AT THE DARK
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Any candles arranged on mossy rocks illuminated the faces of three new Christians. They were sitting on the flat stones in this dark corner of the Roman catacombs in the 66 AD.
The flickering light of the candles on the walls create a fantastic shadows that initially frightened Christians. But now they have forgotten about the fear and enthusiastically listened to the fourth standing and excitedly tells his story on the bad Latin.
He was aged about 60 years and recently came out of Palestine and saved the red beard. There he acquired a dark skin and facial wrinkles. Pretty strange movements he sometimes made near the foreheads of those who listened to him.
- Then , after my story you will understand what happens to you,- said Var- Abah, it was name of the narrator, and continued the story of what happened to him almost thirty years ago in Jerusalem.
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- I was awakened from a heavy sleep in the stone cell,- he said and continued.
His head still ached from the impact of that Roman soldier, when War-Abah tried to run away on the stairs carved into the rock.
A huge disappointment to himself is turning from the inside out ,- so much time to prepare the rebellion and so break! Yes, and to lead the fight at the time instead him simply no one. But he kept hoping to break away at any price!
He was remembering how then at the North Gate of the Temple has waited in the wings. A Roman soldier from behind the rest of the patrol was looking at a beautiful women from crowd of poor the habitants of Jerusalem. Bar-Abah was in joy there that occurred case to take revenge to Romans.
By one throw of his body he got to plunge the knife to the back of that Roman. Two satellites of War-Abah ran forward and attacked Roman convoy, but they were not lucky,- they were killed on the spot. Boss of the Temple guards , that quickly appeared on that place noted the blood on the sleeve of War-Abah and ordered to seize him.
The Temple Guardian pass him to Romans and they brought him in jail Roman Pretoria at Antony's fortress.
The boss of the jail called him "lestes"- bandit. During the interrogation this boss was dictating his signs:
- The age of this "lestes" is thirty , his name is War-Abah , his hair is black, eyes are brown-dark, big scar under left eye, auburn beard , brown cloak from rough material, he is barefooted, he don't remember where are his parents from.
When he was going down , he tried to count the stairs , but can't do it. It was more that amount he can count.
He was sitting on the stone bench into the down cell without light. He had the fetters on his hands from the chain , it hurt him to bend . This chain passed through the big ring on the wall.
Semi circled table from stone was before him. It was very inconvenient for him. But not this pain from the clap so disturbed him,- he was disturbed by the feeling of hopeless of his state.
Everything was ready for the revolt, but suddenly this prison stood before him! Now he was looking for a possibility of deliverance. But this Wall of Slavery stood before him , the slavery under Roman sandal!
Now he don't think about his execution, but he was looking for deliverance in his memory.
He was remembering how his father- soldier Irod's Army learning him how to know by sword. And in that time he wants to struggle with Romans together with his friends. They found that cave where they can put their buying and self made weapon. But suddenly Romans found up it. Romans were taking War-Abah and his friends and punished them unkind. The tracks from it were on their backs now. Now he has the debt to Romans!
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His reminiscences were stopped by footsteps of convoy ,- they have conducted a new prisoner to the upper chamber . He could hear that they ill-treated him , very roughly.
War- Abah was listening very attentive to these sounds and suddenly feeling a big joy.
Big gaps were break through there instead doors and he can head every word very good. When the convoy went out, he asked a new prisoner:
- Hey! Who are you? What's your name?
But new prisoner answer suddenly:
- Welcome , War- Abah! You will be else one, who will tell to people about me. My name is Krist. The name of my God Father is Krishna. People are naming me -Yeshu. I wanted to conduct them to New Kingdom and to teach them to love each other.
It was so strange , - how that new has known my name, thought War- Abah. He saw and headed many crazies in Jerusalem, but that man looked like very interesting for him.
- But why had you known my name?- asked War - Abah.
- I know your past and future ,- answer that man.
- But I conducted people to battle for a freedom. Nobody will give us a freedom! We'll do it by our hands only! We need to kill more and more Romans! I prepared a lot of people for revolt,- continued War-Abah trying to draw him.
In that moment he had the idea, that may be this Yeshu would help him escape from custody.
- Why do you want to kill people? They submit to their bosses,- asked Yeshu.
- You don't understand,- we can win a freedom by terror only,- answer War- Abah.
- But I want to transform people. I'll open the big secret: every human has Divine Power of Love. But it's sleeping into him inside from his birthday. I have awakened up this Power into my disciples and opened the Center Power into their foreheads . They can tread other people,- continued Yeshu.
War- Abah wanted to calm him, - he can make a noise and the guards can come here.
- No , I'm not mad , but you can't understand it , if you so strong want to kill Romans,- told Yeshu.
May be , do you want that I would wake up this Power onside you?
War- Abah was so surprised , that Yeshu has knew his thoughts , and wanted to agree with him, but only to calm him, only for it.
But as soon as War- Abah wanted to laugh at the suggestion , suddenly he saw the strong flash in his eyes. He was feeling that a stream of joy began to rise in his back like from a wine! He was feeling like a second small heart began to move into his fore heard, pushing there any obstacles. Cool stream passed over his back from the bottom up. Such sensations felt never in his life!
