The Young Foreigner

Once, in the small Kingdom of Aloris, there lived a farmer called John Hudson, who had a lot of land, cattle, and a few servants. He lived in a cottage with a pretty wife, Alia, and two small sons, Jim and Mike. John Hudson had workers, who helped him on his land. He was not the richest man in the entire land, but was very happy.

Alas one day, Alia Hudson fell severely ill. The land was very small and the Germain soon heard of this. Thereupon, he sent all the best physicians in the kingdom, but none of them could tell what the matter with her was. None of them understood the queer symptoms she showed, but did not dare to make any assumptions. So, they told John that his wife’s illness was beyond their knowledge and that they had no hope for her. They in fact gave her just three more days to live.

Now, John loved his wife dearly and could not imagine the rest of his long life without her. So, he did not stop searching for someone who could remove her illness for good.

It so happened that a young man, a foreigner to the kingdom, was passing through the town that the farmer lived in. He heard the town-crier shouting that the farmer, John Hudson, was willing to give up his farm-land to that person who would cure his wife from a fatal illness. Now, this young lad was quite ambitious; for a whole year he had been travelling around Sahara, in the hopes of finding an occupation most suitable for him. On his person were three things—a flute, a hat, and a belt. He was neither a magician nor a physician, but these three objects helped him heal any illness.

Thus equipped, the young lad now found a great opportunity in his career life. He decided to try his luck with the farmer’s wife.

When the young lad arrived at the Hudsons’ humble farmhouse and heard what he had to say, John immediately let him in. He was led into the room where Alia lay on a bed just beneath the window, eyes closed and looking dangerously frail. The young Foreigner stood beside her bed and took a good look at the victim.

In a moment, he knew just what to do. He requested John, who was standing at Alia’s side of the bed, to take his position ten steps away, in order for the healing process to succeed. The farmer obliged, even if a little apprehensive. He hoped that he found the right physician.

And thus, the young Foreigner set about with his task. He felt a movement from the direction of the bed; he took another good look at the pretty woman and realised that she was now awake, because she was convulsing in pain. He brandished his flute from the loop of his belt and put it to his lips.

At once, such sweet music floated through the whole room as no one had heard before; it somehow demanded to be listened to. As the notes of the music floated in the air, the invalid on the bed fell back into her slumber, looking every bit as relaxed as she felt.

When he finished his music, the young lad put the flute away. Then, setting his hat on a table beside him, the young lad took out from his magic belt two potions—one red, one brown—in small, narrow tubes; he poured the two liquids into his hat. Immediately, a bright yellow light flashed and, the next instant, the young lad had a yellow potion in his magic hat.

He then requested John, from across the bed, for a clean empty glass. John obliged at once. The lad poured this potion of yellow liquid, very gingerly, into the small glass. Then, setting the hat aside and picking up the glass, he bent and carefully parted the lips of the invalid with his fingers, enough to pour the yellow potion into her mouth.

For a moment, nothing happened.

The young lad was hopeful, as he had performed this manner of treatment many times before. John, however, began to wonder if he placed his hopes in the wrong person. Yet, he watched on to see how it would all turn out.

Alia finally opened her eyes. Her gaze fell first on her husband, who, for a reason she did not know, had his head hanging as though in shame. It was only when she uttered his name the way she usually did when she was active, did he lift his head.

The young Foreigner, still beside the former invalid’s bed, saw the husband and wife embrace in reunion and smiled to himself for having saved yet another life. He settled on a stool that lay at the feet and wondered how he was going to find his fortune…