5th book

HERE ARE THE TWO AMBITIOUS

BUILDING THEIR CASTLE IN THE AIR

SURROUNDED BY THEIR BOTTLES OF LIQUORS

—“Who is that woman singing like Bacchus’s slave? Singing in agony, weeping in grief, she sounds like she was shot, wounded by the blind god from the berries jungle. Serenities destruction of the forest!” Knowing Paulo, who is very fond of music, asked right off as the hymn slowly fade’s into thin air.

—“That woman?” The friend replied, —“is Enoe, my beloved slave, the one and only caretaker of this house, my habitat. A dwelling place, where I spent my time exploring the resourceful ideas of my creativity and having fun with it. My only comfort when I am weary and depleted, afflicted from my unending loneliness. A pleasurable relaxation for diversion.”

—“Your loneliness?” Paulo asked. —“You? The untiring drunkard? Your frequent drinking can make you an excellent opponent of Mark Anthony, who praises Egypt’s precious wine in Cleopatra’s festivities!”

—“Yes, loneliness! For a smiling lips has nothing to do with heart’s bitter affliction. A smile is an encouraging appearance in the outside, while the inner side is mourning. Wine can make you intoxicated to the point of losing your consciousness, where it can doze you to fall asleep especially when grieving.” Antipater explained.

—“You’re making sense,” Paulo replied while nodding at the same time. —“Come on, let’s drink. Sweet wine can stimulate you, and gives us pleasurable feelings of happiness. Our private friendship can give us aspirations for the good things to come. Forget the past, and let’s talk about Enoe; I feel sorry for that slave of yours; can you tell me her life story? Of what she went through?”

—“Enoe has no history.” Antipater states emphatically. —“She is a wild violet, bud out and grew in the Nile riverbank, migrated to Juda before she even flourishes her youthful beauty of freshness, bourgeoned to her excellence of sweet fragrances. I bought her with confidence from some Arabs, I obtained her from exchanging money for a payment, and kept her in this house. I trust her with certainty like my real sister; at first I thought that child would not hesitate to commit suicide, just not to let her see me grieving.”

—“Your sister?” Paulo doubts Antipater.

—“Yes! my sister Paulo, my sister!” Antipater replied in annoyance. —“And I swear to you through my faithful mother’s grave that I will not abuse that beautiful, shy mimosa, not until I grant her the “wife’s” title.”

Antipater’s sudden quotation of his mother made him pale in fear. He was caught off guard, astounded and too late to withdraw, the words he just spilled. But Paulo noticed his friend’s benumb reaction, and he said this:

—“You don’t look well? Is it something I said? Are you OK?” Paulo asked with concern, he noticed that his friend was startled.

—“Don’t mind me, my friend. It’s just that every time I thought of my mother, it reminds me of a traumatic event, like I can see it over again from my eyes, her body shaken, soaked in blood, flowing from within, but let’s change the subject and let’s talk about something else. Do you need money?” Herod’s son asked.

Paulo was shocked by this question. It was unexpected. Paulo was puzzled, for his friend never asked him this way before, but he responded in this aspect:

—“It’s too expensive to live in Rome, and living in peace without war can make every soldiers endure poverty. Deprivation of their basic needs makes their lives more complicated.” Paulo states.

—“In that case, I can make you wealthy,” said Antipater.

—“What a fantastic pledge, but I am puzzled. If what you say is true, then I should know, if this relief is for help? What’s in return to get that wealth?” Paulo voiced out.

—“Promise me first that what I tell you now is very private. I am going to make a deal and if you don’t accept my deal, then I asked you to please hide this secret plan forever, and bury it with you, to your grave.” Antipater’s terms for dealing.

—“I promise you, as a soldier, and to my sharp sword.” Paulo was ecstatic.

—“Now,” Antipater continues. —“Let’s swap our daggers and goblets. It would be best if you realized that at this very moment, Paulo Atme, the ambitious soldier, will become Antipater’s blood brother.”

—“Antipater’s blood brother? What do you mean?” Paulo asked in confusion.

—“Just follow what I say and do, we will make a pact!” Antipater explained.

The two friends pulled out their swords simultaneously from their waists and swap. As they slashed their arms together, they filled their goblets and brought about the cause of their agreement privately.

—“May the fierce Moloch and frightful Ahriman distract to agitate the peaceful sleep of the first to revoke this pact, and may they poison the blood of the first to break this devout covenant that binds us both!” The resounding statement of Herod’s son, then drink from the Roman’s goblet.

—“May the fierce Moloch and frightful Ahriman distract to agitate the peaceful sleep of the first to revoke this pact, and may they poison the blood of the first to break this devout covenant that binds us both!” Paulo repeated and mimicked his companion.

—“Soon the sun will rise, and shine its light to those tall minarets in the city and inside the palace of Jericho. And the soldiers will blow their resounding trumpets to awaken the still sleeping inhabitants and announce the sudden departure of my father, the King. You, Paulo, will lead the group of soldiers that will usher him through Rome. Do you know why my father is going to Caesar’s city?” Antipater states.

