It was later in the afternoon
by the time Vinnie and the three children arrived at the Kaiaphas farm to enact
Kyla’s plan. Vinnie had put on a clean, white himation linen with red trim to
make himself look somewhat more regal and presentable. It was very hot, but he
was getting into character. His chin was up and his posture straight as he
walked.
As
they approached the front gate to the Kaiaphas farm Argo was walking out ahead
of Vinnie while Kyla and Zammie walked on either side of Vinnie and a few steps
back. Both of the cousins held large palm leaves that they used to fan Vinnie
with as if he was the Sultan of Arabia.
They made quite a procession as they approached the watchman at the
front gate.
“What do you want?” asked the watchman.
“Greetings,
sir,” said Argo. “May I introduce to you the Maharaja Garuda. We are here
seeking audience with Lord Kaiaphas, owner of this farm.”
The watchman couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Maha-what?” he asked. “Who are you people?”
“Just visitors to your wonderful land,” said Argo, “and we
are politely requesting the presence of Lord Kaiaphas because we have some
items for sale that we believe he will be very interested in seeing.”
“What kind of items?” asked the watchman.
“Magic items, sir, magic items, but that is all I am at
liberty to say right now. If Lord Kaiaphas has no interest in these items then
we will be on our way. But we must hear from the man himself first.”
“Magic, you say?” asked the watchman. He looked at the
small group before him for a moment while trying to make a decision on what to
do. “Alright, follow me. I will see if Kaiaphas has any interest in seeing
you.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Argo.
The watchman led Argo and the rest of his compatriots
through the front gate and down the walkway that led towards the main house.
The walkway was a dirt road with a length of about one hundred yards before
arriving at Kaiaphas’ home. Rows of grape vines and fields of wheat stretched
out on either side of the dirt road. It was a beautiful afternoon. The sky was
blue and cloudless overhead and there was a cool, salty breeze now coming in
off the water that was less than a mile away.
Zammie
noticed the dozens of men and women scattered amongst the grape vines. They
were working hard picking clusters of grapes and putting them into large
baskets. He wondered how many of them had been separated from their family like
Argo’s sister.
When
they reached the house the watchman turned to the group and said, “Wait here. I
will find out if Kaiaphas will see you.” He entered the house leaving the group
standing by themselves.
Argo
turned to the others and said, “This is working! This was a great idea, Kyla.”
“Yes,
it was a very smart idea,” said Vinnie.
“Thank
you,” said Kyla with a big smile.
“We’re
alone,” said Zammie. “Why don’t we just explore on our own now?”
“The
plan is working perfectly so far,” said Argo. “Let’s follow it through and see
where it takes us.”
“I agree,”
said Vinnie. “If we run off now they will certainly send guards to find us.
Let’s be patient with the plan.”
“What
if Kaiaphas has no interest in seeing us?” asked Zammie.
“I
don’t know,” said Vinnie with a grin. “But if that happens then I’m sure another
option will present itself.”
A
moment later the watchman returned from inside the house and said, “Lord
Kaiaphas is a very busy man.”
Argo
felt his heart skip a beat. Were they being rejected? Now how would they be
able to search the farm to look for Kisandra?
The
watchman continued, “He has many projects to tend to today, but fortunately for
you, he has agreed to give you a few moments of his time.”
Argo
exhaled in relief.
“That’s
enough. You can return to the gate now,” said a loud, bellowing voice from
behind the watchman. The watchman turned
to reveal a large man with long, gray hair stepping out of the house. He wore a
white tunic with silver trimming.
“Sir.”
The watchman bowed and walked quickly past Argo back towards his post.
“Good
boy, that watchman,” said the gray-haired man. “He means well, but he can talk
too much sometimes. I was told you had something to sell me. Something with
magical properties.”
“You
are Kaiaphas?” asked Argo.
“I
am,” replied the man.
“Then,
yes, we do. On behalf of my master, the Maharaja Garuda, we do have something
you will be most interested in,” said Argo.
He stepped back to Vinnie, appeared to say something to him, and Vinnie
handed him a small sack. Argo returned to Kaiaphas and held up the leather sack
that was tied with a drawstring.
