text: [Themes: religious]
  
  > look around
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...a terrible snob, but you won't find a more honest man...."
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about Lazarus
  "Wasn't he one of the potential candidates for the position of High Priest? I hear his health isn't very good."
  
  > look at the bridesmaid
  You recognise her as one of the bridesmaids who'd been arranged for the wedding. She wasn't actually at the wedding, though: Clopas was running a little late, and a bunch of the bridesmaids, including this one, had to run off to the market to replenish the oil in their lamps when he finally arrived. These bridesmaids missed the wedding altogether as a result, and you thought they'd all gone home. Apparently one of them, at least, is still hanging around.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...a pound of flesh, of all things, but then the other gentile's wife pointed out that...."
  
  > ask the bridesmaid about the bride
  You think you detect a hint of bitterness in the bridesmaid's tone as she says, "Mary? She's quite radiant tonight, isn't she?"
  
  > Go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  The lamps are brightest here, where the main table overlooks the crush of wedding guests to the north and northwest. The family's main sleeping quarters are beyond, to the south, but no-one has any business going there.
  
  The happy couple sit here, accepting congratulations and well wishes, and occasionally exchanging shy glances as if they'd only just met.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  Mary, the bride, is about to take a sip from her cup when a guest comes up to offer her congratulations. Mary puts down her cup to thank the guest and promptly forgets about it.
  
  > examine Mary
  Mary, the bride, looks absolutely radiant, if a little thirsty. She's been so busy receiving everyone's congratulations that she hasn't been able to take more than a sip from the cup that Amos poured for her, hours ago.
  
  > get the cup
  You don't really want to draw any attention to that, under the circumstances.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...of course no-one likes a tax-collector, but what can you do? At least he's...."
  
  > Go northwest
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a guilty conscience.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  > Go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...so the diplomat grabbed the elephant's ear, and...."
  
  > look at the guests
  You've identified a number of women who might be Mary of Nazareth.
  That is about all you can say.
  
  > go to the west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The guests gather in clumps along the western periphery of the courtyard, under the glow of the hanging lamps. Of particular note is the more scholarly crowd, milling about restlessly since the departure of the Rabbi. The rest of the courtyard is to east and southeast.
  
  Mary of Bethany hovers on the periphery, largely ignored by the learned men.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Lazarus of Bethany here.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...down on the Jordan. Surprised to see him here at all, though of course he's disappeared...."
  
  > ask Joshua about Mary
  (Mary of Bethany)
  "A lot of people would do well to learn from her."
  
  > ask Joshua about the joseph
  Joshua doesn't seem to have much to say about that.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...in the middle of winter.
  Anyway, she was lost and...."
  
  > ask Joshua about Mary of the nazareth
  "She's my mother. Obviously I wouldn't say or do anything but that which would honour her."
  
  > examine Joshua
  You don't know the guy very well. Most of the guests are relative strangers, and this one is stranger than most: he's supposed to be a carpenter, or so you've heard, but apparently he was already teaching the priests and the Levites their own craft when he was ten. Which makes you kind of glad that you didn't know him way back then.
  
  > ask Anna about Mary of the nazareth
  "Mary is a really common name, isn't it? I know half of the women in the crowd are named Mary, and I can point them out, too."
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...must be starving! So I left a platter of her favourite sweetmeats...."
  
  > ask Lazarus about Mary of the nazareth
  "Joshua's mother? We actually weren't sure if she would come, you know. But Martha convinced her to put away her widow's weeds and put on a nice, blue dress, and she's somewhere about."
  
  Putting together all the information you've gathered, you think you could probably now pick the right Mary out of the crowd.
  
  > look at the guests
  Following the clues you've gathered, you manage to identify one of the women hovering around the courtyard as Mary of Nazareth, mother of Joshua.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Mary of Nazareth here.
  
  > ask Mary of the nazareth about Joshua
  "I am truly blessed to have such a son," she says. She sounds like she means that, too, and yet the words seem to trouble her.
  
  You hear the guests chattering on: "...a pound of flesh, of all things, but then the other gentile's wife pointed out that...."
  
  > tell Mary about the wine
  You tell Mary of Nazareth how you've almost run out of wine and how it has been suggested that her son might be able to help but that he doesn't seem interested in doing so. "Let me have a word with him," she says.
  
  Mary pulls her son aside and repeats to him what you've told her about the wine shortage. He glances at you and tells her what he told you, that it's really not his problem, adding a cryptic phrase, that his "hour has not yet come."
  
  Mary seems unperturbed. She simply turns to you and says, "do whatever he tells you to."
  
  You glance over to Joshua. For a moment it looks like you're back where you began, and then he quietly says to you: "All right. You know those large water jars in the entryway alcove? Fill them all with water, up to the brim."
  
  > go south
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Little Orphan Anna, Joshua and Mary of Nazareth here.
  
  > go northeast
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an Egyptian plague.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go to the east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like the too-long hem of an over-sized robe.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go east
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a lost sheep.
  
