Capítulo 23: JERUSALEM,HERE I COME
Psalm 135:21 GNT
Praise the Lord in Zion,
in Jerusalem, his home.
Praise the Lord!
9 days from the day Abu Bin Zayyid was ambushed and almost killed by highway bandits on his way to Beit Dajan.
He had been bedridden, in poor shape to travel or actively engage in any strenuous physical activity. Despite his objection, the physician refused to recommend he travel.
So here he was in the backyard of 72 Jana Promise flinching but putting on a brave face as his wound was being dressed by the in-house physician Kulusumu Anifa. He was now regretting why he was brought for treatment and lodging by the trader Habib.
This physician was good but she was so headstrong and domineering, she had been dictating everything he does in the last eight days, from what he eats, how much sleep he should have, who should visit him, and for how long. He had ended up feeling like he was in prison.
He could not wait for the wound to fully heal so that he could move out. However, thinking about moving out reminded him of the bad letter he had received five days ago from his elder in the Assassin's Order.
The response was not what he expected or wanted to receive. Some of the words in the letter were still ringing a bell in his head and he did not want to believe it but it was true.
"Kulusumu, when do you think this wound will be properly healed for me to travel on horseback or camel? He asked her to get something off the thoughts of the letter.
"You lost a lot of blood and are still weak to travel for a long journey, and the wound is yet to fully heal up from the back and chest. I know you want to get back to your business, but your life is very important. You won't be able to do much if you dropped dead from an infection. You need at least two weeks for the wound to be fully healed and then you can travel." KULUSUMU replied to him as she continued dressing up the wound.
"That's too long Kulusumu, isn't there some herb you can give me to quickly dry up the wound and have it heal up quickly?" The answer he got from her did not satisfy Abu Bin Zayyid.
"Abu, this is not an ordinarily wound. You almost died had I not attended to you immediately. Just because you are feeling better than you have felt in the last week does not mean all is well. Be patient, two weeks is not a long time. You still have the rest of your life ahead of you to do what you are not able to do in these two weeks you are recovering." Kulusumu tried to persuade him to be patient.
"If you say so Kulusumu, but am not sure if I will afford your services after three weeks of treatment and lodging. Your brother will swallow me alive when I tell him am broke and can't pay up all his money at once. The way I see it, I will have to pay in installments." Abu expressed his worry about the bill. The treatment for over three weeks, lodging, and feeding was not going to be a small sum even if he was not poor.
"Am sure my brother Adam, will understand if you explain yourself to him, he is a businessman but also an understanding human being. You can not imagine how he was worried about you when they brought you in. " Kulusumu reassured him.
"Ok, am done here with the dressing of the wound for today, we shall change it tomorrow afternoon." She told him, as she finished dressing his wound dressing.
When she left him. Abu covered his chest properly with his robe. He put his hand in the robe pocket and brought out the wrinkled letter from the Assassin's Order.
He briefly hesitated to open having already read but he was in denial, he had to reread it to see if there was something he had missed out.
3 October 1191
Assalamu Alaikum Abu Bin Zayyid
I was delighted to hear that you may have stumbled upon a hidden Knights Templar plot by the accursed Christians but am disappointed that you have not given me anything concrete besides your convictions. Which as, history has proven is mostly faulty. You are still young and ignorant, making unavoidable mistakes.
I know your driving desire right now is to clear your name. Be strong as a man and face up to your mistakes as a member of our Order. If your mentor Yakub was still alive, he could be disappointed in your behavior.
Go back to Jaffa, and wait for our conclusion on your case. It's too early to authorize the usage of the mercenaries when you have given us scant information. Will pass this task of investigating the mission of this knight Yosef Gideon and Commander Gallo to our trusted member in Jerusalem.
May Allah have mercy upon you.
Elder Saddam
Going through the letter for the tenth time, anger boiled up in Abu Bin Zayyid's heart.
