The Courier Boy.
A short story by Heidi
Adaroth Nimmus – his names meant ‘lightning brother’ and ‘winter moon’, were reflective of the night he was born, a stormy night in the coldest part of the year. But then, he was also born into one of the coldest parts of the world too – the northern ice-fields of Freyya. This region had permanent ice-fields, frequent snow blizzards and freezing temperatures, with deadly ice bergs in the northern ocean.
How Adaroth wished he was anywhere BUT the northlands! But now perhaps his luck was in. Adaroth had made friends with the wrong sort as a young teenager. One of these friends was ‘connected’ – that is to say his family was into organised crime. Adaroth didn’t believe his friend at first, thinking he was only pulling his leg. When he realised it was true – and his friend proved it by bringing a sizable amount of Sheesh* to him, he was at first afraid. But then, why be? , after all, they were friends.
With some badgering (good-naturedly and in humour of course), Adaroth was soon trying Sheesh and before long, it became a weekly habit, he was able to hide this from his parents.
His friend also had lots of nice things – the latest fashionable clothes, gold jewellery, money to take the girls out with, He could impress! Adaoth was impressed, He was also envious.
"Well, you could do some little jobs for my dad, you’ll get paid and then you can save up a nice little sum for later. You’ll have to save it while you’re living with your parents of course. You don’t want them asking awkward questions about how you got it." Said his friend.
For another brief moment, Adaroth was afraid, as if he was stepping off the edge of something, but he quickly dismissed it, after all – they were friends, yet he was sure there was a hint of something in his friend’s eyes for a split second.
So Adaroth did ‘little jobs’ for his friend’s father, just now and then. His first job – delivering a parcel across town – earned him 30 silver pieces! Soon he was no longer envious but greedy.
And he didn’t want to save what he earned, but to spend it NOW, to impress the girls, to feel special, to be impressionable. Adaroth came to resent living with his parents (loving though they were), they stood in his way. After talking about it with his friend, Adaroth decided to leave home. To run away and work on more important jobs for his friend’s very powerful father.
Very soon, Adaroth was a petty criminal, Though he wouldn’t see himself that way. He couldn’t see how he was changing into an unlikable person. Adaroth’s father worked at the docks as an inspector of cargo. He was tall, strong-built, with iron-gray hair and piercing blue eyes. He loved to smoke his pipe and knew several dialects with which he could speak to the sailors. At home he was a firm but loving father who spent as much time with his 2 sons as he could . Adaroth was the youngest. His brother – Mabaelen was 7 years older and very popular, talented and handsome. All the things Adaroth felt he himself wasn’t. Thus Adaroth was competitive in the wrong way and at first hid his resentments of his brother. But they too began to show.
Adaroth became snidey, sarcastic, using coarse words and getting on Mabaelen’s nerves. He upset his parents who often chided him. They were getting suspicious. This change was not sudden, but he was rapidly becoming a stranger to them. How he hurt his mother!
Espen – his mother, and Radnor, his father, prayed to the All-father, that by the power of the hound of heaven, the cause of Adaroth’s nastiness might be revealed, for they knew he was lying to them, but before Radnor could confront their son, Adaroth left secretly in the night.
*Sheesh is a drug, like Cannabis.
CHAPTER TWO
2 months later,
Adaroth was a long-distance courier. He would travel as far south as the city of Gorbechov and with his team of 6 huskies, he only
had the Rangers who patrolled the various areas around villages to worry about. Sometimes he wondered what was in the bigger parcels
but mostly Adaroth enjoyed the beauty and majestic vistas of the Nozama forest which stretched for over 7,000 miles. He would skirt
it’s western edge and could see where the Spearpoint mountains rose up out of the forest – it’s upper peaks bare of trees and
dazzling white. From here on there lay only the vast expanse of snowfields. Rangers hardly bothered here, because there was no
cover for robbers or highwaymen. But on the long silent journey, Adaroths thoughts sometimes went to unpleasant memories, for they
pricked his conscience. He knew he was helping crime-lords ruin other people’s lives, and he knew for certain the tiny packages
contained Sheesh, for ‘middle men’ to sell on in the cities. 4 months later Adaroths friend was promoted to lieutenant, and the
pressure was on for Adaroth to make something of himself with the family, to go deeper with them.
