The Fourth Nail: An Historical Novel by Paul Argentini

Author:Paul Argentini [Unknown]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Christian, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781620060209
Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc.
Published: 2011-12-15T05:00:00+00:00

XXI

Marius and Angelus once again found themselves on the fo’c’sle of a ship that was plying foreign waters, but this time they were headed in the opposite direction--homebound. So far, they had traveled in a westerly direction for more than three days.

Their exuberance rose to higher and higher levels every time they spoke of home. Angelus liked to speculate on how he would eviscerate his brother, dwelling on the details.

Marius would not speculate beyond his desire to see his family. He explained it would keep him from being disappointed whatever he found. He thought of Teresa and wondered when and where, if ever, he would hold her in his arms again.

The nail was the object of long and serious attention. In the privacy at the front of the ship Marius unwrapped the nail from the bloody neck cloth. “Angelus, a voice inside me draws me to this nail.”

“Like what?”

“The man we crucified called himself a Messiah. What’s a Messiah?”

“I’m not sure. Like a rabbi, but more? Eh?”

“Something mysterious? Look at my hand. It’s like new! When I touched Him my hand went cold, and suddenly it was no longer deformed. And look at how you were fixed. What kind of workings are these?”

“I can’t explain it. I’m just happy it is!” Angelus said joyously. “My handiwork will attest everything with me down there is in good working order! Yes? Eh?”

“Yes, I notice the light has come back in your eyes!”

They laughed. Marius jabbed Angelus’s shoulder. “You know? He wasn’t an ordinary man, like you or me. He had been scourged and was about to undergo an excruciating death, and He was filled with compassion for me! For me!” Marius said tapping his chest. “How did he know the pain I felt in my heart for what I was about to do, and that it was something equal to what He was about to endure?” Marius asked Angelus. “It was as if we were brothers of that moment! There was that instant when I first looked into His eyes that I wanted to run away, yet, I was stayed by the message I read therein,” Marius went on. “It wasn’t until we came aboard this ship,” Marius said, “and I felt the nail stuck in my belt that in my mind I was carried back to our work. How clear the message was then that came to me. He said I would do well my three tasks. Last night I thought of them. Of the three tasks, the first was to crucify Him. Almost as a revelation the second task came to me. It is to deliver this nail to Rome!”

“If you say so,” Angelus agreed. “What are you going to do in Rome with that nail? Eh? And what could be this third task? Eh?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t the slightest idea.”

“Let me know when it is revealed to you, yes?”

“Yes. That means we’ve got to find a way to keep the nail safe, so I can’t lose it, or have it taken from me.

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