Fisher And The Bears

by T Hodden

  “The last time I saw you, you were in a hospital. Bitten by your own spiders. Your own mind in tatters.” I said as calmly as I could. “Did you spend the last few decades of your life considering your mistakes? Mulling over how to put it right Orbas?”

  “Where is the Skein?” He demanded. He was staring at me, trying to work out who I was. But he did not want to admit he had no idea who I was.

  “Safe.” I said. “It will remain safe.”

  “You have until Noon tomorrow.” Ankh hissed. “To deliver me the weapon.”

  “No.” I said.

  “If you do not provide,” Lupine growled, “we will destroy you and this entire town. I will break every bone in your body.”

  “I will snap the spine of every bear.” Ankh hissed.

  “I will make every nightmare of every miserable worm in this town come true in their agonising pain.” Grace said in little more than a whisper.”

  “My children will swarm on you and consume your souls.” Orbas said.

  “No.” I said it firmly. “Orbas, you killed my mother before my eyes. I am dying and I am pretty sure I am going to end up in hell. There is very little I have left to lose. And very little reason to hold back if some murdering piece of filth wants to get his grubby little paws on a weapon he will use to commit genocide. So no. No I am not giving you the Skein. No I am not going to let you commit genocide. No. I am not going to let you hurt anybody.”

  “Who do you think you are?” Orbas snarled. “To talk to me like that?” He reached to his bag and allowed a spider to start crawling over his fingers. He flicked it at me. It did not reach me. It did not have time to bite me. Or to cast a web. As it tumbled through the air there was a kind of whipping noise as the Bane Sword span through the air and sliced the spider in two. It hovered threateningly in the air at my shoulder.

  “You killed my mother after she helped foil your thing with the drugs in the water supply, and you don't even know who she was? Who I am?” I felt bile filling my throat.

  “To me that was just a Thursday. Do you remember who served you at the last petrol station you visited?” Orbas laughed a little.

  “Yes.” I said. “Beverly. Nice woman. Three kids. Writes poetry in her spare time.” I straightened up. “You have until noon to leave. Try and hurt anybody here and you will discover this town in protected.” I held out my hand and let the sword fall into my grip. I held it ready.

  “Your threats ring hollow.” Grace said. “You have until noon.”

  “You do not.” I promised.

  The horses turned and they rode out in a cloud of dust and noise. We all stood watching them in silence. When the thunder of hooves was over the horizon Doreen turned to me.

  “You are dying?” She whispered.

  I nodded.

  “You are going to hell?”

  I nodded.

  “I'm bound to you.” She said.

  “I'm working on it.” I said. “Trying to make it right.”

  She held my hand. The one with no sword in it. It made me tingle all over.

  “And what is that?” She asked.

  “Flaming pitchfork.” Ginger said proudly.

  “We promised once that what ever was on the other side we would face together.” Doreen said. “I still mean it.” She was trying to look brave.

  “Yeah, but if it doesn't have to be Hell, that would help.” I said. I realised what was in my other hand. The sword. “Hey you! You aren't hurting me any more? Or drinking my blood?”

  It shuddered.

  “Well, thank you for killing the spider.” I said. It wobbled in my grip a little. “Okay everybody, we have some work to do. We need some wards on the town to stop those spiders getting in.” I looked around. “We need to draw them away from the town. Maybe find the Skein and put it somewhere safe.”

  “Oh.” Polly sighed. “Is that all?”

  PART TWO: Heavens Edge

  Four

  They met in the Garden of Glass, under the gaze of the Singularity itself. The Creator was a pale blue star. Swollen and vast in a pale sky the colour of sand. Theodore Edison Bear and Wendy, the envoys of the Great Ancestor Bear were sat on the stone benches on the lawn. The grass was soft with clusters of clover. The flowers, vines, pillars, bushes, trees and fruit that filled the garden with colour, were all glass.

  “Well this is nice.” Wendy said. “Kind of pretty.”

