Rizpah watched the two boys trotting alongside Atretes. They behaved like excited puppies. He didn’t slow down to accommodate them, but kept on, shoulders set, head high. After a while, the boys slowed, unable to keep up. Barnabas came back to Porcia and Timon, but Peter continued on, following Atretes. Shoulders set. Head high.
“Peter!” Timon called finally and signaled for him to come back. The boy’s countenance fell, but he obeyed. Soon Atretes was out of sight.
Theophilus returned from the garrison where he and the other soldiers were staying for the night. He had made lodging arrangements for the others and showed them the way to an inn overlooking the port and gulf. The establishment catered to travelers waiting for ships to be pulled over the isthmus.
“Rest here,” Theophilus told them. “The food is plentiful and good. The proprietor’s name is Arrius. He’s not a believer, but he’s sympathetic. I’ll send word when the ship is launched and the captain’s ready to board passengers.”
As the others entered the gate, Rizpah remained behind.
“Atretes is down at the port,” Theophilus said.
“You spoke with him?” she said hopefully.
“No. Had we been somewhere away from others, I would’ve tried, but he’s itching for a fight. It wouldn’t be to his best interests to allow it to happen within sight of a garrison. He’d find himself back in a ludus. Or worse, he’d be crucified.”
She was disturbed by his words. “You wouldn’t fight him, would you, Theophilus?”
“It may come to that.”
“But he’d kill you.”
“If God allows.”
“He’s been trained to fight.”
His mouth turned up ruefully. “So have I.” He started to walk away and then turned back. “Right now, you have more influence over Atretes than anyone. Use it.”
Influence? She wanted to laugh at the implausible idea that she could change Atretes’ thinking. She entered the inn. She nursed Caleb, changed his soiled wraps and let him play on a blanket while she washed his swaddling clothes and hung them to dry in the small partitioned area allotted to her, Camella, and Lysia.
Lysia sat down on the blanket and played with Caleb. Smiling, Camella watched her daughter.
The young men returned from their errand late in the afternoon. Agabus reported Mnason’s chance encounter with an old friend whereby he had decided to remain in Corinth.
“He has a troupe of players, and one of the leading hypocrites died of a stomach ailment a few days ago. He worked with Mnason in Antioch and was very pleased to find him in Corinth,” Tibullus said.
“Mnason played the same part in Ephesus not more than a month ago and still remembers the lines,” Niger said.
“Which he began to recite right there before the baths.” Tibullus grinned. “Everyone who heard him was impressed.”
“He’s decided to stay here rather than go on to Rome,” Agabus added, “and asked us to extend his love to all of you. He’ll pray for us.”
“Perhaps we should think about staying in Corinth,” Eunice said.
Her remark drew a sharp glance from her husband, Parmenas. “We’re going on to Rome.”
“But we might encounter worse persecution there than we did in Ephesus. The church meets openly here.”
“Because they’ve watered down the gospel to make it palatable for the populace,” Niger said grimly. “We attended a service yesterday and were appalled at what they’re preaching.”
“Two Nicolaitans were professing their philosophies,” Agabus said.
“With the approval of the elders,” Tibullus added.
“There were notices posted of classes offered,” Niger went on. “One is being taught by a self-proclaimed prophetess who’s teaching the freedom of Christ means we can enjoy pleasures of any choosing.”
“Did you correct them?” Timon said.
Tibullus gave a bleak laugh. “We spoke with several deacons. Two agreed with us, but half a dozen others were openly hostile. They said we were meddling.”
“One said I have a very narrow, plebeian view of Christ’s love,” Niger said. “He said Christ told us to be at peace with all men, and therefore that means we can’t condemn anyone’s practices. Some of these Christians have turned the freedom of Christ into license to do all manner of evil.”
“Those who have ears will hear what the Spirit says,” Timon said.
“Those I met were deaf,” Niger said.
“You only met with them for a day. You shouldn’t judge,” Eunice said in quick defense.
“I never meant to imply we were,” he said, dismayed.