“I never heard this story before. I had no clue Claude was the one who caused my father to return so late that night”

S

himshon followed Sylvester to a large carriage draped in red fabric and pulled by two massive black horses. Sylvester gestured inside.

“After you.”

Shimshon entered the carriage and Sylvester followed. Seated across from Shimshon, Sylvester began to talk, his dark eyes gleaming in the dimly lit interior.

“I knew your father, Shimshon. Years ago, he used to deliver water for me. As you know, he was a water carrier, and everyone liked him because he treated everyone kindly. But there was one man who did not treat your father kindly. Claude, the wealthy, nasty man who lives at the edge of this city in a castle. He treated your father poorly because he hated all Jewish people. And one night, as your father was preparing to finish his last job, delivering water for Claude, and head home in the freezing cold night, Claude insisted he bring several more barrels of water from the lake.

“Your father had no choice. Claude threatened him with terrible things, including the possibility of losing his job forever. Your father went back and forth, bringing water from the lake, until he was near death’s door. On his way back up the mountain, he collapsed, and only his horse was found. His body was probably lost beneath the ice and snow somewhere.”

“I never heard this story before. I had no clue Claude was the one who caused my father to return so late that night.”

“Yes. But it gets worse. Shortly after your father’s death, Claude sent his guards to ransack your home when your mother was away, and they stole several jewels that your father had painstakingly collected over the years, hoping that one day he could provide you with a brighter future. That fiend Claude still has these jewels inside his castle.”