  You are standing beside the village well, a large stone structure with a heavy wooden cover to keep people and wandering animals from falling in. Off to the west is the road to town, and beyond that is the house and the wedding. Fields stretch out in all other directions.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > open well
  (the village well)
  You heave the wooden cover aside.
  
  > fill the bucket
  You lower the bucket into the well and heave it up full of water. Oof, it's heavy; you put down the bucket and pause to catch your breath.
  
  > Close well
  (the village well)
  You carefully reposition the cover over the well.
  
  > Go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like an annoying following thing that follows.
  
  The road to town stretches off to the south, and the house is back to the west. The dust has finally settled from the arrival of guests, and, compared to the noisy hubbub back in the courtyard, the street is blissfully quiet. It's probably even more quiet by the village well, across the street to the east.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > go west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a red-headed shadow.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  > fill the jars
  You pour the water into one of the jars. It isn't quite full to the top, and there are five more to go....
  
  There's really no need to describe the tedious task of refilling the jars of water. Suffice it to say that you make several trips to and from the well, with Little Anna constantly hounding at your heels. At last, you have five of the jars filled to the brim; one more bucket of water, and you should be done....
  
  You are standing beside the village well, a large stone structure with a heavy wooden cover to keep people and wandering animals from falling in. Off to the west is the road to town, and beyond that is the house and the wedding. Fields stretch out in all other directions.
  
  You're exhausted. But one more bucket should do the trick.
  
  > open well
  (the village well)
  You heave the wooden cover aside.
  
  > fill the bucket
  You lower the bucket into the well and heave it up full of water. Oof, it's heavy; you put down the bucket and pause to catch your breath.
  
  > take Anna
  You reach instinctively for Anna, but hesitate for a split-second. Sure, she's only an orphan and she's been nothing but a pest, but ... on the other hand, Mary of Nazareth did say to do exactly what Joshua told you, and Joshua -- who must be some sort of prophet along the lines of Elijah or Elisha if John is to be believed -- said to fill the jars to the brim, and if you lose the bucket.... What do you do?
  
  > take Anna
  You catch hold of Anna's arm as she goes over the edge, and pull her back to safety. For a moment, you both sit there, a little shocked at what's happened. "Thank you," Anna says, weakly. "I ... I'm sorry about the bucket. Maybe Joshua won't mind that one of the jars isn't quite full?"
  
  > look in well
  (the village well)
  You can't see into the well with the cover covering it!
  
  > look in well
  (the village well)
  The water seems dark and cold, at least from out here.
  
  > enter well
  (the village well)
  It's cold and dark and wet and you're just asking for trouble, aren't you?
  
  > Close well
  (the village well)
  You carefully reposition the cover over the well.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a tray of bikkies
  a wine jug
  
  > go to the west
  Rather annoyingly, Anna trails along behind you like a little lost puppy.
  
  This oddly-shaped room is the house's main entryway. The street is out to the east, and the courtyard is to the southwest. In addition, a narrow passage leads north to an enclosed garden.
  
  Most of the oddity of the room's shape comes from the placement of an alcove, situated just so, to inconvenience any invading evil spirits.
  
  You can see Little Orphan Anna here.
  
  Joshua strolls into the entryway. "Ah, I see the jars all filled up?"
  
  You shake your head and mumble something about losing the bucket, as Little Anna begins a long-winded account of what happened at the well. Joshua looks a little bemused, and gestures for you both to settle down. "Please," he says, "how much of a stickler do you think I am, over these trivialities?" Producing a ladle which he must have swiped from the kitchen while you were busy hauling water, he draws out a bit of the water from the nearest jar and hands the ladle to you. "Here, let Amos have a taste of this and see what he thinks."
  
  Thankfully, Little Anna seems to have decided she can be of more "use" pleading your case to Joshua than following you around.
  
  > go to the south-west
  The kitchen is dim and smoky and cluttered, the result of the chaos of preparing for the wedding, currently underway in the courtyard to the south. In the northeast corner, the door to the garden stands wide open, in the hopes of letting in some cool air. Down some steps to the west is the winery.
  
  You can see Amos here.
  
  > give the ladle to Amos
  You hand the ladle over to Amos, uncomfortably aware that you've got to be playing part of a very sick joke here. Amos, all unaware and curious, takes a sip. His brow shoots up and, amazingly, he takes another sip. Before you know it, he's gone and drunk down half the ladle. "Micah," he gasps, incredulous, "where'd you get this? This is the good stuff ... Clopas has been holding out on us!"
  
  What? Amos offers the ladle to you, and you hesitantly take a sip ... and it is the best wine you've ever been lucky enough to taste. "It's perfect," Amos says exultantly, "the aroma! The bouquet! Even the way it sits at the bottom of the ladle, weighting it in a way that demonstrates the absolute perfection of its design! I must tell Clopas!" And with that, Amos hurries off.
  
