Judas Iscariot, His Life and Times

eBOOK 4- SUSPICIONS, LIES, AND BROKEN HEARTSSiblings Judas, Maai, and Haman live busy lives, worlds apart, even though Palestine is not that large. Maai lives and heals her patients in a tiny oasis. The only time she leaves is when supplies run low. In Jerusalem, Maai buys the needed medical items and has the opportunity to spend time with the one she loves. Haman has never been busier. The Zealots have zeroed in on traders, defined as any Jewish male doing business with the Romans. Due to a crumbling economy, people who would not have ordinarily chosen to trade with the Romans find themselves doing so. But, for the Zealots, trade equals death. Judas is also very busy as work in the caravan business is nonstop. He loves the travel, the people, his finesse at cheating the Romans out of the taxes at city gates and toll roads and bridges. Then he receives an exciting invitation to help do inventory in Jerusalem with the guilds. Then comes the surprise invitation to study a couple of scrolls in the Chamber of Scribes at the Temple to help find a counting error. A second big surprise occurs when Judas has the opportunity to hear John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth speak at the request of the Essene monks in the Dead Sea Qumran complex. Chapters include the Matron Fulvia Scandal, a Disgusting 'Incident' in the Temple Complex, the Yom Kippur Temple service with sacrificing the scapegoats, and a Roman attack on Maai's healing clinic. When Haman, Maai, and Judas meet at the clinic, what should be a joyous occasion of siblings having that rare opportunity to once again be in one another's company turns instead into a meeting of horrific consequences. To say anything else about the following seven chapters would take away from the dramatic surprises awaiting you. So just let me say, as your author, you do not want to miss what happens when brother and sister, Judas and Maai, fall in love with two extraordinarily diverse people. Happy endings for them both? I think not. Not in first-century Palestine. Not in the Land where Jesus walked, spreading His message of love in the turmoil of pure hatred.