"Yes," said the tall one, "but not in Jerusalem at Passover, not when pilgrims have come from all over the Empire."
"Why not?" said the other, "why not when the whole world is there? Why not when the news will carry to Caesar that Herod Archelaus is not master of those who insist upon justice for the blood of those who were murdered?"
"But why did Herod burn alive the two teachers of the Law?" I asked. I did it suddenly, surprising myself.
At once Joseph turned from his thinking, though he was far away, and he looked over at me and then at the men.
But the taller one, the calm one, was already answering me.
"Because they pulled down the golden eagle Herod had put above the great Temple gate, that's why," he said calmly. "The Law says plainly there shall be no image of a living thing in our Temple. You are old enough to know that, child. Don't you know it? Just because Herod built the Temple did not mean he could put an image of a living thing in it. What was the point to labor rebuilding a magnificent temple so that he could transgress the law and put on its walls an image that was a desecration?"
I understood him though his words were not so simple to understand. I shivered.
"These men were Pharisees, teachers of the Law," the tall man went on, fixing me with his eye. "They led their pupils with them to take down the eagle. And Herod took their lives for this!"
Joseph was at my side.
The angry man said, "Don't take him away, let him learn. He would know the names of Matthias and Judas. Both these boys should know." He nodded to me and James. "It was the right and just thing to do. And they knew what a monster Herod was. Everyone knew. You in Alexandria, what did it have to do with you?" He looked at my uncles. "But for us, we lived with him and his monstrosities. They were visited on great and small, I tell you. Once on a whim, a mad whim, fearing a new King had been born, a Son of David, he sent his soldiers two miles' walk from Jerusalem to the town of Bethlehem and..."
"No more!" Joseph said, though he smiled and nodded as he put up his hand.
He drew me away. Quickly and firmly, he brought me towards the women. James he allowed to stay there.
The wind swallowed up all their words.
"But what happened in Bethlehem?" I asked him.
"You'll hear stories about Herod's deeds all your life," Joseph said under his breath. "Remember, I told you that there were some questions that I didn't want for you to ask."
"Will we still go to Jerusalem?"
Joseph didn't answer. "Go there, and sit with your mother and the children," he said.
I did what he said.
The wind was blowing hard now and the boat was heaving. I felt a little sick. I was getting a little cold.
Little Salome was waiting to question me. I snuggled in between her and my mother. It was warm here and I felt better.
Joses and Symeon were already asleep in their lumpy bed among the bundles. Silas and Levi were huddled together with Eli, who was the nephew of Aunt Mary of Uncle Cleopas, who had come to live with us. They were pointing to the sail and to the rig.
"What were they saying?" Salome wanted to know.
"Trouble in Jerusalem," I said. "I hope we go," I said. "I want to see it." I thought of all the words I'd heard. I said excitedly, "Salome, just think of it, people from all over the Empire are going to Jerusalem."
"Yes, I know," she said. "It's the best thing we've ever done."
"Yes," I said with a big sigh. "I hope Nazareth is a fine place as well."
My mother sighed and threw back her head.
"Yes, you must see Jerusalem first," she said sadly. "As for Nazareth, it is the will of God it seems."
"Is it a big town?" asked Little Salome.
"Not a town at all," my mother said.
"No?" I asked.