Samal (Paperback)

Sent by Herod to Bethlehem as part of a small army to kill every male child under the age of two, Husam is sent in early with Arif to find the Christ child. Upon finding a farmer getting ready for the day, Husam learns that the child and his parents have fled. Because of this Husam wants to stop the attack. However when confronted by Arif, a fellow soldier and friend, Husam is torn between what he is and what he knows is right. After arguing with Arif, Husam accidently kills a young boy. Arif kills the boy's father and while reveling in it is struck down by Husam. Husam then walks into the desert vowing to himself to never kill again. Thirty years later, we find Husam has changed his name to Samal and living quietly as an engraver in Jerusalem while drinking himself to death. A new prophet has come to town named Jesus and despite Mathias, an old friend who knows Samal's real identity, persistence; Samal refuses to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Soon though Samal is forced to face Jesus, when he is ordered to make the titulus for Jesus' cross by Pilate. It is there that he begins to see who Christ truly is and what it means in an old soldier's life...