The Meddler

by Donna Maria McCarthy

  ‘Surely an opportunity I would not like to miss, Wakanda, so be careful how you answer.’ Warned Mrs Punch, but to be honest she was as intrigued as her daughter.

  ‘Well yes, of course, little Elspeth. In fact, had I not taken extra calculus, the fine magician you see before you would not have been possible.’

  ‘Quicker than the telegraph or pony express, ay Reuben!’

  ‘Yes, but a deal more troublesome, Harry!’

  ‘Friends, would you deny me? And if you would, I say I would pay no attention.’

  Reuben deposited him in the cart.

  ‘God speed!’ Harry slapped Bess, who reared as much as her delicate age would allow and was incredibly put out.

  ‘Lord, no, what have you done?’ Meddler exclaimed, and almost fainted as the cobb broke wind. ‘It is her only weapon, but is damn effective!’

  ‘Oh quit your moaning, you. I do not mind so much, she is just old and will not be humbled.’

  ‘Lucky for you, Reuben that you are not affected, but for myself shall ride in the back.’

  ‘Good day, Gentlemen, I have never enjoyed two people more!’ Harry saluted his new friends and waved them off and all in the Punch household willed the day that they would return.

  Chapter 8

  ‘Reuben, must we?’

  ‘Aye we must. Sorry, Meddler, I have no enemies in this town yet, and I have a mind to keep it that way. Oh come now, Creature, I shall not be long. You will see that I will make myself as unattractive as possible. They will probably aim the food out the window and ask us to feed there! I can be quite uncouth at times, you know.’

  ‘I am sure. At least I do not doubt it, Reuben.’

  ‘Let us go then. We shall be late if we delay, and something tells me the Dowager can be a right old pot boiler!’

  ‘Shrill!’

  ‘Opinionated.’

  ‘Severe.’

  ‘A paragon.’

  ‘Face of an angel.’

  ‘Lord help us all then!’

  The two would have to do much to contain their humour as was not ten minutes’ ride, and they reached the Dowager Proctor Forsyth’s.

  ‘A real show of wealth, do you not think? Almost hurts the eye.’

  ‘Yes, Reuben, if it were not for shadows cast,’ he pointed to a window where peered out the girl Niamh, almost as one with the dark, ‘I say we would go blind.’

  ‘Aye, would not want more than two of them I say, I am quite fond of the sunshine, ay Wakanda?’

  Both sniped at her as they approached the door to which she blew a raspberry and shouted, ‘The freak show is here! I do not suppose you will expect me to join you?’

  ‘You will come down this instant, miss! Oh lord, please steady my nerves. What have I done to deserve such a wicked girl? Niamh! This instant !’

  She slammed her window obligingly, and with such force that it broke the glass.

  ‘Foolish, Niamh, foolish! You just wait, my girl! You will clear that mess and sleep in the cold tonight. In fact, until I think you have suffered enough. Filthy little vagrant! Oh dear, Gentlemen, you catch me unaware – you see we were acting out the play for the harvest.’ The Dowager blushed as the two stood before her. ‘You see Niamh, here, is cast as a thief and I am – well – I am as you see, Gentlemen.’

  ‘Flustered?’ Reuben rescued.

  ‘Sir, you shock me. I did not think to find such a quality in one so, well – to be frank, lowly. But yes, I am habitually so, though as you see we are actors at present. Niamh, that will be enough rehearsal for today, let us all retire to the garden on such a pretty day.’

  ‘Animal!’ Niamh viciously muttered towards our Meddler.

  ‘Tell me, Lady Forsyth, does Wilhelmina join us? I feel a chill and surely such a pretty girl’s blushes make well where a blanket will not?’

  ‘Well, Mr Wakanda, of course she shall!’ The Dowager bristled with pride.

  ‘She takes after her mama,’ Niamh added spitefully.

  ‘Oh no! Surely, knee is it? I forget. Forgive me, I must explain – Wilhelmina’s beauty is surely unique, is all I meant. No slight or offence intended, Lady Forsyth.’

  ‘Oh none taken, Sir and if you are concerned still, let me say that I truly warm to you.’

