“Matthias,” he said, using my name for the first time and with much less rancor in his tenor voice, “Joseph tells me that you are a close friend of Vitellius. Because I have great respect for my honored legate in Antioch, I will cooperate with you, as much as my memory allows, despite my distaste for that entire Jesus affair. Proceed with your questions.”

“Thank you. When did you first become aware of Jesus? Was it on that night when Caiaphas came to you for soldiers to assist him and his guard in making the arrest?”

Pilate refilled his goblet, drained it slowly, and slouched back on the low couch, his eyelids drooping. “My friend, I have already managed to survive in this pesthole for ten years, policing the most difficult and unbending people on the face of our earth. I could not have done so without loyal and well-paid agents throughout the land, even in those provinces not under my jurisdiction. I knew about Jesus almost as soon as he began preaching in that village near the lake … what is it? … Yes, yes, Capernaum. I was kept constantly informed of his so-called miracles and his inflammatory discourses to the people and fully expected that Herod Antipas would put an end to his activities while he was still in Galilee, just as he had done with that one called ‘the Baptist.’ Then I was told that Jesus had allegedly raised a dead man from his grave in nearby Bethany, and I knew we would have our confrontation before long.”

“You intended to arrest him at the first provocation?”

“Certainly. Anyone who dares to incite the people under my jurisdiction with promises of a new kingdom is clearly committing an act of sedition against Rome. From the time of Augustus, there has been only one punishment for that crime—death!”

“Then there’s something I don’t understand, sir. Five days before Jesus was crucified, I have been told that he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey accompanied by many of his followers, who created a great disturbance along the way by laying their cloaks and palm branches in his path as if he were royalty while the crowds going up to the city acclaimed him. Why didn’t you arrest him immediately, for inciting the people?”

Pilate’s face was blank. “Your information regarding such a grandiose entry into the city must have been supplied by his own followers, who never hesitate to magnify every event in his life far out of its proper proportions. Had there been any disturbance, beyond the normal expected from pilgrims coming from the north, I would certainly have known about it and taken the proper steps to subdue it. I do remember being told that Jesus had entered the Temple, and hoping that I might get a glimpse of this man of wonders I climbed our southeast tower, which overlooks the Temple courtyard, in order to see him. He did not disappoint me, I must say. With a few dozen followers at his back, he entered the yard and immediately began tipping over the tables of the moneychangers. Then he drove them off with a whip of some kind and returned to smash countless cages until the sky was filled with doves. There was great havoc among the people, but to my surprise none of the guards moved to arrest him. As I watched, one of my officers came to me and said he was dispatching his men immediately, to seize the offender before a riot broke out. I stopped him.”