Mary lay in bed staring at the dark walls waiting for morning's light. The peaceful night was giving way to the sights and sounds of day. She could hear birds chirping and a cock's crow nearby. This time of day, after a restful sleep, was her favorite.

She could smell breakfast being prepared by the servants in the kitchen. She thought about getting up to help them out. The staff at the villa was down to just a few with Josh and Anne away. Mary enjoyed helping out and the servants appreciated it. They sometimes even referred to her as 'Mother' instead of 'Mistress' because she treated them like family

Mary washed her face and walked down the hall heading for the kitchen. She stopped first at Eran's room to see if he was awake. His door was ajar, so she poked her head inside and called out his name. There was no answer. He must be outside tending the garden or feeding the livestock.

Entering the kitchen, Mary was surprised to find it empty. It looked like the servants had simply vanished in the midst of cooking. A fire was burning under some pots of water in the hearth. "Where is everyone?" she murmured to herself. The door leading to the courtyard was open. They must be outside enjoying the morning.

As she approached the door, she heard the sounds of strange voices outside. She heard Eran saying "Our master is not at home now. Please come back next week when he has returned!" He sounded frustrated. Eran was usually mild-mannered and soft spoken.

Mary wondered who Eran was addressing. Standing in the doorway, she could see him and the servants at the open entry gate of the villa. Beyond the gate she could see a line of Roman soldiers standing in formation. They were in full armor and held their unsheathed swords, pointing upward. She could not recall ever seeing Roman soldiers at the house before. "This cannot be a good sign," she thought.

Just then Mary saw the boys standing across the courtyard at the door to their room. They were watching the scene too. Jesus saw his mother and gave her a look that clearly said, "What is happening?"

John stood silent with his eyes fixed on the soldiers. Mary gestured to the boys to hold back. She stepped back a pace to keep hidden from the soldier's sight until she could discern what was happening.

At the front of the soldiers was a short semiotic looking man wearing a Roman toga. Jews had been a subjugated people of the Roman Empire since the Mithraidic War. In a cynical attempt to make the Jews feel represented, many of the appointed local authorities were also Jews. Their loyalty was to Rome, as their style of dress was Roman.

The man pulled from his satchel a parchment scroll that was tied with a bright red cord bearing an official looking seal. He untied the cord and unrolled the scroll. He read it aloud:

TO THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE MERCHANT JOSHUA:

By order of the Governor Valerius Gratus on behalf of Emperor Tiberius.

The man in the toga said, "We will return at sundown today. You will be gone by that time." Then, he turned on his heals and marched away with the Roman troops.

After the word 'survive' Mary had been unable to follow the rest of his speech. She tried to stand very still hoping to stop time, but her small body trembled in betrayal. Panicked, she ran across the courtyard to the boys. "I need something to hold onto," she cried as she embraced them. The boys were also trying to absorb the shocking news.

Jesus hugged Mary and wept as he clung to her. Tears flowed freely now from them both as they stood clutched together. Their painful sobs filled the courtyard.

John stood apart silent, a look of angry disbelief on his face. He held his arms wrapped protectively across his chest. The stranger's news rekindled memories of his own parent's deaths not five years earlier. He too began to cry. The fresh tears burned as they ran down his cheeks. He tried to wipe them away with his hand but they kept coming in hot, burning flows.

Losing Josh and Anne was a tragedy on many levels. Despite their distracted parenting style, they were much beloved. Far, far worse was the loss to the welfare of their brood. The family was now homeless and penniless without any means except their own instincts and ability to work. Josh's business was the well from which all their fortunes had flowed. Now, they were on their own. Where would they go? How could they survive in a such a dangerous, uncaring world? In a moment their world had been stripped away. Even so, there was no time for grief. The soldiers had left for now, promising to return by sunset. The heavy gates of the villas entrance had been shut for now. The sound of their closing echoed across the property, but they offered no protection now from the inevitable.

Struggling to calm herself, Mary looked at Eran and the servants huddled together attempting to console each other. Everyone in the household had lost someone dear. There was no news of the servants who had traveled with Josh and Anne on their trip. Had they lost their lives as well? There was no way to know.

Mary knew that Eran must be torn apart by this news. She knew that he and her father were close, in some ways Josh was closer with Eran than with her mother. He must be devastated too, though he appeared to be keeping himself together for the sake of the others. That was just like him.

Mary and the boys walked quietly to the center of the courtyard to join the others. The close circle opened to include the three, so that everyone could mourn together their terrible loss -- and to decide before the soldiers returned what to do and where to go next.

(End of Chapter 20)