This came to me a bit late (although I have had the basic idea for years), but it's till the 22nd somewhere!
It was a dark and stormy night. Boom! Boom! A loud knocking echoed in the main hall of Madsen Farm.
“Who could it be? This late at night?” Maja wondered.
“Well, whoever it is, they’ll have to come back tomorrow. I’m not getting up to open the door for anyone” Jens, her husband, grumbled. Jens pulled the bed covers up to his chin, but Maja got up.
In the entrance hall she met her brother. “Who do you think it is? Surely not him?”
With a frown, Michael responded “I haven’t heard from him in months. Which probably means he’s in trouble again. And that means…” Michael opened the door.
And of course it was him. Their brother Mikkel was standing at the porch, soaking wet in the rain. “Oh, finally! There you are, my beloved siblings!”
“What” asked Michael, his frown deepening, “are you doing here at this time of night?”
“Well, it is my home.” Mikkel defended himself, flashing them his most lovable grin. Neither of his siblings were fooled.
“You surely don’t treat it like that. We could have used your help during potato planting. And the calving. And…” Mikkel made a nonchalant gesture.
“Mind if we take this inside? I’m kind of getting wet here.”
Sighing, Michael stepped back, letting in his prodigal brother. “Look, I’m too tired to sort this out tonight. I have been working all day.”
“Well, I have been walking all day to get to my family!”
“Oh yeah, that means you desperately need something again. Whatever it is, let’s discuss it in the morning. Night.” Maja left her candle with Mikkel, when she and Michael withdrew to their parts of the big house.
All the numerous Madsens who happened to be at the home farm, were finishing their breakfast in the large hall, when Mikkel slogged in. The news of his arrival had already reached also the families living in the smaller houses, so most just greeted him. Some of the younger children ran to him, asking for stories and sweets, which their adventurous uncle usually brought when he (rarely) visited the home farm. “Sorry kids, I didn´t bring any this time. I … left in a hurry.”
“Ooo! Were you chased by a troll?” “Are you in trouble? Mum says you are in trouble!” “Did you make a mayor angry again?” Mogens, Margarethe and Mathias were all talking at the same time. But as no candies appeared to be forthcoming, they soon lost interest.
After a while, it was just Michael, Mikkel and a couple of their siblings in the kitchen.
“So, spit it out. What brings you here?” Maja, who had a husband and children, was more or less the head of household. But in matters between the siblings, Michael as the eldest took the lead.
“Come on guys. I just wanted to see my family. Just look how little Maria has grown!”
“Her name is Margaret. You are not fooling anyone. You only show up, when you need money, or a place to hide. Which one is it?”
“Well, you see, it’s a funny story actually…”
Michael groaned. “Don’t tell me. You need both.”
“Well, my dear brother, in a word: yes. Due to circumstances entirely out of my control, it turns out I owe a sizable sum of money to certain parties in Mora.”
“Why don’t you just go to Iceland then? You have business there?”
“Yes, ah, the business in Reykjavik wasn’t quite as profitable as I was led to believe, so…”
“Fine, Norway then.”
“Norway is part of the problem. Or more specifically, a certain General Andersen. I owe him a favor, and he’s decided to call it in now. But his scheme is far too dangerous for a fine gentleman such as myself.”
“That’s our Mikkel all right. Always so “ready for adventure”, but when things get dangerous, he comes running home.” Malthe sneered.
“So, anyways, you have to hide me. And take care of this little monetary transaction.” Mikkel slipped a piece of paper to Michael.
“What! Are you crazy! 20 000 kronor! What makes you think we have such money!”
“I know we do. Just cough it up, I am also an owner of the farm.”
“You have some nerve! You never show, you never ever help, and now you are demanding 20 000 kr just like that!”
“Plus I need to lie low until autumn. I’m not going to go to that expedition that crazy old man is planning!”
“You know what. I am fed up with you. This time you will earn the money you are taking.”
“I’ll do anything! Seriously, I’ll make it worth your while! In fact, I have just the thing in mind where the family could stand to gain serious return on investment!”
“Don’t think you can lure us into your schemes. We’ll think about this, and how you will make up for this.”
In the evening, Mikkel and Michael are sitting together at the fireplace of the drawing room.
“I have made my decision. We’ll pull you out of the water one more time.”
“Great! I knew I could trust you! Blood is thicker than…”
“I’m not finished! There are requirements for you. Here’s what we’ll do. I will go to this General Andersen of yours, and send the money to Mora. You will stay put here.”
“I like this plan already!”
“I’m sure you do. You will shave, and…”
“I never shave! My sideburns are my pride and joy!”
“Exactly. The plan hinges on it. I will go as you, and you will stay here at the farm as me.” Mikkel paled visibly at this. “You see, I’m bored at the farm. I’ve been stuck here for years and years, while you are travelling the entirety of the Known World. I have spent my time well, and I know a lot of the world. But I want to see it outside of Bornholm. And I want you to take some responsibility for a change.”
“I… but… I’m not a farmer. I cannot stay here.”
“These are the options. Either you stay here as Michael, and take care of the farm, or you will leave empty handed and sort out your Mora and Andersen issues by yourself.”
“Not to forget Reykjavik” Mikkel muttered, more to himself than his brother. “But you are a farmer. What use could you possibly be for General Andersen’s expedition?”
“Like I said, I have read a lot. And I am a decent medic.”
“You tend to animals!”
“Yes, but also to humans. You are never around, you have no idea how often I need to patch up someone after a fall or a run-in with an irritated cow. And I can cook.”
“Since when can you cook? I’m sure Jens still does most of the cooking!”
“Well, ok, I’m not necessarily good at it. But I will be helpful. More helpful than you, because I have a sense of responsibility! Now, let’s go, we’ll trade clothes and I can be on my way in the morning.”
“Trade clothes? You are going to take my beard, and my clothes? I will look like a farmer!”
“This is, indeed, the gist of the plan.”
