Fire and Sword Read Online Free PDF Page A

with the Lord.”
    “No stopping them?” said a sneering voice.
    It was Kara. “That’s a bit premature, wouldn’t you say?” he continued. “After all, these are the same humans who only weeks ago saw the man Jesus killed. And that man—” he pointed to Peter. “He styles himself a leader of this rabble? He denied the very man whom he now would worship? I think this war has quite a ways to go.”
    Berenius, who always seemed to accompany Kara, laughed in agreement.
    “You’ll see that man in a new light, Kara,” said Serus, who took his charge of Peter and his duty to keep him safe quite seriously. “He is a new man since the Lord’s glorious resurrection.”
    “There are no new men,” scoffed Kara. “Just the same old humans with the same flaws. They’ll succumb to their terminal failure as always.”
    Laughter erupted from the growing group of devils.
    “Just as you and your ilk do?” asked Crispin.
    Kara cursed the angel, as did those unholy spirits with him.
    As they spoke, angels from both camps began gathering around them. The unholy spirits had recovered from the initial fear that had sent them scurrying, and were beginning to reappear with boldness. Some of the holy angels saw the buildup of their enemy and began gathering around Crispin and Serus in support. Upon Michael’s arrival, a distinct look of fear came over Kara’s troop.
    “We’ll not fight you here,” said Kara, looking at the gathering Host and Michael in particular. “You needn’t fear us … yet.”
    “We’ll never fear you,” said Michael, glaring at the defiant, yet obviously fearful angels with Kara. “Or your master’s plan.” He indicated the scene being played out below them on the streets. “Nor will they.”
    Kara laughed.
    “We’ll see, Archangel,” he said. “These humans are weak and led by the weakest of all. Peter will fail as always. His actions will eventually betray him. And when he speaks, his words will fail him. It is his way.”
    “Then let us watch how he acts and speaks,” said Crispin, pointing to Peter, who was climbing on a pedestal to speak. “For he is about to do both!”

    Peter stood and raised his hands to speak, with the eleven other disciples standing with him. They looked at the crowd who had broken out in a mixture of harassing jibes and perplexing questions. Andrew watched his brother trying to get the people quiet. He could not help but recall how, only weeks before, this same man had cowered in the face of questioning by a young girl the night of Jesus’ betrayal. Now he stood before thousands to bear witness of the risen Christ he had denied.
    Peter, sensing an opening, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
    “Fellow Jews from various parts of the world and all of you who live in Jerusalem, I want to tell you what it is you are seeing!”
    He looked at a group of men who had been heckling from the side and smiled.
    “And no, these men are not drunk! Why it’s only nine in the morning! Much too early for drink!”
    The men laughed at Peter and waved him off. One man, a notable drunkard named Samuel, held up a small wine flask as if to drink it in Peter’s honor. Peter waved back in good humor.
    “Now listen carefully to what I say. It is not drink that is the cause of this great occasion. No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel!”

    “He is quoting Joel? Interesting.”
    As Peter spoke, a group of Pharisees, led by Zichri, one of Jesus’ harshest critics, moved in to listen. He was accompanied by Shallah, his aide, and several other priests of the Pharisees.
    “An unlearned man like that teaching from Joel,” said Shallah. “Absurd.”
    “Common fisherman,” chimed in another.
    Zichri looked around at the gathering crowd. The people were actually listening to this man—just as they had when Jesus spoke. He didn’t like this. “Stupid, unwashed people! Why are they so easily captivated?” he cursed.
    “His master once called us a brood of