Written by Veluan, Tue Sep 29 9:38:42 US/Pacific 1998
Part 17
"Damn you scared me." Mack said while trying to slow his heartbeat down.
"It's my job, I'm the village weirdo."
Mack stepped forwards again. "I don't believe you're mad and the real village weirdo calls himself the Shadow."
"Bit of a shallow name." replied Fred.
"Why did you wanted to see me?"
Fred was silent, like he was trying to remember why. His face cleared up.
"You must help me and if you do, I will help you."
"Why should I help you?" "Because you know, that I know more. That idiot Phil has orders from someone to look after me in an unpleasant way. You're after the Shadow, there is no research project But if I said stuff about the Shadow with Phil in the room I wouldn't be alive to talk to you here." Fred looked behind Mack and saw the skeleton a few metres behind him, the skeleton smiled his morbid smile. Mack turned around to see what Fred saw, but he didn't see anything except the trees. Mack interrupted the silence "You're not mad, looks to me you're cleared out of the way by the Shadow, but why?" Fred laughed. "That's only for me to know at the moment, now you must be of service to me, when I get a metal wire then you get some answers. Deal?" M ack didn't see any other way and accepted. "Good boy. Now get the wire." Mack nodded "Be back in a jiffy." and ran away. Fred looked at the skeleton again and the skeleton nodded approvingly.
St-Louise Cemetary Number 1
Helena waited in the cemetary beside the Gedde tomb. The cemetary was silent, it knew that something interesting was going to happen. Only an owl who didn't have a clue made some noise. Then footsteps. Louder. A voice.
"Goodnight my lady."
Helena looked at the direction of the voice and saw a tall figure. "Hello, doctor. Night yes, good no. Why must we do this at midnight."
"We always met at midnight."
"Well, time for a change."
The figure nodded, but didn't agree. "Why did you called me, my lady?"
"Tetelo said that you might know a good butler."
"Ah."
"Well do you?"
"Yes, a mister Whiteglove."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, my lady."
"Is he trustworthy?"
"Yes and very...er fruitful."
"Don't remind me, I'm only seventeen."
"Yes, but it's very important that you're a young mother, it caused a lot of trouble with your mother."
"I don't want to think about yet."
"But-"
Helena's eyes shone bright red and lid a small piece of the cemetary, the tall, black man was visible.
"She said no!" Helena pushed the man away.
"Okay...very good, I will send mister Whiteglove tomorrow." The man stood up and walked slowly backwards.
"Good."
The red dots disappeared, but only to hide behind Helena's eyes.
"My lady." the man said, he bowed and walked away into the darkness.
Asylum The Helping Hand
Fred was starting to get worried, what if the boy didn't come back? But no need to worry, a stumble in the darkness nearby indicated the presence of the boy.
"Here's your wire." the boy said.
Mack walked towards the barred window and passed the wire to Fred.
"I thank you." Fred said and investigated the string of wire, yes it was long enough.
"And now you're going to help me."
Fred was silent, Phil passed his door and looked in suspiciously.
"Evening Phil!" said Fred in a cheerful way.
"Shut up." Phil replied. Phil passed and Fred hid the wire under his bed. He slowly walked towards the window again. Mack was getting impatient
"Are you going to help me or not?".
"Yes, you helped me and I will help you..." Fred stopped again.
Phil was standing in front of the door. "Get to sleep!" Fred went to his bed and lay down. "Tomorrow night they will have a meeting, meet me tomorrow evening here."
Phil stood in front of the door and wasn't planning to move for the next couple of hours. Mack silently turned around. Suddenly a hand grabbed his shoulder, but before a scream came out of his mouth he saw that it was Firebrow.
"Do you want me to have a heartattack?" Mack whispered.
"I was just checking to see how you were doing."
Mack slowly walked away from the asylum. "Well, good I think."
"Great."
A couple of moonlight beams shone into Firebrow's face. The old slightly wrinkeled face looked pale.
"You're pale, is something wrong?"
"No, there's nothing, it's the moonlight that makes me look pale." Firebrow lied when they walked into the woods.
St-Francis Pub
Mack and Firebrow entered the pub. They were greeted by George and Annie.
James Dutton turned around "Ah, the famous witchdoctors!", he grinned and took a sip of his drink. Mack and Firebrow took the chairs next to Jessica
"Gave up this Shadow hunt?"
"Yes, he did." Firebrow said.
"No, need to worry." he added.
"Hmm." Jessica said before she drank her carrotjuice. She wasn't quite convinced, Mack was deliberately looking the other way.
"So, you guys gave up." James declared. "Ha, well that means that I will have to kill it."
"I almost know who he is." Mack said to Jessica.
"You just leave the shadow alone, you here me, this will pass, no need to get into dangerous situations-"
James interupted. "So, you almost know who he is, heh? You better watch your back, you don't want to be the next guy who comes bonkers out of the woods!"
"You just shut up." Jessica sneered at James.
"Okay," he looked at his empty glass "I know when I'm not wanted." He stood up and staggered out of the pub. "Goodnight all, don't even trust your own shadow, ahahaha."
The door closed and the pub was silent again. Firebrow ordered a drink and drank it very slowly and carefully.
"You look pale, something wrong?" George asked.
Firebrow put his glass down "No, nothing's wrong, bit tired that's all. Mack are you coming?"
Mack nodded and got up. Firebrow stood in the door of the pub. "Goodnight George and Annie." he said slowly, "Goodnight Jessica."
They all looked a bit surprised at Firebrow's solemn way of saying goodnight and wished him the same. Mack waved his hand and left the pub as well.
The Woods
Firebrow was silent and looked at the trees among him as they walked towards the cottage.
"You act very strange lately. You say nothing is wrong, but something is."
Firebrow was silent. "I'm okay, you don't have anything to worry about." he said solemn.
"Stop it, you scare me!" Mack yelled.
Firebrow looked at him. "You're doing a great job, remember that. Remember my lessons. Remember that I always will be near." Firebrow stopped walking, when he saw the cottage.
"Your talking like you're going to leave me, you're not are you?"
Firebrow didn't answer.
"Remember the tree in which I educated you." A tear slowly rolled over Firebrow's cheek.
"Remember me."
Firebrow suddenly walked towards the cottage and didn't turn around.
"Firebrow?" Mack said.
No reply.
"Firebrow!"
Still no reply.
Mack started running towards the cottage. Firebrow stood at the door and opened it. An enormous explosion lit the trees and tore the silence apart. Mack was pushed against the ground by the pressure.
"NOOO!" he yelled, but his crie was lost in the explosion. Pieces of the cottage flew past Mack and what was left of the cottage burned like a huge torch. Mack didn't move, but cried softly.
If you have any comments, you can email Veluan at gjvdmeer@tref.nl.
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