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Cleon and Lucia Part 1 of the family saga

Miracles in the Morning by

John Coombe

For my lovely wife, Coral

Contents First words…………………………….........

9

Main characters named in story………

11

Abbreviated family trees…………………

13

Maps – Extent of Roman power ……..

14

Judaea at time of story..........

15

ter

Murder at Jericho...…………………........

17

1

Mountain Heritage…………………………

29

2

The Angel and the devil……………….....

43

3

Opportunity in Judaea……………………

53

4

Confrontation - and after………………..

65

5

The Baby……………………………………….

75

6

Conflict at Herodium………………………

87

7

The Matchmaker……………………………

99

8

Cleon and Septimus………………………..

111

9

Cleon and the Jews…………………………

119

10

The Circumcision……………………………

129

11

Recognition at the Temple………………

137

12

Escape…………………………………………..

149

13

Aftermath………………………………………

159

14

Problem in Rome……………………………

171

15

Problem resolved……………………………

185

Chap-

16

17

Anxious young women…………………….

199

18

Rebellion and after………………………….

211

19

Slave and free…………………………………

223

20

Away into danger……………………………

237

21

Home to Nazareth…………………………..

249

22

Susannah and Solomon and Jacob……

261

23

After the flood………………………………..

271

24

Tragedy for Lucia……………………………

281

25

Recovery……………………………………….

291

26

Rebirth of a marriage……………..……….

299

27

He’s buying!............…………………........

307

28

There he is!............…………………………

319

29

Damage at Sebastos…….………………….

333

30

Consequences…………..…………………...

341

31

Surprisingly free…………..………………..

353

32

New beginnings….………………………….

361

Explanatory notes……………………........

373

Acknowledgements…………………………

375

An invitation………………………………….

377

First pages of ‘Mark and Milcah’………

379

First words It was a summer morning in 6 BC, on the Aventine hill in Rome.

Cleon looked up at the second building from the corner. Yes, it had four floors above the shops. He hurried up the stairway to the top. All Lucia’s directions seemed to fit. He wiped the perspiration from his face as he walked, counted four doors to the right, and knocked. A crack appeared immediately, enough for a woman to peer at him with wide open eyes. For a moment, Cleon thought he had made a mistake. But the words pounding at him removed his doubt.

“You Miss Lucia’s Greek? Look every day now to see if you come along our street. Miss Lucia tell me you be here in July.

You too late. Far away she is. Gone to Judaea, with her father.

And my lady at bath-house and you can’t stay.”

Cleon’s head reeled. This must be the voluble Tacita, the slave whom Lucia loved. Gone to Judaea! That was where his father had served his last two years as a Roman auxiliary soldier.

Cleon touched the little box hanging under his tunic, containing the treasured relic.

“Judaea? Why? When?”

“Two months they been gone. Master Septimus promise Lucia to old Tullus. In Brundisium. Ooh, she angry when they tell her! Then the census come and Master take her with him.

Mother Patricia happy with that. You come too late. Unless …”

“Unless what?”

Tacita shrugged as she stared at him.

“You be strong. Tullus a rich man. Big new house. You need good words to fight for Lucia.”

The door closed.

Cleon turned away, for once regretting the occupation that kept him from Rome for months at a time. Be strong. He could make a case for himself. Good words. He would find them. If he could reach her father in time, when he came home, before any wedding.

9

Cleon and Lucia As he walked down to the Via Appia he thought of Lucia, in Judaea, of all places. He wished he was there, could see her, and talk to her father. His own father, Ario of Pontus, had been left with nightmares after his last duty in Judaea, nearly thirty years ago.

And the same King Herod was still in power.