  ‘Oh, and if you must address me at all, Wakanda, my name is Niamh not knee! You are a fool and a simpleton and I might add, a consummate actor! Oh Lady Forsyth, it is not that you are unfortunate, just that your daughter is handsomely so. Hah! Balderdash!’

  ‘Oh just ignore the damp blanket!’ Lady Forsythe parried, and the three shared the joke, laughing haughtily – deliberately.

  ‘Do you think I care, Wakanda? I do not. I hate your type, a plague of the earth! Always smiling aren’t you? Maybe I will change that.’

  ‘No, I do not think you care, Knee , but is a shame that you do not; perhaps people would be more kind. No, you must accept what you are before any will accept you. Jealousy is magic but is too much for you.’

  ‘And what do you two collude about?’ The Dowager, seated in an abundant garden framed by pink roses, contrived. But then that was what she needed – Meddler would say.

  ‘It cannot be much, Mr Wakanda, with such a boring, drab girl. Why, here is my fair child! Wilhelmina, our guests.’

  Pretty, perhaps even breath-taking, as even Reuben blushed a little as this delicate vision appeared, but not to one such as our Meddler. If only. No, to him she had little fascination. Groomed by other such creatures, she smiled and was her most favourite and practised. Meddler being privy to such things was unfortunate, as it made her awkward and perhaps not so stunning. With Niamh, granted access to his revelations – made a very ordinary tea party far more dimensional.

  ‘Sit my child, sit. We shall have some tea and a little unbridled fun!’

  ‘Thank you, Mama, though I am sure we shall be more the talk, scorned for?’

  ‘Indulgence, girl, indulgence!’

  ‘Indulgence, yes. Forgive me, Mama.’

  ‘Are you psychic, Lady Forsythe?’

  ‘Why, I am sure I am not, Mr Wakanda, what do you mean?’

  ‘Simply that you finished your daughter’s sentence, and please it is just Wakanda .’

  Niamh sniggered which looked ugly, and as Willy had been informed of her fakery, so Niamh was of her unfortunate state. She, too blushed and Meddler warmed to the whole affair; crossing his legs, face in hands he turned his attention once again to the Dowager, begging answer to her psychic ability. The Dowager chose not to answer and instead rang for refreshment.

  ‘Mr Reuben, is it?’

  ‘Reuben, just Reuben, it is my first and last name. You will find none of my people own more than one name.’

  ‘Well, I am sure I will not, begging your pardon, but this is most intriguing is it not, Wilhelmina? Still let us eat. I have had barely a morsel all day and the cake looks very fine!’

  Meddler noted that she really need not be concerned and that a full plate of sandwiches and treats at lunch was more than a morsel. Reuben pinched him, for blushes in such quantity were always his work and in vain he tried to redeem himself, ‘The cake does look truly tempting, does it not, Lady Forsythe?’

  ‘Funny, but I appear to have lost my appetite, is it not hysterical? With such temptations!’

  ‘You must be sickening for something, Aunt?’ Niamh feigned concern.

  ‘Yes, dear child. Here, feel my head for fever?’

  ‘But Aunt, dear. I can see from here the sweat upon your brow as well as your top lip, I think it anticipation?’

  Willy laughed into her hanky to which Niamh looked appeased and well pleased.

  ‘Allow me!’ And before Reuben could stop him, Wakanda mopped her brow and wiped her top lip unceremoniously with a brightly coloured handkerchief. He then placed it in her hand, informing her that he did not wish it back.

  ‘What is this? A circus?’ Reuben bellowed, and clipped Meddler about the ear.

  ‘And you two! Have you no gratitu
de or respect?’

  ‘Sir!’ The Dowager rose in colour and to her feet to stoop over this dragon, diminishing his proportions with a bought and paid for dignity, none could argue.

  ‘Sir, you have made this situation far worse. I am sure any with breeding would have ignored such silliness; it is common you see, amongst the higher classes! A gentle ribbing, Sir, is essential and had you waited you would have seen that the parry is always received with greater pleasure and enthusiasm! Now please leave, you awful people !’ She stood up, pinched and white with rage, grabbing Niamh by the ear. ‘You will feel the strap for this, my girl!’

  ‘Mama please, it is just her way – as is your patience. Why should this instance be more particular?’

  ‘If you think flattery will make me spare her, you idiotic girl, you are mistaken and much taken in!’

