Jason's Friend
Jason’s Friend
Early in the afternoon of the third day of travelling with the king’s soldiers they arrived at the gate of the city of Naz. The journey had been quite pleasant and the commander avoided them most of the time. Jon and Jason hopped off the wagon once inside the gate. The commander ignored them, “Good riddance!” he muttered under his breath. Jason headed off in the direction of his home with Jon following. People stopped and stared at the older man, especially when they saw his staff. Curious children followed and soon a crowd began to jostle along, many talking among themselves, wondering who they were and where they were going - but especially what was this man with the odd looking walking stick? Eventually a young man in the throng recognized Jason and shouted out to him, “Jason! Is that really you? Thank goodness, you are alive!” He elbowed his way through the crowd and walked with the travelers.
“Stephen! I am fine. Meet my dearest friend, Jon, who helped me get back here to see my parents. Jon, this is Stephen - we went to school and grew up together on the streets of our neighborhood.” Jason hugged Stephen around his shoulders as they continued to walk.
“It is good to meet a friend of Jason’s. Forgive our haste but we wish to get to Jason’s house as soon as we can. Are you free to walk with us?” Jon asked.
“As a matter of fact, I think I have been looking for you both. The old seer in town predicted a holy man and his young disciple were coming to read the holy book. We all thought he was talking crazy again, but I had to see if it was true. I have been waiting at the gate since early this morning, hoping I might see them and talk to them. When I saw you both get off the soldier’s wagon I dismissed the idea you could have been the ones predicted. I expected a holy entourage with horns and banners. But the people began to chatter about the old man with the strange staff, so I hurried to catch up to you. Are you going to the Place of the Book?” Stephen looked anxiously at them.
“We are indeed, after we see Jason’s parents,” said Jon.
Stephen halted dead in his tracks. Jon and Jason stopped and turned back toward him. “What’s wrong? Do you not wish to come with us?” queried Jon.
Stephen’s eyes were downcast. “Jason, your parents are not at your home. They are in the dungeon in the king’s palace. They were arrested by the Commander of the Guard last week for not paying respect to him while waiting at the gate.”
Jon watched Jason for his reaction, but Jason remained calm. He looked at them both with a slight smile and said very quietly, “Then we must make our way to the palace. It seems our mission has not changed, right, Master Jon? I am ready to see the will of the Brilliant One.”
Jon put his arm around his disciple’s shoulder. “Today, you have become a man, and have responded as a holy man. Indeed, let us proceed to the palace. I wish to meet this king and his commander, though I will venture to say that we have probably already met one of them. Come, Stephen! Are you ready for a mission? Beware! Your life may change today. What say you?”
Stephen stared at them in wonder. “Well, the old seer was right. And I have always wanted to see more wonderful things, but now that I am possibly about to, I am afraid.”
Jason laid his hand on his young friend’s shoulder. “It is a good fear, Stephen, it is a good fear.”
“This way, then,” Stephen pointed to the left. “We must move quickly before the palace gates are closed for the night.”
The struggle through the streets slowed them down considerably, much to Stephen’s frustration. The people wanted blessings from the holy man and Jon laid hands on many speaking prayers over them. After an hour, Stephen burst out in anger, “We will never make it to the palace on time at this rate. Can’t you get him to move faster, Jason?”
“Stop worrying, my friend. He is ministering to them and they need the blessings,” he said.
Stephen was wringing his hands. “But, aren’t you concerned about your parents? We need to get to them now. We need to help them.”
“Be calm, Stephen, they are in good hands. Besides, there is nothing we can do for them right now. The Brilliant One is preparing for their release and for us to read the Book.”
Stephen looked at his friend in wonder. “I hope you are right.”
Another hour went by and they had not moved much. Soon a rumbling wagon plowed through the throng and the driver pulled the horse to a halt. “Get in,” yelled a familiar voice. “I heard you were stuck here. We changed our minds; we want to see the book. Let’s go before they close the palace gate!” Grinning from ear to ear was Zako and Lud from the caravan. They reached down and hauled Jon in the wagon as Jason and Stephen climbed on the back end. “Get up!” Zako yelled and the crowd scattered before the lurching horses. “Hang on! We’ll see if this old wagon can make it! Whoopee!”