Red Cloak (Part Five)

On one particular evening, a gray haired Josiah gave the students a free day from school.  Many of them complained at this, as they all honestly and deeply enjoyed their studies.  But Josiah told them it was best to do so.  This was certainly not his first of classes to have come through the school, and they all trusted his judgment even before their own.  It was on this evening that he spoke to Emrys.  The same old Emrys, who's face had not changed, and who's voice did not waver.  His strength did not falter, and his smile reminded Josiah of old times above a nasty little tavern in a small dinning room.  "Emrys.  I want to speak to you personally again... about life, if that's all right.  I know you hear me teach, but I'd like to speak to you.  Just like we used to."1

Emrys only nodded and smiled at first, then responded with a serious voice.  "No matter how many times I listen to you lecture, I always get something out of it that I did not know before.  Honestly, I rather miss our old talks, and would love to have another of them."  He settled down into his chair and got comfortable, waiting for Josiah to begin.  He always liked watching Josiah when he lectured, just as much as listening to him, because his movements also spoke volumes at times, and an attentive learner would see just as much as they heard.2

Sure enough, Josiah's hands went to moving as he paced very slowly across the floor.  The looks and gestures spoke volumes, if nothing else, to the deep truth of the words he spoke.  "Emrys.  Life... is like a river.  A deep and powerful river."  Emrys perked up a bit.  He had never heard this lecture at all before, as Josiah had never told it.  "It pushes forward despite even the strongest of single stones that may stand against it.  It stops for no one, and takes unexpected turns and falls.  It is rough in places, and calm in places.... but no matter where you are... it is always beautiful, and it smoothes everything out in time.  Sometime, go, and stand in a river, and close your eyes.  Feel the water flow around you... you will understand then.  Then you will understand."  He grew quiet then, and seemed to not have any desire to continue talking.3

Emrys just sat there staring at him for the longest time.  He could not understand what on earth he was talking about.  There was always a depth to his lectures that was hard to grasp, but this seemed to be nothing more than a common comparison.  And so short... "That is all?  That is the conversation?  Josiah... I've listened to you deliver lectures for years and years now.  I know what you just said is true, I can see it in your face, but I learn more in lectures I've heard a dozen times than the one you just related to me.  And that is all you have to say?"  His tone was agitated, which was something he had never felt towards Josaih before.  Josiah just looked at him and motioned him to come to where he was.4

"Emrys.  I told you what to do to understand.  But now I want you to do something for me.  I have never asked you for anything, though I know you have given.  But would you grant me a favor?"  His voice was soft, and almost pleading.  It was very unlike Josiah.  It seemed barely even comprehensible that it was indeed him saying these words at all.  5

"Of course Josiah, what do you need?"  Emrys' voice was filled with concern, the frustration of earlier completely disintegrated in this new mix of emotions.  Concern, fear...6

"Emrys.  One week from now, I will finish this class, and I will close the school between classes just as I usually do.  But I will not take on another class...  My time here is over.  Emrys.  My time here is over."  Emrys just stared in disbelief, not knowing what to think.  Not knowing what to say, and so Josiah continued.  "My life is growing very very short.  And as I have nothing but you and this class, I would like to bring my story to an end as peacefully as possible and in a timely manner.  So what I want you to do" He took a deep breath and continued speaking quickly. "is to go with me to the river the night after my final class, when the school is closed up and all my things are in order.  And I want you to take my life.  Painlessly as you can manage... and then, there in the river, let the current gently take me."7

Emrys just sat there in total shock.  He shook his head no, no, no.  His mind raced.  NO.  NO NO NO NO NO!  For the longest time he could not even find his voice to speak, and when he did, it was quiet.  As quiet as someone could be who was dead within.  And that is how Emrys felt.  Dead.  "Josiah... are you sure?  Are you sure that you have to go?  Are you sure that it must be?  Why not one more class?  Just one more class?"  His voice was pleading now.  Begging.8

"No Emrys.  I will not make it through another whole class.  If you will not help me, I will simply let the river take me... but I want nothing more than for you to do this for me.  As a friend, I ask it as a last request."9

He sat there in silence for a few moments, his face growing strong, and hard, before nodding in approval.  "All right Josiah... all right."  Twenty years had passed since he met Josiah in the tavern that night.  His liver was already destroyed then.  Josiah had known all along.  He had known then, and he knew now.  But this day was long in coming.  Twenty years he had passed from day to day, never thinking about it.  Never wondering.  And now here it was.  Upon him.  "If this is your last request, then I will make your passing perfect."10

