The Thief in the Black Cape (1)

Dirk Van Dordt

(Translated from StandVastig StatenVertaling, September 2010)

Only for one...

“Boy, it is warm. My legs are feeling really tired. Years ago, that did not bother me. Yes, those days are gone. I can tell I am getting older. Perhaps I should rest for a little while, just for a few moments, just for fifteen minutes, perhaps. Ah, here is a nice spot, so let me take off my hat and coat and lay down my briefcase.”

Soon he sits with his back against the trunk of a gnarled old tree. He is a small man. He is slender, and his shoulders are drooping. He is no longer young, for he is approximately sixty-five years old. He is wearing a black coat, a black hat, and a black suit.

“Ah, how refreshing it is to sit here under the shadow of this tree.” He stretches out his legs. “I’ll just close my eyes for a few moments. Listen to that bird singing. No, keep your eyes open, don’t fall asleep,” he tells himself.

His eyes look around at his surroundings. Before him lies a small crooked path. It leads to a large desolate area. In the distance he sees the outskirts of a city. It is a large city with beautiful neighborhoods but also with shabby slums. He has been working in this city for many years already. During the week he travels through the poor dirty neighborhoods to speak to the people from God’s Word. On Sundays he preaches there in the little church. He folds his hands; he closes his eyes. “Lord,” he prays, “I know that at times Thou has blessed my work. I am longing for the time that Thou wilt use me once more, even if it were only for one. I ...”

A visitor

“Good evening, sir.” The minister looks up with a frightened look. The first thing he sees is a pair of high black riding boots. Then he sees a wide black cape, hands that are covered with black gloves, a face which is covered with a black mask, and a wide-brimmed hat. Only around the eyes does the mask have a small opening. From that opening a pair of coal black eyes are staring at the minister. Those eyes are burning with hatred!

“What are you doing here?”

“I could also ask that same question of you,” replies the minister.

“That may be possible, but you better not do that because there is a difference, your majesty.”

“What is that difference, if I may ask?”

“That difference is that you must not ask any questions. You must only listen to me, and if I want you to, you will answer me. I trust that you understand what I am saying.”

The minister swallows as he feels a tightness developing in his stomach. “Completely, completely,” he answers.

Threatened

“Good; what do you have in your briefcase?” “Pamphlets, sir. In these pamphlets the way of salvation is explained.”

The eyes of the black-robed stranger become even narrower. He comes a step closer. “Finally, I have caught you. You are the man who is passing out those destructive booklets. You are trying to deceive simple people. Yes, you are even giving them to children. You are poisoning them with these dirty books.”

“Mister, please listen to me. I am a minister, and I work in that city over there. On Sunday I preach the Word of God; I teach the people that there are two ways, a broad way and a narrow one. During the week I pass out these booklets. Also in them one can read that there are two ways, a way to heaven, and a way to hell. Really, these are not bad books. They contain an important message.”

“Mister, I also have a message. You will throw these booklets on the ground over there. Then we will burn them. After that it will be your turn. I will get rid of you like a dog.” Suddenly, a pistol appears in the black-gloved hand of the robber. The barrel of the gun is pointed directly at the chest of the minister.

“But, but ... how?”

“Quiet; your life is in my hands.”

“That is not true, sir; my life is in God’s hand. If He will prevent it, you can do nothing to me.”

“Mister, stop your whining, and do what I say.” The minister must do as he has been asked. He turns the briefcase upside down. The booklets fall to the ground.

“Right. Now you will gather some branches, and you will throw them on the poisonous literature. Hurry up!” The robber makes a threatening motion with his pistol.

The best books

The minister begins to work. He picks up dead branches and throws them on top of the pile of books. It has become quiet in nature. Only one bird is singing. Is that the same bird which he heard earlier? The minister hits up his head for a moment. In the distance lies the city. Strangely, he thinks of the steps at the bottom of the pulpit and of the silence in the church. “No, not now. Death is nearby. Prepare yourself to die.”

“Don’t try to run away. The bullet from my pistol is faster than you are, don’t you think?” The voice of the robber is sharp. The minister throws the last armful of branches upon the books. “So, now we will burn the whole business. After that I will finish you off.” The minister has no words anymore, no prayer anymore, no thoughts anymore. He can only sigh.

“Lord, help me; Lord, help me; Lord, help me.”

“May I ask you one more favor? You can’t refuse me that,” asks the minister.

“What is that favor?”

“I would like to read a portion of one of these books to you,” replies the minister.

“Okay, but make it short,” says the thief.

“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves ....” The minister reads the story of the Good Samaritan. There is a slight tremor in his voice, and there is a prayer in his heart. “Mister, what do you think of this story?”

“I think that is a nice story. Lay that booklet next to me for a moment. We will not burn that one, for it is a good book.”

“May I read something else for you?” asks the minister. The robber gives a quick nod. The minister pulls out a booklet of the Gospel of Matthew. Soon his voice is heard reading, “Ye have heard how that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” Somewhat further he reads, “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

“Stop; lay that booklet over here. That cannot be a bad booklet.”

(To be continued)

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