Yeshua's Thief Read online

  Ezekiel inhaled deeply and could almost taste the musht. It had been some time since they had such a treat. Ezekiel carried a sense of expectation along with the basket as he made his way up the hillside to his clay house. Across the street stood his grandfather, Elyam.

  “Hi, Ezekiel. Your grandmother sent me out here to ask you to gather some firewood. If you would like, I could help you.”

  Ezekiel smiled. “Anything for my favorite grandfather.”

  “I wasn’t aware of you having another grandfather somewhere.”

  “Exactly my point.” Ezekiel smiled. He admired Elyam for his steadiness. Unlike his father, Elyam was well respected by his family and friends.

  On the other hand, Dismas did not share the values of the rest of the family. Still, he loved Aaliyah with unending passion. He continually sought to win over her affection with lavish gifts. The day before, the gift had been a sack of Roman copper coins.

  Ezekiel wanted to believe his father’s exotic tales of adventure that he occasionally spun to account for the seemingly miraculous gifts. Still, they seemed too fantastic to be true.

  As he neared the door, Aaliyah burst onto the street, her eyes telling the story of her heart as they often did. With one look, Ezekiel suspected this would be the last time, for a long time, that he would lay eyes on his father. Walking through the open door, he could sense the familiar tension and said nothing as he laid down the fish in the small alcove beside the clay oven.

  Dismas sat on his haunches in the corner with the tail of his cloak piling in the dirt. He dragged his finger on the ground in circular patterns as if contemplating what to say next. Ezekiel went up to him and hugged him with intensity.

  Dismas put his arm around his son and slowly stood up. Then he turned.

  “I have a gift for you.”

  “Really? What is it?” Ezekiel looked at his father, not knowing if he could trust him. Dismas returned the look with a discerning impression as if to signal that this gift was great and came with responsibility. Then, suddenly, he pulled out a sheathed dagger. The crafting was more beautiful than anything Ezekiel had seen before, with a gold inlay and a pearl-studded hilt. Again, Ezekiel’s heart sank into his stomach.

  “It’s really more of a loan. Keep it safe until I return.”

  “Why are you giving it to me?”

  “Because, Ezekiel, I believe I can trust you. Am I right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good. I am going away for a while. Please keep it safe. Bury it if you must. Whatever you do, do not lose it.”

  “When will you return?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe a few months. Maybe never.”

  Ezekiel promptly hid the dagger amidst his cloaks. He didn’t like hiding things. It made him feel like a cheat. However, he was a good son and did as he was told. He planned to steal off in the night and bury it under the olive tree that Elyam planted when he was born. For the moment, all he could do was tell his father goodbye.

  The weight of the moment caught the young boy like a swift punch to the stomach. So he ran out of the house along the path by the sea. People didn’t seem to notice, and if they saw him, they didn’t seem to care.

  It was a harsh time to be a boy of fifteen in Galilee. He was old enough to carry responsibilities but young enough to carry a hopeful heart within him everywhere. Unfortunately, being hopeful sometimes felt like carrying a cup around that other people would fill with a bitter drink. He slumped against the wall, skidding to the floor, and let his tears flow.

  He was so overcome with emotion that he failed to see the approaching Roman soldier. Most of the time, he could avoid such annoyances, but with his head down, he was unable to move out of the way before it was too late.

  “You, there!” said the soldier. The sun glistened off his armor like shimmering water.

  Ezekiel slowly looked up to see the face of the oppressor. “Yes, I said you! Carry my shield, for I am tired and in need of rest.”

  “Yes, sir.” Ezekiel wiped his cheeks on the short sleeves of his tunic, fearing the consequences of a response that could be taken as impertinent. He stood and picked up the shield, which was so heavy that he had to sling it onto his back, causing him to stumble. This brought a peal of laughter from the soldier.

