Bretwalda, Part 7

 

cover art by Rudoph Belarski

Read/Watch 'em In Order #140

The July 29, 1939 issue of Argosy included Philip Ketchum's story "Tribute to None," the seventh tale about Bretwalda, the axe destined to save Britain.

In this one, we've reached the year 1215. King John is on the throne and making a rather poor job of being king. He keeps raising taxes to pay his mounting debts, which is in turn ticking off both nobles and commoners alike.

This is a particularly personal problem for Brian Wilton. Because of his openness and honesty, he has won the loyalty of the commoners in on this father's lands. And he supports efforts to rebel against John--not to remove him from the throne, but to force him to respect the rights of his people.

But Brian's father--though recognizing John's failings--refuses to consider rebellion. He is unfailingly loyal to the throne.

Well, anyone reading this story pretty much knows right away that it will end with the signing of the Magna Carta, but getting there makes for another great Bretwalda story.

There is, of course, several good action scenes--an escape from a castle, an attack on another castle and a night-time ambush. But the core of the story is Brian's dilemma. He feels that rebellion against John is justified. But he doesn't want to end up fighting his own father. 

Ketchum handles this perfectly. Perhaps one of the most human moments I've ever encountered in a work of fiction is when Brian meets his father on the road and urges him one last time not to fight for John. The two men aren't angry. There's no shouting, accusations of treason or mutual recriminations. Rather, the two men speak for a few minutes, then there's a sort-of awkward pause before each continues on his own way. We immediately understand that we are encountering a father and son who love each other, but have run out of things to say about their radically different decisions regarding supporting/fighting the king. Ketchum captures the emotions of the moment perfectly, giving it a poignant realism. 

Brian, in the end, wields Bretwalda to fight for what he believes is right. As is true with each generation of Wiltons, he suffers great joy and great sorrow because of this. 

Click HERE to read the story online.