The Road, the Load, and the Tree Toad

by Marcus Malone

The Road, the Load, and the Tree Toad

  A short fable

  By Marcus Malone

  Copyright 1997 Marcus Malone

  Preface

  I wrote this piece because I missed writing the dialog for one of my epic novels, The Last Apprentice*. I simply wanted to revisit that unique style of dialog... kind of like revisiting an old friend. This fable was written in a similar style as my epic novel.

  * not to be confused with the Last Apprentice Series

  Novels by Marcus Malone

  The Last Apprentice

  The Simulator

  Redemption Trail

  Firefall

  The Road, The Load, and the Tree Toad

  Then the Lord said to Cain "Where is Able, your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

  Genesis 4:9

  The morning sun cast inviting shadows across the winding earthen road, which snaked its way through towering hardwoods, crystal streams, and flowering meadows. It was hardly more than a foot path by most standards, but to a remote farming community in Heveron Valley it was the only road to the great city of Avant. Infested with roots, ruts, and mud, it never saw nobility or the wealthy; even the meek avoided its use. Indeed, the only travelers to use the road were those who tilled the soil—and at that—only when necessary to take their harvest to market.

  Such were the circumstances that brought Arian and his brother Talimus to that long, primitive road through Mystic's Forest. They were modestly dressed, wearing nothing more than simple loin cloths and sandals, and heavily burdened with large sacks of grain destined for the market at Avant. The two brothers were hardly an hour into their journey and already their burdens had begun to chafe and pull at their shoulders.

  Arian's load was noticeably lighter than that of his younger brother; it was a privilege he had been accustomed to taking—and one that had not been graced with his brother's approval. If it were not for the difference in age and his brother's good-nature, Arian would have certainly been force to carry his fair share of grain.

  Arian despised the long journey; month after month, year after year, load after load. In his hatred of the chore, he never quite considered the fact that his brother's load was always greater than his; his only concern was how he might reduce his.

  "What say you, Arian... is this not the most pleasant of days?"

  The beauty of the morning shown in Talimus' voice.

  "Perhaps.", Arian replied flatly.

  Indeed, he thought, how can one view the day as pleasant when one must ferry such a load.

  The thought of hauling the grain like a beast of burden over five more hours of treacherous road etched at Arian's disposition. Anger grew in his eyes as he steamed under the weight of his load.

  "Might we see the minstrel's show at city square... when our work is done and grain is sold?", Talimus asked hopefully.

  He speaks of the minstrel's show, Arian thought, does he not feel the weight of his burden? What right has he to be so joyful?

  Uneasiness settled over Talimus when he realized that a reply was not forthcoming.

  "Arian?"

  After several more steps, Arian stopped, then lowered his sacks of grain to the ground. Talimus could see that he was angry, which did not surprise him in the least.

  "Shall we rest here, brother?", Talimus asked cautiously.

  "I shall speak to you, Talimus".

  "Did I offend thee?"

  Arian did not reply; he simply glanced into the depths of Mystic's Forest and stretched his aching muscles as he thought of how he would phrase what had to say. After some time he turned to his brother, who had not yet lowered his grain to the ground, then began his carefully planned speech.

  "I have ferried many sacks of grain over this very road...many journeys and many seasons. Have I not done this for as long as you can recall?"

  A look of confusion began to settle over Talimus.

  "You have."

  "Indeed," Arian continued, "There were many times in seasons past when I ferried your grain as well as mine."

  "Mine?"

  Arian nodded, "You were but young...a child. It also came to pass that, on occasion, I would ferry you, for you were young, and squalling, and stubborn...."

  Arian paused to gauge his brother's reaction, "Do you not recall these things I speak of?"

  Talimus shook his head in a slow, uncertain fashion, "I do not. But if you say these things are so...then...they must be so."

  Arian nodded, "They are so."

  He glanced into the forest as he continued, "They were troublesome journeys in troublesome times, in days past when the Mystic lived in these wilds. Despite this, I ferried you, and I ferried your grain."

