The Soldier's Dog: An Easter Story (Chatper 2)

(The Scene Shifts from the Dog’s Point of View to Another’s)

The cold air swirled in the dark recesses of the abandoned temple to Baal.   A dark form bowed before a cob-webbed alter of stone.   It shifted its position and turned to receive a young demon that approached to give report to his master.   The young demon bowed, placing his forehead on the ground at the feet of his master.

“Rise” commanded the master in a cold unfeeling voice.  “What say you, Slugblood?”

Slugblood stood as straight as possible and gave his report:  “Master, my colleagues and I have isolated a weak minded man who lives among those that follow the Son of Man.  We worked on him non-stop for the past several months, filling his mind with jealous thoughts and nurturing his sense of pride.  We kept him isolated from the others so he would fester on our suggestions into his subconscious.  I remember on one occas —

“ENOUGH!” roared the head demon.  “Make your point.”

The young demon trembled and bowed his head in subordinance.  “Yes, master, forgive me my rambles.”  Then he continued.  “Recently the pride and envy of the one they call Judas Iscariot has led him to finally betray the Son of Man.  He met with some of the Jewish leaders, the ones that are under our control, at the home of Caiaphas and he struck a deal with them.  For the price of 30 pieces of silver---no more than the cost of a common worthless slave, Judas Iscariot has agreed to hand over the Son of Man.  He will be arrested by roman soldiers and then---“

“Arrested?!” The master demon snarled.  “That is not enough.  Our Father wants the Son of Man dead, nothing less will do!”

The young demon smiled pridefully.  “Yes, master!  And our best demons are on that as we speak!  The demon treating Pontius Pilate is awaiting your instruction for when the Son of Man is brought before him.”

And for the first time that day the Master Demon smiled a wicked, demonic smile.  Blood red flashed across his eyes as he savored the thoughts of what he could do now that the Son of Man was practically in his very own possession.


*****

The dog laid in his ramshackle kennel alongside the other dogs of war.  He was dreaming of the man that had ridden the donkey into the city.  In his dreams he was attacking the man, bloodying him, ripping flesh from his legs and arms.   He could taste the blood and smell the fear of this man.  But suddenly, at that moment, the dream shifted.  The face of the man hovered above him, surrounded by a bright glowing light.  The man smiled in a tender loving way to the dog.  This startled the dog so greatly he awoke suddenly.  He growled and looked around for the glowing face.  But it was not there. He was alone in his kennel, surrounded by other sleeping dogs.

As he was about to settle back into his sleep he heard a commotion brewing in the distance.  The other dogs roused from their sleep because of the noise.  The chaos grew louder and the dogs jumped to their feet, tails wagging.  It was the soldiers, several of them.  The dogs began to jump up and down in their kennels, barking in their growing excitement.  Something was happening----something big.  

Several masters including his own opened kennels and leashed their dogs of war.  The dogs bolted, straining against the leash in excitement.  Was this to be a man hunt where they hunted and killed their quarry?  Was there a bloody battle brewing?   Did the rebels finally lose their senses and try to attack the mighty Romans?    Any of the scenarios would please this dog and he pulled harder against his leash.