A Stone Laid in Zion
By Ellen Whitman Bynum
Book One in The Eagle and the Stone Series
SYNOPSIS:
This book sets the stage for the series. It introduces the opposing viewpoints of Governor Pilate—who believes only in himself and in Rome (in that order)—and his wife Claudia, a secret believer in Jesus who hopes to meet him and receive a healing touch from His hand. The trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus will have far-reaching consequences for them personally and for the Christian Church.
EXCERPT:
Chapter 1—Thunder at Dawn
“DOOM!”
Turning pale, my augur shook a warning finger at me as he pronounced the dreadful word. Three hours later, I can still hear him.
This is what provoked his extreme reaction: When I sent for him early this morning and told him about the thunder that wakened me at dawn, he voiced his objections to the trip I had planned for today. What clinched it for both of us was the highly unlucky sighting of the birds which followed my hearing the thunder. (Obviously the man didn’t want me to go; he knew he would be following close behind me.) This is why I now find myself walking along the waterfront toward the harbor of Caesarea instead of riding cross-country toward Jerusalem….
At this hour of a busy workday, the activity in the dock area ought to occupy my mind and help me keep it off those bad omens earlier this morning….
I wonder what disasters lurk between here and Jerusalem. Could it be a rockslide in one of those narrow passes? More likely, a band of Zealots lying in wait for me in such a place, where they can hide out behind the rocks and suddenly descend on our party? Perhaps some friends of that Barabbas we captured, who is now locked up, awaiting my arrival in Jerusalem, which is sure to result in his trial, condemnation, and death by crucifixion?
Of course a group of terrorists like the Zealots could not hope to defeat a cohort of Roman Soldiers in open country, but in the hills, they could bide their time until they spotted Claudia and me in our carriage, then jump us and cut us down before being cut to pieces themselves. They hate me—and the empire for which I stand—enough to lose their own lives in an attempt to put an end to mine.
Approaching the harbor…
Oh-oh! Watch your step, man, you need to keep your mind on where you’re going! (I almost tripped over a coil of rope back there, and that would have been another bad omen. Could have caused me to twist or break an ankle, even a leg.) And now, entering the harbor...
Maybe, like my augur, today I should have stayed behind stone walls and barred doors, thus avoiding all possibility of accident. But I will not allow myself to become a prisoner of fear.
I walk out on the slim spit of land at the southeast end of the harbor, now built up with dock facilities. Before Herod built this breakwater which constitutes the rest of it, this is all there was.
