Death speaks is not exactly a forgotten tale. It is written by Somerset Mougham and also reproduced in Jeffrey Archer's Collection of Short stories.
Death Speaks has been my favorite short story right from the day I read it, which was about 6 or 7 years ago. I have never read any other story which is barely close to this one. With least usage of words, sentences and punctuation, Somerset has come up with a tale that will stay with you for days after you have read it. I wish I could write a story which is 0.00001% as good as this one, and I would consider myself blessed.
Hope you enjoy reading this one:
There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the market-place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the market-place and he saw me standing in the crowd, he came to me and said, "Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning?" "That was not a threatening gesture", I said, "it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."
Death Speaks has been my favorite short story right from the day I read it, which was about 6 or 7 years ago. I have never read any other story which is barely close to this one. With least usage of words, sentences and punctuation, Somerset has come up with a tale that will stay with you for days after you have read it. I wish I could write a story which is 0.00001% as good as this one, and I would consider myself blessed.
Hope you enjoy reading this one:
Death Speaks:
There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the market-place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the market-place and he saw me standing in the crowd, he came to me and said, "Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning?" "That was not a threatening gesture", I said, "it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."
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