JESUS & Co. (#2): The Safest Place Read online

JESUS & Co. (2) The Safest Place by Jacob Lindaman

  This book or the parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise – without prior written permission of the author except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to actual people, organizations, and/or events are purely coincidental.

  ISBN: 9781311319913

  Copyright © 2014 by Jacob Lindaman

  All rights reserved

  Cover art by Caleb Davis

  JESUS & Co. (1) Beefed Up Balloon – Available now

  JESUS & Co. (2) The Safest Place – Available now

  JESUS & Co. (3) Machetes and Machine Guns – Available Nov 1st 2014

  JESUS & Co. (4) Robot Train – Available Jan 1st 2015

  JESUS & Co. (5) Space Dragon – Available March 1st 2015

 

  JESUS & Co.

  THE SAFEST PLACE

  A steady stream of warm dry air pushed its way up from the south. The Saharan winds were an unwelcomed act of God plaguing the city Sarah had so carefully watched over the last five decades.

  As queen, she was responsible for the well being of some twenty thousand subjects who normally called Cadiz home. Early in spring, however, when the rains didn’t come, people slowly trickled in looking for help that only a large metropolis could provide. By the time summer ended she was awash with new arrivals. And even though the days were growing shorter and the nights cooler, the air was just as dry and lifeless as before.

  From the porch on the royal tower she saw the armies encamped outside her wall. Discouraged, she picked up the topaz in her necklace to take comfort. Many years ago her husband, the king, gave it to her as he died in her blood soaked arms. What would you do? You were so young and strong back then.

  Her stomach growled. She took a bite from one of her last apples. Her teeth sunk in without that fresh crisp crunch it should have had. The mealy flavor was an unsatisfying experience that left her disappointed, but she forced herself to choke down the rest.

  “This blockade is the hammer that will break us,” she said to Aniston her most trusted cabinet member. “There are tens of thousands of well trained, well fed dogs waiting for their master to let them off their leashes. I fear,” she turned directly to Aniston, “we’re simply waiting for death.”

  “Those are dim words from one who has not seen the future,” Aniston said.

  “Who knows the future but God alone?” Deborah said.

  “What purpose is there in this? For an old woman such as myself to await my death. And to think, this once marvelous city waits with me.”

  “They wait with you,” Aniston said. “Are they hungry? Yes. Are they aware of the destruction just beyond the gates? Yes. But they look to you as their queen and their leader. They’re loyal to you. With the amount of growth the city has seen this season no other rank has been so popular as the ladies in waiting. While no census has been carried out for official numbers, it’s easy to see that with many royal attendants come many royals. This means the city has more authority than ever before. What you say they will do.”

  “Are you suggesting we attack? The nobles won’t fight. Should I lead these poor farmers to their deaths? I didn’t pick a fight with these Assyrians. Why do they hate me?”

  ~

  That night, like many nights before, Sarah lay on her lice infested bed unable to sleep. Thoughts poured through her mind like water flowing from a bottomless pitcher.

  In the darkness she found her robe. The timepiece in her pocket read the 12th hour. She found her belt and as she slipped it through the last latch she heard a noise from the other side of the door. Cautiously, she approached, but before she could put her hand on the knob the old wooden door burst open dumping a tired young man at her feet.

  Surprised, she jumped back, but saw an equally shocked crowd outside the door.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “Milady,” the young man on the floor said huffing and puffing as he stood to his feet, “them Assyrians are a coming. They’re moving about.”

  “It’s true,” Deborah said still standing in the hall. “We heard the sound of trumpets. The council sent Lot with a message to you, but he feared to enter your chambers on account of his inferior rank. Our allies to the east failed to arrive. This changes things. We have business to attend to.”

  Sarah reached into her purse to compensate the faithful messenger. Before handing it over she glanced at it. 007 BC. That is so old. Has there been no new money in Cadiz for 4 years?

  She squeezed the timepiece in her pocket. “It’s finally begun,” she said to herself.

  ~

  The group of royal advisors walked solemnly to their council chambers. Just outside the entrance a loud rolling crash broke the silent night.

  “What was that?” Sarah said. The entire council looked bewildered.

  “Boulders,” Lot said. “They’re launching boulders!”

  “Quick, everyone to the keep!” Aniston herded the council a different direction, but Sarah waited behind.

  “What should I do milady?” Lot asked.

