It
was full dark by the time I had reached that intersection, a dreary mess of so
much sheared concrete and refuse as to be confused for a garbage pit. No distant voices returned my hello’s, no
gleam or shadows showed small eyes peering from the gloom. It was a place of
emptiness, merely seeming to exist by which to swallow my form. I checked my surroundings before the approach,
yet could not help but think of tombstone assemblages rising high. My crucifix clinked above my heart.
As
for me: I had received an envelope under my chamber door only a week prior,
which had summoned me here at this near time upon this given date. The necessary, secret code of my people lay thick
upon its parchment, calling for a chance meeting to both ponder and receive a
form of patronage. Inquiries and luck
had eventually led me to a map, whose supple lines had shown me to this place. Curiosity had done the rest.
But
now to this corner: what to make of it? Everything
seemed to wait in expectant pausure. The
clock ticked nearer. A sole crow
cawed. Suddenly I was afraid, though I
knew not why.
When
the events actually transpired, they happened suddenly and without warning. Out of the darkness to my left came a vehicle
of an indiscernible shape, moving so quick as to yank the very breath from my quaking
lungs. The object was fast, damndably
fast, veering so close as to nearly take off the tips of my toes foolishly left
protruding from the sidewalk. The thing
before me was also quite tall: smooth, larger than a cab, yet certainly much longer
than a hansom. Its fuselage bore no
markings of guild or trade, and had glided up beside me as quietly as a
monk. Unaccustomed to the direction of
such phasing’s, I merely stood gaping.
But
upon regaining my composure, greater surprises remained! A hole, a crack of sorts had appeared upon
the vehicle’s side, the supple scent of lilac drifting from within. This new fissure too had appeared as quiet as
the cart itself, expanding fast alongside a frame that had seemed as solid as
the foundation of the Pyramids. I was
tempted to reach for the revolver concealed in my breast pocket, but doubted if
sweaty fingers could now cooperate, or else betray me. I once again stood stock, likely gaping anew.
“Enter,
my good B_____”, said a voice from deep within.
Surely I must have been half mad, or else still under the opiates strong
lull to be lured by the sounds that flowed from that machine. Yet instead of quick death or sobering
reminders of growing doom, a match was struck somewhere within revealing
another figure sitting opposite. A sly
smirk stood ready on his face while a known symbol of my people was held deftly
in his hand. I remained uncertain of a
proper greeting or hello, merely standing in an idiots wonder. At last I merely bowed.
“My pardon at such an arrival.” said the man,
introducing himself as I sat. “My driver
and I both enjoy our forms of chagrin, of theatre.” The cab started on, making me jump. In short order it was tearing through side streets
both familiar and unknown. Nearby there
seemed now a slow clap of meandering footsteps, of voices, even as the shadows beside
continued to remain fixed. Was that a
human shade growing beyond just the lampglow?
“Yes,”
said I, “It was you called me here it seems.
Though for what purpose?” Monsignor
answered with a simple name, leaving my heart to pause.
“Do
not worry, sai. We seek only passage,
and a quick discussion I assure you.”
“A
selection, perhaps?”
“Mayhap.”
“An
apology?”
Being
deep in the metropolis at this point, we quickly passed beneath layered stone, beside
many undulating windows. The edges of the
view began to glow in greens and purples, as around us the murmuring voices grew
more steadily. I swore that I could see
eyes in the distance.
“We
leave the city so that like the knights of old you, we even, can go on a
quest. To regain your honor. For the time has now come to gain a few relics
for your retribution. You insulted my
daughters judgment, her character, more; for that you owe penance. But first you get to decide a different fate.” The Monsignor now held the Tarot in his
hand. My feet went limp beneath the
lacings.
“Look upon these figures, their features - for
they are significant. As you can see, three
stops are needed tonight.
“First
for the lychee vendor, which is to be your heart. Some have eaten well of it, and have claimed it
was good.
“Next
will be for the wicker man, a pause for straw, to be your body. We will lay down mighty barrels of substrate to
burn, then will breathe in the remaining smoke.
“The
third stop will be for…,” I leaned closer, struggling to catch his words. He went on, nonplussed. “…that which symbolizes
your mind, prepares us for the full harvest.”
Turning quick, I was just in time to see a shadow slink back from the
roadside. My shock increased along with
the mental thrum.
“Then we make a fourth stop for…” At this, I stopped him shakily.
“Your daughter used me, Monsignor, do you not
see?” He paused now, shaken.
“You have to choose,” he merely
exclaimed.
“No. I
shall choose none of these things,
you terror. You fiend!”
“Then
you’ve made your choice.” The cab had
begun to slow then, footsteps and voices approaching fast. Outside, I saw a man nearing; he was all
eyes, outlines. The carriage was suddenly
betwixt an army of walking shapes!
“Will
you join?” I heard a voice, uncertain if
it was from the growing crowd, or my own throat.
No, I screamed,
over and over again.
“NO! Stop.”
“Stop
the cart, Gusseppi; let him have his wish.”
“Please! Anything
but that!!” Slower , slower still till I
was shrieking madly for some form of composure.
I could see the faces, the many hands now at the window! Fingers reaching above lip, stick sucker like
upon the glass. I looked to my host for
guidance, but he too was gone, another etching beheld within the crowd. I fell back with fresh horror - a fate worse
than obliteration! To become the mob, to
be part of their rending clutch!! I
could feel their palms already finding the hard turns of my neck. Nails upon the back of my hair.
The
far door began to open…
“Anything
but this!” I gasped, screaming aloud
again [I may have been even trying to clutch my face]. Beyond, limbs, arms began to pry their way
into the cab. Dead eyes, red orbs began
to fill the void. They were all about me
now, entering as a shifting tide, I merely waited for my own face to join that
maddening pall.
THE
REVOLVER! I grabbed it, held it, likely
kissed it twice before I began to blast at anything that moved. The shapes
seemed to drop off one by one, gunsmoke pervading the air. Deafening roars rose all around.
Yet
the mob still advanced! They clutched,
they grasped.
Was
I now outside?
In
a last despair, I turned the device to my temple, a sudden coward seeking quick
exit. I called my goodbyes to this earth
in quick earnest, screamed aloud again as the fatal click of steel landed on an
empty chamber. Or mayhap it was the
brained bullet, striking the back of the chair behind me? I knew not, only stood screeching.
“It
appears he has made his choice.”
“Yes,
fascinating. Remove him”
Then,
all at once, I was falling. With a hard thud
I landed, bounced along onto skittering feet, tearing at my flesh, my hands, lids
all around opening in fear. Was I
dead?
No:
the claws had only been the wind. Somehow,
the cab had stopped at the same corner from whence we began, still empty,
utterly quiet. The cracked signs glared
ominously above us, as the missile beside stood smoothly idling.
Once
more, a match was struck from deep within, if to only to again showcase that
toothy grin.
“Bon-swa,
dear sir, we shall see you again soon”.
With
that Monsignor began to laugh, a terrible cackle that joined with unseen
multitudes flowing all around. Perhaps
this was in my head, perhaps it was only the roar of the engine unseen. Then they were gone,
lost to the ages, leaving me only to gape.
That
night was long ago. But when the east
wind rattles, I can still feel the flavor of many hands descend upon a gaping
chest. Of the foolish grab for the gun,
rather than the cross that had hung nimbly round my neck.
It
is in those moments that I can only wonder for the future of my immortal
soul. To pray.
----Fin.----
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