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"Hello?"
Josiah frowned, wondering why Lachlan was calling him so early. He had been given his assignment and it wasn't possible he could have completed it yet as well as written his report.
"I haven't headed out yet," Lachlan quickly explained, "I'm actually just leaving the house now. I stopped by to see how Arlana...um, Atarah...and your mother are doing."
"Atarah - is she alright? The baby?"
Josiah's voice was noticeably strained.
"They are both fine. I'm heading over. There is something I want to speak with you about," Lachlan explained. "And I have a few questions about my assignment." He looked down at Jaira's cursive writing on the report, "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
Josiah sat with his brother at a long table, papers and books laid out before them.
Lachlan rapped on the door a moment before Josiah looked up.
"Come in," he motioned to a chair across from him.
"Atarah is fine," Lachlan repeated again what he had said on the phone, "However, I overheard the siblings speaking this morning when I first arrived. Her brother, the oldest one, seems to have the most hatred toward Jews, Israel...well, you get the picture."
Lachlan didn't mention Jared's praise of Hitler, knowing the brothers' grandparent's hadn't survived the massacre, their only crime being Jews.
Josiah suspected as much after their "Bible Time" back in Renfrew. He pulled a fresh piece of paper before him, scrawling down the names of the siblings then wrote something to the right of Jared's name.
Lachlan raised his eyebrow.
"I want to test him," Josiah's voice was low, so much so that Lachlan couldn't be sure if he was talking to himself or to Lachlan.
"What about the younger?"
"Isaac?"
Josiah hadn't been introduced.
"I think he is on the fence, neither for or against....what are you doing? Making a list of your enemies?"
Josiah couldn't help but laugh.
"So it would seem! But no, I need to expand The Resistance and am considering hiring Atarah's family."
It wasn't hard to see they weren't well off and Josiah would rather hire family than strangers.
Lachlan nodded, understanding.
"I brought you Jaira's report."
He slid the papers over to Josiah, glancing up at Shaul, "I took her out last night while I interviewed several people..."
"And?"
Josiah didn't look up from the report he now held in his hand. Jaira's style of writing was extremely descriptive, almost like a diary entry.
"It has potential," he set the report down before turning back to his list again, "I'd like to have her shadow you a few more times, but this time, let her see how you craft your report. I do like her style, she just needs a little more training."
Lachlan nodded, "So she is hired?"
Josiah rubbed his forehead. He had the nagging feeling that bringing Atarah's family here hadn't been his wisest move, but it was about honour once again. Jaira and Jared were clearly miserable. If he re-directed their attention and gave them an assignment, it would serve a double purpose. The time would go by faster for them and he would know if they had the potential to work for The Resistance. Josiah explained his reasoning to his childhood friend who agreed.
"About my assignment," Lachlan moved onto the next point," Jaira brought it up today at the house...about this Peace Treaty you have us reporting on."
Shaul leaned forward, giving Lachlan his full attention as well.
"Jaira mentioned that in the Bible the signing of the Peace Treaty brings in the Tribulation. During the Tribulation, the Third Temple will be built and the AntiChrist will desecrate it."
"Sadly, this is true," Shaul agreed with Jaira.
"That's when Atarah mentioned - that the treaty will likely not be agreed to because there is no Third Temple yet..."
"I don't want my wife distressed. This is not the type of conversations she should be having right now. It might induce labour..."
Frowning, Josiah ran his hand through his hair. If the baby came before the wedding, well, that would change everything again. No, she must be kept calm, just for another few days. There was nothing he could do about it though, not from this far away.
"Lachlan, please tell Mother I worry Atarah will go into labour early. Please be careful... As for the treaty, I am not sure what is happening and am hoping we will find more in your reports. I cannot see the Palestinians agreeing to any peace treaty, although I know Scripture will be fulfilled. They are very hostile to President Trump, so I do not believe this president will be the one to succeed in bringing peace. I am watching unfolding events as well, and I am hoping that while we prepare for the wedding and birth, you will remain here and keep your ear to the ground."
"Of course," Lachlan grinned.
