Shlomo ben Moshe hunched his shoulders and scowled into the fringe of his prayer shawl.

His conscience was troubled.

He lingered toward the rear of the Talmudim following Reb. Caiaphas through the crowded marketplace - each instinctively swaying from side to side to avoid contact with those who might be 'defiled'.

As he walked, Shlomo replayed the conversation he'd had with the Rabbi that morning.

It had all begun when Caiaphas had intercepted Shlomo returning from the home of ben Keviah with a grin on his boyish face, and a pouch full of Shekels.

For some months now, the young Talmud had been recording the Keviah family History, as dictated to him by old father EIi. Today was the day he had delivered the finished manuscripts and received his payment. They had arrived from Jerusalem too late yesterday to make his delivery, but Shlomo had slipped away after his morning lesson. He had collected his payment, and was on his way to purchase presents he had been longing to buy his parents ever since their home had been raided by Romans last year.

Shlomo's mind was absorbed in his list:

Let's see now,

3 dracmas for a new water pot; Amma will be so pleased to have a second one! It will halve her number of trips to the well.

A new Chisel for Abba; Hopefully I can find a good one for less than 2 shekels. He's been forced to use that old rusted one which doesn't hold its edge since the Romans stole all his workshop tools. He's been able to replace some of them but I know he'd value a sharp Chisel more than anything.

Oh yes, I'll get him a box of nails too; I've seen him counting them, a worried crease on his brow, when he thought I was asleep… that worried crease has never completely disappeared in the 8 months since those greedy, vengeful dogs entered our lives.

The joy momentarily left Shlomo's hitherto dancing brown eyes, as he recalled the parting curse of the last soldier to leave that fateful afternoon.

"That'll teach you not to get mud all over my pack again, you Jewish swine!"

His parents had never complained about the clumsiness which had led Shlomo to drop the man's heavy load in a puddle, but the burden of guilt he'd had to carry around with him these last months was a far greater burden than the one mile 'mule-duty' that the empire required from it's vanquished people. Now perhaps he could make restitution for his costly mistake.

Now, Shlomo resumed his mental list:

1 shekel for some pretty yellow linen; It has been so long since Amma has had a new dress.

I'm going to need a drachma or two to get this all delivered to Chorazin.

Shlomo's grin returned with the thought as he turned into Market Street, brushing his money pouch unintentionally on the corner fence and jiggling its contents noisily.

That was when Rabbi Caiaphas appeared at his elbow.

"Where are you off to on such a fine morning ben Moshe?" He eyed Shlomo's bulging pouch surreptitiously.

Shlomo started, and immediately cast his eyes down toward the fringe on the Rabbi's robe, thereby missing the direction of his glance. "Oh Rabbi, HaShem be praised"! He blushed in confusion. "I have just now received payment for some scribal work I have completed for the household of ben Keviah. I am on my way to buy gifts to take to my family when we visit Chorazin tomorrow."

"What about your tithes and temple tax my boy?" Caiaphas demanded sternly "I also notice that you haven't contributed to the priestly retirement fund lately either." Whatever Caiaphas's reputation as politically astute high priest, it was greatly surpassed by his renowned accounting skills, and infamous ability to exhort students who he considered lacked financial fervor in their devotion to the Lord.

Shlomo's face lost all its recently gained colour. "I have already reserved my tenth for the holy days and the levitical portion, and besides that I…. I think I can spare another 2 shekels for the retirement fund."

Caiaphas spat in anger, "Six measly shekels! How dare you show such ingratitude to Elohim! Give me that pouch, immediately! It shall all be Corban."

Shlomo frantically clutched at the Rabbi's robe as he turned away with the money pouch in his hand.

"But Rabbi! My family are poor, and I had hoped to use the money to bless them with much needed supplies!" Tears threatened to shame him.

The Rabbi turned back, instead of compassion his eyes reflected cruel unyielding as his right hand lashed across the young man's cheek. Without a word he turned on his heel and strode off toward the Synagogue, where the group from Jerusalem were staying.

The sting had gone from Shlomo's cheek,

But it still burned in his heart as the group of Pharisees neared their destination.

A/N Glossary:

Yeshua: The Hebrew name for Jesus

Ben: son of

Talmudim: students of Judaism (Talmud: is singular)

Rabbi: religious teacher (Reb For short)

Shekels: copper coin worth 4 dracmas. (The temple tax was 1 shekel)

Amma: Mother

Abba: Father

HaShem: literally "The Name" meaning the name of God which must not be uttered except with the utmost respect for fear of committing blasphemy.

Elohim: God (a plural form but not necessarily gods')

Corban: a gift to God