Chapter 9. THE HORSE TRADER.

 THE HORSE TRADER. (to be read on Dec 29)

(continued from THE JAR AND MELCHIOR)

At the same time that Melchior and Gaspar were waiting at the city gates for the star, a caravan of camels were heading towards the nearby desert. The leader of the group was a dealer in horses. He entered the gates and made his way to the stables of a renowned horse merchant.  

The merchant took him to see the horses and eventually after testing a few he thought were worth buying, and bargaining relentlessly, he bought a couple of the best stallions. 

Making his way back to the caravan, he happened to cross the two star gazers. They had a magnificent stallion with them and he was immediately drawn to the beauty of the beast. 

"What a fine specimen indeed! I have never seen one like this in a long time." 

He approached the two men, and the horses greeted each other with loud neighs as they neared.

"Pardon me, kind sirs, but is that horse for sale?" Balthazar was nothing if not direct. What he wanted, he always asked for. Or took. 

The young man shook his head in reply. But Balthazar, knowing the value of the horse, started bargaining with Gaspar. Perceiving that the latter was getting increasingly agitated by the trader's persistence, Melchior said, "He is waiting for a star to guide him to his destination. He will need the horse to take him there so I'm afraid that he cannot sell it to you."

Balthazar's face fell. He left the two men and slowly made his way to the caravan. Giving the reins to his servant boy, he made his way to the tent that had been erected for him and his family.

It was only him and his wife now. He had just lost his only son, a boy so dear to him. His heart heavy, he lifted the curtain and entered, greeting his wife as he removed the turban and gave it to her. 

Near the bed, lay a delicately carved table. On it, he had kept a keepsake of his son, a clay bowl that the boy used to eat out of.  Next to it was the jar of myrrh, some of which had been used to embalm the boy's body for burial.

A tiny tear trickled down the corner of one eye and he wiped it away. A sign of weakness. He wouldn't want his wife to see it. 

Turning to her, he boasted of his purchases as he sat down to eat the meal she had laid out but he did not mention about the two men and their horse till much later when they had retired for the night. His wife reassured him that the next day would bring him better luck. 

Sleep alluded him however. He could see the majestic beast in his mind's eye and he knew he just had to have it. So he arose quietly, and saddled his horse and made his way back to the city gates.

"I hope I'm not too late," he  thought. Make haste, Bahadur, make haste!"

Rest tomorrow, children. Sleep well for the night is long and full of exciting events. Tomorrow we will know what happened.

#aceseasonofjoy 

#fromtheheartofmapusa 

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