Dear Friends,

This week is Episode IV in a five part short-story set in ancient Palestine. To read the first 3 Episodes follow the links below and once you are caught up enjoy reading his weeks installment or just jump right in!

Episode I "Mad Dogs and Romans"
Episode II "How to Stop a Murderer"
Episode III "It's All Greek to Me"

Now enjoy this week's episode!

Episode IV "The Quick and the Dead"

Five to ten members of Pilate’s personal guard were running after Vitus. He wasn’t about to look over his shoulder and check, but he knew the protocol. Ten of them would have immediately formed up around Pilate when Vitus made his move while the other ten would begin pursuit. The question was the soldier whose face Vitus had caved in. Two to four guardsmen might form a perimeter around their fallen comrade. It didn’t matter. Captain Vitus knew his peers in the Roman Army would not cease their pursuit. Thankfully, his pursuers were dressed in full armor. He had them there but he knew they were in good shape and they would never give up the chase.
Before he knew it Vitus was back in the Temple. He could hear shouting behind him and felt something zing by his ear. He ran back through the garment district of the Temple grounds and lost his pursuers for precious moments in the rainbow maze of fabrics blowing in the breeze. A line of dark purple robes rode the wind like a snake on his left. One blew to the side and there was Syrian who owed him! This time he was not discreet. Captain Vitus leapt over a cart holding some dates, figs, and pomegranates taking the poor vendor, his food, and a small hen with him into his target’s back. The sex trafficking Syrian hit the ground the hen clawing his shoulder. Vitus only had seconds to work the most crucial aspect of his plan.
Vitus took off the robe he had been wearing for the past hour to cover his uniform, yanked the Syrian to his feet, shoved the robe in his pomegranate stained hands, and had his knife to the man’s throat before he could blink. Those standing nearby saw Vitus’ uniform and quickly went back to what they were doing. Vitus dragged the Syrian into a nearby alley slapped him like a woman and said, “You put this robe on and your debt is clear with me!” The Syrian heard the Roman soldiers shouting for a man in a black and white robe, “Why Vitus?” but before the Captain’s name had cleared the Syrian’s lips Vitus smacked him to the ground again, very hard.
A few moments later, the Roman guard looking for the man who had assaulted their commander found a dead body in an alley. They lionized a nearby vendor of dates, figs, and pomegranates for stopping the man and fighting him in an ugly duel to the death.
Vitus didn’t see his plan unfold so perfectly. He ran swiftly back towards his men and the Rabbi Jesus, wiping blood and pomegranate juice off his hands onto a small piece of the torn robe now covering a dead Syrian.

Next week the final installment, Episode IV “When the Man Comes Around”

Illuminating Understanding,

The Cinematographer
Stewart H. Redwine
C: 310-770-0448
E: sredwine@36parables.com