The Bright Eyes (The Soulless Ones Book 1) Read online

  “Jesus Christ!” Sam and Paul exclaimed almost at the same time.

  CHAPTER TWO: C. E. 30

  It was the final week of the month of Heshvan and it had not rained for some days. The sun's heat was gentle on the skin and farmers were more than happy to spend time in the fields harvesting figs and gathering olives and grapes. It was also time to start slaughtering the fattened sheep. Children enjoyed playing outside, mothers tended to the affairs of the house, the men were busy with ‘men's affairs' as always, and the young maidens took the liberty to gossip about puberty and betrothal. Among many other things, the Jews shared a disdain for the Roman authority. Every day these Gentiles spent in their holy land was another day of insult to Yahweh. But to Yeshua, every day was just another beautiful day.

  He came from a lowly family. But he was special, even before his conception, which, they said, was immaculate. At age twelve, he went to the temple with his parents and there, he was noticed by a young prince from India. The young prince offered to take the child under his care to provide him with the best possible education and training he could offer. Of course, his parents had expressed their reluctance at first. But when their child had described where the prince lived, listed the prince’s exact number of his siblings and their ages, and told his parents that he was predestined to journey beyond Israel, it was difficult for his parents to object.

  And so, it came to pass that preparations were made for young Yeshua’s departure. His parents and siblings were deeply saddened. His father’s name was Yosef, his mother’s name was Miryam and his younger siblings were Abimelech, Yizrela, and Elisha. The goodly prince, Ganesh Singh was his name, gave Yosef and Miryam two bushels of gold, a bushel of rubies and three boxes of the finest spices from India.

  “Please accept these humble gifts as a token of my appreciation for entrusting and honoring me thusly,” Ganesh said. “As I told you before, I saw the young master in a dream a full cycle ago. In that dream, he asked me to seek him in this temple. I dedicated plenty of time and effort to studying your language and once I was ready, I journeyed to these lands. Since the last full moon, I have been coming to your here every day, waiting for my path to cross with the young master’s. And now, my joy complete. Let not your hearts be burdened; I implore you. I will regularly send word to you on how your son fares.”

  Young Yeshua tarried three days more with his family before heading for the lands of the Far East. Prince Ganesh bid his farewells to Miryam, Yosef and young Yeshua’s siblings, pressed their hands and commenced his return to his homeland. There were plenty of tears and hearts rent in twain as father, mother and siblings hugged and kissed Yeshua. Prince Ganesh empathized with the family. Finally, the young master was separated from his family, led to the royal caravan to begin their journey. That was a score-less-two years ago, Yeshua recalled as he sat on a rock that was near the dirt road.

  It had only been three moons since his return to his homeland and news of his great wisdom and miraculous deeds were spreading throughout the lands. They called him different things; teacher, Messiah, demon, con man, magician, prophet, sage, healer and so on. The common man loved him, the Jewish authorities dreaded him, and the Romans could not care less about his existence. Upon his return, he stayed with his mother until he fashioned an abode for himself and took a fair maiden as his wife. He had then chosen twelve men from various walks of life to become his apprentices. As he sat on the rock, he pretended not to notice the children sneaking up on him from behind and faked a yelp when they jumped out to scare him.

  “Come here, you sneaky one!” he laughed, swooping five-year old David off his feet and hoisting him up in the air. “You gave me a scare!”

  David was wild with glee as he went sailing through the air and landed in Yeshua’s arms. Benjamin, his partner in crime, joined in the laughter and about a dozen more infants gathered around the Master, each of them pleading to be tossed in the air in like manner. The Master would have done just that, but then he opted for a less physically taxing solution.

  “Why not tell you all a story instead,” he asked.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes! Story time!” they all chanted together.

  “Let me see,” Yeshua said and acted like he was trying to decide on which story to tell.

  “Moreh Yeshua!” Benjamin called out, sticking his right hand in the air.

  “Yes, Benjamin,” Yeshua replied.

