Peter nodded again. “It is true. I did not take that into account.” Again, he glanced behind him, as if fearing they had been overheard. “What will I do?” he whispered.

“You will have to tell Solomon, of course!” Jesus said, shaken from his listlessness.

Peter shook his head. “I cannot. He will be furious. And the others, too!”

Jesus hopped to his feet. “Then I will tell him,” he said. He saw a look of dejection crossing his friend’s face. Jesus slapped him on the back. “Do not worry. It is not your fault. And Solomon will know what to do.”

Peter glanced up. His features lightened. “Thank you, brother,” he said. “I owe you.”

Jesus laughed. “That is not the half of what you owe me!” he joked, then threw back the tent flap and stepped into the day.

Jesus found Solomon standing atop a buttress of stone, gazing northward toward the distant ripple of mountains. When he approached, the elder shepherd flinched, as if taken by surprise. Jesus noticed his reaction. Normally it would not be possible to startle Solomon, so keen were his senses, so open his attention.

“I am sorry, I did not mean—”

Solomon shook his head as if to clear a disturbing thought. He lifted a hand. “Do not apologize,” he said. “I was lost in thought. That is all.”

Jesus nodded. He looked up at his leader and noted the odd and far-off expression hazing his features.

“You came to ask a question?” Solomon said.

Jesus started. “Uh, yes,” he said. “Well … no.” He felt Solomon’s gaze upon him. Usually the older shepherd’s attention felt soothing, but, for whatever reason, in that moment it felt as if Solomon was taking stock of him. The young shepherd drew a slow breath. “We have nearly come to the end of our food supply,” he said.

Solomon’s gaze narrowed as if he had not understood. When he said nothing, Jesus tried again.

“Peter showed me the last of the lentils—”

“Yes,” Solomon said, cutting him off. Laying a hand on the young shepherd’s shoulder, he said, “Tell the men to gather.”

Back at camp, the men circled the fire, waiting for Solomon. Peter took Jesus aside and asked how their leader had taken the news. Jesus only shrugged, for truly he did not know.

When Solomon approached, his step was quick. In his arms he carried his staff, two sacks of wool, and a goatskin rounded with water. The men looked from one to the other. For what was he preparing?

“Brothers, now that the ewes have reached the end of their milk cycle, we need more provisions to sustain our journey. I know of a village to the north where I can trade our wool for dried fish, cheese, and lentils. I will depart immediately and will return in no more than eight days.”