“But, Cornelius,” Claudia interposed, “Tullia, too, has just come from the tomb. She was there with Mary of Magdala and Joanna and some other followers of the Galilean.”
“I didn’t see them....”
“They got there just after you left. They saw you at the city gate as you were coming away, she said. But Mary of Magdala saw the Galilean and talked with him.” She shrugged. “Or at any rate that’s what she told Tullia.”
The centurion’s amazement was not feigned. “Then where did he go? Where is he now?”
“According to Tullia, he told Mary that he was going down to Galilee. He said he would meet his band there.”
“Then we may come upon him somewhere, beside the sea with the fishermen or maybe in Capernaum.”
“But, Cornelius”—Claudia’s expression betrayed a sudden apprehension—“how would he receive Longinus?”
“In a spirit of forgiveness, I hope ... and believe. It was really not Longinus who did it. The guilt was Herod’s and Pilate’s ... and, of course, even more, the High Priest’s.”
“Cornelius, does Pilate know ... about the empty tomb, I mean?”
“Yes, Claudia. I reported to him first, before I started to look for Longinus. He was still in his bedchamber.”