12 Herculinus looked to his loin cloth and understood what it was. "You desire her," he announced, "your manhood is risen."
13 The eunuch looked horrified. "But sir! That cannot be!" he cried, "They took that from me when I was a child of seven!"
14 "That may be," Herculinus answered, "but you have it again, now! I think in the future you had better not watch over the lady quite so closely!"
15 The eunuch nodded in agreement. It was found the other one was having similar problems also. 16 As his wife approached, Herculinus told her what had happened. She shrugged. "What man has done," she commented, "God can undo."
17 "What is your name, woman?" Herculinus asked. "I cannot continue to call you my lady all the time!"
18 His wife looked at him. "My old name," she answered, "brings me nothing but sorrow and pain. My life really began when you took the blade from my throat. Give me a new name!"
19 Herculinus thought for some time. "From this day forth," he finally announced, "you shall be Helen, the most beautiful of all!"
20 This was well received and they journeyed on. Come high sun they had made a good distance when Helen took her husband's arm. "Do you hear that?" she cried.
21 The others listened and after a time they too, heard it...a whimpering and wailing carried to them on the wind. When they found the source Helen gave a horrid cry and looked away. Along the trail ten men had been cricufied, their bodies hung on the crosses. Below them, their women and children had been lashed together to die at the feet of their men.
22 Several of the women were already dead. They had bashed their own heads on rocks to end their suffering. But two of them and, six of the children, still lived.
23 Though it was dangerous to interfere with a Roman execution Herculinus could not leave them there. They cut those that still lived free, gave them water, and then made haste to be away.
24 As they made camp that evening Herculinus looked to the eunuchs. "Gentlemen," he said, "your wives. Ladies, your husbands, if, of course, you do not object."
25 The women looked at their companions then, to their children that laid about them, holding to them for their strength. "Where you lead, Lord," the eldest answered, "there we go. Had you not come, another day the vultures would have feasted on our children. Our lives are yours!"
26 So it was Herculinus and his little party went down into Egypt and later on, to Rome.
WHY WON'T YOU HEAR ME?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Now, while these things were happening Jesus and His disciples went down to Capernaum. There lived there a certain centurion who had a servant who was a devout Jew, and who was sick near death. When the centurion heard that Jesus was there he went down to Him, and said unto Him, "Rabbi, my servant loves his nation. Long has he done good things for your people. He has had me build them a synagogue here. And because I love him as if he was my father I have done many other good things for your people. I ask of you, in the name of Your Fathers, that you command this sickness to go away, and make him whole."
2 Jesus said "Be it so. I will come down and heal your faithful servant."
3 But the centurion refused Him, saying, "No, I am not worthy, Lord, that you should enter into my house, for I am not of your nation. I come to you only on behalf of my servant, who is of your house.
4 But say you that my servant is well, and he shall be well. I, also, am a man of great authority, having under me many soldiers. When I say to one 'Go,' he will surely go. When I say to one 'Come,' he will come. When I say to my servant 'Do this,' he does it.
5 You have no need to come down. Just say 'It is so,' and it is done."
6 When Jesus heard these things He marvled, turned to all about Him, and cried, "I say to you, I have found no greater faith in all of Israel to compare to this man's faith! How glorious it would be if all of Israel believed as great as he!
7 Go forth, good sir. Your servant is well. May his children be blessed and, all your children be blessed, for you are a glory unto Israel.
8 When some of the Jews heard this they were angrier than ever, sending word to Jerusalem that indeed this Jesus was a friend of Rome.
9 The next day Jesus went down to Nain, and many of His disciples went with Him. As they neared the gate a funeral party was coming out. The woman that was with it wept bitterly, for the dead man was her son, her only child, and she was a widow.
10 When Jesus saw her he took compassion on her and He said, "Woman, weep not." He told the bearers to put down their burden. To their horror He undid the burial cloth and exposed the young man.
Page 28