The Didymus Contingency (17 page)

“Push this button once to go back to the prearranged time and place. This has already been programmed,” explained Sally, as she pointed to the appropriate buttons. “Push the same button twice to come back. That’s it; even a seven year old could work the watch.” Sally was pushing it, and she knew it.

Roberts checked his weapon quickly, making no attempt to hide his angry glare at Sally, as he walked to the center of the room and turned around. “Be back in a minute.”

Captain Roberts pushed a button on the watch and waited to be transported back in time. Nothing happened. “It’s the other button, the one above that,” Sally said, her smirk impossible to hide.

Roberts pushed the correct button and a blue pulse of light began to flash in front of him. Sally, George and Jake backed quickly out of the room and watched through the glass as Captain Roberts exploded back in time to kill their best and brightest.

Sally turned to George and asked, “So what’s our backup plan if Roberts fails?”

“He won’t fail,” said George with feigned confidence.

“Nonetheless, I’m sure you have a backup plan. What is it?”

George motioned to Jake to explain. Jake stepped forward and said with forced casualness, “We’ve developed a series of miniature robots that can—”

“Robots? Cut the crap and tell me the truth.” Sally didn’t feel like being jerked around.

“No joke,” Jake said, as he pushed his glasses further onto his nose. “The I-Fly 100 robotic insect series. Each is equipped to deliver a lethal sting that will mimic an allergic reaction. We’ve tested it on several employees already.”

Sally was aghast.

“Not to worry, Sally,” George added, “We have an antidote. No one died during the testing.”

“The robots are designed to fly, look and act like common pests. They have built in facial recognition software and can operate for seven days using micro fuel cells and solar power.”

“How quickly does the poison act?” Sally asked, her stomach knotting.

“Depends on the target,” George said with pride. “If healthy, it could take up to two days.”

“And you have these all ready to go?” Sally asked.

“Three of them, yes,” George said, “You don’t have a problem with this, do you?”

Sally was testing her facial control today. “Of course not. I just want to be kept informed from now on.”

“Naturally,” George said.

“You said you had three. One for David, one for Tom, who is the third for?” asked Sally.

“Captain Roberts, of course. Should he fail to return, his life is subject to termination as well,” Jake explained with a smirk that said, “Well, duh.”

Sally wished she could punch the little brownnose, but instead said, “You’ll let me know when your robots are ready to be sent back?”

“I promise,” George said with a toothy grin.

“Good,” Sally said, wishing she had something more stinging to say. She pivoted expertly on her heels and strode away.

Jake looked at George and asked, “Think she’s still with us?”

“Sally’s a team player, Jake, always has been,” George said.

Jake watched Sally walk away.

George stretched his neck and then said with a smile, “Besides, if Sally becomes a problem, there’s always robot number four.”

Jake smiled.

*   *   *   *   *

The laughter from Lazarus’s home could be heard clear to the walls of Bethany. The past four hours since their arrival had been filled with storytelling, camaraderie and fine dining. The seating was a bit awkward, lounging around a short table from which people would scoop food with unleavened bread. It wasn’t Peggy’s, but Martha could cook like no other woman in ancient Israel—Tom was sure of that. He was smitten with their hosts. Lazarus was strong as an ox and as funny as a cat in water. Martha was an amazing host, never stopping to eat, drink or talk. The woman was a machine. And Mary...sweet Mary. Every time Tom’s eyes met with hers, even for the briefest moment, his stomach would turn over. Tom hoped their stay at the home would last longer than most stops.

Half the group, including Tom, Jesus, Matthew, Peter, Judas, Lazarus and Mary sat in one room together, while the rest of the disciples dined in a room across the hall. David had gone outside more then an hour ago and had yet to return. Tom wondered if David had returned to the future again without telling him. Whatever the reason for David’s disappearance, Tom wouldn’t let it distract him from the incredible time he was having.

Martha buzzed between the rooms and through the corner of her eyes saw Mary laughing flirtatiously with Tom. “Having fun?” Martha asked her with a steely glare.

Jesus looked up at Martha and his smile faded slightly. Trouble was brewing. “What troubles you, Martha?” Jesus asked, as though clueless.

“Do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?” Martha asked.

