the limestone walls.
Malchus carried a lamp over to the bedside table. “Jamin, there’s water in the jug on the cabinet and bring the towels. Cleopas, get the jug of vinegar and the olive oil from the cabinet.”
Jamin brought the water jug and cloths. “Should we take his armor off and what about his caligae? He looks too young to be a centurion. I thought the Romans were meticulous about granting titles.”
“Perhaps not always,” Malchus said. “Leave his caligae. He’s not going to be here long enough to get comfortable. But we should get the armor off.”
They discussed his hand injury, but decided to treat the head and neck wounds first. They unfastened the leather straps connecting the two metal plates of armor and set them on the floor.
“Cleopas hold a lamp on the other side of the bed,” said Malchus. He tilted Adas’s head and inspected the wounds. “Apparently, the rock tore this gash. It’s a good thing it didn’t hit his eye. There will be a lot of bruising but he’ll live.”
Malchus washed the blood from Adas’s hair, face, and neck. He patted the wounds with a fresh cloth. “Cleopas put the cloth over his eye.” Carefully, Malchus poured vinegar on the injury. Adas groaned as he clamped his teeth together.
“I should have put something between his teeth. This gash must be deeper than I thought. Hold the light here, Jamin.” Malchus indicated the laceration under the jaw and poured vinegar on it. Adas made a low growl.
“He even sounds like a wolf,” said Jamin. Malchus and Cleopas threw him puzzled looks. “When you see his eyes, you’ll understand.”
Adas moaned again. “He’s trying to come around. That’s a good sign.”
“We should look at his hand,” said Jamin. “This wound must be fresh.” He carefully unwound the cloth. “These cuts are deep.” Holding Adas’s hand away from the bed, he poured water over the wound. He removed the seal ring and cleaned it. “Look at this. His seal is a wolf. That makes perfect sense.”
Malchus frowned. “Why?”
“You’ll see,” said Jamin. He dried the ring off and put it back on Adas’s hand. Malchus picked up a lamp and held it closer to the wound.
“It’s a cross,” said Cleopas, peering over Malchus’s shoulder. “This wasn’t an accident. Do you think the big soldier did this?”
“No,” said Malchus. “When I realized the legionaries were heading for the garden, I took a short cut and got there just before they did. His hand was already bandaged. If they did this to him before they left, he wouldn’t have still been there when they got back. Whoever did it, I’d like to know why.” He took a small towel and folded it several times. Carefully, he worked the cloth between Adas’s teeth. He picked up the jug of vinegar. “This stuff should stop the bleeding. Jamin, take hold of his fingers and thumb.”
Malchus poured the acid on the cuts. Frowning, Adas groaned as he bit into the towel. His jaw muscles jumped with the effort.
Jamin carefully blotted the cuts with a fresh cloth. “We should let it air a little before we re-wrap it, but the bleeding has stopped. Take the towel out of his mouth. Vinegar burns like fire, but it doesn’t last long, thankfully.”
Malchus examined the cut under Adas’s jaw more closely. “You know, this cut is odd. Octavean must have done it. I couldn’t see them when I climbed down behind the quarry. When I came up behind Octavean, he was about to hit him with his fist, but his dagger was still in his belt. He could have easily killed him then. I wonder why he didn’t.” Malchus inspected the red discoloration along Adas’s left cheekbone. He gently pressed the area. “It’s not fractured.”
“That Roman has fists like Goliath,” said Cleopas. “Are you sure?”
“No, I can’t be sure since we cannot see through flesh.” Malchus said patiently. “He doesn’t even know how close he came to death. It was fortunate we happened to be there.”
“No, Malchus, this Roman did not survive because of good fortune. Cleopas and I were there specifically to find him. He’s the only one who can tell me what Yeshua and my brother talked about during their crucifixion. Why do you want to talk to him?” Before Malchus could answer, Adas groaned and turned his head.
“Come on, before he wakes up,” said Malchus. “Cut two more strips from his tunic. Let’s cover these wounds.” They covered the head and hand injuries with folded squares of clean cloth treated with olive oil. They wrapped linen strips to secure the bandages.
“Your brother and Yeshua must have spoken in Hebrew,” Malchus pointed out.
“This soldier speaks Hebrew and he was close enough to hear.”
Adas became aware of voices, and that he was lying on a bed. He did not recognize the voices. He felt a dull pain at the back of his head. He cautiously opened his eyes. Instinctively, he slapped a hand to his belt, but his dagger wasn’t there. Three men were staring at him.
“Centurion, do not be afraid,” Malchus said calmly. “You’re safe here.”
Adas saw they had no weapons, and had not moved. He knew if they meant to harm him, they would have done so already. “Where am I?” he asked in Latin.
Malchus whispered, “I see what you mean, Jamin—he has the eyes of a wolf.” He addressed Adas, “You are in my home. We brought you here for your protection. We did not know if your men would return to finish you off. My friend says you speak Hebrew. That is unusual for a Roman soldier.”
Adas tried to push up on his elbows, but the room swam around him. He dropped back on the bed and brought a hand to the back of his head. He could feel a knot under the skin. Adas answered in Hebrew. “I learned it as a child.” He put a hand to his chest. “Did Octavean take my armor? Are we far from the Antonia? Did he take my weapons?”
“No, to the first two questions, and probably to the third. We are in my quarters on the estate of High Priest Joseph Caiaphas. Your armor is on the floor. Neither your weapons nor a knapsack were in sight,” Malchus said. “You are safe here. My name is Malchus and this is Jamin and Cleopas. What is your name?”
Adas touched the bandage across his forehead. “Could I have some water?” Jamin held the jar and Malchus helped Adas sit up. He drank deeply and collapsed back on the bed. “My name is Clovius Longinus. My praenomen is Adas.” The three men glanced at each other, surprised that the Roman had a Jewish praenomen. “I’m in your debt for stopping Octavean and bringing me here. Why would you take such a risk?”
“Jamin and I have questions you can answer,” said Malchus.
“You heard what Yeshua and my brother talked about. I was too far away.”
Malchus described the legionaries’ plot to stone Adas to death. Jamin explained that he and Cleopas intervened with Hektor and Falto’s rock collecting. Adas felt along his bruised cheekbone. “I remember how this happened.” He touched the underside of his jaw. “I don’t remember this.”
“A cut from Octavean’s dagger, no doubt. I couldn’t see everything that happened. But I saw the other two leave. However, Octavean’s dagger was in his belt when I confronted him. We can only guess why he didn’t finish the job.”
