Leneeca (Part One)

Neecie’s heart is as big as she is tall.  She stands about six foot, but when she wears heels and has her thick brown hair piled up on top of her head she stands tall at a firm six foot five.  She is the tallest one in our little family and she will always take care of others before she does anything for herself.  That is her nature and that is how we found her in a small Celt community 30 miles south of York.  It was around 77 AD, a few years after the Romans conquered the north of England.  Neecie (or Leneeca) was the only person in her village that had the knowledge to treat illness and injury and she was kept busy from day to day treating her people due to the unrest in her region and the Roman conquest.  When we met her she was twenty years old (middle aged for that time period) and bore heavy responsibilities regarding her duties to the to the chiefs and elders.  Her people were conquered and beaten down by the Romans, and the wounded rebels that remained were hidden in her village around the outer areas within the hills and caves.  Eve and I happened upon the village when traveling with the Roman legions to record the events for the senate back in Rome.  We were privileged while with the Roman’s and were treated well by their leaders and generals.  Although we walked freely among the conquerors, we felt very badly for this proud conquered people.  We had been among them for two months when we met Leneeca and instantly took a liking to her.

Leneeca had an intense concentration and focused on what was in front of her with all of her attention, listening keenly to every word spoken to her, as though if she misunderstood what someone was saying it would cause the end of the world.  Eve befriended Leneeca soon after they met and would help her with the wounded and the sick whenever she could.  One day, after a long childbirth and acting as midwives, they sat before an evening fire to converse.

“So Leneeca, how did you come about tending to the sick?  Do you have formal training as a physician? “  Eve asked as they relaxed after the delivery of a baby.

Leneeca changed her posture and turned her full attention to the conversation, “My father was one of the King’s physicians. He taught me everything I know and encouraged me to continue helping our people.”

“Where is he now?” Eve inquired.

“He was murdered by the Romans, along with my mother, brothers and husband during the conquest --- murdered by you and your kind --- filthy and uncaring Roman people.”  She said this without emotion in a beaten down monotone voice. 

Although spoken emotionless, there was a tinge of challenge in the words she said to Eve.  Eve sensed this and replied, “I am not Roman.  I am Greek, and I can’t really say what Joseph is.  We are not here to conquer but to record history for those that requested it.  I am so sorry for your losses and I wish you could feel relief from the silent grieving you must be bearing.”

Leneeca stared blankly at Eve.  She had the perfect “poker face” and Eve could not read what she may have been thinking. After a moment of silence Leneeca broke in, “You are guilty just by being with them.”  She got up and went to her quarters for the night without saying anything else to Eve.

“Did the baby come without any problems?” I asked Eve as she came into our tent and laid down beside.  She pulled my arms around her for me to hold her as she nestled into a comfortable position.

“The baby was fine, but Leneeca has a problem with us.  She thinks we are filthy Romans.”

I gently moved her auburn hair to the side and looked at her face. “We are not Romans.  She is a complex young woman that has the entire world on her shoulders.  We can spend more time with her and show her that we are different.  She needs to know not everyone is evil and we can help her as long as we are here. Isn't that our eternal purpose?”

“I suppose you’re right.  I just hate to see people wasting away because time slowly consumes them.  She is such a good and caring person with a great passion for making people well.  She is very unique to our time.”

“Well, my love, I said, “I think this will be an interesting chapter in our ongoing story.”

(CONTINUED . . . .)

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