The Last Disciple by Sigmund Brouwer Read Free Book Online Page A

tightly.
    “There,” Aristarchus said, “I have spoken. Let it be done as I have commanded.”

Vespera
    When she finally found Nathan, Leah expected to see the same despair that she’d seen in the other cells crowded with prisoners as she had peered inside, straining her eyes in the dimness to find her brother.
    The prisoners gathered in her brother’s cell, however, were not catatonic or drunk or wailing like those condemned to the arena for murder or robbery or arson. Instead, they were quietly singing hymns as they held hands. They were men and women and children, a dozen of them, making a joyous sound that seemed to brighten the cell as surely as if each had been holding a candle.
    Nathan noticed her immediately and rushed away from the group. It was only a couple of steps, and he tried to embrace Leah through the bars.
    “Nathan!” Leah began to weep.
    “My sister, my sister,” Nathan said, stroking her hair.
    It took several moments for Leah to realize that her brother was giving her comfort, when she’d fully expected in this situation that she would have to provide it for him.
    He had matured somehow and was different.
    “Why are you here?” he said. “You shouldn’t have risked this.”
    “The message came that you needed to see Caleb. And he’s . . .”
    “Yes?” he said with a trace of his former impatience for life to move quickly. “Where is he? Is everything all right at home?”
    She nodded, lying to a loved family member for the second time that day.
    It was not all right at home. Their father was furious that Nathan had abandoned the Jewish faith, heartbroken that it would cost his son his life. Caleb, the eldest brother, shared the fury and heartbreak and had valiantly tried to reconcile Nathan with their father in the days after he announced his faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah of the Jews. The few months until Nathan’s arrest had been almost as unbearable as the days that followed it.
    “Where is Caleb?” Nathan asked. “I didn’t want or expect you to come here. It’s too dangerous.”
    “Caleb has been called by the emperor,” Leah said. She knew it was the opposite, that Caleb had sought the emperor’s ear; he’d taken her into his confidence so they both could lie to their father. And now she passed the lie on to Nathan.
    “Called to the emperor? Called? Or arrested?”
    Leah frowned, briefly clutching her throat. “No. Not arrested. Caleb has not turned away from our father’s faith.”
    Nathan closed his eyes briefly. “I wish so badly that you would understand. It is not turning away from the faith of our fathers. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and the promises of God.” He opened his eyes. “I’m sorry. You’ve heard me say that many times. I will continue to pray that you and Caleb find this faith.”
    Leah did not understand. Here was Nathan. In a horrible cell. Facing a horrible death. And he prayed for others to share his faith? Still, this was not the time or place to engage in the familiar arguments that had torn apart their family before Nathan’s arrest.
    She clung to the bars, wanting to hold her younger brother. He was so handsome. So young. He did not deserve to die.
    “Nathan,” she said softly, “you sent a message that you needed Caleb. He is now with the emperor. How can I help in his stead?”
    “No,” Nathan said. “I want you to go home as quickly as possible.”
    “I’m here now.” Leah clenched the bars of the cell. “I refuse to leave unless you let me help.”
    Nathan tightened his lips. “Only because it’s so important.”
    “Is it something I can bring to you?”
    He shook his head. “There are letters in our household. If they are found by the authorities, all of you will be at risk. You need to make sure they are hidden so safely that a hundred searches would not reveal them. If you don’t have the faith, you should not be punished for it.”
    “Why not destroy the