The Bronze Bow - Elizabeth George Speare [71]
"What do you suppose they're moving that thing for?" someone whispered.
"I've a good idea," Daniel answered. "It's the kind of thing Herod used against the caves at Arbela."
"You think they'd dare to attack Rosh?"
"If he makes enough trouble for them."
"All the more reason," said the boy. "We'll do away with it."
"Wait," cautioned Daniel. "The guards are not to be killed. It would mean death in the village. I'll take one of them, Nathan takes the other, the way I've taught him."
Before the guard knew that anyone was near, Daniel had one arm about his throat. When the man lay, stunned and gagged, Daniel relieved him of spear and dagger. A moment later a sharp whistle announced that the second guard also was overcome. One by one, shadowy figures crept from the rocks and surrounded the monster. They worked silently, muffling under their cloaks the rasp of the file and the chipping of the chisel. Bit by bit, plank by plank, the monster shrank and crumpled. Over and over, during the long night, the boys retraced the devious path to the watchtower, staggering under heavy planks and crossbeams. When the sun rose next morning the catapult had disappeared without a trace. Nor did Roman offers of reward or threats of reprisal produce a single hint of its whereabouts.
The boys were wild with success. They swaggered through the village, taking little pains to hide their barked shins and blistered palms. Daniel tried to warn them.
"You will ruin everything," he urged. "This is only the beginning."
"Why?" they demanded. "Why can't we strike now? Look at the people. Would one of them give us away? They are just waiting. One word and they'll be with us. Why doesn't Rosh give the word?"
Joel sent warnings from the city. The Romans were strengthening their forces. A detachment of footguard had come up from Tiberias to join the garrison. The road patrol had been doubled. Even in the village unfamiliar soldiers strolled, apparently without purpose, their eyes alert under their helmets. Daniel insisted there would be no nightly activity for a time. The boys, chafing under the restraint, went scowling about the village. There was an explosive quality in the air.
One morning a shepherd hurried into town with word that three of the town flock had been snared and slaughtered. That morning two men visited Daniel's shop.
"They say you can get a message to Rosh if you choose," one began.
Daniel did not answer.
"If you can, tell him this: he is to leave our sheep alone."
"Do you begrudge a sheep now and then," asked Daniel quietly, "to the man who would give his life for your freedom?"
"We have had enough of his brand of freedom. He's free up there. Free from the taxes that bleed us dry. Free to play with the Romans while we stand and take the punishment. By the prophets, if you have any fondness for this savior of yours, warn him now. We have had enough."
Two days later a farmer, about to move with his family to man the watchtower in his field, came upon his nearripened crop and found it plundered, trampled, wantonly ruined.
Dismayed, Daniel climbed the mountain to take the warning to Rosh, only to have Rosh laugh in his face.
"They are afraid of their own shadows," Rosh jeered. "What good are they but to raise food for men who will fight?"
"They are desperate," Daniel urged. "You know they cannot carry arms themselves. They are going to appeal to the centurion for protection. They want him to send legionaries."
"Let them come!" Rosh boasted. "Let them get a taste of the mountain. They will only break their teeth on it."
Daniel went back to the village sick at heart.
We must hurry, he thought with despair. The whole village is turning against him. If the day does not come soon, they will never follow him.
18
LATE IN THE AFTERNOON on the last day of the month of Ebul, Daniel, looking up from his work, saw a figure hurrying along the road, an unfamiliar figure, muffled in a heavy turban and moving with a haste that warned him of trouble. He put down his hammer and waited. It was only when the stranger entered