Having renewed the conviction of her decisions, she returned to the matters at hand. “Speaking of wolves,” she said, facing Anna head-on, “did Sister Joan not ask you to stand guard over us in her absence?”

Anna leapt to her feet. “Yes, Mother Susana, she did. Thank you for reminding me!” she said.

Susana smiled. “And thank you for speaking with me today. Your particular wisdom never ceases to refresh.”

Anna nodded, though she could not imagine how anything she might say could impress Mother Susana. Still, it made her feel happy to think it possible.

CHAPTER 27

Somewhere within The Narrows outside ancient Palestine—33 A.D.

As the days following Joan and Shereen’s departure passed, the routine within the caves returned to normal. From her perch, Anna watched the sheep spread on the dark valley floor. A gentle breeze lifted their musky scent to her nose.

In the quiet, she listened for the voices of predators but heard none. She found a reference point on the horizon and scanned the desert, methodically sweeping her gaze. She anticipated sighting the lone figure of Sister Joan, but so far had seen nothing.

Her return was not expected for several more days.

The lizard squirmed inside the cup of Anna’s hands. She had found the bright green specimen sunning on the rocks. Taking a break from her morning watch, she brought the animal into the central chamber to show Tabitha, who she knew had a passion for the creatures.

“Oh!” Tabitha cried with delight as the tiny green beast sauntered up her arm and nestled on her shoulder.

Mother Susana and Sister Ruth sat over a fire, letting the flames ease the morning chill from their bones. Susana seemed genuinely tranquil and undistracted by her recent worries. They all laughed when the lizard perched on top of Tabitha’s head.

Ruth lifted the pot of water from the coals to fill everyone’s cups with tea, but her pour cut off midstream. A guttural sound, like a deep groan, rolled down the cave from the front entrance. Mother Susana’s eyes snapped into Ruth’s. No one moved. The groan rose again. It did not sound human. It lifted the hairs along their arms. They heard a great crash and the chamber floor shook beneath them. Tabitha was knocked from her feet. The lizard scampered through a crack in the wall.

Anna looked to Ruth, “What was that?” she whispered.

Ruth lifted a finger to her mouth. “Shh!” she warned.

Mother Susana listened with an air of extreme calm. As if she knew what was coming. But Anna did not feel so calm.

The sound of falling rocks echoed through the chamber. The groan grew louder.

Sister Ruth barely had time to lift Tabitha before a different sound pummeled their ears. At first Anna had trouble recognizing the strange utterances. But her body soon remembered.

They were the voices of men.