****
"THE TEMPLE IS READY," Shaul leaned back in his chair, trusting their Gentile friend. "Everything is ready. The Kohanim, descendants of Aaron, and the Levites have begun training for their temple duties. Jews from the four corners of the earth are making Aliyah. It is time."
Shaul exchanged a look with Josiah.
Lachlan raised an eyebrow, "So how does that affect you?"
He knew that the brothers were descendants of Levi.
"My brother is training to serve as a priest in the Third Temple,” Josiah’s voice was low, “He has been pressuring me for years to join him here preparing for the rebuilding of the temple, but I believe my ministry is in Canada leading The Resistance."
“Technically you could live here in Israel and still manage your newspaper,” Lachlan pointed out.
Josiah rubbed the back ofhisneck, “It doesn’t matter now. I cannot marry a convert and serve in the Temple.”
"You are not Canadian. You are a Jew first and that is what is important. Be careful you don't end up assimilating as other Jews are doing with the nations. You are responsible for your family before Adonai..." Saul leaned forward.
"So that's why you couldn't take Atarah to the funeral? Or go to the cemetery after we picked Jaira up at the train station? Because you are a Levite? A priest by blood?" Lachlan put the puzzle pieces together.
Josiah nodded, "Yes, because I am a descendant of Levi..." He glanced at his brother, "I cannot be defiled..."
Lachlan finally understood - fully understood. He turned ashen thinking of how he and Atarah had believed the worst.
"I'm so sorry," his voice came out, a broken whisper.
Josiah's blue eyes held Lachlan's.
"You didn't know," raw emotion in his voice. "But now you understand how I could not be there for her even though I wanted to with all my heart. She needed to trust me."
Shaul reached out and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, feeling Josiah's grief.
"It is done, Josiah. She is one of us now, and the baby carries Levite blood. Adonai has blessed your union. Now we must prepare for the future. You must make Aliyah with your family."
Josiah hesitated, "But our people back home..."
Silence followed.
Lachlan rubbed the back of his neck, taking that moment to bring up the topic. "Adelaide and her family plan to leave immediately after the wedding."
Josiah leaned back, returning his thoughts to the present. If he did decide to follow his brother's advice, they would not be making Aliyah until after the baby naming ceremony. He still had time.
"Adelaide asked to take Azrael back home with her. To spend more time with his cousins of course while you...um...until the naming ceremony. She believes it would be good for Atarah when she gives birth to not have to worry about Azrael. I told Atarah I will be seeing you today and will get your answer."
Josiah rubbed his forehead. They would not be able to stay on the island for long. Azrael loved his cousins and would enjoy spending time with them.
"It is well. Let Atarah know I agree to her sister's plan. Azrael will be happier with his cousins. Thank you for letting me know, Lachlan, but I see no harm in it. Please let Adelaide know that we will pick Azrael up on the way to the synagogue and thank her for her offer. Shaul, were you able to find out about the naming ceremony? Will they rent the synagogue to us?"
"There are no synagogues on Victoria Island. The closest Orthodox synagogue is in Portage la Prairie..."
"Portage la Prairie?" Lachlan raked his fingers through his hair, "That is where Atarah was born...."
Shaul smiled, "Then I will contact the rabbi. Naming your baby in her birthplace, I believe, will also show we care. I will make the arrangements and let you know after the wedding - we still have a few days."
"I'll get right on this assignment, then will give Atarah your message..."
Lachlan turned to leave.
"Lachlan, test Atarah's family. I need to hire more employees and I would like to hire her family. Working for The Resistance, well, it would be good for them as well, but I need to know. The ministry needs to be protected as well from those who would destroy it, so carefully observe and report back to me. As for Jaira, I would like to see what she writes after you work with her. There is definitely potential."
Josiah met Lachlan's eyes, "And Lachlan? Please tell Atarah I am missing her."
Lachlan nodded, before stepping out into the blazing noon sun, tucking his to-do list into his shirt pocket. First stop, Atarah, then speak with her siblings. He already had a hunch who would be worthy of working for The Resistance and who would be a danger.
Jared and Mark couldn't be trusted.