The ship that left Troas first headed south, sailing toward Miletus.
Traveling by sea during the season of the Eurakylon, the violent storms, could be very dangerous. But today, in the middle of June, the sea was calm and gentle. The ship kept close enough to the land that the coastline never disappeared from sight. It followed a winding route, slipping carefully between islands large and small.
Luke enjoyed the voyage with the simple, open-hearted joy of a child.
This was not his first journey by ship. When his father Alex was still alive, Luke had traveled across the Aegean Sea to Greece, visiting cities such as Athens and Corinth. Many of Alex’s friends lived there.
Luke had been deeply impressed by the magnificent temples he saw in Athens, built for the Greek gods. The great white marble columns stood high on a hill, looking out over the deep blue sea. Although Italy’s Rome had now taken the place of the world’s center, Athens still held its pride as “The city of Knowledge.” Lovers of philosophy gathered on the nearby Hill of the Areopagus, talking and debating from morning until night.
The busy trading city of Corinth was lively in a very different way. Sports and entertainment filled the thoughts of most of its people, and crowds poured through the streets of the city that never seemed to sleep. Luke’s father had little interest in such pleasures, but he did enjoy watching the Isthmian Games, where marathon races were held. In his younger days, Alex himself had once run as a competitor. Luke had been moved by the sight of runners straining with all their strength to win a simple crown made of pine leaves. From that time on, running together with his father became part of Luke’s morning routine.
When Dinah noticed that Luke was no longer in the cabin, she went out onto the deck to look for him. White islands floated beautifully on the turquoise-blue sea. A cool breeze brushed her cheeks and filled the sails. The ship cut through the waves, steadily making its way south. About ten seagulls followed the ship, flying alongside it.
Luke stood at the bow, gazing intently ahead. His early seasickness had passed, and his strength had returned.
“Thank you for coming with me, Luke,” his mother said.
“I could never leave you, Mom,” he replied.
They sat down on a built-in bench and spoke slowly, looking at each other as they talked. Dinah was dressed in Roman-style clothing. Luke thought the bright yellow color suited her very well. Her long hair, left unbraided, danced in the wind.
“Was it hard to say goodbye to your friends?” she asked gently.
“A little,” Luke said. “But Theophilus and I promised to write lots of letters to each other. And just like I promised Grandpa, I’ll come back after three years and go back to school again. So it’s all right.”
“Three years… after three years…” Dinah repeated softly. “Then we must part.”
“It’ll be okay,” Luke said with a smile. “When I become a doctor, I’ll come and get you. And doctors are needed in your homeland too, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” she answered. “They are. …Still, I wish I could stay close and watch you grow.”
“I want to stay with you too,” Luke said. “But I also want to become a fine doctor, just like Father.”
As she looked at him, Dinah thought that Luke’s smile was very much like her husband’s. His black hair was like her own, but his face and bright eyes clearly showed his Greek heritage. She wondered quietly whether he would be accepted by everyone in the land of Israel.
Throughout the voyage, Dinah taught Luke her homeland’s language, Hebrew. Luke was a quick learner, and before long he could manage simple conversations. Together, they read from a Hebrew scroll of Psalms that they had obtained in Troas. Deciphering the strangely shaped letters felt to Luke like solving a puzzle.
One word Luke learned especially quickly was “Jehovah” — the name of the God of his mother’s people.
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