IX

A PLANNED ATTACK THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE

—“Are you sure my friend Uries, that these groups of merchants from Egypt, under the guise of looking poor like beggars, but behind these they are carrying valued treasures?” asked Dimas

—“The goods they are carrying are sacks of wheat that is nourished, grown, and ripened from the water of Nile, but in the midst of those sacks of wheat are two small boxes made from alexandria containing the treasures. One box is full of powdered gold in high quality, and the other box is full of valued, and precious, high-grade diamonds, and all this for Cesar. The carriers had no knowledge that from those sacks of red wheat are hidden immense treasures. These cargos is in the name of a wealthy merchant from the City of Caesarea. From that Port of that City, parked a Roman chariot that would carry those diplomats to the City.” Uries told Dimas……

—“We need to be truly good to get those treasures. To make my gigantic mountainous beasts come down here in this kind of weather can make them curse you, if we don’t get those treasures.” Dimas replied.

—“But I am wondering, why from this enormous amount of treasures, that it should be guarded by a group of armed men?” Dimas asked.

—“The merchants from Egypt are truly fearful, and they absolutely hate the Romans. They are afraid that the hired Roman soldiers are the ones to confiscate their merchandise.” Uries explained.

—“Are you sure, you are not mistaken from making this plan?” Dimas is doubtful.

—“God is the only one that don’t make mistakes. But I assure you that we are going to succeed.” Uries replied.

—“What percentage did you promise your tipster?” Dimas asked.

—“I did not promise him anything.” Uries replied. —“He demanded for some portion, so, therefore, let’s give it, or we lose this deal.”

—“You’re brilliant, Uries.” Dimas complimented Uries.

—“Captain, I am 40 years old now, and I had known this profession before I even learned how to walk.” Uries told Dimas. —“My father is just like me, we are interested and love to own other people’s belongings for free. My father had known all along that he could benefit from me since I was a child, and he trained me well to be a spy right off the bat. But I took this profession like a game; I played with it. I did this in pure and accurate performance. With a sharp mind and quick-witted instinct, I was an expert at the age of 12. I am not bragging, Dimas: All the retired bandits in Palestine are looking up to me, I am their model, and considered a genius in the field of thievery. I was not able to become a Captain for two reasons:

—“First because I am not greedy, but don’t think that I said this because you are greedy. No! I don’t believe you are.”

—“Second, because being common and ordinary can make me able to get done more for the group, and I can live free at the same time, fly under the radar.”

You are aware when I leave the group from 10-15 days once in a while. In those days, I go all over, visiting the clans and tribes. I am a Jew when I am in Judea, a Galilean when in Galilee, and a Samaritan when in Samaria; I change name and family lineage when needed; I can be a merchant here and a priest there; I can gain entrance from one house to another, and because of my sweet tongue, I can easily charmed people and became their friend in a short time; I get along well with their households in no time without difficulties. I can find out about their secrets, gain access, and infiltrate their businesses and enterprises. When I have all the information I needed to get, I return to Mount Ebal’s castle, where the gangs are waiting. From there, I informed them the business operations, how much money or treasures are on the way, when, where, and how the process works. Giving them the factual information about the business activities. The information I give them of how the procedures works, can make it easier for them to manage the situation needed for a big-time loot. In this way, they can avoid sleeping in a cliff, and it is truly cold to get soaked in the water from waiting, just to get the valuable items like the black barley or a grasp of that yellow wheat. After I tell them all this satisfying information, can they come out to pick the fruits of my works.” Uries told his story to Dimas.

—“You are a very intelligent friend, Uries.” the Captain replied. —You deserve a grant of two fractions of our heists.”

—“Oh! my friend Dimas.” Uries replied. —“People don’t know how to return favors. I assure you, all my hard works, all the information I obtained from spying, and the efforts and sacrifices I made in life will be nothing. I’d still be hanged from the tree just like what they did to my father, an intelligent man like me.”

Dimas laughed at his friends’ remarks. But Uries, is telling the truth, he is the most talented and intelligent bandit from the group.

