“The Interlopers” By Saki

“The Interlopers”  On a winter night on a mountain range called the Carpathians, with the wind howling, Ulrich von Gradwitz patrolled the dark forest in quest of a human enemy.  This land, owned by the von Gradwitz family, was not particularly important for game or for shooting.  This land, however, was the most carefully guarded of all the owner’s lands.

“The Interlopers”  A famous lawsuit had awarded the land to the von Gradwitz family; however, the Znaeym family refused to recognize the judgment of the courts.  In protest, the Znaeym family poached on the land for three generations.  The rites of passage had been passed on to Georg Znaeym and to Ulrich von Gradwitz.

“The Interlopers”  As boys, they thirsted for each other’s blood.  As men, each prayed that misfortune might fall on the other.  On this wind scourged night, Ulrich had placed his men throughout the forest to watch for the poachers.  There must have been some kind of disturbance in the forest.

“The Interlopers”  Most animals, including the roebuck, who usually stayed in sheltered hollows during a storm wind, were prowling about.  Ulrich strayed from his men and as he stepped around the trunk of a huge tree, he came face to face with his adversary Georg.  Neither of them could raise their rifle and kill each other in cold blood without a spoken word.

“The Interlopers”  Before either of them could do anything, a huge force of wind knocked the tree on top of them.  George was pinned to the ground with one numb arm under him and the other held helplessly in a tight angle of forked branches.  Both legs were pinned underneath the tree.

“The Interlopers”  The descending twigs had cut his face and he had to wink away drops of blood from his eyelashes.  Georg Znaeym was helplessly pinned down beside Ulrich.  Pinned by the tree, they exchanged insults as well as threats to kill the other as soon as their men had arrived.

“The Interlopers” BBoth men spoke with bitterness. LLater, both had abandoned their attempts to get out from underneath the tree. UUlrich managed to retrieve his wine flask. HHe drank some of the wine, feeling its warmth. HHe noticed Georg who barely managed to keep the groans of pain inside instead of uttering them out loud.

 Seeing how his enemy was suffering, Ulrich told Georg that he had changed his mind and wanted to bury the hatchet.  Ulrich realized that there were better things in life than getting the best of a boundary dispute.  Since that was true, Ulrich asked Georg to be his friend.

“The Interlopers”  Georg accepted Ulrich’s offer of friendship.  They began to formulate plans for the future and how they would enjoy each other’s company.  They mused how the townspeople would stare in confusion to see them riding side by side into town.  They would even become guests at each other’s homes.

“The Interlopers”  As they wait to be rescued, both men hope to be able to free the other first.  Together they cry for help.  Ulrich began to see something moving in the forest.  Both men raised their voices, calling together to attract the attention of the figures moving through the forest.

“The Interlopers”  Ulrich realized that the figures moving through the forest were wolves.  Nature provided its own interlopers who resolved the feud with finality.