‘Truth is always truth. Lies are always lies. It’s either one or the other, for there can be nothing in between!’ My voice is trembling slightly with the effort to keep it level.

Oh, how I hate this self-righteousness! ‘We’re the only ones who know the truth! We’re the only ones who have the right to decide who is allowed to know the truth. Because we’re the chosen ones and all the others are too stupid and unworthy of our sacred knowledge.’

Bullshit!

I feel my cheeks flush. Father must have noticed my agitation and shakes his head disapprovingly.

‘You’re young and lack the experience. Your judgments are flawed, and your emotions get the better of you. Wisdom comes with age.’ His quiet voice is still steady.

Yeah, okay, I’m too young, but at least I’m sincere!

‘If wisdom means having a stone for the heart, then I’d rather be stupid!’

Father shakes his head again.

‘Yeshua, being stupid will only get you in trouble with Sanhedrin. If you start stepping on their toes, they won’t tolerate it. They have too much at stake.’

Oh, I have no doubt about that! Their own asses are at stake, and those, of course, are the most precious part of their organisms.

‘That bunch of liars and hypocrites!’ My self-control has its limits, and I’m not going to stretch them. Not on the account of those assholes, anyway. ‘They care about no one but themselves. I don’t give a damn about their opinion!’

The restraint finally lost, father speaks forcefully:

‘Son, if they decide that you’re dangerous to them, they’ll snap your head right off, literally—and won’t think twice about it!’

Do they expect me to cower in fear and give in? Then they don’t know me!