H e had spent the last hour preparing the caravan to be on its way yet once more. He could hear the gurgle of the Jordan waters nearby as he observed the star — or whatever it was — hanging low in the western sky just above the horizon. He watched pensively as his slave cinched the saddle on the dirty beast upon which he had ridden this far. He was weary. He despaired of ever finding whatever it was they were looking for; wherever this thing was leading them. Perhaps they had been foolish. Perhaps the study of astrology, however ancient, was a hoax. Yet, he mounted the camel and tried to steady himself against being jerked back and forth, as the animal got to its feet. He fixed his eyes on the star, as they had come to call it, and spurred the beast into line. The caravan was on its way again. Although his eyes followed the star, he didn’t think about it. He had long since become accustomed to its presence and no longer felt anything at all about it. His mind wandered without direction or purpose and while in its promenade, the star concluded its movement.

He watched for several minutes more. For months, the brilliant phenomenon had distinctly moved in relation to their travels. Now it appeared stationary. Having left the small town of Jericho behind them, they moved up the steady incline toward the Jewish city of Jerusalem. He spurred his camel and pulled abreast of the caravan’s leader.

“Welcome, my brother, The night is yet interminable and my bones ache beyond description.”

“They may not need ache much longer, look.”

The other man glanced again at the familiar star and remarked, “So?”

“Look closely.”

Abruptly, he reined his camel. Since he lead the caravan, all stopped. Weariness vanished as his face frowned and then relaxed in quiet elation. “It is stilled,” he whispered.

The star came and stood over where the young child was.

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