—“Believe me Captain.” Uries continued. —“Humans are not built to work; if we analyze and study the human anatomy, you’ll see its’ hands are inclined to be lazy, it is made to outstretched, and not to work like dig the land and hold the large hoe. Laziness is human nature; to work is his enemy and not suitable for us. Humans are active and diligent, and they work for the reward of a future retirement. We work hard while we are young, and in the end, we enjoy the sweet haven of laziness.” then Uries yawned, it was getting late, the resounding thunder from heaven was heard.

—“A bad night.” said one bandit.

—“A deluge night could be worse than this.” replied by another.

—“I would rather stay here for the night and not come out there for a haul, that can get worse from this kind of weather.” one more commented.

—“Uries is a lazy man, and he won’t let us have a good time out there in this kind of weather.” one more reacted.

Everyone’s comments end up to nothing, they have no choice but to come out that night, because this is a big dish out.

—“Lower your voices guys, because we are here.” Uries warned. —“This is the road where they should pass by dawn.”

—“All needs to get ready now, and wait!” exclaimed one of the bandit.

—“Go on! Position yourselves, find a good place to hide.” Dimas ordered.

—“Wrapped yourselves really good, and don’t sleep! As soon as I give my first signal, can all come out, and get near me at once!” Dimas continued.

The bandits hid themselves fast, in between rocks. Dimas and Uries wrapped themselves as well with their blankets then walked to their location beside the big tree, where they paid no attention from the heavy rain. They stand beside the big tree near the road, where they assumed the merchants would pass their way. After half an hour, they heard a bird chirping from the woods, which is very unusual for a bad weather like this in the middle of the night. Uries was alerted, he knows how this works. He held his head up immediately and looked to the direction where the sound is coming from.

—“What’s happening?” Dimas whispered.

—“I don’t know yet. But I had my suspicion that there’s bad news from that bird sound.” Uries replied.

—“From what I know, bird sounds are not bad.” Dimas said.

—“I know, but that bird sound in particular is exceptional, it is not from a bird but a human.” Uries replied.

—“A human!” Dimas was alarmed; he got hold of his dagger right away!

—“Don’t be afraid, that’s a friend. A spy that works for me for a long time now.” Uries said.

Then Uries responded, making the same sound bird alike. In an instant, a person entirely covered with mud and soaking wet with water, emerged from out of nowhere; it was evident that the person was in disguise. The person standing in between Dimas and Uries, said:

—“Peace be with you, my friend Uries.” greeted the person.

Dimas was stunned! Seeing a person standing right in front of them, he was speechless. He fully observed this muddy person and admired his expertise, the capability to get close to them, without any noise, and not even a sound of a small creak was heard.

—“Any news, my friend Adan?” Uries asked. (Adan is considered red. Adan in Hebrew name means, the son of Adam, the man of the red earth.)

—“There’s one unexpected event that failed our plan, something went wrong.” the new guy said. “These group of merchants are on their way now to Jericho. A big group of Roman soldiers heavily guards them. Two rows of Roman soldiers lined-up on both sides, and in their midst are the Egyptian merchants.” Adan continued.

—“For the sake of Isaac, please make it clear of what do you mean?” Dimas was impatient.

—“It seems like, I still haven’t been understood.” the spy continued.

—“There’s news of a big upheaval from the town of Israel that makes everyone tremble. Everybody is fearful of this barbarous Herod inside his Palace.” the spy said.

—“The only news you hear in Mount Samaria are the howls of wolves.” the Captain replied.

—“Therefore.” the spy said. —“Hear this: In Holy Land, there are three Chaldeans that came to visit the kingdom, they are from Judea, and they came looking for the promised Messiah. But merciless Herod desired to imprison these foreigners. He dispersed all his soldiers to stop and identify every foreigners that comes and go; every merchants, including the merchants from Egypt got affected by this disturbance; every cargos are inspected and scrutinized. The merchants from Egypt that you are waiting for, here in this canyon, by this time now, are on their way to Jericho and surrounded by the Kings’ soldiers from Jerusalem.”

