Cursing and beating the locals away from his charge, the squad leader led his group toward the place of execution, a mount called Golgotha, the Place of the Skull.
The skinny Jew was stronger than he looked. He made it part of the way, but after he had fallen a couple of times, the decurion drafted one of the onlookers, a big husky black man, probably a visitor from Cyrene, and put him to carrying the cross. Damn tourist. The decurion wanted to get the job over with so he could get back to the barracks and clean up for tonight's date with that little dancer from Armenia.
Even with the black man carrying the cross the journey seemed interminable, but finally they trudged their way through the dust and garbage up to the hilltop, leaving behind most of the spectators. It was just too damned hot for the crowd to hang around; only a few hardcore hangers-on stayed for the final spectacle-they and the women. Surprisingly, there were several women.
When they reached the place of execution, the decurion took a deep breath and told the two Syrians to go ahead and get the Jew put up properly and for them to use the spikes he had brought along as well as the usual ropes. His orders were that the Jew was not to live any longer than necessary because it was always possible that some of his followers might start some trouble. The soldiers were to make sure that, after the example had been made and the local leaders were satisfied, they were to finish him off before anything unpleasant happened.
The Syrians quickly stripped the robe off the Jew and laid him unresisting on the cross, one of them humming a child's song as he tied the man to the cross. The Jew was mumbling something under his breath, praying or something. As the two Syrians went about their job, the Jew kept his eyes closed and only opened them when the first spike was driven through his right wrist. His body writhed, and a moan burst from his cracked and drying lips. This was repeated when his other wrist and legs were nailed, and then all the squad got together to draw the cross into an upright position and drop it into the hole that had been dug for it. Jesus gave one long moan during this operation and a short cry as the cross thumped into the bottom of its hole.
The legionnaires quickly tamped the earth down around the base of the cross and sat down to take a break, passing around a flask of raw, half-fermented, local date wine. It wasn't much, but it was the best they could afford since it was still a week until payday.
Then they crucified the two thieves, one on either side of Jesus.
The sun was moving westward and beginning to grow large and red. The decurion thought of tonight's date. The other men in the squad were throwing dice for the Jew's robe. The decurion watched them for a moment and made up his mind.
'Shit, there ain't no reason for all of us to hang around here for this. You guys throw the dice. The three low points stay and finish up. The rest of us are going to take off.'
The shortest Latin had just put his cup and carved bone dice back in his kit bag after the gamble for the robe. Now he pulled them out again. The three who lost were the two Syrians and the big tall North Latin, Casca. Casca, at five-foot-ten, stood at least half a head over the others. He tried to buy his way out of this job, offering to take guard duty for any of the others their next turn up. There were no takers. It was just too damned hot to hang around. He would just have to take his lumps and sweat it out.
As the rest of the squad marched wearily back down the hill, the Jew on the cross moaned and asked for water.
'Water?' Casca grumbled. 'That will just keep you alive that much longer.' Laughing, he poured some of the sour wine onto a rag tied to the end of his pilum and held it to the mouth of the Jew. Jesus sucked eagerly at the sour-almost vinegar-wine, and passed out.
Casca and the two Syrians sat and waited.
The two thieves died.
The Jew was quiet. At least they didn't have to listen to him moan or pray. These Hebrews were always moaning about something their God said or did-or praying for Him to come save them from the wicked Romans. Hell, they had a lot less trouble under the laws of Rome than they did when they ran their own country. There was no satisfying some people…
Casca grumbled as he sat at the base of the cross and tried to catch a little sleep. The two Syrians were throwing dice, gambling against their next payday. Casca dozed fitfully, sweating inside his leather jerkin, sweat filling his sandals, the sweat burning a sore place where the sandals had rubbed a raw spot between his toes.
Casca slept.
How long he slept he did not know, but he came suddenly violently awake, skin crawling with premonition.
Something was going to happen…
When Casca opened his eyes the skies were dark as though night had come and a storm was at hand. He felt disoriented; memory and present reality jumbled in his mind. Time no longer seemed to flow in a straight pattern but halted, backed up, stepped forward. Damn Jew wine… musta gotta hold of a bad batch…
He remembered dozing fitfully, sweating inside his leather jerkin, the sweat burning. His opening eyes were sticky from sleep and sweat; that seemed real enough. The night was almost on them…Had he slept that long? All the spectators had left except for a couple of women and a few of the Jew's followers. But there was something odd as hell about the night. Below him, Casca expected to see the lamps being lit around the doorway leading to the temple of the divine Jupiter. And the beginning wind should be picking up the smell of cooking food. But there were no lamps. And the stirring wind smelled… Hell!.. odd…
Casca drew himself erect and beat the dust off his legs, glancing at the two gambling Syrians. One of them was ticked off because the other had just clipped him for his next pay-as well as the Jew's robe. Casca ignored the bickering soldier and stood in front of the Jew. Looking up, his eyes met those of the self-proclaimed 'Son of God.'
'Well, Jew, it's about time to get this over with.'
At the sound of Casca's voice, Jesus raised his eyes to the darkening sky and cried out. As best Casca could make out the words, they were: 'O my Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?'
He seemed to choke back a sob, as though embarrassed by his own outburst.
Casca drew his red army cloak about him. The night had taken a sudden chill as the freshening wind began to build.
'Why has your father forsaken you?' he said to the Jew. 'You fool. We are all forsaken from the time we first draw a breath. No one lives forever. Stop that whining and prepare yourself to die like a man, and stop calling for your father to help. It's too late for anyone to help.'
The wind whipped stinging bits of sand against his legs, and thunder rumbled in the distance. Casca picked up the spear where it was leaning against a rock. The wind was becoming fierce, and he had to squint his eyes against the force of the building storm. Small drops of rain were beginning to touch down, making puffs of dust jump from the dirt at the foot of the cross. The two Syrians covered their heads with their cloaks for protection. Casca took his spear and stood close to the cross.
'It's time to get this over. I'll try to make it as painless as possible.'
The Jew clenched his teeth, his lips pale. Casca drew back slightly and with a smooth thrust ran his spear up against the last rib on the left side, aiming for the heart. He missed, and withdrew for another lunge.
The skies broke open. Black clouds seemed to suck the very light itself from the earth. Wind and rain howled around them as if the elements had gone mad. Fluid and blood poured forth from the wound, and drops of blood splashed against Casca's right hand.
Jesus opened his eyes and looked on the Roman's face.
Fear ran through the bowels of Casca. He had never seen a face like this. The intent and tremendous power of the Jew swept over him as though it were a part of the raging storm.
'Soldier, you are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain until we meet again. As I go now to my Father, you must one day come to me.' The Jew's voice blasted its way into Casca's mind. The two Syrians did not appear to hear or see. 'Soldier. You are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain… until we meet again…'
The wind screamed. Casca stood in shock and fear, the Jew's blood on his hand mingling with the falling drops of rain. Unthinking, Casca wiped his hand across his mouth, and one drop of blood touched his tongue, and Casca screamed. He doubled over in cramps. What felt like liquid fire raced through his veins to his brain, setting his whole being on fire. And still the others noticed nothing.
Casca fell to the ground and lay there whimpering while his whole body was racked with sobs. Slowly the
