Neanderthal Messiah — 181

The Negev | I

Slave bedraggled faces following

A Zealot’s lead thru the star lit desert -

Torches held aloft lighting camel, sheep.

Oases, cisterns seem now a fantasy -

Instead this Dystoscape at Death’s edge.

Travelers dragged behind the

Treacherous guide’s exhorting.

The fanatical Zealots

Who believe a self-murder provocation = a martyr’s passage

When

James, leader of Q’Umran’s Sons of Light sect

Emerges from the Wilderness.

[James:] ‘Lost Souls! Behold!

[Holding his lantern up to see and be seen.]

You’re being fooled.’

[Zealot:] ‘Shut your mouth, jackal!’

These are our wards.’

[James:] ‘Your words do contradict your actions suicidal Zealot.

A circular path for 3 days now — we’ve tracked you from above.’

[Pointing to the Masada-like redoubt of the Essenes.]

[He offers a goat skin of water that the pilgrims gargle down.]

‘An oasis is just there, over this one dune — judge me by that.’

[One of the foreigners sprints to check — rejoices.]

[Zealot accusingly:] ‘They, THEY befriend the jackals, with human flesh!!’

[James:] ‘It’s true, we’ve made friends with the domesticated ones.

The ones out here, they’re wild. Hungry.’

[More calling back: ‘Ouiiii’ heard across the dune. Some others sprint off.]

[James continues, to the remaining Pilgrims:] ‘You know of the North Star?

In these past days has it been on your left, then right?

Think.

Go, drink, and water your animals as well.

You’re safe.’

[Pilgrim leader:] ‘But the silver we gave them…’ [angrily pointing.]

[James:] ‘Look — he’s alone - that you might kill him in drachmal revenge.

Then another vouchsafe will come to provoke you anew.

I tell you no harm must come to this perpetrator.

Living, his sentence.’

[Pilgrim leader:] ‘And what if you’re too one of them, a substitute?’