  Shrieking and cries of despair saw the two out, and was as effective as a caning.

  Tickled, ain’t ya?’

  Meddler did not answer him, too intrigued by what seemed to bind the two girls – a most unusual alliance.

  ‘Well that’s your lot. I will not have you with me again. Ungrateful and meddlesome creature. Who knows what will come of it!’ He looked deep into his dark round eyes. ‘But you know already, ay? Come on, you owe me this at least!’ He shook him a little, still enraged by an uncontrollable situation. ‘Stop!’ he shouted as Meddler went to speak, ‘No! And none of your meddling, I know myself well enough to know that I could not work this one out for myself, and if you don’t want a toasting on a spit you will take heed!’ He softened a little on seeing such knowing eyes confused and muddled. ‘I am just no coward, you see, Creature, was a silly fool’s moment of weakness.’

  Both looked back at the house where two girls stared after them and all that separated was an apparent beauty. For sure it was a wicked scene.

  ‘I am not that magic then, Reuben?’

  He took a sharp breath. ‘No Meddler, you are just not.’

  Quickly they mounted the cart for home and a dreadful silence filled the air and was Reuben who could take no more. ‘You think it is to do with what has puzzled you this few weeks then, Meddler?’

  ‘All I know, Reuben, is that I cannot see beyond a fortnight from now.’

  ‘With me, Meddler?’

  ‘Yes, Reuben, with you. Please, old friend, if I say I fear it, then surely this is odd? Especially for me?’

  ‘And you would have me fear it too, I suppose?’

  ‘Precisely, Reub, I am a fool – a joker – a magician most part, yes? Is it not strange to you that I cannot be so? I say I am as blind as you, but know that you see more than you say.’

  ‘No, I feel, Creature – it is different and can confuse.’

  ‘Words, Reuben – fine words. I will tell you that I have always admired your courage, but I cannot, your stupidity.’

  ‘What would you have me do, then? Run from here? Never! I would die more quickly and more painfully, for there is no poison so slow and toxic as the one that drains your blood and your fire.’

  ‘And yet, Reuben, I am not brave. I have no fire, and I know many more like it but they are not scared – they are wise, wiser than you.’

  ‘Ah, but you are too, brave Creature. Such a tiny wee thing you are, yet no man nor beast can prevent you if you have a mind to meddle.’

  ‘Knowledge is a marvellous thing, Reuben and unlike you I am safe from harm and discovery.’

  ‘But this time? For I tell you, Creature, I fear for you this time – just lately that is.’

  ‘Watch!’ And he was gone, vanished…

  ‘You are mad, old man, mad!’

  Reuben stood up, confused, and toppled from the cart. ‘Where, where are you, damned Creature?’

  ‘Look further than the horizon, for it limits you. Look for a dream.’ And as the sun hurt his eyes so did our Meddler appear again. ‘You see, it is only that you dream, even if it be fearsome, that you can see me. I do not exist for one that does not. And I had not met, until today, a human that did not. So I question this, Reuben, and have for a while. You see, I could calculate the very time that you would no longer see me – I am never surprised but do not object to discovery. You must not, Reuben, you must try to dream; for at least as long as you are not ready to quit. I know there is more you wish to do. You are charmed by the earth, old friend, but yourself hold enchantment for a great many more who would keep you as you are. Of course, I am excited by all this dragon business, but it is a damned awkward sum to configure!’

  ‘I will get back in the cart now, Creature,’ Reuben said phlegmatically, ‘back to the heart, back to normality.’

  ‘Spectacles?’

  ‘Aye, spectacles.’

  ‘Indigestion?’

  ‘Aye, that’s my fire.’

  ‘Destiny?’

  ‘The Hoomey tales, and a soft bed.’

  ‘Together, then?’

  ‘As you wish, but a warning for you, Meddler from an old fool, nay dragon is it? I do care that you care. There is my worry.’

  ‘Ah, but Reuben, it is but a sequence of words that have become repetitive that they appear to hold more gravitas. I grant you that I am comfortable but shall never care, and is brutal of you to say so.’

  ‘Oh, away with you, I am tired of conundrums. Back home, old girl, before both our ears bleed!’ And he urged the old cobb on who perhaps – not so thick between the ears – obliged with a quicker trot.

