Even Unto Death, page 4
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Bystanders began arriving early to get the seats nearest to the place where the games would take place. As they began to fill the stands, the Emperor reviewed the plan for the day’s events. This would be a spectacular day and he would make sure there were no foul-ups.
He knew that any more mishaps would make him look foolish to the crowd.
“Today I want to see the lions in the arena!” he demanded. “I want to hear every Christian fool recant before they die!
Do whatever you must to cause this to happen!” said the Emperor. “Am I understood?”
“Yes, my Lord, we will do as you please. I have had the beasts starved for two weeks. They are hungry and ready to tear up anything that looks edible.”
“Well they had better be!” he commanded. “I want this day to be better than the last one, this week we celebrate to honor Rome, and to smash the traitors.”
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Just outside the arena John and Thaddeus had hidden themselves in a place where they could get a clear look at what was happening. Thaddeus whispered, “John I think we can get a closer look if we move in among the crowd as they are entering the stands away from the guards.”
John, a little angry at his friends haste and lack of common sense, stated, “You know we cannot take that kind of risk. They could capture or kill us. Worse yet, what if one of the soldiers standing by the door questions us. You know we do not bear the stigma that would allow us to roam freely.”
Thaddeus, sensing his friend’s frustration, took a deep breath and pushed the torment down deep inside. He wished none of this was happening and he was home with the ones he loved. As he exhaled, he spoke.
“I know your right John. I do not want to get anyone else captured.” Tears fell from his eyes.
Immediately, John felt the sorrow emanating from his friend. He was ashamed, realizing what Thaddeus must be feeling not knowing if his family was dead or alive.
“I am sorry my brother. Listen, I know you are worried about your family...”
Before he could finish his sentence, he noticed that something in the arena had distracted Thaddeus.
“What is wrong Thaddeus? What are you looking at...are you ok?”
Thaddeus lowered his head and placed both hands over his face as he turned away weeping.
“They have my family, John!”
“Where...! Where are you looking? Are you sure Thaddeus?”
“I just saw my wife taken into the arenas lower cell. We are too late to help them. They are going to kill them John. They are going to kill my family.”
Trying to calm his friend down, he grabbed Thaddeus by both shoulders and said, “Look Thaddeus, let’s get a closer look. Maybe you made a mistake. It could have been someone else...someone that looks like her. There are so many, it may not have been her.”
As they moved closer to the arena, John spotted a place covered in brush where they could watch unnoticed. The door to the arena was slightly open, so Thaddeus carefully made his way over to take a closer look. With disbelief, he noticed his son.
The guards must have thought there was no need to chain such a young child and that he would stay by his mother. Trying to avoid any attention, the men tried to gesture to the young child. Seeing Thaddeus, he came running to him. Thaddeus grabbed the boy and quickly moved toward the brush looking behind him to see if someone had followed. He hurled the lad toward John and leaped into the brush
The boy did not make a sound the entire time, Thaddeus was worried that something had happened to him, but John quickly reminded him that this young child had just been through a lot and almost certainly was in shock.
“John, I saw her near the door. I think if I can get close enough to her, I may be able to remove the chains and grab her out.”
“I think it is too risky, Thaddeus. She is in there with the soldiers and they have weapons. You could be caught or worse yet killed!”
“What will my life be worth if I do not at least try. SHE IS MY WIFE JOHN. I must try!”
“Then go my friend if you must, but please be careful. I will be praying, please try to do it safely Thaddeus.”
“Take the child back to the cave. If all goes well, I will meet you there...and if not my brother...we will meet again when we all join our Lord.”
At first, John seemed to hesitate, wondering if he should even allow his friend to go. Yet he knew that if it were his own he would do the same.
He grabbed the child and began running back toward the cave. Then realizing that he was leaving tracks, he sat the boy down and tried to clear the path of their foot tracks. The boy just looked on in wonder, “don’t worry you will be safe very soon.”
John just could not concentrate, for his mind was still on Thaddeus, did I make the right decision he kept thinking? Now he would have to focus on protecting the child. After deciding that all was clear and his tracks were erased, he sat down and prayed that somehow Thaddeus and the others would get away. However seeing all the guards, he knew that was a very slim chance. Still he would keep to the bushes and hope for the best, even though Thaddeus had asked him to take the boy to the cave.
Yet John decided that he would wait as long as possible, to maybe see something, or assist Thaddeus if possible...
Chapter 4
(The Surprise rescue)
The soldiers gathered the first group of people to take their place in the arena. The door leading to the outside was still slightly ajar. They chained this group of people together with one long chain.
As Thaddeus approached the door, he could hear talking yet it was too dark inside to see, so he moved even closer.
“What do you think the Emperor will do with all of these prisoners today? He cannot kill them all,” replied one of the guards.
