Chapter 19

19
ESCORT SQUADRON, AMAZON DISTRICT, NAVY OF BRAZIL

Jorge's visit itself, if not the startling revelation of Jesus' origin, had brought the unchanging nature of daily life on the island to an abrupt stop. Everything, even the tiniest detail, which had represented the unquestioned order on this quiet, slow paced home for all the years of their lives now seemed upside down. As the afternoon turned to evening Jesus seemed to stand, looking out over the ocean. Moment by moment the sheer scale of the revelation made to Him seemed to become more and more real. There were the memories of His first life, still flooding into His mind. There were some other things, special things, which also came into Him.

Jorge had told them of their impending visit from the Brazilian Navy, but later he had reappeared with some more definite -- and disturbing -- news. News made all the more credible by the seemingly incessant helicopter flights overhead. The ships would arrive in the night. The men aboard them would probably wait for dawn before landing.

For years the skies over Paraneho had been filled with the echoing grunts of coastal birds punctuated by the fiery arguments and courtships of parrots high up in the trees. Now these noisy machines seem to coat the whole island with a rude shade. Jesus and Juan agreed that they could smell the engines a thousand feet above them.

Jorge said that the Navy would have already landed had it not been for the security force. He had spoken with the Commander of the squadron, agreeing to surrender the island and its inhabitants once face to face with a landing party, not marines rappelling down a rope armed to the teeth. Robeles must have known how to make something secure. A look at the men of the security group, now all around the clearing, suggested that they could be more than a passing adversary for a too eager naval commander.

He spent time with the people He loved. Whatever His organic relation with Jose and Maria, He had been raised by them in a family filled with love and caring far beyond any kind of contract made with Senor Robeles. Now that the charade was over, His mother cried and worried and fretted about Him. His father, Jose, seemed intent to give Him some sort of fatherly advice that had been missed in twenty-three years of fatherly advice.

Jose looked at Him with all the love possible between a good father and a good Son. "Always keep clean. I don't think You will be working very much, but even so, keep clean. Bathe everyday. And remember to be kind and polite to everyone."

Jesus felt the excitement of the events to come. He also felt the warm affection for His father of all these years mixed with the growing realization that the man had simply been performing a contract. The same held true with His mother. On the one hand, He could not have asked for better parents, caring, wise and warm. On the other He was gathering a growing understanding that they were not His parents at all. They were the equivalent of actors in a long play, unfolding over the two decades of this, His own life and the twenty centuries which had passed since His first life.

Resting in His hammock outside the hut during this long night, Jesus caught sight of movement at the edge of the clearing. It was Juan, motioning to Him. He rolled out of His swinging bed to land in practiced silence and moved without a sound across the clearing to His friend. 

"I'm too hot and too excited to sleep at all. Let's go swimming!" Juan whispered. Seeing the agreement in Jesus' eyes, he added, "I'll race You to the beach!"

Without answering Jesus bolted to the trail at maximum speed. Juan was right behind Him, trying not to laugh out loud until they were clear of the camp. The moonlight glistened on the sweaty backs of the muscular young men. Jesus would have won if the older youth hadn't tackled Him a few yards from the beach. Juan knocked Him down hard only to be tripped himself by Jesus' leg swinging forward. Without losing his pace, Juan pulled off his shorts, threw them in Jesus' face and rolled fast somersaults into the surf. Standing with his arms outstretched in mock victory, he cried, "See! Nothing is changed!" Juan wished with all his heart that it were true.

Jesus threw His own shorts back onto the beach and yelled, charging His friend who was now feigning an attempt to escape into deeper water. Juan wasn't fast enough and the younger Jesus plowed into his waist. The two naked youths both went into the ocean, gurgling laughter. Both swam far out into the ocean before turning back to the island.

Juan threw himself down on the sand. Jesus was on His knees catching His breath. "Juan, come with Me. I am not sure where I will go from here, but I would feel a lot better about it if you were with Me. I'm not afraid of what lies ahead, but having a friend nearby would mean a lot."

Juan stood up and then lifted Jesus by the arms. "Everyone is leaving the island as if it were something unpleasant. My mother and sister are going to Bellum

"I don't know how much money I have, but it will be plenty for two of us. We're both going into a strange land. Everything has changed for Me. Even important things inside My person, my memories, things I can do now. I feel like someone else. Having you around would help Me remember Who I have been. Maybe that can help Me remember Who I am." Jesus turned to embrace his friend.

