Darkly Wood II

by Power, Max

  “Well, down to business eh?” Blenerhorn reinforced his declaration by sitting down at his oversized desk and folding his arms as if to say, ‘Let’s hear it.’

  Squelby looked about the merchant’s office. For all his wealth, it was a tiny space, overwhelmed by the enormous desk and filled with countless piles of untidy ledgers. The view was superb of course but still it was an underwhelming room. He remained silent waiting for Blenerhorn to see which foot he might first place in his own mouth. He didn’t have to wait long.

  “You see those six ships below in the bay? All mine!”

  It was a boast for no apparent reason other than for its own sake and to break the uncomfortable silence.

  “Six ships Mister Wormhold?” He avoided the inappropriate familiar use of the first name. They were not friends. Blenerhorn heard the correction and knew well that Squelby had the measure of his wealth.

  “Five…six…what matter? I have twenty ships at sea or in port at any one time, that one of this little lot belongs to someone else is merely a matter of timing…Ha!”

  He wasn’t going to let this squirmy little bearded creature, think he could get away with that side-handed insult. But the squirmy little bearded man had him at a distinct disadvantage.

  “You have twenty ships sir? I understood that the fleet in question belongs to the India Winds Trading Company?” There was the merest hint of a smile on Squelby’s lips and it angered Blenerhorn. That was the desired effect.

  He had no answer. In truth, the ships belonged to the company and the company belonged to his father. Blenerhorn was inconsequential despite his familial connection and his high sounding title. If anything, he was an annoyance to his father, an increasingly embarrassing one. But there was even more to it than that and only one of the men in the room was fully familiar with the whole truth. He couldn’t win a game when he didn’t know the rules so Blenerhorn went on the attack.

  “What in the blazes do you want Mr. Squelby? Who are you? I agreed to meet you at my father’s request. He said you had a very interesting deal for us…so let’s hear it.

  Squelby shifted in his chair and looked straight at the fat, bulbous-nosed idiot before him. He was an enormous man and few people in the area would have dared rile him. Blenerhorn had a temper, physicality and reputation that warned you not to seek it out. Matthew Squelby didn’t seem phased.

  “The deal your father spoke of wasn’t for ‘us’ as in you and your father. The deal I have is exclusively for you.” He paused for just long enough so he could see the confusion register on the big man’s face and then he stood up.

  “But come. This is not the place to talk such business. Let us adjourn to the tavern and sink a jug of ale. This is a deal that needs wetting.” He turned to the door and walked straight out without waiting for Blenerhorn’s response. In truth Blenerhorn needed little excuse for ale. His belly spoke of it the moment you met the man. He had more than one weakness. Ale was just the easiest one to access for Squelby.

  The Coopers was just across the street and Blenerhorn was a frequent visitor. It had the added advantage of attracting the local working ladies when ships came into port, so with money in his pocket, Blenerhorn was always able to satisfy two vices in the one location. Downstairs for ale, upstairs for the ladies. This was an occasion for ale only and as it was still early, the tavern was pretty much empty except for the barman, a one-legged ex sailor called Jonesy and the permanent fixture of his drunken brother Silas, who held up one end of the bar. Blenerhorn and Squelby sat by the window and stayed silent until after Silas had left them alone with their beer.

  “To your health!” Blenerhorn raised his jug to toast and as Squelby raised his, he offered a peculiar toast in return.

  “To your demise.”

  He put the mug to his lips and drank but Blenerhorn did not. He held his mug inches from his lips for a moment and them lowered it to the table. Squelby could see the anger in his eyes.

  “You look confused sir. I have brought you to this…establishment to unconfuse you. I have asked you to join me to enlighten and educate you sir. To help you understand your predicament and to guide you to what must be done next.”

