Read Online Mary Magdalene: A Novel by Diana Wallis Taylor - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Diana Wallis Taylor
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. always, together.”
She sighed heavily. What more could she say? She lay against the cushions and tears ran down her cheeks.
Nathan wiped them away gently. “Sleep, beloved, I am here. I shall always be here.”
In time she heard the soft sounds of his breathing as sleep overtook him. She looked toward the window. An owl flew into the sycamore tree, calling out to his mate. A gentle peace settled over her and she thought of the voice she had heard in the Temple, saying, “It is not yet time.” What did it mean? With questions in her mind, she slept at last and didn’t wake up until morning.
As the months of her first year of marriage went by, it amazed Mary that Rizpah was on her best behavior and solicitous of her when Beriah and Nathan were around, but when they were gone, Mary felt her contempt. She did what she was asked but many times ignored Mary as though she had not heard her. Mary’s complaints to Nathan went unheeded.
This morning she sat on a bench in the small courtyard. She’d had a particularly difficult night, and it was all she could do to try to put her thoughts together. The lack of sleep at night made it more difficult to be rational in the daytime.
She saw Rizpah watching her with a curious look on her face. Finally the woman’s eyes narrowed and she asked, “How do you know when the spells are going to come upon you?”
Mary thought for a moment and sighed. “My head begins to hurt and I feel a tingling in my body. Then I know a seizure is near.”
Rizpah shook her head. “It is the evil one who has possessed you. You have been to the rabbi and even to the high priest in Jerusalem. What good has it done you? You will never be free. You trouble this household with your sickness and your husband waits and hopes in vain. HaShem has cursed you. There will be no children.”
Taken back with the vehemence behind Rizpah’s words, Mary could only stare at her. The words hung in the air, proclaiming aloud what Mary had thought herself so many times. She turned away and went into the house, weeping silently. Rizpah wished to marry Beriah. Mary had discerned that earlier in their relationship. With Mary in the household, there was no need for Beriah to have anyone look after him. Nathan must divorce me , Mary thought bitterly. Rizpah is right. I cannot give him children. Perhaps HaShem has truly turned away from me.
She had to get away from the house and the woman’s constant condemnation. Gathering her shawl, she glared at Rizpah, daring her to follow as she left the courtyard.
“I am going to the home of my parents,” she tossed over her shoulder and left before Rizpah could respond.
She walked quickly, covering her face so no one would recognize her. It was difficult to go out in public, even with Eliab, for the whispers grew louder as she passed—“There goes Mad Mary, the crazy woman. How does her husband stay with her? I hear she is cursed for she bears no children”. . . on and on the words swirled around her like bees buzzing around a hive.
When she entered the gate, Eliab, who had been carving a small animal out of wood, stood quickly and watched her silently as she walked into the house. Rachel had seen her and hurried to her side.
“Mary, is something wrong?” She guided Mary to a bench in the shade and sat down beside her. “What has happened?”
“Why does he stay with me?” Mary cried in despair. “He must be weary and so am I. He will not set himself free from me. He says he does not care if we have children. I don’t believe him. I’ve seen him with the children of our neighbors and he loves them. It would be better if I were to die. He would be free of me and this interminable illness!”
“Mary, do not talk like this. Nathan loves you. He understood when you were married what he would have to deal with.”
“But why am I not cured? The rabbi prayed for me, the high priest said all those words over me, yet nothing happened. Nothing has changed. What am
She sighed heavily. What more could she say? She lay against the cushions and tears ran down her cheeks.
Nathan wiped them away gently. “Sleep, beloved, I am here. I shall always be here.”
In time she heard the soft sounds of his breathing as sleep overtook him. She looked toward the window. An owl flew into the sycamore tree, calling out to his mate. A gentle peace settled over her and she thought of the voice she had heard in the Temple, saying, “It is not yet time.” What did it mean? With questions in her mind, she slept at last and didn’t wake up until morning.
As the months of her first year of marriage went by, it amazed Mary that Rizpah was on her best behavior and solicitous of her when Beriah and Nathan were around, but when they were gone, Mary felt her contempt. She did what she was asked but many times ignored Mary as though she had not heard her. Mary’s complaints to Nathan went unheeded.
This morning she sat on a bench in the small courtyard. She’d had a particularly difficult night, and it was all she could do to try to put her thoughts together. The lack of sleep at night made it more difficult to be rational in the daytime.
She saw Rizpah watching her with a curious look on her face. Finally the woman’s eyes narrowed and she asked, “How do you know when the spells are going to come upon you?”
Mary thought for a moment and sighed. “My head begins to hurt and I feel a tingling in my body. Then I know a seizure is near.”
Rizpah shook her head. “It is the evil one who has possessed you. You have been to the rabbi and even to the high priest in Jerusalem. What good has it done you? You will never be free. You trouble this household with your sickness and your husband waits and hopes in vain. HaShem has cursed you. There will be no children.”
Taken back with the vehemence behind Rizpah’s words, Mary could only stare at her. The words hung in the air, proclaiming aloud what Mary had thought herself so many times. She turned away and went into the house, weeping silently. Rizpah wished to marry Beriah. Mary had discerned that earlier in their relationship. With Mary in the household, there was no need for Beriah to have anyone look after him. Nathan must divorce me , Mary thought bitterly. Rizpah is right. I cannot give him children. Perhaps HaShem has truly turned away from me.
She had to get away from the house and the woman’s constant condemnation. Gathering her shawl, she glared at Rizpah, daring her to follow as she left the courtyard.
“I am going to the home of my parents,” she tossed over her shoulder and left before Rizpah could respond.
She walked quickly, covering her face so no one would recognize her. It was difficult to go out in public, even with Eliab, for the whispers grew louder as she passed—“There goes Mad Mary, the crazy woman. How does her husband stay with her? I hear she is cursed for she bears no children”. . . on and on the words swirled around her like bees buzzing around a hive.
When she entered the gate, Eliab, who had been carving a small animal out of wood, stood quickly and watched her silently as she walked into the house. Rachel had seen her and hurried to her side.
“Mary, is something wrong?” She guided Mary to a bench in the shade and sat down beside her. “What has happened?”
“Why does he stay with me?” Mary cried in despair. “He must be weary and so am I. He will not set himself free from me. He says he does not care if we have children. I don’t believe him. I’ve seen him with the children of our neighbors and he loves them. It would be better if I were to die. He would be free of me and this interminable illness!”
“Mary, do not talk like this. Nathan loves you. He understood when you were married what he would have to deal with.”
“But why am I not cured? The rabbi prayed for me, the high priest said all those words over me, yet nothing happened. Nothing has changed. What am
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