Judas is the first to enter. He looks around. Full of haughtiness, he seizes a dirty hostler in short sleeves, that is with a sleeveless short tunic, reaching down to his knees. «Hostler!» he shouts. «The landlord! Quick! Be quick. I am not used to be kept waiting for people.»
The boy runs away, dragging a broom behind him.
«But Judas! What manners!»
«Be quiet, Master. Leave me alone. It is important that they consider us rich people coming from town.»
The landlord rushes in and he bends down repeatedly in front of Judas, who is impressive in Jesus’ dark red mantle worn on top of his sumptious yellow tunic full of fringes.
«We have come from far, man. We are Judaeans of the Asiatic communities. This gentleman, born in Bethlehem and persecuted, is now looking for some dear friends. We are with Him. We have come from Jerusalem, where we worshipped the Most High in His House. Can You give us some information?»
«My lord… your servant… will do everything for you. Give me your orders.»
«We want some information on many… and particularly on Anne, the woman whose house was opposite your hotel.»
«Oh! poor woman! You will find her only in Abraham’s bosom. And her children with her.»
«Is she dead? How?»
«Don’t you know of Herod’s massacre? The whole world talked about it and even Caesar called him “a pig who feeds on blood”. Oh! What have I said? Don’t report me! Are you really a Judaean?»
«Here is the sign of my tribe. So? Speak up.»
«Anne was killed by Herod’s soldiers, with all her children, except one daughter.»
«But why? She was so good?»
«Did you know her?»
«Yes, very well.» Judas lies shamelessly.
«She was killed because she gave hospitality to those who said they were the father and mother of the Messiah…
74.4 Come here, into this room… Walls have ears and it is dangerous to talk about certain things.»
They go into a low dark room. They sit down on a low couch.
«Now… I am very clever. I am not a hotel keeper for nothing. I was born here, the son of sons of hotel keepers. I have malice in my blood. And I did not take them. I could have found a hole for them. But… poor, unknown Galileans as they were… Oh! no! Hezekiah will not fall into the trap! And I felt… I felt they were different… that woman… Her eyes… something… no, no… She must have had a demon inside Her and She spoke to him. And She brought him… not to me… but to town. Anne was more innocent than a little lamb, and she gave them hospitality a few days later, when She already had the Child. They said He was the Messiah… Oh! the money I made during those days! The census was nothing like it! Many people came here who had nothing to do with the census. They came even from the seaside, even from Egypt to see… and it lasted for months! What a profit I made! The last to come were three kings, three powerful people, three sorcerers… I would not know! What a train! An endless one! They took all the stables and they paid in gold for so much hay that could have lasted a month, and they went away the following day, leaving it all here. And what gifts they gave to the hostlers and the women! And to me! Oh! I can only speak well of the Messiah, whether He was a true or false one. He made me earn bags of money. And I had no disasters. None of My family died, because I had just got married. So… but the others!»
74.5 «We would like to see the places of the slaughter.»
«The places? But every house was a place of slaughter. There were people killed for miles around Bethlehem. Come with me.»
They go up a staircase into a large terraced roof. From it, one can see a lot of countryside and the whole of Bethlehem spread on the hills like an open fan.
«Can you see the ruined spots? Over there also the houses were burnt down because the fathers defended their children with their weapons. Can you see over there that kind of well covered with ivy? Those are the remains of the synagogue. It was burnt down with the ruler of the synagogue who stated that it was the Messiah. It was burnt down by the survivors, who were wild because of the slaughter of their children. We had trouble for that after… And over there, and there, there… see those sepulchres? The victims are buried there… They look like little sheep spread all over the green, as far as the eye can see. All the innocents and their fathers and mothers… See that vat? Its water was red after the killers washed weapons and hands in it. And the brook at the back here, did you see it? It was pink because of the blood which had flowed into it from the sewers. And there, over there, in front of us. That is what is left of Anne’s house.»
Jesus is crying.
«Did You know her well?»
Judas replies: «She was like a sister for His Mother. Is that right, my friend?»
Jesus replies simply: «Yes.»
«I understand» remarks the hotel keeper who becomes pensive.
74.6 Jesus bends forward to speak to Judas in a low voice.
«My friend would like to go on those ruins» says Judas.
«Let Him go! They belong to everybody!»
They go downstairs, say goodbye and go out. The host is disappointed. Perhaps he was hoping to earn something.