“I am sorry … that I left you …” Peter began, but could not finish.

When Jesus said nothing, Peter gathered himself and whispered, “What happened out there? We heard the wolves—”

“Cut the meat into small chunks,” Jesus told him. He did not wish to speak of the dark. Or the wolves. Instead, he wanted to appease the men’s hunger so they would leave him, and his lamb, alone.

Ashamed, Peter nodded and turned to his task.

Taking a deep breath, Jesus let his mind return to his childhood. To preparing meals with his mother. His hands began to move with the memory. No longer thinking, he filled a pot with water and set about boiling all the leftovers they had—bones, browned vegetables, a handful of rice, fruit rinds. When the broth boiled, he added the chunks of meat and cooked them until they were tender.

Peter watched and was amazed.

The men smacked their lips as they circled the fire, feasting on the thick stew. Later, their bellies satisfied, they cheered Jesus. “He has fed the masses with a single loaf of bread!” they joked. Drunk with satisfaction, no one thought to ask how he had learned to prepare a meal.

Solomon noted the sand and sweat caking the boy’s arms and legs. “Come with me,” he said, getting to his feet. “I know a small spring where you can bathe.” When Jesus hesitated, he added, “You may bring the lamb.”

Jesus held still as Solomon poured ladles of water over his head and scrubbed his limbs with a cloth. He wondered if the elder shepherd thought it strange that he did not disrobe. But if Solomon did, he did not show it.

Solomon took a deep breath. “Tonight you faced grave adversity,” he said, “and I feel certain you fought bravely.”

Jesus looked up. Awash with pride.

Solomon continued to scrub him. “But, my brother, there was no need to fight.”

Jesus’s mouth fell open in disbelief. In anger. “But the wolves … I had to stop them—!” he began to protest.

Solomon shook his head. “You had to stop them because you did not seek to understand them.”

Jesus frowned.

He had saved the lamb’s life! And brought back the ewe!

Why now did he suddenly feel chastised?

“I do not understand,” he grumbled.

Undeterred by the young shepherd’s resistance, Solomon went on. “Wolves are powerful creatures,” he said. “They therefore respect power.”

“But that is why I fought!”

“No. You fought because you were at their mercy.”

At his words, Jesus recalled the terrifying confrontation—the closing circle, the ferocious snarls, the snapping teeth. He had been lucky to escape.

His tunic drenched, Jesus began to shiver.

Solomon handed him a dry cloth. “I have a powerful secret to share with you,” he said. “A shepherd’s secret.”

Jesus wrapped himself in the cloth and kept silent.