Each day drug on and on until nightfall, at which point Emrys would rush to the school, not leaving until sunrise threatened him with it's first tiny rays.  The lectures were still amazing.  He learned about love as Josiah spoke aloud.  "Love.  Love conquers all.  No matter what hardships it may encounter, and no matter what pain it may endure, love continues on.  Love is proof of the divine in men.  The fingerprint of perfection on mankind.  And it is a choice.  It is a choice that you must make every single day.  Because often times love is painful, and love is hard.  But if you and your love endure until the end... you will always be victorious.  Even in death.  And now listen to me.  Because this is the last thing that I will tell you.  My last lesson.  Do not try to become men of great wealth.  Do not try to become men of great power.  Only try to become men of great worth.  Because men were not meant to live forever... so you had better live happy.  Class is dismissed."11

The building cleared out, only three hours after sundown.  The final day was always very short, and Josiah silently cleaned up, and then stepped outside onto the street.  Emrys came out with him, and looked down the street towards the countryside.  They were maybe an hour away from the river out in the plains outside the city.  It was there that they would go.  The walk seemed far too short.  That hour, as only a few seconds.  They talked, but mostly just about the beauty of the night.  Emrys, upon request, had brought with him his violin, and they reached the riverside.  "Emrys... remember what I said about the river.  After this... you must do it.  You understand?"12

Emrys nodded slowly.  "Of course old friend."  He took out his violin and began to play.  The song was fluid, and beautiful, but the notes seemed to ache out of the violin and through the air.  Like pain made into sound, the song rippled out of the violin, speaking of unthinkable loss, indescribable beauty... so many things that were lost to the realm of words and voices.  Until the song ended and Josiah nodded to Emrys slowly, standing by the river, looking up at the moon.13

"Do it here, while I look at the stars, Emrys.  I always did love the night sky."  Emrys stepped closer, and wrapped his arms around his friend, holding him in a tight hug.  He closed his eyes and sank his fangs gently into Josiah's neck.  There was a slight pause, and then he felt him relax.14

Josiah noticed a sharp pain, but then everything returned to normal.  He stared at the sky.  The beautiful, beautiful sky, seemed to shimmer a bit, and even grew more gorgeous.  After a minute, the stars started to whisper at him.  They told him It's all right.  It's all right...  He felt himself getting very very cold.  But not uncomfortable, just cold.  Emrys let go of him a little, and he slumped, realizing that he had no more strength left at all.  Emrys was supporting him fully.  Blood was trickling from his still open wound, as Emrys had failed to close it.  Emrys picked him up, and carried him down into the warm water.  He smiled up, seeing Emrys' face looking down on him.  He was floating, but barely, and Emrys was holding his wrist, holding him against the current.  He could feel his eyes trying to slowly close.  He was fading.  "Emrys... one last lesson."  His voice was barely a whisper.  "Learn to let go."  He let go of Emrys' arm, leaving only Emrys holding onto his wrist.15

Emrys stared at his wrist, and at his quickly dying friend, and slowly, oh so slowly, he let go of his grip, and the current took Josiah slowly away.  Slowly, slowly, until he left his sight.  As soon as he was out of sight, Emrys began to weep.  Bitter tears of blood and agony poured down into the river, being swept away by the current as his cries echoed out across the plains, and his sobs up into the starlit sky.  He wept like that for hours upon hours.  Deep into the night he wept, just staring at the water that had taken Josiah away, lashing out at it, striking the river, but it did nothing.  Nothing at all to the river.  He was exhausted from weeping by the time it was three in the morning, and slowly, he dropped to his knees.  He found a large couple of stones, and slowly, he lowered his whole body into the river, resting himself on the bottom, and letting the two large stones catch him from flowing with the current.  The stars flickered and glistened along with the moon through the surface of the water, and he slowly closed his eyes, tears still seeping out of them.16

After a while of being like this, he slowly let himself see what it was he was supposed to see.  The water gently flowing over him was so soothing... so calmly.  And suddenly he had a realization.  He understood everything.  Everything that Josiah had ever said, he understood, and perfectly.  He let himself go off the stones and let the current take him for quite a ways before finally getting out to bolt back to his coffin before sunrise.  Well he was finally wrong about something... it WASN'T the last thing he taught me...  He reached his coffin just in time, and instantly fell into blackness.17