TheUsefulIdiot#2(FTDParish)

A dirty little man hurries through the streets, clutching his robes close to his neck, eyes darting ever watchful, twitchy. He feels the scrolls on the skin of his chest across his stomach and down to his side, they, protruding slightly against the back right side of his clothes when he strides forward with his left foot.

He's sweating profusely despite the cool breeze that is preceding the storm. He mumbles to himself as he eyes the passersby warily.... and they he. He has to get to the dock before the boat launches. The angel would be very angry if the boat left without him. The androgenous heavenly body had said as much.

Thinking about the fiery eyes of the angel made the wealthy, albeit haggared and filthy, merchant forget where he was. He runs headlong into a large man who was talking angrily to his servants. The servants drop their master's new purchases bringing on a new and redoubled tirade from the large merchant.

The haggard little man hops up quickly. Apologizing profusely, keeping his head down and his voice low. He backs away, thinking, hoping, that he'd be able to back himself around the corner and away before the the wealthy man stops berating his poor servants and recognizes him. He has no time to lose.

The large man stops yelling and turns slowly, thinking something is wrong here. He looks for the human filth that had run into him, checking his robes for his valuables. Their eyes meet just as the little man makes one last glance back before he rounds the corner. Recognition flashes on the merchant's face, "But no. That's impossible". That couldn't be Yusef. That man is of the street. A beggar. He hasn't seen Yusef for some weeks, but they've done business for years. And the eyes, the eyes are the same....but haunted.

Yusef runs faster now, yelling for people to clear the way. The storm is coming. Yusef couldn't believe any shipman would take his ship out in a storm like this one promised to be, but the angel had said the boat would leave before the storm. Yusef didn't harbor any doubts as to the angel's knowledge. The storm was alomost here, he must hurry.

The shipman bellows at the stranger through the wind, "I won't take my ship out in this. I have a family and a crew to think about."

The stranger says calmly, "double your fee," from inside his hood.

"I won't do it," says the shipman, less sure now that the stranger is doubling an already good commision. He struggles with his responsibilities and his greed. The stranger waits calmly, power radiating from him to the shipman imperceptibly. The shipman's resolve wavers. The stranger can feel it like a light breeze on his face.

The time is now. "Triple it shipman. Just put this ship into the wind. I have business that cannot wait," the stranger says more loudly as he throws a hide bag full of gold coin at the shipman.

That's too much for the businessman as he snatches the pouch one handed and feels the weight of it and quickly hides it in the folds of his robes. Danger or no, triple an already steep commission is too much to pass up. Besides, he was a little afraid of the stranger and didn't want to anger him.

"Prepare to launch the ship." The shipman yells into the wind. His crew hesitates in disbelief for a second and the shipman veritably roars, "I SAID NOW."

The crew jumps to just as dirty little Yusef reaches the boat. He is pulled aboard, the lines are cast off as the rain starts to pelt the crew and their two passengers. The sails are hoisted and the small ship snaps into the wind.

The stranger nods approvingly to little Yusef who in turn grins, happy to not have angered the angel. Did the shipman know whom he carried onboard his ship this terrible night? Yusef thought not. He hunkered down in the lee of some cargo trying to get out of the rain just a bit. It was raining so hard.

Those subtle waves of power now focus on Yusef who quickly closes his eyes and falls asleep, the scrolls falling out of his grasp, out of the bottom of his robes and rolling toward a bundle of skins that oppurtunistically shift just as the scroll bumps it, hiding the scrolls from view.

The storm picks up even more. The shipman doesn't see how this is possible. This is the worst storm he's ever seen. All his skills and the skills of his crew are the only thing keeping the ship afloat. He's scared now and wishes vehemetly that he'd never met the stranger. Wishing his better judgement had overruled his greed.

The shipman hears a voice just behind him, he wheels. It's the stranger, he thanks the shipman mockingly and slowly dissolves into the storm as the shipman looks on terrified. The ship lists hard to port. A huge wave crashes over the side tumbling ship and crew under the waves. The shipman's last thought's are of his wife and children, they'll never know that he'd sold his and his crew's lives to a fallen angel for a nice commission. Yusef dies under the raging seas without ever knowing he was dying.

The scrolls will remain hidden in the muddy bottom for a couple of thousand years. Until the time is right for them to be found.