Lucanus bent closer to his brother, holding his pulsing cold hand. He had not been conscious of time. The lamplight glowed steadily on Priscus' wan face, on which streams of sweat were flowing. A long time had passed. Priscus closed his dim eyes, and there was a silence. Lucanus looked about him like a man dreaming. Neither he nor Priscus had been aware that servants had stolen into the bedchamber to announce dinner. They did not know that finally Plotius had come, in alarm, then seeing the two with their heads together, and then hearing that Priscus was speaking and would not be halted, he had gone away, frowning and pulling at his beard.
Lucanus raised his head. He was full of awe and sorrow, and yet also he was filled with joy and surety. He touched his hand to Priscus' forehead and Priscus opened his eyes. "There is nothing else," he said in a dying voice. "There were rumours that on the third day He rose from the dead, but the rumours were suppressed, and His followers proscribed, and they fled from the city in fear. And it was at that time that I became very sick, and wandering, and the pain began in my stomach, and I knew that He had condemned me to death for my part in His execution."
But Lucanus smiled joyfully, and place his palms against his brother's gray and shriveled check. "No!" he exclaimed. "How could God condemn you? It was prophesied from the ages that He would die in this manner, for the salvation of all men, and not only for the Jews. I have known it always. Did he hate you? No, He loved you! You have spoken of His compassionate glance at you, and His understanding. He wishes you to come closer to Him, and rest in His heart, and be one with Him. Listen! I tell you He loves you, and is with you always!"
Pricus' sunken eyes brightened. He leaned his cheek against Lucanus' hand; tears slipped along his eyelids. "Is it true? he urged."Is it true?"
"Yes, it is true. And He is risen! Oh, truly He is risen!"
"And He was surely God?"
"He is surely God."
Lucanus bent forward and kissed his brother's forehead. Their eyes were close together, the dark and the blue. Lucanus smiled lovingly, and with strength. Priscus murmured, nestled his withered body closer to his brother, and suddenly slept in utter exhaustion. He appeared not to breathe. An expression of peace and contentment settled over his dying features. He was like one who had come home after a terrible journey which had been filled with threatening monsters. He was like one who had been exiled to the fiery desert, and then summoned to return.
Lucanus rose and looked down on the sleeping and stricken man. He clasped his hands together and murmured;
"Oh, You who have brought me from the waste spaces, and the darkness, and the barrenness, out of Your love and Your eternal mercy! Oh, You who are compassionate beyond imagining, You who have haunted my life to bring me to You! Oh, You who know the sufferings of men, because You have suffered them! Oh, hallowed are You in my soul, and I implore that You will accept my life that I may serve You! Always have I loved You, even when I contended with You out of my lack of understanding! Be merciful to me, a sinner, a man without importance! Hear my voice that calls to You.
"Be pitiful to my poor brother, who was granted the merit of seeing You in the flesh. He loves You, and he knows You. Bring him peace; bring him surcease of pain. If he must die, grant him a quiet death, without more anguish. Are You not compassionate for Your children? Do they appeal to You in vain? No, never do they appeal to You without Your help and Your consolation! Here is my brother, who loves You. Be You merciful to him, and lead him to You!"
Priscus slept like a weary child. The sweat dried on his face. Lucanus bent and kissed him, his voice murmurous and loving. Then he turned down the lamp and left the room.
He entered the dining hall, where sat Nicias and Joshua, Arieh and Hilell and Plotius. He did not know it, but his countenance shone like the moon, and they stared and stared at him. He looked at Arieh and Hilell and cried, "I have heard my brother all this time! And I tell you that he knew God, and saw Him crucified, and he is blessed! And surely, as it was said, God is risen! Surely He has risen, blessed is His name!"
The others sat like statiues, and paling. Then Joshua rose to his feet and held out his hand to Lucanus, and said, "I knew it. From the beginning, I knew it!" Arieh and Hilell rose and then stretched out their hands to Lucanus and smiled, and then he saw their tears.
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