ENOCH THE LEPER CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Page 2

SHALLUM AND SAUL approached Enoch's home. They could see his widowed mother busily sweeping the porch as they arrived. All of her belongings had been piled outside in great haste. As they neared, she looked up without speaking, her eyes red and swollen from weeping.

"He has gone?" Shallum asked.

She nodded.

"It is best," Saul said, "that he live in the Valley of the Lepers, where he can at least keep company with his own kind."

"But he is not going there," she said.

Shallum knitted his brows and looked at Saul. "He told me that he would leave immediately."

"He did," she replied. "But before he left, he said, 'Don't cry, Mother. Don't cry, for there is still hope.'"

"What did he mean by that?" asked Shallum.

"Jesus! What other hope could there be? Enoch said he saw ten men from the Valley of Lepers who were healed by him."

"Of course," commented Saul, rolling his eyes at Shallum. Turning to the woman again, he asked, "Did these supposed lepers go to the priest for examination?"

"I suppose they did."

"Supposing is not enough. If they were lepers they are required to show themselves to the priest, even as Moses commanded."

Enoch's mother broke down in sobs. "I don't know about these things. I just want Enoch to be well again, don't you?"

"Of course I do!" Turning to Shallum, Saul added, "What a cruel hoax. It is evil to play on people's feelings this way." He turned back to the woman. "Has anyone contacted the priest to inspect your house?""

"No."

"Would you allow us to do that for you?"

She nodded. As they hurried toward the Temple she muttered, loud enough to be heard; "I know what the high priest thinks about Jesus, and I know what you two have said about him. But if my son finds him, and if he comes back cleansed of his leprosy, you two can say all you like." She raised her voice, saying, "If he can cleanse my son, I will believe in him, too!"