Free The Wolf and the Lamb by Frederick Ramsay

needing answers.”
    “Such as?”
    “We know what drew Pilate to that corridor, but why did Aurelius go there? Was he sent? Did he receive a message similar to the one delivered to Pilate? If so, who sent these messages? Did Priscus send the one to Pilate and then retreat in a panic when he saw the officials arrest Pilate? Was the Honorable Priscus part of the plot? If not, where was the Centurion in all this? Alternatively, is it possible that he had a private motive for disgracing Pilate and is the man who killed our noble? How did Pilate’s dagger find its way into the hands of the killer? What—”
    “Yes, yes, enough. I follow you. Let’s do the rest of this exposition in my court. I have been watching your Kohanim, and an idea just occurred to me about how the stabbing might have been done.”
    “What? How?”
    “My court, fresh wine, some shade, and relief from this billowing smoke. What does your friend the old priest call it?”
    “Jakob ben Aschi calls it Holy Smoke.

Chapter XII
     
    Three separate sets of eyes tracked Loukas’ and Gamaliel’s movement across the Temple Mount. They had nothing in common beyond a need to know what had transpired in the Court of the Israelites. Of the three, one could have entered the court and attempted to eavesdrop if he had wished but had resisted the temptation for fear of being observed. One started after them until one of his attendants whispered in his ear. He seemed startled and then annoyed and held back. That man wore the short toga and insignia that marked him as an important Roman personage and not an Israelite, and thus barred from the Temple. The last was clearly not a Jew and then the High Priest arrived and pivoted right and left as if seeking someone specific. He spotted Gamaliel and stepped up to confront him.
    “Rabban,” he said, short of breath, “we have him.”
    “Greetings in the Name, High Priest . You have who?’
    “And with you. Yeshua ben Josef, we have him. Now it is only a matter of time. I will expect you to make yourself available when we bring him in.”
    “You have lost me. What are you talking about? Bring him in? Where? Why?”
    “You have not been listening to me all these years. The Galilean rabbi, I have him nearly in my grasp.”
    “Why do you…? Of course you do. So, how do you ‘have him,’ as you say?”
    “One of his men, Yehudah, who serves a very important function and is a member of his inner circle, has agreed to deliver him to us.”
    “He will betray his teacher?”
    “In a manner of speaking, although I am not sure that at this moment he believes his teacher is guilty. He has offered notes detailing what the man says. He thinks we will read them and be drawn to the heretics’ cause. They are damning, Gamaliel, damning. You must study them. You will see. We expect that when the time is right, he will lead us to Yeshua. We will have this blaspheming rabbi in front of the Sanhedrin before Passover unless I am mistaken.”
    “High Priest, with respect, I am too busy right now with a much more important affair of State to be bothered with this rabbi and charges of—”
    “Blasphemy, breech of the Law, violation of Shabbat. The list goes on.”
    “I see. Blasphemy. You’re sure about that, because the last time we spoke we disagreed on the meaning of the word when applied to this particular rabbi.”
    “You cannot stop me with another discourse on the Law, Rabban. You know what I mean and I am serious. This man is a threat to the Nation whether you will split hairs over some fine point or not. I will have him.”
    “Yes, yes, I see that you will. Also, I do not care one way or the other about the possibility that some obscure teacher from the north has crossed one of your sacerdotal lines. I will dispatch my student Saul to monitor what you do and he will keep me informed. If and when it comes to a trial, you may be assured I shall preside. Until that time, I will be otherwise occupied. Now I must be