Some acts of faith happen far from crowds and pulpits. They begin quietly – in a workshop, with ink-stained hands and ancient words. When twelve-year-old Tabitha arrives in Jerusalem disguised as a boy to help restore King Herod’s library, she expects long days of careful work and little else. Instead, she finds friendship in unexpected places, hears whispers of a newborn king and uncovers a prophecy hidden for generations. As magi arrive from the East and danger begins to stir within the palace walls, Tabitha must decide whether knowledge is enough – or whether faith sometimes demands courage, action and risk. Part I of The Girl Who Guarded the King, written by Guy Johnson, introduces Tabitha, her father and the extraordinary chain of events that will pull an ordinary girl into God’s unfolding plan.
There was nothing Tabitha loved more than books. She had grown up surrounded by books of all kinds. Old or new, fresh from the scribes or tattered with age and overuse, plain or illustrated, she loved them all.
She had learned to read by the time she was four and how to copy the many types of script she saw in her father’s shop by the age of eight. Now at twelve she was the best in the shop at repairing and refurbishing the antique scrolls her father’s clients brought in.
So, it was natural, when the offer came in, that her father wanted her to come with him as an assistant. It was a huge job, which might take a year to complete and would require her to leave her comfortable home in Memphis and travel miles to a strange new city, Jerusalem. The king of Judea had purchased a great shipment of old texts and needed a master technician to restore them to use. Naturally, the king’s agents sought out Tabitha’s father; he was known all over Egypt and Babylonia as the best in the field.
And Tabitha was eager to go. Her uncle-he was her father’s partner-had a major objection, however. ‘Tabitha is too young to go. She wouldn’t be safe. And she is a girl.’
There was a lengthy discussion. The final decision was: Tabitha is the best qualified of the staff to go, so she will go. Of course, she will dress like a boy and we will call her Tabitheus.
When Tabitha and her father arrived at the tradesmen’s gate of King Herod’s palace, they were met by Zander, the official in charge of the palace wing which housed the library, and Hamilcar, the guardsman in charge of safety in that wing.
Hamilcar was a friendly giant of an old soldier and greeted them warmly. Zander extended them a formal welcome and turned aside to look for porters to carry their luggage and the tools they had brought with them.
Hamilcar led Tabitha and her father through the long and twisting corridors of the palace until they finally reached the wing which held the library. Zander undertook the task of explaining to them what was expected of them and where they would work.
‘His majesty is most eager to establish here in Jerusalem a library to rival the one in Alexandria. You, Ibrim of Memphis, were highly recommended for this task. Naturally, his majesty will expect and require work of the highest order from you and your son Tabitheus…
‘The library salon itself is regularly used for important meetings of state. You will hardly need to enter it at all. The volumes his majesty purchased and which you will refurbish are in the work room adjacent. Your living quarters lie just beyond. I think you will find them adequate-I was under the impression that you would bring more helpers and prepared for at least seven. You will be brought daily food rations from the royal kitchen, so you will not find it necessary to leave these quarters until your work is done and approved. Hamilcar may have some additional instructions for you.’
‘I can’t think of much to add to Lord Zander’s eloquent welcome,’ smiled Hamilcar ; ‘my job is to keep this wing of the palace safe. Unknown intruders are quickly dispatched. If you do need to go to any other part of the palace, let me know, and I’ll go with you to protect you.’
After Tabitha’s father had thanked Lord Zander and Captain Hamilcar for their help, the two were left to examine their new quarters.
‘It does seem like we have everything we need,’ said Ibrim after examining their new quarters.
‘It seems a lot like a prison,’ said Tab.
‘It’s going to earn us a huge amount of gold coins, so we’ll make the best of it. Now, it’s been a long day and we’re tired. Let’s get some sleep and start work tomorrow.’
‘Hello!’ called a voice she didn’t know. Tab opened her eyes.
Hello!’ called the voice again; ‘Food delivery! Get your daily supplies!’
