The Kingdom of the Damned

by Mario Garrido Espinosa

  7

  “Well, well. So the friend must be a rich man," exclaimed Severus when he saw the bag of money that Mario Toulon had stolen in Newtown from Navalhill, and that he hid, as was his custom, among his clothes.

  "Here," said Sabine, handing over a huge knife to Severus. “Tear his hair and let's get it over with. Do not be that someone else pass by and see us. Me while I will look if the boots of this other wretch can still be given some use.”

  Sabine went into the hole to loot the poor peasant his shoes, which, logically, was not in good condition. In fact, they were a pair of boots that the man had acquired from his father, and this in turn from his.

  Severus made an incision in the skin around Mario's scalp and then pulled on it, ripping the hair off, causing a horrible noise and leaving the bloody skull exposed in an instant. He carried out the operation with the indifference and the cold blood of the one that carries all the life doing it. As if, his job was to hunt small animals and was tired of removing their skin. Finally, he put the trophy in a small dark brown bag that was delivered in La Alpurría del Campo to keep proof of his work.

  Then, between the two, they made a last row, because next to the four belongings of Mario Toulon —including the "Book of Apolonio", that with the years and the forgetfulness would end up destroying and disappearing—, they buried the man who had witnessed the bundle game. The laborer, although unconscious, still lived when he was buried underground.

  “We shot him?” Sabine said, in a show of mercy, before beginning to fill in the gap.

  “Bah! For what?” Severus answered, deciding the matter.

  Severus, clumsily driving the hoe, began the task of putting the earth back in its place. Sabine prepared to help him using his hands.

  "Before we continued playing, we had to have ordered the bundle to cover the hole," Sabine said, wiping the sweat with his forearm and taking the other arm's hand to the kidneys.

  “You're right, but now we have no choice but to do it to ourselves. Stop talking and stretch as if you were an old man unable to do anything.” He paused, waiting for his partner to resume work. “Let's finish I do not want to stay here another minute.”

  When they finished the work, they raised what was left of Mario Toulon to one of the horses, they frightened the peasant’s donkey and they left thence like a soul that the devil carries. Now there was only one thing left to finish Sir Higinio’s task: to make the individual disappear from Gurracam who had presumably left Irene rewarded; and they were going to do it as soon as possible.

  CHAPTER 8

  The bastard of dishonor

  1

  T

  he birth was very painful. The gestation lasted two hundred and eighty-four days and the delivery several and bloody hours.

  Sir Higinio did not hire the services of any midwife, because he did not want anyone to know what was happening in his mansion that day. Irene, therefore, wrongly gave birth to a huge child, poorly helped by her sister Laura who served as a matron for the first and only time in her life. The mother and son of miracle did not die, and during the birth, it seemed more as if she was taking the devil out of the body than a normal baby, covered in blood and with the umbilical cord attached to his helpless body. Laura had not vomited as much as on that occasion and swore in front of her half-dead sister that she would never allow a man to conceive a child in her. Sir Higinio did not enter the delivery room at any time, even though Irene's cries froze the soul of anyone, including his.

  “Suffer and scream. Let's see if that's how you learn from a damn time," he whispered as he walked down the corridor from one end to the other.

  The poor baby's grandfather entertained himself in recent weeks in threatening the servants to be tombs regarding the latest and unfortunate events. The employees knew about the power of their employer, but in spite of that, more than one of them disobeyed and told the news to whoever wanted to hear it. That is why today no one in La Alpurria del Campo disown that Irene Lopezosa was going to give birth at any moment.

  On the same day that the baby saw for the first time one of the ceilings of Sir Higinio’s noble house, to dishonor the same, the angry grandfather ordered the arrival of a nurse, who arrived a day and a half after the birth from Poplar Village, which was a town —almost a city— located not far from La Alpurria del Campo.

  "Tell her that Sir Higinio Lopezosa Quesada needs her," he ordered the pair of trusted men to whom he sent the order. “If she refuses to come, you bring her tied to the saddle of a horse. Go now.”

  However, there was no problem. The grandfather promised her a good sum of money at the end of her work, and as long as it lasted, bed and three meals a day. The woman seemed fine and as soon as she settled she gave her first feed to the baby, who received it anxious and grateful.

  Sir Higinio knew the breeding nurse from many years ago. The reason why two such different people had coincided in their lives was one of the retired military officer’s best-kept secrets, although everything seemed to indicate that the woman, given her qualities, had taken care of Sir Higinio’s some illegitimate son, begotten when he was a handsome military man in his beginnings in St. Josafar. The retired sheriff knew that she was very necessary in his house at that time because the child was crying and his mother was half-dead, bedridden. He could trust only in her.