  “Could you please tell us a story that is about a king and his kingdom?”

  “Hmmm… I could try. So here it goes,” Yeshua began.

  He told the children a story of a king and his prosperous kingdom that came under the spell of an evil magician. There was famine and disease everywhere and for ransom, the wicked magician asked the king to sacrifice his only son; one life to save many. The king found himself in a terrible position. The crown prince heard of the magician’s demands. To spare his father from making any decision, he snuck out of the palace to the town square. The courageous prince offered himself to be sacrificed. But right before the magician could strike down the crown prince, all the children formed a barricade around the crown prince.

  “You will have to go through us first to get to our prince!” they all said.

  The magician could no longer follow through with his intention because the innocence of the children rendered his magic to naught. The king banished the magician for all eternity, but not before making the magician remove his curse on the land. In the end, the land returned to its former glory and the crown prince grew up to be a great and wise king.

  “So, what is the lesson from the story, Moreh?” asked a little girl.

  “The lesson from this story is that you, my little friends, have hearts of purity, strength, and love. You are our future and you remind us, the older ones, that even in our darkest hour, when all seems to be lost, there is always hope and all we need is the courage to take that step and make the change.”

  The children’s faces all brightened up for they had learned a very powerful lesson. The children may not have understood the full meaning of the Master’s words, but they were happy. They were going to ask for another story, but he had to bid them return to their homes. The children were a little disappointed but obeyed regardless. Yehuda, one of Yeshua’s apprentices, had just arrived. It was time for some training.

  “You asked to see me, Master?” Yehuda said.

  Yehuda could be described as determined, fearless, poised, intuitive and loyal. On the other hand, he was also secretive, controlling, near-perfectionist, very resentful and more jealous than most. He was also the group’s treasurer.

  “Yes, brother. Come! Walk with me,” said the Master.

  Sometimes, the Master would call them by their names. Other times, he would refer to them as ‘brother.’

  “Do you believe in destiny?” he asked Yehuda shortly after they had started walking.

  “Honestly, Master, I do not,” Yehuda replied.

  “And why is that, brother?” the master asked.

  “You see, Master,” Yehuda said, “I concede to the fact that Yahweh has a plan for us. But at the same time, I cannot understand why Yahweh would allow certain things to happen. Like the Romans to rule over us when we are supposed to be His chosen people. I cannot understand the role death, famine, wickedness, and everything else, have to play in our realm. As such, I think that there is no such thing as purpose; universal, subjective or both. I believe that there is cause and effect; that there is action and reaction. Believe me, I have pondered upon these things without success, Master.”

  The Master listened as Yehuda spoke his mind. He had a deep appreciation for his apprentice’s philosophy. When they arrived at the top of the hill, Yeshua sat upon on a boulder and gestured for Yehuda to sit next to him. It was getting a little darker now. The Master sat in silence for a few moments with his eyes closed, as if he was basking in the glory of the setting sun while taking slow, steady in-breaths and out-breaths. He then opened his eyes and, without looking at Y
ehuda, he said,

  “Everything has a purpose. Nothing ever just happens. One’s ignorance as to the reason for certain occurrences ought not to be either an affirmation or preclusion of the absence or nonexistence of purpose. There is always the big painting and a portion of a painting does not explain the entire painting. But if you can appreciate the entire painting, then maybe you can appreciate purpose. Do you understand my words, Yehuda?”

  “Yes, Master. I understand,” he replied.

  “I chose you as one of my apprentices,” the Master continued. “It was no coincidence. It was not a random act of circumstances that culminated in our paths crossing. There was, and is, a purpose for it. Everything in Creation has a purpose. The stones you walk on, the grass in the fields, the birds in the air, things seen and unseen, birth, death, sickness, health, joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness, everything that exists, existed and will exist has a purpose.

