The Bronze Bow

Daniel realizes that he left Joel’s passageway too soon as he struggles up the mountain. Daniel never admits he is lonely on the mountain, but his time with Joel gave him someone who shared his thoughts and burdens. Daniel repeats to himself the chronicles they read together. Though Daniel is not sure about Malthace, she is brilliant, proud, and loyal to Joel. All he can think about is seeing them again. When Daniel doesn’t have the right tools to mend Rosh’s special dagger, Rosh tells Daniel to get the tools from Simon. Daniel finds that Simon has left town following Jesus. He is satisfied with his excuse to go to Capernaum, where he hears that Jesus can be found at Simon’s home in Bethsaida. Daniel uses the extra time to meet Joel. Daniel asks Joel to come with him to see Jesus, and he agrees. Joel wonders if Jesus is a Zealot, as his father believes he is dangerous.

On the way, they overtake a family of three looking for Jesus—their son was bitten by a camel and won’t heal, and Jesus has healed a man who was lame. Simon’s house is crowded with sickly people overflowing into the courtyard. Simon is pleased to see Daniel and directs him to Jesus, who looks straight into his eyes and blocks out all thought, his eyes “filled with fight and warmth […] welcoming him with friendship, yet searching too, disturbing, demanding” (98). Several women move about with platters of food to feed the guests, who grab the food greedily.

Someone asks why water is not provided for them to observe the Law and wash their hands. Jesus responds that they should make sure their hearts rather than their hands are worthy. After the meal, voices begin pleading in a frenzy, describing their ailments and asking Jesus to touch them. As Jesus serenely moves about the people, a woman cries that she is cured. The family Daniel and Joel met on the road claims their son is healed. Furious, Daniel calls them liars and asks Simon if it is a trick. Though neither understands, Simon says he must believe his own eyes. Jesus claims his power comes from God. As not everyone is healed, doing so seems to require a certain faith.

Jesus comforts the suffering people. He tells them to not be afraid, as they are all children of God. He tells them to bear their suffering with patience, as God has made a place for them in His kingdom. He then commands them to be kind and love each other, as they are all precious to God. Trying to shake off the spell, Daniel remembers his errand and speaks to Simon. Simon shows little interest in Rosh’s demands, telling Daniel where to find the tools. Daniel asks Simon if Jesus is a Zealot. Though Simon at once thought the same, he claims, “All I hope and long for now is that he will ask me to join him” (103). On the way back, Joel wonders how Jesus can call those people the children of God when they have never heard of the Law. He unwillingly admits that his father is right about Jesus. 

Five days later, Daniel waits at the foot of the mountain trail. Rosh has given him his first job to do alone to test his usefulness. Daniel is to steal a bag of gold from an old man who, while pretending to be a beggar, smuggles bags of gold across the mountain to a friend buying property for him. Though Daniel agrees with Rosh’s idea of justice on principle, his stomach is uneasy. After an hour of waiting, he spots the man and pounces. The man tries to strike back with two knives. They struggle in silence until the man crumples onto the path. Daniel grabs the moneybag and leaves. He looks back and is hit with a long-forgotten memory of his grandfather lying on a mat beside him. He cannot leave an old man who looks like his grandfather lying helplessly. Daniel lays the man in the shadow of a rock and waits for him to regain consciousness. When the old man awakens, he is terrified. Daniel reassures him that he won’t touch him and hands him one of the daggers.

Back at camp, Daniel flings the moneybag at Rosh’s feet. Rosh pours out the money and asks about the dagger. When Daniel throws one dagger down, Rosh asks about the other one. Daniel tells Rosh that he gave it back to the old man—he wasn’t fit to travel without it. Rosh tells Daniel he should have finished him off. Daniel responds that he wasn’t ordered to kill him. Rosh asks Daniel if he is afraid of a drop of blood, and Daniel hotly responds that he wants Roman blood, not that of fellow Jews. Calling Daniel a fool, Rosh says they can’t rush at the Romans with bare hands. They need men, arms, and food. Rosh doubts this old miser would have given his money to free Israel, stating that a decent death for his country was better than he deserved.

In a reversal of anger, Rosh admits that he knows it is better to avoid killing when possible. Rosh then points out Daniel’s flaw—a soft streak he demands Daniel hammer out. When the day comes, there will be no place for weakness. Daniel wonders if there is a flaw with Rosh’s argument and wishes he could discuss his doubts with Joel. Jesus’s words echo in his mind—“For each one of you is precious in His sight” (111). The stark difference between Rosh and Jesus confuses him: “Rosh looked at a man and saw a thing to be used, like a tool or a weapon. Jesus looked and saw a child of God” (111). Daniel wonders if Jesus would see the same in the miser with his moneybag.