“Oh, you don’t know him. He is worse than even the last one, with all the Christians that he put to death.”
“We need two more!” the guard shouted from the steps. “Bring them up quickly, the Emperor is waiting.”
Thaddeus peered, his head inside and could see his wife, so he cautiously attempted to get her attention...“please Lord Help me,” he whispered.... To his surprise, she turned toward the door.
Right then she saw him, so he motioned for her to be quiet. She began to move slowly towards the door as much as the chain would allow.
“Where do you think you are going? Get back in that line with the rest of them!” a guard shouted.
The guards’ voice frightened even Thaddeus. Fearing this may be his only chance, he waited for the guard to approach the door.
Feeling the adrenalin rushing through his veins, he hurled the heavy door open, with what seemed to be superhuman strength. This caught the soldier off guard, knocking him off his feet with a loud, hollow thud. The guard hit the massive rock wall....
Before the soldier could holler for the others, Thaddeus pounced on him, gripping his throat, and hitting him repeatedly. He continued to hit him until he no longer moved. Thaddeus wondered, noticing the guard was still breathing, if he should just kill him and rid the world of such a horrible person. Yet noticing his wife and others looking at his every move, he got up allowing this evil animal to live.
“How do we get these chains off?” he pleaded with them all. “Never mind he whispered we do not have time. Everyone just follow me.”
He noticed his wife frantically searching for their son. He grabbed her in his arms holding her tighter than he ever remembered before.
Thaddeus explained, “Mary, John has our son. He is safe, now let’s go!”
They all headed back into the thick brush where John and Thaddeus hid earlier and within minutes, all of them were safely heading toward the cave.
Many were still in shock at what had just happened back in the cell, with most of them not even realizing this man had just heroically saved their lives. Thaddeus pointed out the direction to travel and followed behind being very careful to cover their tracks. They moved quickly toward the place where they would all be safe. He continued thanking God all the way back toward the cave...
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As the other guards returned for more prisoners, they then spotted the guard on the ground.
He was out cold, bleeding from the mouth and from a large gash on his forehead that his helmet must have made from the force of the door slamming him against the wall.
“Get up you fool!” One shouted.
The guards were now standing around him wondering what had happened.
“Where are the prisoners? Did you let them all escape?”
“I ...I was attacked from behind, they...they had more men than I could handle by myself.”
Still dazed he figured there must have been many to overtake him in such a manner.
“Well, we will have to see what the Emperor has to say about this...you two, go out and see if you can pick up their trail. You... come with me; you have some explaining to do.”
“What will happen? Do you think the Emperor will punish me? It was not my fault. They attacked me.
If there had been guards to assist me, they would not have overtaken me. There were too many. I fought...I am sure I wounded a few of them. There was just too many.”
“You wounded a few...you let prisoners escape. You will not place this blame on us.
This will surely anger the Emperor and you will more than likely take their place. However, do not worry. We will kill you quickly so you will not have to suffer much. Now get going and you had better not try to place this blame on us or I will kill you as you speak.”
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Thaddeus took them the long way to the farther entrance, making sure he was hiding all the tracks they were leaving. He knew they must get there without giving away their hiding place. The road was treacherous and it was difficult with the people wearing chains. Yet soon they were away from the Arena and ready to relax in the safety of their new home. As they arrived, they knew they received blessings, still thanking God. He hugged and kissed his wife and they both were now in tears.
“Now I have you both safe again, Mary...thank you Lord,” he said aloud.
The cave was so well hidden Thaddeus at first walked right past. Then knowing he went too far, he turned around and quickly found it.
Though chained together, they managed to maneuver into the cave with very little help.
Thaddeus kept holding on to Mary’s hand as though he feared he would lose her if he released it again.
Yet he knew they would all be safe as they entered the protection of this home they would now share.
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The soldiers searched the area that they figured this group might have fled after escaping. Yet after finding nothing, they walked out into the woods to search.
Not being trackers, they were unable to pick up any signs. They were looking for any sign of the prisoners leading away from the arena or any broken branches. After a short while of searching, they gave up and headed back inside.
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Meanwhile back at the arena, the guard who allowed the escape was now heading in to break the news to the Emperor. They entered the hall that lead to the Emperor’s chambers as fear consumed the both of them.
“My lord,” one spoke out, “I have some disturbing news to tell...”
“Well, why are you here?” he shouted. “Where are those prisoners I commanded you to bring?”
“My lord, this blundering idiot somehow managed to let the prisoners escape... We...”
“You idiots... you will both die for your incompetence! Guards, bring these two fools to the arena. Put these fools in front of the rest. I want them taken care of now!”
“My lord, I had nothing to do with his failings. I was merely here to bring this fool to you...please my lord, forgive me.”
