I have suggested there are stories in the sidelines of history. Here’s one of mine.   

Watching by Night

By Rick Taylor

“Wake up, Marius! You are the soundest sleeper in the Legion! Look! Come to the parapet. Look at that! No, no! Beyond the temple, beyond the Water Gate, outside the city. See? Should we call the Tesserius?”

Marius hunched into his cloak. “Gods, Adaric, you Gauls spook easy. That’s just the moon rising. An hour ago a big star set you off. If you wake the guard commander for that he will have you whipped.”

“You Italians spent too much time in the city. The moon rises in the east and that’s south, Marius.”

“Maybe it’s a comet.”

“Augustus is interested in comets. He moves armies based on comets. Maybe we should report it.”  

“Ha! You think he will pull us out of Herod’s precious Fortress Antonia because some long-haired Gaul said he saw a comet?”

“Look, the light is getting bigger. We should do something.”

“What do you want to do, throw a spear at it? It’s two leagues distant.” Marius started to turn away.

“Well, it’s getting bigger. And it’s not rising like a star. Maybe that village down there is on fire. Maybe they are under attack.”

Marius looked again. “Hmmm…we don’t have a garrison there so the Jews wouldn’t attack it.”

“Aye, but we are collecting taxes for Caesar down there. You’ve seen all the travelers. Do you suppose bandits are after the haul? Lots of folks with lots of coins and goods.”

“Maybe…”

“Listen. Hear that? Here comes the Tesserius is making the rounds. He’ll be here in a trice. What do we say, Marius?”

He straightened his armor and belt. “Quiet, I’ll handle it… Hail, Tesserius.”

“Report, legionnaire!”

“Tesserius, we have just spotted fire a few leagues south. Perhaps in that village.”

“Bethlehem? There’s nothing there but an old Jew lady’s tomb. That’s no fire. Look at the color. Nothing burns white.  How long has it been going on?”

“It just started a few minutes ago. At first we thought it was a comet, but then it got bigger.”

“Are the Jews up to something?” He looked down at the temple courtyard below. “I don’t see anything going on in the temple.”

“No, Tesserius. We thought maybe bandits stealing tax money.”

“Religious zealots most likely. Maybe that bunch out at Qumran. They think they have a messiah or something out there.”

“Look, it is spreading. It looks like it is in the sky, not on the ground.”

“Good eyes, Gaul. That explains the color. The town is on fire and we are seeing the reflection in the white clouds. Adaric, go wake the Centurion. He’ll probably send out a patrol. I’ll alert the stables and wake up the men.”

“Wait, Tesserius! Did you hear that?”

“Hear what, Gaul?”

“It sounded like shouting…maybe…singing?”

“You think you can hear voices three leagues away?”

“No…but…the spirits can propel their voices across the world.”

“Stupid, superstitious…pagan. Go, get the Centurion.”

— — — — — — — — — — —

All right Marius and Adaric, same post as last night. But this time no more reports of spirits or angels from drunken shepherds. Keep a special eye on the temple. Lots of talk on the Jerusalem streets about visions and messiahs after last night. We want to stay ahead of trouble. Just pray it disappears like last night and doesn’t amount to anything.”

“Yes, Tesserius. May the Jews have a silent night.”

“The Jews? Ha! It’s me who wants to sleep in heavenly peace.”