Two
sentry soldiers were on patrol at the international border. At this
place at the border there were miles of open grassland up to the
snow-capped mountain range. The sentry building was a small
three-compartment building. Because of the terrain, the actual border
line-on-the-ground was about a hundred steps away from the building,
in the direction of the mountain range.
The
war was in its fourth year. That international land border crossing
had not had an unpleasant incident. It was as if at this spot, there
was no war between the Nations. Perhaps because that was a remote
location of no strategic importance.
The
sentries saw someone approaching. This was an unusual event. That was
the first time that someone approached them. They had taken up duty
here a year ago.
What
do you think?
Looks
harmless. Even looks a little like someone I could know.
Looks
as if he is familiar with the surroundings. He’s waving.
A
well-dressed elderly man approached, casually.
My
countrymen, hello!
Stop!
Yes. Of course.
Who
are you, sir?
At
your service, sirs. Zradan Peru. Clothing merchant.
How
can we be of help, sir?
My
entire life, sirs, I have lived not far from here. As a boy I ran
across this border many times. As a merchant,my usual walk
is in the other direction. Not much to see this way.
Your
usual walk?
Yes,
sir.
So,
today is just an aberration?
Aberration?
Good word, young man.
What?
We sentries are not educated well enough to use a word as big as
aberration?
Oh,
sir, sir, I apologize. Misunderstanding. My family has soldiers.
Every one among the highest educated in the family. Three,
unfortunately, have already given their lives for their country.
Soldiers
in the family, huh?
Oh,
yes. Yes, sir.
Where
are you going? Sir?
I'm
visiting my niece.
This
road leads into enemy territory, Mister Peru.
I
know. Sad. Never used to, for generations. I usually stop back there
at my friend's home. I'll return, and take my usual road.
Your
usual walk is in the other way?
Yes,
sir.
That
usual walk in the other way also took you into enemy territory?
Yes,
sir. There are guards there, too, sir. Our noble countrymen. Yours
and mine. They know me well.
Why
this far today? What's special about today?
My
friend suggested it. He said it's just as safe, and might be shorter.
He said there's never been war goings-on here since the war began.
So,
you will still be visiting the enemy by that other usual walk?
My
niece, sir, isn't enemy. She is one of us, you and I, sir.
But
she lives among the enemy.
With
relatives. Sir, only family have lived there since before the enemy
invaded.
She
lives among the invaders?
Yes.
All of them have to since the invaders took over, sir. The invaders
have been kind to allow them.
Kind.
Yes. Very. Would you not agree, Sentry?
Absolutely.
Most kind.
Uh,
yes. My niece visits here across the border, sometimes. No problems.
Good
for her.
Yes,
sir.
Your
gloves, Mister Peru. Unusual design.
Imported,
sir. My hat, too. Supposed to last forever, in gentlemanly use.
Material is metal engineered to behave like silk. Some secret in the
food especially bio-engineered for the silkworms.
May
I try them on?
My
apologies, sentry, please. I respectfully decline. They are a special
order. Designed for my hands only.
Sir,
do you know this is a dead-end road?
Oh,
yes, I know, sir. It's dead-end to only vehicles. A dead-end for
generations. Since I was a child. Pedestrians cross over all the
time.
All
the time? Sentry, you see people crossing all the time?
Definitely
not.
Gentlemen,
you're right. I should return to use my usual road.
Hold
it! We are at war. You're on the way to our enemy. You do not have
official permission. Sentry, Does this begin to stink to you?
Most
certainly. Stinky, stinky. Tell us about your niece, sir.
Of
course. Delighted to. Most beautiful. An orphan now for thirteen
years.
Ready
for marriage?
To
one of us?
Why
not, gentlemen? I will mention the two of you. Loyal countrymen.
We
will toss a coin.
Or,
sir, you can choose. Which one of us do you think would better match
your niece?
Gentlemen,
I favour the coin. Each of you is a most noble addition to any
family.
And
you will support the winner’s claim?
Of
course. He will be a god’s choice. Who am I to oppose the gods?
Indeed, I will not tell my niece there was a loser. Perhaps the three
of us ought to pledge to never divulge these circumstances to my
niece?
A
most practical suggestion, Zradan Peru.
I
agree. I pledge to the two of you, on my honour, I will never tell
the niece of Zradan Peru of our spinning a coin for her hand in
marriage.
I
swear.
Me,
too. I do happily swear. I do not have a coin. I always make sure I
have no money on me wherever I cross this border.
That
is not a problem. You go on across the border, penniless, to visit
your niece. By the time you return we will have spun a coin.
I
thank the both of you. I will see you again right here in a few
hours.
The
merchant walked away, penniless, to visit his niece across the
border. The one sentry kept his eyes on the merchant. The other
sentry searched for a coin.
One
coin coming up to get one of us a wife.
No.
Huh?
I
said he looked like someone I could know.
You
know him?
That
niece he is visiting could be the one I wanted to marry. She wanted
to marry me. He disapproved. He slapped me away with those gloves.
What?
And you let him walk away?
We
should have arrested him.
I
have a better plan. Obviously, he does not recognize me. When he
returns, we will tell him I won the spin.
What
if this is a different niece?
You’re
right. We should have asked him for his niece’s name.
When
he returns, let’s ask him her name before we tell him who won
the spin. If she’s not yours, I won.
Good
enough. But, then, what about my revenge?
We
are sentries. He is bound to pass this way again, after I am married
to his niece.
Great!
I will keep the gloves!
And
I, the hat.
Contact
Ezra (Unless
you
type
the
author's name in
the subject
line
of the message we
won't know where to send it.)
