The Only Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan was surprised to find a crowd milling around in front of the inn. The millers looked a bit unfriendly. Not to mention very armed. And they were blocking his access.

"Excuse me," said the Samaritan politely. "I need to get into the inn."

"We have a right to carry these weapons," said one of the crowd, who appeared to be the Mob Leader. The Samaritan noticed that the people in the crowd were fondling the handles of their swords.

"Ah, yes, well, that's nice," said the Samaritan. "But you see, I have a badly injured man here. He needs a place to rest and recuperate, and I intend to put him up at this inn for that purpose."

"If you don't exercise your rights, you lose them," sneered another fellow truculently as he caressed a large bow.

"Well and good," replied the Samaritan. "But let me explain. This poor gentleman was attacked by robbers on the road. They beat him and left him for dead. He is one of your own people, so I'm sure you will want to see him cared for. I came upon him as the bandits were high-tailing it with his goods, so I got a pretty good look at him." The Samaritan glanced around and noticed the robbers seated on their horses a few yards away. "In fact," he cried, "that's them, right there!"

"Those gentlemen warned us that you would try to rob us," growled the Mob Leader.

"They warned you that I ...," chuckled the Samaritan in disbelief.

"We're not going to let you take our swords," said the Mob Leader, brandishing his.

"I don't want your swords," said the Samaritan. "I want to take your ailing countryman into the inn so that I can have him properly cared for."

The mob, lovingly stroking their weapons, continued to mill around the Samaritan.

A few yards off, the robbers were observing the spectacle with amusement.

"Gosh, Boss, you were right!" said a robber lieutenant admiringly. "They believed us, and not that Samaritan guy. How come?"

"Because he's a Samaritan," laughed the robber chief.

"But we're robbers," argued the lieutenant, "and that guy just saved the life of one of their own guys, who we just beat the crap out of. I don't get it."

"They hate Samaritans," explained the robber chief.

"But they hate us, too," objected the lieutenant, "and surely, they care about their own countryman. Doesn't that count for something?"

The robber chief shook his head. "They really hate Samaritans," he said.

"But why?" asked the lieutenant.

"Who knows?" shrugged the robber chief. "But nothing trumps blind hatred."

"Aw, come on," chided the lieutenant. "Surely, it can't be that simple."