"We need some-one to scare the addicts who owe us. Late payments need collecting. Rough them up, use whatever force you need to. Look at these weapons! Any one of them is yours, personally, I prefer the ‘skull-cruncher’….." Adaroth’s friend enthused.
Adaroth was horrified to hear his friend speak with all seriousness.
"WHATEVER IT TAKES"!
Either he was in or he was out!! He could never just stay on the edge of the syndicate. But then, neither could he just go home. Adaroth had a good stash of money, he thought of how to get out of the syndicate without incurring their wrath.
CHAPTER 3
It couldn’t have been easier, just take the savings and slip away in the night to a far off region of the world.
He travelled south-east to the city of Attenborough and took a ship from that busy port to cross the sea to the hotter central regions. When he arrived, Adaroth booked himself in to a lodge-house and began looking for work so that he could support himself. But although he searched and searched, no-one had any work for him. Maybe it was because he was so young, or because somehow they knew he was
a dodgy person. At any rate, the money didn’t last and he had to move out. But where?
"Is that MY problem?" asked a disinterested landlord as he shut the door in Adaroth’s face. He turned and looked down the street. Left? Right?. It didn’t really matter which way he went.
After a few hours of walking aimlessly, he realised the sun was setting.
"Better find a place to sleep" thought Adaroth to himself. His first night homeless was under a bridge.
His first few weeks Adaroth spent trying to convince people that he was good enough to be taken on for work. Either there was no work, or (as became more and more evident) he looked less than decent.
Adaroths bag of clothes had been stolen one night as he slept, so now all he had were the clothes on his back, literally. Dirty, smelly, his hair dishevelled and getting longer, Adaroth had no choice but to beg.
Sometimes he got coins, at other times he got scraps or market left-overs. The nights were cold, but at least the season was changing from Spring to Summer, yet the days dragged on. Adaroth had to endure most people blanking him out, or else looking at him down their noses in disdain. He felt humiliated – having to plead with strangers just so he wouldn’t starve. So much for a new life! So much for being impressionable!
CHAPTER FOUR
The central regions were very strict about loiterers and beggars. They had little tolerance for such people, for there were so many of them in the cities. The cities appointed City Rangers who would round up those they found and they would be forced to do menial work, often the sort no-one else wanted to do, and they were kept in a complex of buildings not unlike a prison while they were not working. They would be fed and sheltered, they would be useful, and of course they were not paid because the work they did was considered the price they had to pay the government to be fed and housed. In a sense they were ‘owned’ by the government, having no say in their lives and were little more than slaves. It was also the fate of those who fell into debt, those caught as prostitutes, and petty law-breakers. But NO WAY was Adaroth going to let himself get caught.
But then the months dragged on….
Free, yet starving and dressed in tattered rags – or in bondage with a full stomach and a roof over his head? This was the choice Adaroth would have to make. When winter came around, he would likely not live it through. His corpse would join the other dead beggars – in a ditch outside the city limits.
But Adaroth thought of other things too…
"Adar, you’ve done so well at school, your mother and I want to treat you to that trip to Rockledge.
You’ll like boating on lake Bluewater – we can go fishing together…"
"Hey Ad!, Come and chase me!" cried Mabaelen (or Mab for short). Adaroth remembered how Mab had played with him, all sorts of games, like ice-hockey, sleigh-racing and pretending to be pioneers exploring the wastelands. It wasn’t really Mab’s fault that when he started school that he had less time for Adaroth…
"Adar – this may hurt to begin with, but it will make the wound heal faster. After I’ve done this, you and me can sit by the fire and I’ll read you your favourite story"
"Oh mum! I’ve so many favourites!"
