Межзвёздный скиталец

           Somewereproclaimingtheendoftheworld.OtherssatisfiedthemselveswiththeimminentdestructionoftheTemple.AndtherewererankrevolutioniseswhoannouncedthatRomanrulewasoverandthenewJewishkingdomabouttobegin.

           Pilate,too,Inoted,showedheavyanxiety.Thattheyweregivinghimahardtimeofitwaspatent.ButIwillsay,asyoushallsee,thathematchedtheirsubtletywithequalsubtlety;andfromwhatIsawofhimIhavelittledoubtbutwhathewouldhaveconfoundedmanyadisputantinthesynagogues.

           “ButhalfalegionofRomans,”heregrettedtome,“andIwouldtakeJerusalembythethroat...andthenberecalledformypains,Isuppose.”

           Likeme,hehadnottoomuchfaithintheauxiliaries;andofRomansoldierswehadbutascanthandful.

           Backagain,Ilodgedinthepalace,andtomygreatjoyfoundMiriamthere.Butlittlesatisfactionwasmine,forthetalkranlongonthesituation.Therewasreasonforthis,forthecitybuzzedliketheangryhornets’nestitwas.ThefastcalledthePassover—areligiousaffair,ofcourse—wasnear,andthousandswerepouringinfromthecountry,accordingtocustom,tocelebratethefeastinJerusalem.Thesenewcomers,naturally,wereallexcitablefolk,elsetheywouldnotbebentonsuchpilgrimage.Thecitywaspackedwiththem,sothatmanycampedoutsidethewalls.