No Evil Shall Befall You: Companion novellas to the Apostle John Series, #2

By Susan Preston

How could he have been so blind?
He thought he had left his papyrus business in safe hands when he traveled to Ephesus to his father's deathbed.
On his return to Egypt, Simon discovered the son he had entrusted to manage the business had embraced the Wadjet heresy and had been progressively taking over the entire business in his absence.
Why had Simon had no idea what had been happening? His son had managed the papyrus works In Buto efficiently. At least he had thought so.

Perhaps he should have traveled there more often.

When had he changed his name to Sefu, meaning sword?

Who did his son plan using it on?

Now he had to undo Sefu's plot to gain even more control by marrying his brother to his daughter, a practice common in Egypt but one he did not approve of. The girl was fourteen, her uncle three times her age!

Many of the workers in his warehouse where they packaged what was sent from Buto were strangers to him, and he discovered that his foreman no longer worked there.

Simon's plan to transfer the business to this eldest son could no longer go ahead and his return to Ephesus… given up or significantly delayed.

A faithful Jew, he had no intention of losing his life's work to the Wadjet cult. Open war with the strengthened cult would result in defeat.
His fight to regain control had to be subtle, but determined. Would it succeed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Preston
• Release date: Nov 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393097785

Susan Preston

The fact I am alive today is a miracle. The surgery for aneurysms resulted in most of my aorta having a very long graft. Three surgeons had called me called a walking time bomb. But here I am. Well and busy. I was born in Peebles, a town in the Scottish borders, but moved to Australia in 1975. I live in Perth, Western Australia. I have worked as a shop assistant, double loom weaver, trained as a Psychiatric nurse and worked as an After-care Nursing Sister in an outpatient clinic and in the community. My last job (before being bitten by the writing bug) was as a certified computer trainer. (Certificate IV in Training and Assessing). The holder of a Microsoft Master qualification in Office 2007, I enjoyed my work in a Registered Training Centre. I also had some private students and wrote manuals for them re-interpreting the jargon filled, missing steps manuals that left beginners wanting to quit. I loved the 'aha' moment when it clicked for a student, especially mature aged learners. So far two books in this series have been published. Hold the Faith, and book 2, Grow in Grace. After the death of my husband, I was unable to concentrate for long, so spent my writing time completing 'Geoff's Last Journeyings', a record for friends and family my husband's last year in the battle with Pulmonary Fibrosing. I have also kept up my blogs... Hold the Faith. Now, it is time to start work on the existing first draft of book three in the Apostle John series . Christian history fascinates me and a Bible Study on the Apostle John inspired me to set this history down. I am a practising Christian, a Sabbath keeper and member of a very supportive church.

Book preview

While this novella is ‘standalone,’ it follows ‘After the Thirty Days.’ A third novella follows this.

No Evil Shall Befall You

This novella follows Simon from Ephesus home to Egypt where his plans suffer a major setback as he attempts to rescue his papyrus business from the Wadjet cult.

In the series of novellas...

After the Thirty Days

No Evil Shall Befall You

A Clash of Faiths

Shadow of the Past

Chapter One

96 AD – Patara, Roman Province of Asia Minor

Timon, thank you for seeing me, Simon said, walking confidently into his nephew’s workroom.

The most hectic part of the start of the sailing season is over; everything is under control now, Timon replied, smiling a welcome to his uncle.

Thank you for arranging somewhere for me to stay with while I am here.

Uncle Simon, I hope you know that Damaris and I would have welcomed you to our home, but it is almost her ‘time.’ You are a father, you know what it is like when a baby is due... Timon’s voice trailed off, embarrassed.

Yes, I do. My wife and I had five children.

If we have so many we will need to buy a larger home, Timon laughed, relieved that his uncle did not think him inhospitable.

You intend to stay here in Patara? You do not miss Ephesus...or Damaris, her family?

Yes, to most of those, but this is where we manage the ships from. I will continue to take Damaris and our children to Ephesus for the Feast of Tabernacles each year, and spend some time with her parents afterward. Now, I can also visit Esther and Judah. By then the shipping season is over.

And the harvest season here, Simon added.

Yes, and the harvest season. My Uncle Levi grows grain. It is a busy time for them, harvesting the crop before the Holy Days, but a great celebration when it is over. They hold the Feast of Tabernacles for the area at their farm, sharing the bounty. Our family used to go there and celebrate with them, till Damaris started carrying.

Your uncle and aunt stay in their home?

They build booths on the flat roof of the farm. Our family built booths on the roof of the guest accommodation? How do you and your family celebrate it?

We go to the official site arranged by our synagogue. Usually the Nile is still in flood, you might remember our towns and homes are on tributaries of the Nile.

Yes, I do, uncle. If I remember correctly this would be the harvesting season for the papyrus that grew from last year’s flood.