Tab ran into the kitchen of their new home. A tall boy about her own age was standing at the work table with two large boxes.
‘Good morning,’ he said. ‘Here’s your food for the day!’
‘We get our food like this every day?’
‘Straight from the royal kitchen. Some of it is leftovers from the king’s table; some of it from the cooks’ table. The part from the cooks is better tasting, believe me.’
‘Thank you, I suppose. I’ve never had food brought to me like this before. Who are you?’ ‘My name is Adam. My Mom is one of the royal cooks and I work in the kitchen doing all kinds of jobs helping. Next year I’ll be thirteen and old enough to join the king’s guard. Till then I’ll be bringing you food every day. And who are you?’
‘Call me Tab. My Dad is putting the library here in order and I’m helping. I can repair torn scrolls, clean stained pages, add illustrations, and write new passages as needed.’
‘You can read and write?’
‘That and a lot more.’
‘Could you teach me to read? I will be able to make rank in the guard quicker if I can read.’
‘If you’re smart enough, I can.’
‘I feel like I’m smart enough to do almost anything.’
‘Then when you bring the food, we’ll have class with breakfast.’
In the days and weeks following, Tab taught Adam how to read. She found him an apt pupil. In return Adam taught Tab all about the secret passages and rooms of the palace and how to avoid running into the guards that did not know them. He found her an apt pupil. The two became fast friends.
One morning, Tab woke up early before Adam arrived with breakfast. She decided to continue working with the scroll she had begun repairing the day before.
It was a slender volume, the writing of one of the ancient prophets of Judea. There was a collection of such works in the huge mass of scrolls she and her father had come to work on. Ibrim was in the middle of refurbishing one of the longest of the scrolls.
Tab had been given the short books to handle. She had completed work on a little scroll which told the story of an unwilling prophet who had been swallowed by a sea monster-the book had some very funny illustrations-and was starting another, more somber work.
Tab was trying to decide which of her colors she could blend to match the border designs of the book when she heard Adam come in.
‘Hey, Tab,’ he called. ‘I brought a new friend today. Meet Darius.’
Darius smiled as he followed Adam into the workroom. He was a bit taller than Adam and he was wearing a turban.
‘Darius and his father are visiting from Babylon,’ continued Adam. “They’re scientists.’
‘Actually, we are magi, students of the stars,’ Darius put in. ‘The observatory in Babylon has been in operation for hundreds of years.’
‘I’m glad to meet you, Darius,’ said Tab; ‘my father and I are here in Jerusalem patching up old books for the king.’
‘I’m sure that’s a noble profession. Books are so fragile. The messages of the stars are forever.’
Tab was a bit taken aback. ‘What star messages have you read lately?’
‘A very great one. A mighty new king has been born here in Judea. My father and his colleagues have come to pay him homage.’
Adam spoke up, ‘None of us at the palace have heard anything about that. We already have a king and several princes.’
Darius continued, ‘Surely your king must know something about this. We have come here to learn where the newborn king may be found.’
‘Good luck with that. I can’t believe King Herod will be happy to learn he is about to be replaced,’ remarked Tab. ‘We don’t have a message about that. His chief ministers have agreed to meet with us tomorrow to discuss the matter.’
‘Well everything will be settled then,’ laughed Adam. ‘In the meantime let’s have some breakfast. I’m starving.’
Adam had brought a few extra honey cakes, so the breakfast was a pleasant one. Tab showed Darius some of her work. Adam described his plans to join the royal guard. Darius told the others about the star charts he worked on.
Just as Adam and Darius were about to leave, Hamilcar entered the workroom.
‘Good,’ he said; ‘I thought I might find you here. Tab and Adam, you need to know this, and Darius, you might as well hear it, too. This wandering about the palace at night may be fun for you, but it worries me and it’s dangerous. I’ve been able to keep you out of trouble so far, but security is going to get tighter with all this talk of a rival king going around. So watch your step and don’t be where you shouldn’t be. Understand?’
