A Voice in Rama

"Call me 'Isaac'. You should trust me because you have no choice, my men are camped north of Bethlehem, and we're only a part of the main force. There will be an attack on this town later tonight. I risked all to come here this evening,” he said. He did look tired, and uneasy. In a man who had pre- viously appeared so powerful and self-assured, this demeanor frightened Jerusha more than did his words. He continued, mumbling, more to himself than to her, "I don't know why I came." "But why would Herod attack Bethlehem?" she pleaded. The man seated himself at the table, without relaxing. "There will be blood enough tonight no matter what I do, so I have come to warn you. I like you. I..." he interrupted himself, "and your children." He looked at the scene at the fireplace. The two older boys were looking at him. David seemed to remember him fondly. The man noticed Jonathan's sooty face. “One of them seems to have made himself an Ethiope, at the moment." “But what..." "The King has it in his head a little child is trying to kill him. The danger seems to come from Bethlehem, though how a boy under the age of two could wield a dagger, much less a sword or javelin, is beyond my poor comprehension. But we have orders to kill them all." "Kill who all?" Jerusha couldn't stay still in her furious impatience. She sat down, jumped up again, started pacing, and then forced herself to sit again while the soldier spoke. "All the boy-children in Bethlehem two years old and younger. Lucky we weren't here during the census a while back... there were too many people in town then." Jerusha's mind balked at the mental image “Isaac's” words conjured. "But King Herod is a Jew! He cannot kill the innocent children of his own people!" "Herod is not a Jew. He and his father were Edomites, Arab Pagans. Antipater had his son circumcised only to secure the Jewish kingdom for him." The officer's frustration at Jerusha's naiveté was beginning to equal her level of impatience. He feigned relaxation, clearly trying to recover the detached cynicism of his previous visit. "And Herod's esteemed allies are Romans. They believe parents can kill any children who displease them until they reach the age of four-teen years. Personally, I think the Roman way works out well. One can see whether the child is turning out right, and then decide whether the child is really wanted. Anyway, our own views don't matter in this. "You can believe me or not: We are going to kill the male infants of Bethlehem later tonight. I had to come alone, in advance, to warn and help you." "Why? How?" Jerusha's mind was spinning. "I told you: I like you. My motives are totally selfish. I've been watching you. In the market. And, yes, while you were begging in Jerusalem. And struggling home at night, with your children." "You never put any money in my bowl, if you were there." "No. I don't want you to think about me that way. I want... never mind." He looked embarrassed. “So, how can I help you? That's a good question. You don't seem to have the presence of mind right at this moment to act on my advice. But advice is all I can give you. Can you listen?" "I'll try," she said. And I'll certainly try to understand, and to act. She couldn't afford not to believe him. Jerusha had no time to think about his more personal reference to her. Isaac ordered Jerusha to sit down across from him, and then sat straight, leaned forward, and looked into her eyes. Jerusha had never before seen such a cold stare. She willed herself not to avert her eyes. "First, you must keep your mouth shut," he began. "Any general panic, especially in advance, and we'll have to kill the whole population. Secondly, you must send your three boys out of Bethlehem. Hide them in the mountains and caves south of here within an hour or two, at most, or lose them for-ever. But you, Jerusha, have to remain behind, or you and your family will be branded Zealots and potential usurpers of the throne, and be hunted down as long as you live – – which won't be long." Herod's officer paused, to let this sink in. Jerusha forced her mind to focus on his words. Isaac then assumed a less intense posture, and continued."I don't really think you can arrange this in time, so it probably doesn't matter, anyway. But don't misunderstand me: I will lead my men to this house when we are in your neighborhood. If any of your sons are here, you and I will watch them die together."