Chapters 6-10 Summary

At God's gentle invitation, Jesus leaves home to enter a desert monastery, but his joy is interrupted by bare feet behind him. Seeing no one, he runs and people laugh and curse at him He passes through Cana unseen, is fed by an old woman embittered that the monastery has claimed her son, and, nearing pagan Tiberias, meets old Zebedee of Capernaum, who keeps Philip from murdering him as a Cross-maker. Jesus flees, wishing he could walk across the lake. Hearing footsteps again, Jesus expects his mother, but sees an armor-clad woman with an eagle's head: a vision known as "The Curse."

That night, feeling crucified, Jesus sees Magdalene ride by, fetched by wealthy clients, has a dream turn obscene, scourges himself, and is shocked to find himself in Magdala, where he knows that he must beg forgiveness. Jesus sits aloof...