After an indulgent weekend of holiday feasts and heavy drinking, the ride to Emmaus was a dusty and tiresome trek. The journey by mule was along a road through the verdant countryside of Nazareth. The terrain was mostly flat with little change in elevation.

Their small caravan left Josh's villa just before sunrise to avoid the heat as much as possible. They rested for lunch midday, so it took most of the day to reach their destination. Once they reached Emmaus, everyone helped to set up camp for the night, working hastily before the sun set.

Emmaus was a small fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, a day's journey from Nazareth. It was renowned for a series of ancient nearby caves, and some that contained natural hot springs. Travelers had made use of the caves for bathing, relaxation, and healing for thousands of years. Depending on who showed up, it could be a wild way station on the road. Today they had the area to themselves.

Liz did not enjoy sleeping on hard ground, or in the company of men other than her husband. Zack and the men pitched a tent for Liz with piles of blankets for a bed for the two nights of their stay.

Though it was a far stretch from Josh's luxurious villa, the travelers were in a good mood. This was an adventure for most, especially for young Mary, who ran around climbing rocks and collecting broken pottery pieces. Ever cautious, Liz kept her eyes peeled for strangers, or wild animals that might be nearby.

With Eran along, to increase the number of visible men, Zack felt he could relax. He decided to take a walk around the site before dinner. He had been to Emmaus several times before, so it was not completely unfamiliar to him. With each visit however, time, weather, and the many visitors to the site, always made it a little different. He wanted to reacquaint himself.

From their encampment Zack walked toward the rock face of the caves where the springs were located. He noticed how worn the walkways were leading to those caves closest to the campsite. He imagined that most people did not venture too far to be safe. Also, the closer caves were easily more accessible, than those further away that required more climbing.

Zack was interested in the harder to reach caves. They intrigued him, especially since superstitious people like his wife thought they were an entrance to Hell because of the hot springs and steam vents inside.

Zack did not believe in Hell. He was not afraid.

After passing the nearest caves, Zack climbed up a short rock face that led to an isolated natural terrace. Looking around, he found a small opening that was a little shorter than his height and quite narrow. He decided to investigate. He crouched down and squeezed inside.

The cave walls were close together at the entrance, which made it appear quite small. Once inside Zack could sense that he was in a larger space. It was pitch black. There were no lanterns or candles inside for light. He could hear the water flowing and felt the moist heat of the steam on his face. There was no sound except for his own breath and the quiet trickle of water.

Zack stood for a moment, savoring the silence and the sense of being completely alone. It was a sensation he rarely experienced. He relished moments where he could be away from his daily life. It gave him a chance to think about things in a more expanded, detached way.

After awhile, Zack realized he should probably return to camp before his absence caused concern. Dinner should be ready soon. Hopefully the preparations would be complete so he could eat and go to sleep. He was exhausted.

When he got back to the camp everyone was sitting together eating dinner. He must have been gone a while longer than he thought. The caves had a magical quality that made time pass so slowly once inside.

"Uncle Zack!" Mary exclaimed. "Where were you? I wanted to come find you but no one knew where you were, and they would not let me look for you by myself. Were you lost?"

"Oh no, my dear," Zack said. "Apologies to everyone for keeping you in suspense, I lost track of the time."

"Yes, Zack," Liz scolded him. "We could not hold up the meal. Everyone is tired and hungry, as you must also be, too. Your stomach did not remind you sooner to return? Sit down and enjoy the fruits of our labors -- that is not bad at all -- considering our makeshift kitchen eh, Bithia?" Liz smiled faintly, without looking up from her own bowl. It was her quiet acknowledgment of her servant, who had done most of the cooking.

No one seemed to mind Zack's tardiness or the subtle bickering with Liz. All but perhaps Eran and Mary were accustomed to the couple's style of relating to each other.

Zack washed his hands in a nearby basin and knelt to pray, before eating. Though exhausted, he ate quickly to catch up to the others.

With everyone tired from travel, no one lingered long after eating. After the dishes were cleared and put away people settled in for the night. The cook fire still gave off a little warmth, its flames spent, reduced to a few faintly glowing coals.