  “A shame about the situation.” Ted said. “I don't like secrets.”

  Wendy gave that some thought. Before she could offer any further wisdom Uriel and Seraphine entered the garden and sat at one of the other benches. They stared at the bears with out speaking. Seraphine tried to give them a kindly look, but it struggled to get past the hardness of her expression.

  “Sorry you lost your friend.” Wendy mumbled. “Was he...”

  “He was a good soldier.” Uriel said sharply. “He died doing his duty.”

  “Never the less.” The Grey King sat on his bench. “You have our sympathy for his loss.”

  Loretta swept through the garden to her own bench with out speaking. She sat and put her hands on her knees. Her veils turned black on their own.

  The final bench was filled by a pair of reptiles, roughly human sized and shapes, but bulbous with features that would have looked at home on a fish. They did not talk at all.

  “So now we are all here,” The Grey King said, “shall we begin?” He had a tea set on his bench from which he started to pour several cups. “Shall I be mother?”

  “Enough games.” Seraphine said. “Why did you call this meeting? We should be out there setting right the mess you created.”

  “My mess?” The Grey King held up a finger. “I warned you that somebody was manipulating the games. I warned you that driving him this way was a mistake. I warned you when somebody stole the Angel of Death.”

  “You didn't tell us.” Ted muttered.

  “We could end this tomorrow. We could take over Heavens Edge in fifteen minutes. We could find the Skein.” Seraphine said. “We could cleanse the demons who protected it. We could force the Skein into his hand.”

  “And there would be a price for such an action.” Loretta said. “I am already uncomfortable with the price I have been forced to ask for this endeavour.”

  “His soul will be delivered to you as promised.” Uriel said.

  “He does not know what he is?” The Fish-lizards burbled the words as though they had one voice. “He does not understand what his true power is?”

  “No.” The Grey King said. “And neither it seems does our mysterious enemy. Which is why we have an advantage. He is playing a long game, but he does not see everything we see. Rush in, leave nothing but a smoking crater and you might, might, get the Skein. But, show patience and we have the barest of chances to not just possess the weapon but to-”

  “If he does not understand the power he has.” The Fish-Lizards said in chorus. “That makes it unstable. We can not control it.”

  “It is not a matter of control.” Loretta held up a hand. “Only of motivation. His sense of morality is simple and direct. He will do what is right.”

  “But that is not what our fisherman friends mean is it?” Ted said. “We all know Fish does what is right. But he has a knack for other people doing it too.”

  “For making them loyal to him.” The Fish-Lizards chimed out. “He meets bears? They are blindly loyal to him. He meets a ghost in a camera and she loves him. He meets a clone from the future, bred with the single desire to kill him. The one thought that fills her entire being is a hatred for him. And she becomes his little sister in a few seconds.” They seemed to find shadows to cloak their faces. “Amduscias sensed the power, let him touch the sword and saw how powerful it became. But it too has changed. It too is loyal to him.”

  “Hey.” Wendy stood resolute. “It isn't about loyalty. It is about-”

  “His heart, his values, his kindness and sympathy are all infectious.” The Fish-Lizards said. “He
does not make you love him, but he influences you until you are more likely to align with his heart.”

  “He only awakens what is already there.” The Grey King said. “As Demons can do for lust, rage, fear or hatred, he can do for more conscientious emotions. As was predicted so long ago by the Knights of Azrael. They hoped his blood could cleanse the taint of demons. In a way it seems to be working. Even if he needed a little guidance.”

  “And this is your plan for the Skein?” The Fish-Things burbled. “To give it seconds thoughts? To ensure it sees good and evil as you would like them to be seen?”

  “To prevent the weapon from wanting to be used.” Loretta said. “Thus rendering it safer. The trial run was a success.”

  “There is one more thing.” Ted said as everybody got up. “I do not like all this talk of sending Fish to Hell. Making him pay. We all wanted him to succeed in his tasks. We all wanted him in this affair, and none of us wanted the Angel Of Death free.” Ted looked at everybody in the garden one at a time. “What he did was right. Good. For the best.”

