The Implacable Hunter by Gerald Kersh Read Free Book Online Page B

the time.”’
    ‘What!’ cried Afranius, ‘Diomed of all people doesn’t trust eye-witnesses?’
    ‘Not unless their independent testimonies happen to fit the established fact. Independent, mind; uninfluenced and dispassionate. And I trust a hundred witnesses a hundred times less than I’d trust one. But my business is, to keep the peace, and leave judgment to the judges.’
    ‘The testimony of an educated man –’ Tibullus began. Poor fellow he was destined seldom to finish an observation .
    Melanion completed it for him: ‘– is the testimony of a man with preconceived opinions. What you call education is nothing but a ring in your nose to lead you by.’
    ‘If Melanion wants an argument,’ I said firmly, ‘he can’t have one this morning. We were speaking generally about history and eye-witnesses, and so on. I was about to give you a case in point. You have heard of one Jesus Christ, who, if he has not made history, has certainly made a great deal of trouble –’
    ‘Same thing,’ said Melanion.
    ‘Well. Naturally, one is professionally interested to know what kind of fellow this was, who roused such a persistent rabble, shook the Temple, and has managed to flog up a whole mad-doggery of fanatics simply by repeating a few stale and perfectly harmless aphorisms, fables and injunctions . Now this man preached to thousands who, hanging on his words, must have looked at his face. He was a demagogue , a prominent figure. He was cheered in the streets. His public trial was overcrowded. His execution was exceptionally well attended – in fact, I have it on report that there might have been a riot, if he hadn’t sworn his supporters to non-violence. There must be, let us say, a way of making a composite picture of the various descriptions of the man, for the sake of identification?
    ‘I questioned fourteen people who had seen and heard Jesus Christ, concerning his personal characteristics. Six said he was tall, five said he was neither tall nor short, and two said he was short. That, roughly, should make his height average. Now, as to colouring: one, a Macedonian, swore Jesus Christ had grey eyes and fair hair; seven, who were Jews, said they had never seen his hair, because his head was always covered, but that he had a magnificent jet-black curly beard, very large black eyes, and a rosy complexion; two Romans said he was pallid and swarthy, with a high forehead and a very thin beard and small, prominent eyes; a Dacian said he had a healthily bronzed face, narrow dark eyes, and a broad, low forehead; and three others said, simply, that he did not look very well. Eight swore that he had a tremendous, resonant voice – the voice is very important, remember – a voice like a gong; but five were quite sure that he had such a little, quiet voice, that he had to use one of his followers for a mouthpiece whenever he addressed a moderately large meeting; and one was equally certain that Jesus Christ screamed somewhat likea passionate woman.
    ‘Eye-witnesses, all of them, who would have put their hands in the fire to swear to the accuracy of the evidence of their senses!’
    Afranius said: ‘I didn’t know you were interested.’
    ‘I’m not; it is a matter of professional curiosity. His own case is closed. But the mopping up is far from over.’
    ‘If you’re interested,’ said Afranius, ‘ I saw him.’
    ‘You describe him, then,’ I said, ‘for you have a good eye, I think, and a healthy kind of general curiosity.’
    ‘Thanks. I was in Jerusalem on business and got caught in the crowd at the execution. I don’t enjoy such spectacles, but it was easier to wait a little than to get out of it – my fellows didn’t like the temper of part of the crowd. Three went up that day on the hill – two bandits and Jesus Christ. One of the bandits had Habet tattooed on his –’
    ‘Jesus, Jesus, what about Jesus?’ I asked.
    ‘He came last. He was in a pretty bad way. The priests must have paid the