ENOCH THE LEPER CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Page 1

SHALLUM WAS ALONE when he arrived at Hulda's home. He and Jephuneh normally always travelled together, and the moment he saw him in the doorway, Saul was curious. "Where is Jephuneh?"

Shallum raised a hand to signal silence. Closing the door, he walked slowly to the nearest chair and dropped into it. With a deep sigh, he said, "You won't believe what has happened!"

"Tell me," Saul demanded, "without delay!"

"It is not Jephuneh, Saul," Shallum answered. "It is Enoch, our cousin."

"Has he been killed?"

"Worse. It is leprosy."

Saul shook his head sadly. Shallum was right saying it was worse than death. People with leprosy were mercilessly cut off from normal society. The law provided no release, unless the leprosy departed by God's will. Then the rituals of purification would be performed before they could again re-enter Jewish society.

"It came on him suddenly. He lives with his widowed mother and they only discovered it yesterday. A patch of skin on his forearm has erupted."

"The house must be cleansed under supervision of the Temple."

"Of course. His mother is removing all of the furnishings from the house now."

"I assume that Enoch is gone to the Valley of the Lepers"

"He was packing to leave when I left to find you. I am afraid that Jephuneh is taking this quite hard. Enoch was his favorite. In some ways they were more like brothers than we are."

For several moments, neither one spoke.

"I am sorry, Shallum."

After a moment, Shallum spoke through clenched teeth. "Enoch was the quiet one, the kindest. Honestly, Saul, I tried to tell him he was too kind many times. Just last month I saw him giving some of his clothes to a leper on his way to the Valley. I wonder if that is how he contacted the disease--from being too kind?" After an emotional pause, he said, "My father told me it would be easier to accept his death than leprosy."

"There is wisdom better left unspoken," Saul said, recalling the callousness of Rabbi Gershon. "Let us see if we can help his mother prepare the house for the priest."

Shallum and Saul left together in silence.

Esrom saw them descending the steps at the front of the house. He noticed the look of dejection on their faces. "Something has happened," he said to Miriam. "I wonder what it is?"

"Saul may not tell us," replied Miriam with moist eyes. "He has grown even more distant since joining the conspiracy. He seems to believe God is showing him that Jesus is an impostor."

"Surely he does not think that he is a deliberate deceiver. Jesus, of all men, is called 'guileless,' and for good reason."

"Not deliberately deceiving the people, perhaps, but deceived into believing he is the Messiah, which he considers even more dangerous. To make matters worse, Saul is daily gaining favor with Caiaphas."