  A little smile formed on Sarah’s face. “Faithful Lot. Fetch my binoculars and meet me near the top floor of the hospital. They are made of brass and shine like fine silver. You can’t miss them.”

  It didn’t take him long. When he arrived he was breathing heavily like a good royal messenger should.

  “I saw more boulders flying. You didn’t get hit by any of them did you?”

  “No, milady, but it was no easy going. People running everywhere. Buildings knocked to the ground. It’s like someone spilt the whole world upside down.”

  Through the binoculars she saw the destruction across the city. It was worse than she feared. Smoke rose from the market district. The wall near the industrial neighborhood had been breached. The gates nearby had been opened.

  “It seems the entire city is soon to be overrun by these Assyrian pirates.” Not hearing any response she peeked from her binoculars to see Lot pacing the far side of the room mumbling to himself. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

  “Yes, but I’m not sure I can.” His face contorted until his eyes were about to relinquish water.

  Sarah put his hand in hers and said softly, “Whatever it is it will be OK.”

  “It’s just, it makes sense now.” He took a breath. “When I was running back with your binoculars I bumped into someone. Someone special. Her name is Mary. She’s a lady in waiting in the court of your friend Elisabeth.”

  “What’s so special about this Mary?”

  “She’s pregnant.”

  “And?”

  “She’s the Mary.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “In my city? Now? Quick, Lot, bid her come. The hospital will be the safest place.”

  Before she could think he was out the door.

  ~

  The chaos continued. The hospital was filling fast. Sarah kept order as much as she could. She was able to spy out pockets of injured people that could be brought back and cared for. Even though the hospital was understaffed she was able to give aid to some.

  Hours passed, but Lot was able to do as he was asked. He returned with Mary and a horde of personal bodyguards for Elisabeth.

  “Where’s Elisabeth?”

  A guard with a yellow circle badge stitched on his sleeve stepped forward, “My lady, I’m Malachi, captain of Elisabeth’s royal consort. Unfo
rtunately, she died last night after suffering wounds sustained from a boulder.” He bowed to a knee. “I know that this loss is greater to you than to us.”

  “Up, get up. I won’t have you doing service like this. Not now. Not near the end.”

  “My lady,” Malachi went on, “we have something of importance to tell you. It seems the gracious God of Heaven above has bestowed upon us the care of his tender child.”

  “Where is she? I wish to meet her.”

  Malachi called Mary from the huddle of once-lavishly dressed women. She too was dressed in fine white linen and golden bracelets. A string of pearls hung around her neck. Her hair was done nicely in a long French braid. Despite her best attempts her clothes were dirty, her face smudged and she smelled not of zest and spice, but of foulness from bathing in rancid water.

  Sarah examined her new companions closely. Mary was the jewel of the bunch. They had seen to it that they take care of her before themselves.

  “My dear,” she said approaching Mary, “why you look like you’re about to pop. May I?” she stuck her hand out to touch her belly. Mary nodded with a smile.

  “The physician said any day now,” Mary said.

  “Oh my.” Sarah didn’t know what to say, but a glimmer of hope crept into her heart. Somehow life seemed more real now. She had a purpose. “We need to get you to safety. Malachi, take these women up to the top floor. That should be the last place the Assyrians reach.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  After they’d left Sarah was alone with Lot who was leaning out a window.

  “Oh Lot, where is the council now? Now, when they are needed most.”

  He didn’t hear her. He was too focused on something else. Suddenly, “Look!” he said. “Those buildings crumbled into a natural defense. Our soldiers have reformed a line around it. That should buy us some time don’t you think?”

  She looked with her binoculars. He was right. The tall stone buildings fell into each other creating messy terrain and a good-sized defense. It wasn’t far from the hospital and didn’t need to be. Any larger and she wouldn’t have the manpower to hold it.

  “It will last until they can clear the streets and bring in a catapult.”

  “How long do you think that will be?” Lot asked.

  “Sooner than we think.”

  ~

  Night came, but it may just as well have been day for she didn’t sleep. Not wanting to wait until morning she got up and decided to look out the window. The half-lit moon and star filled sky shone on her tattered city below. The buildings were gone having been turned to rubble. Many were still on fire. Enemy troops set up camp throughout the area they had conquered. Her diligent soldiers held the new line surrounding the hospital.

