The Nathan Daniels Saga: Part 1 (9 page)

That night, back at the
Nola
, Nathan activated the tracker and zeroed it in on one of the ship's view-screens, with an overlay of the area they had mapped on the way down.  He smiled and went to the galley for dinner.  Things were in good shape.  Time for another excellent meal prepared by Omany.

“
Everything is on track,” Nathan said.  “Tomorrow is Wednesday, by the local calendar and Passover starts at sundown on Thursday.  We should be sold out of sandals, with plenty of local currency, just in time.  With the tracker planted on Mary Magdalene, we'll have three days of treasure hunting before anyone knows what the stuff is worth.  We'll also have front row seats for one of the more interesting events in the galaxy.”

Wednesday passed uneventfully for the crew of three.  They finished selling their sandals and had bags and bags of Roman Denari.  Nathan kept Remi up late in anticipation of the late night they would have the following evening.  He wanted them both to be able to sleep in the next day.  By the time they went to sleep, the sun was just starting to peak over the horizon.

* * *

They awoke, well rested, early Thursday afternoon and gathered for a large meal in the galley before heading out.

“The next couple of days are going to be quite intense," Nathan reminded his crew.  "We need to follow Jesus as discreetly as possible while collecting the artifacts.  We have enough coin to pay what we need to in order to get them, as long as we are careful and don't drive the prices up because of our interest.  Once we have an artifact one of us brings it back to the ship, that way if we run into trouble, we can lift off as quickly as possible.”

“
How are we going to prove the authenticity of these items?” Remi asked.  “I have been wondering about that for days.”

“
I’m glad you asked,” Nathan responded.  He sat a small case on the table and opened it.  Inside were three pieces of jewelry, appropriate for the culture.  He passed them out.  “These are video and audio recording devices.  They transmit directly back here to the
Nola
.  Everything we see or hear for the next three days will be recorded.” Nathan pinned his on  and the others followed suit.  “The record will not only serve to demonstrate the authenticity of our collection but will also be worth something in and of itself.”

Next, he passed out small bags of Denari.  “Each time you return to the ship with an artifact, get more coin.  We don't want too tempting of a target for thieves.”

“We will likely be splitting up and having to regroup throughout the next couple of days.  These devices will aid us in doing that.”  Nathan turned on a nearby view-screen  “Each camera device also acts as a locator beacon, and shows as a blue dot on the screen.  Each signal is unique and allows our dots to be labeled.”  Remini looked at the screen.  There was a large blue dot that appeared to have the labels R, O, and N.  Some distance away from the blue dot was a red dot labeled M.  There was a map overlay, with the city labeled.  The red dot was on the far side of the city from the blue dot.  There were keys that allowed the user to pan, zoom, and scroll the display.  “Because of the current zoom setting our data overlap, and are labeled with only our first initial.  The red dot is Mary Magdalene.  As you can see we have a bit of a hike ahead of us.  Any questions before we head out?”

“
What exactly are we trying to get?” Remi asked.

“
There are two criteria.  First, anything that is explicitly mentioned in the Christian Bible.  Second, anything that directly interacts with Jesus, as long as you've captured a record of that interaction.”  With that the small group headed out to their rendezvous with the band of soon-to-be Christians.

After the long trek to the other side of the city, the crew of the
Nola
took up a position a discreet distance away from the group.  They did not attempt to hide, but rather worked to blend in, because, as usual there was a large crowd around the teacher.

They didn't have to wait long.  Shortly after they arrived, several of Jesus' followers, including Mary, had a brief discussion with him, then departed, heading for the city.

“Those would be the people going to prepare the passover meal,” Nathan informed Omany and Remi.  “You two stay here and keep your eye on this group.  I’m going to follow them.”

Nathan followed Mary and the small group of apostles through the city, until they came to an old man carrying a pail of water.  After a short discussion, the man led them to his home.  Nathan followed.

After spending a few minutes inside with his new guests, the man reemerged, still carrying his pail which was now empty.  Nathan approached the man.

“
kind sir,” Nathan said, taking his bag of coins in his hands.  “I am in need of a fine pail, such as that.  I will give you seven denari for it.”

The old man's eyes lit up.  Seven denari was quite a deal for the old pail.  Seeing that a deal had been made, Nathan counted out the coins and exchanged them for the pail.

“I'll have another ten denari for you if you bring me the teacher's cup after the meal is finished,” Nathan told the old man.  The excited man agreed and Nathan headed back to the
Nola
with his newly acquired pail, after arranging a time and place to receive the grail.

Once the pail was safely stowed in the cargo bay, Daniels refilled his pouch of coins and set out to meet up with Omany and Remi.  Glancing at the locating device, he noticed that they were still where he had left them.

“It's a wonder Judas was needed to betray him,” Nathan thought.  “He stays in one spot so much!  Then again, with the crowd that always is around him, it would be difficult to arrest him with anything less than a legion!  They must have needed Judas to give them a time when the group around him would be small.

Nathan reunited with his comrades just under an hour after he left the ship.

“Well, I acquired a pail,” Nathan told them as he approached.

“
A pail?” Remi said quizzically.

“
Yes,” Nathan replied.  “When he was asked where they should prepare the Passover meal, Jesus sent his followers into town to find a man carrying a pail of water.  The apostles were told that this man would allow use of his house for the meal.”

“
And you were able to buy the pail?”

“
Absolutely!” was the captain's response.  “What has been going on here?”

“
Mostly he's been teaching all afternoon,” Remi replied.  “Other than the group you followed, no one has left.”