  “And yet,” Uriel held out his hands, “it was a sin. And he must pay.”

  “A sin.” Ted mumbled. “According to which laws?”

  “The word of the Singularity.” Uriel said. “As described in the laws we enforce.” He looked at the little bear. “As the guardians of his laws we are trusted in our judgement. Our words are his words. And his word is law.”

  “Then it is only in your word?” Wendy took hope. “Okay then. Singularity. Tell me now it is your word, your desire, that we cast a good man to the Abyss and I will stop fighting this decision with every fibre of my strength.”

  “My word.” Uriel seethed. “Is his word. The judgement will stand.”

  “But we need not pretend any of us are pleased about that.” Seraphine sighed. “I am truly sorry it has to be this way.”

  “As are we all.” The Grey King said. “I hope.”

  “How can we be sure you are not sorry because of his influence?” The Fish-Lizards spluttered the words. “We can not afford sentimentality. It is unfortunate. It is a lesser evil than those we face.”

  “Then know this.” Ted said haughtily. “That the bears consider it far better for there to be no further evils. And we will resist those evils regardless of what the rest of you decide.”

  The Grey King nodded, and as he caught the eye of Loretta, he resisted the temptation to smile wryly and tip the bears a knowing wink. He forced himself to glower at them, warningly.

  *

  Doreen sat beside me on the bed. The hotel room was bland with simple but comfortable décor. Her coat folded neatly on the chair. Her hairpin removed to let her mess of hair down around her shoulders. When I had first met her it had taken a concerted effort to take any layer of her spectral clothes of, or to remain solid. She would face out of reality in the instant she let her mind slip and her clothes would materialise back on her when she next manifested herself.

  “I still have to think.” She said. “But it is at the back of the mind where I do not know I am thinking.” She grinned. “I have had hot showers every morning.”

  I nodded.

  “Will I continue to grow stronger as you grow weaker?” Doreen asked softly, her shifts and light blouse rustling a little as she slid closer to me. “This is what Wendy meant when she said we would have to pay for our love?”

  I nodded. “My headaches can be managed for now. But, if we want it or not, I am trying to sustain two of us from my own being. You will be strong enough to continue now with out being bound to me. When I... Pass...”

  “I will be free to remain where I wish?” She kissed my cheek. “If we complete our challenges and do not end in Hell?”

  “Even then, there is a chance you will be strong enough to remain here as long as you wish. Perhaps you could resist passing with me? You could stay here with the bears and-”

  “No.” She tightened her grip on my hand. “Heaven would not be paradise if I lose you. I would walk into Hell if it were to be with you.” She smiled. “But just in case...” She pushed me back into the pillows and pinned me down, a look of mischief on her face as I let myself be subdued into the kiss.

  *

  We had worked quickly to protect the town from the spiders. I had stood in a circle of salt and performed a rite of warding. The bears had formed a circle around mine and sung a spell of resonance. The salt had drifted into the air and spread out for over a mile and a half in all directions settling on the circle that surrounded the town, energizing it with protective magic. Then they had split into patrols with dousing sticks, searching for any of the Soul Spiders that may have been released in the town.

  If a human uses a dowsing rod they are lucky if it taps into their psyche and points towards something they know to be there by use of the minute body movements we ourselves are not aware of. With a bear it is a little different. They are dragged around by a dousing stick like it is a bloodhound on a lead.

  Ginger had taken his Flaming Pitchfork to the local garage and asked very politely if he could borrow their tools and spare parts. He said he had some modifications to make. Meanwhile other members of the merry band of bears had let Dad try to teach them the lasso. Some had taken to it quickly, but Tiger had failed to grasp the knack. She had however tied a small grapple to the end hos her line and could delicately wrap it around a fence post, pluck the hat from your head, or steal your milkshake with a subtle flick of the wrist. Her own tricks with it were impressive, though her friends had called it cheating.

