by R.N. Decker
The Devil laid his head in her lap once more and in just moments he was fast asleep. But this time he was in such a deep slumber his snores shook the walls and nearly shattered the windows.
The noise the Devil was making brought a groan from Pax. The noise he made was slight but audible to Ajattar. “Stop that,” she hissed at him. “He will awake again soon enough without you. I still have to get another hair.”
Pax groaned again before saying, “It hurts, that noise. I don’t know how much longer I can take it.”
“Well, hush,” she said to him again.
And with those words, quick as she could, yanked out another of the Devil’s golden hairs.
The Demon Angel jerked up from his slumber and yelled, “What!” Grabbing his head, rubbing the spot where the hair used to be. “What are you doing, old woman?”
Ajattar, in her sweetest voice, said to the Devil, “Do not think ill of me, my son. I have had another bad dream.”
“What this time?” growled the Devil, baring his many sharp teeth.
Ajattar said, “I dreamed I was standing in a certain kingdom where a mighty tree stands, and once upon a many years gone by, it bore golden apples. But now, it doesn’t. The citizens of this once rich place were weeping and making a mighty cry for help.”
The explanation from the old woman sent the Old Devil into gales of laughter, forgetting about the slight the old woman had made on him.
“Why laugh so?” asked she.
“I know of this kingdom also. The tree has a mouse gnawing at the root of it. If the townspeople were to but rid them of it, the tree would once more produce its golden fruit. But they must hurry, if not stopped, this tiniest of His creatures will cause the tree to wither and die and never come back.
“But, woman,” snarled the Devil, his temper coming to a boil, “I am tired of these dreams. If you disturb my sleep again, you may get a boxing across the ears for your trouble.” His eyes turned a fiery shade of red.
Ajattar only smirked. She knew the next time might be worse, but she’d dealt with the Father of all Demons for a long time and was confident she could handle him.
The Devil, standing beside the old woman’s armchair, looking at her and seething, turned a pinkish color and Ajattar could clearly see horns standing out from his forehead.
“Ah, poor son, no need for anger towards me. Come, sleep.” Ajattar held out her arms as if for a comforting embrace.
The Devil huffed mightily through his nostrils, dismissing her and laid back down, once again putting his head in the old woman’s lap.
Ajattar used her knowledge of him to soothe him back to slumber once more. She stroked his head cooing to him as a mother were cooing a frightened child picking the lice out of his hair. And within moments, once again, he was fast asleep. And without thinking twice, she grabbed the third hair and yanked it out.
The Devil roared. “What!” Grabbing his head. He jumped to his feet and put his hand back as if to deliver a cuff to Ajattar’s head.
The old woman jerked back and quickly said, “How can you treat me such for the dreams I have? Do you know what causes them? Can you stop them?”
The Devil couldn’t answer. He froze in place, her words sinking in, and he had no answer. He didn’t control dreams, only emotional states of consciousness. A humans subconscious did the rest. Bad or good, they depended on them. She was right after all. He slowly lowered his hand and asked sarcastically, indignantly, “What was it this time? A dream of another tree? A fountain. Something else equally of no value to me?”
“No,” she answered.
“What then?” asked the Foul One, curious despite himself.
“The dream was of a ferry and the man who steers it. He is trapped going back and forth across a foul smelling river. He can’t touch the earth on either side or be released from his duties.”
Satan looked at the old woman and grinned. He didn’t laugh, but the old woman could see he wanted to. With a smirk he said, “The fool! He knows nothing! The river holds the vessel and the vessel must have a rudder. So he is trapped. If he passes the oar or staff to a passenger, that passenger will be trapped instead of him and therefore be released from his duty.”
“It sounds like a miserable existence,” said Ajattar. “No wonder it woke me.”
The devil had forgotten about being upset with Ajattar, even about using her lap as a pillow, but he hadn’t forgotten about her pulling his hair. So, without saying anything else, he went to a nearby corner and laid down and promptly went back to sleep.
Ajattar watched as the Father of all Demons fell sleep, curled into a little ball like a babe. She said nothing as he walked to the corner, but her grin said volumes. She and the Devil had a very long history together and she knew he wouldn’t wake until morning.
Part 7
Journey Again
Ajattar handed the three hairs to the young man. Holding them out for him to grasp, she said, “Go on. You can be with your wife now.”
After the Devil had awakened the next morning and fled the small cabin, not saying anything, Ajattar removed the small ant from her pocket and gave it back its true shape and size.
Through a mist of power, a shape formed in front of her. And within mere moments, Pax was once again human.
Taking the three hairs and carefully putting them in the lining of his shirt so they couldn’t blow away, or be lost on the journey home, he tried to thank the old woman. “I don’t know how to properly say thank you.” His eyes misted over with tears thinking of his lovely bride, Europa, waiting for him.
Ajattar shook her head. “No. There is no need for that. You must go. I was once young also, you know.”
With a smile plastered on the old woman’s face, Pax could almost see her as she might have been long ago. “You heard what the Demon said?” she asked. “About the questions you needed answered?”
