Man of God by Debra Diaz Read Free Book Online Page A

front of the house ended in a slope
beyond which she couldn’t see, but just then Paulus’ tall figure
came into view, and she slipped out the door to go and meet him. He
smiled as she approached and wrapped his arm around her. They
walked for a moment, as the lowering sun cast shadows from the
surrounding trees across their path.
    “You were worried,” he said. “I’m sorry,
Alysia.”
    “Is anything wrong?”
    “I met Camillus on the way home.” Paulus
stopped and put both hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes.
“I hate to ask it of you…they have lost a child. His wife needs
you, Alysia. Will you go and see her tomorrow?”
    She looked at him steadily, both pain and
compassion flooding her heart. She nodded, and he put both arms
around her, holding her strongly against him. She closed her eyes,
and remembered…
     
     
     
    CHAPTER IV
     
    They still had Asbolos then, and the dark
gray horse streaked through the still, black night as though borne
on wings. Alysia sat in front of Paulus, with two-year-old Rachel
clutched in her arms, and Paulus’ arms a shield around them both.
He held the reins tightly in his hands, but the warhorse was well
trained and needed little guidance. Not far behind pounded the hoof
beats of their pursuers.
    There had been no time for planning. Their
belongings had been stuffed into a bag and tied to the saddle,
leaving behind the cart and donkey that had carried them from
Palestine to the cities of Antioch and Tarsus and now Perga. They’d
been there for several weeks, but that particular day Paulus had
been speaking to a group of men near the Temple of Leto, the
“queen” goddess of Perga, and someone had taken offense at his
words. The man reported Paulus to the local authorities, and his
description had been recognized. One of the city officials was a
believer; he went, in the dead of night, to warn Paulus that Roman
soldiers were starting toward his rented house, and were
surrounding the entire block.
    Asbolos’ feet flew through the wide, deserted
streets, and even the porticos lining them gave no reflection of
light from the moonless sky. The walls and towers encircling the
city would allow no escape; Paulus headed for the sea. He prayed
that there would be at least one boat readied for sailing down the
Cestrus River to the port some five miles away, but even though it
was near dawn the small boats were still tied down and there was no
one on the wharf. No time to do anything but hide.
    Storage houses and sheds lined the riverbank,
all closed with padlocks and chains. Paulus guided the horse
swiftly here and there, examining the buildings. He saw a loose
plank of wood at the back of one of the low sheds. The clattering
of hooves came closer. In an instant he dismounted, snatched the
bag from the saddle and pulled Alysia and their daughter down
beside him. Stroking his horse’s neck, he said softly, “Go,
Asbolos,” and struck him on the rump. The horse turned obediently
and fled in the opposite direction.
    When the soldiers appeared the three of them
were inside the shed, with the wood planking pulled into place.
They listened as the soldiers paused only briefly; then, obviously
hearing the sound of Paulus’ horse running in the distance, they
continued in pursuit.
    Rachel, who had behaved remarkably well
throughout the wild ride, began to cry at the disappearance of
their beloved horse. Alysia lifted her eyes to Paulus’ and
whispered, “Asbolos.”
    “He’s a fine and costly animal—they’ll take
good care of him. And, I hope, won’t catch him for a while. You
must keep her quiet, Alysia.”
    Paulus knew he could grieve later over the
loss of his horse; he also knew the soldiers would come back here
once they failed to find him elsewhere. He pulled the loose board
off the shed and stepped out. The surest escape would be by boat,
but it all depended on how soon the captains arrived, and how
quickly one could be persuaded to take them immediately to