  He turned to his brother, "You owe me a debt, brother, for the times in seasons past when I ferried your grain as well as mine."

  Talimus' confusion deepened.

  "What... What would you have me do to repay this debt?"

  "I ask that you repay in kind... That on this day you ferry my grain as well as yours."

  Talimus looked down at the four sacks of grain lying on the ground; to add them to the five sacks he already carried was unthinkable. He looked at his brother in disbelief.

  "But, Arian, my burden is already as much as I can bear—and there is yet the half-part of a day to the city. Is there not another way I can repay the debt?"

  A look of disgust came over Arian, "Forget I spoke of theses things! I will forgive the debt because you are my brother."

  With that, Arian reached for the sacks that were lying on the ground, but before he could raise them, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

  "I shall ferry them, Arian. Let it not be said that I would not repay a debt to my brother."

  It had been nearly a half-hour since Arian relinquished his share of the load to his brother. A smile adorned his face as he glided effortlessly down the winding road through Mystic's forest—unhampered by the burden that his brother carried several miles back. He was, to use his own words, 'scouting ahead to ensure the road was free of danger'. The sun was bright, the air was fresh, and the forest was beautiful and inviting.

  Talimus struggled with each and every step under an unreasonable load of grain. Sweat poured from his brow and his knees trembled as his feet carefully sought footing among the mud, rocks, roots, and ruts that infested the primitive road. Blood drawn from a nasty fall stained his leg and his breathing was heavy and labored. He spoke to no one in particular as he tried to reinforce his strength with his words.

  "Give me strength, Great One, I beg of you."

  He paused to take several heavy breaths, "I fear my load is greater than I can bear... But my brother once bore it for me and so shall I bear it for him. Give me strength, Great One, for it is my duty to repay my debt to my brother."

  After several more steps, a wayward root sticking up from the mud fouled his footing and sent him falling to the ground once again. As he struggled to get out from under sacks of grain that had fallen on him, he noticed a tiny tree toad hopping off of the road. It was a curious little toad hardly much larger than a garden pea.

  After clamoring out from under the grain, Talimus rose to his feet, then gathered his heavy load and continued his burdensome journey to the great city of Avant.

  Arian had gained nearly an hour on his brother when he stopped to take a drink of water from a cool, clear stream, which passed near the humble road. After refreshing himself, he glanced at the inviting surroundings and thought that, perhaps he was deserving of a rest. He smiled as he spotted a cool mossy area under a towering hardwood just on the other side of the stream.

  Arian crossed the stream, then found
a comfortable place to lounge in the soft moss. He leaned against the tree, closed his eyes, then took a deep breath of fresh air as he listened to the gentle sounds of Mystic's Forest.

  Talimus spoke the truth, he thought, this is indeed the most pleasant of days.

  "To your brother you lied!"

  Arian's eyes snapped open. He bolted to his feet then took several wayward steps away from the tree. He found himself standing shin-deep in the stream as he wheeled around in search of the intruder.

  "Who speaks!", Arian demanded.

  "I Speak."

  Arian looked about wildly, but saw no one.

  "Cower not in the bushes! Show yourself!!"

  "To your brother you lied!"

  Arian realized that the voice was coming from the very tree that he was resting against only moments ago.

  "Step from behind that tree!", Arian insisted, "Least I thrash you for the coward you are!!"

  With his eyes fixed on the tree, he clenched his fist and took a more defensive posture.

  "You are but a fool. I am here... at the front of the tree."

  "There is no one here!", Arian insisted.

  "It is I, the tree toad."

  At that moment, Arian caught a glimpse of subtle movement amongst the tree's thick bark. He lowered his brow in confusion, then stepped from the stream to the tree—keeping his eyes fixed on the area of the bark where he had spotted the movement. He cautiously drew his face closer to the tree, then his mouth dropped somewhat as disbelief filled his face.

  There, among the thick, coarse bark of the hardwood, was a tiny green tree toad hardly much bigger than a garden pea. Arian squinted to get a better look at the tiny