Jesus smiled pleasantly, “Martha…you’re worried about so many things, but only one thing is needed.”

Martha puts her hands on her hips, waiting to hear what Jesus had to say. “Mary has chosen what is important and we won’t take that from her.”

Martha’s lips pursed tightly and her eyebrows sank.

“I only mean that my disciples are grown men. Let them tend to their own preparations and join us. We’ve hardly seen you,” Jesus said with a genuine smile.

Martha softened a little. Jesus was getting through. “Stop this foolishness and join us, Martha!” piped in Lazarus.

Martha lost any pleasantness and shouted, “I will not!”

But before Martha could retreat, Lazarus took her by the wrist. “We’ll see about that!”

With a strong tug, Lazarus pulled Martha down onto his lap and began tickling her. The room erupted with laughter, while a furious Martha squirmed and screamed in anger, “Let go of me! Lazarus! You stop...HA! Right now! HA HA! Ahhh ha ha ha!”

Lazarus’s tickling worked magic and Martha’s anger became undone. Tom watched the entire event unfold as though he were watching a brilliant movie. His own family had been as dysfunctional as they come. He was never close to his parents and his brother was a moronic bully. The only person he was proud to call family had been snatched from him. Tom caught Mary’s eyes as thoughts of Megan entered his thoughts. He was consumed with guilt. The single reason for him being here, in the home of Lazarus, sharing dinner with friends and staring at a beautiful woman was because Megan had died so many years ago.

And if she hadn’t died? If Megan had survived? What would she look like now? Would they have children? Stuff stockings at Christmas? Celebrate birthdays? Tom’s mind flooded with images of Megan, of their non-existent children, of the life he could have had.

The captivating eyes of Mary were too much for Tom to take. He couldn’t betray the memory of Megan, not here, not like this. Tom stood and subtly wiped the wetness from around his eyes. “Where are you going Tom? Martha was just about to serve us dessert!” Jesus said with a laugh.

Martha ribbed Jesus and said, “You hush!”

“I just need some fresh air, to clear my head,” Tom said.

“Maybe you’ll find David while you’re out there? He’s missing the fun!” Matthew shouted with a chuckle.

“I’ll send him in if I see him,” Tom said, as he left the room.

“Clear his head! As though it were dirty!”

Tom listened to the room laugh at his expense. He often forgot that modern expressions didn’t always translate very well. It was something that he couldn’t quite master and it almost always got a laugh. Not that it bothered him, but he knew it bothered David.

Cool, crisp air filled Tom’s lungs as he breathed deeply. His thoughts became clear and the feelings of inner turmoil faded...if only for a moment.

“Thomas?” asked a sweet voice.

Tom turned to the voice, not realizing that his lips had spread into a smile and his eyebrows rose with anticipation. Mary smiled back at him.

“Why did you leave?” Mary asked.

“Just wanted to...” Tom wondered how he could say it right. “...forget some thoughts.”

“Of me?”

“No.”

“Then maybe...of someone else?”

Tom’s heart sank. Mary could see right through him.

Mary frowned. “If your heart belongs to another, I’ll—”

“I’m married,” Tom said.

Mary appeared stunned and afraid. “I’m sorry. I did not mean to—”

“No, you... she... I was married. My wife died. You—you just remind me of her,” Tom said with a smile, as his eyes began to water.

“If the sight of me hurts you, then I will hide myself from your eyes.” Mary began to turn away.

“No,” Tom said, as her placed his hand gently on Mary’s cheek. “Don’t.”

Mary leaned her face into Tom’s hand. He felt the warmth of her skin in his palm and on every ridge of his fingertips. He let his hand linger a moment, as he gazed into her mesmerizing dark brown eyes. “Go back inside,” Tom said. “It’s getting cold and I should find David before it gets late. I’ll return soon.”

After squeezing Tom’s hand with her own, Mary turned toward the house. “I’ll be waiting.”

The door closed behind Mary, as she entered the house. Tom turned away and felt a surge of guilt churn in his stomach. He had done it again! Tom took a step and tripped on a root. He quickly kicked the root as if it had caused him to stumble emotionally as well as physically. Tom glared at the root, while a pot full of separate feelings swirled and battled for supremacy in his head. He walked around the house, stomping his feet with every step.
Stupid women! Stupid root! And where the hell is David?!