Pax nodded. A lump in his throat prevented him from answering right off. After a moment he said shakily, “Yes, and I’ll take care to remember.” Turning from the old woman he went to the cabins door.
Before leaving he looked back to the old woman once more and simply said, “Thank you.”
Chapter 8
Part 1
Homeward Bound
Kharon watched as Pax and his mule train came up to the palace’s front steps. He was standing outside waiting for him as he came through the portcullis of Tyre. Guards of the watch had announced the coming of the boy.
Waiting for the supposed child of good fortune, Kharon stood with fists cocked on hips. When he made it to the step, the king asked without ceremony, “Did you get them?”
Pax said nothing. He dismounted his horse, which had been given to him by the villagers of Miletus, and stood facing his father-in-law.
He smiled a warm and welcoming smile.
Part 2
Ferryman’s Answer
The ferryman was still waiting for Pax as he came to the shore. He’d told the man to wait and he did. Either that or he came back across the river to fetch him. Either way, he was waiting.
“Come, come, my friend,” said the ferryman, in his craggy voice. He waved to Pax encouraging him, showing his rotten and crooked teeth in a hideous grin. “Let me take you away from this place.” He looked behind Pax at the smoking ruin of a forest and the dead trees.
Pax nodded and took a step onto the ferry, where the man said coldly, “When you have told me the answer to my dilemma if you have one.”
Pax stopped in his tracks and looked at the man with a huge grin on his face. “I found your answer ferryman. But you will stay as you are until I reach the other side. I will not say anything until I am safely across this fetid river.”
The stick of a man thought a moment, then agreed. “That’s fair, boy. But if you do not answer my question when we get to the other side, I will make sure you never leave this boat.”
Pax nodded agreeably. “No problem, for I know what you seek and I have an answer.”
&
nbsp; The man shoved his boat out into the river and slowly poled it across. This crossing was no better than the first for Pax. The river smelled like a sewer and the water looked as if nothing could possibly live in it. Eddies and currents of the channel swirled gooey green slime back and forth causing Pax’s stomach to lurch every time he watched.
When finally they reached the other side, the ferryman positioned the boat in such a way to not allow Pax passage to the bank. To disembark he would have to go through the steersman first. Looking at the youth the skeletal man asked with eagerness, “What is the answer to my problem?”
“When another passenger comes to your ferry, hand him your steering pole. He will take your place as the ferryman. Your time will be at an end and you will be free.”
Part 3
Miletus Again
After a few days of travel on the road back to his wife and his life, he stopped counting the days he’d been gone. It seemed all of them were the same; one overlapping the next, morning until night, sleeping where he could, finding food where he had to, and then waking to do it all again. It was one continual step after the other to reach his goal of getting back to Europa. His thoughts centered on her and only her.
Until he reached Miletus; the town where their tree no longer grew golden apples.
When he reached the southern gates of Miletus he knew he was finally coming to the end of his long journey. Coming from this direction, away from hell instead of going to it, he was faced with not a wall, but a guard post. A huge, rock supported building facing the way he’d just come from. He’d never really payed that much attention to this side of Miletus while passing it, his mind was only centered on his task of getting to Hell and retrieving the three golden hairs from the Devil. The town, which he could spy from where he was standing seemed quiet and uneventful, and no one seemed to be milling about in the guard house. Taking a few cautious steps closer however, he could just make out the shadow of a man standing by the entrance to the stone building.
The guard jumped out from the corner, pointing his spear straight at Pax’s guts and yelled loudly, “Halt! Who goes there.”
You have to be kidding. Did he really say that?
Pax put his best grin on and was about to answer when the guard stopped him.
“Hey, I remember you. You’re the kid who came by here some time ago.”
Pax grinned and nodded, making a slight bow, acknowledging him. The same guard as before. What luck.
The guard grinned himself, relaxing his posture. “Did you see what you wanted?”
“Oh yes. I found exactly what I wanted,” answered Pax telling the truth.
Then the guard, Pax never bothered asking his name, remembered what he’d asked the boy when he fist showed up at the main gate. “Hey, did you ever find out what was causing our tree to stop producing golden apples?”
“I did indeed,” answered Pax, smiling his broadest smile.
“What?” answered the man eagerly. “We would be grateful to you for the answer.”
Pax saw no need in holding the information from him. He’d got exactly what he needed from the Devil, and he did tell the guard he would find the answer if he let him pass. A deal was a deal. “All you have to do is kill the mouse which has gnawed at its roots and the tree will again grow golden apples.”
Part 4
Asine Again
The next day, riding a handsome young stallion, pulling behind him two mules laden with huge sacks of golden apples, Pax came once again to the town of Asine.
Pax never expected to get anything from the people of Miletus, he’d already payed for his passage. A deal was a deal after all, but the townsfolk, and the council, figured he deserved more for what he’d brought them. Who was he to turn down free gold. All day and all night he’d worn a huge smile on his face. He’d accomplished much in so short a time. And he was going to return to his lovely Europa bearing gifts of plenty. Being rich had never concerned him in the slightest, he’d always been rich where it counted, family who loved him, work which satisfied him, and never a worry. But now . . . now he’d been doubly blessed. Through no help from his sadistic father-in-law, he had the means to truly take care of his new bride and never want for anything again. He couldn’t stop smiling thinking of all the wondrous sights he’d seen, right along with all the bad, and the many wondrous hours he would have telling his wife about them.