  Blenerhorn slammed his fist on the table and the mugs rattled. Silas didn’t even look over. It was not uncommon for trouble and in this case, it was Blenerhorn. He could to do what he wanted. Blenerhorn was quick to anger but he always paid for the damages. Silas merely glanced across and saw Blenerhorn grab the skinny little man across from him by the lapels and half-pull him from his seat. Squelby looked at his mercy.

  “It would be best all round if you released your grip on me Mr. Wormhold.”

  Blenerhorn lowered his chin to look down at what it was that poked him in the chest. It was a cocked pistol.

  “Believe me I am rather proficient with a pistol and you will not be my first, so please, let us remain civilised until you hear my proposition in its entirety at least?”

  Blenerhorn released the squirmy man and sat back, his face still a vision of pure fury.

  “Good.” Squelby announced. “Now we can behave like gentlemen.” He straightened himself and sipped on his ale before continuing. Squelby lowered the pistol beneath the table, but kept it pointed at his companion.

  “I am here at your father’s request.”

  “My Father?”

  “Please don’t interrupt me Blenerhorn, this could take a very long time or we can get through this and I can get home to my rather beautiful wife and a delicious piece of mutton she is preparing for me. May I continue… uninterrupted?”

  Squelby had swiftly deferred his courtesy and deliberately turned to the less formal first name without an invitation to do so. It was a deliberate slight and although he had asked a question, he didn’t wait for an answer.

  “Like I said, I am here because your dear father asked me to present you with an offer.” He looked skyward as though he was uncertain in his choice of words. He was uncertain.

  “An offer is perhaps not quite the right way to say it…it is more of a proposition, but then again both things sound like something you have the choice to turn down. You don’t by the way.”

  “Don’t what?” Blenerhorn was confused.

  “Have that choice…to turn it down… oh damn it sir what is the word I’m looking for?”

  “Ultimatum.” Blenerhorn offered his version but he didn’t like the sound of this.

  “Mmmm, ultimatum? I’m not overly fond of the word but it sort of fits in these circumstances. Let’s stick with offer for now. Ultimatum sounds so final.”

  “I thought I didn’t have a choice Squelby.”

  Squelby smiled and waited a moment before leaning in and answering.

  “Well of course you don’t my dear boy, but play along.”

  Blenerhorn placed both hands on the table and made a move that suggested he was about to stand up and leave. Squelby offered the pistol above the table for a moment as a reminder for him to stay where he was. Blenerhorn sighed and sat back.

  “Get to the bloody point!”

  “Very well, Blenerhorn. My, you are impatient, but I will get to the point as you say. The offer…there’s that word again, the message, the ultimatum from your father if you will, is really quite simple. He would like you to, drink yourself stupid for the rest of the day.”

  “WHAT!”

  “No there is more of course. Forgive me I have a nose for the dramatic. He would like you to drink your fill here today and then pleasure yourself with the whores in the port to your heart’s content.”

  “For the love of…” Blenerhorn was losing patience, but Squelby continued over him, his tone dropping to a cold slow pace and his face losing all expression. He was finally coming to the point.

  “And when you have filled your boots sir, sometime under cover of darkness, he would like you to board the ship of your choosing, dismiss the night watch and hang yourself from the yard arm.

  CHAPTER FORTY FOUR – PLAYING FOR TIME

>   It was an involuntary flinch, but Daisy May couldn’t help herself. Seeing the reaction was enough to please Wormhold. He took few pleasures in life, so when they came along, even the petty ones, he allowed himself a moment to enjoy them.

  “What do you want?”

  He could see her searching for his name so he offered it to her.

  “Wormhold. It really is an easy one to remember. Think of the worms that will feed on you when you are in the ground like these fellows, then hold on to that thought. Wormhold.”

  He allowed himself a smile but to Daisy it looked like a grimace across his eyes. Everything else about his face was such a mess, it was almost impossible to make out his expression, especially if it was forced.

  “What do you want, Wormhold?”

  He crossed his hands behind his back and began to circle her. It reminded Daisy of Woody, that predatory circling motion.

