Yashar found a soldier in Megiddo who had pursued the king alongside the captain and, like him, fallen wounded during the chase. “Ahaziah had allies here,” he told Yashar while lying fevered in a tent. “These knew nothing of Jehoram’s death and so rallied to defend Judah’s king against us, unaware of Jehu’s anointing, regarding us as traitors.”
“And what of the captain?”
“Ahaziah drove a magnificent team,” the soldier said. “We who pursued him had strung out during the chase, most of us well behind Bidkar. It was your friend, the captain, against all of Megiddo at first. He took a sword flat across his face and fell dead.”
“You saw it?”
The soldier nodded. “I was not far behind. No man could have survived that blow.”
As Yashar blinked back tears and rose to leave, the younger man tried to comfort him. “There’s no mystery to it, sir,” he said, “and no purpose. We fought, some died. Jehu arrived in force too late. Those who survived chased Ahaziah south and finally killed him in Samaria. Nothing is new in Israel.”
*
Yashar and Juttah looked for Bidkar’s grave in the valley. Following the wounded man’s instructions, they found four poorly marked grave plots near a stand of trees on a berm. Yashar had hoped that Juttah would show him where the captain lay but the dog sat quietly, with no sense of the moment, waiting to move on.
What would Yashar tell Sara?
*
Everything had changed at Akko. When Yashar showed Bidkar’s bolt the gateman snatched it from his hand. “You must remember me,” Yashar said. “I’ve come to return this horse. I need, in return, the wagon and team that I left here in your care.”
Though Yashar mentioned the names of several soldiers he knew there, the guard lost patience. Though Little Juttah growled a warning, the poor man foolishly drew his sword.
*
Late that night, the hatch creaked open to Yashar’s cell. “Quiet, if you wish to live,” a voice said. “Follow me.” The whispering man led Yashar from the lockup, through a fence hole then downhill to a wooded area. There he pointed to Yashar’s wagon and team, hitched and waiting in a knee-high mist. “Your satchel and tools are in the bed,” the man said.
“Do I know you?” Yashar whispered.
He handed the captain’s bolt to Yashar, saying, “I heard that Bidkar fell. he was a soldier’s soldier, well regarded. I am not alone in arranging your escape.”
“What has happened to this garrison?” Yashar asked.
“Our commander is Jehoram’s man,” the soldier said, “remaining loyal to a dead king. Jehu will surely come and he knows it. That’s why we’re locked down and scared. I’ll not be the only man here to fight on Jehu’s side that day. He’ll bring justice. Israel will be redeemed.”
Yashar, knowing better, nodded to be polite. “Do you know what’s become of my dog?”
“The sentry who confronted you will be lucky to use his arm again,” he said. “I have heard many amazing stories about that animal…”
“No,” Yashar said, “that was his father.”
“They tried to kill him,” the soldier said. “He leaped up onto a wagon and, from atop it, over the fence unharmed. No one thought to chase him.”
Yashar peered into the gloom and whispered Juttah’s name.
“Go now,” the soldier said. “It will be light soon.”
Yashar climbed aboard. At Yashar’s request, the man pointed west. Allowing his team time to gain their legs, Yashar clicked them forward slowly, off to find the sea.