  Chapter 9

  ‘Oh hurry up, Nella! Tell us more of the man you called King?’

  ‘Not king darling, kin! And my story is like life and reveals itself slowly. There will be more, I am bloody sure!’ She took the Hoomey bread and tossed it into the fire and as it hissed and gobbled it up she gave all a look of warning, ‘There is fifty at least in this camp, so I will wait another few days, if you don’t mind. You have stories enough amongst you!’

  ‘Ah but, Nella, your tales do this to the young ones – eyes wide but dreams have them.’

  ‘And why, Meddler, do you not just reveal all? I am sure you are as equipped, if not more so, and you would save me the bother!’ She pulled him down to sit beside her.

  ‘But, Nella, I cannot speak mysteries as you do for I know of none. To enchant you must be enchanted.’

  ‘Damn it, missed the Hoomey!’ Reuben moaned, ‘you might have waited.’

  ‘Here, friend, a nip of my brew will make you dream. You look tired of the day and for sure dreams will comfort all of us that are so.’

  He took it gratefully and soon all were asleep, the young ones where they sat and the elders found each other’s bones softer than hard times. What had transpired that day whilst the two were away weighed heavy on all and Meddler knew another piece of that which puzzled him and found bones of his own to snuggle to that night.

  A little more real, a little more scared, poor little Creature who cursed that he cared.

  ***

  Meddler walked about the camp that morning mumbling to himself, ‘It is only that I am so perplexed that I think, in fact know that I appear to care. For you see, I truly cannot. Though I will say that this is new for me, to be perplexed – perhaps this is evolution? But to me seems backward? Rosie! I am struck by a notion. Here, feel my head.’

  ‘You sickening, Meddler? I did not think you could.’

  ‘As did I, Rosie, but still, if you will?’

  She felt his head, opened his mouth and listened to his chest. ‘As I thought.’

  ‘Please, Rosie, do not hold back. Is it serious?’

  ‘Well, you have no heartbeat, are as cold as ice, no teeth, and a tongue like a lizard! I would say you were fine.’

  ‘Of course, of course! It is simply more of this perplexity stuff. I think I enjoy it, thank you, Rosie.’

  Reuben sat amongst the elders and quietly spoke, though these words were too heavy to be carried by whispers, ‘I thought the farmer a good man? You say he is heavily influenced by the nephew?’

 
‘Aye, Reuben. Kane says he has taken a disliking and is the type to stir up trouble. He says we should go and I have a mind to agree with him.’

  ‘But this land is good for nothing, Nella, for at least a few years. And though it is a pittance what we pay it is better than nothing. He cannot be in his senses. Did he say he actually wanted us gone?’

  ‘No, but the fact that they spoke secretly, and surveyed us all with no courtesy was enough. Come on, you old dragon, can’t you see its best to go? I speak for us all, Reuben, when I say we want no trouble.’

  ‘Not for me though, aye? No, I shall speak with him myself. You will see he can be reasoned with.’

  ‘As you wish, friend, but I for one am ready for the off! I am weary from worry and about ready for a new adventure, and aren’t we all? It is time, yes friends?’ That she cleverly made it their idea certainly lightened the mood and Nella made good use of an obliging imagination, cheering those who seemed dejected.

  ‘Sick of the place!’ one shouted.

  ‘Aye, me too!’ And a buzz went around the place, sadness turned to anticipation and all were reminded that they basically were travellers and that perhaps had stayed too long.

  Chapter 10

  ‘You are making good pace, Reuben, are you to town? I feel as though – no, I know – I must join you.’

  ‘What’s annoying, Creature, is that you tell me something before I realise it! But yes, I am heading for Hares Folly and will stop off at the farmer’s place first. Shush now please! Let me discover!’ he roared as Meddler went to set out and outline the day’s events.

  ‘Of course, but I only knew the bare facts so I did not pre-empt you. I simply concurred.’

  ‘Bloody come then!’

  ‘I would meddle, even if you refused!’

  ‘I know that, at least this way I have some control, blasted Creature!’

  ‘And we are to the Forsythe’s after?’

  ‘I think so. I must find out what this nephew holds against us, if anything.’