  > Go south
  You'd better go see about the rest of those jars of ... water? Wine? Whatever it is, you've got to go see.
  
  The courtyard is a large and spacious place, but the crush of wedding guests makes it seem a lot smaller. Off to the west, the guests gather in smaller, tighter groups under the hanging lamps, and you can see the bridal table to the south. You could retreat north to the kitchen (not that that would be any better) or northeast to the entryway. The bridal chamber is to the east, its doorway screened by an elaborate curtain.
  
  You can see the bridesmaid, the one you rescued from the ancient mariner, mingling with the guests.
  
  You can also see Mary of Nazareth here.
  
  You can see a bit of excitement off to the south, where Amos is waxing lyrical over the sheer perfection of the wine. A job well done, you think, smiling in satisfaction. You don't notice Joshua until he is right behind you. "Micah?" he says, and it occurs to you that you never told him your name. "Micah, where is John ben Zechariah?"
  
  "I don't know ... I'm not his keeper," you stammer, recognising only too late the parallel with Cain's answer to a similar question about Abel.
  
  There is an uncomfortable pause. Then Joshua says, "John would have been arrested sooner or later, that is true. But all the same ... you disappoint me, Micah."
  
  He pauses, waiting for you to respond, but all you can do is hang your head in shame. Sighing, Joshua turns to join the feast.
  
  Three years later...
  
  You've been out of Clopas's service for a while now. After he found out that you'd let a bunch of soldiers -- unclean soldiers, Herod's soldiers -- into his house, there wasn't much possibility of you staying with him. Since then, you've rattled from master to master, and the rise of Joshua's fame has only served to remind you of your guilt over those events at Clopas's wedding.
  
  Joshua was executed a few days ago; you know that Clopas had high hopes for the man, so he must be quite devastated at this turn of events. It is while musing over this that you catch sight, out of the corner of your eye, of a flash of red hair vanishing behind the lone tree in the middle of the field. For a moment, you think, could it be Little Anna? Before you know it, you find yourself in the middle of the field, under the tree. Little Anna is nowhere in sight.
  
  This field isn't much to look at. There's a tall tree, more dead than alive; there are some rocks and a lot of clay. The road is off to the south, and a small stream is to the west.
  
  > examine the tree
  More dead than alive, the tree looks like dead hand clawing at the sky.
  
  You hear a nasty snapping sound from above, and duck aside just in time. A red-headed man lands on the rocks right beside you with a sound you'd rather not ever hear again. An attempted suicide, if the broken noose about his neck is anything to go by. With a start, you recognise him as Judas Iscariot, one of Joshua's friends. Has Joshua's execution really affected him that badly?
  
  > examine Judas
  You don't know all of Joshua's particular group of friends, but Judas always stood out because of his red hair. As you peer closely at him, his eyelids flutter open. He's still alive! Although, judging by the fall, he's not likely to be alive for much longer.
  
  Judas's voice is a hoarse whisper. "Water. Please."
  
  > Go south
  This is all really too much. Maybe it's best if you just get as far away from here as you can, as quickly as you can.
  
  > Go west
  The grasses grow a little higher here, and nearly hide a small stream that trickles past on its way to greener pastures. The field is back to the east; everywhere else is unfamiliar territory.
  
  > get the water
  You scoop up a bit of water in your hands. It begins to trickle out between your fingers.
  
  > go east
  This field isn't much to look at. There's a tall tree, more dead than alive; there are some rocks and a lot of clay. The road is off to the south, and a small stream is to the west.
  
  Judas lies sprawled among the rocks.
  
  > give the water to Judas
  Judas takes a sip and closes his eyes. He is very still, and for a moment you think he's dead, and then you hear him go on: "I have sinned. My teacher has been executed by crucifixion ... I betrayed him ... with a kiss, I betrayed him...."
  
  You draw back, startled, remembering your own experience with John ben Zechariah and Herod's soldiers. Judas doesn't notice. "Is there forgiveness? I should have sought forgiveness ... they would not have forgiven me ... I don't know that ... I didn't dare ... I was afraid ... and so I damn myself...."
  
  Suddenly, his eyes snap open, and he looks straight at you. "Blessed are the merciful," he says, a little louder than you would have thought possible, "they shall have mercy shown upon them." And then he really is gone.
  
  > search Judas
  He's dead. There's nothing more you can do for him.
  
  > put rocks on Judas
  (first taking the clay)
  
  That's hardly portable.
  You need to be holding the clay before you can put it on top of something else.
  
  > Go south
  You cannot leave the scene fast enough. There's no way you're going to end up the same way, you tell yourself. What was it he said? He didn't dare ask for forgiveness? You stop at the side of the road and look down towards Jerusalem. Neither John nor his father are still among the living, but there's Joshua's mother ... his closest friends, who'll want to know of Judas's fate ... and Clopas usually has some business in Emmaus at this time of the year, you might be able to catch him there.... It's time to get some things off your chest.