  “Your purpose, Yehuda, is one that will be a huge burden for you to bear. Therefore, I am preparing you now. It will be a very lonely journey for you, to say the least. You will be vilified, hated, cursed and banished. You will go down in the history of humanity as a vile, conniving person. You will see the dark and live in the dark. You will walk alone, mostly; without friends or family. But, alas, this will not be so forever for, in the end, you will be hailed in glory and honor. Your name will be restored, and you will play a significant role in protecting and saving the humanity. Right now, you are confused and even afraid. I understand. As I said, I chose you for a reason. But for you to walk this path, it must be of your freewill.”

  Yehuda had turned as pale as a ghost as he listened to the master's words. He rubbed his temples as if he could rub himself back to a reality before that present moment. This was not the life Yehuda had envisioned for himself when he was but a youth. He had always seen himself as a wealthy businessman, with the most beautiful woman by his side as his wife to bear him beautiful children, regardless of their genders. He wanted to be a wealthy and great father and husband. But now, the Master was telling him about a future that was alien to his vision. No! This must be a dream! And as the thoughts raced through his mind, he felt the Master’s reassuring hand on his shoulder.

  “Brother,” said the Master. “Be not afraid! I will always be with you in spirit. Your purpose is one that extends beyond the Earth Realm. I understand that this may be a terrible burden to bear, but even though the world will turn its back on you, I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are the strongest and bravest of all my apprentices. That was one of the reasons why I chose you. If you, however, decide to choose a different path for yourself, I will understand, and I will bear you no ill-will, nor will I be disappointed in you. So, Yehuda, I ask of you: will you accept this path?”

  Yehuda wanted to scream and run away. He could choose HIS destiny, HIS path. This could not be happening to him! His mind raced in a thousand different directions and his heart felt ten thousand conflicting emotions at the same time. But alas, he knew the right decision to make did not necessarily have to be the one he wanted.

  “Master!” Yehuda said as he turned to face his mentor, “When you asked me to join you, I pledged my loyalty to you. I trust you are of the Most High and that what you say is true. I believe that you will never forsake me nor abandon me. My heart is heavy, my mind is weak, and I do not fully know what I am getting into. But I have faith in you, Master. So, yes, I will take upon this yoke. I will accept this path. If it will be for the good of this realm and beyond, then so be it!”

  “I had no doubt that you would accept,” Yeshua said, nodding and smiling at the same time. “Thank you very much. I am also glad to hear that you pledged your loyalty to me. Do you know why?”

  “No, Master,” replied Yehuda.

  “Because, brother,” Yeshua said as he stood up from the boulder “YOU are going to betray me.”

  CHAPTER THREE: C. E. 1938

  To this day, no leader has epitomized radicalism, and pure evil like the founder of the Nazi Party did. No leader has ever been more enigmatic than Adolf Hitler. Ascribed to as one of the beasts in the Book of Revelations, this embodiment of evil seemed to have had his DNA rewritten to rid himself of whatever trace of humanity he had left in him. A psychopath and sociopath in every sense of the word, this megalomaniac had embarked on the worst form of overt eugenics this world had ever recorded. Gratefully, his plans had failed!

  Once, when Adolf was sixteen years of age, his uncle, together with the wife and fourteen-year-old cousin, Rosa, had come to visit them. Adolf had had a secret fascination for Rosa and, the previous year, they had started secretly exploring their pubescence together whenever they could. Adolf’s family owned a small cottage about half a kilometer from a small forest by the river. There were a few good spots for picnics and teenagers and young adults often used the area as cover for their romantic and sometimes erotic escapades. Not even the rumors of wild beasts lurking around and the occasional discovery of mauled animal carcasses in the forest could quench the libidos and of these youths. All they needed was a blanket and the rest was history.

