Do you know the Devil?

Late into the night the old vagrant staggered up to their table. He was obviously drunk as well; he braced himself against the corner of that empty chair to help stop his fall. It was a while before any of the boys noticed him swaying in place. It was Rene who did, but the aged man looked past him and paid him no notice. His eye were glazed but intent, and he was looking at the two fellows on the other side.

‘What do you want old man?’ said the one loudly, his attention caught. When he said nothing, the boy reached into his pocket. Picking out a few coins, he tossed them toward this stranger. Some hit him in the chest, but he did not move, and they scattered about the hardwood.

‘If he wants them bad enough, he can get them!’ the young man said, and he laughed. The others joined in, but Rene was not sure.

But the vagrant made no motion for the coins. Quickly, the others laughter died, quieted by the stillness of their intruder.

'What do you want old man?' said John, but his voice cracked just enough when he spoke. There was no reply.

And for second time, but now John stood up and faced the old vagrant in the eye, perhaps with courage brought on by the drink. 'I said, what do you want old man?'

The vagrant looked down at the floor. He did not know why he came, but he knew he must see it through.

‘This will do no good, but it must be out,' he finally said. It was calm. ‘It is you who brings this blight. It is you who keeps my music silent and makes me prefer death. Damn you for that.’

‘Nobody’s forced you to nothing old man,’ one of the party yelled out.

‘Your brought it on yourself,' said another.

The fervor quickly built. There is no question that they would gladly have escalated the scene.

The vagrant, perhaps coming to his senses and realising this, and not being of much conviction himself, turned around walked off. A couple of the young men sitting by Rene yelled some obsenities at him as he left. But the vagrant, if he heard, paid them no attention and did not even turn around. He just walked on out of the room and back down the crowded way.
- posted by Sigurd8/21/2004 09:58:00 PM