The Bronze Bow: Chapters 3–5

When Daniel bent over it to poke at the doughy mass of red-hot ore, the fumes scorched his nostrils. He glanced at Samson, who for a full half-day had been kneading the bellows without ceasing.

That was one more reason for Daniel to resent his burden; he felt more than ever shut out from the rest, for the jibes that were aimed at Samson usually included him as well.

Was Samson dumb? Were the sounds he occasionally made just gibberish, or were they fragments of a language it was useless to speak? Where had he come from? What thoughts went on behind that impassive face?

He helped himself and Samson from the stock of raw vegetables in the cave, cabbage and cucumbers and onions pilfered from the farms in the valley, and they lay down in the dark shade of the cave to doze away the midday hours.

“So you know him?” Rosh was puzzled, but he signaled for the man to be released. “The boy’s been well taken care of,” he said affably. “You can’t deny that.”

Chagrined, Daniel hastened to find the coolest water in the back of the cave.

“He won’t touch you,” Daniel urged. “Just for one day, Jok. I’ll do your work for you when I get back.” Joktan agreed sullenly.

There were a few new houses with fresh mud walls and thatch still green on the roofs.

At the door he hesitated, and the strong habit of his childhood reaching out to him, scarcely aware of what he did, he touched his finger to the mezuzah, the little niche in the door frame that contained the sacred verses of the Shema.

He hated the picture of his grandmother following after the reapers in the field, scrabbling for the sheaves they dropped, which had by law to be left for paupers to gather.

If Simon, stickler for the law, had carried a bundle on the Sabbath just so that Daniel could see this man, he must consider the matter important.

He sidled close to the wall, tensing his muscles, conscious of his shaggy height and his wide shoulders, trying to draw in and make himself smaller.

They sat in order of their trades, the skilled artisans nearest the pulpit, the silversmiths, the tailors, and sandalmakers.

Though the throng of men sat respectfully, he could feel their restlessness also, and the anticipation that mounted, moment by moment.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Daniel walked on through the noonday heat, lingering to peer furtively at the people who passed.

To smash those faces—even one of them! He bent and picked up a rock. “Infidels!” he shouted.

He hated the stifling, foul-smelling streets, the miserable houses crowded close together.

He hated this moldering house filled with the sighs of his grandmother and the murmuring voice of Leah.

Slowly a daring plan began to form in Daniel’s mind, and when he had mulled it over for several days he summoned his courage and took it to Rosh. Rosh heard him out, his button-black eyes twinkling with derision.

Slowly a daring plan began to form in Daniel’s mind, and when he had mulled it over for several days he summoned his courage and took it to Rosh. Rosh heard him out, his button-black eyes twinkling with derision.

The dark trails held no terror; his feet knew every jutting rock and turn.

As the day grew brighter the road was busy with farmers trundling small wagons or bearing on their shoulders baskets of vegetables for the city market.

He came to the harbor and gazed at the multitude of boats, fishing dories and pleasure craft and flat-bottomed barges.

“Hungry, boy?”
Daniel started, abashed to be caught staring.

Out here in the sun he did not look solemn as in the synagogue.

The impression of strength came from an extraordinary vitality that seemed to pulse in the very air around him.

After some time the wooden door creaked open and a wizened man peered out at him.

Slowly he undid Simon’s coat, allowing Joel a glimpse of the torn and scanty garment underneath.

Curse their finicky rules. Had they ever felt the gnawing of an empty stomach?

His cool tone pricked Daniel’s thin skin and stirred the anger that always smoldered close under the surface.

They see a few Romans marching, a cohort, and the Roman power seems slight and open to attack. They do not think that behind these few there are others, another cohort, a legion, countless legions, on and on as far as the mind can reach, all armed, all perfected in the art of killing.

They see a few Romans marching, a cohort, and the Roman power seems slight and open to attack. They do not think that behind these few there are others, another cohort, a legion, countless legions, on and on as far as the mind can reach, all armed, all perfected in the art of killing.

Joel made an impulsive gesture, swiftly checked, and stood quietly.

How could he have bungled his errand so stupidly? He had failed Rosh.