That evening the apostles still hadn't stopped pressing the event. They laughed when they sat up the camp in the forest. They laughed when they ate. They laughed when they talked about it, and they kept talking about it.

Judas sat before the fire, a little whimsical and casting angry looks when someone laughed too hard. Peter saw Jesus and Mary didn't laugh either. They were talking softly to each other, and when Judas didn't look to an apostle, he watched them, inscrutable.

Once Jesus saw him looking. He raised his eyebrows questioning, and an inviting hand made an elegant movement. Judas only looked angrier and stared in the fire. Jesus had a confused expression on his face, sighted and talked with Mary again.

"Has anyone had some news?" Peter asked, starting to get bored by the repeated anecdotes.

"Yes," Bartholomew said immediately. "I've met a peasant, and he told me that in Amman-"

-the city they would go next- "Ananias'll arrive at the same time as we." Ananias, Peter knew, was a Hebrew priest who hunted down gay people and lesbians, and everyone who did 'unnatural sexual crimes'. The most people were afraid of him, for he didn't always get guilty people. It wouldn't be the first time Ananias would brand an innocent. If anyone was accused, he would be tortured until he admitted, then he would be brand and if Ananias ever met him again, he would be hanged.

Jesus became pale and spinned round, to the place were Judas sat. Or rather, had sat, for he now rummaged in his knapsack.

"Judas," Jesus called softly. Judas turned towards him. There was sweat on his brow, and a hunted look in his eyes.

"I've got to go, Jesus," he muttered.

"Yes. But tomorrow. The city is far enough." For a moment it seemed like Judas wanted to argue, but then he flopped down.

"What's going on?" Peter asked. There were distrustful faces all around the fire.

Judas answered with another question. "Don't you remember? Peter, Phillip, Andrew, James, John?" He laughed, with an undertone of fear, so he quickly stopped, and added: "They say the priest who condemned 'im still's afte' 'im."

Peter saw comprehension coming on the faces of the others Judas had named as they all thought back of a little cottage.

"Do you mean… he's the priest?" Phillip asked incredulously. Judas nodded.

"What's going on?" Simon asked suspicious.

"We'll have to tell them, Judas," Jesus said calm. Judas swallowed and nodded.

"Why don't you, Nazareth," he said hoarse, avoiding everyone's eyes. He stood up and walked away.

So Jesus did. He told the tale of Judas, but without his youth. The other things, though, he told more elaborate. He told how Judas had arrived in a small village. How he had fallen in love with a handsome man there. How when he confessed his love the guards had come in and arrested him. How he had been tortured by Ananias. How he had escaped.

When he had done, it was silent around the fire. Peter looked around and knew the most wouldn't trust Judas as they had before, though everyone would accept him. Inside, he sighted.

Jesus looked around too, innocent and friendly. Peter saw Matthew, the youngest James and Simon avoiding his eyes. Mary watched them and had a fire in her eyes.

"Do you have a problem with that?" she suddenly snapped at the three. They looked taken aback.

"Well… Mary…" James mumbled. "It's…"

"I don't care what it is!" Her eyes blazed and she was clearly furious. Jesus looked surprised at her. "It's still Judas! He'll still be as annoying, mocking and sarcastic as ever! He won't suddenly start to kiss you!" The three looked at each other uncomfortable.

"Well… Oh, what the hell," Simon said. "Of course I have no problem with that."

Jesus beamed as the ten agreed with Simon. "You are all wonderful," he smiled.

"As long as he isn't in love with any of us," Matthew muttered.

"Why don't you ask him, Matthew?" Peter said and before Matthew could stop him, he shouted: "Judas!"

After a few seconds Judas appeared. He looked around challenging, but when he was met by chortling faces, who glanced from him to Matthew, who had become red, he stopped dead.

"Nobody objects to your presence, Judas," reported John. "But Matthew's something to ask you."

Judas surprised eyed Matthew, who muttered his question. He looked around again, but when no one seemed hostile, he got his mocking attitude back. He tried to sound icy, but the great grin on his face didn't help much. "Just how attractive do you think you are and how desperate do you think I am?"

Everyone laughed and even Matthew chuckled bashful along.

When it was calm again and everybody talked as nothing had happened, Peter went over to sit next to Jesus. He had a question for him.

"Jesus," Peter whispered. "What would you have done if they couldn't understand Judas?"

Jesus sighted and looked around. "It would be a shame to lose such good men for a prejudice."

Peter smiled. It was the answer he had hoped for.

When everybody lay under their blankets and was supposed to sleep, Mary felt a prod against her shoulder. She looked up. It was Judas.

He watched her awkward and peevish. "I… I just… Thanks. For defending me." He almost sounded angry; like it was her fault he thanked her!

"You're welcome," she said friendly.

He almost watched her suspiciously. "This doesn't change anything. I still hate you."

Her anger rose. "And why is that, Mr. Iscariot?"

He shrugged, his eyes blazing. He had only thanked her because he found you had to. He still didn't like her and he never would. He stood up and walked to his own blanket, which lay as far as possible of hers and Jesus's.