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I called my three lieutenants to join me near the campfire. Watches had already been set for the night, and the other men were settling in for sleep. No immediate danger faced us, but I wanted to coordinate our efforts.
“Tomorrow we’ll focus on the road carrying the pilgrims north from Jericho. My brother James is coming home to visit my father, and I think he might get here in the next day or two.”
“So you want us to usher you to a reunion with him? Should I cut flowers for the occasion?” asked Aaron. I ignored the sarcasm. He had worked for my father for years but had given me his complete loyalty. But his tongue could still be a bit sharp when addressing the “young master.”
In the dark they could not see the grim expression on my face. “No, let’s draw no attention to him. As you know, he is gaining a name for himself at the Temple.”
“But everyone around here knows he is your brother, and you are gaining quite a name for yourself in all of Galilee,” said Philip.
“People may like me, and they like all of you and your men, and they may even like James and my family,” I said in an even, controlled voice. “But many of them do not like the Temple or the people in power there.”
Aaron was chewing on a piece of fruit. As he swallowed, he coughed words out, “Well, of course. They take our money, except that our money isn’t good enough and we have to exchange for their coins. And they demand that we give sacrifices, but our sacrifices aren’t good enough so we have to buy theirs.”
“My point exactly,” I said. “And people believe Temple men are wealthy and foolish enough to travel carrying their riches with them. So if the word got around that a Temple man is coming, there are men in these hills who might attack. We have to protect James and anyone who is traveling with him.”
I leaned forward and poked Aaron in the knee. “I will take ten men directly down the road. There is no need for us to stay hidden — our reputation is high enough that just the sight of us should keep any attackers away. Meanwhile, Thaddaeus will follow, in hiding on the east side of the road, and Philip will do the same on the west side. Finally, later on you will openly bring your men down the road to meet all of us as we escort James’ party north. From there we will all guard them the rest of the way to Sepphoris.”
I looked around at the three of them. “If there’s nothing else, let’s all get some shut-eye. Good night.”