The door handle turned and his father entered the room.
"Where's my boy?" he called with a cheerful grin.
"Here father/" Robert replied/
"So how do you like my office?"
"It's very grand and so big." the boy replied.
His father removed his jacket and hung it on a hook on the back of the door.
"Is that all? Big and Grand?"
His father saw that Robert had been crying and he knelt down on one knee so they wee face to face.
"Whats the matter Robert? Tell me."
"I heard and saw what you did to Captain Morgan father. Why did you do that?"
His father was shocked at this revelation and was temporarily struck dumb. He rose to his feet and walked slowly to the corner of the room where stood a large wooden globe. He opened the top of the globe to reveal some crystal glasses and two decanters with gold coloured stoppers. He lifted one of the decanters opened it and poured himself a drink. He carefully restoppered the decanter, picked up his glass and rejoined his son where hee sat in a chair next to the boy.
"That man, Captain Morgan, disobeyed my orders." his father began. "In my business there can be no straying from my decrees. That would show weakness and I am not weak."
"Why did you strike him?"
"I apologise to you because you had to see that son, but by losing me money he is losing you money as well. Your future is based on how profitable my business is."
"But you order the death of children father, children like me."
"God no son, these are not children at all. They are Godless savages." his father explained. "They are nothing but cargo and if cargo is damaged, it must be disposed of."
"That is horrible father." It was not a question.
"That is business son. The strong thrive and the weak get discarded. Do you want to be strong or weak?"
Robert stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity before he looked his father in te eye and declared,"I want to be strong father."
"Good boy" his father said. "Lets go and take some luncheon at my club."
The boy took his fathers hand and he was led gently to the door. Robert turned to take another look at the portrait of his mother before they left the room.
________________________________________
Now two years had passed and Robert had grown into a strong boy. Independent and capable, curious and courteous. His father's son. He did not think of how the money was made that paid for his clothes, books or toys. As his father had told him, it was just business.
On a fine summers day in his garden he didnt have a care in the world and he was happy to run and play. He had toys and books and his mother. What more could a boy want? He waved to his mother who sat in her usual place on the terrace at the back of the house, looking down towards him and she raised her own arm to wave back.
His father had been gone for three months but he had promised Robert that he would return before summers end and that he would be there for his 10th birthday. What stories would his father bring? What tales of heroes and explorers? He wanted to share his high spirits with his mother, so he ran up the steps, two at a time, to be by her side.
"Mother, mother my sweet Mama. When will father be home?" he asked excitedly.
"Soon Robert, you must be patient." she replied calmly.
"Please come down to the pond Mama; its so lovely and warm in the sunshine. Mr Green can help us, please."
'Alright my love, you go and fetch him and then we can have a turn around the garden."
A few minutes later Green, almost being dragged along by Robert, arrived and he gently pushed his mistress down the short but steep steps to the garden. Green, although well into his 60's, was a s strong as an ox and when they reasched the bottom he asked, "Shall I push you madam?"
"No thank you Green" she replied. "My young companion can help with that."
"Thank you Ma'am. I have a few errands to run. Just get young master Robert to fetch me when you are done." The gardener headed back up the steep steps, leaving mother and son alone.
"Can I really push you Mama?"
"Of course darling, you are big and strong like your father."
So Robert pushed his mother around the flower beds stopping now and again so she could admire the colours and smell the aromas.
"It is so beautiful Robert, I wish I could do more for you." she sighed sadly.
"Please mama, you do so much for me already" Robert said encouragingly.
"Take me to the pond" she asked.
"Of course, I would be honoured" he said with a grin.
When they got there, Robert pushed the chair as close as he could to the pond and applied the brake.
"Look Mama, look at the fish, see how they have grown."
"Oh my, they are like the sea monsters of old" she joked and she laughed.
"Do you like the statue Mama? I like the baby. He looks so sweet and innocent."
"Just like you then" she replied
Suddenly Robert seemed to disappear from view and this was followed by a loud splash. He had been skipping around the side of the pond and had slipped, As he fell he had hit his head on the marble edge and now he was floating face down in the water.
His mother screamed for Green, but no answer came. The lifeless body of her child was so close but there was nothing she could do.
A mother will always strive to protect her young. There is a primal force that compels all mothers be they human or animal to do that. This force was awakened in her now. The legs that had been useless started to move. She used her arms as levers and propelled herself out of the chair and she also fell into the water. Gasping for air, she surfaced and grabbed for her son, pushing him to the edge with the last of her strength onto the pond edge. Exhausted she tried to stand, but found all her strength had gone and she slipped under the surface.
When Green returned he found the boy alive. His mother though was at the bottom of the pond, her arms stretched upward as the giant fish swam passed her lifeless upturned face.
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