“Don’t worry, you’ll find tools of gold up above. You’ll mend the golden sandals of the angels; you’ll have eternal, innumerable orders. You’ll sew, you’ll rip, you won’t lack work. Only move quickly; come and say to the master, ‘I’m with you!’-nothing else. ‘I’m with you and I’ll follow you wherever you go-to the death!’ That’s what we’ve all sworn.”

“To the death!” said the cobbler, shuddering. His body was huge, but he had the heart of a miller.

“It’s just a way of speaking, poor thing,” the shepherd said to reassure him. “That’s what we’ve all sworn, but don’t be afraid-we’re headed for majesty, not for death. This man, my friend, is not a man. No, he’s the Son of man!”

“It’s not the same, eh?”

“The same? Aren’t you ashamed to say that? Didn’t you ever hear anyone read the prophet Daniel? ‘Son of man’ means Messiah-in other words, King! He’s going to sit on the throne of the Universe very soon, and we-as many as were clever enough to join him-are going to divide up the honors and the wealth. You won’t walk barefooted any more. You’ll wear golden sandals, and the angels will stoop to tie your laces. Nathanael, I tell you it’s a good deal. Don’t let it slip out of your hands. What more need I say than to inform you that Thomas joined us. He smelled something good, the rascal, gave the very shirt off his back to the poor, and ran. So, you run too. He’s at Zebedee’s house now. Come on, let’s go.!”

But Nathanael held back, unable to decide. “Look here, Philip, you’ll have to answer for the consequences,” he said at last. “And I warn you: if I find the going rough, I leave for good. I’m ready for anything, short of getting myself crucified.”

“All right, all right,” said Philip, “we’ll both make ourselves scarce in that case. Do you think I’ve gone completely mad?… Agreed? Let’s go!”

“Well, then-in God’s name!” He locked the door, put the key under his shirt, and the two of them departed arm in arm for Zebedee’s house.

Jesus and the disciples sat warming themselves in front of the lighted fire while old Salome went in and out, overjoyed. All her illnesses had disappeared. She went in and out, setting the table, and her pride in her sons and in serving the holy man who would bring the kingdom of heaven was insatiable. John leaned over and whispered into his mother’s ear. By glancing at the disciples he made her notice how they shivered, still dressed as they were in summer linens. The mother smiled, went inside, opened her trunks and took out woolen clothes. Then, quickly-before her husband’s return-she divided them up among the companions. The thickest robe, one of brilliantly white wool, she threw tenderly over Jesus’ shoulders.

He turned and smiled at her. “Bless you, Mother Salome,” he said. “It is right and just that you should care for the body. The body is the camel on which the soul mounts in order to traverse the desert. Care for it, therefore, so that it will be able to endure.”

Old Zebedee entered and looked at the unexpected visitors. He greeted them halfheartedly, then sat down in a corner. These robbers (that is what he called them) did not please him at all. Who invited them to come and take over his home? And his lavish wife had already laid them out a magnificent feast! Curse the day this new fanatic sprouted up. It wasn’t bad enough that he had stolen both his sons! No, besides that there were the arguments all day long with his idiotic wife, who took the two boys’ part. They had acted well, she said. This man was a true prophet: he would become king, throw out the Romans and sit on Israel ’s throne. Then John would be enthroned to his right, Jacob to his left-great lords, not fishermen in rowboats, but great important lords! Why, do you think they should rot away their entire lives here on the water? Day and night Zebedee was nagged with this-and more-by the old idiot, who would bang her foot on the floor and shout. Sometimes he cursed and smashed whatever happened to be in front of him; sometimes he gave up in despair and went off to roam the edge of the lake like a madman. In the end he had taken to drink. And now-what next!-all these lawbreakers had moved into his house: nine immense mouths; and they had with them that whore a thousand times kissed, that Magdalene. They sat themselves down in a circle around the table and did not even turn to look at him-him, the master of the house-nor even ask his permission. So that’s what we’ve come to! Was it for these parasites that he and his ancestors had slaved for so many years? He flew into a rage and, jumping up, shouted, “Just a minute, my good men-whose house is this, yours or mine? Two and two make four. Will you tell me, please!”

“It’s God’s,” answered Peter, who had downed quite a few drinks and was in a merry mood. “God’s, Zebedee. Haven’t you heard the news? Nothing any more is yours or mine; everything is God’s.”

“The law of Moses-” Zebedee began, but Peter interrupted him before he could work up steam.

“What do I hear-the law of Moses? That’s done with, Zebedee, finished, gone for a nice long walk and never coming back. Now we have the Law of the Son of man. Understand? We’re all brothers! Our hearts have broadened, and with our hearts the law has also broadened. It now embraces the whole of mankind. The entire world is the Promised Land. The frontiers are gone! I, the very man you see before you, Zebedee, shall go proclaim the word of God to the nations. I’ll get clear to Rome -yes, don’t laugh-and I’ll grab the emperor by his Adam’s apple, knock him down and sit myself on the throne. And why not! As the master said, we’re no longer your kind of fishermen. We don’t catch fish; we’re fishers of men. And a word to the wise: flatter us, bring us plenty of wine and food, because one day-and quickly too-we’ll be great lords. You give us one dry piece of bread, and we’ll repay you with a whole ovenful in a few days. And what loaves! Immortal! You’ll eat and eat, and they’ll never be consumed.”

“Poor fellow, I already see you crucified upside down,” growled Zebedee, who had slunk away again to his corner. Listening to Peter’s words, he had gradually begun to feel afraid. I’d better keep my mouth shut, he thought. You never know what will happen. The world is a sphere, and turns. It’s just possible that one day these madmen… Let’s play safe, then, whatever happens!

The disciples laughed in their beards. They knew perfectly well that Peter was in a merry mood and joking; but inside themselves-though they still were not drunk enough to speak out-they secretly spun the same thoughts. Impressiveness, rank, clothes of silk, golden rings, abundant food-and to feel the world under the Jewish heel: that was the kingdom of heaven.

Old Zebedee took another drink and mustered up courage. “And you, teacher,” he said, “aren’t you going to open your mouth? You started all this, and now you sit back as cool as a cucumber while we others sweat it out… Look here, can you tell me in the name of your God why I should see my goods scattered and not scream about it?

“Zebedee,” Jesus answered, “there was once a very rich man who reaped, vintaged, gathered in the olives, stuffed his jugs, ate, filled himself and then lay down on his back in his yard. ‘My soul,’ he said, ‘you have many belongings. Eat, drink and be merry!’ But as he said this a voice was heard from the sky: ‘Fool, fool-this night you shall surrender your soul to hell. What will you do with all the goods you have amassed?’ Zebedee, you have ears, you hear what I say to you; you have a mind, you understand what I mean. May this voice of heaven be above you, Zebedee, night and day!”

The old proprietor lowered his head and did not speak again.

Just then the door opened and Philip appeared on the threshold. Behind him was an immense gawky bean stalk, Nathanael. His heart no longer chimed two bells at once: he had made his decision. He approached Jesus, stooped and kissed his feet.