Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 7

Chapter 7And the n mavensuch verbalize, What prophet has this written? For in this book is foret hoary either the events which sh solely induce to give in the next week in the land of Days of Our Lives and All My Children.And I said to the holy person, You fabulously feebleminded bundle of f tucker outhers, in that locations no prophet involved. They cognise what is going to hand because they write it alone smooth in advance for the actors to actualize.So it is written, so it sh either be do, said the apotheosis.I crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed next to Raziel. His inspect never wavered from his Soap opera house Digest. I pushed the magazine wad so the angel had to olfactory property me in the stage.Raziel, do you remember the meter in the first place mankind, the time when in that location were secure now the paradisely host and the Lord?Yes, those were the best of times. Except for the war, of course. sole(prenominal) opposite than tha t, yes, wonderful times.And you angels were as strong and beautiful as inspired imagination, your voices sing praise for the Lord and his glory to the ends of the universe, and yet the Lord saw see to create us, mankind, weak, twisted, and profane, right?Thats when it all started to go d avowhill, if you withdraw me, Raziel said.Well, do you eff why the Lord decided to create us?No. Ours is non to question the Will.Because you be all dumbfucks, thats why. Youre as mindless as the machinery of the stars. saints ar just pretty insects. Days of Our Lives is a show, Raziel, a play. Its non real, pass it?No.And he didnt. Ive learned that t presents a tradition in this time of disuniteing funny stories ab surface the stupidity of quite a little with yellow h circulate. cypher where that started.I conjecture that we all expected everything to go tooshie to general aft(prenominal) the killer was found, exactly it seemed that the popishs were much more concerned with the defunctness of the Sicarii then(prenominal) they were with a single resurrection. To be fair, I demand to word that resurrections werent that uncommon in those age. As I manpowerti unmatchabled, we Jews were quick to amount our bloodless into the ground, and with speed, theres bound to be errors. Occasionally nearly poor soul would string up unconscious during a fever and set off to find himself being clad in linen and prepared for the grave. But funerals were a prudish itinerary to get the family together, and there was always a fine meal after(prenominal)ward, so no one genuinely complained, except perhaps those people who didnt wake before they were buried, and if they complained well, Im sure God hear them. (It paid to be a light sleeper, in my time.) So, impressed as they office boast been with the paseo dead, the next day the romishs began to round up suspected conspirators. The men in Maggies family were hau take off to Sepphoris at dawn.No miracles would come to take away ab kayoed the unloose of the prisoners, still neither were there all crucifixions announced in the days that followed. After two weeks had passed with no word of the fate or check into of the men, Maggie, her m or so other, her aunts, and her siss went to the synagogue on the Sabbath and assemblinged to the Pharisees for help.The next day, the Pharisees from Nazareth, Japhia, and Sepphoris appeared at the roman print garrison to appeal to Justus for the release of the prisoners. I dont know what they said, or what sort of leverage they could possibly imbibe used to move the Romans, only the following day, just after dawn, the men of Maggies family staggered back into our village, beaten, starving, and c everywhereed with filth, but very much alive.t contacther was no feast, no celebration for the return of the prisoners we Jews walked softly for a a few(prenominal)er months to allow the Romans to settle d suffer. Maggie seemed distant in the weeks t hat followed, and taunt and I never saw the grinning that could make the tinge catch in our throats. She seemed to be avoiding us, rushing out of the square whenever we saw her there, or on the Sabbath, staying so close to the women of her family that we couldnt talk to her. Finally, after a month had passed, with absolutely no regard for custom or common courtesy, baitua insisted that we skip work and dragged me by the sleeve to Maggies house. She was kneeling on the ground outside the door, abrasion some barley with a millstone. We could see her mother moving some in the house and hear the sound of her military chaplain and of age(p) sidekick Simon (who was called Lazarus) works the forge next door. Maggie seemed to be lost in the rhythm of grinding the grain, so she didnt see us approach. banterua set up his hand on her shoulder, and without experience up, she smiled.You are supposed to be building a house in Sepphoris, she said.We thought it more important to visit a sick friend.And who would that be?Who do you mobilize?Im non sick. In fact, Ive been healed by the stimulate of the christ.I think non, said baitua.She at long last looked up at him and her smile evaporated. I cant be friends with you two anymore, she said. Things have changed.What, because your uncle was a Sicarii? I said. Dont be silly.No, because my mother make a bargain to get Iban to convince the other Pharisees to go to Sepphoris and plead for the mens lives.What kind of bargain? teaseua asked.I am betrothed. She looked at the millstone again and a tear dripped into the powdered grain.We were some(prenominal) stunned. Josh took his hand from her shoulder and stepped back, then looked at me as if there was something I could do. I felt as if I would start instantaneous at any second myself. I managed to choke out, Who to?To Jakan, Maggie said with a sob.Ibans son? The creep? The bully?Maggie nodded. Joshua covered his mouth and ran a few steps away, then threw up. I was tempted to join him, but instead I crouched in front of Maggie.How long before youre marry?Im to be married a month after the Passover feast. Mother made him wait hexad months.Six months Six months Thats forever, Maggie. Why, Jakan could be killed in a thousand grievous ways in sextet months, and thats just the ones I can think of right now. Why, individual could turn him in to the Romans for being a rebel. Im non opineing who, but someone might. It could happen.Im sorry, sluggard.Dont be sorry for me, why would you be sorry for me?I know how you feel, so Im sorry.I was thrown for a second. I glanced at Joshua to see if he could give me a clue, but he was still absorbed in splattering his breakfast in the dirt.But its Joshua who you love? I finally said.Does that make you feel any better?Well, no.Then Im sorry. She made as if to reach out to touch my cheek, but her mother called her before she made contact.Right now, Mary, in this houseMaggie nodded toward the barfing Me ssiah. Take kick of him.Hell be fine.And take care of yourself.Ill be fine too, Maggie. Dont forget I have an emergency backup wife. Besides, its sixsome months. A draw can happen in six months. Its non analogous we wont see you. I was onerous to sound more shining than I felt.Take Joshua home, she said. Then she quickly kissed me on the cheek and ran into the house.Joshua was all in all against the idea of murdering Jakan, or even praying for harm to come to him. If anything, Joshua seemed more companion commensurate disposed toward Jakan than he had been before, going as far as to explore him out and congratulate him on his betrothal to Maggie, an act that left me effect angry and betrayed. I confronted Joshua in the olive orchard, where he had gone to pray among the twisted tree trunks.You coward, I said, you could strike him down if you wanted to.As could you, he replied.Yeah, but you can call the wrath of God down upon him. Id have to sneak up behind him and brain him with a rock. Theres a difference.And you would have me kill Jakan for what, your bad luck?Works for me.Is it so fleshy for you to give up what you never had?I had hope, Josh. You understand hope, dont you? Sometimes he could be mightily dense, or so I thought. I didnt make take how much he was hurting inside, or how much he wanted to do something.I think I understand hope, Im just not sure that I am allowed to have any.Oh, dont start with that Everyone gets something but me speech. Youve got plenty.Josh wheeled on me, his eyeball like fire, Like what? What do I have?Uh I wanted to say something close a truly sexy mother, but that didnt seem like the sort of thing he wanted to hear. Uh, you have God.So do you. So does everyone.Really?Yes.not the Romans.There are Roman Jews.Well, youve got, uh that healing-raising-the-dead thing.Oh yeah, and thats working really well.Well, youre the Messiah, whats that? Thats something. If you told people you were the Messiah theyd have to do what you say.I cant tell them.Why not?I dont know how to be the Messiah.Well, at least do something about(predicate) Maggie.He cant, came a voice from behind a tree. A golden send emanated from either side of the trunk.Whos there? Joshua called.The angel Raziel stepped out from behind the tree.Angel of the Lord, I said under my clue to Josh.I know, he said, in a you seen one, you seen em all way.He cant do anything, the angel repeated.Why not? I asked.Because he may not know any woman.I may not? Joshua said, not sounding at all happy.He may not in that he should not, or that he cannot? I asked.The angel scratched his golden gaffer, I didnt think to ask.Its kind of important, I said.Well, he cant do anything about Mary Magdalene, I know that. They told me to come and tell him that. That and that it is time for him to go.Go where?I didnt think to ask.I suppose I should have been stir, but I seemed to have passed right through frightened to exasperated. I stepped up to the ange l and poked him in the chest. are you the same angel that came to us before, to announce the approach path of the messiah?It was the Lords exit that I bring that joyful news.I just wondered, in case all of you angels look alike or something. So, after you showed up ten years late, they move you with another(prenominal) message?I am here to tell the Savior that it is time for him to go.But you dont know where?No.And this golden stuff around you, this light, what is this?The glory of the Lord.Youre sure its not stupidity leaking out of you?Biff, be tenuous, he is the messenger of the Lord.Well, hell, Josh, hes no help at all. If were going to get angels from heaven they should at least know what they are doing. Blow down protects or something, destroy cities, oh, I dont know get the whole message.Im sorry, the angel said. Would you like me to destroy a metropolis?Go find out where Josh is supposed to go. How bout that?I can do that.Then do that.Ill be right back.Well wait.Gods peed, Joshua said.In an instant the angel moved behind another tree trunk and the golden glow was gone from the olive grove with a warm breeze.You were sort of hard on him, Joshua said.Josh, being nice isnt always going to get the job done.One can try.Was Moses nice to Pharaoh?Before Joshua could answer me, the warm breeze blew into the olive grove again and the angel stepped out from behind a tree.To find your part, he said.What? I said.What? Joshua said.You are supposed to go find your destiny.Thats it? Joshua said.Yes.What about the knowing a woman thing? I asked.I have to go now.Grab him, Josh. You collar him and Ill hit him.But the angel was gone with the breeze.My destiny? Joshua looked at his open, renounce palms.We should have pounded the answer out of him, I said.I dont think that would have worked.Oh, back to the nice strategy. Did Moses Moses should have said, Let my people go, entertain.That would have made the difference?It could have worked. You dont know.So what do you do about your destiny?Im going to ask the consecrated of Holies when we go to the Temple for the Passover.And so it came to pass that in the spring all of the Jews from Galilee made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, and Joshua began the count for his destiny. The avenue was lined with families making their way to the holy city. Camels, carts, and donkeys were loaded superior with provisions for the trip, and all along the column of pilgrims you could hear the bleating of the lambs that would be sacrificed for the feast. The road was dry that year, and a red-brown cloud of dust wound its way over the road as far as one could see in either direction.Since we were each the eldest in our families, it fell on Joshua and me to grasp track of all our younger brothers and sisters. It seemed that the easiest way to accomplish this was to tie them together, so we strung together, by height, my two brothers and Joshs three brothers and two sisters. I fasten the r ope loosely around their necks so it would only choke them if they got out of line.I can untie this, said James.Me too, said my brother Shem.But you wont. This is the part of the Passover where you reenact Moses leading you out of the Promised Land, you have to stay with the microscopic ones.Youre not Moses, said Shem.No no, Im not Moses. Smart of you to notice. I tied(p) the end of the rope to a nearby wagon that was loaded situated-back with jars of wine. This wagon is Moses, I said. Follow it.That wagon isnt Its symbolic, shut the hell up and follow Moses.Thus freed of our responsibilities, Joshua and I went looking at for Maggie and her family. We knew that Maggie and her clan had left after us, so we fought backward through the pilgrims, braving donkey bites and camel spit until we spotted her august blue shawl on the hill behind us, perhaps a half-mile back. We had obdurate to just sit by the side of the road to wait until she reached us, or else than battle the crow d, when unawares the column of pilgrims started to leave the road altogether, moving to the sides in a great wave. When we saw the red crest of a centurions helmet come over the top of the hill we understood. Our people were making way for the Roman army. (There would be nearly a million Jews in Jerusalem for Passover a million Jews celebrating their liberation from oppression, a very dangerous mix from the Roman point of view. The Roman governor would come from Caesarea with his full legion of six thousand men, and each of the other barracks in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee would send a degree Celsius or two of soldiers to the holy city.)We used the opportunity to dash back to Maggie, arriving there at the same time as the Roman army. The centurion that led the cavalry kicked at me as he passed, his hobnail boot lacking(p) my head by a hairs breadth. I suppose I should be glad he wasnt a standard-bearer or I might have been conked with a Roman eagle.How long do I have to wait bef ore you drive them from the land and restore the kingdom to our people, Joshua? Maggie stood there with her pass on her hips, trying to look stern, but her blue eyeball betrayed that she was about to burst into laughter.Uh, shalom to you too, Maggie, Joshua said.How about you, Biff, have you learned to be an nitwit yet, or are you behind in your studies? Those laughing eyes, even as the Romans passed by only an arms length away. God, I miss her.Im learning, I said.Maggie put down the jar shed been carrying and threw her arms out to embrace us. It had been months since wed seen her other than flying in the square. She smelled of lemons and cinnamon that day.We walked with Maggie and her family for a yoke of hours, talking and joking and avoiding the case that we were all thinking about until Maggie finally said, Are you two coming to my wedding?Joshua and I looked at each other as if our tongues had suddenly been struck from our mouths. I saw that Josh was having no luck findin g words, and Maggie seemed to be getting angry.Well?Uh, Maggie, its not that were not overjoyed with your right-hand(a) fortune, butShe took the opportunity to backhand me across the mouth. The jar she carried on her head didnt even waver. Amazing grace that girl had.Ouch.Good fortune? Are you mad? My husbands a toad. Im sick at the thought of him. I was just hoping you two would come to help me through the ceremony.I think my sassing is bleeding.Joshua looked at me and his eyes went wide. Uh-oh. He cocked his head, as if listening to the wind.What, uh-oh? Then I heard the commotion coming from ahead. There was a crowd gather at a small bridge a lot of shouting and waving. Since the Romans had long since passed, I assumed someone had fallen in the river.Uh-oh, Josh said again, and he began running toward the bridge.Sorry. I shrugged at Maggie, then followed Josh.At the rivers edge (no more than a creek, really) we saw a boy about our age, with wild hair and wilder eyes, stand up waist-deep in the water. He was holding something under the water and shouting at the top of his lungs.You must(prenominal) repent and atone, atone and repent Your sins have made you un uninfected. I emend you of the evil that you carry like your wallet.Thats my first cousin, joke, Joshua said.Trailing out of the water on either side of commode stood our brothers and sisters, still tied together, but the scatty link in the string of siblings was my brother Shem, who had been replaced by a lot of thrashing and bubbling muddy water in front of bum. Onlookers were delightful on the Baptist, who was having a little trouble keeping Shem under water.I think hes drowning Shem.Baptizing, Joshua said.My mother ordain be happy that Shems sins have been cleansed, but I have to think were going to be in a lot of trouble if he drowns in the process.Good point, Josh said. He stepped into the water. John Stop thatJohn looked at him and seemed a little perplexed. first cousin Joshua?Ye s. John, let him up.He has sinned, John said, as if that said it all.Ill take care of his sins.You think youre the one, dont you? Well, youre not. My birth was announced by an angel as well. It was prophesied that I would lead. Youre not the one.We should talk about this in another place. Let him up, John. Hes cleansed.John let my brother pop out of the water and I ran down and dragged him and all the other kids out of the river.Wait, the others havent been cleansed. They are filthy with sin.Joshua stepped between his brother James, who would have been the next one dunked, and the Baptist. You wont tell Mother about this, depart you?Halfway between terrified and furious, James was tearing at the knots, trying to untie the rope from around his neck. He clearly wanted vindicate on his big brother, but at the same time he didnt want to give up his brothers protection from John.If we let John baptize you long sufficient, you wont be able to tell your mother, will you, James? Me, just trying to help out.I wont tell, James said. He looked back at John, who was still staring as if hed dash out and grab someone to cleanse any second. Hes our cousin?Yes, Joshua said. The son of our mothers cousin Elizabeth.When did you meet him before?I havent.Then how did you know him.I just did.Hes a loony, said James. Youre both loonies.Yes, a family trait. Maybe when you get older you can be a loony too. You wont tell Mother.No.Good, Joshua said. You and Biff get the kids moving, will you?I nodded, shooting a glance back to John. James is right, Josh. He is a loony.I heard that, sinner John shouted. Perhaps you quest to be cleansed.John and his parents shared supper with us that evening. I was surprised that Johns parents were older than Joseph older than my grandparents even. Joshua told me that Johns birth had been a miracle, announced by the angel. Elizabeth, Johns mother, talked about it all through supper, as if it had happened yesterday instead of thirteen years ago. Whe n the old woman paused to take a breath, Joshuas mother started in about the divine announcement of her own sons birth. Occasionally my mother, feeling the need to exhibit some maternal pride that she didnt really feel, would chime in as well.You know, Biff wasnt announced by an angel, but locusts ate our garden and Alphaeus had gas for a month around the time he would have been conceived. I think it might have been a sign. That certainly didnt happen with my other boys.Ah, Mother. Did I mention that she was besought with a demon?After supper, Joshua and I built our own fire, away from the others, hoping that Maggie would seek us out, but it turned out that only John joined us.You are not the anointed one, John said to Joshua. Gabriel came to my father. Your angel didnt even have a name.We shouldnt be talking about these things, Joshua said.The angel told my father that his son would prepare the way for the Lord. Thats me.Fine, I want nothing more than for you to be the Messiah, Jo hn.Really? John asked. But your mother seems so, soJosh can raise the dead, I said.John shifted his insane gaze to me, and I scooted away from him in case he seek to hit me. He cannot, John said.Yep, Ive seen it twice.Dont, Biff, Josh said.Youre lying. Bearing false witness is a sin, John said. The Baptist started to look more panicked than angry.Im not very close at it, Joshua said.Johns eyes went wide, now with amazement instead of madness. You have done this? You have raised the dead?And healed the sick, I said.John grabbed me by the front of my tunic and pulled me close, staring into my eyes as if he was looking into my head. You arent lying, are you? He looked at Joshua. Hes not lying, is he?Joshua shook his head. I dont think so.John released me, let out a long sigh, then sat back in the dirt. The firelight caught tears sparkling in his eyes as he stared at nothing. I am so relieved. I didnt know what I would do. I dont know how to be the Messiah.Neither do I, said Joshua.We ll, I hope you really can raise the dead, John said, because this will kill my mother.We walked with John for the next three days, through Samaria, into Judea, and finally into the holy city. Fortunately, there werent some rivers or streams along the way, so we were able to keep his baptisms to a minimum. His heart was in the right place, he really did want to cleanse our people of their sins, it was just that no one would believe that God would give that responsibility to a thirteen-year-old. To keep John happy, Josh and I let him baptize our little brothers and sisters at every clay of water we passed, at least until Joshs little sister Miriam developed the sniffles and Joshua had to perform an emergency healing on her.You really can heal, John exclaimed.Well, the sniffles are easy, Joshua said. A little mucus is nothing against the power of the Lord.Would would you mind? John said, lifting up his tunic and showing his bare privates, which were covered with sores and greenish s cales.Cover, please cover I yelled. Drop the dress and step awayThats disgusting, Joshua said.Am I unclean? Ive been afraid to ask my father, and I cant go to a Pharisee, not with my father being a priest. I think its from standing in the water all of the time. Can you heal me?(I have to say here that I believe that this was the first time Joshuas little sister Miriam ever saw a mans privates. She was only six at the time, but the experience so frightened her that she never married. The last time anyone heard from her, she had cut her hair short, put on mens clothes, and moved to the classical island of Lesbos. But that was later.)Have at it, Josh, I said. Lay your hands upon the regret and heal it.Joshua shot me a dirty look, then looked back to his cousin John, with nothing but compassion in his eyes. My mother has some emollient you can put on it, he said. Lets see if that works first.Ive tried salve, John said.I was afraid you had, said Joshua.Have you tried rubbing it with olive oil? I asked. It probably wont cure you, but it might take your mind off of it.Biff, please. John is afflicted.Sorry.Joshua said, Come here, John.Oh, jeez, Joshua, I said. Youre not going to touch it, are you? Hes unclean. Let him live with the lepers.Joshua put his hands on Johns head and the Baptists eyes involute back in his head. I thought he would fall, and he did waver, but remained standing.Father, you have sent this one to prepare the way. Let him go forth with his body as clean as his spirit.Joshua released his cousin and stepped back. John opened his eyes and smiled. I am healed he yelled. I am healed.John began to raise his shirt and I caught his arm. Well take your word for it.The Baptist fell to his knees, then prostrated himself before Joshua, shoving his face against Joshs feet. You are truly the Messiah. Im sorry I ever doubted you. I shall withstand your holiness throughout the land.Uh, maybe someday, but not now, Joshua said.John looked up from where he had been grasping Joshs ankles. Not now?Were trying to keep it a secret, I said.Josh patted his cousins head. Yes, it would be best not to tell anyone about the healing, John.But why?We have to find out a couple of things before Joshua starts being the Messiah, I said.Like what? John seemed as if he would start crying again.Well, like where Joshua left his destiny and whether or not hes allowed to, uh, have an abomination with a woman.Its not an abomination if its with a woman, Josh added.Its not?Nope. Sheep, goats, pretty much any animal its an abomination. But with a woman, its something totally different.What about a woman and a goat, whats that? asked John.Thats five simoleons in Damascus, I said. Six if you want to help.Joshua punched me in the shoulder.Sorry, old joke. I grinned. Couldnt resist.John closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, as if he might vellicate some understanding out of his mind if he applied enough pressure. So you dont want anyone to know that you have the power to heal because you dont know if you can lie with a woman?Well, that and I have no idea how to go about being the Messiah, Josh said.Yeah, and that, I said.You should ask Hillel, John said. My father says hes the wisest of all of the priests.Im going to ask the Holy of Holies, Joshua said. (The Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant the box containing the tablets handed down from God to Moses. No one I knew had ever seen it, as it was housed in the inner room at the Temple.)But its forbidden. Only a priest may enter the bedroom of the Ark.Yes, thats going to be a problem, I said.The city was like a huge cup that had been filled to its brim with pilgrims, then spilled into a hum pool of humanity around it. When we arrived men were already lined up as far as the Damascus gate, waiting with their lambs to get to the Temple. A greasy black smoke was on the wind, coming from the Temple, where as many as ten thousand priests would be slaughtering the lambs and burning the blo od and adipose parts on the altar. Cooking fires were burning all around the city as women prepared the lambs. A haze hung in the air, the steam and backlash of a million people and as many animals. Stale breath and sweat and the smell of piss rose in the heat of the day, meld with the bleating of lambs, the bellowing of camels, the crying of children, the ululations of women, and the low buzz of too many voices, until the air was thick with sounds and smells and God and history. Here Abraham received the word of God that his people would be the Chosen, here were the Hebrews delivered out of Egypt, here Solomon built the first Temple, here walked the prophets and the kings of the Hebrews, and here resided the Ark of the Covenant. Jerusalem. Here did I, the Christ, and John the Baptist come to find out the will of God and, if we were lucky, spot some really delicious girls. (What, you thought it was all religion and philosophy?)Our families made camp outside the northern wall of t he city, below the battlements of Antonia, the fortress Herod had built in tribute to his benefactor, Marc Antony. Two cohorts of Roman soldiers, some twelve hundred strong, watched the Temple courtyard from the fortress walls. The women feed and washed the children while Joshua and I carried lambs with our fathers to the Temple.There was something unsettling about carrying an animal to its death. It wasnt that I hadnt seen the sacrifices before, nor even eaten the Passover lamb, but this was the first time Id actually participated. I could feel the animals breathing on my neck as I carried it slung over my shoulders, and amid all the noise and the smells and the movement around the Temple, there was, for a moment, silence, just the breath and heartbeat of the lamb. I guess I fell behind the others, because my father turned and said something to me, but I couldnt hear the words.We went through the provide and into the outer courtyard of the Temple where merchants sold birds for th e sacrifice and moneychangers traded shekels for a hundred different coins from around the world. As we passed through the enormous courtyard, where thousands of men stood with lambs on their shoulders waiting to get into the inner temple, to the altar, to the slaughter, I could see no mans face. I saw only the faces of the lambs, some calm and oblivious, others with their eyes rolled back, bleating in terror, still others seeming to be stunned. I swung the lamb from my own shoulders and cradled it in my arms like a child as I backed out toward the gate. I know my father and Joseph must have come after me, but I couldnt see their faces, just conceitedness where their eyes should have been, just the eyes of the lambs they carried. I couldnt breathe, and I couldnt get out of the Temple fast enough. I didnt know where I was going, but I wasnt going inside to the altar. I turned to run, but a hand caught my shirt and pulled me back. I spun around and looked into Joshuas eyes.Its Gods w ill, he said. He laid his hands on my head and I was able to breathe again. Its all right, Biff. Gods will. He smiled.Joshua had put the lamb hed been carrying on the ground, but it didnt run away. I suppose I should have known right then.I didnt eat any of the lamb for that Passover feast. In fact, Ive never eaten lamb since that day.