The
two bandits, identical twin brothers, made their living by robbing
travelers on the road.
They
were not greedy robbers; nor were they ambitious. They were satisfied
with having just enough for a few days at a time. And so they were
not robbing every day. Sometimes, when they happened to rob a wealthy
traveler, they would not be seen for days on end. This was their
casual carefree life until the war erupted between their country,
Troy, and Greece which was far away across an ocean.
The
invading Greeks arrived to try to conquer Troy. The Trojan robber
brothers had no qualms about abandoning Troy. They fled to find
travelers to rob on roads far away from Troy.
The
one brother said to the other, Let us stop here.
Good.
We have been walking for two days.
That's
not the reason. There's a more important reason.
What?
Look
around.
The
other looked around, and observed, A country road. Like any country
road. When you have seen as many as we have---.
This
one is much, much travelled- on. And recently.
The
other looked around, again, more carefully. You're right, my brother.
Which
means we'll be in business soon.
Unless
much travelled-on includes patrols by Greeks.
The
other spoke while kneeling on one knee and inspecting the ground in
detail. He shook his head slightly as he spoke, Uh-uh. I am an expert
in Greek tracks. None here. These are the tracks of honest travelers.
Good.
The very
best of victims. He drew
his sword and struck and stabbed the air a few times. I'm starving.
Come, my precious victims. Please, come soon. They sat on the ground.
The
one said, We
dare not eat before
they come.
Eat
what?
Oh,
shoot! I keep forgetting.
We
are quite far from Troy. You think marauding Greeks maraud this far?
Not
if Troy falls. Then Greeks go back to Greece.
Hah!
Troy will never fall. God Poseidon built Troy's walls to stand
forever.
Then
why civilian groups in urgent flight so secretly at night?
Just
people looking for escape from war. When Troy wins, they will flood
back as fast as they are running away to escape the war. Recall that
bunch we infiltrated? Nothing on them we could steal.
Something
strange is going on. These poor are organized. There's purpose in
their movement. Like rats aware the ship is sinking, but being extra
careful when, and at which spot to jump ship.
The
rats have rights, since they are not the cause the ship is sinking.
Was
I imagining, or were there those two hooded rats kept showing special
interest in us?
Imagination. Too dark for me to see. All
rats are drawn to stink. We stink. We
haven't bathed in weeks.
I
do not smell a stink.
Of
course you don't. One stinky is normal to all other stinkies.
That
stint in the Skamander river does not count as bathing?
Fully
clothed and dunking deep in hiding from a lynch mob we just robbed,
does not count as bathing.
Occurs
to me, if signs of travel on this road are mostly from poor rats,
we're going to starve to death. We'll have to look for business
somewhere else.
We
should have made a grab at that one they referred to as Princess. She
was the likeliest to have a thing or two of value.
They
also said she was insane. You disrespect an insane person, gods will
jump on you from a great height.
She
didn't seem insane to me. She knew precisely what to do and say.
Of
course, she did. She wasn't mad like you and me. She was Princess
Royal mad.
Princess
or not, mad ones are best. They don't ask for pay.
Do
not ask me. I haven't had insane or sane throughout this war.
Nor
me.
So
sad.
What?
What's so sad?
I
don't recall who was my last.
Which
means there might not have been a last!
He
spoke softly, lowering his voice, and speaking as much to himself as
to his brother, Which means there might not have been a first.
You
gods! Give me a break!
I
remember! Cressida!
The
other looked at him, speechless, a second or two, You're right! She
was about to be my first. Her Uncle burst into the room and dragged,
and kicked me out!
What's
sadder, yet, is that our more pressing problem nowadays is getting
food.
I'm
hungry all the time. I haven't eaten enough in weeks. Much more of
this, and I'll enlist in the Trojan army, just for food.
You'd
better join up soon because the way the war is going, I hear, there
might not be an army for much longer. He paused because he noticed
an unfamiliar look on his brother's face. What?
Have
we been here before today?
We've
reconnoitered here the last few days.
Something
else. A cave? A cave! There is a cave!
You're
right! But that was so long ago. Whatever brings that cave to mind?
I
do not know. We were a family? Hey! Wait a minute! I do know! The
scent!
The
scent?
This
forest. The trees. We have been here before today.
When?
Miss
Sneddon? Our Biology teacher? I had a crush on her. Remember?
Why
would I not recall the only teacher did not say that you and I would
not accomplish anything worthwhile?
