Nicholas thanked him and returned outside with Jason. At the bottom of the steps, Jason said, “Did you notice the broach on the chief magistrate?”
Nicholas nodded. “Yes. Apollo in his sun chariot.”
Jason said, “You will not get a sympathetic ear in that court.”
“You are right at that,” replied Nicholas. “I may even have looked into the eyes of their killers.”
“What will you do?”
“I suppose, the same thing my father would have done. Pray they turn from their ways.”
They soon reached the harbor, and Jason spread the word to the fishing crews that Epiphanius and his wife were dead. Nicholas prepared himself that they would all take it in stoic fashion with little emotion, since their business would likely carry on as it had, only now under the direction of Jason. However, the news was met with many a wet eye, and one after another rose from mending his nets to take the hand of Nicholas and tell him, “Your father and mother, if it were not for them, I would be a slave today.” One captain came to Nicholas and said, “Your father was very generous with us in allowing us a share of the catch. Whatever we can do for you, young Nicholas, we will not hesitate to do it.” The kindness and sadness at last washed over him and he could not keep back the tears any longer.
That night dinner was quiet but busy. Many visitors stopped by, only to pay their respects to Nicholas and to leave. They were all very kind, but with each visit, the sorrow of his loss only weighed heavier until he felt he could no longer get up. So when the doorman announced one more visitor, Nicholas could not help but exclaim, “Must they come this late at night?”
The doorman answered, “He just sailed in from Myra, and I really think you would like to see him.”
The city of Myra was only about an hour’s sailing away, but with nightfall, the man wouldn’t be able to catch another ship until daybreak. Nicholas dragged himself to the door. The man wore a plain white robe trimmed with red that was typical of a Christianus overseer. A familiar grin showed from his graying beard. Young Nicholas cried out, “Uncle Nicholas!”
The older Nicholas wrapped his arms around the younger and told him, “I came as soon as I received word.”
Nicholas nodded. “Yes. Apollo in his sun chariot.”
Jason said, “You will not get a sympathetic ear in that court.”
“You are right at that,” replied Nicholas. “I may even have looked into the eyes of their killers.”
“What will you do?”
“I suppose, the same thing my father would have done. Pray they turn from their ways.”
They soon reached the harbor, and Jason spread the word to the fishing crews that Epiphanius and his wife were dead. Nicholas prepared himself that they would all take it in stoic fashion with little emotion, since their business would likely carry on as it had, only now under the direction of Jason. However, the news was met with many a wet eye, and one after another rose from mending his nets to take the hand of Nicholas and tell him, “Your father and mother, if it were not for them, I would be a slave today.” One captain came to Nicholas and said, “Your father was very generous with us in allowing us a share of the catch. Whatever we can do for you, young Nicholas, we will not hesitate to do it.” The kindness and sadness at last washed over him and he could not keep back the tears any longer.
That night dinner was quiet but busy. Many visitors stopped by, only to pay their respects to Nicholas and to leave. They were all very kind, but with each visit, the sorrow of his loss only weighed heavier until he felt he could no longer get up. So when the doorman announced one more visitor, Nicholas could not help but exclaim, “Must they come this late at night?”
The doorman answered, “He just sailed in from Myra, and I really think you would like to see him.”
The city of Myra was only about an hour’s sailing away, but with nightfall, the man wouldn’t be able to catch another ship until daybreak. Nicholas dragged himself to the door. The man wore a plain white robe trimmed with red that was typical of a Christianus overseer. A familiar grin showed from his graying beard. Young Nicholas cried out, “Uncle Nicholas!”
The older Nicholas wrapped his arms around the younger and told him, “I came as soon as I received word.”
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