John watched
her alertly.
"Enough will happen here in time to divert you," he said.
She made a motion with her hand that swept the round of masonry about
her.
"Not until this falls."
"Come, then, up into my fortress and see my fellows from Gischala," he
offered. "They fled with me from that city when Titus took it and
together we came to this place. They are hardened to disaster; they
and death are fellow-jesters."
"Soldiers?"
"Everything! Better athletes than soldiers, better mummers than
athletes; villains most engaging of all!"
She showed no interest and, after a critical pause, he continued:
"They robbed the booth of some costumer whom the Sadducees had made
rich and captured a maid whom they held until she had taught them how
to use henna and kohl. So I had a garrison of swearing girls until
they wearied of the fatigue of stepping mincingly and untangling their
garments. It was that which robbed the sport of its pleasure and
changed my harem back to a fortress. But while it lasted they were
kings over Jerusalem. And what dear mad dangerous wantons they were!
What confusion to short-sighted citizens; what affrights to sociable
maidens! Even I laughed at them."
"What antics indeed!" she murmured perfunctorily.
"Now they want new entertainment; something immense and different," he
said.
She looked up at him; in her eyes he read, "Even as I do!"
"But they are not unique in that," he continued.
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