Beside
the point, though all of them are right, so far. Miss Sneddon said
the sense of smell sometimes brings up a memory of a long forgotten
happening. Remember?
No,
I do not. But Miss Sneddon could have said it. Of all our teachers,
she had the highest IQ. That, I remember.
And
that's what's happening in me right now, right here. We have been
here before today. I am remembering the scent of vegetation.
And
what about the cave? How does the cave fit in?
I
don't know. For a few seconds both brothers were lost in thought.
The
one mentioned softly, in light humor, Remember Norman Linderboom?
The
bully who made a point to always sit behind us in the classroom?
Oh,
brother, do I remember him? We eventually got him, as tall and as big
as he was. We got him.
Yeah,
the bully who made a point of repeating what those teachers said of
us.
Everybody
celebrated when he accidentally drowned on Sneddon's class field
trip.
An
accident of which we were prime suspects of engineering.
The
other suddenly jumped up. Shhhh!
I hear something.
They
hid. Two travelers walked by. Each wore a large backpack, and a
sword.
Traveller,
whispering, Stop!
Other
traveler, What?
I
smell sweat.
Of
course you're smelling sweat. We're soaked in it.
Smells
differently.
While
you work on smells of sweat, let's rest a bit.
No.
I'm tired, too. But let's push on. We can't be far from people.
Better rest there than here.
You're
guessing. I have travelled fifteen years to and from people. This is
my first time on this road, because of the war. I do not know how
near we are to people.
Could
we be lost?
We
are not lost. I know the stars. We planned this course a little
farther East of Troy than usual.
Okay.
I've changed my mind. Let's rest.
Good.
I'm thirsty and I'm hungry.
They
sat on the ground. They put their backpacks and swords on the ground.
They took items of food from their backpacks and pockets, and ate and
drank.
One
traveler observed, casually, I broke my rule this time.
What
rule?
I
have not travelled anywhere abroad with less than five persons.
Originally,
eight said they would join. Unseasonal wet weather interfered.
Just
two would not have been a problem had the war not reached so far away
from Troy.
I
didn't expect that Troy would give up on protecting travelers.
It's
helped, so far, that we detoured to this so far-off route.
It
has. We haven't seen a Greek the last two days. But let's not think
Greek soldiers are the only hostiles we can meet.
You're
right. This is a road. It would not be here if there wasn't traffic.
I
am too old for this. Returning will be my last trip.
Might
be the last for everyone, if Arza's right. For once.
The
seer? Blind old goat. He's not predicted anything that ever did come
true.
Perhaps
because he speaks in riddles no one can unravel.
I
know. Like when he saw Troy's mighty empire on the banks of the
Rubicon river.
I
have heard about that prophecy. He prophesied that long before this
war when Troy was prosperous. Has anyone unraveled Rubicon?
None
that I have heard.
Wherever
Rubicon might be, let's hope the blind old goat is right, because it
means that Troy will win this war, and we can still conduct our
trade.
Has
anybody heard another prophecy since Rubicon from that old goat? My
last was Rubicon.
I
do not know of others. Rubicon was my last, too. Before this war.
Poor
Arza could be dead. I wish a chariot sent by a god took him to
heaven.
You
know, this war means there's a real possibility we won't find buyers
in any place.
I
know. Especially for items ordered by one customer. In normal
circumstances families assume responsibility. I've never had to deal
with families in times of war.
Let's
share the information of our goods, so that while we are selling our
own, we might find customers for the other. I specialize in
medicines. I'll write a list of illnesses for you.
I
have a one-of-a-kind set of hat and gloves made for Lord-----.
The
bandit twins entered, swords drawn.
The
one bandit spoke, Stay
calm. We
don't want all your wealth. Just half of it. We're simple robbers.
We would rather not hurt anyone.
One
traveller jumped
up and grabbed
his sword, We'd rather hurt and kill you!
Both
travelers attacked. In the ensuing fight, it was obvious that the
travelers were outmatched.
The
one bandit, almost impatiently pleaded, Give
it up before we are obliged to hurt you.
The
other bandit, in the same vein as his brother, We don't want all your
wealth. We want only half.
We
keep our weapons?
Certainly.
No tricks.
The
travelers exchanged looks of agreement. The one traveler, not caring
to hide his relief, All right.
Everybody
sheathed their swords.
The
one brother offered, Go ahead and make the halves.
Contact
Ezra (Unless
you
type
the
author's name in
the subject
line
of the message we
won't know where to send it.)
