The Cross Bearer by E. James Harrison

Author:E. James Harrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LDS, Christ, Simon, Bible, Biblical, Journey, Faith, Fiction, Path
ISBN: 978-1-68047-201-1
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2015-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

The small inn a few miles outside of Ecdippa had been exactly as Meshulam had promised. It was small but clean. And the innkeeper had gone out of his way to provide a good meal for the three travelers.

Stabbing the last piece of mutton on his plate with his dagger, Meshulam said, “We should leave early tomorrow morning, well before sunrise. We must get to Ptolemais by sunset tomorrow. It will be taxing and difficult, but we must be there.”

Simon furrowed his brow and looked at Meshulam suspiciously. “Why?”

Meshulam chewed on the tough piece of meat, struggling to grind it up into small enough pieces to swallow. “Because,” he said with a full mouth, “Ptolemais is at a crossroads, and it will be crowded. We must be there early if we are to find suitable lodging.”

Simon nodded and then asked, “Where do the roads go?”

Meshulam ground his teeth into the tough meat a couple more times before replying, “One major route goes east to Sepphoris then on to Tiberias and ultimately to the Sea of Galilee.” Pausing, he used his tongue to shift the mostly unchewed wad of meat to his cheek. “The other route—the one we will take—continues south along the coast for about fifteen miles until it splits at the base of Mount Carmel. The main road continues along the coast, but the route we must take goes southeast through the mountains to Ginae.”

Simon shook his head. “I thought we would stay on the main route, along the coast, going to Caesarea and Joppa and then turn east to Jerusalem.”

Giving up on grinding the tough meat into pieces small enough to swallow, Meshulam reached up, took the partially chewed meat from his mouth, and dropped it on the wooden plate in front of him. Wiping his lips with the back of his fingers, he said, “That route takes too long. I know a much shorter way—through the mountains. It will save at least one day’s travel.” Seeing some uncertainty in Simon, he quickly added, “It isn’t nearly as well traveled, so it will be much easier to find lodging. I know of many places we can stay—very comfortable for you and Chedva.”

Simon took a breath to object, but Meshulam cut him off. “I must go and check on the donkey. You should be ready to leave at least an hour before sunrise,” he said brusquely as he rose from the chair and walked out of the room.

“You don’t trust him, do you?” Chedva said softly as Meshulam disappeared.

Simon smiled and gently patted Chedva’s hand. “We should get some sleep,” he said, ignoring her question. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”

It was the night that was long. Simon tossed and turned on the hard bed, counting the hours. When his aching back could endure no more of the hard surface, he got up and looked out the window. The slightest sliver of pale white moon was barely above the horizon and gave just enough light for him to see that a few clouds were drifting overhead, blocking some of the millions of stars that shimmered.

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