“This,
Lord Kaiaphas, is a sack of magic seeds,” said Argo. “If you plant these they
will produce a fruit that is not only the sweetest and most nutritious food you
will have ever tasted, but it will require virtually no water while still being
able to grow year round. With such a fruit you will have plenty not just for
your household, but excess to sell in the market. This will lead to great
profits for you just as it has for us in our own land.”
Kaiaphas
didn’t look convinced. “No water?” he said. “Where are you from, sir?” he asked
Vinnie.
“I’m
sorry, Lord Kaiaphas, but my master is not from this polis and he does not
understand Greek. He is from a kingdom far from here where his subjects have
relied on this magic fruit for generations.”
“Magic
fruit?” said Kaiaphas. “I find this hard to believe.”
“That’s
to be expected, sir. So we will be glad to give you a free sample. If you would
allow us to plant just a few of the seeds for you, and when they grow you will
see for yourself and be convinced. Then we are confident you will want to
purchase a full supply.”
Kaiaphas
looked less doubtful now. “A free sample? Sounds fair. You have a deal. Follow
me and I will show you where we can plant some of your magic seeds.”
Kaiaphas
walked past Argo along another path that stretched deeper amongst the rows of
grape vines. “This way, please,” said Kaiaphas.
Argo
looked back at his small team with a smile then turned to follow Kaiaphas.
Vinnie followed Argo and Zammie and Kyla, still fanning the “Maharaja”,
followed Vinnie.
Kaiaphas
began to describe to Argo some of the production details of his estate. “Wine
and wheat are my primary products, but I also have fig trees and herds of sheep
and goats.” He pointed to the large workshop off to the side of the path they
were following. “In fact, in that building I have several young maidens weaving
and sewing our wool that is sheared from our own sheep. They create some of the
best clothing in all of Greece.
I’ll have to show you before you leave.”
Argo
smiled and played along. “You have many hard-working people here. Where do you
find so many laborers?” he asked.
“We
find them all over. I’m not sure how the accumulation of laborers takes place
where you’re from, but here when one kingdom conquers another kingdom then the
victors will take the survivors as workers. Over time Greece has defeated many other
kingdoms in battle and the supply of workers and slaves is testament to our
military strength. Also, as some of the members of the poorer classes fall into
debt, they must sell themselves into slavery to help repay their burdens. I’m
sure you are familiar with the process.”
“Yes,”
said Argo holding in his emotions. “I am familiar.”
They
arrived at a small clearing of pasture land not far from the weavers’ workshop.
“Will
this do for your seeds?” asked Kaiaphas.
Argo
looked around and pretended to be closely investigating the land. He knelt down and pulled up some of the dirt
and looked at it in his hands. He stood up and walked over to Vinnie and showed
him the dirt. Vinnie took some of the dirt while he and Argo exchanged some
words in hushed tones. Kaiaphas watched this routine with much curiosity.
Argo
turned to Kaiaphas and said, “This will do.”
“Wonderful,”
said Kaiaphas. “I will have some of my servants bring you planting tools. Wait
here. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Argo
watched Kaiaphas walk between two nearby rows of grape vines towards a group of
workers who were busy picking fruit. He turned to Vinnie and the cousins and
said, “I want to take a quick look in that workshop. I won’t take long.”
Before
any of them could say a word Argo was off.
“What’s
he doing?” asked Kyla.
“Maybe
his sister is in there,” said Vinnie.
“I
don’t understand, Vinnie,” said Zammie. “I thought Greece was the birthplace of
democracy. Why do they have so many slaves here?”
“Well,
democracy for some,” said Vinnie. “Not for all. Only Athens has any real semblance of democracy
right now, but even they have slaves. A select class of people is free and they
get to vote and participate in political activity, but not everyone. Not women,
not the non-citizens, certainly not slaves.”
“But
that’s not fair,” said Zammie.
“Don’t
judge this place too harshly,” said Vinnie. “It is only the birth of democracy.
Not the final product. I’m sure it will take generations of trial and error for
people to eventually get it right.”
Kyla had been watching for Kaiaphas’ return while Zammie
and Vinnie were talking. “Argo, better hurry,” she said. “I think Kaiaphas is
coming back.”
