The Shepherd Left Behind: A New Fable for Christmas (2 page)

As dawn began to redden the hills to the east, the angel’s figure, walking beside him became clearer.

No, a boy of his apparent age wouldn’t be wearing a cloak as brilliantly white—not for long anyway. Jude was about as tall as Joshua. His hair was blonde and came to his shoulders. His eyes were pale blue. At least they seemed to be that color, but the color darkened as the sun rose.

“Why am I needed in Bethlehem?” Joshua said.

“You must be there when the wizards come. You’ll understand when the time comes; now hurry.”

Trusting his angel friend, Joshua picked up the pace.

~~~~~~~~~

As Joshua and Jude made their way into Bethlehem, the shepherd boy’s curiosity intensified. The streets, even in the early morning hours were busy. People were still trying to register in accordance with the emperor’s command, but there were people and animals in the lanes that were different and new to the city.

When Jude led Joshua to the stable behind the inn, though, a sense of serenity enveloped the boy. At the moment he entered the place, only Joseph, Mary and Jesus were there.

Without being told, when the shepherd approached the manger where the Christ Child lay, he dropped to his knees in awe. Jude was beside him.

Mary said nothing, but smiled and reached to touch the boy’s hair. She smiled at Jude as if greeting an old friend.

Joshua felt the thrill of deep peace flow through him.

As they stood, Jude spoke quietly to Joshua.

“Others are coming, they are the reason that you need to be here. They must be aware of your presence as they arrive.”

“Who are the others?” Joshua said.

“The wizards and their people. I’ll tell you what to do and say. They won’t see me. Only you and the Holy Family will know I’m here. Don’t worry, you will understand,” Jude said.

~~~~~~~~~

A young girl, dressed in clothing that Joshua thought unusual for Bethlehem, came into the stable.

She approached the manger and touched the rough wood as if her hands had found the world’s most precious substance.

She bowed, and then knelt. When she rose she smiled and bowed to Mary.

When she looked up, she seemed to see the shepherd boy for the first time.

“Who are you?” she said.

“My name is Joshua, I was in the fields where the angels came to tell us of the birth of this Holy Child. Who are you?”

“I am called Adiva. I have come with the court of Melchior, the scholar. We have come to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel,” she said.

“What do you do for your master?” Joshua said.

“I’m a translator. Lord Melchior doesn’t speak the language of the people of Bethlehem, but—as you can hear—I do. He will speak to the Child’s parents through me,” she said.

“Where is he now?” Joshua said.

“He’s been to the court of King Herod. He, along with Lords Caspar and Balthazar, will be here soon. They’re bringing precious gifts for the Child and his family.”

Jude was standing beside the shepherd boy and spoke to him in words that had no sound, but were clear in his mind.

“Tell her that you will help if she needs someone to advise her or her master on local matters,” Jude said.

Joshua offered his help, just as the angel suggested.

Adiva, though a translator, had only a thin knowledge of the land in which she found herself. This shepherd boy, speaking to her in a stable, under the glow of a guiding star, offered welcome assistance.

She readily accepted Joshua’s offer.

“Joshua, I hear the camels and horses of my master’s court and those of the others. Please stay close, but quiet. Let me tell them about you.

Joshua watched the girl as she hurried to the open door of the stable to greet her master, Melchior. She was quick and graceful. Her dark eyes and long, black hair were more obvious and lovely, now that dawn had begun the new day.

“Lord Melchior, the child you sought is here, as you’d predicted from watching for His star.”

The astrologer she greeted was tall, with pale skin and dark eyes. His hair was white and fell to his shoulders. He wore a long, full beard.

As he approached Mary and the Christ Child, he removed his cap and bowed. As he did, Adiva stepped forward and held the skirt of his long, gold cape when he knelt. As the man spoke, she translated for Mary.

“We have seen the star of your Son. The miracle of his birth has been fulfilled. My humble gift is this casket of gold coins, for he is, indeed, the King of prophecy.”

As the magus Melchior stepped back; a man of medium height, who wore a green cloak, replaced him. The man had short, brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard.

Although Melchior stepped away from the Holy Child, his gaze never left the wondrous sight. Though her master had moved back, Adiva stayed to translate. She spoke to Mary and Joseph, introducing the second magus.

“This scholar is Caspar, he brings a gift of frankincense to recognize the Christ Child’s deity.”

Caspar didn’t speak, but motioned for Adiva to open the top of a silver cask. When she did, a powerful and sweet scent of the incense spread through the stable.

The astrologer stepped back and stood beside his older companion and both watched as a black man who wore a purple cloak removed his cap and knelt before the Christ Child. Adiva translated.

“I am Balthazar. I have come from far away, following the star of the Holy Child. I have brought myrrh, the fragrant oil used for embalming royalty. It is a bitter, but necessary, gift.”

Assistants, guards and others in the company of the magi jostled forward, as Balthazar moved away, for a glimpse of the Holy Child.

Adiva moved close beside her lord and whispered to him. As she did, Joshua noticed that she inclined her head toward him. She had told the shepherd that she would make sure that the notable men wouldn’t question his presence.

Indeed, they’d been so overwhelmed by their proximity to the Christ Child that they hadn’t noticed him.

“When you can, ask Adiva where the magi have been and what happened there.” Jude spoke in Joshua’s mind.

The three principals walked outside the stable to talk privately and Adiva came to stand beside Joshua, who had moved to a corner of the stable away from the door.

“My master is talking to the others. Since they found the Holy Child and offered their gifts, their long quest is complete. They don’t seem to know what to do now,” she said.

