1Before dawn, Jesus washed his hands, face, and feet. In the basin the morning star trembled beside the face of a man no public title had yet claimed.
2He untied the cord beneath his garment and remembered every time ritual had failed to produce mercy: clean hands that would not touch, pure houses that would not open, and priests whose rank prevented service.
3Mary asked whether he was leaving as a Judean teacher, a Magian student, or the child eastern strangers had once called king. Jesus answered, “I am going as a helper. Let my deeds reveal every other name.”
4Narseh asked him to tie the knots one final time. “Good thoughts,” Jesus said, remembering judgments he had enjoyed. “Good words,” remembering truths softened by fear. “Good deeds,” remembering kindness postponed until it was useless.
5He placed a lamp, seed, cup, piece of bread, and small jar of myrrh upon the table. None was a prophecy by itself. Together they held the ordinary world through which his public teaching would speak.
6“What if they call you Saoshyant?” asked Mehrasp. “I will help,” Jesus replied. “Let the Father decide what the helping is called.”
7“What if they worship the hand and forget where it points?” Mary asked. Jesus looked at the water. “Then I must keep pointing, even when they prefer the hand.”
8The Second Road offered guards for the journey. Jesus accepted watchers at a distance and refused an escort that would make humility resemble a royal entrance.
9Before leaving, he washed the dust from the old Magus’s feet. “Rank that cannot receive service,” he said, “will never learn to give it.” The teacher allowed the student to complete the lesson.
10The hidden road ended where public water began.