  Sweat poured over Ezekiel’s forehead as he struggled to keep up with the soldier. His muscles ached, and his side felt the sharp pain of a cramp as he neared the obligatory mile required under Roman law. Ezekiel knew the measurement of a mile was a relative distance. It was almost always exaggerated to mean as far as the soldier needed to go.

  Looking past the guard, he saw his friend Rina with a basket of grain under her arm. Even under the weight of the shield, he took notice of how much she had changed over the last few years. Every day, it seemed, she grew visibly in her womanhood.

  Rina looked at him and nodded. Ezekiel knew then that his mother would soon understand why he would be coming home late.

  “Keep your eyes focused on the path. I have an important meeting tonight and need to get there quickly.” The flat side of the Roman’s sword came crashing down on Ezekiel’s left shoulder, causing him to stumble. Again, a cruel laugh came from the Roman, who then swiftly kicked him in the stomach, sending Ezekiel sprawling to the ground.

  Rina came running to him and tried to help him up, which prompted the soldier to grab her by the hair and throw her to the side.

  He picked up the shield, cursed under his breath, and walked away, leaving Rina and Ezekiel lying together, face-down in the street.

  “Are you alright?” Ezekiel asked Rina, struggling to get up.

  No answer came, only sobbing. Ezekiel realized Rina had hit her head on a stone.

  “Rina?” Still, she laid there sobbing. Ezekiel forced himself to his feet. Once he was up, he felt a little better. He took a few steps over to Rina, who tried on her own to get up. Grabbing her arm, he helped her to her feet, which seemed to give her strength. He bandaged her forehead with strips torn from his tunic, and they hobbled home arm-in-arm.

  The arid climate of Tiberias seemed to choke the life out of Ezekiel. His mother came rushing out to meet them. Ezekiel could see that tears streaked down her cheeks as she grabbed him and held his head close to her heart.

  Rina stumbled to her knees. Aaliyah caught her by the arm then knelt to face her, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

  Rina continued to cry. Ezekiel noticed her resolve didn’t falter even when her body did. It made her even more attractive.

  “Let’s go inside,” said Aaliyah. “Come, Rina, we’ll find a place for you to lie down.” Rina just nodded. Ezekiel was glad she was there, though he would have spared her this pain if he could. He could tell Rina was forcing a smile as Aaliyah helped her inside. Out of respect, Ezekiel sat outside on the west side of the house and watched the sun fade from view behind the roofs of Galilee. Aaliyah brought Ezekiel some fish and bread, along with some water in a clay pot. The cold liquid felt kind to his throat, and the salty fish tasted like a little bit of heaven, given how tired he was. When the sun was nearly hidden from view, Rina’s mother, Ester, came home from working the vineyards.

  “Thank you for protecting Rina, Ezekiel,” she said as she reemerged from the house with Rina under her wing. Ezekiel smiled as they walked away. His heart lightened at the thought that his best friend was going to be alright.

  “I’ll come by to check on you tomorrow.”

  Rina just forced a smile. “It’s been a long day,” said Ester.

  CHAPTER 2

  Four years passed since Dismas’s disappearance. Ezekiel found work at the fish market, buying and selling the day’s catch from Galilee. It was a demanding job, and Ezekiel had to work harder than most to earn enough. Even so, Ezekiel found it fulfilling to be productive and provide for his mother and grandparents. After all, there weren’t many occupations left for a Jewish boy with no father to pass a trade down to him. He was not a Levite, so he could not go into the priesthood. He ow
ned very little property, so farming was out of the question. He could, however, save enough money to buy a boat of his own someday. For now, he could sell the catch and mend their nets. The rest of the men loved to talk big by the pre-dawn campfires and tell their stories while cursing at each other before another day on the sea commenced.

  Rina still had his eye after all these years. He knew she would be betrothed soon, and he had to make a life for himself if it were going to be to him. She had grown into quite a beautiful woman. She loved him; he was sure. If she had a choice, it would be him, but any dutiful father would make sure she did not marry for love but security.