—“I don’t know anything about that.” Paulo replied. —“I was ordered to escort him to Rome, and I obey; that’s the instruction.”

—“Hear then, Paulo.” Antipater’s tricky course. —“My father is going to Rome because my brothers indict him through the Senate for killing our mother. Despite the danger of their bold action, the choice and willingness to confront their agony and pain from our mother’s death, gives them the valour to such a courageous stand against my father. They are willing to face negative situations knowing that this could result to a greater danger, but not knowing that this challenging action could virtually meant of signing their own death warrant.”

—“Herod can never have his children be killed; he is their father!” Paulo was outraged.

—“You still don’t know who my father is; their death without any doubt is coming, and my death is just around the corner after that. But I am not like one of those who give up easily without a fight. Not once that my heart died from one blood’s cry, the battle will be dreadful, and I am going to need you, Paulo!” Antipater is pleading.

—“Talk!” uttered Paulo to himself, as he sees now the conclusion of this delightful and delicious dinner. A betrayal to the King.

—“After his works from Rome, my father will return to Juda accompanied by the Praetorian soldiers. If my father got killed coming out from Palestine’s border coast, the crown would be mine, then you will receive twenty (20) Hebrew talent.” Antipater bluntly said.

Augusto’s soldier’s heart stopped for a moment, carefully thinking, considering that this is getting serious. His deep thought is absorbing every word, characterized by pondering a rigorous contemplation, a very clever companion in front of him is dead serious. Then he responds like this:

—“If I am not part of those groups ushering your father’s return, then I am not participating in giving you my service as well.”

—“You will be counted and participating.” Antipater answered.

—“So now you’re reassuring me in advance that my Lord Caesar will order me to usher your father’s return to Juda?” Paulo asked.

—“No: but you can fix it and work out to manage in joining the group, escorting my father’s return to Juda.” Antipater suggest.

—“Can you elaborate me more on what you really mean?” The Roman’s language.

—“Hear me. The soldiers are annoyed and irritated living in peace; a harmonious life is not what they desire. They want war. To die in the battlefield is their best achievement they can obtain. An honorable death is their aspiration. In Rome, flocks of soldiers like sharks are all over; they are tired of living in peace that makes them weak, and they are determined and destined to pull out their swords. They are looking for somebody, of whoever comes first to invoke them, persuades them to act in one’s favor and pay them sum of money, like a bribe. And you are that person, Paulo, you are the one that can give them silvers of money. If ever you are not fortunate enough to get selected again by Caesar to lead and usher my father’s return, then you can bribe one of the Centurions to join the group, and this will work out. While traveling, it will be easy for you to lure and bribe some soldiers for buy off, and upon reaching Juda’s land, have somebody to struck a knife to my father’s heart. And while this is being carried out, I will gather all my adherents and prepare them for a sudden battle, a quick take over, ousting the oppositions. When all is done, meet my ally to his fort to receive the money, and me the crown.” Antipater laid out his perfect plan.

—“Your plan is extremely dangerous.” Paulo’s soft reply. —“Don’t you know that Caesar Augusto is the only one who can grant you the crown and make you the King of Juda?”

—“Caesar is pretty easy to buy: that’s how my father did, and I will do the same,” the proud Antipater deemed.

—“Despite being dangerous for an uncertain outcome, you are gambling for taking this risk, you are betting your head,” the soldiers aid of concern.

—“Herod’s death should be blamed on one event, a circumstance of something negative happened, and can be taken into consideration, or his constant rage could be a factor too. Something that causes a person to act, expressing violent, uncontrollable anger which is not too obvious, and can be a motive for his murder.” Antipater is determined.

—“But Herod has three more children in Jerusalem, your three brethren.” Paulo is reminding his friend.

—“Execute the first, and I’ll do the rest.” Herod’s son closing discussion.

Paulo thought of it for a while. He is in the process of using his mind considering the plan but hesitating at the same time, not wanting to be a part of something sinister that can cost him his life.

—“Are you skeptical?” Antipater asked.

—“You know that life has no value to me.” Paulo replied.

—“Then what is the apprehension? I can’t understand you! Twenty Hebrew talent is a fortune. So, to think that you would rather live poor all your life doesn’t make sense to me. I am offering you wealth for a tiny risk that can be done in no time. This will be quick!” The annoyed Antipater explained.

—“The money your handing me is just a handful of pique! You probably don’t realize that hunger for money has no perspective to my fellow citizens; nothing can satisfy them when speaking about the importance of life. If ever I get selected again to lead the troops escorting your father, then I can carry out this plan without a big commotion.” Paulo affirmed.

—“You can name your price!” Herod’s son quick response.

—“Let’s don’t talk about the price.” Paulo countered. —“Would it be better if things and conditions can be agreed upon, when making a plan like this? For people like me, the sounds of money is not enough.”

—“Therefore, talk to me, straight to the point, without beatings around the bush, but don’t forget that we have to stay on guard to hide this secret if we agreed upon the conditions.” Antipater replied.

—“If in this quest you obtained the crown, then me, on the other hand, is asking to become a Governor on one of Israel’s city.” Paulo’s clear proposal, without falter.

