DAY 7 (May 3, 2011):
Wadi Kelt, Jericho, Bethany Beyond Jordan, Qumran, Masada
KING Haverstock of Snohomish Assaults Masada
Being the impartial and accurate account of the only eyewitness, I, Flavius Josephus Haverstock (no relation to the King since yeah verily, logic requires that singular identity may not be reckoned as a relationship, now can it?).
Tuesday, May 5th, 2011 dawned over Jerusalem with great beauty. Though there was a thin white haze, yet still it augured well for the auspicious events to come since visibility was unobstructed for many miles, only to be obscured at great distance.
The King, concealing his intent from an army of 39 warriors from various parts of a country called Usa, inconspicuously boarded a bus with them which headed easterly through Jerusalem and then down into the Wadi Kelt. Stunning vistas of the Judean Wilderness amazed the travelers as they viewed from a great height a many-storied complex of rooms clinging tenuously to the cliff face opposite a narrow and often perpendicular canyon.
Removing ourselves (after satisfactory reconnoiter of terrain) the troupe descended further down a wadi running east from Jerusalem and eventually confronted what is arguably the oldest city on earth – Jericho. Little remains of the once proud city since the ravages of 9 or 10 thousand years are thorough. But it is a beguiling place, conjuring visions of promise and fulfillment, of greedy sin and failure, and of course, of walls that came tumbling down by Divine decree.
Yet further to the east and a little south the sojourning soldiers walked down to the Israeli side of the very Jordan River near where one Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by an itinerant preacher named John.
Turning very directly south along the western shore of the Sea Which Is Dead we did in good time arrive at the ruins of a once very humble group of academics and mystics whose place of study yet endures only a short distance from the caves in which they hid the fruits of their labors. These Essenes (if indeed the appellation is appropriate) inhabited Qumran and buried many clay jars full of handwritten manuscripts which would do much some 19 centuries later to verify the accuracy of the more ancient texts of the Bible.
Pressing along even further south we at last came to the real object of our King’s intent. In between visits to these places already discussed the King had been planning strategy. Napping for 30 or 40 minutes between Qumran and Masada, consuming an apple and much water, as well as spending much time in logistical and tactical contemplation, the King was ready to unleash his attack upon the fabled Mount of Masada.
He first deemed an aerial approach to be best. Thus, stepping aboard a colorful and capacious cable car he was whisked to the top of the mountain in a matter of only a minute or two. But fear not, my readers. The King was not lazy, no indeed, only conserving strength. The greater task lay ahead and was immediately engaged. Leaving the others behind and no doubt wondering, “Where’s he going?” the King crossed directly across the hilltop fortress, a distance of only a couple of hundred yards and slightly uphill to the western and topmost wall in the west. Then, descending rapidly down many, MANY flights of stone and wooden stairs the King made his way back down the mountain to its western foot.
Then, (and oh dear reader the courage it took!) King Haverstock of Snohomish gazed upon the first of his three major objectives – the conquest of Titus Vespasian’s siege ramp from 73 ad.
And then the assault began in earnest as our dauntless sovereign labored step by step up the embankment. Alone, utterly alone, not one single solitary soul could be seen on that entire side of the mountain as our hero leaned into his task and arduously ascended. Pausing momentarily somewhere perhaps one half to two thirds of the way up the ramp the King stared defiantly up at the towering rock face of implacable Masada and shouted with all the force and fury of his not inconsiderable lungs, “MASADA!” and heard, to his delight and satisfaction the clear echoing reply “Masada”. Again, the King triumphantly roared, “MASADA!” and yet again came the rebounding sound, “Masada”. Alone, utterly alone upon the long dead emperor Vespasian’s monumental pile of stone stood our heroic new King now listening only to the sound of the winds swirling about the mountain.
Turning to the right (so as to keep from breaking his neck) the King traversed the right flank of the siege ramp, returned to the stairs and climbed back up upon the crest of the mountain itself in pursuit of his second objective, to stand upon the Northern Palace of King Herod the Great (here seen from the siege ramp).
Traversing the top of Masada from south to north the King gained his desire by descending innumerable steps and saw many scenes of which only one is reproduced here:
And then, climbing back all of these stairs and after further exploring the length and breadth of the massive acreage upon the Mount, our King turned to his final objective: the descent of the world famous “Snake Path” on the eastern side of the colossal plateau. This trail falls over 1,000 feet in elevation over the course of 1.2 miles. But in this case the King was not alone. Joined by nine other hardy souls, the little troupe met with success after 40 minutes of walking down the steep and very rough trail. This is the view from about the middle of the descent:
Oh the tales I might tell of the valour and derring-do our King on this day in addition these! But he is a humble man (and really, Really, REALLY, REALLY tired) so these must not be uttered.
All hail the new King of Masada – Larry of Snohomish!
Larry Haverstock (AKA Flavius Josephus Haverstock)
Comments
Post a Comment