Continued from The Man of Antivia (Part 2).
‘Get out of here,’ cried Yorund’s father! ‘You are not wanted in these parts! Leave!’
The bearded man did not speak. He just stay stood there, eyes fixed on the father. Yorund was frightened at the sight of the man. He could only imagine what might happen next.
Just then, due to the loud tone of his father’s voice, Yorund’s mother came rushing out the back door.
‘Elsbeth, go back in the house,’ called Yorund’s father.
When Yorund’s mother saw the man of Antivia, she gasped as shock immediately came over her face. As his mother turned to head back inside, Yorund thought about how much he wanted to be doing the same, but he was afraid to make any kind of movement.
‘I told you to leave our home, and if you don’t, I will go and retrieve the Thorenfield authorities,’ came the forceful words from Yorund’s father once again.
To Yorund’s amazement the shaggy man had not even said a word, much less tried to attack. Knowing all the tales he had heard about the man of Antivia, the boy only expected hostility. But nothing so far.
Just then, Yorund’s father picked up a large hammer, both hands gripping it tightly.
Yorund’s heart skipped a beat. Flashes from the evening before went through his mind. He felt the same rush of adrenaline as before, yet he could not move. It was like he was cemented into the ground.
Thoughts began racing through his mind. Was his father going to hurt this man? Was the man of Antivia going to attack his father? Then, would he come for him next? Was someone going to be killed? The thoughts would not cease.
‘Ok, that’s it. I warned you. I am off to get the authorities. Come on, Yorund.’
His father had slowly begun to side step to the right of the man, all the while grabbing onto Yorund’s arm and pulling him along.
Unexpectedly, the man spoke up, ‘Ok, I will leave.’
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The man of Antivia had spoken. Then, all of a sudden, thoughts of confusion danced through his mind.
Words had left the mouth of the bearded man, no doubt, but they were with such gentleness. The man of Antivia seemed willing to depart. There was no hostility, no aggression, but rather a simple statement from one who seemed so obtrusive to the eye.
Just then, the man of Antivia turned and began taking steps along their property line. He was heading west, presumably back to the forest from whence he came. As he made his strides, Yorund noticed the man’s shoulders were slumped over with head bowed low, almost as if he was disheartened. This was quite the different interaction he expected from the ‘wild’, ‘crazy’ and ‘antagonistic’ caricatures of the man of Antivia, which he had heard through the tales told about the man in the streets of his local town.
What’s going on, thought Yorund? Who is this man?
‘Get in the house, son,’ came the words from his father. ‘I will lock up the shed and be inside in a moment. But you need to get inside.’
‘Dad, who is that man,’ Yorund asked?
‘Just get inside.’
Yorund headed towards the house, he too with slouched shoulders. He was somewhat confused. After two consecutive encounters with the man of Antivia, he had questions. And as each second passed, only more questions began to formulate. Where would he start? He knew not. Yorund only knew he desired answers.
