THE BLUE LIGHT
By Atonia Walpole
Once upon a time an Aussie soldier called Terry faithfully served the King for many years, but by the time the war finally came to an end, due to his many wounds he could no longer serve. The King said to him, “You may now go back to Australia for you are no longer of any use to me and you will receive no more money for I only pay those in my service.”
The Aussie was troubled for he had dedicated his whole adult life to the King’s service and had no other means of livelihood. He was left destitute and hungry. He walked for a whole day until nightfall when he entered a forest. He was drawn by a strange blue light and followed it to a house where he thought he might beg a meal and a place to sleep for the night.
Unknown to him the house belonged to a witch. He knocked on the door and asked, “I wonder if I might have a bit of tucker and a place to sleep for the night for I am near to starving.”
The witch sized him up. “Hah! Who would give anything to a deserter, for I see you are in uniform. However, I will take you in for the night and in return you shall do what I wish.”
“What is it you wish?” he asked.
“That you should dig my garden tomorrow," she answered.
Terry consented and the next day he worked until he could no longer lift the spade.
“I see that you have done as I wished and cannot continue any longer. I shall keep you one more night and for payment you shall chop me a load of wood…in small pieces.”
The next day the Aussie chopped and chopped until he could chop no more.
“I see,” said the witch, "that you have chopped nearly a load of wood…I think I shall keep you another night and tomorrow you shall retrieve my light that I have dropped in the old well behind the house. It is only a small thing I ask of you. The light burns blue and never goes out. I must have it!” Her eyes glittered in the lamplight.
The next morning the witch showed him the well and let him down in a basket. Terry quickly found the blue light and tugged on the rope. The witch pulled him up and reached for the light.
Realizing her intentions, he said, “No, you’ll not have this light until I am standing with both feet on the ground!”
The witch was furious and let go of the rope, plunging him back down into the bottom of the well. Terry looked around and thought this was the end. He sat for some time before he sorrowfully pulled a smoke from his pocket and lit it with the blue light.
Thinking this was to be his last pleasure, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The smoke encircled him and the well and when he opened his eyes a man was standing against the wall of the well.
“Hey, I’m Bud White and I’m supposed to ask you what is it you would like to do next.”
Terry was startled and wary. “What do you think, mate? I’d like to get out of this stinking well.”
Bud took him by the arm and led him through an underground passage now lit by the blue light that Terry carried with him.
“Where did all this come from?” asked Terry as Bud showed him the treasures the witch had accumulated and stored in the passageway.
“Oh, she always steals something from unwary lost soldiers and others if she gets a chance. I’ve been watching her and she’s slick…real slick. Promises food and shelter and this is what she takes from unsuspecting visitors.”
“I had nothing for her to take,” said Terry sorrowfully.
“No, but she needed you to get the light. I’d hang on to that light if I were you. Might be worth more than all this put together.”
Terry filled his pockets with gold, thinking it might help him once he was out in the world again. “Tell me, Bud, how do you fit into this picture?”
“I’m of the blue light, Terry. I am commanded to do your bidding. It’s a long story and I’d rather not go into it right now. Let’s just say I crossed a wizard one time. We need to get you out of here.”
“Right, mate! I’m with you on that,” answered Terry. “What do you mean about doing my bidding?”
“I have to do whatever you ask me to. That’s the way it goes. If you ever need me just light a smoke from the blue fire.”
“Okay, once we get out of here, how about find that witch and bind her up…take her before the judge?”
“I’ll do it, Terry.” Bud led him above ground and disappeared.
Terry, feeling the gold in his pockets, returned to the town and checked into the best inn he could find, ordered a delicious meal and had the manager bring him a fine suit of clothes. Having satisfied his wants and needs, he lit a smoke from the blue fire.
“I was just about to come and see you Terry,” said Bud. “ It’s done as you asked. The witch was found guilty of her crimes and is now swinging on the gallows.”
“That’s good. Thanks, mate.”
“What else can I do for you?” asked Bud.
“I served the King faithfully all my life and when I was injured in his service to the point I couldn’t soldier anymore he dismissed me without a cent. Just sent me on my way with nothing, told me to go home. I can’t afford to go home. That’s how I ended up at the witches’ house. What I want now is revenge. It’s not right for him to care so little about the soldiers that have given their life in his service.”
“So how you wanna play this?” asked Bud.
“He’s got a daughter that he thinks highly of. After she goes to sleep tonight bring her here. She can clean this place up.”
“That’s a piece of cake for me, Terry, but it could be pretty dangerous for you if you’re discovered.”
“No worries, mate. I got it covered.”
Bud disappeared and at twelve o’clock the door to Terry’s room sprang open. Bud carried the princess to Terry and deposited her on his lap.
“Wake, you’ve work to do!” he roused the sleeping princess.
The princess opened her eyes and looked at the soldier. “What…where am I?”
“You’re in my service! Grab that broom and sweep the floor. When you’re done come back to me and I’ll give you another chore.”
The princess did as he asked and presented herself to him again.