‘I hear and obey, sir,’ said Adam.
‘Thanks, Captain Hamilcar. We’ll be careful,’ said Tab.
‘I’ll try to stay out of trouble,’ said Darius.
‘Now tomorrow, the king’s council is going to meet our visitors from the East in the royal library next door,’ continued Hamilcar, ‘so you’ll see a lot of strangers about. Don’t let that worry you. Just stay out of their way. We don’t expect any trouble. Now, it’s getting late. I’d better let Tab get back to work. Adam, they’re looking for you down in the kitchen. Master Darius, I’ll take you back to your dad. I don’t want you getting lost.’
The rest of the day passed without incident. The next morning began quietly. Ibrim continued working on the huge Jeremiah scroll, while Tab finished inking the border of the short volume of another prophet’s writing.
Not long before midday Lord Zander entered the workroom followed by a tall, sinister looking official.
‘Captain Hamilcar informed you, I believe, that the library will be used for the meeting of the Eastern visitors with the royal council today,’ Zander began. ‘This is General Microbius who will lead the meeting. He wished to inspect the workrooms prior to the meeting.’
General Microbius cleared his throat before speaking. ‘There is no cause for alarm. There is no reason to believe our guests pose any threat to national security. However, the king’s safety is vital to our nation, and we must be on our guard at all times. I will inspect these workrooms now and post Officer Hamilcar here during the meeting. You may continue with your regular duties, but do not leave your quarters for any reason until I release you. Are there any questions?’
Hearing no questions the general proceeded to inspect each of the workrooms and storage closets. Then without further comment he left them to their work. Zander followed him from the room.
As the day wore on, Tab heard unfamiliar voices and footsteps outside. She wanted to jump up and see what was going on, but Ibrim signaled to her to remain still. She was relieved when Hamilcar came in to take up his duty post.
‘They’re about to begin the speeches,’ he said. ‘I don’t think it will go on very long. The visitors will make their request; the council will deny it; and that will be all there is to it.’
Tab and her dad continued working during the meeting. Hamilcar spent the time in the storage closet in the wall which separated the workroom from the library. Tab wondered what that could mean and was still thinking about it when the meeting ended.
Hamilcar stepped out of the storage closet and joined Tab and Ibrim. ‘That was way more interesting than I expected,’ he said.
‘What’s going on? ‘asked Tab.
‘They say that a great and powerful king has been born. They expected to find him here but none of us knew anything about it and King Herod will not be happy to hear about it. At any rate, they want to know where to find the new king. The general did not want to look weak, so he promised to give them that information after consulting with the king. So they have set up another meeting for tomorrow, and now we have to find out where the little king is hiding.’
It was at this point that Zander rushed into the room. ‘Librarian!’ he cried. ‘Help! Microbius tells me I have twelve hours to come up with the location of the king that threatens Herod. There’s no talk about this on the street, he says. There’s must be something about in the old records. There used to be prophets in Judea he says. Look in them; see what they say. I can’t read that ancient language. I need help!’
‘I would certainly help, if I could,’ answered Ibrim. ‘I have been reading the ancient prophets. I have only been at the library here a few months. I don’t know all the resources. Right now I’m working on the writings of Jeremiah. I haven’t seen anything about the location of a future king’s birth. Many prophets told of a great leader who would come to restore the kingdom of Israel and usher in an era of peace and justice.’
‘Thank you, Ibrim. I don’t need a lecture. I need information I can use.’
‘Excuse me,’ Tab spoke up. ‘The scroll I’ve been working on might help. It talks about the anointed prince coming to save Israel and all the world.’
‘I don’t see how that little scroll can help me.’
‘Let me look at it,’ said Ibrim. He took up the scroll and began unrolling it as he scanned the columns of script. ‘This is a very old prophecy. Micah who wrote it lived when Assyria conquered Israel. Here it is. The Messiah will be born in a little town, Bethlehem.’
‘Quick. Let me have that book. I’ll get it to the General. You’re full of information I don’t want to know, but I think you’ve saved my life with this!’
