Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
Therewasonewhosatinthesunandeversearchedhisbodyandstaredandstaredatthesmoothfleshasifunabletobelievehiseyes.Hewouldnotspeak,norlookataughtelsethanhisflesh,whenIquestionedhim.Hewasinamaze.Hesatthereinthesunandstaredandstated.”
Pilatesmiledcontemptuously,andInotedthequietsmileonMiriam’sfacewasequallycontemptuous.AndPilate’swifesatasifacorpse,scarcebreathing,hereyeswideandunseeing.
SpokeAmbivius:“Caiaphasholds—hetoldmebutyesterday—thatthefishermanclaimsthathewillbringGoddownonearthandmakehereanewkingdomoverwhichGodwillrule—”
“WhichwouldmeantheendofRomanrule,”Ibrokein.
“ThatiswhereCaiaphasandHananplottoembroilRome,”Miriamexplained.“Itisnottrue.Itisalietheyhavemade.”
Pilatenoddedandasked:
“Istherenotsomewhereinyourancientbooksaprophecythatthepriestsheretwistintotheintentofthisfisherman’smind?”
Tothissheagreed,andgavehimthecitation.IrelatetheincidenttoevidencethedepthofPilate’sstudyofthispeoplehestrovesohardtokeepinorder.
