Daniel orders Malthace and Joel to wait. Daniel explains to Ebol that he knows them from Galilee and that they had wandered into Rosh’s territory inadvertently. The sentry orders Daniel to get rid of them because Daniel is needed to help free an enslaved man from a Roman contingency. Rosh thinks the brute strength of the man will be useful.

Joel begs to meet Rosh. Daniel refuses, but it is too late. The caravan is approaching. Joel recognizes the danger his sister would face if the Romans discovered them. He listens to Daniel in regard to Thacia but refuses to hide himself. There is no time to argue. Joel is told to keep quiet and out of the way but defiantly insists on participating. The fight ensues, and Daniel easily overcomes the fat, scared guard. The enslaved Black man is freed.

Daniel tries to convince Rosh that they have “a new recruit,” but Joel says that he did not come to stay. Rosh threatens that after what Joel has seen, he must. Joel’s fortitude in resisting Rosh pleases Daniel. He is not intimidated by Rosh and insists that he must take his sister home. Rosh agrees that Joel may be of use to him when Joel’s family moves to Capernaum. Daniel is disheartened that Rosh is more interested in Joel’s future ability to help than the task Daniel has just accomplished.

Joel and Malthace leave. The rebels gather for dinner; the freed man, newly christened “Samson,” is among them. Rosh orders Daniel to remove Samson’s shackles; Daniel knows this will take all night. When he finally manages to saw through the iron, Samson is so grateful that he falls to his knees. Daniel is irritated and tells Samson that it is Rosh to whom he owes his gratitude.

Analysis

Several key issues are broached in this chapter: the treatment of women, the fate of enslaved people, the reality of the Roman soldiers who carry out the empire’s commands, and the dark side of the character Rosh.

Joel flies into a panic when he sees the caravan approaching. It is soon understood what Joel fears. As the soldiers and prisoners pass by, the boys see “a drab cluster of women, herded close together, urged on by the flicking whips of two or more guards in the rear.” If caught, Malthace assuredly would face a life of sexual enslavement.

Also present is a sense of the life of an enlisted Roman soldier. Their camels are “mangy,” and even their leader does not look much better. Overweight and unwilling to risk his life to save his cargo, this “leader” quickly parts with the enslaved man whom Daniel has been assigned to free.

The Romans, however, are much better off than those they have enslaved. Samson is chained like a dangerous animal, and the humanity seems to have been beaten out of him. He has the brute strength of an ox and an “animal wariness.” Even language seems to have been driven from his tongue. Still, Samson proves that he has feelings, even if those emotions have been reduced to a simplistic form. Like a rescued dog, Samson shows enormous gratitude and loyalty to Daniel. He follows him around constantly and will not let the boy out of his sight. Though Daniel is annoyed by his overt attention at the time, Samson will eventually be the one person whom Daniel can trust.

The descriptions of Rosh underscore his true nature. Rosh has a “short, muscular neck,” “a grizzled head,” “small black eyes,” and a “gnarled hand.” His unattractive outward appearance mirrors his soul. He is egocentric, callous, and full of hate.