The Elder
“Elder!” Three young men called out after dragging their small wooden craft onto the shore. The old man, the one known to them only as elder, sat at the front of a cave. He was feeding twigs to a small fire. As the three men approached, he looked up and smiled. “We are friends of Lydia,” one of the three said. “She sends her greetings.” “Lydia, sweet Lydia,” the old man said with a sing-song rhythm. “She said you would give us audience.” The old man’s attention returned to the fire. He laid a couple dried twigs over the glowing embers. “I had considered allowing the coals to cool. But now I see that I have company. Join me. I have some bread.” The three men gathered around the meager smoldering pile of ash. The elder presented a Barley loaf. He tore chunks off it and handed a piece to each of his visitors. “We did not come to eat your food,” the man who spoke of Lydia said. He wore a beard, and had a shawl pulle...