*   *   *   *   *

Tom circled the home in search of David. If he had gone back to the future again, Tom was going to put his foot down. But before Tom could formulate the verbal beating he’d give David for skipping out of town, he saw something that made his heart palpitate. A body, lying in the grass! “David? David!”

Tom ran to the body sprawled face up. “David!”

Tom stood over the body, and looked into the eyes of David, that for a moment looked glossed over and empty. Tom’s fears were instantly suspended when David cracked a smile. “You should see your face,” David said.

“Damnit, David, I thought you were dead!”

David’s smile grew wider. He enjoyed the panicked look on Tom’s face. It was an expression he didn’t see too often, and it showed their friendship was still as strong as it had ever been. “I was just looking at the stars,” David explained.

Tom glanced up, but paid no attention to the dazzling array of twinkling stabs of light above. “Everyone’s wondering where you are.”

“Have you ever seen so many stars?” David asked.

Tom looked up. David was right. The sky was awash with glowing pinpoints—so many that the sky seemed to be glowing. Tom took a seat in the grass next to David, keeping his eyes on the stars the entire time.

“In two thousand years we’ll have television, rocket ships, cherry Pepsi and satellite radio, but...we won’t have this. The world seems so much simpler now. So much smaller. So much more alone in the universe.”

Tom looked over at David. He had never heard David speak like this, but he suspected where it was coming from. “You’re thinking that maybe you’re the one who’s been blinded? Maybe I was right from the beginning and Jesus is a fake?”

David took his attention off the stars and faced Tom. To Tom’s surprise, David wasn’t angry at all. “Something like that.”

“We can go home if you want.”

“Why would we go home? You haven’t seen him die and rise from the grave yet,” David said.

“What? But you just...”

“You think this is the first time in my life I’ve had doubts?” David let out a chuckle. “I used to believe in Jesus based on what is recorded in the Bible. Fully man, fully God, kind of a hard concept to grasp, so most of us picture him as human in body and God in mind and spirit...”

David sat up and continued, “But now I’ve met the man, and...he’s so human it’s frightening. Fully human, fully God… Let me ask you this. Have you ever seen the man sin? Even once?”

Tom sat up, intrigued by the line of questioning. “What do you consider to be sin?”

“Use your instincts.”

“Well...he teases people a lot.”

“I noticed...and it caused me some doubts, but have you ever felt bad about yourself or someone else as a result?”

“Umm...no... Have you?” Tom asked, truly curious now.

“Not once. I usually end up feeling better about myself and the other people he’s teased. He’s brought out parts of my personality I haven’t seen since I was a child.”

“He’s a good guy, that’s established. But can’t you see through that? It’s a façade, David. C’mon. I can find holes in everything we’ve seen him do so far.”

“And you’ve conveniently missed some of the rather more spectacular events,” David quipped.

“Yeah, I planned to be knocked unconscious on the boat. You got me pegged, David,” Tom said, growing annoyed, “He’s one hundred percent man, that’s it, nothing more. Even you have seen that.”

“He’s more of a man than I expected, but maybe that’s the idea,” David said.

“If he’s God, why doesn’t he just cure everyone in the world with a snap of his fingers. Why doesn’t he stop all the injustice in the world, all the crime, war, and famine? It’s within his power if he’s God. So many people from the beginning of time to our time are suffering. What did they do wrong to deserve it?”

David took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he gazed back at the stars. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“That’s a great idea. I will.”

—THIRTEEN—

Tomorrow

30 A.D.

9:30 A.M.

Jerusalem, Israel

The streets of lower Jerusalem, slender and flanked by homes squished together like bricks, were abnormally calm on that morning. Typically, the smells of cooking food, ripening fruit and steaming leather filled the air. But today, only the bright roses and dusty road reached the nose. Jerusalem, the capitol city of Israel, often buzzed like a beehive, but today—on the Sabbath, the day of rest—all was serene. Tom couldn’t decide if it was the kind of peace felt on a warm day at the beach, or an ominous calm before the storm. Either way, Tom was determined to use the lull in activity to spring what he believed would be the question to undo Jesus’s charade.