Scourge of Rome

XXXIII

An avenue of torches flanked the little procession as James led the three men up the wide marble steps of the Hasmonean Palace. In the glow of the burning brands Valerius could make out a great doorway topped by two conical towers. He felt no fear in the heart of the enemy citadel, only a dull resentment at the duplicity of these treacherous rebels. Josephus had come here at Simon bar Giora’s instigation. Whatever Valerius’s doubts about the Judaean, he had placed his life at risk to avert the needless slaughter of his people. Yet this Simon had almost allowed him to be butchered, and Valerius and Serpentius with him.

They followed James through a maze of corridors until they reached a door clad in beaten gold, wonderfully worked into the shapes of birds, fishes and flowers. The Idumaean ushered them through into a room hung with sumptuous tapestries where the atmosphere was thick with the scent of stale sweat and antagonism.

Three chairs had been set around a large table in the centre of the room. One held a fearsome giant of a man and he jumped up to greet the newcomers. The other occupant, older and thinner, glanced up with sullen dismissal until his eyes fell on Josephus. At the sight of the Judaean his mouth twisted into a snarl of hatred and the pale eyes almost glowed with the power of his wrath. Valerius thought he might cry out, but the spasm subsided and he slumped back in his chair content, for the moment, to glare at his enemies.

The big man surprised them by ignoring Josephus and instead approached Valerius and the Spaniard. His eyes registered the dark blood staining their tunics, but his greeting barely faltered. ‘I welcome you in the name of peace, my friends, though I see your passage has not been without trial. I am Simon bar Giora, and my companion is the famed John of Gischala.’ He bowed his head, and Valerius’s manners insisted he do likewise.

‘I thank you for your greeting and hope our journey was worthwhile,’ he replied with equal formality. Serpentius ignored the Judaean and glared around the room. One man stood protectively behind each of the principals’ chairs while six more had their backs against the walls. What made these men different were the hands that hung poised over their swords.

Simon finally turned to Josephus, but there was little warmth in his welcome. ‘Our past division means I cannot greet you with the same enthusiasm. Nevertheless, I take comfort from your safe arrival.’ He glanced at John. ‘Let us hope some good comes of it, God willing.’

‘God willing,’ Josephus echoed.

John of Gischala snorted contemptuously. ‘I, for my part, can barely suffer the sight of you.’ His words were warped by the strength of his hatred. ‘The stink of betrayal ever hung over you. I would have killed you at Tiberias, but Jesus Ben Sapphia stayed my hand. Your death cannot come soon enough for me.’

‘If you had your way tonight I would already be dead,’ Josephus snapped back. ‘It is only because of my companions I am alive.’ With a growl he took a step towards the man in the chair, but Simon touched his arm and his anger subsided as quickly as it had risen.

‘We cannot change what has been done,’ the big man said. ‘But we can promise you safe passage on your return. Please be seated. For your sake our business must be conducted swiftly.’ Simon turned to Valerius. ‘I apologize, but for reasons of security it is not possible for a Roman to attend these proceedings.’ Valerius opened his mouth to protest, but Simon assured him Josephus would be safe. He glanced at Serpentius. ‘Your savage friend speaks no Hebrew, I have your word on it?’

‘He speaks no Hebrew, on my honour.’

‘Then he may stay and take responsibility for your charge. He looks well capable of it, yes?’

Valerius looked into the deep-set eyes seeking the lie, but Simon met his gaze without flinching. ‘You’ll stay,’ he told Serpentius. The Spaniard responded with a sharp inclination of the head.

‘Very well. We place our trust in you to restrain your friend.’ Valerius nodded at John.

‘He is no friend of mine.’ Simon’s laugh contained no humour. ‘But you may trust me in this matter. Zacharias?’

The red-bearded young man behind Simon’s chair stepped forward to escort Valerius from the chamber. As they left the room, Valerius was puzzled to feel something being slipped into his left hand. Once they were alone he turned to the other man, but Zacharias gave no sign that anything unusual had occurred. ‘If you will wait in the small room beyond the curtain, I must return to my commander.’ He paused. ‘These are difficult times. I am sorry we are at war, but a man must do what he believes is right. Do you not agree?’

As Valerius met the other man’s steady gaze he could feel the tiny roll of papyrus between his fingers. ‘Yes, I agree.’

Zacharias left without another word. Josephus was already seated by the time he resumed his place behind the bulky figure of Simon, but it was John of Gischala who spoke first.

‘There will be no surrender,’ the Galilean hissed. ‘You have wasted your time.’

