The Bronze Bow - Elizabeth George Speare [37]
Suddenly a scream rang out. "I am well!" a woman cried. "He has cured me! I am well!" The clamor rose again, drowning her out.
The women who had served Jesus moved now among the crowd with the platters of food, and the bearded fishermen helped them. Hands snatched the food as it passed, cramming it into mouths, spilling it in frantic greed. Daniel understood now why those in the house had eaten so sparingly. There would never be enough to satisfy this starving horde. He shuddered, looking at them. Where had they come from, these wretched creatures who had dragged themselves to this place in the hope of a morsel of bread?
Then Daniel saw the man and woman he had met on the road, standing almost within the reach of Jesus' hand. As Jesus turned, they pushed the child in front of them. The woman went down on her knees and hid her face. The man stood, his eyes fixed on Jesus. Then four men carrying a litter blocked them from Daniel's view, and when he saw them again the three were going rapidly through the gate in the hedge. He sprang after them.
"Did you see him?" he demanded, catching up with them. "Did he speak to you?"
Tears were streaming down the woman's face. Her eyes were dazed, and she could not speak. The man had the same dazed look. "The boy is healed," he said.
"How do you know?" Daniel demanded. "Have you looked at it?"
"No. I have not looked. Show him your arm," the man ordered his son.
The boy shook off the mantle and held out his hand. "It doesn't hurt anymore," he said, puzzled. Daniel felt a sudden chill. He leaned closer.
"It is still swollen!" he accused the man.
The man did not look. "The pain is gone," he said. "The swelling will go too."
"What did he do? Did he touch it?"
"No," the man said. "I don't think he touched it. I started to tell him what was wrong, and I couldn't get the words out. I could only look at him. And then I knew that the boy was all right."
Suddenly Daniel was furious. "You are lying to me!" he cried. "There is some trick—"
"Why should I lie to you?" The man looked back steadily. "I tell you, the boy's hand is healed, and now he will make a weaver."
Back in the yard Simon stood with Joel. Daniel clutched at the older man. "That boy!" he stammered. "Simon—he said his arm was healed!"
Simon did not ask what boy or seem surprised. "Yes," he said quietly.
"But I saw it—we both saw it—not an hour ago. The boy says it doesn't hurt."
"Several people were healed tonight," said Simon.
"It's impossible! Is it some trick?"
"You say you saw the arm yourself. What do you think?"
"I don't understand."
"Nor do I," Simon answered. "But I must believe my own eyes. I have seen it happen, over and over."
Joel spoke thoughtfully. "Is he a magician?"
"No magician could do the things he does. He claims that his power comes from God."
"But these other people—all these—?"
"I don't know why they are not all healed. It seems to require something from the person himself, a sort of giving up. The child you saw, or his parents, must have had that sort of faith."
"Perhaps the arm would have healed anyway."
"Perhaps," said Simon. He put a silencing hand on Daniel's arm. "Wait now, he is going to speak."
For the third time, something in Daniel leaped to answer that voice. It was not a joyous voice tonight or a commanding one as it had been on the sunlit shore. This time its gentleness rested on the suffering people like a comforting touch. But strength still poured through its calm tones, and utter sureness.
"Do not be afraid," Jesus said to them. "For you are the children of God. And does not a father understand the sorrow of his children, and know their need? For I tell you, not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father seeing, and you are of more value than many sparrows. Try to bear your suffering with patience, because you know that God has made