Zack lay half-reclined on his blankets as was his custom when sleeping outdoors in an unfamiliar place. From where he lay, he could keep an eye on Mary, who was asleep nearby. Although Liz had offered to share the tent, Mary insisted on sleeping outdoors so she could count the stars. After not much counting, even she was unable to stay awake, and drifted off to sleep.

There was no sound or light coming from the tent. It seemed that Liz and Bithia were also asleep. Eran and Oscar had stationed themselves at the perimeter to their camp, taking turns at sleeping, to keep watch.

Feeling secure, Zack rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. It was not long before he gave in to sleep. And to dream.

At first, Zack could barely feel his fingers. They were numb from the freezing damp air. He was being buffeted by strong winds so that he had to cling to the jagged rocks on the cliff ledge where he stood. He did not know how far he had climbed, nor could he remember how he got there.

This dream was far from peaceful. He was in an unfamiliar mountain pass high above the plains below. It took all his energy just to remain upright against the wind's force. He was climbing slowly, wrapped in heavy robes and scarves, hanging onto the rock walls as he made his way higher and higher up the trail.

Up ahead, Zack could see occasional glimpses of blue sky and brief flashes of sunlight poking through the mist and parting clouds. He kept climbing, though he had no idea where he was headed. Going back down the mountain did not seem to be an option.

As he climbed, the clouds and heavy mists parted. Ahead, seated on a higher up ledge, he could make out an old man and young woman. He did not recognize either of them, but hoped they might help him make sense of his situation.

As he came closer, he realized that the old man was his own father who died when Zack was a teenager. Zack had not seen his dad for many years. His heart swelled with emotion. At the same time, he was wary of seeing his father again. Zack's father was not a particularly kind man. Like Zack, Jeb was a Rabbi, but his stern demeanor was the opposite of what Zack had sought to become. They were often at odds during his youth.

Zack looked into his fathers face to try and gage his mood. It was then that he realized the woman with him was Mary grown to young womanhood.

"Oh Zack," his father said. "It is good to see you my boy, come closer." He sounded unusually cheerful. Zack tentatively moved up beside him; reaching out to give his father a hug and a kiss.

"Rabbi, Zack said, "it is good to see you again. Shalom and mazel tov!"

"I was just sitting here with this young lady, who seems to know you, my son. Is she your wife, Zack? What a beautiful girl she is," Jeb said.

Zack was confused that his father would think Mary was his wife. He knew that his father had passed away before he had even been introduced to Liz. He could understand the mistake.

Zack looked at the young women standing by his father. She was looking at him quite differently now. She was older than his little Mary, the look on her face now was definitely adult.

"Well, I do know her father, but ... " Zack looked back at his father. Jeb's face was glowing and starting to change. Transforming into something else entirely. A bright swirling light radiated out from his shoulders, growing bigger and brighter with each second. Zack covered his eyes and looked away, afraid that he had somehow invoked his father's anger, not sure of what he was witnessing.

When he opened his eyes and looked again, his father had vanished and in his place, the now familiar angel sat. Mary was also gone and there was a young boy where she had been only moments before.

"Zack," the angel said, "Now, is the time of which we have spoken. The Creator has decided that you will father this child to extend the line of Aaron, and to bring His message of love through this unique child."

Zack was perplexed. His patience for the angel's plan had reached a breaking point. He interrupted the angel's fantastic declaration. How could he make a baby with Liz? She even refused to share a kiss. How could he father a child with her? It was just not possible.

The angel bellowed back at him. "You will use the special flower that we have shown you. Your part in this birth must be hidden. The son will not come through Liz but through the body of young Mary, who will not know the father, nor your role. The flower's potion is key to preparing the way for this birth."

The angel went on, "You should be grateful for this gift, Zack. God has chosen you to bring forth a son. Your marriage did not provide you with a child but the Father, in his generosity and wisdom, in his true love for you, has seen fit for you to be a father."

With that, the boy raised his hand and pointed to the cave Zack had investigated earlier in the day. Zack looked toward its entrance, trying to understand what the child was pointing at. Suddenly its significance became apparent.

When he turned back, the angel and the boy had vanished.

(End of Chapter 12)