They all sat around the fire. It was funny how they end up like this every night, Peter thought. Like always, Jesus was talking to someone (now John) while the others listened. Peter wondered where Judas was. He had left around noon, without a word. Peter had seen Jesus looking around too, but since they had fought so many times the past weeks, Jesus probably felt relieved. Peter looked around again and noticed Matthew wasn't there either. Well, he would show up.
And indeed, two minutes later, Matthew appeared at the border of the field. He wore a big grin on his face and had several little bottles in his hands.
"Look at this!" he said cheerful. "Got it from some peasants I met. Brandy!" he sat down and started passing the bottles around the fire. Peter got one first. He carefully took a bit. Too strong, he thought, I'll bet those peasants brewed it themselves. He pulled a face, which caused laughs, and passed it on to a very eager James (the youngest). Jesus looked at the bottles, clearly not approving. Then he apparently decided they just wanted some fun, shrugged and continued to talk to John.
"Can I have some too?" Judas' voice asked. The owner appeared at the other side of the fire, just behind Jesus. Bartholomew almost jumped. "Damn, Judas you always give me a heart attack when you do that. Lucky I'm still alive."
"Lucky?" Andrew asked. "I'd call it misfortune. For us, that is." Laughter. Peter watched Judas and Jesus. The first stared challenging at the other, although Jesus couldn't see him because he sat with his back towards Judas. Jesus stared just as hard at the fire, clearly saying that he wouldn't row with Judas tonight. The strange battle took some more moments, Judas trying to force Jesus to look at him, which probably would be followed by an argument, and Jesus refusing.
Finally Judas grudgingly looked up, indicating Jesus had won. "Give me a bottle of that, will you, Matthew."
Matthew threw a bottle towards Judas, who caught it. "Careful. It's no water."
"It better not be," grumbled Judas, taking a seat as far as possible from Jesus. He put the bottle at his lips and started to drink. The other bottle passed Peter again, but he thanked for it. He'd like to stay sober.
Some time later, Judas caught his fifth bottle out midair. He was clearly drunk, although his dark eyes and reflexes were just as alert as usual. He leaned back, staring at the sky. Jesus hesitated, then stood up and walked towards him. He knelt down beside Judas. "Judas, you know I don't like it when you drink so much," he said softly.
Judas looked him in the eye and then slowly, not leaving his eyes of Jesus, put the bottle back at his lips, taking a gulp. Jesus sighed. "I won't make you. I just'd like you to stop. It doesn't do you any good."
"Don't you've got some lepers you got to cure, Christ?" the emphasis on the last word was mocking and bitter.
Jesus closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them again and laid a hand on Judas' shoulder. "Judas." His voice was soft and pleading. This didn't go about the drinking. "Why can't it be like it used to be?"
Peter noticed how tired they both looked. When he answered, Judas voice was barely above a whisper. "Just leave me alone, Nazareth." He stood slowly up and walked away. Jesus stared in the fire. You make many problems, my friend, Peter said in his thoughts against Judas' silent back.
Mary found Jesus in the labyrinth of halls of the temple they had occupied in Jerusalem. He looked very pale, had sweat on his brown and had to lean against a pillar in order to stay erect.
"Jesus?" He started and looked terribly frightened, but when he saw her, a look of pure relief came on his face.
"Mary." His voice trembled as much as he himself.
"What's the matter?" She gently took his hand and stroke his sweaty hear from his forehead.
"There w-were begg-ggars an-and lep-pers and they w-were wi-with s-so m-many!" His voice broke off and he started to weep. She held him against her and he hid his face in her hair, where he continued to talk. "I'm s-so scar-red Mary! Everyth-thing is go-going wrong. Nob-body rea-really lis-stens to what I-I s-say anym-more an-and Sim-mon and the oth-thers on-only wha-ant t-to fight an-and every-o-one ca-alls m-me Christ now an-and Judas i-is s-so an-angry with m-me and h-he on-only ta-talks to m-me to bl-blame m-me for s-something an-and I don't know w-what to do anymore!"
