“The night air was cold, so we built a fire with some dead limbs that had been piled against one of the olive trees in the garden. I then assigned the hours of guard duty to my men, taking the third watch myself. Soon after the first took up his position, near the tomb, the others and myself were asleep under blankets, near the fire. Because of Passover we had already served long hours that day, in the Temple, and all of us were weary.”

“From what Caiaphas has told me, apparently nothing happened out of the ordinary during the first two watches.”

“That is correct.”

“When your time came, did you take your scheduled turn?”

Shobi glared at me, and the blood rushing to his scowling face made his two scars all the more vivid by their contrast. “I did not earn my reputation for integrity and fairness by asking those under my supervision to perform duties that I would not do! I took up my place next to the tomb, prepared to serve my four hours just as the others had done.”

“But something happened to cut short your watch.”

“I shall never forget it!”

“Tell me.”

“I had been standing watch for perhaps an hour when I heard a strange sound, a moaning of some kind. At first I thought it was an animal in the bushes or one of the sleeping guards having a dream, but as I walked back and forth in front of the tomb, the moaning seemed to be coming from inside! After a while it subsided and I put it out of my mind, thinking that it had been only my imagination or the wind. Then I heard it again, louder, sounding like someone crying out in pain. I ran to the fire, removed a burning branch to use as a torch, and searched in the vicinity of the sepulchre, looking for an animal or even a human who might be injured. I saw nothing. The noise continued, growing louder and louder until there was no doubt that it was coming from inside the tomb. I remember thinking that perhaps the man who had been buried, Jesus, was not dead. Now and then such a thing is known to happen. I leaned against the great stone, my ear against its side, listening, and then the ground shook, but only for a moment.”

“Did the shaking disturb the stone—break the seals?”

“No. Nor did it awaken the three who were sleeping. Then I saw that our fire was in need of more wood, and I had started toward it when I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. I turned quickly, removed my dagger from its sheath, and assumed the battle crouch. Walking toward me was a man, and he appeared to be naked!”

“How far were you from the tomb when you first saw him?”

“No more than ten paces.”

“Was he between you and the tomb?”

“Directly.”

“And was the stone still in its proper position?”