nic shook Peter deeply. "Then you do believe that the scribes
and Pharisees are right, Andrew?" But his brother would not answer.

"Do you think that the Master's power comes from Satan?" Peter asked
again.

Andrew sat down heavily on a rock at the side of the road and buried his
face in his hands. Peter could hear him breathing hard as he murmured,
"Oh, I cannot escape from him--but I cannot understand him!"

The other disciples had disappeared into the woods on the opposite edge
of the open glade. Their footsteps quickly died away. The silence of the
murky forest settled around the two fishermen. Tears came through
Andrew's fingers, but he made no sound. He did not observe that they
were alone.

"Come, brother," Peter urged anxiously, "we must hurry. The others are
getting ahead of us. This forest is dangerous after dark."

Peter was greatly relieved when he and Andrew finally caught up with the
others. A half hour later the men emerged from the forest and climbed
the slope that enclosed the basin of the Jordan on the eastern side of
the river. Their sandals were wet from fording the river, but they
hardly noticed it, so relieved were they to be once again in open
country.

It was almost totally dark now. Only dimly could they make out the bulk
of Mount Hermon rising directly ahead of them, hiding the evening star.
Jesus led the tired men to an inn.

"He must have intended to lead us here," exclaimed John, catching sight
of the faint glimmer of a lamp in the courtyard of the building. He,
Peter, and James stayed in a single tiny room.

"This has been a hard day," remarked James wearily, stretching out on
the bed.

"I do not believe we shall leave Galilee again until we go to
Jerusalem," observed Peter.

"I wish we knew what would happen there," remarked John. "Do you think
he will really be killed?"

"You know what Andrew says," replied Peter, avoiding a direct answer.

"I cannot believe that the Master is just discouraged," stated James
flatly. "That is not like him."

Peter nodded his agreement. He thought of how Andrew was inwardly torn.
"I cannot escape from him--but I cannot understand him!" he had said.
James blew out the oil lamp. The men settled themselves for the night.
Peter spoke. "If we follow him to Jerusalem, we must be ready to suffer
with him. We must not doubt."

"Tell me, Simon Peter, how can the Messiah of God die?" asked James.

The fishermen heard Peter sigh. "How it can be ...