Межзвёздный скиталец

           ShewasminethemomentIlookeduponher.AndbythesametokensheknewthatIbelongedtoheraboveallmen.Istrodetoher.Shehalf-liftedfromhercouchasifdrawnupwardtome.Andthenwelookedwithalloureyes,blueeyesandblack,untilPilate’swife,athin,tense,overwroughtwoman,laughednervously.AndwhileIbowedtothewifeandgavegreeting,IthoughtIsawPilategiveMiriamasignificantglance,asiftosay,“IshenotallIpromised?”ForhehadhadwordofmycomingfromSulpiciusQuirinius,thelegateofSyria.AswellhadPilateandIbeenknowntoeachotherbeforeeverhejourneyedouttobeprocuratorovertheSemiticvolcanoofJerusalem.

           Muchtalkwehadthatnight,especiallyPilate,whospokeindetailofthelocalsituation,andwhoseemedlonelyanddesiroustosharehisanxietieswithsomeoneandeventobidforcounsel.PilatewasofthesolidtypeofRoman,withsufficientimaginationintelligentlytoenforcetheironpolicyofRome,andnotundulyexcitableunderstress.

           Butonthisnightitwasplainthathewasworried.TheJewshadgotonhisnerves.Theyweretoovolcanic,spasmodic,eruptive.Andfurther,theyweresubtle.TheRomanshadastraight,forthrightwayofgoingaboutanything.TheJewsneverapproachedanythingdirectly,savebackwards,whentheyweredrivenbycompulsion.Lefttothemselves,theyalwaysapproachedbyindirection.