  Several suitors already had their eyes on her. Her lack of interest seemed to make them even more convinced that they would win her over. Ezekiel would have to act soon.

  Such thoughts made his head swim in a dream while he was supposed to be selling fish at the market.

  “Ezekiel! You have customers! I don’t pay you to sit around!” said Hezekiah, the merchant. “I’m docking you twelve mites. If I didn’t know better, I would think a girl was on your mind. Take it from me. That would be trouble. “

  Ezekiel caught a smile from the aged fisherman-turned-merchant as he tended to the customers bargaining for the day’s catch. He knew Hezekiah would not dock his pay. The man had lost a son to leprosy when the child was a boy of eight years old. Ezekiel became a sort of surrogate, and the feeling was mutual. He admired the man as the hardest working person he knew. Life had hardened the exterior, but Hezekiah had kept his heart protected.

  He always looked after Ezekiel’s family, bringing the day’s leftover catch from time to time and making sure they still had enough food. Sometimes, it was leftovers from his stand that kept them alive. The pickling of sardines using old wine seemed to infuse Ezekiel’s whole body with a smell that would repulse even the lepers. However, he was grateful for the work. Fishing was a rough but lucrative occupation. Selling fish in the market was not. He was barely able to make up for the lack of his father’s income. It left little time for friends or leisure.

  Rina seemed not to mind the smell and visited him every few days. Her beauty allowed her particular social graces that were not permitted to others under the Roman or Jewish law. Being friends with a man certainly had its drawbacks, and they had to be very careful.

  The day seemed to speed up as the work was hard and demanding. With each incoming order, Ezekiel felt a fair wage becoming more and more secure. His mother affirmed him daily that working hard was a way to overcome the curse of his father’s lack of responsible ambition.

  His grandfather, Elyam, bragged about him to the other villagers, saying Ezekiel got all the good from their side of the family and none of the bad.

  When the sun began to hide behind the horizon, Hezekiah brought out his scales and weights.

  “I’m sorry, Ezekiel. There are no fish left to take to your family. However, you made a good day’s wage, and I’m sure it will make up for the lack of musht.” He smiled as he weighed the coins and divided the portion for Ezekiel.

  “Don’t worry about that. We have some leftover from yesterday.”

  “Your mother has made some baskets for me today. Please bring them tomorrow. We almost ran out with the fishing being so good lately.”

  “I’m considering going out and spearing tonight. The shallows are teeming with sardines.”

  “Be careful. Thieves are usually out at that time.”

  “I won’t carry anything valuable.”

  With that, Ezekiel turned to walk the path to his home. The air smelled fresh as he left the market and walked along the seaside. Merchants set up small carts on the side of the path where Ezekiel could buy bread and a small pouch of wine. It would still be a good night with his family. Rina’s family was coming to dine with them as they occasionally did since the day of the Roman soldier incident. When Rina’s mother noticed their blossoming romance in the shadows, the visits became less frequent. She did not appreciate the son of a thief having eyes for her daughter. Even though Ezekiel had an incredible work ethic, the fear for her daughter’s future was a strong impulse, kept in check only by Rina’s father, Hadwin.

  The thought invaded the recesses of Ezekiel’s mind. He hurried home. Once there, Aaliyah baked some bread, put the grapes from the vineyard on the mat in the middle of the floor, and set the food in bowls made of olive wood. The smell of the pickled sardines warming on the clay oven filled the air with expectation as the guests arrived. Ezekiel always loved having guests.

  The evening was lovely, and the families ate together as a cool breeze swept in from the sea. One subject was always off the table—Dismas. It was as though he never existed. The shame of the one who left his family was too much to bear.

  As the evening meal ended, everyone clambered up the ladder to the flat roof to see the stars. It was a bright desert night. After setting down the mats and building a fire, Ezekiel wondered at the beauty of his muse and how the firelight danced off her delicate features. Her dark, curly hair reflected the light of the stars, setting a glow about her face. He could tell she felt him watching her, and she was comfortable with it.

