A/N: It see I've messed up my timeline of events. I think today's story will later be moved so that it is right after 'The Chain.' Sorry for the confusion.

We passed through Samaria next, on our route from Samaria to Galilee. Jesus was always on the move. While he was often welcomed into people's houses, he and those who followed him frequently slept outside.

He was also frequently alone so that he could pray. Also because, I think, being around people drained him. It seemed an odd characteristic for such a charismatic personality to have.

Regardless, Jesus stopped to rest by by Jacob's Well one hot afternoon while disciples were buying meat and tending to the needs of the other followers.

The well was a small stone building with a narrow entrance. About five or six spans inside was a cylindrical room with a deep shaft leading deep into the earth at its center.

The place was a common stopping point for travelers, with many convenient rocks--most of which had been carried here--for people to take their rest. There was also shade, thanks to the cypress trees growing all around.

While Jesus sat there, resting, a woman approached the well--a Samaritan. She was not particularly remarkable, clothed in a long robe which was worn but clean.

I watched her. When she saw Jesus, she averted her gaze from him and made to approach the well on the opposite side from where he sat. Jews and Samaritans weren't the best of friends.

"Greetings," Jesus said to her.

She startled, glancing at him briefly, then backing away.

"This sun is so hot and I've been walking all morning," he said. "Could you please get me a drink?" Jesus asked.

The woman laughed nervously. "Why are you asking me? Don't you know that I'm a Samaritan?"

He stared at her with those piercing, pale brown eyes of his--letting her see, only partly, the divine flame within.

"If you knew the gift of God, you would ask me for a drink, and I would give you living water."

What was Jesus up to here? I saw no opportunity for temptation, but perhaps I'd learn something about him and what his purpose was in taking on flesh.

For a moment she stood as his words took their effect on her. I could see her shiver as she stepped backward. Again, she let out a nervous laugh. "How--how could you do that? You have nothing to draw with and the well is very deep."

When Jesus didn't reply, she went on. "I mean, Jacob made this well, as I'm sure you must know. If you could give me running water that would be--well that would be impossible." Yet another laugh. "Of course, you're not. That would be ridiculous, after all--"

"Listen to me. Whoever drinks this water will not thirst again," Jesus said.

She took another step backward and looked around.

So, Jesus had chosen this woman to dazzle with his supernatural powers. From what I could tell from his body language and the emotions flowing off him, he didn't seem attracted to her. Obviously, he had some other purpose.

"How--how do you--I mean what are you--I mean--" Here she paused. She glanced at the well, then back at Jesus. "Give me some of this water. Please. So I don't have to keep coming here. It's a long trip, you know, to make every day. I go through a lot of shoes."

Jesus nodded. "Go and get your husband, then return here and I will do so for you."

She grinned, looked at the ground and shook her head. "I have no husband. I mean, I'd like to have one, you know, it's just that--"

"Photini," Jesus said.

On hearing her name, the woman became silent. It was a bit of a relief. She was a talker and her voice had a slight nasal quality which quickly became annoying.

"I know you don't have a husband, though you have had five husbands and the man you live with now is not your husband."

"Sir, I can see you are a prophet, but you aren't of our people, right? I mean we worship on this mountain and you Jews worship in Jerusalem. Are you here to settle this controversy?"

Jesus rose and walked toward her. She shook and clutched her water vase against her body like a shield.

"Your people worship what you do not know, we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews."

She stood silent for a moment, then said. "Well, when the Messiah comes, he'll explain it all, won't he?"

"I am he," Jesus said.

"I--I should tell others about you," she said. "I should go back to my home and the people there."

"Bring water with you, share it. Know that whenever you do so, you and the people you help are partaking of the living water."

She smiled, turned, and walked rapidly away. She looked back a few times.

"She's frightened," I said.

If Jesus heard me, he gave no sign. With an effort, I made myself visible to him.

"Why were you kind to her just now? She's an adulteress. Your law says she should be stoned for her sins."

Jesus shook his head. "That is not my law."

"Of course it is. It's in the Torah."

To this, he gave no answer. He simply pierced me with his gaze, as if he were willing me to understand some deeper point.

"Why were you so kind to a Samaritan? Surely, you don't think those people are better than fallen angels, do you? And Cassia is in the pits of sheol, where you sent her."

Jesus smiled. "There are many things you will never understand, Darius. Accept that you will always have uncertainty and have faith in the Father's plan."

At this I laughed. When taking on human form, the Son of God seemed to have also made himself hopelessly naive. Did he not know how much suffering there was in the universe? There was no way I could trust any god who allowed that.

"You think it a joke, but some day, I'd like to see you carrying living water, distributing my mercy to others."

I tried to laugh again, but failed. Something about the words he'd just spoken frightened me.

"You've spent too long in the sun," I said, and withdrew from his sight.