The squeaking of the cart's wheels grew louder as the horse towing it began to run. The soldier adjusted his bronze helmet. He pulled the reins, and the horse came to a halt. The soldier unrolled a scroll.
"We have a ruling from Quirinus the governor!" He announced.
Doors opened. Inhabitants stepped out, some washing dishes. Gasps rose. Miryam and her family emerged from their home, heads cocked and eyebrows raised. Miryam's stomach had grown.
"A soldier," an old woman with a brown garment and dirty face whispered.
The soldier paused, then cleared his throat.
"Everyone must return to his home city for a census," the soldier announced, "effective in three days' time. You may now return to your homes."
Inside Miryam's home, the children were filled with chatter.
"Where do we have to go?" Chaya asked.
Jochobed tipped Chaya's chin up and said, "Bethlehem."
Miryam tiptoed to the open doorway and stared across the town square. Yosef had his head down and strode across the square until he entered his home. Miryam sighed.
"I can't do this," she whispered. "I'm due in two weeks."
She didn't even really know him. Her parents and his had arranged the marriage. She would be raising Yeshua without a father figure who could provide for him. She would never have any other children, and worse, everyone thought she had fathered Yeshua with another man. Tears stung in her eyes. She forced the emotion down, and she pulled back the partition that separated her sleeping area from the other rooms.