10

Main Characters named in story Fictional Cleon - young Roman engineer, born in Pontus Lucia - only child and daughter to Septimus - Roman census administrator, and Patricia - Septimus’ wife Tacita - slave in Septimus’ household Tullus - elderly Roman, member of the Equestrian order, cousin by marriage to Septimus Ario - auxiliary Roman soldier from Pontus, Cleon’ father, formerly a slave Publius - wealthy Roman Senator, Ario’s owner then Patron, also Patron to Quadratus (the Patronage is continued by sons of same name) Rebia - Ario’s wife, formerly a young widow, Cleon’s mother Kleitos - Older cousin and neighbour of Cleon Quadratus - Roman master engineer, member of the Equestrian Order, a widower, Cleon’s employer Solomon - Jewish merchant of Rome, Septimus’ friend and financier Ruth - Solomon’s wife, Patricia’s friend Uzi - Household servant of Solomon and Ruth Judith - Uzi’s wife, also a servant Amos - Shepherd of Bethlehem (fictional father of historical Athronges) Tamar - midwife of Bethlehem, mother of Rachel - Jewish maiden Karpos - Greek land-owner from Syria, farming in the Judean highlands Matthias - elderly Amanuensis of Alexandria Susannah - Jewish woman of Sepphoris in Galilee, a city near Nazareth 11

Cleon and Lucia

Naomi - Susannah’s sister, of Nazareth Aliza - Susannah’s daughter Mark - Cleon and Lucia’s son Silvia - his sister Jacob - Cypriot Jew, friend and business associate of Solomon Alexander - Greek slave owned by Quadratus Historical/Biblical Caesar Augustus - Roman emperor from 27 BC to 14 AD Herod - King of Judaea - includes Judea, Samaria, Galilee and other territories Gabriel - an archangel Mary - Jewish virgin of Nazareth in Galilee, betrothed and then married to Joseph - Jewish carpenter of Nazareth Jesus - Mary’s son, Joseph’s ward Simeon - elderly Jew of Jerusalem, known to be pious Anna - elderly Jewish widow, a prophetess living in the Temple Nicolaus of Damascus - King Herod’s Secretary, friend and advisor Athronges - Shepherd of Bethlehem, leader of a band of five rebellious brothers Archelaus - King Herod’s son, Ethnarch of Judea

12

1 Murder at Jericho October, 35 BC – Jericho, Judaea - Alexandra’s palace Ario slapped his ankle and examined his hand.

“Got you!” he breathed, as he saw the blood spattered remains of the insect on his palm. He stamped his foot to ease the itch, cursing the day he'd been posted to this unkind kingdom.

Straightening, he wiped his hand against the trunk of a date palm and stared out over the large ponds below him. They were not as magnificent as some he had seen. This was an old palace, home to King Herod’s mother-in-law. Still, they invited a swim in the unusual October heat. ‘But not for me, or any guard,’ Ario thought.

He had watched the sunlight fade from the folds in the hills to the east across the Jordan River, even as the long shadows reached out from the barren heights in the west. Now a lamplighter walked his rounds, one torch after another flaming and smoking, tainting the darkening air with the smell of burning pitch, waving with the puffs of hot wind that eddied across the valley. Broken lines of light shimmered as ripples disturbed the surface of the water. Ario turned and paced along the terrace path under the tall palms, moving back towards the palace. His eyes moved constantly, alert even in his gloom. He could see the sentries on the other side of the ponds, and his colleague coming 17

Cleon and Lucia from the opposite end of their beat. The lamplighter moved away along a path next to the palace.

‘Only three more days of soldiering,’ thought Ario, ‘Be free to claim my Roman citizenship! Get away from this country forever!’

His spirits rose. He would go back to his Pontic mountains, to the snow and the wind and the fresh scent of the flowers in the spring, the cool clear water of the streams. And down through the green forests the sea, a real sea, not like the stagnant lake a short march away. He would have enough money to find a wife and build a home. His loins stirred. He was still vigorous. They would start a family, have a small flock, grow their own food. Peace. His heart quickened. Roman citizenship! He would have earned that reward. It was the key to the future for his children. But there was a mystery here.

His Captain had ordered him to keep silent and stay on his beat, no matter what he saw. A threat followed.

“Your future depends on it, maybe your life.”

He had heard of the intrigue and brutality that had brought King Herod to power, shortly before he had been sent into his service. He had witnessed harsh reprisal for disloyalty. Would there be more, tonight? Was anyone due for punishment? He looked about. All seemed normal.

Ario pushed away the questioning in his mind and thought back along the road he had come since that awful day thirty years before, when a patrol of Pompey’s invading army had come looking for food. He and his father were asleep beside their produce in the little market town near their home, when they were startled awake by shouted warnings from running people. So swiftly did the scavenging Romans descend that they and many others were captured as they scrambled to their feet.

Ario was too confused to resist. His arms were tied behind 18