Chapter 30

Arsenius Arrives

A flock of small birds flew into our tree in mid-afternoon and began arguing about who was eating the most bugs or whose turn it was to peck the best limbs. Anyway we woke up just before Arsenius came from behind the keep, headed our way.

It had to be him. Tall, his body only slightly bent from age, he came at a rapid pace, his gaunt face covered in part by a white beard that reached to his waist. Everything about him appeared to be minimal. A haircloth shirt flapped about his legs above palm-leaf sandals. He seemed to walk in a pool of brightness.

“I know about that glow.” Yarrl whispered. “Hypatia told me it’s often seen around a person who’s risen to a high spiritual plane in the Divine realm while still alive in this world. It’s a sign of a true holy man or woman.”

I stared and thought he might be related to angels. We stood as he approached.

“Are you two ready to go to the desert?” Surprised by such a loud, gruff voice, we were relieved he was here, but didn’t know what he meant. We expected him to talk to us first, then take us to see possible storage sites for the Library scrolls.

“Wouldn’t it better to wait until tomorrow and spend a full day looking for caves?” I could tell Yarrl had been startled by that proposal.

“Yarrl, there’s more to this life than saving scrolls. That’s not the first thing on our agenda. Synesius told me you are at a fork in the road and it’s time for you to choose which path to take.” There was a short pause before he continued.

“He asked me to assist you. This is of great importance as it will determine your future.” That stern voice neutralized any thought of contradiction or disagreement either of us might have had; and made it clear that his frail, almost insubstantial appearance was in no way due to weakness.

We were both confused because Yarrl had been sent here on a mission for the Library. He couldn’t be mistaken about that. So far from Alexandria, we both felt vulnerable and I could tell Yarrl didn’t know how to respond. Surprised by those strong words to Yarrl, I wondered if he could sense I didn’t belong in this place or time; but if that was so, he gave no indication.

The reason Arsenius gave for meeting with us had changed everything. Suddenly we weren’t sure we should trust him. I could see on Yarrl’s face his fear of the city Christians who were enemies of non-Christians and scholarship. He had always liked and trusted Synesius; but at that moment he didn’t know what to think.

“Yarrl, Artemus do not be concerned. I will always act in your best interests. Both of you have much work to do for that which is within you. Right now there are many ideas and issues that torment you beneath your present level of awareness.” He must have sensed our unease.

We both let out the breath we’d been holding and shook off our concerns. After all it was Hypatia who’d told me we would work with Arsenius. And I realized his words could also have alluded to my strange visions at the library and in my kitchen. Yarrl must have remembered that it was Theon and Synesius who had sent him to Arsenius. The tension left his body.

I guess we both decided to trust the holy man. He was right about us; we were each stressed in one way or another. Now, knowing Akakios and all the monks at Baramus trusted him; so would we.

“Gather your things, it’s time to go into the desert,” Arsenius voice had a bit more warmth.

We stood, picked up our possessions and followed him out of Baramus into our future.

 NEXT.....Chapter 31
Into the Desert