The Bronze Bow (27 page)

After a long time he felt Thacia's hand close over his own. He raised his head and saw tears on her face.

"Look," she whispered.

He had forgotten Leah! Now, seeing how still she lay, he thought that she must have died. Jesus had risen and stood looking down at her. Then, as Daniel watched, he saw her eyelids move and lift falteringly. The blue eyes were blank, as though she came from a deep sleep. She looked up into the master's face, and slowly her eyes filled with wonder.

"Jesus?"she breathed.

Into Jesus' face came the old smile with which he had so often looked at the children who crowded around him.

"It is—all right?" she whispered.

"It is all right," Jesus answered. "Do not be afraid."

With a sob, Daniel stumbled forward to his knees, hiding his face, feeling the tears he had never known since his childhood, not on the night of his father's death or in all the years between, hot and liberating against his hands. He thought he felt a touch on his shoulder. When he lifted his head, Jesus was gone. He saw Thacia, her own tears shining on her cheeks, her eyes like stars.

"Daniel—" Leah said, very faintly.

Not daring to speak, he reached out and touched his sister's hand.

"I know how she felt," she whispered, "the girl—Jairus' daughter—you told me about."

"I know too," he said humbly.

He heard Thacia catch her breath, and turned and looked into her eyes. He knew he was not worthy of the gift he saw there, but he knew that at last he was free to offer her all that he had in return. In that one brief look they made a new vow together.

"How light it is," Leah murmured, "even with Jesus gone."

Gone! In sudden realization, Daniel sprang to the door. He could see Jesus far down the street, already half hidden by the people who always gathered wherever he went.

"I must go after him!" he cried. "Before anything else, I must thank him."

He flung himself out the doorway—and stopped.

Across the street the Roman soldier stood alone under the broiling sun.

Haltingly, Daniel walked, not after Jesus, but across the road, till he stood before the boy. He had to try twice before the words would come. "My sister will get well," he said, his voice harsh. "The fever has left her."

A quick gutteral sound burst from the soldier. Daniel looked away. Who could believe that a Roman—?

"I think she would want to say good-bye to you," he said.

The soldier waited, not understanding. Daniel looked down the road and caught the white flash of Jesus' robe. Then he straightened his shoulders.

"Will you come in to our house?" he asked.