1981

First, the Roman governor, Dionysus, began to notice the beautiful handiwork of Thaddai's pottery, and of Thaddai himself.  His work did outshine by far his father's, and the governor sent his servants to our home to see and purchase his finest work.  But that wasn't all.  Dionysus commanded an audience with Thaddai.  I accompanied him.  In the hall of meetings we stood before him, a man nearing fifty, lean, still handsome, his greying hair already thinning.  He wanted to know who I was.  I simply said that I was a saddle maker of humble provenance.  It was a stroke of divine wisdom that I came with Thaddai, for it was clear to my eye that the governor had designs on him for his bed.  He introduced me as his kinsman, and protector  There was something very serpentine about the governor's eyes as he glared first at one then the other, as though he were in the flesh market struggling to choose between two savoury hams.  Then he asked Thaddai to remain behind.  He of course refused, and the governor consented with great affected courtesy.  We descended the steps from his palace, both of us shaken to our very sandals.