A few months had passed. Vito was very happy with his apprentice. Strom had learned all of the basics of health
care of that time and was an excellent house guest. The two were at work when Strom plucked at
one of Vito’s pet peeves, “Here are the herbs that you kindly asked me to
retrieve, sir.”
“Damn
it, boy! I have told you time and time
again not to address me by that title. I
am Vito, caretaker of the community. Sir
is a title that they use. Used by Ganesh, and Ishmael before him, and
Walter before him. Monarch pigs get my
money, but they will not get my respect.
It is because of them that I have such a fruitful enterprise. Viking kings play chess with human lives in a
game of power. A few lives here a few
lives there, they care not for all they want is land and the praise and booty
of those they conquer. Damn them. Damn them to Niflheim.”
“Sincere
apologies, sir.”
“Enough
for today, let us feast.”
The
two put down what they were doing and exited, going into the adjoing room. There was a table with plenty of food upon
it. The two sat down and were
accompanied by Necessity. While devouring
the delicious meal, Vito ranted on and on about some sickness that was
spreading, he was worried it was the beginning of a plague or something of the
kind. He did not notice Necessity gazing
at Strom throughout the evening. After
dinner, Strom was alone with Necessity in her quarters. The two made sweet, innocent, passionate,
pillow-biting love. Afterwards, Strom
held her close to him. Boxt, their first
son was conceived.
The
two lovers would meet in secret over the next few months and engage in carnal
activities. Necessity’s father was not
to have knowledge, but the two could not hide their sins for long. As her belly grew so did Vito’s suspicion
until it was blatantly obvious that she was not pure. Vito approached Strom at work, “Strom, be by me,
I have a few general queries for you.”
His
curiosity peeked, Strom asked, “What is your will, sir?”
“Necessity
is with child, are you aware of the calamity that this presents?”
And
with that, Strom began to perspire. His
face became crimson, “Indeed I do, for she is without husband.”
“Indeed,
indeed. She shall be betrothed. But tell me this, Strom, your are the father,
are you not?”
A
hole filled up inside Strom. He was
tired of shoveling lies and secrets trying to cover it up. It was time to be honest for he too knew what
it was like to have someone near and dear to you lie and keep secrets, “It is
true Vito. I have fed the fair wench’s
womb.”
Vito
knew it all along but for some reason, hearing it made it all that much
dirtier, “Hold your tong whipping boy!
It is time for my words to pierce your ears boy. How does an apprentice skillfully deceive his
generous teacher? I have taught you, I
have fed you, I have given you a place for which you may slumber,”
Strom
had had enough of Vito playing the righteous leader to his corrupted disciple,
“Necessity provided that place long ago.”
“Hold
your tongue fool! How are you
worthy? She is the daughter of an
established caretaker of the community; you are my student, a street rat when I
took you in. How do you find yourself
worthy?”
“Necessity
is a medicine man’s daughter, whereas I am the son of the monarch pig
Ganesh! I am more than qualified to
water her garden.”
“You
lie! Now leave. I will find an honest, respectable husband.”
“Respect
this,” shouted Strom as he punched the old man in the stomach. Vito fell to his knees, he had lost his
breath, and he would never find it.
Strom placed his right hand over Vito’s mouth while clasping his nose
between his thumb and index finger. Vito
died a few minutes later. Strom ran
outside the shop down the road, “Alas!
Assistance is needed, Vito’s heart has died!”
###
More Greatest Evil
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