Knowing the emperor was not accepting anything he was saying, and not knowing what else to do, he reached for his sword. The guards quickly disarmed him, without much resistance.
“Get these two out of my sight now before you too are next...Now, get going!”
“All right, let’s go, both of you now!” shouted the guard. “You are going to feed the cats. I hear they have not eaten in a couple weeks. They should be starving. So, I am sure it will be a quick death.”
He sneered at their pleading and moved them along with his sword, heading toward the hall leading to the arena doors. As he opened the doors, the crowd stood to see who would be next in fulfilling their hunger for entertainment.
As they stood waiting, the two guards tried to remember anything that could save them. With all of their experience in viewing many of these lion executions, they surely could live through this somehow. Then, to their horror, the doors opened and the guards forced them out.
“Release the beasts!” the guard hollered to the next room where he could hear them roaring.
The former guards began running, tripping over each other, trying to find any kind of cover from the ferocious and deadly cats. The starving lions attacked the first guard, probably smelling the blood of others killed earlier that day.
As he tried to run, one lion leaped up burrowing her massive claws into his back, her weight knocking the scared guard off balance and to the ground. The other beast grabbed for his throat, as he turned around trying to defend himself. With a quick jerk of its massive head, the beast tore open most of the guard’s neck. Both of the lions began tearing at the exposed parts of his body. His limbs dangled lifeless, almost chewed off, as the larger of the female lions gripped him in her mouth. The lioness seemed to announce to the other beast possession of this food and moved as if the dead guard had no weight to him at all.
At the far end of the arena, the other guard crouched down, trying not to move and frozen with fear. He stayed perfectly still watching this horrible sight and called out for mercy. As he tried moving slowly to a less noticeable place, the other lion turned all her attention to him. The beast’s face, now covered in blood, and still hungry, rushed toward the second guard. In a flash, she pulled his feet out from under him, swiping her front paws, as a cat would bat a mouse. Then, while the former guard tried to lay still with his face to the ground, not wanting to see what was coming, the lion sunk her teeth into the back of his neck causing it to crush under the massive pressure of her jaws. The guard screamed in agony.
Paralyzed, he could still hear the beast begin to tear flesh from his lifeless body.
Soon the first lion joined in the kill seeing the new action. Once more, both lions were successful as they had been many times before.
The lions tried to consume as much as they could before the guards forced them off, as to not allow them to consume too much. The guards knew that if the lions got too full, they would not eat more for days.
The crowd stared at the former guards’ remains, as the huge cats disengaged. The lions then started circling the arena and the crowd hollered for more. Both of these beasts began growling, with blood matting down the hair on their faces, their eyes piercing the crowd with their devilish stares.
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“John! John!” echoed shouts from the tunnel leading to the rear entrance of the cave.
Julius and Barnabas raced to see why Thaddeus was shouting. With all of the commotion, they were afraid that he might be fleeing from someone.
“What is happening?” Julius asked in a panic. “Thaddeus, where did all of these people come from? Are you positive no one followed you? How did you get all of these people here and where is John?”
“What do you mean Julius, he is not here yet?” asked Thaddeus. “He has our son with him and he came back here ahead of me.”
Thaddeus gave his wife a kiss, and reassured, “Do not worry Mary, we will find them. John may have just lost his direction. It will be ok.” With that said, he headed for the entrance.
“Be careful!” she pleaded, as he turned and waved to her.
Quickly Thaddeus began down the tunnel, heading out of the cave. He heard Julius say, “Barnabas, would you please go with Thaddeus? See if you can help locate John and the boy, while I try to free these people from these chains.”
“God, please go with them and bring them all safely back,” whispered Julius...
The two men left the cave in haste. They went out searching desperately for their friend John and the young boy. All at the cave were praying they would find them. The biggest fear that Thaddeus faced was telling Mary that even though she was free, they had lost their son in the process.
He also worried that the guards who were most likely searching for the ones he had freed had captured John. They would search until they knew the truth for sure...
Unbeknown to Thaddeus, John when fleeing with the boy heard the commotion behind him. This noise was the crowd that Thaddeus was leading to safety. Thinking that the guards had captured Thaddeus and was now searching for others, he headed away from the cave to divert the ones following him. Yet the path he had chosen was dangerous and terrible.
Barnabas, imagining the torment his friend must be feeling, stopped for a moment, and grabbed Thaddeus by both shoulders. He shook him gently to get his total attention, and said, “We will find them Thaddeus.
Just keep trusting Jesus. He has gotten us this far...we will find them my brother.”
This made Thaddeus feel better, the warmth of his friends touch and the conviction of his words, as if there was no doubt they would find them safe. Thaddeus felt so lucky that he was not going through this alone. He had friends that loved him and his family, enough to risk their own lives to protect and keep them safe. God was truly with them.
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