HUNGER Kevin Hopson

‘We’re short two copper coins,’ he said, seated at the outdoor table.

Will glimpsed him and shrugged. ‘You can never keep track, and sometimes you spend one on a scone and completely forget.’

Duncan shook his head. ‘I didn’t buy a scone this morning, and I surely know how to count. We sold thirty-six rolls but only have thirty-four copper coins to show for it.’

Will looked away and shrugged again. Duncan liked him well enough, but they weren’t truly friends. They were business partners.

After buying a roll from Duncan several weeks ago, Will had approached him about a business opportunity. He told Duncan that his rolls were the best he’d ever eaten, despite them not selling well.

In return for half of the sales, Will would spread the word and also use his power of persuasion to attract customers to their table, which was situated in a bustling market square.

Duncan was sceptical at first, but Will didn’t disappoint. Ever since taking on Will as a partner, Duncan’s rolls—which he baked early every morning—had sold out on a daily basis.

‘I have to get going,’ Will said as he stood.

Once again, they’d sold all of Duncan’s rolls, so there wasn’t much left to do but divide the day’s winnings. Duncan counted out eighteen coins and slid them toward Will. 

Duncan was left with only sixteen, but he had no choice but to take fault for the shortfall. Unfortunately, it was the third time in a week that coins had been unaccounted for.

Content with his take, Will deposited his coins in a tiny drawstring bag and pocketed it. He was about to leave when something stole his attention.

‘It’s him,’ Will said, his mouth agape. 

Duncan followed Will’s gaze, spotting an elderly man in the distance. A black cloak hid most of his features, but Duncan could tell by the way the robe sagged from the man’s body that the stranger was emaciated.

‘Who’s that?’ Duncan muttered.

‘Brodie Campbell.’

Duncan arched an eyebrow. ‘I thought he lived in the Highlands.’

‘No,’ Will said, his eyes still fixated on Brodie. ‘He lives just outside of town, but I haven’t seen him in months. Many claimed he was dead.’

Duncan watched as Brodie sidled up to a vendor, the woman backing away in fright. It was a similar scene at other tables, Brodie wandering the square in search of donations but being turned away at every stop. 

‘You should pack up and leave,’ Will said.

But Duncan was intrigued. He stood behind the table, waiting for Brodie to pay them a visit. Finally, the stranger set eyes on Duncan, and Duncan swallowed nervously.

Brodie closed the gap between them, offering a toothy smile. Duncan noticed that several of his teeth were crooked, and a few were even missing. 

But he wasn’t as old as Duncan had first thought. It only appeared that way because of Brodie’s thin face, his skin clinging to bulging cheekbones.

‘Can you spare a wee something, laddie?’ Brodie asked.

A pang of guilt washed over Duncan. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but we’re all out of bread.’

‘Perhaps a monetary donation then?’

Duncan glimpsed Will, who shook his head in response. Duncan deliberated as he eyed the coins on the table. He grasped one and extended his hand, offering it to Brodie. 

Brodie snatched the coin from the palm of Duncan’s hand. ‘You’re very kind, sir. Your generosity will not go unnoticed.’

Brodie sidestepped their table and meandered over to another vendor in the square.

‘Why’d you do that?’ Will asked.

Duncan huffed. ‘Because I feel bad for him.’

‘You’re so gullible.’

Duncan ignored the jab and took a moment to ponder. ‘Where does he live?’

‘Who?’

‘Brodie.’

‘Why?’

‘I’m just curious.’

Will let out a frustrated breath, and Duncan feared he wouldn’t answer. 

‘In a field along the northern edge of the forest,’ Will finally said. He met Duncan’s gaze. ‘But don’t go there.’

‘Why not?’

‘Don’t you know the tale?’

‘A wee bit. But it’s been years. I only recall the name.’

‘Fairies planted the grass in that field,’ Will continued. ‘Anyone who walks through it develops an insatiable hunger. It doesn’t matter how much they eat, the hunger never ceases, and their body is perpetually frail. That’s the reason he’s all skin and bones.’
 


After arriving home and having a quick meal, Duncan ventured out. He wasn’t one to wander the woods, but he would take an occasional stroll through the forest on warm and sunny days.

It wasn’t one of those days, as the overcast sky and the chill of the autumn air forced Duncan to tug at his wool top. Then again, it wasn’t the weather that had lured him out. It was the field Will mentioned.

Duncan had never walked this part of the forest, so he wasn’t familiar with the field, but he knew which way was north and continued in that direction. He spotted a clearing ahead, a meadow soon appearing.

He stopped short of the pasture and stood beside a silver birch tree, remembering what Will had told him. The field stretched as far as Duncan could see, some random trees and rolling hills scattered in the distance.

Duncan wondered how Brodie could live here. Did he sleep in the grass? Take shelter in the woods when the weather turned ominous? It mattered little, other than to satisfy Duncan’s curiosity.

Duncan slid a hand into the pocket of his pants, pulling a copper coin from it. Then he tossed the coin into the knee-high grass; the piece of metal soon disappearing from view. Duncan wasn’t sure why he did it. Perhaps his empathy for Brodie was growing stronger.

 

Duncan reached the square just after sunrise. As usual, he’d baked three dozen rolls that morning and displayed them in a large basket on top of his table.

Much to Duncan’s surprise, Will wasn’t there to greet him. It wasn’t unheard of, but it was rare for Will to be late.

He watched as the early morning crowd started to trickle in. Duncan did most of his business during these hours, and this day was no different.

Duncan sold half of his rolls within the hour, but there was still no sign of Will. As a customer stepped away from his table, a man approached. Duncan’s eyes went wide. It was Brodie.

‘Good morning, kind sir,’ Brodie said.

Duncan swallowed. ‘Good morning.’

Brodie’s gaze shifted to the empty seat next to Duncan. Then he locked eyes with Duncan.

‘Looks like you’re without your companion today,’ he said.

‘He’s my business partner,’ Duncan clarified. ‘But, yes, he has yet to show this morning.’

Brodie nodded. ‘It doesn’t surprise me. As I told you yesterday, your generosity didn’t go unnoticed.’

Duncan’s brow furrowed.

‘You didn’t need his services,’ Brodie elaborated. ‘Your rolls sell on their own, and he was only taking advantage of you.’

It was true to some extent, especially considering the brisk morning sales. But something bothered Duncan. Brodie had referred to Will in the past tense.

‘Do you know where he is?’ Duncan asked.

Brodie shrugged and offered a crooked smile. ‘Where? I can’t be certain. But he was stealing from you, so he got what he deserved.’

Duncan’s heart pounded up into his throat. When coins started to go missing, the thought of Will stealing from him had crossed his mind. But Duncan was forgetful at times, so he ultimately chalked it up to that.

‘How could you possibly know he was stealing from me?’ Duncan said.

‘Consider it a hunch.’

Duncan parted his lips, then pursed them. He was afraid to ask, but eventually choked down his anxiety.

‘Did you do something to him?’ Duncan stuttered.

‘Does it matter? What’s done is done.’ 

‘But I didn’t ask you to do anything.’

‘You didn’t have to.’ Brodie extended a hand, revealing a copper coin. ‘For one of your rolls, please.’

Duncan hesitated, eventually shaking his head. ‘There are others you can buy from.’

‘I insist,’ Brodie said.

Duncan wanted nothing more to do with Brodie, but he feared the consequences of turning him down. He reluctantly accepted the coin in exchange for a roll, and Brodie took a bite of the bread.

‘It’s true,’ Brodie said. ‘Your rolls are the best in town.’ He grinned. ‘Anyway, my debt has been paid. Should you require any more favours, you know where to find me.’