The Haunted Traveler December 2017 Edition

already awake.
“All right, Mr. Death,” he started bravely, “What is it you want of us?”
“Both of you are here for a purpose,” said Death. “Tonight is the night of judgment
for one of you. Whereas two of you came here this evening, only one of you will
leave…alive.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Morrel evenly.
“You know what I’m talking about, Mr. Morrel,” replied Death. “One of you is
going to leave here tonight and continue his life normally. The other will accompany
me. Both of you are great sinners and shall be judged accordingly when you die. One
of you shall know that judgment tonight. The other shall know that judgment whenever
I should decide to call again. And I will. Understood?”
The two men stared at Death incredulously. This isn’t happening, they both thought.
But deep down they knew it was. They could feel the cold empty presence of Death in
the room.
“Each year, for my own amusement, I choose two sinners to do my bidding.” Death
continued mockingly, “I guess this was just your lucky year. Both of you have sinned
terribly against the other, though neither of you know what the other has done. Have
no fear. I shall enlighten you both.”
Both men stared angrily and uneasily at one another for a moment.
“You, Mr. Morrel,” began Death, “have profaned your associate’s household by a
most abominable act. It is the sin that is practice by thirty percent of all people in the
world. The sin of adultery.”
Trist could’ve almost felt it coming. It tore something from his body to actually hear
it. No wonder his wife hadn’t been home in the evenings lately. Trist looked quickly
from the figure to Morrel. Morrel was still gazing in disbelief at Death. He couldn’t
believe it.
Trist was seething inside. It was built up inside him like a raging flood held back by
the dam of hopeful disbelief. He wanted to kill Morrel right then and there. But there
would be time for that later. He sat there quietly staring at Morrel, who could not bring
himself to look back.
“You, Mr. Trist,” began Death again, after establishing a piercingly silent pause, “have
sinned also against your partner, Mr. Morrel. But in a way I fear you believe is not the
equivalent of the way he has sinned against you. I can assure you that it is…for Mr.
Morrel loves money the way you love your wife.”
Morrel looked questioningly at Death, then at Trist, who returned his gaze with
a contemptuous grin. He knew what was coming, and he waited in silent excited
anticipation for what he felt was to be part of his revenge on Morrel.
Death turned his shrouded head towards Morrel again.
“You see, Mr. Morrel, unbeknownst to you Mr. Trist here has embezzled some three
million dollars from the firm of Trist and Morrel over the years and is now in the
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