Free The Making of the Lamb by Robert Bear Page B

the ship.
Daniel
    There was something unsettling about the way Longinus kept glancing over to Daniel and Jesus as Joseph and Septurius wrapped up their conversation. Daniel detected a hint of a smirk that the boy managed to conceal from his father.
    Septurius broke out in Latin as he turned to his son. “Be a good host now, and show these young men to their room. You will look after them for the next few days while they are our guests.”
    “But, Father, what of my lessons?”
    “You can put those aside for a few days. As far behind as you are, I doubt it will make much difference.”
    Now it was Daniel’s turn to conceal his smile from his own father. Seeing Joseph beginning to raise his eyebrow, he feigned a cough and brought up his hand to conceal the lower part of his face.
    “Good. That’s settled then. “Now that you have this unexpected holiday, I am sure that you and Joseph’s boys will become great friends.” Septurius turned to Joseph. “Come; allow me to show you to your room.”
    “Follow me.” Longinus led them toward the rear of the house. The walls here were adorned with fresco paintings. A peristyle colonnade leading to the bedrooms surrounded an interior garden under an open roof.
    Daniel now had to share the room he would have had for himself, but he did not mind. It was large and magnificently appointed. Longinus left to give them a chance to freshen up for dinner, and a slave stayed behind to attend to them. Daniel had made a fool of himself by teasing the household slaves the first time he had visited Septurius’s household, but Jesus did not appear even to be tempted.
    A few minutes later, Longinus returned with a tunic in his hand. “Father said to find something more suitable for you to wear than those rags. Here, I’ve outgrown this, but it probably fits you.” He tossed the garment to Jesus and folded his arms. “Yes, that should do fine. You’re a little young to wear a toga, and you’re not really Roman.” Longinus smiled and left before Daniel had a chance to say anything.
    “I don’t know why he’s so full of himself when he still wears the praetexta ,” Daniel said once they were alone.
    “Do you mean that broad purple stripe on his toga?”
    “Yes, Roman boys trade it for a plain white toga virilis when they reach fifteen or sixteen. It is a big celebration. I just do not like the way he looked at you all high and mighty.”
    “He’s a Roman. His country rules the known world, and we are from a conquered province. Of course he is going to look down on us. Look around this room. Back in Nazareth my family shares one small oil lamp to guide us through the darkness of the night. Here they have enough lamps in just this room to turn the night into day. By the way, what is going on with Septurius? He seemed secretive about dealing with Uncle Joseph.”
    Another young slave came in bearing Daniel’s bag.
    Not wanting strangers going through his things, Daniel signaled the slave to leave it on the chest. “It’s too bad you didn’t get a chance to bring anything from home. I’m sure Papa will get what you need now that we have a few days here.” Daniel got up and began sorting out his clothes. “Anyway, Papa explained Septurius’s story to me the last time. He comes from an aristocratic family, but he is not as rich as he appears to be. This house does not belong to him; he just gets to use it because of his position. The statues are all copies; there is not one Greek original among them. He only receives a modest salary, but he is expected to live on a grand scale to represent the wealth of the Empire. Aristocratic Romans in government service are not supposed to be involved in commerce, but many have no choice.”
    “Is it against the law?”
    “No. It’s just something that isn’t done. Aristocratic Romans are supposed to live off their estates. Dealing in commerce is not wrong or illegal, but it is something an enemy would make use of. Even Senators in Rome