

the　end　of　the　world　and　the　beginning　of　God's　kingdom；　not　here；

but　in　heaven。〃



〃I　have　had　report　of　that；〃　Pilate　raid。　　〃It　is　true。　　This　Jesus

holds　the　justness　of　the　Roman　tax。　　He　holds　that　Rome　shall　rule

until　all　rule　passes　away　with　the　passing　of　the　world。　　I　see

more　clearly　the　trick　Hanan　is　playing　me。〃



〃It　is　even　claimed　by　some　of　his　followers；〃　Ambivius　volunteered；

〃that　he　is　God　Himself。〃



〃I　have　no　report　that　he　has　so　said；〃　Pilate　replied。



〃Why　not？〃　his　wife　breathed。　　〃Why　not？　　Gods　have　descended　to

earth　before。〃



〃Look　you；〃　Pilate　said。　　〃I　have　it　by　creditable　report；　that

after　this　Jesus　had　worked　some　wonder　whereby　a　multitude　was　fed

on　several　loaves　and　fishes；　the　foolish　Galileans　were　for　making

him　a　king。　　Against　his　will　they　would　make　him　a　king。　　To　escape

them　he　fled　into　the　mountains。　　No　madness　there。　　He　was　too　wise

to　accept　the　fate　they　would　have　forced　upon　him。〃



〃Yet　that　is　the　very　trick　Hanan　would　force　upon　you；〃　Miriam

reiterated。　　〃They　claim　for　him　that　he　would　be　king　of　the　Jews

an　offence　against　Roman　law；　wherefore　Rome　must　deal　with　him。〃



Pilate　shrugged　his　shoulders。



〃A　king　of　the　beggars；　rather；　or　a　king　of　the　dreamers。　　He　is　no

fool。　　He　is　visionary；　but　not　visionary　of　this　world's　power。

All　luck　go　with　him　in　the　next　world；　for　that　is　beyond　Rome's

jurisdiction。〃



〃He　holds　that　property　is　sinthat　is　what　hits　the　Pharisees；〃

Ambivius　spoke　up。



Pilate　laughed　heartily。



〃This　king　of　the　beggars　and　his　fellow…beggars　still　do　respect

property；　he　explained。　　〃For；　look　you；　not　long　ago　they　had　even

a　treasurer　for　their　wealth。　　Judas　his　name　was；　and　there　were

words　in　that　he　stole　from　their　common　purse　which　he　carried。〃



〃Jesus　did　not　steal？〃　Pilate's　wife　asked。



〃No；〃　Pilate　answered；　〃it　was　Judas；　the　treasurer。〃



〃Who　was　this　John？〃　I　questioned。　　〃He　was　in　trouble　up　Tiberias

way　and　Antipas　executed　him。〃



〃Another　one；〃　Miriam　answered。　　〃He　was　born　near　Hebron。　　He　was

an　enthusiast　and　a　desert…dweller。　　Either　he　or　his　followers

claimed　that　he　was　Elijah　raised　from　the　dead。　　Elijah；　you　see；

was　one　of　our　old　prophets。〃



〃Was　he　seditious？〃　I　asked。



Pilate　grinned　and　shook　his　head；　then　said：



〃He　fell　out　with　Antipas　over　the　matter　of　Herodias。　　John　was　a

moralist。　　It　is　too　long　a　story；　but　he　paid　for　it　with　his　head。

No；　there　was　nothing　political　in　that　affair。〃



〃It　is　also　claimed　by　some　that　Jesus　is　the　Son　of　David；〃　Miriam

said。　　〃But　it　is　absurd。　　Nobody　at　Nazareth　believes　it。　　You　see；

his　whole　family；　including　his　married　sisters；　lives　there　and　is

known　to　all　of　them。　　They　are　a　simple　folk；　mere　common　people。〃



〃I　wish　it　were　as　simple；　the　report　of　all　this　complexity　that　I

must　send　to　Tiberius；〃　Pilate　grumbled。　　〃And　now　this　fisherman　is

