The Shepherd Left Behind: A New Fable for Christmas (3 page)

“Yes. Herod had spies following the company of the magi. They reported back to him and told him where the Holy Family was located.”

“Are they in danger?”

“No more. The night that you left with the magi’s column, Gabriel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to wake up and take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety. He led them on their journey and told them to remain in that country until he came again to let them know that it was safe to go back to Israel.”

Jude paused again. His silence became uncomfortable for the shepherd.

“Jude, is that all the story? Now that the Holy Family is safe we shouldn’t worry.”

“Joshua, you should begin to understand the evil that can infect mankind. Your friend, the translator, said that she felt evil when she was in the presence of Herod. She was right.”

“What happened?”

“It’s hard to believe, but when the king learned that the magi had escaped, he became enraged and ordered his soldiers to kill all male children around Bethlehem who were less than two years old,” Jude said.

Joshua sat silently for a time, then went to the spring and filled his water skin.

“Jude, let’s go on. I need to be doing something, rather than sitting here thinking about those innocent boys.”

“Yes. As you mature, you’ll see more awful injustices, but the Savior which you saw in the stable has come to give you humans the way to find peace.”

The angel paused.

“You see, Joshua, Jesus is the Prince of Peace that Isaiah prophesied and you will see Him again.”

Dedication

This book is lovingly dedicated to my wife: Marjorie Ann Hatfield Drinkard. She is my constant inspiration, best friend and sweetheart.

Acknowledgements

The inspiration for the tale in this fable came all at once, as the best stories sometimes do.

I humbly thank the Lord for giving me this.
 

The title was suggested my wife, Marge.

The lovely cover was created by Marion Sipe

About the Author

Thomas Rowe Drinkard was born and reared in Falkville, Alabama.  He graduated from the University of North Alabama (then called Florence State University) with a degree in English.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned an Army second lieutenant. Within two years he had
 
completed basic courses and volunteered for Special Forces.
 
He graduated from parachute school and U.S. Army Special Forces (the Green Berets) training. He spent more than ten years with the fabled unit, including a combat assignment in Vietnam with MACV-SOG.

After his Army active duty, he found his way into teaching and writing in the securities exam preparation business. Many of his articles and textbooks are currently in use.

Tom is now a full-time writer/ part-time editor. He is the author of the novels;
Piety and Murder, Where There Were No Innocents, Overload
and
Devil’s Blade,
as well as the novellas,
V Trooper -First Mission; V Trooper-Second Mission, The Demon
and
Warrior’s Psalm.
He is also the author of a chapbook of Vietnam poetry,
Finding the Way Home.

A sequel to
Overload,
called
Nuclear Poison
is currently a work in progress.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

About the Author