Josephus ignored his enemy. ‘I expected none.’ He addressed the words to Simon bar Giora. Despite the incomprehensible Hebrew, Serpentius picked up the tone of the exchange. He was surprised to see Josephus smile. ‘I am here to discuss other matters of grave import to each of us … yes,’ the Judaean forestalled the inevitable interruption from John, ‘even to you. These matters go far beyond the enmity of three rivals, they concern the future of our people.’

Simon and John exchanged a glance and the smaller man gave an almost imperceptible nod.

‘You have come for it?’ Simon said quietly.

‘It cannot stay in Jerusalem. If the city falls …’

‘The city will not fall while there is one hand still capable of wielding a sword,’ John snapped.

‘Nevertheless …’ Josephus gave a shrug that could have meant anything.

‘Then you know its location?’ Simon suggested.

‘Only that it is in the temple.’ Josephus looked to John for confirmation, but Gischala sank lower into his chair. ‘It was brought in great secrecy to the High Priest Ananus by Jesus of Hebron.’

‘A matter complicated by the unfortunate detail of Ananus’s death.’ John cast an accusing eye at Simon, who was not unconnected with the occurrence.

‘I am told Ananus passed on the location to Eleazar before he died,’ Josephus said.

‘If only Eleazar were here to enlighten us.’ Now Simon’s tone dripped with sarcasm. ‘Unfortunately someone cut off his head.’

Josephus closed his eyes. Did a people so careless with its great men truly deserve to survive?

‘I have men searching for it now,’ John ignored Simon’s jibe, ‘but the temple is of even greater extent than it appears. So many rooms: the priests’ quarters, the treasury, the library, the courts, inner temples, schoolrooms, granaries and storerooms, the lepers’ room, a room for sacred oil, and a room for sacred wood. Only the priests can enter the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies, but they assure me it is not there. Of course,’ he said slyly, ‘it would help if we knew exactly what we were looking for. Such an item can take many forms.’

‘A scroll,’ Josephus said after a long pause, as if his thoughts had been elsewhere. ‘A substantial scroll, but a simple one without golden embellishment.’

‘The library then,’ Simon said triumphantly. ‘Where better to hide a scroll than in a library.’

‘I have had people check every volume,’ John said dismissively. ‘I am not a fool.’

‘No? Then perhaps you can produce Eleazar.’ Simon was on his feet and John rose an instant later, snarling at each other like fighting dogs across the polished table. The two sets of guards took a step forward, but Zacharias and his opposite number raised a hand to stop them. Josephus intervened to urge calm.

‘You have searched the lower passages?’ he asked when the adversaries had regained their seats.

‘They are endless,’ John complained. The other two men looked at him and he sniffed. ‘I will put more men to the task. If it is here I will find it.’

‘It is here,’ Josephus assured him. He looked from one to the other. ‘We are enemies in most things, nothing can change that, but we cannot afford to be enemies in this. When you have found it, send me a signal and whatever the conditions I will come. A truce, or another negotiation, I will create a pretext. It cannot be allowed to fall into Roman hands.’ Or certain others I could name. The silent thought formed of its own volition.

They left by separate entrances an hour later. Valerius emerged from the waiting chamber to be met with a scowl of disappointment from Josephus. ‘I have failed,’ the Judaean said bitterly. ‘They see the sense of surrender, and the impossibility of their position – what sane man would not – but they are fanatics. I must take the news to Titus immediately.’

James the Idumaean escorted them through the city as the first hint of dawn appeared in the eastern sky. Eventually they reached the outer wall. A narrow stairway lit by oil lamps wound down into the rock. ‘My men have informed the Romans of your coming,’ the bearded warrior growled. ‘With good fortune you may avoid the spear point in the guts you deserve.’

Serpentius turned and took a step that brought him face to face with the big warrior. ‘I’ve had warmer farewells.’

James met his gaze without flinching. ‘I told them we should have fed you to the dogs.’

‘Much easier said than done,’ Serpentius replied with a dangerous smile. ‘Perhaps we’ll meet again to discuss it?’

‘It would be my pleasure to kill you.’

‘We’re leaving.’ Valerius pulled Serpentius away before the inevitable reaction. They emerged on the far side of the wall through a gate of metal bars. Someone handed Valerius a torch to guide the way down the steep slope and up the reverse face. From the stone stairs cut into the cliff he realized they were at the lepers’ gate.

He waited until they reached the far side and had passed through the Roman lines, escorted by a yawning legionary, before whispering to Serpentius, ‘I know it’s difficult when you can’t understand the words, but what impression did you get of their discussions?’

The Spaniard sent a long, searching look in the direction of Josephus’s back. ‘I don’t know what they were talking about, but I do know one thing. Our friend there is up to no good.’