The two of them stood naked in each other's arms on the deserted beach in the moonlight for a long time. It was the inevitable moment which it seems must always occur when young men face the prospect of parting company. The beach seemed silent even with the surf breaking just before them. Suddenly the night's solitude was broken by the scream of a lone parrot high above them. Almost as an answer to the bird's cry, Juan spoke. "I am going to Rio with You, Jesus. I feel like I belong at Your side and I know I want You at mine. How could I think of leaving You?"

The words drew up the past and rejoined the young men. Both felt the energy of each other as if they were twelve again, teasing Victoria or outwitting the sand crabs. Everything was better, yet it was still a moment when they both knew the impossible future would arrive at dawn. They spent the night together on the beach, looking out over the horizon, waiting for the navy.

And as it is the habit with navies even from times of old, it arrived. Jesus looked up with the first light and saw three huge gray ships at anchor. By international standards the Brazilian navy was little more than a coastal force. By Juan's and Jesus' standards the ships were incredible. Still unaccustomed to hurrying, they dressed after a last romp in the surf and headed back to the camp.

Jorge was waiting for them. He smiled. "Jesus, You must get ready to go with them. They will be here in a few minutes. I must go to the beach and surrender the island. It wouldn't do to have a gunfight."

A glance around the camp revealed Maria and Jose along with Juan's mother, Juanita. Juan's younger sister, Victoria, was just emerging from the house. Senor Robele's security men were everywhere, still protecting the island's inhabitants. Jesus and Juan stood virtually silent, with the group. All three women were crying. Juanita comforted Maria, holding her in the tight embrace that women know, an embrace stronger than war, famine or sickness.

Jesus kissed Maria tenderly. His affection for her and her husband -- her husband? -- could not have been greater, yet while just as passionate, it was changing. He already had begun to think of Maria and Jose as people other than His parents. He seemed unable to stop the sensation of the growing distance. He was filled with a new understanding of what effect new knowledge could have on Him. His thoughts drifted to the uncertain future, one undoubtedly filled with ever more new knowledge.

"Jesus, Jose and I are going to meet someone named Mr. Santos when we get to Bellum. He is going to take us along with Victoria and Juanita to Sao Paulo. Our work is finished here, and we are anxious to get on with our lives. You are going to be in the spotlight from now on. We are looking forward to a much quieter life. Jose said he will buy a ranch." Maria spoke with wet eyes.

Jose followed his wife in making goodbyes. "Jesus, we are very rich now and so are you -- so is Juan. This part of our lives is over. In fact I plan to buy a brand new truck, won't that be something? If You want to come live with us sometime in the future, we can surely work that out, but right now we would prefer that no one even knew about our relationship with You. I expect You to help us with that. We love You as a Son. We never knew what we were doing on this island any more than You did. Your mother and I are honored by You as our son, whatever You are, but it is time for You to find Your own way. We are glad that Juan has decided to go with You." Jose held Jesus by the shoulder as he spoke his good byes.

In only a moment Jorge walked back into the camp with a Brazilian naval officer and two soldiers. He motioned for his people to lay down their rifles. The officer approached Juan, "Are you Jesus?"

Juan did not answer, but looked over his shoulder at Jesus. The officer approached Him and asked again "Sir. Are You Jesus?"

Jesus looked into the man's eyes and answered calmly. "I am Jesus. I am ready to go with you."

Suddenly, Juan looked up, too. "I will accompany my friend. I am also ready to leave."

The officer was perplexed. "My orders are for only the one man. The other residents of the island will put out for Bellum on a second ship. We will take You directly to Rio De Janiero."

Jesus answered his uncertainty. "Surely there is room enough for one more on those great ships. I suspect I already have enough influence to make this request of you."

After a final round of hugs and tears, the two accompanied the officer down the path to the beach. A waiting launch carried them to the destroyer. They were shown to the officer quarters which they would share. The ship was underway immediately. The pair watched the island fade. It would be empty of everyone by now.

The other two ships remained on station at the north end of Paraneho. One had loaded Maria and Joseph along with Juanita and her daughter. The two dogs had finally been included, but the Brazilian captain drew the line at the chickens. Robele's security force had already left the island on their own launch to disappear back into the ranks of the Robele's business empire. Juan and Jesus could hear the big naval guns open fire on the island and the rock. There were to be no mementos, no relics. In a season there would be nothing but jungle.

An ensign knocked at the door of their quarters. He was holding two Brazilian navy uniforms, camouflage fatigues and combat boots. "Please wear these when you join the Captain at officer's mess this evening. I will call for you at 19:00."