The
man slipped into the tavern at the corner of the crowded street. He found
crowds and the babble of the public irritating. It would be downright stifling
inside the tavern too, but the last few days of his leave were almost up and a
drink was in order.
He
very much wanted to bring her along as well but she could not stand the crowd
that frequented such places, especially with the summer heat and what the midday
sun did to working men. Every moment without her was a moment lost forever, but
he would be back shortly.
He
saw an old man sitting at the bar, one of the regulars, and proceeded to join
him. No invitation was necessary, they were already familiar with each other -
although he sometimes wondered how the man always recognized him, being mired
in drink whenever they met. Although, he himself was amazed that he could manage
to make out anything at all through the copious mist hanging inside.
“Hello,
how goes it?” he asked politely as he sat down on one of the rickety barstools.
“Very
well, thanks. Oh, it’s you then.” the old man said, after lifting his head
which had been hovering slightly above the rim of the mug. “Not seen you in
these here parts lately.”
“Right,
because you would make me out so easily. No mistake whatsoever.”
There
was a slight pause, seemingly awkward, before the old man guffawed. “’tis true,
‘tis true, I probably wouldn’t. Sometimes I can’t make meself out in the bar
mirror, truth be told.” the old man said gaily.
“No,
no you’re right, haven’t been here too much. Never had a passion for drinking
the way you do,” he said, “But I’ve been spending a lot of time with my wife
and she prefers I not frequent such dives. I don’t have a lot of days left
before I go back.”
“Hmm,
wise woman that. And pretty too, no doubt? She’s not wrong, family is always
important boy. Sad that most your age go romping around instead,” the old man said,
jabbing his thumb over his shoulder towards the raucous, carousing patrons
behind them.
“Still,
good to have you here. Now, let us share drink, eh?” the old man proposed.
v
They
downed their drinks and continued talking. In an overtly shady establishment as
this, teeming with dubious characters, the old man, well beyond his prime, with
his remarkable stories stood out. Were he not here, the man might have kept
entirely to himself and drunk alone. He did not much fancy such crowds either.
“Probably
don’t have to tell you, but sure you know by now what’s going on in the south…”
the old man said casually after gulping down the last of his ale.
“Yes,
I’ve picked that up. Doesn’t sound too good, could become a mess,” the man
replied. The old man was always informed about everything. How and where he got
his information, the man could only wonder.
“Think
you might be called upon? I mean if……….well you know.” the old man asked, in a surprisingly
delicate manner, in spite of the drink.
“Maybe.
I don’t know. If it does worsen, I could be, like many of us will. It’s why
I’ve been spending so much time with my wife. Never know when the messenger
might come banging on the door.” he finished.
“Hmm….……well,
let’s have another drink then. To you and your good wife. And hoping that messenger
don’t show up. And if he does, well then………all the best.” he said.
v
After
the drink was over, the man said his farewell to the other and started towards the
door. He looked apprehensively at the large oak door on the other side of the hall,
not relishing the prospect of negotiating his way and bumping against several
patrons to get there. Before he could leave though, the old man tapped him on
the arm.
“You
should know this.” He paused, as if trying to choose the next few words carefully,
“He is here. Was spotted getting off one of the ships that docked in just yesterday.”
The
man was confused and had no idea who or what the old man was blabbering about.
He is here? Who was here?
But
then he realized. Yes, it could only be one.
Him.
Collecting
himself, he asked, “Really? What’s he doing here?”
“No
idea, just know that he came into town yesterday. Hasn’t been seen since he got
off the dock.”
“Interesting.
Well, thank you for letting me know.” And with that, he gathered his coat and
got off the chair.
“Yeah,
just thought you oughta know. I’m rather hoping you both don’t run into each
other….sure half the city is hoping that,” the old man said with a parting
gesture
“Very
amusing. Don’t worry, the streets won’t run red yet. That’s quite a bit of
news. Take care, until next time then. And don’t drink too much. Seriously, you
do.”
And
with that, the man donned his coat and inched his way slowly to the door,
through the sea of inebriated.