"Well, which one shall I read tonight?"
“Yorgak the explorer!”
Adaroth remembered how lovingly and diligently his mother cared for him, and particularly when he had cut his hand badly while out playing in the woods. Adaroth realised that NONE of them had changed. It was he and the full realisation of the pain he had caused them began to awaken his conscience.
"Adar, son, you’ve got to talk to me. You can’t keep on like this. I know it’s not really you, why this flippancy and sarcastic humour?. Are you being bullied at school?. I don’t want to have to discipline you, but if you carry on like this, I’ll come down hard on you". His father had spoken in desperation and hope.
"What’s up with you?! You broke my model ship on purpose, you’re becoming a right little sod lately" Mabaelen had yelled at him in anger, his face red from shouting. He gave a look of disgust at Adaroth, turned on his heels and slammed the door as he left.
"Adar, we only want to help. I know deep down, you are the same kind, thoughtful, helpful boy that I’ve always loved. You’ll only hurt yourself if you keep on like this. Please share with me!. Whatever you have to say won’t make me reject you. Your father and I love you deeply and we’re not going to give up on you".
Adaroth felt so low. How aweful! So worthless! His family had tried to reach out to him, and he had trodden all over their grace. So the state he was in now – hungry, homeless and friendless was no more than he deserved. Still, he longed to say sorry. He longed for his family to know he did indeed regret how he had treated them…then a thought occurred to him. If only he could beg enough money to get pen, paper, and postage for a letter to send home!.
A few days later, with the money he'd begged, he got to do just that.
CHAPTER FIVE
"Now at last, all our questioning and enquiring has paid off!" said Radnor. He was excited and yet also daunted by the challenge of seeking out Adaroth in the central regions. It had been 2 years since he had left home. Rodnor sat with his wife and his 2 nephews and his brother, Vorrath.
The strain of their son’s disappearance had added gray hair to Radnor, and Espen had a sadness in her eyes that would break the hardest heart.
Now Vorrath spoke…
"Neither of you should make this journey, there will be much searching to do and you don’t know what he will be like. It was quite a shock for you when you found out his part in the crime syndicate. I volunteer myself to go. And one person can travel quicker, rather than a group. Now, let’s pray over this…
If lord, it is your will that we can have Adaroth restored to us, then may it please you to send the Hound Of Heaven to sniff him out and show us the way. Hold me close in your hand, Good God Of The Generous Hand. And as well , Lord, if Adaroth is hard of heart then do WHATEVER is necessary to break that hardness. Restore him to us Lord!"
In unison, all replied "So be it!". Then Vorrath set off for the central regions.
Adaroth walked the streets as a filthy, exhausted and very hungry young man who had lost all hope.
When the Rangers saw him, he used what little strength he had left to run for it, but he crashed into a tall, thin woman carrying a rather delicate ornament. It dropped to the ground and smashed into hundreds of fragments.
The Rangers caught Adaroth , and now he was in even more trouble. The vase was rare and expensive,
"It is obvious.." said the judge with great disdain, "that you cannot afford to replace the vase – such a rare artefact. It is irreplaceable, and so, for the destruction of the vase, I sentence you to life-service under the governments recommendations…….."
The judge droned on but Adaroth was no longer hearing, he had gone white and felt sick and realised he would never be a free man. Suddenly there was a disturbance –
"WAIT! PLEASE!!" a man’s voice bellowed across the hall, everyone turned to see who it was that would dare to interrupt the proceedings. A man of golden hair and full beard with deep blue piercing eyes came toward the judge (who was livid).
"How DARE you?! What is the meaning of this?" the judge demanded.
"Please, your eminence, is there a way to pay the money owed?. This boy is my nephew, it would send his parents to an early grave to never see him again"
"That is hardly my concern, nor that of the law. I know by your accent that you are both from far away. Do you have the money on you?"