  “Rina, would you like to go for a walk?”

  “I’d like that very much.” A smile spread across her face as if she were just waiting to be asked.

  “Mother, I’m going for a walk with Ezekiel.”

  “Be careful. Please stay close. If there are—”

  “I know, I know. If there are any Romans, walk the other way.” “I’m just trying to protect you, child.”

  “I know, and I appreciate it. But I’ll be with Ezekiel. I’m sure he can protect me.”

  Her mother furrowed her eyebrows.

  Ezekiel led Rina to a small beach beside the sea. They walked in silence then fell naturally into conversation.

  “I always like coming here. It’s a great place to think and dream. Especially on nights like this.”

  “It’s pretty,” said Rina. “Who is that over there?” She pointed to a figure who built his fire right on the beach.

  “I met him in the fish market. I think his name is Yeshua. He’s a carpenter and also a Rabbi.”

  “Strange combination. Does Yeshua come here often?”

  “I have seen him here once or twice.”

  “Do you know where he lives?”

  “No, I’m sorry. We didn’t get that far. Yeshua made a table once for our fish stand. The people in Galilee say he has an excellent reputation. His father, Yoseph, was known for his handiwork as well.”

  “Ezekiel, have you ever wondered about the future?”

  “Many times. If I’m lucky, I will get my own boat. I really don’t have a career that my father passed to me, but I had an uncle who was in the business, and I could learn it pretty fast.”

  “Your future wife may not like the fact that you smell of fish all the time.”

  “I’ll figure that out when the time comes.” He smiled.

  “I guess what I mean is, do you have a plan, or do you just take each day as it comes?”

  “Well, I like to think that if I’m supposed to do something, then it will happen. If the gods will it.”

  “Gods? You’re Hebrew. We only have one God.”

  “Yes, but I’ve been thinking. What if the Romans are right about there being more than one god? I mean, I think our culture is the only one that believes in one true God who made everything and is in control of everything.”

  “I can’t believe you’re saying that. Do you know how much trouble you can get in?”

  “Yeah, but only if you say something. You won’t, will you? I’m just being silly. You do know that?”

  “I certainly hope so. I’m concerned you might lose your direction,” said Rina.

  “Why?”

  “Well, you know.”

  “I know what?”

  “Ezekiel, you know I care for you. I just want to make sure you know you have roots.”

  “Well, not really. Ever since m
y dad’s disappearance, I wonder if I should follow anything he stood for. He’s so committed to his cause that he forgot he had a family.”

  “Your mother never talks of him?”

  “No. She was so hurt that even the mention of his name brings up emotions she would rather bury.”

  Rina looked at Ezekiel with her deep brown eyes. “What about you? Are you alright?”

  “Yeah, I’m always alright … never better.” He smiled.

  “Well, I’m here for you, if you need me.”

  Ezekiel nodded.

  “I guess we better head back. Your mother will think something is up.”

  “At this point, I think she’s hoping for it. She likes you, Rina.”

  “My family likes you too, but they would like us only to be friends, if you know what I mean.”

  “Who said anything different?” “You did.”

  “I did?” he asked.

  “Yes, in the way you look at me. The way you smile at me. It’s all very scandalous,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

  “I don’t know how to respond to that.”

  “I’m just trying to embarrass you a little. You’re my best friend, Ezekiel, and who knows what the future holds?” She grabbed his arm as they walked back.

  CHAPTER 3

  The sun’s rays peeked from behind the animal skins covering the window of their clay hut. Ezekiel slept better than he had in a long time. It was the day before the Sabbath, and there was much to do.

  “It looks like you and Rina are getting close.” His mother looked up from the food she was preparing.

  “Just friends, Mom.”

  “You may be telling yourself that, but my eyes tell me different. Please go slowly. You have very little to offer her. Please find a life first, then a nice girl. If Rina is still around, great. But you would do her very little service if you try to marry her now.”

  “Who said anything about marriage? We just went for a walk.”