  Adolf made up his mind to go all the way with Rosa. Enough with the fondling and teasing already! He wanted to give her his virginity and he wanted her to reciprocate. He had found the perfect spot in the woods to seal the deal; sheltered, comfortable and before Rosa came over, he had made sure that it was cleared and decorated with wild lilies. Thank the skies for a rainless day in spring, he thought. He was ready and hoped she was as well. But even if she wanted to claim she was not, he would have to convince her somehow. They both loved each other, he believed. So why the hesitation? After all, was that not what lovers did? At least, that was what the boys at school all claimed; their stories about their ‘first times’ were all ‘so perfect’ and Adolf wanted to find out for himself.

  “Papa, we're off to the woods,” Adolf called out to his father shortly after Rosa’s family had settled in.

  “You two should be careful out there now. I hear the mosquitoes have teeth and bite off chunks of flesh this time of the year,” said Adolf's aunt with a smile.

  “And we just might return the favor, mama,” Rosa replied. “Besides, I’m in the mood for some mosquito pudding right about now.”

  “Oh dear!” cried Adolf’s mother amidst fits of laughter from everyone. “You two just go on now. On second thought, we’re running low on protein. So, save some for us.”

  And more laughter erupted from everyone.

  “Yes, mama,” replied Adolf, holding open the door for Rosa before closing it after himself.

  “Those two are the best of friends!” said Rosa’s mother.

  “Yes, they are,” concurred Adolf’s father, sipping on his cup of tea. “I’m glad they have such a great relationship,”

  Half an hour later, after Adolf and Rosa had spread out the blanket on the ground, the cousins had pounced on each other with intense passion. They kissed and fondled with each other passionately for several minutes. Finally, they were both satisfied and cleaned up. Rosa crawled next to him and rested her head on his chest. His heart was still pounding from their short preamble. They were both happy to have pleased each other. They lay next to each other, enjoying each other’s love, warmth, and company. Finally, Adolf broke the silence.

  “My love,” he spoke softly into the crown of her head.

  “Yes, my love,” she replied with half-closed eyes.

  “I think it’s time for us to start having sex, don’t you think?” he said a matter-of-factly.

  She peeled away from his chest and stared at Adolf as if he had called her fat and ugly.

  “Are you serious?” she asked.

  “Yes, Rosa, I am,” he replied confidently, propping himself on his elbows. “Come on now, we both know it’s bound to happen. I know I’m ready. What’s holding you back?”

  He maintained, with extreme effort, of course, a calm expression, faking all the confidence he could muster. If Rosa turned him down now, he
just might kill himself.

  “Well, first of all,” she said sarcastically, “imagine that I miss my period and it turns out that baby Adolf is growing inside of me. What do we tell our parents? ‘Hey mama, papa, it so happens that I’m with child and my darling cousin is the father!’ How does that sound to you, huh? Did you even think about that, you selfish buffoon!” she was getting upset.

  “No, Rosa,” replied Adolf as his confidence turned into embarrassment. “I never thought of that and I didn’t mean to sound selfish. I just… You know, I hear when two people love each other…” he broke off and turned his back to her to hide his embarrassment.

  His face was red with shame and his eyes had started welling up with tears.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “Please, forget I even-”

  “Oh, my love!” she said, reaching for his shoulder. “I’m sorry I got upset at you. I’m just scared. I’ve always wanted to go all the way with you, but I have been afraid. Here! Come!”

  She pulled him closer and kissed him gently on the lips.

  “There!” she said with a grin and then stood up.

  She slowly took off her blouse and let it drop by her left ankle. Adolf just sat on the blanket, mouth agape. He made to get up from the ground, but she stuck her right index finger out to him and waved it from side to side, shaking her head at the same time.

  “No, no, no, mein herr!” she commanded. “You’ll have to work for it. You will go on a treasure hunt and when you find all my clothes, there will be treasure waiting for you.”

  She had the most mischievous look he had ever seen on her face. His eyes brightened, like a child who had just been told that he will be getting the bicycle he had always wanted for his birthday. Satisfied at his reaction, she turned around and started walking deeper into the woods, unhooking her brassiere and tossing it behind her as she vanished into the shrubs.