A clear dawn overhangs the lake and envelops the hills in mist, light as a veil of muslin, behind which the olive and walnut trees and the houses and the tops of the riverside villages look more graceful. The boats glide serene, silent, in the direction of Capernaum. But at a given moment, Peter turns the tiller of the rudder, so abruptly that the boat tilts.
-What are you doing? - says Andrew.
-There is a boat of one of those ostriches. It is leaving Capernaum. I have good eyes and, since last night, the nose of a crawling dog. I don't want them to see us. I'm going back to the river. We will go on foot.
The other boat has made the same maneuver, but James, who is at the helm, asks Peter, "Why are you doing this?
-I'll tell you. Come behind me.
Jesus, who is sitting in the stern, comes out of his reverie almost at the Jordan. -What are you doing, Simon? - he asks.
-We're going down here. There is a jackal prowling around. We cannot go to Capernaum today. I'll go first to see the atmosphere; I with Simon and Nathanael. Three worthy people against three unworthy ones... if there are not more unworthy ones.
-Now don't you see lurks everywhere! Isn't that the boat of Simon the Pharisee? -Yes, that's the one.
-It wasn't there when John was captured.
-I don't know anything.
-He's always respectful to me.
-I don't know anything.
-You make me look like a person who runs away.
-I don't know anything.
Even though Jesus does not feel like laughing, he must smile at Peter's saintly stubbornness. -But we will have to go to Capernaum, won't we! If not today, it will be some other time?
-I have already told you that I'll go first and see how the atmosphere is, and... if necessary... yes, I'll do it too... it'll be a very bad pill to swallow... but I'll do it for love of you... I'll go... I'll go to the centurion to ask for protection...
-No, man, there's no need!
The boat stops on the small deserted beach on the opposite side of Bethsaida. They all get out.
-Come on, you two. You too, Philip. You young men stay here. We won't be long.
The neo-disciple Elijah pleads:
-Come to my house, Master. It would be a source of great joy for me if you were to stay there....
-I am coming to your house. Simon, I will meet you at Elijah's house. Goodbye, Simon. Go, but be good, wise and merciful.
Come, I want to kiss you and bless you.
Peter gives no assurance that he will be good, neither patient nor merciful; he merely keeps silent. They kiss
reciprocally. It is the same gesture of greeting of Jesus with the Zealot, Bartholomew and Philip. And the two retinues separate, going in opposite directions.
They enter Chorazin in the middle of the day, at the end of dawn. There is no stalk that does not sparkle with dewy gems. Birds are singing everywhere. The air is pure, fresh: it even seems to taste of milk, a milk more vegetable than animal.
And there is the smell of cereals forming inside the ears of grain, of almond trees laden with fruit... a smell already experienced by me in the cool mornings in the beautiful fields of the Paduan plain.
They soon arrive at Elias' house. But already many in Chorazin know that the Master has arrived, and, when Jesus is about to cross the threshold, a mother comes crying out:
-Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on my little daughter!
She is carrying in her arms a little girl of about ten years of age, waxy and very skinny (more than waxy, yellowish).
-What's wrong with your daughter?
-She has a fever. She caught them while shepherding along the banks of the Jordan. Because we are the shepherds of a rich man.
Her father called me to accompany the child, who was ill. He has returned to the mountains. But, as you know, with this sickness one cannot go up to high places. And I cannot stay here. The master has allowed me to do so until now. But I am in charge of shearing the sheep and helping with the lambing. The time is coming for our work, that of the shepherds. If I stay, we shall be dismissed or divided; I shall see my daughter die, if I go up to Hermon.
-Do you have faith that I can do it?
-I spoke to Daniel, the shepherd of Elisha. He said to me, "Our Child cures all ills. Go to the Messiah. From beyond Meron I come with this one in my arms, looking for you. And I would have kept on walking until I found you....
-Do not walk any more, but to return home, to the serene work. Your daughter is cured because I want it. Go in peace.
The woman looks at her daughter and Jesus. Perhaps she expects to see the girl instantly put on weight again and regain her color. She also looks at Jesus' face, with eyes like saucers, though tired, and smiles.
-Don't be afraid, woman. I am not deceiving you. The fever is gone for good. As the days go by, the child will recover her freshness. Let her walk, she will no longer stagger, nor will she feel tired.
The mother lays the child on the floor, who stands upright and smiles more and more contentedly, and ends up chirping in her Argentinian voice:
-"Bless the Lord, mother, I feel that I am perfectly healthy! - And with the simplicity of a little shepherdess and a child, she throws herself on Jesus' neck and kisses him. The mother, reserved as age teaches, prostrated herself and kissed the garment, blessing the Lord.
-Go away. Remember the benefit you have received from the Lord and be good. Peace be with you.
At this, the people have already crowded into the little garden of Elijah's house, already demanding the Master's word. And Jesus gives in, even though he does not feel like doing so, saddened as he is by the capture of the Baptist and by the way in which it has occurred, and begins to speak under the shade of the trees.