Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
ButtrustCaiaphas,andHananbehindCaiaphas,tomakeofthisfishermanapoliticalthornwithwhichtoprickRomeandruinme.”
“ThisCaiaphas,Ihaveheardofhimashighpriest,thenwhoisthisHanan?”Iasked.
“Therealhighpriest,acunningfox,”Pilateexplained.“CaiaphaswasappointedbyGratus,butCaiaphasistheshadowandthemouthpieceofHanan.”
“Theyhaveneverforgivenyouthatlittlematterofthevotiveshields,”Miriamteased.
Whereupon,asamanwillwhenhissoreplaceistouched,Pilatelaunchedupontheepisode,whichhadbeenanepisode,nomore,atthebeginning,butwhichhadnearlydestroyedhim.Inallinnocencebeforehispalacehehadaffixedtwoshieldswithvotiveinscriptions.EretheconsequentstormthatburstonhisheadhadpassedtheJewshadwrittentheircomplaintstoTiberius,whoapprovedthemandreprimandedPilate.
Iwasglad,alittlelater,whenIcouldhavetalkwithMiriam.Pilate’swifehadfoundopportunitytotellmeabouther.Shewasofoldroyalstock.HersisterwaswifeofPhilip,tetrarchofGaulonitisandBatanæa.NowthisPhilipwasbrothertoAntipas,tetrarchofGalileeandPeræa,andbothweresonsofHerod,calledbytheJewsthe“Great.”Miriam,asIunderstood,wasathomeinthecourtsofbothtetrarchs,beingherselfoftheblood.