“
Except,” Omany countered.  “There was the one fellow, he was obviously part of the inner circle.  He slowly made his way out to the edge of the crowd, then departed toward the city.”

“
I didn't even notice that!” The Princess confessed.

“
He was very slow and subtle in his movements,” Omany explained.  "It was obvious to me that he did not want to be noticed leaving.  I did not follow him, because I deduced who he was and realized that we would gain nothing of value from his exploits today.”

“
Who was he?” Remi asked.

“
Judas Iscariot,” Nathan replied.  “Off to set up his deal to hand Jesus over to the Pharisees.  You were right, old man, no point in following him.  Today anyway.”

“
I see him now, returning,” Omany nodded slightly in the direction of a lone man heading for the group.

“
Yes, that makes sense,” Nathan offered.  “He has to be back here in time to go into the city with Jesus, otherwise he wouldn't know where to go for the meal.”

Shortly after Judas returned, the teacher excused himself from the crowd and headed to the city.  The sun was sinking in the sky, leaving the smaller group just enough time to venture to the proper location before sunset.  The crew of the
Nola
followed at a discreet distance, hoping to remain unnoticed.

When Jesus and the remaining apostles entered the structure, Nathan found a convenient place to sit down.  He motioned to the others to do the same.

“Ever been to a Seder?” Nathan asked Remi.

“
What's that?” the Princess asked.

“
It's the Passover meal commemorating the night that God slayed the first born sons of Egypt, while sparing the children of the Jews.  That's the meal they are having inside right now.”

“
No, I haven't,” she replied.

“
A very ceremonial meal.  Everything that is consumed has relevance to the Jew’s flight from Egypt.  We can plan to be here for a couple of hours at least.  It is interesting that given the importance of this meal in Jewish tradition, no better description of it is given in any of the Gospels.  Not even those written for the non-Jews

“
Judas will be the first to leave.  Near the end of the meal, Jesus sends him off, knowing he will bring the pharisees to Gethsemane later this evening.”

“
That's something that always troubled me about the Christian faith,” Remini pondered.  “Why is Judas so reviled, if he was only doing God's will?”

“
Most Christian traditions believe that individuals have 'free-will' and while the universe may move forward according to the grand plan of God, each individual is responsible for their own actions, therefore Judas assumes personal responsibility for betraying his teacher, even though the betrayal was part of God's plan.  Judas didn't have to do it, just as Adam didn't have to eat the forbidden fruit.” Nathan nodded at Omany's explanation. 

“
Just about any religion can rationalize just about anything," Nathan said, chuckling.  Omany just shook his head.

The philosophical discussions continued through their wait.  All three were well versed in the religions of known space.  Omany being the teacher, was the most knowledgeable, with Nathan only so-so due to his occupation and travels.  Remi was the least worldly on the subject, but it was obvious she was well educated for her young age.

“Do you seriously expect me to believe,” she said, interrupting one of Nathan's stories.  “That there is an intelligent race in our galaxy that worships a giant rock?” She laughed obviously not taking him seriously.

“
This is no ordinary rock!” Nathan explained.  “It is the remains of a meteor that wiped out most of the Pathi nearly two millennia ago!  As they rebuilt their civilization, stories were passed on verbally for the first one hundred years or so about the arrival of the 'The Great Destroyer.' Everyone on the planet knew where the impact crater was, and it was commonplace at the time to go and visit the site and the rock formations at the center.  Eventually these stories became religious in nature and the trips became pilgrimages.  The church of the destroyer swept over the planet, displacing religions that were many times older.

“
A good story, Captain.” Omany complimented.  “But, I have never heard of the Pathi or this church.  While I do not completely deny the plausibility, I am inclined to agree with Remi.

“
In that case, I will be on the lookout for a cargo to sell there so I can prove it to you!”

At this point further discussion was abandoned as the group spotted a lone figure leaving the house.

“Dinner is just about over,” Nathan said.  "At the end of the meal, Jesus sent Judas away, presumably to fetch the Pharisees.  Shortly thereafter, Jesus and the remaining apostles departed for Gethsemane.  In fact, here they come now.” A large group could now be seen emerging from the house.

“
You two follow the group,” Nathan said.  “I'll pick up the grail and take it back to the ship.”  He was able to do this without incident. 

Over the next 24 hours, the crew collected the Apostle Peter's sword (the one that severed the ear of one of the Pharisee's servants),  the bowl in which Pontius Pilate washed his hands before the crowd, several of the whips that were used upon Jesus, as well as the crown of thorns and the purple robes he was mocked in.  They were even able to purchase his tunic from the guards that cast lots for it.  Finally, after witnessing the brutality of the crucifixion, they carried the cross itself back to the
Nola
.

After seeing to it that everything was stowed, Nathan pondered what to do with the remaining denari, which would be useless on any other world.  Finally deciding, he kept a few of the coins as mementos, then took the remainder, along with the donkey, back to the farm on the road to Jerusalem.  Once he had returned, they were ready to lift. 

After returning to the ship and sealing it up, Nathan went to the control room, where he found the Princess strapped into the copilot's seat.

“
Where to, captain?” Remi asked as he entered.

“
Parking orbit right now, since we all need sleep and
Nola
can practically get us there on her own.” Nathan strapped himself in.  “Then it's your job to figure out where we are taking this stuff.”

“
I've been thinking about that'” the Princess said, working through the pre-flight checks.  “I can think of nearly a dozen worlds, all power seats of various Christian sects, that would be interested in these items.”