Gamaliel should drop the idea of doing the Prefect’s bidding.
“You see how it is, Rabban. Anyone who helps that despicable man will have the hate transferred to him. Don’t you understand? You cannot win this one.”
“I understand, my Physician, and I am listening, I promise. But a larger problem arises if I do not.”
“Larger? How so?”
“Tell me, what is it we most hate about these people from across the Middle Sea? Is it their brutality? Perhaps a little, yes, but cast your mind back through our history and ask yourself this: Are they worse than the Greeks when the Great Alexander swept through here, or the Assyrians, the Babylonians? What shall we say of the Amelekites or King Saul’s and David’s Philistines? If you contemplate the sweep of our history, as much as it pains me to say so, by comparison Rome is a relatively benign oppressor. They allow the Sanhedrin to continue to govern. Admittedly this is done with severe limitations but not as onerous as they might be. The Temple still stands. Look, even now the smoke from the altar rises to heaven. It has not been looted or desecrated as it has been in the past. The Romans employ local people in any number of ways, not just to collect taxes, but as guards, workers, servants, and so on. They have enslaved people to a lesser degree than their predecessors. Consider Babylon and the Exile. Indeed, one could say they have bolstered the economy. Look to the north. Did you know that one third of all the salt fish supplied to their legions comes from the Sea of Galilee? We prosper in spite of the burdens they place on us.”
“My friend, I am your greatest admirer, but just now you sound like one of their poets or historians. They are dreadful people and you know it.”
“I do. I am only stating the obvious. We could be worse off.”
“Bah.”
“No, listen. To the east lie lands and a people who, if the rumors are even marginally correct, constitute a sleeping giant needing only a leader, enough greed, and the will to sweep through here like a plague of locusts. Look to the north. Beyond the sea that borders Cappadocia is a race of bearded men, the Rus, whose ferocity is legend. But, because the Romans are here, they are not. Suppose we were able to somehow persuade our current oppressors to leave, are you prepared for the consequences? Can we mount an army sufficient to resist the next Nation who covets our land or the next after that? Where will it end, Loukas?”
“But—”
“No buts. Too often we see only what is in front of our eyes, never what lies beyond. Those who would pillage and plunder are always with us and life is temporary. Only Ha Shem is forever. The virtues embedded in the Law, are forever. His promises are forever. Unless we would become pale copies of our conquerors, we will practice those virtues. Leave corruption and disregard for humanity to those who would rape and pillage the world. If we wish to survive and see our future, we must concentrate on the business of keeping the Law and all its requirements. If Pilate is innocent of this crime, I must prove it. If he is not, I must bring him down. Justice, Loukas, justice. Now, no more of this debate. I have precious little time to do this thankless job and two of those days are Shabbat. We have work to do.”
“We?”
“Yes, we. Now let us see what this very dead Aurelius Decimus can tell us.”
***
Rufus had returned to what Pilate referred to as his prison.
“Back so soon? Please don’t tell me you were unsuccessful in your attempt to join the forces led by Cassia. Surely not.”
“You mock me.”
“I am sorry. You are correct, I mock you. Rufus, you are a good man—too good for your own good, I might add. Cassia will never believe you devious enough to take into his confidence. Deviousness knows deviousness, and it is not part of your nature.”
“I am both flattered and annoyed, Pilate. You seem to have that effect on most of the people around you, I
“You see how it is, Rabban. Anyone who helps that despicable man will have the hate transferred to him. Don’t you understand? You cannot win this one.”
“I understand, my Physician, and I am listening, I promise. But a larger problem arises if I do not.”
“Larger? How so?”
“Tell me, what is it we most hate about these people from across the Middle Sea? Is it their brutality? Perhaps a little, yes, but cast your mind back through our history and ask yourself this: Are they worse than the Greeks when the Great Alexander swept through here, or the Assyrians, the Babylonians? What shall we say of the Amelekites or King Saul’s and David’s Philistines? If you contemplate the sweep of our history, as much as it pains me to say so, by comparison Rome is a relatively benign oppressor. They allow the Sanhedrin to continue to govern. Admittedly this is done with severe limitations but not as onerous as they might be. The Temple still stands. Look, even now the smoke from the altar rises to heaven. It has not been looted or desecrated as it has been in the past. The Romans employ local people in any number of ways, not just to collect taxes, but as guards, workers, servants, and so on. They have enslaved people to a lesser degree than their predecessors. Consider Babylon and the Exile. Indeed, one could say they have bolstered the economy. Look to the north. Did you know that one third of all the salt fish supplied to their legions comes from the Sea of Galilee? We prosper in spite of the burdens they place on us.”
“My friend, I am your greatest admirer, but just now you sound like one of their poets or historians. They are dreadful people and you know it.”
“I do. I am only stating the obvious. We could be worse off.”
“Bah.”
“No, listen. To the east lie lands and a people who, if the rumors are even marginally correct, constitute a sleeping giant needing only a leader, enough greed, and the will to sweep through here like a plague of locusts. Look to the north. Beyond the sea that borders Cappadocia is a race of bearded men, the Rus, whose ferocity is legend. But, because the Romans are here, they are not. Suppose we were able to somehow persuade our current oppressors to leave, are you prepared for the consequences? Can we mount an army sufficient to resist the next Nation who covets our land or the next after that? Where will it end, Loukas?”
“But—”
“No buts. Too often we see only what is in front of our eyes, never what lies beyond. Those who would pillage and plunder are always with us and life is temporary. Only Ha Shem is forever. The virtues embedded in the Law, are forever. His promises are forever. Unless we would become pale copies of our conquerors, we will practice those virtues. Leave corruption and disregard for humanity to those who would rape and pillage the world. If we wish to survive and see our future, we must concentrate on the business of keeping the Law and all its requirements. If Pilate is innocent of this crime, I must prove it. If he is not, I must bring him down. Justice, Loukas, justice. Now, no more of this debate. I have precious little time to do this thankless job and two of those days are Shabbat. We have work to do.”
“We?”
“Yes, we. Now let us see what this very dead Aurelius Decimus can tell us.”
***
Rufus had returned to what Pilate referred to as his prison.
“Back so soon? Please don’t tell me you were unsuccessful in your attempt to join the forces led by Cassia. Surely not.”
“You mock me.”
“I am sorry. You are correct, I mock you. Rufus, you are a good man—too good for your own good, I might add. Cassia will never believe you devious enough to take into his confidence. Deviousness knows deviousness, and it is not part of your nature.”
“I am both flattered and annoyed, Pilate. You seem to have that effect on most of the people around you, I
Similar Books