"Hush," she soothed, caressing him. "Try not to get worried. Try not to turn onto problems that upset you. Everything's alright. Everything's fine. You need to rest. We want you to sleep well tonight."
He shook his head. "N-No I c-can't. I ha-have t-to find the others an-and talk t-to them."
"You can't do that, Jesus. You're too tired. Let the world turn without you tonight."
"Y-Yes. You're right. I'm so exhausted, Mary." He closed his eyes and smiled at her. "I'm so glad you're here." Her heart made a tiny jump at those words.
Mary looked at Jesus. He lay sleeping on the ground, a smile on his lips that wouldn't have shamed an angel. His hair was spread out as a garland around his head. How sweet he was… How much she loved him… She put out her hands and touched, very carefully, his chest and shoulders. She bit on her under lip. Her fingers twiddled a lock of his hair. She bowed over him, while her mind screamed she should stop. She had intended to kiss his lips, but ended up half on his mouth, half on his cheek.
While his mouth twisted and he started to wake up, she suddenly looked up, sure she wasn't alone anymore.
Judas Iscariot looked at her, with a hand under his chin, a wicked smile and blazing eyes.
Peter walked through the huge temple in Jerusalem. He was searching for Mary, to ask if she had seen Jesus. While he walked, Peter reflected on the events of the day. He remembered their entrance in the city. When they had come through the gate, a crowd had been waiting, to honour Jesus. Peter remembered the heavenly smile on his face. Judas had walked at the end of the group, his expression scornful. Peter remembered the appearance of Caiaphas, the high-priest of the Romans, and Annas. They had ordered Jesus to send the crowd away. Jesus had refused. They had left. The look of pure hatred on Annas' face was not one he would lightly forget. But Jesus had smiled and spoken to them. And they had misunderstood it, Peter realised now. Not for the first time Peter wondered if Judas perhaps was right. He had looked so strange at Jesus, like he couldn't understand it. And when Jesus had intended to stand next to him, Judas had shifted away. And then the guards had come. Peter had hidden Mary, but kept watching. They shouldn't have fought. It was mostly Simon's fault, but without him it would have happened too, only later. Jesus' face had shown clear his horror. And Judas's, Peter thought, Judas's had shown clearly his concern.
He stopped for a stair which led to the balustrade between the pillars. He slowly ascended. Upstairs, he looked down and froze. Mary was leaning over a sleeping Jesus, had just kissed him. Now she looked up and stared at Judas, who was watching her. Jesus moved and woke up, also staring at Judas, who still had a strange smile on his face. Jesus sighed, reluctantly removing the blanket on him, expecting Judas was there to complain about something. Judas stood up, waiting for Jesus to get up, watching his friend from the corner of his eye. Jesus drew himself up, looking a little grudgingly and even a bit annoyed. Judas walked past him and knelt down at the other side of Mary. He grinned at Jesus, who frowned, not understanding. Mary sat frozen, quiet and eying Judas. Judas bowed very close to Mary, putting out his tongue, like he wanted to kiss her, and still watching Jesus. Jesus looked away, annoyed, almost angry. Judas withdrew at the moment Mary tried to hit him. He caught her wrist and smiled scornful at her. She looked at him with pure hatred. She stood up, looking from Jesus to Judas, who were only watching each other, and then angry departed. Judas took, close to uncertain a step forward and made a movement like he wanted to place his hand on his shoulder. Jesus raised his hand, shook his head and took a step backwards. Then he turned around and went after Mary. Judas watched him leave, his jaw tense. Then he also turned around and left with great determination, his eyes again blazing.
Peter sighed and walked away. It seemed like the problems had already started.
Not really my best chapter up till now. Well, I'll have to do better on my next. The Last Supper, that is. Long live reviews (hint, hint)!