  “That’s a very good question. What do I want? If I told you, I’m not sure you’d believe me. You see Ms. Coppertop; you are a very special creature indeed. You know that of course don’t you?” He stopped walking for a moment and looked at her as though expecting an answer, but she was playing for time. Daisy had to make sure her daughter and granddaughter were safe. She had to think, she had to be clever. She recalled her father’s advice about trusting instinct and another piece of wisdom he shared about not saying anything if you had nothing to say. So she stayed silent a little longer, hoping Wormhold might reveal his hand. When she didn’t answer, he resumed his circling and continued.

  “You have questions I’m sure. You’ve been to Darkly Wood before and it left you with more questions than answers. Poor Benjamin, what happened to him and Woody? Yes Woody what a delightful name you two christened my little pet with.”

  “Pet?” Daisy had the word out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Wormhold was pleased, he was drawing her in.

  “Perhaps pet is the wrong word. But whatever, let’s just call him Woody for now. You have questions like I say. Who is Woody? What is he? Are Woody and Benjamin one in the same? How could that be?”

  Wormhold was making gestures as he spoke in a highly dramatic voice, mocking her as he asked the questions as though she were a fool, an ignorant in these matters when he held all the cards. She was of course.

  “Why me? What really happened? Was I dreaming? Did I really fall foul of a bee sting that left me in a coma and did I dream everything? Oh poor me!” He laughed as he finished his mockery.

  “Clearly not.”

  Daisy chose her words carefully. It was her turn and she would meet this vile creature’s quips head on. If he wanted a battle of wits, she would challenge him and win.

  “I beg your pardon?” Again he stopped circling.

  “You heard me.” Daisy’s tone was sharp.

  “I heard you Daisy May but I didn’t understand you.”

  That was good in Daisy’s mind. She had all the questions and no answers. It was important to try and take some of Wormhold’s advantage away.

  “I said clearly not. I was clearly NOT dreaming. Here I am again, here you are. This...”

  She waved her hand at the gravestones when she said “…this.”

  “I discover the very same secret graveyard, the same beastly creature, only now it seems there are two of them. That explains a lot. Clearly now I see that none of what happened was a dream. I was here. I did walk this wood with Benjamin and we did fall foul of that horrible creature I christened Woody.”

  She took a breath and began pacing herself, mocking Wormhold, copying his stooped pose as she paced hands behind her back just as he had.

  “What is different is you, what is strange is that I never met you when I last came to this …” She looked about and waved her chin in distasteful acknowledgement of her wooded prison and continued, “…place.” She stopped pacing and faced Wormhold.

  “If you are so important, as you seem to think you are, then why did I not encounter you when I first came to Darkly Wood?”

  Wormhold suddenly and unexpectedly wrapped his scarf about his face again, leaving only his eyes showing. It was a telling move. It was his comfort blanket. Perhaps he felt exposed. Perhaps she had hit on something. Maybe like when she pretended to forget his name before, he had a big ego and she was hitting that raw nerve, but she felt it was something else.

  “Of course I’m important.” He sounded a little annoyed. Daisy immediately teased him a little to test him.

  “In this little wood maybe…pshhh.”

  He turned on her in an instant, stamping right up to Daisy and for a moment she thought he might strike her. Up close she could smell him. Wormhold smelled of all that is putrid. She had to breathe through her mouth to avoid retching. Standing just inches from her, Wormhold was a monstrous form. He towered above her and he was the broadest man she had ever encountered. If he chose to, Wormhold could fell her with one blow of his enormous fists.

  “NOT…” He pointed his finger in her face and took a breath, realising his temper was taking over. “…Not just in this…little Wood as you call it.” He turned his back on her and walked away a little before turning to face her again. She was glad he had taken his smell with him.

  “You have no idea who you are talking to. You have no notion of what I have achieved, the people I have met, my incredible power…inside and outside this beautiful place that possesses me as much as I possess it.”