  The one in Poplar Village had become quite rare for a few years, which gave her a very negative reputation. For the locals, she had gone from being a strange lonely woman —known that she had the extraordinary quality, among others, of secreting abundant milk for her breasts when she wanted, without having been pregnant even once in her life— to become into a witch. Thus, in a matter of a few days, she gained much weight, which did not match well with the huge nose she always wore. Every morning she shaved a black fluff like the oak charcoal that grew beneath her red nasal appendix. It was very rare to see her talking to other people and when someone tried to talk without her consent, she barked at them as if she was a rabid dog. In addition, she lived in a stinking stable and claimed to have seen her feed on moss capsules, hibiscus flowers, the red and fleshy knobs of ash trees, and all type of mushrooms that would theoretically kill a person just by smelling them.

  People claimed that she kept her own urine and when it became rancid, she used it as if it were a lotion for the hair. With this, she managed not to have lice or nits. Others saw her hunting vipers with chilling dexterity, as if they were not dangerous animals for their venom. She ate its cooked flesh in rainwater, so that his muscles never suffered pain and always responded well. In addition, she made sure that she was able to predict the future just by looking at the stars at night. Everything was pure deception and superstition, but some uneducated and illiterate people would have been willing to overcome their fear and go to guess their future, believing everything they heard as if the witch was imparting her knowledge in a Babylonian city of the three hundred BC year; but she never received anyone in her lair and, although her seer power was probably true, she never used it with the Poplar Village people.

  Despite her obvious ugliness, her somewhat strange habits and alleged witchcraft, of which, curiously, no court of the Holy Inquisition ever found out, the woman suckled the baby perfectly, without leaving even a single day the mansion on the Hundred Fires street. One of the only requirements that imposed was to have at disposal every morning a clove of garlic. The woman was crushing it with the palm of her hand —in which she had already formed a rock hard callus— and she ate it raw and at once. She claimed that in this way she mocked death and if did not neglect this custom, would never perish. In addition, she made a concoction mixing purple garlic with honey and then sprayed it secretly on the child's face, so when grow older, would not have freckles. When Laura, who was also in the care of her nephew —and, of course, ended up taking her affection—, she learned about that witchcraft with pestilent scents of garlic aroma, she strictly forbade them, although the witch did not pay much attention to her.


  2

  After five months, it was loosely estimated, that the child had finished his lactation period. The abundant and rich milk that flowed from the disturbing nurse’s breast was replaced by regular goat or cow milk, which in general was spat on by the baby, who must have noticed the obvious difference. Also sometimes, the succulent feed was changed by porridges that Laura Lopezosa learned to cook and that the baby did like. He swallowed them to taste and with the desire of strong and healthy children, especially if it was Sir Higinio’s younger daughter who gives him lovingly to eat, due to the baby was very happy with Laura, just as if she were his true mother. She, logically, wanted him as if he were her son and during the time she was in charge of him, she sang songs that the boy did not understand but that lulled him and made it easier for him to sleep. The one that seemed to like most was that part of the long song of the "Princess Tree" in which the body of the princess of the children's story is transformed into a wonderful tree:

  The silent princess followed.

  More than three years ago.

  Her light seemed to fade.

  She did not want to talk with the world

  and the crying cease did not pursue.

  And the princess cried.

  One morning the good King entered,

  in the room of his daughter he went,

  while his eyes dilated:

  The legs of the princess

  They were now two thick roots.

  And the princess cried.

  Which tenaciously absorbed

  the tears that she produced.

  What was happening?

  In tree she was turning.

  The court did not explain it.

  And the princess cried.

  Five days ended

  and in the tree they turned

  all the beauties that were

  in the body seated

  of the tormented princess.

  And the princess was not crying anymore.

  Five growers came

  and five other gardeners,

  since the King commanded

  that his daughter was planted

  in the Palace, at the entrance.

  And the princess was not crying anymore.

  There has never been such a beautiful tree.

  Green leaves, large flowers, leafy.

  Everything much more beautiful was

  since the princess presided

  in her turquoise tree shape.

  And the princess was not crying anymore.

  The good King to their Temple was

  to ask the Gods why

  This happened to his daughter.

  “What have I offended you?

  Why did I lose my daughter?”

  And the princess was not crying anymore.

  After five days waiting

  a man approached him walking

  It was Gotama, who was sent

  by the good King the Gods

  to answer what he was asked.

  And the princess was not crying anymore.

  “Don't wait for a good friend,

  what the Gods told me I say:

  You do well to search

  in your Gods the truth

  of what is going to happen here.

  But you do not have to worry

  Well, if we wanted to act

  It is for doing good and not bad.

  You just have to wait,

  to your daughter contemplate,

  watch her do and create.

  The divine tree you have to take care of

  how your daughter took care already.

  Everything remains unanswered.

  The answers you will have when observing

  what from today will happen.

  Be patient not to doubt.

  And the princess was not crying anymore.

  The good King was confused.

  Of his daughter did not know the use

  that their Gods reserved her.

  According to his wish the tree was taken care of.

  The King waited resigned.

