Pearl

About the Book

THE DARKNESS

In the reign of Augustus a young murderer, Marcus Capito, joins thelegions and is sent to Exile, a Jewish settlement in Galilee where he becomes a centurian. In Exile is young Jew Yeshua. At twelve he meets Niomi and negotiates a future betrothal. Later he builds a house for a much-travelled merchant who puts doubts about his religion into his mind. Niomi is declared a leper. Is disturbs Yeshua's mind and, after a confrontation with his father, he leaves for Jerusalem, denying his religion.

THE LIGHT

Years have passed. Marcus is posted to Jerusalem. A wounded rebel, Bar Abbas, asks Yeshua for help. He goes for Yohanan, a healer. The three, though from different persuasions, become friends. Marcus, through ambition, embraces Mithraism and embarks upon the eighty trials demanded. The last trial is the journey, sixty miles across the desert without food or water, where he imagines that he sees the face of Mithras. Pontius Pilatus, the new Procurator of Judeae, causes the images of Caeser to be brought into Jerusalem in contradiction of Jewish law. Five thousand people, led by High Priest Caiphas, gather in Ceasarea to speak with Pilatus. For six days they prostrate themselves. Many die. Pilatus sends soldiers with drawn swords. The Jews kneel and bare their necks. Pilatus admits defeat. Yeshua's father is killed by Romans. Yeshua joins Bar Abbas. Marcus makes a further waterless desert journey of 100 miles where he, in some mystery, becomes Mithras, his son and spirit. Recovering from the journey, contemplating what to do with his life, he is sent to the camp of Bar Abbas where, in a fight, he is on the point of killing Yeshua when he sees the point of greatest contingency, and kills himself. Yeshua (Jesus) embraces Judaism again and goes to meet Yohannan, now a baptist, at the Jordan.

About the Author

Ted Edwards was a soldier, teacher, miner, pilot, steel-man, artist, actor, dramatist and film-maker, and is an author, singer/songwriter, poet, musician, philosopher, theologian, cartoonist, explorer and failed cosmonaut. He was the first to cross the Empty Quarter of the Sahara with two camels for company and was the first person to cross Iceland solo. His musical works can be seen in various LPs and CDs by top singers of folk music and in schools throughout the land.