“Where have they been before they came to this stable?” Joshua said.

“We went to the palace of King Herod. They knew of no other place in a strange land. After talking to the king, Melchior sent me here to wait for him. Herod has said that he wishes to come and see the baby too, but the scholars have an uneasy feeling about the king.”

“Why?” Joshua said.

Adiva looked around her and led Joshua out of the stable into an alleyway that led to the back of the inn.

“As I stood beside Lord Melchior to translate, I sensed an evil inside Herod. I hope that the three masters do not lead him here.”

Before the shepherd could answer, a guard who had been with Melchior called to Adiva in a language Joshua didn’t understand.

“I must go. I hope to see you tomorrow. Where will you be?”

“Tell her you’ll still be here.” Jude said.

“If I may, I’ll sleep on the floor of the stable. Look for me in this place.”

Sleep came quickly for Joshua. As he’d told Adiva, he made his bed in the corner of the stable, on a pile of hay.

Jude had told the shepherd that he should rest well, because he had a vital mission to perform on the following day.

Joshua woke when Jude touched his shoulder.

“Is it morning yet?” he said.

“Dawn will come soon. With the morning, you’ll have a visitor, the translator, Adiva. She will explain what Melchior and the others need. Don’t worry; I’ll be beside you each step. Now, go get some breakfast, you’ll need it.

The shepherd boy found a food vendor who’d just opened her stall and bought breakfast. He was on the way back to the stable when Adiva rushed past him, heading for the same destination.

“Adiva, stop, it’s Joshua! Why are you in such a rush?”

The girl had run past him in her haste, on the still-dim street. When she heard the shepherd’s voice, she stopped and turned back. She began speaking as she walked. Her words stumbled as she spoke.

“Joshua! My master and the other scholars need you. An angel—in a dream that all three shared and remember—told them that we must not go back to our country by the same roads we used to come here. The angel said that Herod’s soldiers would be lying in ambush. The wicked king’s troops have been ordered to force the scholars to tell him where the Christ Child is. He means to kill the baby because he fears losing his throne.”

“Where are the scholars and their people now?” Joshua said.

“The whole company is awake and loading the beasts for travel, but they don’t know where to go. You said that you know the countryside, please help!” she said.

Joshua sensed Jude’s presence beside him. He waited for the angel to speak. When he did, it was only with silent words that formed in his mind.

“This is why I told you that you’d be needed. Gabe called out to these men and warned them. He told me that you could show the way to avoid Herod’s men. He told them that a young guide would lead them—that’s you.”

To Adiva, it seemed that the shepherd was considering how to answer her plea.

“Adiva, will your master and his friends trust me to lead them?”

“They saw that you were in the stable with the Holy Family and accepted your presence. They are eager to leave this place. I’ll take you to them,” she said.

Adiva led Joshua to the edge of the town. The air was still chilly, but the skies were brightening. She took him to the tent of her master, Melchior.

“Sire, this young man knows the trails and roads around this town better than most people who live in this city. His name is Joshua and he has volunteered to lead our company to a safe passage out of the area,” she said.

The sage’s deep brown eyes were full of questions but his voice was firm. Adiva translated the words.

“Young man, an angel spoke to me and my friends in a dream we shared. The heavenly creature said that a young guide would lead us safely away from Bethlehem to roads that would take us home. Are you the one?”

“Sire, I too have seen wonders I would have never expected and I have been told to show you the paths to avoid Herod’s grasp,” Joshua said.

“Very well, you may ride on a horse at the head of our column. Adiva will ride with you. When we are well on our way, you will be rewarded for your time,” Adiva translated the man’s words with obvious delight.

Joshua rode a powerful, dappled gray mare along with Adiva. The column they led made its way across barely visible trails through the countryside that only shepherds knew.

Jude walked beside the horse, speaking silently to Joshua whenever the route was unclear.

After two days, the company made its way through a passage in the hills and came to a major road.

“Adiva, tell your masters to take this road to the north. It will intersect with the trade routes some call the Silk Road. Once there, your column will find easy travel to your home.

He slid off the horse and, after squeezing the girl’s hand, made his way back along the column and through the mountain pass, going back to the shepherd’s life without claiming a prize from the magus.

His reward was the knowledge that he had seen the Messiah and heard the angels proclaiming His glorious birth.

He also had made a friend that would stay with him for life.

~~~~~~~~~

“Well Jude, you said you’d be with me as long as I needed you.”

“Yes, I will be here any time you need me. You need to know what happened to the Holy Family after we left. I’ll tell you the story on the way.”

As Joshua and Jude were on the way back toward Bethlehem, the shepherd boy reminded the angel of his promise.

“Jude, we’ve been walking for hours. I’m not tired, but I am curious. Please tell me what happened with the wise men in Bethlehem.”

The angel was silent for a few seconds, as if listening to unspoken words from far away.

“Joshua, the Holy Family is safe now, so I can tell you the whole story. You should know, because of your role. Let’s stop for a few minutes so that you can rest and drink some water.”

They stopped at the edge of a spring and sat in the shade of the trees.

“Joshua, the danger was from Herod. What the interpreter, Adiva, told you was accurate. The King is a jealous and dangerous man. He tried to get the magi to find the baby Jesus for him, so that he could destroy the child.”

“Surely Herod must’ve had someone following them as they made their way into Bethlehem. The caravan was large and made no attempt to travel unnoticed.

Jude’s smile was like that of a teacher whose prized student has done well.