“Take off my boots and clean them,” he commanded. "Take care now. Make sure there’s a shine.”
The princess did as he asked without complaint and with half-lidded eyes she regarded him. He was a strong and handsome man. Why was he commanding her to do these things?
Once she had finished her chores chosen by Terry, Bud took her back and laid her in her bed in the palace.
The next morning the princess sought out her father and told him of a strange dream she had, where she had been transported through the town to a soldier's room and made to do servant's work.
The King, having many enemies, considered this story. “This may not have been a dream, my daughter. Tonight fill your pockets with peas, leaving a small opening in the bottom, and if you should have the ‘dream’ again, you will leave a trail of peas so we might find this soldier and put a stop to this nonsense.”
Bud was hidden in the draperies of the King’s chamber and heard about the peas. He devised a plan of his own and left, unseen, after dark and scattered peas all over the streets of the town. When the princess had gone to sleep for the night he took her to Terry’s room.
Once again she was given a maid’s chores to do and upon completion she presented herself to Terry.
“You’re much too beautiful to be scrubbing floors.” He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “I think you should scrub me. Draw my bath and be quick about it!”
And so the Princess bathed him and brought him his dressing gown.
“That will do,” he said softly and summoned Bud to take her to her own bed.
The next morning the King sent his people out to discover the track left by the peas. There was no track for the townspeople were scooping up peas from the streets and any peas that may have fallen from the Princess’ pocket were lost.
The King devised another plan. “Daughter, tonight when you go to bed keep your shoes on and if you find yourself in the room of the soldier leave one of your shoes behind. That way we may search and when we find the shoe we will have him.”
Bud hurried back to Terry to tell him of the latest trick contrived by the King. “I don’t see what we can do about this one. The lady takes off her shoe and hides it, you’re toast.”
Terry was enamored by the Princess and would not listen to Bud. “Do as I ask, Bud!” he commanded.
That night when Bud brought the Princess she was not given chores but taken to Terry’s bed where he made love to her until the cock crowed. The Princess was now in love with the soldier and though she tried to keep her wits about her she forgot to put on her shoes when Bud arrived to take her back to the palace.
The next morning she cried and pleaded with her father not to look for her shoes, but he sent his people out to search the town.
“Man, you gotta get out of here! They’re looking everywhere for her shoes! You didn’t notice she was barefoot when I took her back?”
“Barefoot? No, I did not. What can we do?”
“Follow me! Best chance we got is to get beyond the gates.” Bud led him out of the gates of the town, but by now the King’s men had found the Princess’s shoes under Terry’s bed and were looking for him.
Terry was soon found, brought back and thrown into prison. In trying to make his escape he had forgotten the two most important things he owned, the blue light and the gold. Checking his pockets he only came up with a ducat. Seeing his former mate, Dino, from his prison window, he tapped on the glass.
“Hey, mate, think you could retrieve a package for me? I’ll pay you a ducat,” Terry asked hopefully.
The Dino considered him. “Where is this package?”
Terry gave him the name and room number of the Inn where he was staying and Dino left. Soon he was back with the package and Terry tossed him the ducat. “Thanks, mate!” he called out the window.
Terry sat down, lit a smoke from the blue light and Bud appeared.
“Looks like you’re in a world of hurt now, Terry, but, hey, let them do their worst, okay? Just keep that blue light with you.”
“Why can’t you get me out of here?” he asked.
“Don’t worry about it. Just do as I say and hold onto that light. I gotta go now.” And Bud disappeared.
The next day Terry was brought before the judge and though he had broken no laws, he was tried and condemned to death. The judge belonged to the King.
When he was led to the gallows he asked if he could have a smoke before his execution.
The King laughed, “Of course, have three or four if you like, but do not think I will spare your life.”
Terry lit his smoke with the blue light and Bud appeared. “Have you got a plan?” he asked looking around at the crowd gathered for the day’s entertainment.
“Yes, strike down that false judge and the constable who arrested me.” He turned to the King, "and don’t spare the King who has treated me so unjustly.”
Bud grabbed the judge and beat him up, throwing him down to the people who began cheering. Next he grabbed the constable and beat him up, tossing him to the crowd who fell upon him. He turned next to the King, his fists ready.
The King was terrified and pleaded for his life. “Please, what can I give you to spare my life?”
Terry who was now unmanacled, rubbed his wrists. “Your kingdom. Give me your kingdom and your daughter for my wife.”
“It is yours,” he cried and summoned his daughter.
The Princess ran willingly into Terry’s arms and he turned to Bud. “Thanks, mate. I appreciate the help.”
“No problem. Just keep that light with you. What do you want me to do with this King?”
“Toss him out of the gates. Let him find his own way.”
And so Terry took the Princess for his wife and ruled the kingdom until his death. He never forgot the men who served him and devised a pension plan for the injured and military retirees.
The blue light burned ever brightly in his chambers and though he tried to find a way to release Bud White from the blue light he was unsuccessful.
Far away on a distant mountain top surrounded by clouds sat a wizard in purple draperies smiling slightly.
THE END