—“In this case, those treasures are?” Dimas asked.

—“Without being detected, won’t befall to the hands of Herod.” the spy replied right away.

Dimas tightened up his shoulders and was thrilled that he still get a chance to get those treasures, but anxious at the same time that he may not succeed to win it, and with his embittered face, he said:

—“My final announcement for the night is, this operation is a failure. We should carry on and wait for a good chance in the future. But we better not loose those cargos of wheat. We cannot afford to let this go!” Dimas was furious.

—“I feel the same way, Captain!” Uries replied. —“But who knows, Herod might confiscate those goods of wheat and re-sell it to the market. In this way, we don’t have to do anything but to buy those wheats.”

—“Can you manage this deal, if this happens?” Dimas asked.

—“With all my heart.” Uries replied.

—“Then go to Jericho! And we will stay and wait in the castle.” Dimas commended.

—“Captain, my money pouch has nothing in it.” Uries said, giving Dimas a hint for some money.

—“Here’s my small money bag, it has twelve Hebrew mines in it.” Dimas responded. (Mina or Mines-Minae, a varying ancient unit of weight or money used in ancient Greece and Asia, equal to one-sixtieth of talent.)

—“That is good enough to buy those wheat, if it ever be put to the market. But to remind you that you don’t have to buy it, if you can get it for free! That command is in the decree of our law.” Dimas said it frivolously.

They all laughed, then Uries, took the money and then, get ready to go.

—“Go with me Adan!” Uries said to his friend.

—“Let’s go.” Adan replied, still upset from their failed mission.

Uries, and his friend Adan left immediately. As soon as the two left, Dimas gathered his people, gave a brief explanation of what had happened and the decision they made, and what should be done. There was no objection from the group, from hearing all the plans made, but some are still upset and angry from the failed operation.

As Uries, and his friend Adan head their way to Jericho, the bandits went straight to Mount Samaria on their way to the Castle. It was a “call-off” for the night. The heavy rain stopped, and the night was very dark. The bandits can hear the resounding thunder from afar off. They were all quiet, and their heads are drooped down as they walked. The feeling of annoyances from that cold night was intense, a small mistake can get serious. It was a disappointing night, and everyone was frustrated; a simple little frisk is an overwhelming mockery; if someone stumbled or slipped, it will alleviate into a big horrifying insult and be ridiculed.

In their mind, they left the comfort of their Castle that night with the probability of obtaining more wealth, the leisure of staying in the Castle for a dreadful night like this, is a pleasure. They were expecting a big success for the night, but it was a loss. They are all covered with mud from their waist down below; they are all soaking wet from the rain. Their effort that night is not paid-off, and their wealth did not gain a single penny.

As they get near the Castle, and when they are about to cross the rocky hills, they heard some footsteps coming towards them. The footsteps are getting near their direction. Dimas got alerted and ordered his people to stop and hide in the nearby woods, and others hide on the rocks. As they hide, on the narrow road beside the cliff, came walking a respectable old man, wrapped around him is a Galilean blue mantle.

In his hand, held two straps of cords attached to a bridle, guiding a donkey. Riding on it is a woman holding a babe (a child). The baby is sleeping on her lap. The Mother was fully wrapped of a mantilla, colored in Corinth Blue. The Mother is quietly weeping, and the old man was slowly walking.

The roaring thunder that night was non-stop; it continuously rumbling up in the firmament of heaven near this miserable and heartbreaking travelers. The old man came to a halt as he turned the corner. He was tracking this forked road when he saw one of the bandits stand-up from where he was hiding, and came towards the old man; he pressed his dagger’s end point to the old man’s chest and shouted:

—“Stop, or you’re dead!”

The old man, stepped back, two steps backwards, for a retreat. The woman was stunned, she screamed! She gets a gripped of her chest, and tightly held her child at once, and cried:

—“God of Sion, save my baby Jesus!”

NOTE:

Now my Beloved readers! Allow me to go back.

In the end, we will find out who are these travelers, and what the bandits did to them. These bandits lead by Dimas in Mount Samaria.

to be continued………………………………………….