Stopping once again at the main gate, Pax encountered a guard. And just like the first time, it was the same fellow.
Don’t they ever change? I wonder if he’s gotten a day off since I was last here?
Pax grinned at the man as he came charging toward him with a sword drawn, pointing at his chest. He threw up his hands, still smiling. “I mean no harm, I’m simply passing through,” said Pax before the fellow could say anything.
The gate guard came slowly forward and stopped several feet from Pax and his horse, waving his sword defensively. “What do you want here?”
“As I said,” began Pax, “I . . .”
“Wait!” interrupted the man. “Don’t I know you?”
Pax said nothing. He simply waited with a grin plastered across his face.
The guard lowered his sword and nodded. “Yes. I know you. You’re the kid who was here before.” Then the guard’s face lit up with remembering. “Did you find out why our well no longer gives wine?”
Pax put his hands down and said simply, “Yes, I did.”
The guard waited, his face giving way to his excitement on the answer.
“Kill the toad which has made a home beneath the well and it will once again flow with wine.”
Chapter 9
Part 1
Home
Pax continued his long trip back to the castle and his lady love laden with two more mules carrying gold. He’d started on his long journey with nothing, his only thought simply to keep his wife, who he’d found he loved very much. He was returning with wealth, which he hadn’t intended, but would get them both away from the mad King. And he was also returning with the three things Kharon had ordered him to bring back, on pain of never seeing Europa again.
Europa flung herself into Pax’s arms when he showed up at the castle’s gates.
Kharon stepped forward, pompous and fuming.
Guards of the watch also stepped forward, unsheathing their swords.
Pax looked at the guards, then at Kharon. “As you can plainly see, I’ve returned.” He stepped down from his horse.
“Do you have what I sent you after?” said Kharon, not bothering with a welcome for his son-in-law. He was interested in only one thing. He looked to his guards with their swords waving toward the arrogant young brat and the message was very clear; have them or never leave here alive.
Pax grinned,
“Do you?” snarled Kharon.
The guards took a menacing step closer.
Pax looked to the king.
“Yes.”
Part 2
Greed
Pax was summoned to the throne room by Kharon. He hadn’t had much time with Europa since returning and he was eager to be with her and learn of all the things she had done while he was away. And he knew she was happy to have him back and just as eager to hear about his adventures on his trip.
But his king had summoned him and he knew he couldn’t refuse. Walking into the throne room, Pax marveled at the scenic tapestries hanging on the walls depicting horrendous scenes of violence and carnage. Wars, massacres, and sieges were the only things the King was interested in; and of course who he could put under his boot. He had once asked Europa about the tapestries and she refused to say anything, only murmuring she had no right to say. Pax knew now why; King Kharon was a tyrant. To the people he was their savior, but to the one’s who really knew him, he was a monster. More a monster than the Devil himself. No wonder the man wanted the hairs from the Devil’s own head. Both went together as a pea would into a pod.
Pax stopped just short of the king. He bowed, but not
very low, more a hanging nod than a bow.
Kharon grunted. Insolent pup. “The conditions I set for you are met, you may keep my daughter.”
Pax said nothing. He had every intention of keeping Europa, with or without the king’s blessings.
Kharon slowly paced in front of Pax, fingering the three golden strands of hair. Pax noticed since delivering them into the king’s hands, he had not once set them down. It was as if he was fixated on them, enamored by them. While pacing he kept stoking them. After a moment he made an observation. “I see you have done quite well while you were gone.”
“Yes,” answered Pax simply, not elaborating on the details of his trip. The king’s eyes lit up for a moment, Pax saw it. He wants something else from me, but he doesn’t know how to ask just yet. But he will, I know he will. His eyes tell it.
The king stood in front of Pax and smirked. “Do not play with me. Where did you get so much wealth?”
Pax knew now what the king was after: the gold.
“You left here walking and you show back up with a horse, four mules packing gold, and the hairs from the Devil’s head.” Kharon scowled at Pax. “How? Where did you get the gold?”
Pax grinned at Kharon, it was time to see what he would do with the answer.
“I crossed a river, and on the other side the path was made up of gold stones. It was as if they were waiting for me to pick them up.”
Epilogue
Part 1
The Ferry
Kharon approached the ferry with anticipation.
The ferryman watched as the stranger approached. He didn’t look to be much of a man, although he was riding a fine horse. But when it came to passengers, he wasn’t very picky. The young man who had told him how to be rid of this curse had been months ago, and since then he’d only had one other opportunity to try out his solution; which didn’t work. He’d been too eager to be rid of the ferry and the man who wanted across saw it in his eyes. At the first chance of getting off the boat, about twenty yards from shore, he’d taken a dive into the river, which had cost him his life. He never got the chance to hand the man the rowing pole.
