Into the Oven
By Ian Isaro
Smashwords Edition
Version 1.01
Copyright 2008 Ian Isaro
ianisaro.blogspot.com
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. If you received this copy from someone else, loaned it to a friend, or acquired it for free, please purchase a copy. Support authors that distribute their work without DRM.
This is a work of fiction, hence the names and events are products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. The use of product trademarks is not sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners.
Table of Contents
Into the Oven
Once upon a time there was a man weeping in a tavern. His chair shuddered in time with his body, wood and man threatening to collapse. The unlit room darkened as night neared.
The bartender paused in the doorway. Life had been hard for some time, but to have even Jaeger weeping in his tavern brought home just how hard. After taking several steps back, the bartender scuffed his feet loud enough to be heard and then shuffled into the room.
By the time the bartender entered, Jaeger was no longer weeping. It was not an improvement. Loose brown hair and a well-trimmed beard could not hide how gaunt his face had become. Worst of all were his eyes, not red or moist but simply empty.
"I brought you wood." His voice rasped in the silence.
"My thanks." The bartender hesitated and then began pouring a drink. "Have one on the house."
Jaeger finally looked up. "You can't afford to give me that."
"You can't afford to give away wood. No one can afford anything these days... well, almost no one. We should have been bakers, eh?"
There was no response, but when the mug was set before him Jaeger drank. His arm fell back to the table. The bartender frowned and poured a mug for himself. Jaeger had always been one of his favorite customers; he didn't drink much, but he was good company. Normally.
After a brittle silence the bartender forced another smile. "How is little Gretel doing these days? And your boy, what was his name?"
A shiver rippled through Jaeger's body. "Hansel."
"That's right. Strong lad for his age. Why haven't we seen him lately?"
"Hedda thinks they should stay at home."
Chuckling, the bartender found the chair furthest from collapsing and sat down at the table. "She's even worse than my old woman, eh?"
"She's just tense these days. We all are." Jaeger took a long drink from his mug, and then arm and mug fell back to the table.
"Why'd you marry her in the first place? I'd understand if she was rich or good looking, but..."
"After... after the fire I was so lost. With Lynde gone I didn't have anyone, and... Hedda was there for me."
"Lynde?" The bartender pushed aside his mug and leaned forward. "Now this is a story I haven't heard. Finally going to talk about your life before you moved here?"