Zander rushed off with the Micah scroll. The others relaxed and thought about their suppers.
Hamilcar was wearing a grim smile when he came into the workroom the next morning. ‘You’d better stay close to your work desks this morning and not make much noise to draw attention to yourselves. His majesty himself will be at the meeting and there will be lots of guards about to keep him safe. I’ll be here in my regular post.’
‘Why is your post in a storage closet?’ asked Tab.
‘It’s not a regular closet, young man. And don’t go poking around in it when I’m not here. Stay away from it. It’s a state secret. Now, what did Adam bring for your breakfast?’
After sharing the morning fig cakes, Ibrim and Tab settled down to work, Ibim still on his long book of prophecy, Tab picking up another short scroll. Hamilcar paced about the room while he waited for the conference to begin.
There was more noise in the hall outside today as the participants assembled -more of the palace guardsmen and all of the visiting magi. Darius was there also, accompanying his father, the leader of the group. Finally, preceded by the royal trumpeters, King Herod arrived.
Although it seemed to Tab to be going on forever, the meeting was actually brief and to the point. The visitors were dismissed first. When they had returned to the guest quarters, Hamilcar came out of the storage closet and breathed a sigh of relief.
‘That’s that!’ he said. ‘They will be on their way tomorrow and things here will get back to normal. I’ll see you later.’
‘Wait, Hamilcar,’ called Tab, ‘what happened in there? What are they going to do?’
But Hamilcar had gone. Tab got up and began to pace around the room, too filled with curiosity to work. She passed by the storage closet and stopped. She opened the door and stepped in.
At first, it seemed like any other closet, but as her eyes got used to the dark, she noticed two small openings about as far apart as a person’s eyes just above her head in the wall of the library. While she was examining them, she heard voices coming from the other side of the wall.
‘You asked me to stay, sir?’ ‘Yes, I have orders for you that should be just between us for now.’
Very quietly Tab pulled an old chair under the openings in the wall and climbed up to listen. General Microbius was speaking to another officer, one she did not know.
‘Things went well at the meeting, I thought, sir.’
‘Quite well. Those fools will be on their way to Bethlehem at daybreak tomorrow.’
‘But will they find the new king there, sir?’
‘There will be no new king, idiot. Our present king will handle that.’
‘We read the prophecies, sir.’
‘The fantasies of the ancients do not concern us. But we can’t have a pack of strangers stirring our people up with wild stories. Those astrologers must be eliminated. They will leave here tomorrow. Today you will take a small group of men you can trust and travel on the Bethlehem road. Find an isolated spot for an ambush. Make sure not one of them escapes your sword. And, since this is a confidential mission, go disguised, not in uniform.’
‘I know the men I need. We will be on our way within the hour. But their leader’s son who is to remain here as hostage…. ‘
‘Not your concern. I will handle him when you report your success.’
‘Yes, General.’
As the two conspirators left the library, Tab sank down in the chair aghast, her mind filled with questions she could not answer. She continued to worry the rest of the day and through a sleepless night. Perhaps when she saw Adam in the morning, the two of them could think of a way to help set things straight.
Adam was a little late with the supplies on the following morning. Tab was beside herself with worry by the time he arrived. While Ibrim was lost in thought concentrating on their work, Tab hurriedly told Adam everything she had heard the general plan win his henchman.
‘What can we do to help? Somebody has to warn Darius’s dad and his colleagues. Somebody has to figure out how to save Darius.’
‘That will be us. It has to be-we’re the ones who know what the danger is. And don’t forget that new born little king. Don’t think Herod will forget that threat.’
‘But what can we do?’
‘First of all, let’s go over to the guest hall where the visitors are. Maybe they haven’t left yet.’
‘Do you know how to get there?’
‘Trust me. I know this place.’
‘All right then, let’s go. Dad is really busy right now and won’t miss me for a while. I’ll leave him a note.’
Guy Johnson