THE PLAN – Roman Fort 2 miles east of Bethsaida, Galilee
The fort is busy with activity. At the stables, horses were being brushed down, saddles being rubbed down with oil, and horse’s hooves being shod by the troop’s farriers. Outside the walls, squads of troops are being drilled by boisterous optios marching them in full armor and heavy shield. In the fort, every available space is being used by soldiers practicing with swords. Just outside the commander’s quarters, a large group of soldiers were cheering and egging a young lad wearing armor one size larger than him, a padded helmet, a heavy rectangular shield and clumsily wielding a practice sword. Circling opposite him was Cornelius crouched low in just a sweaty red tunic, round shield and practice sword.
“Now, Trax. Keep your shield facing him. Tuck your sword arm in more. Do not let your sword slacken. Always be ready to hit,” instructed Cestus. “Come on boyo, I have 10 coppers on you. Don’t fail me, lad.”
Cornelius raised his sword high as if to strike. As he saw Trax raise his shield to fend it off, Cornelius then used his shield to knock Trax’s heavier shield on the side edge causing Trax to swing around exposing his back. He then used the flat side of his sword to aptly spank his bottom. Trax yelped and the audience broke out in laughter and jeers.
“Oh no, Trax! Don’t over reach yourself and keep your balance always.”
Trax, embarrassed by the laughter, snarled like a cat and went on the offensive and came at Cornelius swinging his sword aggressively. The men cheered as he would not relent his attack forcing him back against the wall. Laughing out loud, Cornelius raised both arms up in surrender shouting out, “I yield… the field is yours!”
The men cheered and gathered around a heaving but smiling Trax, patting his back in congratulation. Cestus was satisfied collecting coins from those who lost the wager. Cornelius came forward smiling.
“Good attack, lad. You came at me like a wild cat.”
“Wild cat!” A number of the men were calling it out with approval.
“He’ll make a good Legionary one day, sir.”
“Not just yet he won’t,” Cestus said as he came up behind Trax. “Our wild cat here still needs work on his sword play. Come on, lad. Let’s go to the practice course.”
Cornelius fondly watched them walk around the corner. Wiping the sweat from his brows, he went up to his quarters. Casting aside his shield and sword, he changed into a fresher tunic and went over to his work table. The table was literally covered with piles of scrolls and sheets of parchment papers. A leather bound codex was open at the end of the table. Cornelius went to it and leafed back a couple of pages and reviewed his notes of yesterday. He glanced at the open scroll of Isaiah which was about a quarter of the way unrolled. He glanced back at the codex he started some two weeks back. That was when Cornelius returned to the fort from his meeting with the Baptist. The first thing he did was sought out Jacob but he was still at the village with Trax. He sent a runner to seek him out. When Jacob finally walked into his quarters after a couple of hours, he found Cornelius already had the scroll of Isaiah opened and a had a blank codex next to it.
“I thought you were coming back tomorrow?”
“I would have but I met someone that might interest you,” Cornelius said. He then told him about his late night encounter with the Baptist. Jacob was flabbergasted. When he was told that the Messiah was already walking the hills of Galilee, his eyes went wide open and he was trembling. It took a while for him to calm down from the shock of the revelation. Cornelius brought him some water.
“Did he give you a name?”
“He called him the Lamb of God!”
“The Lamb of God?” Jacob asked in confusion. “I’m not sure I understand. Why the lamb? But it does sound right somehow. I just can’t put my finger on it. How are we to find him? …recognize him? Who is he? What is his purpose? And what will he ask us to do when we do find him?”
“I asked him those same questions. He told me to seek him out through the book of Isaiah and the other prophets.”
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The story continues on in my next post a week from now.
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Thank you
Johann Q
Johann Quisumbing 