Suddenly War-Abah has believed in that Power of Yeshu!
Yeshu continued:
- People can't kill me and I can go on water, because my body was created from Divine Energy of Love!
- I know my purpose. After that this ignorant judge from Roman Empire has sentenced me. I'll go through the execution and then.
War - Abah was feeling he was becoming to another human been, like he was born second time!
The sound of Yeshu's voice awakened a joy inside! This joy raised to his forehead!
But he has heard footsteps of convoy.
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But suddenly War-Abah has remembered, that they'll conduct him to execution, because he killed Roman soldier. May be, he would run away. He headed how they unfettered Yeshu. Now a convoy conducted a blacksmith. This blacksmith disband the big ring above him by a tongs and liberated him from fetters.
He stopped and closed his face on the ladder from stones,- that sun light was intolerant for him after any days into that darkness.
War- Abah saw him, that one who has made him so happy . Yeshu was dressed in loincloth and the cloak with blood .
When they were leaded on the podium next to Pontius Pilat, War- Abah noted that the bruise under left eye showed exhausted appearance of Yeshu.
A escape wasn't possible,- Roman soldiers took this crowd difficulty.
These soldiers were ready to take everyone who can go ahead. And two cohorts were standing not far from this podium. They were ready to lead these prisoners to the execution. "Standard" with letters : S,P,Q,R - the flag of Roman legion was waving next to the podium in hands of the soldier. It was like a mockery of the two these .
Yeshu whispered:
- You'll be in joy!
War - Abah suddenly understood - all his life will break now! May be run out from it, he was thinking. He was ready already to jump to this crowd in that time.
Pontius Pilate told he must liberate someone from these prisoners. The reason - holiday "Passover". Pilate called this name:
- War-Abah!
The meaning of this phrase didn't get to War-Abah at the same time. He saw how Roman soldiers dispersed before him.
One soldier hit him flatly by his spear like to regret about less performance. People looked to him with surprise and regret , not believing that how the perpetrator can escape punishment.
War -Abah first of all went out from podium not believing in his freedom, but after that he was running quickly,- he was afraid a chase.
His friends were cried him "stop", but he didn't stop. He got his house in time when he was very tired.
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All his friends looking for him were there. They came back from the his search in this town. They were tired , eating and drinking the wine. These people who were in that execution on the Bald Mountain told about the execution and stranger appearances at that time. He was feeling like these people were pushing him to decisive acts.
But he was in a state of slow some-what and thinking about another think. He asked himself, why he, killed so many people, has got this freedom, but not Yeshu, who wanted to lead people into the Kingdom of Love.
Why that man -Yeshu , having so strong Power of Love, can't deliverance from that jail?
He was tired , has got his bag and got slapping quickly.
He was meeting any people at next day, who told him about that execution. In that time he has suddenly hated all these people and this town! So, Yeshu has goon to the execution for them! But they wanted this execution like a performing!
His friend Omar came to him at night and ask about the time of battle with Romans. But War- Abah at that time gave to understood him that it will be very soon .
Now he had a lack of confidence in the necessity of this uprising . There was the day , when he led the people to Romans in Garden of Gethsemane. Before he checked their weapons .
There were self made spears . But someone made report to Pilate about it and War-Abah's people got big trap in Kedron Valley. Romans encircled them and many arrows were flying to them.
One arrow got to his leg and he had fallen down between two stones.
Blood flowed down on him and there he was feeling a disgust to murder of people in first time. He got out from that mountain of corpses at that night and got his house.
There he took his money , changed close and went out on the Juffa Road. He got the Port Juffa and the ship of Italy. And after he arrived to Naples by this ship. He worked by many jobs in Naples. After that he went to Roma.
There he was meeting with Christians.
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- That's whole my history. But what are you feeling? - answer War- Abah and was looking to eyes of these Christians.
One of them began to tell:
- I was feeling like a ray of sun chopped this dark into my mind! Suddenly a movement began into my forehead! Yes , I was feeling it!
Suddenly he stopped heading something. Another Christian came inside and cried:
- Legionaries are arriving here!
War- Abah knew that Romans organized pursuits for Christians very often. He was ready for it ,- he has knife under his garment.
Boss of the brigade of Romans was coming in this place and pointed to Christians:
- Catch hold all of them, they are dissipating agitation in the town!
Two soldiers attacked to War-Abah, and three his listeners began to throw stones to Romans.
But powers wasn't equal. War- Abah has been wounded and fallen down. Romans turned over to his listeners and at the same time War - Abah crawled into wade chink between two stones . He himself broke down small stone bar.
Romans saw that "self-funeral" has was into a wall and they killed other Christians.
But War- Abah didn't die! He waited when Romans would go out . After that he found narrow passage to another tunnel of catacombs. He went out difficulty in next day and got the house when were living his friends Christians. He was standing over any weeks before new Christians and repeated his story again.
So, the doctrine of Jesus was spreading further and further!
Vichislav Matosov.2012-2015. Toronto.