Argo
had moved quickly to the weavers’ workshop and opened the wooden door. He took
a step inside the clay brick building and looked around. He saw a series of dozens
of wooden weaving machines. Each one was being controlled by a young girl who
was hard at work spinning wool.
Argo
didn’t recognize anyone, and he was about to leave when he noticed the way one
of the girls had tied her scarf around her head. The girl had her back to him,
but the way the blue scarf was tied off to the side of her head looked very
familiar. He walked between some of the weaving machines and over to the girl,
and when he could see her face in profile he nearly jumped for joy.
“Kisandra!”
he said.
Kisandra
turned to her brother. Her face was flushed and wet with perspiration from working
so hard in the hot, dusty building. When she recognized her brother her face
beamed with a wide smile. “Argo!” She dropped the weaving shuttle and threw her
arms around him. “How did you find me?” she asked.
“I
just—“ but Kisandra cut him off before he could finish.
“Are
you here to rescue me?”
“Of
course! Why else would I be here?”
“But
they’ll find you here,” she said. “How can we get out of here?”
Some
of the other girls were watching the reunion, but no one dared stop working.
“Come
with me now,” said Argo. “I’m here with friends who are helping us.”
“But
the guards,” said Kisandra with fear now showing in her eyes as she thought of
Isaak.
“That’s
why we have to hurry,” said Argo.
“I
can’t escape so easily, Argo. They are going to make me marry Kaiaphas’ son.”
“What?”
Kisandra
looked at her brother with tears in her eyes. “They are watching me closely
every time I leave this building.”
“Argo!”
Argo
turned to look at the door where Zammie was looking inside.
“Let’s
go! He’s coming back,” said Zammie.
Argo
turned back to his sister. “Don’t worry. I will return for you.”
Argo
turned to leave when Kisandra grabbed his arm. “Wait! Tomorrow. Kaiaphas’
daughter is taking me into town tomorrow. Look for us in the market square in
the morning.”
Argo
smiled at his sister. “Yes. We’ll find you tomorrow.” He turned away and
quickly ran out of the workshop.
Zammie
and Argo arrived back to where Vinnie and Kyla were waiting for them moments
before Kaiaphas returned with two of his slave laborers.
“My
friends, I have brought two of my best farmers,” said Kaiaphas. “This is Karos
and this is Alex. They will help you plant these seeds.”
Over the next several minutes Karos, Alex, and Argo tilled
up two short rows of dirt and then planted the seeds. They patted down the dirt
and watered the seeds. Vinnie overlooked the process while Kyla and Zammie
continued to fan him.
“I’m getting tired,” Kyla whispered to Zammie.
“Me too. But I think we’re almost done.”
“Take a break, you two,” said Vinnie.
The two cousins gratefully put their palm leaves down.
“That should do it,” said Argo. He turned to Kaiaphas and
said, “The water we gave them should be the only water they’ll need. Just give
them a couple days and you’ll begin to see the sprouts.”
“I’m hoping this works as well as you claim. I hope you
haven’t wasted my time,” said Kaiaphas.
“Trust us,” said Argo. “We’ll be back in a month to check
on these here. At that time we can discuss prices if you wish.”
Kaiaphas gave a slight bow before Vinnie. “A month it is. I’ll
be looking forward to seeing you again.”
Argo couldn’t get off of that farm fast enough. He calmly
led Vinnie and the two cousins out of the front gate and back towards the boat
docks. When they arrived back at their boat, and they knew no one from
Kaiaphas’ estate was following them, Argo turned to his team and said, “I saw
her! I saw Kisandra in the workshop!”
“Really?” asked Kyla with a big smile. “What did you say to
her?”
“She said she’ll be in town tomorrow morning with Kaiaphas’
daughter. We need a plan to help her escape.”
“I have an idea!” exclaimed Kyla.
“Again?” asked Zammie.
“Are you surprised?” asked Kyla.
“Well,” said Zammie with a grin, “you are my cousin, so I
guess I shouldn’t be.”
“What’s your idea?” asked Argo.
“Let’s eat first,” said Vinnie. “This planning will require
good thought and good nourishment.”
KILLING FOR COUNTRY
TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 1
THE JOURNEY TO ANCIENT GREECE
A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 3
WITNESS TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING
