Pilate strode back inside his house, tossed his official cloak to a servant and called for wine. He was equal parts relieved and disturbed by what just happened out there. Relieved that the matter had been settled; disturbed by the way it had been settled. The Roman Governor, of course, had heard of this Jesus the prophet whom people claimed raised the dead and made the blind see; Pilate had well-paid spies in all parts of his province. Yet Pilate never expected to have Jesus brought before him; from all accounts, Jesus was peaceful, even told others to render unto Caesar what was Caesar's. Still, what could he expect in this hot, dusty land with people who had strange customs? A few days ago, Jesus rode into Jerusalem to great cheering, now those same people wanted him dead.
Also, Pilate reasoned, it didn't seem to him that Jesus tried very hard to defend himself. The priests had accused him of many crimes, but Jesus didn't say a word; only that his Kingdom was not of this world, or some such thing. Even when Pilate informed Jesus that he had the power to release or crucify him, Jesus calmly answered that Pilate's power over him had been given to him 'from above'.
So Pilate had tried other means to free Jesus, but nothing had worked, so he literally washed his hands of the whole matter. That absolved him from ordering the execution of a just man...
Didn't it?
++++
Elizabeth motioned for the Monkees to follow her. They quickly went outside the courtyard gate and onto the street. The angel turned to the them.
"We must be especially alert now, my dear friends," Elizabeth said, "This will be Dr. Chronos' last chance to change anything."
"How about if Peter and I scout ahead?" Mike asked, "It worked before with Davy."
"Good idea, Mike." Elizabeth replied. "Keep following this road to the left and it will lead you to a city gate. Just outside the gate on a hill is Golgotha. That's where the crucifixion will be. We'll watch from the back." Mike and Peter took off down the road. Just then, Elizabeth, Davy and Micky heard their names being called. They turned and saw the three Marys and John approached them.
"Hello, my friends." Mary of Magdalene said sadly.
John was supporting Mary the mother of Jesus. She was very upset that her only son would die today, but she seemed stronger and calmer than last night, as if resigned to God's will.
"It is such a sad day! Such injustice!" Mary of Magdalene said.
"It is, Mary." Elizabeth answered, "But we must put our faith in Yahweh."
"I have done so." Jesus' mother replied, "And I know in my heart that everything will work out for the glory of God."
Elizabeth, Davy and Micky nodded, amazed at her courage.
"Are you three...going to see....what happens?" John asked slowly.
"Yes we are." Davy replied, "Michael and Peter have already gone ahead."
Suddenly, another door opened out onto the street with a bang. Several Roman soldiers came out and pushed people out of the way, then Jesus was shoved out onto the street. The purple cloak was gone, but the sharp crown of thorns was still on his head. Tied to his outstretched arms was the cross-beam he would be nailed to once he arrived at Golgotha. Shoved out behind him were two other men who also looked like they had recently been scourged. They too had cross- beams tied to their arms. It seemed Jesus would have company in death. Gathering her resolve, Elizabeth took Micky and Davy's hands and began to follow the awful procession.
++++
Mike and Peter ran down the road where Jesus would soon be coming.
People were gathering on both sides of the narrow street, hoping for a glimpse of Jesus. Many women were crying, others refused to believe that Jesus had been condemned by the Romans and were standing along the road to see for themselves. The two Monkees realized Dr. Chronos and his men could be anywhere in this crowd!
"See anything, Peter?" Mike asked.
"No, Mike. There's too many people around." Peter answered, beginning to panic, "What if he's here and we don't see him and he..."
"Don't think like that, Peter." Mike said sternly. "We've come this far. We can't give up. Let's go over to Golgotha and see if anything suspicious is there."
Peter nodded and the two of them went through the city gate and walked toward a large hill not far from the gate.
About half-way up, on a plateau, but still easily seen from the road, were three upright beams, which would be used to hold the cross-beams crucifixion victims carried. The area was purposely used as an execution area so that anyone coming from or going into the city could see what would happen if you messed with the Romans. The two men began to climb up the hill following a narrow trail. So far, the crowds hadn't gathered at the execution place, so the hill was empty....or so Mike and Peter thought. They had just walked around a large boulder when they came face-to-face with none other than Dr. Chronos and his men!
"Hello, Gentlemen." Dr. Chronos spat, hatred in his voice. "Fancy meeting two you here."
"Yeah, Dr. Chronos," Mike said with false happiness, "What a surprise to see you as well."
"If you two want to keep living," Dr. Chronos continued, "I suggest both of you start climbing back down this hill." The mad scientist, his men at his back, began to walk towards Mike and Peter, forcing them to back down the trail. Peter hung back behind Mike.
"Why...why is that, Dr. Chronos?" Peter asked, "Is there something you don't want us to see?"
Dr. Chronos chuckled. "There is nothing for you two boys to see. Just three upright beams which won't be used today to crucify anyone, ever!"
"You're evil!" Mike shouted.
"No, just a man who wants vengeance on those who've hurt him." Dr. Chronos replied.
While Mike had been talking to Dr. Chronos, Peter had been dragging his hand along the side of the hill next to the narrow trail they were on. Finally, Peter's hand was filled with dirt.
"Duck, Mike!" Peter shouted.
Mike ducked as Peter threw a large handful of dirt and small rocks in Dr. Chronos' face, raising up a dirt cloud. The Doctor shouted in anger and ordered his men to attack Mike and Peter, but Mike was already on the move. He grabbed Dr. Chronos by his tunic and shoved him into his own men. Since his men were in a row behind him, they fell like dominoes onto the trail. Peter grabbed more dirt and threw it at the five men, blinding them. Mike took this opportunity to push, one by one, Dr. Chronos and his men off the trail. They tumbled down the hill, unable to stop, and landed in a heap at the bottom, sore and bruised. The last man, Larry, almost took Mike with him, but Peter hit him with a rock and he quickly joined his friends at the bottom of Golgotha.
Mike and Peter looked down at the fallen men with grim satisfaction.
Even though Dr. Chronos and his men were evil, Mike and Peter took no joy in hurting them. Slowly, the five men got up and stumbled off into the desert.
Mike looked over at his friend. "Good thinking, Pete. Now lets see what Dr. Chronos did up there."
The two Monkees raced up the trail until they reached the plateau where the crucifixion would be held. They looked around; nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, just dirt and stones and...dynamite?
Mike and Peter came closer to where the upright beams were. At the bottom of the three beams were sticks of TNT. They were connected to each other by wires and then to a detonator located further up the hill. Obviously, Dr. Chronos planned on blowing up the beams when the procession came to the plateau, terrifying the Romans, who of course didn't know about explosives, and making them too scared to crucify Jesus. Working quickly, Mike carefully undid the wires from the detonator while Peter untied the TNT from the beams. Then, they dug a hole a little ways away and placed everything inside it, then covered the whole. Just as they finished, a Roman centurion marched over to them. With him were the men who would do the execution.
"What are you two doing?" He demanded, "Get out of here before I have you two nailed on crosses as well!"
"Yes sir, right away sir!" Mike and Peter said, then started to run back down the hill. From their vantage point, they could see that the procession was exiting the city gate and would soon start up Golgotha. Mike and Peter got down the hill just as the first of the Roman soldiers arrived. Jesus and the other two men were pushed up the hill, followed by more soldiers, trying to keep the huge crowd at bay.
Elizabeth sensed Mike and Peter and quickly led Micky and Davy to where they stood off to the side. Hugs were quickly exchanged and Mike and Peter quickly told the others what happened.
"You two did very well." Elizabeth said, then gave a sad sigh. "Still, let's go and witness our Lord's sacrifice."
The Monkees agreed and the five of them slowly started the climb up Golgotha.