  Where Ted and Wendy had snuck away to was a mystery, though most the bears assumed they were up a tree, and were probably K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

  So by the time I had settled in to my Doreen’s room with her, I was past exhausted and more than happy to escape from reality with her for just a little time at least.

  Before dawn I stumbled out of bed and tried to revive myself with a shower. There was much to be done before Noon. I started by crossing the street to the diner. Sylas was already there when I ordered myself a coffee and Doreen appeared beside me to order a cup of tea.

  I took a deep breath and waited. The bell of the door chimed when it opened as the sword floated in, bobbing through the doorway with as close to a saunter as it could manage. It hovered behind me. A few minutes later Gwyn, Ginger, Polly and Tiger laid claim to a booth at the end of the diner and used a credit card that looked a lot like mine to order breakfast.

  “So does anybody have an idea how we can draw them away from town?” Sylas asked.

  “We could pretend to find the Skein,” Dad said, “drive out somewhere that seems like a likely hiding place for an ancient weapon. Then we could let the Horsemen follow us into an ambush and the bears could cut them off at a pass.”

  “Please.” Ginger said. “If there is any justice in the world, please let me cut them off at the pass.”

  “And what if Orbas and his horsemen work out where the Skein actually is?” Gwyn asked.

  “Can we risk giving them a chance?” Sylas asked.

  “Well, if we knew where the Skein was we could secure it and maybe slip it away.” Polly said.

  “Or if we knew where they were we would not have to wait.” I said brightly looking at my watch.

  “You have a plan to... Neutralise the threat?” Sylas asked.

  “They were stupid enough to give me until noon.” I said sipping my coffee.

  Val Liberty stepped into the diner from the truck he parked outside. He wore a camouflage coat and sand coloured fatigues. He did not look as though he had slept much. He ordered the slide special and he gave me a long look.

  “Hawthorn Pass.” He said. “I tracked them to Hawthorn pass and they are arguing over how best to kill us all. They don't play nice in groups.”

  “Right.” I smiled. “Any chance we can get a posse going here?”

  “Are we running them out of town?” Ginger asked, excited.

  “No. We gave them a chance to walk away. Now we make the
m walk away.” I said. “By we I mean I do.” I gave my new friend the sword a gentle pat on the pommel. “I don't think I have time to wait around playing silly buggers.”

  “Now hang on, that doesn't sound very...” Val tried to think of the words.

  “Trust me.” I said pulling on goggles and lifting my hood to offer some shade. “If I can avoid them wanting a fight I will. If I have to fight better it is out there than here where people might be hurt.” As I walked out of town the bears began to follow. The sword nudged me until I took it in hand. Doreen walked beside me, but she faded from view with a confident look on her face. More bears joined us. Their pitchforks looked awfully like Gingers.

  “So what is the plan?” Ginger asked.

  “If they want the Skein, they can have the Skein.” I looked down at the sword. “I am surprised they didn't ask for it last night. How many hovering swords do you think they meet?”

  “And if they happen to know what the weapon looks like?” Polly asked patiently.

  “I only need to distract them for a few minutes.” I said. “Long enough to form a circle and wards. With one alteration. The polarity. Point it inwards.”

  “You want us to lock you in with the spiders?” Ginger said. He smiled. “That's not actually a plan.”

  I smiled. “Yeah it is. Doreen, you know what you need to do?”

  “Yes.” Her answer tickled my neck as it passed my ear.

  “Right. Showdown.” I quickened my pace as we followed the old railway. We could get close to the horsemen before they saw us.

  *

  I let the bears surround the camp before I stepped out of the copse of trees and walked briskly towards the horsemen. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as the bears hummed their spells and turned their loose circle into a magic circle. The air grew still, charged like there was a thundercloud overhead. Grace was standing watch on their camp. She roused the others from their preparations by drawing her pistol, a long deadly looking revolver, and fanning the hammer so all six shots were spat in my direction. They sparked and chimed as the sword in my hand whipped out to slash them out of the air.