  And the princess was not crying anymore.

  3

  Being a fact already the weaning, the milk mistress charged and returned from where she came, but before leaving never to return, she pulled Laura to her side, holding her by one hand, and, bringing her face so horrifying —full of mystery and poorly healed fistulas— to Sir Higinio’s younger daughter’s to smell her witch breath, she said:

  “I have to warn you about two things.”

  Laura was silent waiting the witch to tell her. She noticed that the sorceress carried thick necklaces on her neck, from which hung amulets and talismans. Before now, she had not seen them. Probably his father forbade her to take them to the mansion.

  “I have observed how you go to sleep without taking any precautions every night. While I was here, you had nothing to fear, it is true, but now that I am leaving any night, the Devil could come and possess you.”

  Laura Lopezosa was speechless without knowing what to say. She had never feared or believed in the Devil; but since that woman had arrived at the mansion, seemed to be another guest, who no one had invited.

  “You are going to introduce a clove of garlic to your "shell" before going to bed. It can be uncomfortable but it is the only way to sleep safely.”

  Laura Lopezosa remained silent.

  “Promise me that you will!”

  "Of course I will," Laura said, although in no case she was thinking of keeping a garlic inside her genitals. She did not believe in the Devil and even if he existed, he would not dare to enter the house where her father lived, which was clearly worse than him.

  “You leave me calmer.”

  “And, in addition, I promise not to change my bed clothes on Fridays, as you told me...”

  “Very well. So the Devil cannot control your dreams...”

  “What is that other thing you have to tell me?” Laura asked, hoping for another foolish thing to be able to discuss with her sister the day she was well.

  "Last night I looked at the sky and the moon had turned into a huge, round cheese where you could make out the suffering face of a human being. I saw a set of stars that drew the figure of a mutilated person...”

  “Mutilated?” Laura interrupted who did not seem to believe so many nonsense.

  “Yes.”

  “And what was missing? The arms?” She asked amused.

  “Don’t. And this is not a joke.” She paused as she prodded Laura with her gaze. “He was missing a leg. He looked like he was uprooted and the face of the moon must be his.”

  There was a significant silence and Laura implied, without being true, that she had some interest in what the witch said:

  “Did you see anything else?”

  -Yes. Four shooting stars were intertwined and a red star like fire was very clear. Bad thing!” The witch shook her head. “Be careful, girl. The kid has to make some of you suffer, great suffering,” she prophesied and got into the car, but before disappearing, he pulled the curtains from the door window and once again required Laura's attention. "Here!”

  Laura picked up one of the witch's pendants and an uncut carved wooden box of the size of her big toe.

  “The necklace will protect you from the evil eye and diseases...”

  Laura looked curiously at the Kabbalistic symbols that were drawn on the three white stones that hung from the necklace. She never knew what they meant. Then she looked at the other object.

  “What is in the box?”

  “It contains a land capable of causing a wound, however large, to interrupt its flow of blood.”

  “Why do you give it to me?”

  “I only know that you're going to have to use it, and that's why I give it to you. The box is small. It occupies little room. Always carry it with you!”

  Laura opened the box and was able to observe the black sand with brown pinches that it contained. It seemed very thin.

  “Watch out! Do not spill it," sh
e warned.

  “Where did you get it?” The girl asked with curiosity, because in a certain way the sand turned out to be very beautiful.

  “It belongs to the bottom of the Furidem Sea, in the middle of the East.”

  Laura did not seem to recognize that place.

  “That little sand is the only one that remains in all Gurracam.”

  “It is beautiful.”

  “I think so. But not for its beauty but for its properties. Close the box, lest a wind blow spreads its valuable content. You will open it when it is convenient. Remember that it must always be with you. An oversight can be fatal.”

  “Do not worry. I will take it between my underwear.”

  “You are a good girl. I know you will do it.” The witch smiled and widened her eyes and exclaimed, "Ah! Do not forget the garlic clove every night.”

  Laura nodded and waited because it seemed that her nephew’s nurse still had something to tell her.

  “Listen to me, girl!” She finally said. “The worst thing that can happen to a person is to see their children die or lose before they leaves this world themselves. I have seen it many times in dozens of unfortunates. I know that your father must suffer for this same cause. The heaven indicates it.” She pointed with his sharp finger up to an indeterminate and nonexistent place. “Do not let it, girl! Do not let that happen!”

  And without saying any more words, the horse carriage started on the road to the Poplar Village, leaving a trail of dust. Laura Lopezosa was perplexed and without understanding anything, with a box of black sand with brown pinches in one hand and a necklace with three stones in the other.

  4

  Five and a half months after the birth Irene Lopezosa was perfectly recovered. She authoritatively decided that the boy should be abandoned not far from the town, in the mysterious Burnt Willow forest. While she was ill, she engineered this brutal plan, which when she was on her feet communicated to her father without even blinking.