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New Short Story Posted for Review
Thursday, September 27, 2007 12:05:00 AM
by M B Fields Jr
| Inspirational |
| What really happened on that first "Third Day"? One man knows, but.... |
It was a sad time in the home of General Flavius Augustus. The old man, sick for years from consumption was nearly dead. His family and friends had visited his bedside repeatedly. It was heart wrenching to see this good man suffer. His time was near, and a pall seemed to settle over the household-more out of respect for Flavius and the life he had so gallantly lived.
Now, broken with sickness and fever, the old man was nearly finished with this life, and would shortly be joining the Gods for the next life. Refusing to eat, Flavius would accept only sips of water from his servant.
Merlinus had been with Flavius from the very beginning, it seemed. He would surely be lost without his master. What would become of him? It was true enough. He got his freedom some years earlier, paid in full by his kind master. Then, what would he have done with himself? For nearly forty of his sixty years, Merlinus had served every need of this good man. Merlinus had saved Flavius that time not far from Jerusalem. Had he not discovered the hiding place of his master, Flavius would surely have perished that very day! In the true st of Roman tradition, a life saved is a life owed.
Besides, they had grown "comfortable" with one another after all these years. Merlinus could tell the thoughts of this man by the way he walked! He had served with him in battle for almost twenty of his years. He knew the truth of the legends regarding Flavius' widespread reputation as a fierce warrior. As a leader of men, there was no equal. Heroes were not common in those days, yet Flavius persistently refused the title, with anger. He was a kind, gentle, and good man who would help a friend in any difficulty.
Flavius Augustus was a man with secrets. He would suddenly explode in anger whenever anyone tried to thank him or extol his goodness! He hated public recognition. Merlinus had seen this terrible wrath before. While not fearing his master, Merlinus never provoked him either. Somehow, it just worked out. Their partnership had endured over 40 years. Somewhere in that time that neither could point to, they had become friends.
It was a sad day in the home of Flavius Augustus. No one was more heart-broken than the faithful servant, Merlinus was.
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