Simon smiled, You do remember well, Timon. The supplies you are receiving now are from last year’s harvest.

So, uncle, have you come to ask me to arrange passage on the next ship returning to Egypt?

‘Partly. I do need to go back, make sure the work is continuing to the high standard necessary, and arrange for my older son to take over. He already manages the harvesting and processing in Buto, I am sure it will please him... and it is time for me to come home to Ephesus. I have missed it all these years, and I would like my bones to lie with my ancestors, like my father."

I thought you were happy in Egypt, you never said anything about missing home when I came on buying trips, Timon said.

Simon looked at his nephew and knew he could not tell him the reason he had not come back was because of his brother Meshua, the young man’s father. Sighing, he pushed the painful memories away and said, When you came my wife was still alive, and our children still needed the guidance of a father. Much has changed now, and my part of the business can manage without me. I can now come home to Ephesus and leave the Egyptian side to my family to manage. He looked wistfully at Timon and murmured, The reason for my return was a sad one, but I also discovered how much I miss Ephesus.

Timon’s lips twitched in the suggestion of a smile, given his uncle felt like this it was no doubt why he had asked about him staying here in Patara.

Seeing his uncle continue to look at him as if expecting a reply, Timon thought back to what his uncle had said. Oh, Timon murmured, You said booking a passage was partly the reason...

Yes, Timon. Before I go, I would like to hear what happened to my brother... your father. The parts I have heard leave me confused. Is it true? Was he a murderer?

Timon’s face paled, and he stepped back. Sadly, yes. Looking down at the floor, he added, I told my mother when she came to meet her granddaughter some months back I found it hard to take in that my father was a murderer. You see, I only discovered the truth when I went back to Ephesus for the Feast of Tabernacles and spent some time with my grandfather afterward.

I am sorry, Timon, I should not have been so direct. Simon had noticed his nephew’s response was to retreat, but he had to know. Timon, I do not understand. What do you mean you only found out when you went back for the Festival?

My grandfather sent a message to tell me of my father’s death, of course. I was the only son and had duties to perform.

I am not sure that I understand what you mean. You were told of Meshua’s death, but you did not know how he died?

Uncle, did you know? Or were you told the same as I was, the same as Esther was? A soldier accidentally killed our father... your brother?

Yes, you are correct. That is the message I received. Simon studied his nephew, trying to work out what he was thinking. Esther had told him it soon would be the end of the year of mourning for a parent. He wondered about this nephew’s feelings about his father.

I have been doing all that our law requires of a son who is mourning a parent, Timon said, guessing his uncle’s thoughts.

Sorry, I do not doubt you, Simon replied. I will do the same for my father, but to be honest, I do not have a strong sense of loss about him. Looking steadily at his nephew, Simon explained, I left Ephesus and my family near thirty years ago. Oh, my father and I exchanged messages with the shipments and when the orders were sent, but he never told me much about the family. Simon paused, but his thoughts went on.  He had always thought it was because his father did not want to hurt him talking about Elizabeth and her family when he was the one who should have married her.

Timon interrupted his thoughts by saying, It was Saba, last year who told me what had happened to my father. It was hard to... believe, so I asked my mother if it was true when I saw her, and she said it was true. But why are you asking me this? We told you...

You started to tell me soon after my father had died, but I could not take it in. If you do not mind, I would like to know what happened.

Just a moment, Timon said, and he turned and left the workroom.

Simon stood puzzled, staring after his nephew.

When Timon returned, he explained, I wanted to make sure there were no problems, and we would not disturbed.

I do not mean to upset you, Timon... and I am sure you know that your father and I were not... ‘friends,’ but I would like to know what happened to him. What I remember of you trying to tell me, it was not an accident.

No, Uncle Simon, it was not. A Roman soldier executed my father in the street where he had killed a young woman, and he was about to kill my other sister, Rachel.

Silence hung between them. It still hurt Timon to talk of his father this way, and Simon could not understand why his brother would murder someone.

It was some moments later when Simon said, I remember my brother had a temper, but I never thought he would kill...

Let me tell you what I remember of my father, and what I was told had happened, Timon said, his shoulders slumped forward. I feel disloyal talking about my father, but you are – were his brother. My father was bad-tempered. Some days it was hard to please him. I used to work at his booth in the marketplace. Timon stopped. His father had been demanding, then he realized, My father was jealous of my sister Rachel. She worked in the shop with Saba and kept the accounts. Saba trained her.

Although he chose not to say it, Simon saw that clearly, Meshua had never overcome his problem with jealousy. But to be jealous of his own child! What happened? Simon asked.

Starting with the account of his father beating Rachel, Timon told his uncle what he, himself, had been told.

You said you spoke to your mother about your father beating your sister and his death, did Meshua beat her? His memories of Elizabeth were of the gentle young woman with the long dark hair and soft, loving eyes. He