come　to　Jerusalem；　the　place　is　packed　with　pilgrims　ripe　for　any

trouble；　and　Hanan　stirs　and　stirs　the　broth。〃



〃And　before　he　is　done　he　will　have　his　way；〃　Miriam　forecast。　　〃He

has　laid　the　task　for　you；　and　you　will　perform　it。〃



〃Which　is？〃　Pilate　queried。



〃The　execution　of　this　fisherman。〃



Pilate　shook　his　head　stubbornly；　but　his　wife　cried　out：



〃No！　　No！　　It　would　be　a　shameful　wrong。　　The　man　has　done　no　evil。

He　has　not　offended　against　Rome。〃



She　looked　beseechingly　to　Pilate；　who　continued　to　shake　his　head。



〃Let　them　do　their　own　beheading；　as　Antipas　did；〃　he　growled。　　〃The

fisherman　counts　for　nothing；　but　I　shall　be　no　catspaw　to　their

schemes。　　If　they　must　destroy　him；　they　must　destroy　him。　　That　is

their　affair。〃



〃But　you　will　not　permit　it；〃　cried　Pilate's　wife。



〃A　pretty　time　would　I　have　explaining　to　Tiberius　if　I　interfered；〃

was　his　reply。



〃No　matter　what　happens；〃　said　Miriam；　〃I　can　see　you　writing

explanations；　and　soon；　for　Jesus　is　already　come　up　to　Jerusalem

and　a　number　of　his　fishermen　with　him。〃



Pilate　showed　the　irritation　this　information　caused　him。



〃I　have　no　interest　in　his　movements；〃　he　pronounced。　　〃I　hope　never

to　see　him。〃



〃Trust　Hanan　to　find　him　for　you；〃　Miriam　replied；　〃and　to　bring　him

to　your　gate。〃



Pilate　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　there　the　talk　ended。　　Pilate's

wife；　nervous　and　overwrought；　must　claim　Miriam　to　her　apartments；

so　that　nothing　remained　for　me　but　to　go　to　bed　and　doze　off　to　the

buzz　and　murmur　of　the　city　of　madmen。





Events　moved　rapidly。　　Over　night　the　white　heat　of　the　city　had

scorched　upon　itself。　　By　midday；　when　I　rode　forth　with　half　a

dozen　of　my　men；　the　streets　were　packed；　and　more　reluctant　than

ever　were　the　folk　to　give　way　before　me。　　If　looks　could　kill　I

should　have　been　a　dead　man　that　day。　　Openly　they　spat　at　sight　of

me；　and；　everywhere　arose　snarls　and　cries。



Less　was　I　a　thing　of　wonder；　and　more　was　I　the　thing　hated　in　that

I　wore　the　hated　harness　of　Rome。　　Had　it　been　any　other　city；　I

should　have　given　command　to　my　men　to　lay　the　flats　of　their　swords

on　those　snarling　fanatics。　　But　this　was　Jerusalem；　at　fever　heat；

and　these　were　a　people　unable　in　thought　to　divorce　the　idea　of

State　from　the　idea　of　God。



Hanan　the　Sadducee　had　done　his　work　well。　　No　matter　what　he　and

the　Sanhedrim　believed　of　the　true　inwardness　of　the　situation；　it

was　clear　this　rabble　had　been　well　tutored　to　believe　that　Rome　was

at　the　bottom　of　it。



I　encountered　Miriam　in　the　press。　　She　was　on　foot；　attended　only

by　a　woman。　　It　was　no　time　in　such　turbulence　for　her　to　be　abroad

garbed　as　became　her　station。　　Through　her　sister　she　was　indeed

sister…in…law　to　Antipas　for　whom　few　bore　love。　　So　she　was　dressed

discreetly；　her　face　covered；　so　that　she　might　pass　as　any　Jewish

woman　of　the　lower