This elder Saddam had rubbished his investigation and refused to offer him the support he requested, but the most painful thing was that this case had been passed on to another member in Jerusalem. Who did not know this case, neither had he sweated to gain intelligence like him. Now he was going to take up this case, and harvest the fruits of his labor.
Elder Saddam had proven time and again that he was not in favor of seeing Abu Bin Zayyid succeed in the Order and this was the perfect example. Refusing to authorize him to use the mercenaries and giving his case to someone else, probably his disciple in Jerusalem.
If Abu Bin Zayyid was not nursing wounds. He could ignore this letter and continue to pursue the Knight Templars, however, he was currently not in a position to do so.
Telling him to go back to Jaffa, and wait for the conclusion of his case was a death sentence, which was not easy to swallow. What he needed was some mission to earn him the appreciation of the elders in the Order so that they could look at him favorably.
But Elder Saddam seemed to be committed to blocking it.
***
"Commander Gallo, just a moment," Yosef Gideon raised his hand in with a gesture of them to stop.
"Lads, let's take a moment to take in this moment. It's not every day that we a blessed to approach Jerusalem. After over a week of being in the saddle, is it not worth it to be greeted by such a glorious sight?" Commander Gallo asked as the group approached Jerusalem.
Before them, was the Holy City of Jerusalem basking in the afternoon glow.
With its neighborhood of ancient houses and terraces, olive trees proudly standing on the slopes of Mt Olives.
All this was crowned by the golden dome of the rock mosque reflecting the rays of sunshine at the top of the hill. The church of the Holy Sepulchre is in the background, calling to the attention of believers or non-believer who set foot in this historical city which had influenced humanity for close to a millennium.
Yosef Gideon straightened himself in the saddle of the horse and breathed in the hot air with the scent of palm trees, olives, and the smoke from different homes below in the valley cooking their lunch meal.
"This view never gets old, it still feels as fresh as the first day I came to Jerusalem before I become a Knight Templar".
"Blessed are those Knights who get to view the eternal city Jerusalem with their own two eyes, countless Knights have died in the crusades with the hope of setting foot in this Holy city," Commander Gallo said as he dismounted from his horse.
He knelt on the ground and bowed once, picking up the dust in his gnarled hands before letting it flow out slowly.
"Commander, what blasphemy is this?" Asked Jean Pierre in his thick accent when he saw his commander bowing in the direction of the mosque.
"Come on Pierre, the commander is not bowing to the Muslim Mosque, otherwise you could have seen him raising his two hands and shouting 'Allah Akbar'." Moses Potter the British knight replied to his question.
"Oh ohohoho, the Commander shouting Allah Akbar, that could be very hilarious, and hell could freeze over in an instant." John Conti laughed.
"Hahahaha!" With these words from John Conti, the whole squad burst out in laughter, some even found it hard to seat up straight in the saddle and had to lean on their horses' backs not fall off.
Yosef Gideon found all this amusing but felt that the innocent question from Jean Pierre needed a response.
"Pierre, the Commander was not bowing to the Muslim mosque over there, but bowing down to the Almighty God, and this Holy city and expressing his gratitude of setting foot in it, as she from him picking up the dust in his hand and letting it flow out. It's a form of worship."
John Conti sobered up from the laughter, "indeed Knight Yosef is right about what the Commander was doing. Have known the Commander for so long for him to do such a blasphemous act, if he got tempted to do such an act, I will show him how we treat pagans."
"Enough joking around lads, am famished from this long journey. I know the perfect place for us to find accommodation in the city, have a refreshing bath and good food that will leave you salivating for more." Said Commander as he jumped back on his horse and led the squad into the city.
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, here I come. Now am close to starting the mission entrusted to me by Master Balian." Yosef said in his heart as he gazed at the city.
"You are now speaking Commander, we have missed a properly cooked meal ever since we left Jaffa." This was expressed by Jean Pierre.
Yosef began whistling on his favorite Psalms and he was joined by Marino Yosef who happened to know it.
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Zebolo
Zebolo Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Presentes
-- Presente
recebido Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder