We had to recall Saulus from the theatre of operations in the East when his cover was blown. He has been sent to the West, Spain I think, to a safe bolt-hole for protection. What a ‘super-grass’ he was, best damned agent we had amongst the Jews. He had almost convinced them to turn into half-gentiles. What an operative - a convincing Jew and with that Roman citizenship for his last minute protection - he was really good. Now, we have to follow up his work with an account of his Acts. He had them believing that he was an Apostle himself, for a while. But, after he got Yeshua’s brother, Justus, stoned, well? What balls! I could never put up with his constant bragging though, glad we sent him off.

So, Lucan, we need a story covering the early history of this new movement we are creating. You know, an exciting introduction, travel, adventure, and all that. Make it ever so slightly pro-Roman and leave the sex out of this one. Write the story to be as historically convincing as possible. Use some of the episodes from my Jewish War and my notes for the Antiquities. Oh, and here are some authentic travel diaries, the ‘We’ documents, weave them into your account. Be careful not to mix up the Herods. Agrippa would not be happy!

This idea of a ‘Peaceful Jew’ will need some selling. I have already inserted some references to this Yeshua figure into the Aramaic edition of my Wars so there is something to pen his character on. Also, Tacitus and Suetonius from the Foreign Office, are going to insert this ‘handy’ character into their official histories. I haven’t used miracles in my history, well not many, but you will need a few to get the interest of the masses. I know this story is ridiculous and hard to swallow, but the Emperor insists we do something as “quick as an asparagus!”

If you need the official records you have been granted a ‘Top Secret’ clearance. You will have access to the War Office files. The governor in Judea at the time was Pontius, he is retired here in Rome, he might remember some of the details. But, then, he crucified so many Jews he might not remember one particular rebel, this Yeshua character. But, try him anyhow, if he hasn’t washed his hands of the whole affair. We don’t have any other actual eye-witnesses, Saulus never met him. We will just have to resurrect the story, somehow.

Lucan, do your work in two volumes, a biography and a history, we have a ready market for readers. We will combine your work with Marcus’ and Matthias’ which will make a handy four volume set. Get them to share some of their episodes with you, not too many, so that all three of you will look somewhat the same, you know, synoptic. Make up whatever you need to fill it out. Send both of your works to His Excellency, Theophilus, of the Imperial Censor’s Office, he will see to their publication.

If this synoptic project works, you three are to be followed up by another account to cause mischief among the mystics who might be tempted to try Judaism. A certain Johanan is willing to write it for us if we release him from exile on Patmos. He has some connections with the Gnostics.

Good work:

Joe.
c.c.: Marcus, Matthias, Epaphroditus, Flavius Clemens.