Chapter the First, in Which Missionary Work and Forgiveness are Discussed.
Disclaimer: 'Discworld', its characters and institutions are the intellectual property of the late Sir Terry Pratchett and his heirs. This story is for entertainment only and I claim no commercial interest in it.
This story fits into Discworld chronology around the time of The Shepherd's Crown. I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum.
'Mr Cutter' was a common name among Ramtop Mountains lumberjacks. It was even common as an alias. (1) 'Mr Cutter' in this case was not bothered by the baggage carried by the name. He had business near a site where predictive pine timber was being felled for export to Ankh -Morpork.
He had walked up from Hot Dang, talking to other 'Mr Cutters' he had met along the way, sharing a hot meal by his camp fire from time to time, and listening to the news filtering through the lumberjacks' informal grapevine. It carried the information of where the work was, what timber was being extracted, and the wages to be expected. This was trade talk, seldom shared with outsiders and unlikely ever to feature in a newspaper article or clacks message.
Mr Cutter had been at the depot on the Downs just after the March of the Lumberjacks. (2) He had seen large, fell handed men with axes in their hands returning from the mountains, grim of countenance and unwilling to say much of what they had seen. (3) Not long after that, more men had returned to the scene of the incident to tidy the graves and resume extraction of the timber. Lumberjacking attracted hardy men who were willing to run calculated risks for a profit.
One of them, more religious than the rest, had erected a rough - and – ready shrine to Sweevo, God of Cut Timber. Then something remarkable had happened, an impromptu prayer meeting of the whole camp, even Igor (4) during which the protection of Sweevo had been called upon, and a petition that his divine wrath fall upon the unbelievers who had so slain his followers. With the offer of being the instruments of his will in this.
On hearing of this Mr Cutter had decided that he should seek out the camp concerned to offer his own services and to pay his respects to the fallen at the Shrine of Sweevo.
Currently he was tending a billy of stew over a small campfire and heard someone on the nearby trail call out.
'Hello the camp.' It was a recognised courtesy among travellers. If you announced yourself some distance away, the thinking went, you were unlikely to be a bandit, at least not one with robbery currently in mind. (5) He called out for the passer – by to introduce himself. The newcomer's reply came at the same time as the caller came into view. The other traveller wore the severely cut knee length robe of an Omnian priest, hobnailed boots and a broad brimmed hat. He was leading an ass. These features were not what most caught Mr Cutter's attention. It was the double headed Lancrastrian war axe holstered at the priest's back.
'My name in full is inconvenient to say, Mightily Oats is handier. Pastor Oats is preferable when I am working.'
'You are welcome to share the hospitality of my camp Mr Oats, I am Hickory Cutter.'
Mightily Oats thanked him, tethered and unloaded the ass, took some hay and a loaf out of a pannier, put down the hay for the beast and joined Mr Cutter at the fire, uttering a Grace Unto Om and offering his host half the loaf. Mr Cutter did not demur at the prayer even though he was no Omnian. Out here you accepted whatever divine assistance was offered. He dug a spare plate out of his own kit and the two men sat down to a modest supper while they conversed about what had brought them to this part of the mountains.
'Do you ever lay aside your axe Mr Oats ? It can't be comfortable having it at your back even as you sit to eat. I know I keep mine to hand, but there are surely practical considerations.'
'Forgiveness has been my constant companion since I encountered House de Magpyr in Lancre (6) and has only ever been set aside to let me sleep.'
For a moment Mr Cutter was nonplussed by the seeming non sequitur but on seeing the priest's hand reach back and stroke the axe he realised the cleric was speaking of the weapon.
'I am making my way to the stand of predictive pines where the Elves attacked, they need more men up there I hear, though missionary work up here to recruit disciples for Om could be difficult, I understand.'
'I seek converts to my faith it is true, but I am no Constable Visit. (7) Commendable though his zeal can be, I fear he has missed the point. I also seek wisdom and hope to pass some on in Om's name. Or even for its own sake, a priest, of all people, shouldn't let his faith get in the way of common sense. (8) I am here to seek out the camp and offer what assistance I can. Forgiveness has been an industrial tool before and is not solely a handy theological bargaining point.'
'If you can use that axe properly in the company of lumberjacks, you are very welcome to join me Mr Oats, I hear the camp needs labour, though I suspect that up here you may not find it practical to involve your ass in timber extraction.'
'Ned may prove of value yet Mr Cutter. Let us see what develops over the next few days. I offer to take first watch. I don't like the idea of us not posting any guard so near the site of an Elvish incursion.'
Neither man noticed a figure in the darkling wood observing them. He too had business at the lumber camp and so did his men. He slipped back to his followers through the woods and should anyone of sufficient woodcraft been observing him, they would have seen a heavily armoured soldier move through the forest with all the stealth and lack of sound one might expect of a skilled huntsman rather than a warrior.
(1) At some inns 'Mr & Mrs Cutter' could expect similar amused discretion to 'Mr & Mrs Smith.'
(2)See Sir Terry's The Shepherd's Crown.
(3)Discworld Elves are fierce Faerie barbarians. Now you know why the men didn't want to talk.
(4)When an Igor resorts to prayer, the situation is serious.
(5)Unless you were a disciple of Ghatian Thuggeree. Sorry, couldn't resist.
(6)See Sir Terry's Carpe Jugulum for how Pastor Oats' path to enlightenment got a kick start.
(7)Visit-The-Infidel-With-Explanatory-Pamphlets, keen Omnian lay evangelist in Ankh – Morpork.
(8)Visit might disagree but modern Omnianism is a broad church with enough room for both views.