"No, but……"
"No but’s!. Once you leave this region, how can I know that you would keep your word to pay? Nor do we suspend cases, the sentence is immediate. No repeal."
The guards moved in to take Adaroth away, but Vorrath wouldn’t give up.
"What if I was to take his place?. Let me be the one to be in servitude"
The judge looked gob-smacked. He motioned to the guards to wait.
"What do you mean? That you would willingly take his place into life-service. For your good-for-nothing nephew?!"
"Yes, your eminence, I would. The law would be satisfied as the sentence is being carried out. Isn’t that what counts to you?." Vorrath challenged
The judge looked at both of them, deciding. A scrawny underweight boy, or a strong-as-an-ox man?.
The answer was obvious…
"No, uncle!. You can’t mean this. You don’t deserve it" shouted Adaroth. But the judge agreed to Varroth’s proposal and he left with the guards, but first he gave Adaroth his ticket to get home. He said nothing but the sadness in Vorraths eyes told Adaroth he did it out of love.
"You’re a free man. Go" sneered the judge.
CHAPTER SIX
Into Attenborough, the ‘Lion’s Chase’ docked. Adaroth travelled long and hard from there to reach his own home-city, Keplerburg. He had a small note he had written, which he intended to post through the door of his parent’s house. It read….
Vorrath has remained in the central regions to fulfil the sentence that I deserved to have, so that I can go free. I wait outside the house. If you don’t open the door to me, I will know you don’t want me back. I deserve nothing from you, I realise I have no right to your love, I can only hope.
The weather was freezing. Dressed in rags, Adaroth wouldn’t last one night in the northern region. He would freeze to death in a few hours time. He watched smoke rise up from the chimney. He posted the note and knocked on the door, and then waited…
Espen went to the door, and saw the letter, but she didn’t need to open the letter to know who it was from, for she recognised the handwriting immediately.
"Radnor! Radnor!" she cried and she rushed to open the door as Radnor and Mabaelen came running to see what was up. They rushed outside to where Adaroth was waiting apprehensively.
“My son! my son!” Radnor cried and embraced him in a fierce bear-hug. Seeing that Adaroth was shivering and wet through, he picked him up and carried him into the house. Adaroth tried to say something,
"Father, I’m so sorry. I’ve done so much damage just because I was jealous"
“Don’t talk of that now. It’s in the past.” Radnor brought him into the safety and warmth of their home. Shocked to see him in such a state, but over-joyed too, Espen took care of Adaroth and began to nurse him back to health.
A few days later, Adaroth was better, and he had asked Mab to cut his now shoulder-length hair. As Mab began cutting, a thought occurred to him – why not hurt him?. After all, Vorrath may suffer for years.
Mab struggled with his feelings, with the temptation to pay back. Did Adaroth really appreciate the cost of his freedom?. What would he do with it, now that he had a second chance?.
Then Adaroth broke the silence…
"Mab, I’ve been thinking a lot lately that I never had the faith that ma and dad have. I realise now that the Alfaeder had his hand upon me, even though I never acknowledged him. Will you help me pray, Mab. Please?"
Mabaelen held the scissors, his hand trembling. Yes – he had lost his uncle, in a sense. But he HAD gained his brother again, and if the Alfaeder chose to give him another chance, who was he to do otherwise, together they knelt down and prayed.
"Oh Good God of the generous Hand, you brought Adaroth back a changed and humbled boy. We trust you to look after our uncle who gave up his freedom for this to happen. We know you are supreme in ALL situations, and so we trust you. Please help us – help us BOTH to grow into the kind of men you can use, to be as our uncle is. Help us be willing to help others and bring you glory, So be it!"
Mabaelen knew he had done the right thing to forgive his brother, for he really had changed. And their trust in God was rewarded when 15 months later, Vorrath returned home, after the lady whose vase had been broken heard about Vorrath’s sacrifice, and she waived the debt outstanding!
THE END