Antipater bit his lips from Paulo’s request, forcibly preventing himself from exhibiting an outward reaction of any kind for misunderstandings. Enough blockages are already arising, and he doesn’t want to add any more conflicts, so he did not speak; not a word came out of his lips. Paulo continues talking in a hoarse and cold voice:

—“You’ll be a King and I a Governor. About the hush money, you need to add more, twelve talents to dole out soldiers, to help out the commotions at Palestine’s harbor.” Paulo laid his game plan.

Antipater was stunned at Paulo’s request; he thought of Paulo’s demand for a few second, but after a while, he responded quickly:

—“I accept!”

—“Then, let’s drink for the success, and good ending of this plan.” Paulo cheers.

As Paulo filled the goblets with wine, he recounts once more, as if congratulating themselves in advance the promising outcome of their clever scheme.

—“This is for the good fortune of Jerusalem’s future King, and the success of the future Governor of Galilee!”

After they consume the cup’s content, Antipater stood up from bed, and walked towards one of the corners room, then went to a hidden dresser engraved on a wall. He pulled a leather bag from the dresser, the bag is quite bulky and weighty, then pulled an inkwell made of clay as well, a quill and two pieces of paper. He carried them and laid them all on the table without saying a word.

Then Antipater sat on a cushion situated on the floor and briefed Paulo, saying:

—“You will find two hundred Hebrew talents in that bag. Is that amount not enough for the primary favor, to execute the plan in Rome?” Antipater asked.

—“I think this is fair, but………………………………”

—“I understand you now. From these pieces of papers we will write our agreement; you will keep one copy, and I will take care of the second copy.” Antipater reached an agreement.

Antipater took the papers, and began to scribble to legalize the pact using a quill pen with an inkwell made of clay.

—“I can see that you are writing a statement regarding our covenant to have a full moral value, like a patron; that’s what I want.” Paulo esteemed.

The two friends began writing and signing the agreement in the permanent form to make it official, a written document for acknowledgment. An undertaking needs to be done by both, with tens of their benefits, a treacherous scheme against the King of the Holy City.

After writing their systematic letters, the two friends hide each of their copies, a done deal set to accomplish their goal, a collaboration from each other respectively. They were both bound by each other’s promises: perhaps they both have signed for their death sentence. Their remaining time for the interrupted dinner, an agreement they made, recognized by the primers, resulted in silence.

The two had been quiet for a while, eating very little but constantly drinking, to pass it off, a disguise for a possible exhalation in different notions piling up in their minds. Antipater’s mind is in the crown, and to his imagination or perhaps a delusion, that a crown will lay upon his forehead not long from now. But Paulo’s worries are in Roman’s proverbs, a superstitious belief in Augusto’s time: “Don’t sit with more men than women in a merriment celebration.”

A resounding transmission of sound sharply blasted through the air filling the entire room that surprised and awakened the thoughts of these two friends, thus at the very moment were in a dreamland, envisioning a successful future for the two of them.

—“What is that sound?” Paulo asked.

—“Enoe is letting us know that the morning star is now visible from the east, illuminating its rays of light, and the dawn will soon be breaking up from the horizon.” Antipater replied.

—“In that matter, we need to proceed now and part ways.” Paulo’s sudden words, and stood up at the same time.

—“Yes, we have to hurry! For the blasting sounds of trumpets will soon bursts out, calling the troops that would usher my father!” Antipater abruptly answered.

—“We should leave now, and may Jupiter give us the good fortune to attain our superior and successful coup.” Paulo’s hopeful for his skills.

—“I expect the same.” Antipater remarks. —“For hope and great courage.”

—“Possessing great power of strength that’s rooted from the heart is better than hope.” Paulo reputed.

—“Don’t forget that we need those two things! Hope and courage.” Antipater’s advice.

—“I will not forget.” Paulo’s quick response.

The two friends shake hands, a sign of assurance for confidence. A trust was set up, relying on each other from the bottom of their hearts to outwit the enemy. They made it ready, all the cautions they will need to face the risks, and dangers before bidding goodbyes, then they proceed to depart. Tracking different roads, they continue walking towards the palace,

Meanwhile, a secret door from Herod’s bedroom opened abruptly, and entered Cingo the slave, in a hurry, catching his breath, as he approaches his Lord’s bed.

—“What happened to you, Cingo?” Herod asked his slave.

—“Your suspicion is right, my Lord!” The negro replied. —“Paulo and your son spend the night together.”

—“And where?” The unconcerned Herod asked.

—“From Enoe’s house, Antipater’s slave,” Cingo said.

—“You know that from now on, it is your obligation to always follow that greedy Roman, like a shadow. About my son, I am disowning him now. What time is it?” Herod asked.

—“The dawn will be rising from the east very soon.” The slave responded.

—“Notify Ptolomy, and prepare everything for travel. You’re coming with me.” The King ordered Cingo.

Cingo bowed down, and left the room using the same door, the secret door.

Herod tumbled down to his soft bed once more, like no one had disturbed him so far.