  As she surveyed the battlefield movement from below caught her eye. A little shadow coursed around debris heading for the hospital. He was unnoticed except by her.

  When he made it to the hospital she went to the door to wait by the stairs. The shady figure appeared before her stopping only when he realized the queen was before him.

  “Who are you?” she asked with an unwavering voice.

  “My name is unimportant. But what I bring to you is.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “I’ve come to save Mary.”

  “You? Just her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ha! How can you save someone in a place like this?”

  “I can. And I will.”

  “If you can save her so easily why don’t you save all of us?”

  “It doesn’t work like that. I only have enough for two.”

  “What are you talking about? You’ve lost it. You’re welcome to stay in the hospital, but don’t cause any trouble. I trust you’ll be fine on the 1st floor.” Sarah turned to walk away.

  “I must save Mary. I love her!”

  “What?”

  “Mary is my love and I’m going to save her.” He ran ahead brushing by Sarah. She caught up to him after he woke up Lot. “Where is she? I need to find her.”

  “She isn’t here. You’d better explain yourself or I’ll send you out to the Assyrians.”

  Two of Elisabeth’s guards entered the doorway.

  “Fine,” he said in protest. “I’m Joseph and I have a device that can travel through time. But I offer this on one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Only I go with her.”

  “Wait, you are going to travel time to save Mary? How is that possible and why don’t you take the rest of the city with you?”

  Joseph opened his satchel and pulled out a brass disc. He unfolded it making it twice as large and set it on the ground. From the satchel he revealed a little brass box and a wire. He connected the wire to the disc and spun a crank which immediately sent the disc spinning.

  “This is a time machine. I’ve only got enough power to send one person through. Any more than that and the travelers will disintegrate in space-time.”

  “Turn it off if you’re low on power.”

  “Ah, so you believe me then?”

  “I’ll have to speak with Mary before we do anything. You’re asking to take her life in your hands. And I thought you said you wanted to go with?”

  He eyed the amulet around her neck.

  “The portal is opened by the crank, but time travel is only possible when a topaz is consumed. I have enough for one traveler. That,” he nodded towards the amulet, “should be enough for a second.”

  ~

  Sarah passed the guards on her way to the stairs. “Keep an eye on him. He might be dangerous.”

  On the top floor she found Mary, surrounded by what appeared to be her own personal attendants, sleeping in the middle of the room. Carefully, she made her way to Mary and nudged her awake.

  “Do you know a Joseph?”

  Her eyes widened. “Yes, yes I do. Is everything alright?”

  “There’s a Joseph here that wants to speak with you. He thinks he can save you.” She glared into Mary’s eyes, “he said he loves you.”

  “Um…”

  “Is it true?”

  “Yes,” Mary turned away.

  “Is the child his?”

  “No,” she turned back, “we have not so much as even been in the same room together. Ever. But you are right to ask. I understand your suspicion.”

  “Because if the child was his-”

  “Every evening for almost a year he has climbed to the top of the wall surrounding Elisabeth’s palace and sang to me. He has the sweetest voice.”

  Suddenly thunder shook the city. The hospital titled.

  “They’re launching boulders again!” Malachi yelled. “Everyone seek lower ground.”

  Sarah looked out the window bracing herself to prevent falling out. The makeshift walls had been breached. She didn’t have long.

  “Mary, come with me.” She led her by the hand to Joseph who was still waiting with the two guards. The two held each other closely. Their faces were all smiles. Sarah realized they truly had never touched one another until this moment.

  “You don’t have much time,” Sarah said.

  Joseph had the device up and running. Mary stood on the disc with Joseph holding her hand.

  “All we need now is that thing around your neck.”

  Sarah grabbed it with her right hand. A tear fell from her eye as she looked at it one last time. Goodbye my love. She tossed it to Joseph who fed it into the center of the disc.

  “Where will we go?” Mary asked.

  “The safest place in the world. Noah’s Ark.”

  Swords clanged in the hallway. Elisabeth’s guards were pushed into the room. They were no match for veteran Assyrian infantry who cut through them.

  Two Assyrians charged at Sarah until a yellow light suddenly emanated from the disc filling the room. They stopped for a moment allowing Sarah time to unsheathe a machete from under her dress. Just as the soldiers approached she tossed it onto the disc.

  Joseph looked up sur
prised.

  “A gift for your son,” she said just as a sword lopped off her head.