Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14 As the sun rose over the Judean Desert, our travelers were one day ahead of the typical trail schedule, but days behind where Ruben wanted to be. However, perhaps because they were on the last leg of their journey, Ruben appeared to be almost happy. "Say goodbye to the Nativity Trail, boys and squirrels!" he announced as they hastily departed the trailside Jericho Inn. "We're striking out on the Old Jericho Road today!" Instead of continuing to Bethlehem on the Nativity Trail, Ruben, Dusty, and the squirrels would be taking the Old Jericho Road to Jerusalem.

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If you've ever heard the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Bible, you know about the Old Jericho Road. Jesus told the story of a Jewish man traveling between Jerusalem and Jericho who was attacked by robbers and left injured alongside that road. Nobody from his own country wanted to help him. However, a Samaritan came along, and even though the Jews and the Samaritans were enemies, the Samaritan helped the injured man. Jesus told the story to point out that everyone is our neighbor and that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That's why Ruben was a little skeptical later that morning when he spotted a hiker sitting on a rock alongside the road, holding his ankle. "Really?" he said as they approached the man. "Is this for real, or are you here for the tourists?" "I'm afraid it's for real, sir," the man groaned. "I twisted it a couple of hours ago. Would you be a..." "Good Samaritan?" Ruben finished the man's sentence. He sighed. "Okay. Fine. Hang on a second." Ruben pulled Dusty to the side of the road, out of earshot of the injured man.

"You do have a heart, Ruben. I knew it!" Pearl whispered. "First of all, I don't want to hear it. Second, I don't want any trouble from you three." Ruben pointed at the squirrels and Dusty. "He's going to need to ride on the donkey, which means you guys have to walk." Ruben unlocked the cage. "No running off."

Merle looked at the hot, barren desert around them and recalled being stranded at the Dead Sea, not far from where they were at that moment. "Don't worry," he said. "We know better. Plus, it's been forever since I stretched my legs!" Dusty was the least happy with the arrangement; he had to carry the guy, and the road from Jericho to Jerusalem is all uphill! But with Ruben pushing from behind and Merle and Pearl pulling on Dusty's reins from the front, they managed to deliver the man safely to a roadside gift shop a few miles up.

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