The Burial 273

take offense, Centurion. My position, I repeat, is even worse. What do you want? "

" The chief of the secret service is here to see you, " Mark reported calmly.

" Send him in, send him in, " ordered the procurator, coughing to clear his throat, and feeling for his sandals with his bare feet. The flame played over the columns, the centurion's caligas clattered on the mosaic. The centurion went out to the garden.

" Even at night and in the moonlight, I have no peace, " said the procurator to himself, his teeth clenched.

The man in the hood took the place of the centurion on the balcony.

" Banga, stay, " said the procurator quietly, pressing the back of the dog's head.

Before he began to speak, Afranius, as was his custom, took a look around and stepped into the shadow, and when he had assured himself that apart from Banga, he and the procurator were the only ones on the balcony, he said softly, " I ask that you bring me to justice, Procurator. You were right. I was unable to save Judas of Kerioth. He was murdered. I ask to be tried and discharged."

Afranius felt as if he were being watched by two pairs of eyes—a dog's and a wolfs.

He pulled a bloodstained purse with two seals out from under his chlamys.

" Here is the bag of money the murderers threw at the high priest's house. The blood on it is the blood of Judas of Kerioth."

" I'm curious, how much money is there? " asked Pilate, nodding at the purse.

" Thirty tetradrachmas."

The procurator gave a laugh and said, " Not very much."

Afranius said nothing.

" Where is the slain man? "

" That I don't know, " replied the man who never parted with his hood, with calm dignity. " We'll begin our investigation this morning."

The procurator shuddered, and let go of the sandal strap that refused to be fastened.

" But you know for certain that he was killed? "

To this the procurator received a dry reply, " I have worked in Judea for fifteen years, Procurator. I began my service under Valerius Gratus. I don't have to see the corpse to know that a man has been killed, and I am here to report that the man called Judas from the city of Kerioth was murdered a few hours ago."

" Forgive me, Afranius, " replied Pilate. " I'm still not properly awake, that's why I said what I did. I sleep badly, " the procurator gave a laugh, " and I keep seeing a moonbeam in my dream. It's so absurd, imagine... I seem to be walking along that moonbeam. And so, I would like to