About the Book
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Different Roads, Same Direction” follows three centurions bound by the Roman code of trust in command, discipline, and personal strength. Furtis has roamed the empire for forty years seeking an unnamed purpose. His brother Dux relies on measurable proof, while Julius, a shipwreck survivor, contemplates the meaning of his existence. Each man embarks on a distinct journey but ultimately converges in a profound moment outside Jerusalem. This historical fiction delves into a pivotal yet overlooked moment, illuminating the stories of soldiers rarely acknowledged in history. Darrell Smith brings their narratives to life in this compelling portrayal.
BOOK
WHAT'S INSIDE THE BOOK
1
Furtis's Road
Centurion: Journey to Faith
Forty years into a career that has carried him across the empire, Furtis is still searching for something he can’t name, until a servant’s fever brings him face to face with a stranger outside Capernaum, and he hears the words that will follow him for the rest of his life: I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
2
Dux's Road
Predestined to Choose
Raised on Pythagoras and proof by a grandfather who commanded Caesar’s Tenth Legion, Dux has never trusted anything he couldn’t measure. When his brother Furtis writes home about a road that Jupiter and Mars have no interest in, Dux is left to decide whether the thing that changed his brother can be trusted without being proven first.
3
Julius's Road
The Centurion Who Saved Paul
A centurion entrusted with carrying prisoners to the emperor for judgment, Julius begins what becomes a two-year trek across the empire. Along the way, his road becomes more than an assignment. It becomes a test of duty, loyalty, and the kind of man he wants to be. When the journey finally ends, Julius receives a gift he understands in a way he never expected.
4
The Nameless
A Cycle of Testimonies
History never recorded the names of the soldiers who carried out the crucifixion itself, the ones who gave the order, confirmed the death, and stood close enough to hear a dying man’s final words. This closing part gives them back their voices and asks what it costs a soldier to stand that close to something he can’t explain.