(Through the eyes of her maidservant)

My lady is very distressed today. She woke up upset. She said it was something about a dream she had, about a man who may be convicted today. She is very disturbed by her dream, yet she will tell no one what it is about. We will be going to the market soon, so I hope that will cheer her up. She usually finds some interesting gossip there.

We are back from the market now; my lady is still distressed, though not as much so. I've just learned that a man is being condemned today; the man in her dream she says! She is fretful now, wondering what it is that she should do. She has asked me what I think we should do. I said maybe we should go watch behind the curtain. She agrees. I believe this may be important, so I will bring my journal with me to record anything of interest.

We arrive at the curtain just in time. We peak through together. My lady has just said that the man is her dream is here! He is being led to my ladies man, Pilate, bound and being dragged. Governor Pilate said unto the man, "Art thou the king of the Jews?" And the condemned man, Jesus, said unto him, "Thou sayest." But then when the man Jesus was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. That served to confuse my lady and I, as we presumed that he was guiltless, so he should defend himself.

Then said Pilate unto him," Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?" And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor, my lady and I marveled greatly. "This man is quite confusing," my lady is saying now. "He is guiltless, like in my dream, yet he tries not to defend himself." I must agree with her. The man looks also like supper is about to be served, not like he has just been bound and beaten and being questioned to determine his fate.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?" Suddenly my lady was racked with the shivers, and I immediately suggested that we go to her room but she has stopped me. Her shivers died down, and a certain gleam entered her eye. She has started to push back the curtains! "No my lady-"I have started to say, but she's gone! She is on the court now! What have I done! I must get my lady back now! She goes now unto her husband, Governor Pilate, and I hear her say "Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." But it appears that those evil horse turd chief priests and elders are persuading the multitude that they should have Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Oh dear, excuse my slight dislike for the chief priests and elders; my lady will have me hanged if she ever reads this! I must hide it well tonight, so it may never be found.

My lady is coming back now, a dejected look on her face. Oh, I do so hate it when my lady is upset. All she does is sit in her room and weep. I do not want her to do that today, but it looks like that is what will happen. On the way up to my ladies quarters, we heard the Governor talking to the people, asking what it is that he shall do, release unto them Barabbas, or Jesus. My lady pauses, and looks back, even though we can't see through the curtain. We now hear the multitude say Barabbas. My lady throws her head into her hands and weeps. I am trying to comfort her, but what is one to say to a weeping lady when she does not want to stop weeping?

We hear through the curtain Pilate saying, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" The multitude all say unto him, "Let him be crucified." Now my lady has stopped weeping. She is now staring at the curtain like it is hell itself! "Crucify him?" she is murmuring under her breath. "Crucify him?" she says louder. I am very afraid that she will run out there and slash all who are present. I must get her back to her room before she really has a meltdown! I have an idea.

We are in my ladies room now. I have made her bed and she is resting quietly now. A few minutes before, I raced cross the hall to her room, knowing my ladies curiosity was very large, and sure enough, she followed me to her room wondering what it is that would make me run. I said it was because I forgot to make her bed. She looked at me with red, misty, knowing eyes, and simply said thank you Malika. Now, as I am running out of ink, I must return this to its new hiding spot and let my lady rest. A big day tomorrow as it sounds like that is when the crucifixion will take place and so I must keep my lady busy. Brrrrr. A horrible word, crucifixion is. Night world.

-Malika

(This story is found in Matthew 27:19)