  He lowered his head as though thinking, remembering perhaps. It was telling how he described his connection to the Wood. Daisy had ripped the plaster from his ego and she knew she could challenge him there, but there was something else. Something he had yet to reveal, she knew it, but she had to find it. Maybe that was his Achilles heel.

  “Then why do I only get to meet the all-powerful, great Wormhold now, here, in these circumstances? I have not returned by coincidence?” As she spoke, the thoughts that raced through her mind were wild, but something struck her, something very important and she wondered why she hadn’t thought of it before.

  “You brought me back to Darkly Wood? This is not chance. This is no quirk of fate. This is your doing. That’s it isn’t it?”

  “So what if it is? Yes I brought you here. Of course I did. I can do anything I want. I can control who I want. I get what I want when I want it. Have you not listened to me? Wormhold is the most powerful and important person you will ever encounter.” He puffed out his chest as he spoke of himself in the third person. But Daisy May Coppertop was about to burst his bubble.

  “I don’t think so!”

  Daisy’s declaration took him by surprise. He glared at her, waiting for an explanation. She gave it to him.

  “I’ve worked it out you see, Wormhold. Today my vile and gruesome captor, you are not the most important person in Darkly Wood are you?” She tilted her head questioningly and this time it was Wormhold who gave himself away with his body language. He unruffled his chest and his shoulders sagged just a little.

  “You brought me here yes. You had the power to do all of this, just to get me, Daisy May Coppertop to return to Darkly Wood after all these years. You didn’t go to all that trouble just to kill me did you?”

  She was right. All she could see were his eyes, but they told her that she was right.

  “The most important person in Darkly Wood isn’t you Wormhold is it? Today I’m the most important person. I’m the one with all the power aren’t I?”

  CHAPTER FORTY FIVE – RUN RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN

  In the blinking of an eye, the world can change. Rose and Holly Coppertop sat bewildered looking at two strangely transformed beasts. Where once they stared into the faces of two vile woodland beasts, now before them sat one new face and one familiar face.

  “Charlie?”

  Holly had let his face go but she could not take her eyes from him. As for the other boy, he was drawn inexorably to Holly also. Rose might well have been invisible. Charlie looked down at his near naked body and touched himself unbelie
ving. He looked pale and sickly.

  “Holly?”

  Neither could believe what was before their eyes. Charlie in particular seemed very confused. The other boy spoke.

  “Daisy May?”

  Holly knew he was talking to her and she answered him.

  “No, I’m Holly, Holly Coppertop. Daisy is my grandmother.”

  He looked from Holly to Rose and then at Charlie.

  “I’m Benjamin.”

  They all sat in silence for a few moments as though no one knew what to do. Benjamin was the first to come to his senses.

  “You must go now. You have to run.”

  It was a simple terrifying instruction and only Rose felt the need to stand up. She knew they should take this chance and she pulled Holly by the elbow so that she stood also. Both boys followed suit and stood and each pair faced each other, as again a short silence descended.

  “You must run. There is little time. When Wormhold returns, the chance will be gone.”

  “What’s a Wormhold?” Rose and Holly had not seen the man that felled them from behind earlier. Benjamin had little time to explain.

  “Wormhold is our master and when he returns…” He was unsure when Wormhold would return, Benjamin didn’t even remember why he had left them with the girls, only that he wasn’t there and that he knew he had to wait for Wormhold. That was how it worked. Mostly when he was Woody, nothing mattered but instinct. His instinct would have meant that Holly and Rose would be dead by now. The only thing more powerful than his animal desire was the power that Wormhold had over him so he knew that he must be waiting for him. Why didn’t matter.

  “When he returns, I know it will be bad.” He never took his eyes off Holly. She looked so like Daisy May it was disconcerting. He wanted to touch her face, to hold it in his hands so he could stare into her eyes, but he knew it was not her. It made him feel sad. He turned to the boy to his right.

  “What’s your name again boy?” He called him boy as though there was much difference in their age, as though he was old and Charlie was young.