The Eye of Erasmus

by Teresa Geering

  He doesn’t realise it, thought Erasmus, but we have a lot in common.

  As they approached the boy he tried to make off. Erasmus stopped him.

  “What is wrong, Hesper? Can’t we be friends?”

  Hesper thought quickly and decided he would have to dissemble if he were to achieve his goal.

  “I’m sorry, Erasmus. I’ve been so lonely all my life and Shasta has made me feel part of her family. I thought that maybe you wouldn’t want me to stay now that you‘re friends.”

  Hopefully Erasmus will accept that explanation he thought to himself.

  “Hesper, it’s true that Shasta and I are friends. Actually I have asked her if she will become betrothed to me and she has agreed. But we would like you to stay living with us if that’s acceptable to you?”

  Well this couldn’t have worked out better, he thought to himself.

  Out loud he said “Oh, Erasmus, I don’t know what to say. I’m so grateful to you both. Thank you.” And with a few heartfelt sobs thrown in for good measure, he hid his face in Shasta’s dress while she patted his head with genuine affection.

  “You and I have a lot in common, Hesperus,” said Erasmus using his full name and trying to ease the situation. I am very interested in the heavens and the stars and you are called after the Evening Star. How did you come by that name?”

  Swayed for a moment by the discovery of mutual ground, Hesper explained what had happened with his birth.

  Erasmus laughed with genuine amusement at this and for a long while the three of them sat in companionable silence watching the stars and picking out the most significant ones. Erasmus was genuinely surprised at the knowledge shown by Hesper.

  Eventually they walked back to Shasta’s house and, for the first time for as long as he could remember, Erasmus didn’t sleep in his cave.

  Although he didn’t realise it, Erasmus, through love, was beginning to weaken and lose some of his strength.

  Hesper, settling down beside Merlin, agreed that this was working out better than they expected.

  Chapter 13

  The following days were spent in idyllic harmony. Hesper now seemed to accept the regular visits of Erasmus and, when Shasta wasn’t at home, he fended for himself and Merlin quite happily.

  Erasmus went to the talks in the market and took Hesper along with him. When questions were asked of him, Erasmus often referred the questioner to Hesper who always seemed to have the correct answer. At one point Hesper seemed almost as much in demand as Erasmus.

  Erasmus was however in love and that was the most important thing on his mind, day or night. He had not even considered for some time now that he was living in a different time to his own. His only thought was his love for Shasta.

  She at first neglected her friends in favour of Erasmus but then the realisation hit her one day when she was sitting in her garden with no one around to talk to that they were equally important and she began to invite them back again. Many evenings she sat in her garden doing readings for them as before and relating stories of how her life had changed and the difference Erasmus and Hesperus had made. Frequently they played with Hesper, encouraging him to take part but also being mindful of his handicap. In his own way, Merlin joined in causing frequent squeals of laughter at his antics.

  Shasta accepted a lot of teasing from her friends concerning her love at first sight and the fact that they were jealous of her. But they all agreed on the fact that they certainly complimented one another.

  Erasmus, for his part, took to Hesper completely and tried to include him in everything he did. Hesper was a quick learner and admitted to Erasmus that he often had studied the stars himself as a child.

  Hesper went along with everything Erasmus suggested. In fact he quite enjoyed being involved with the informal lectures that now seemed to be more frequent. He often found he was able to answer questions off the top of his head while Erasmus was busy consulting his charts.

  Hesper was biding his time, knowing that his time would come soon enough.

  Chapter 14

  Hesper took to visiting the ruins of his old house on the craggy rock more regularly now. Since making his new home with Shasta, he felt more secure. Sometimes Merlin would tag along, content to sit beside him with his head resting between his front paws. Now that he was bigger he had become more adventurous, but he knew his limitations and boundaries.

  Hesper sat on the ground within the walls looking for past comforts and trying to remember the day-to-day routine of his parents. It was as if it had only happened three years ago but it seemed an eternity.

  With the warmth of the sun on his face he closed his eyes and looked back as far as he could remember.

  He remembered the endless games his mother played with him. That was foremost in his mind and he loved her dearly. His father was away from the house on a regular basis and he recognised even at his tender age that his mother got lonely and sad at times. Occasionally she was visited by a man who never seemed to be empty handed. There were always presents for his mother and these usually included something unusual for him. On many occasions he felt there was something unsettling about this man but he accepted him anyway because he made his mother happy. She explained that they had been friends for many years and she had known him long before she met his father and he must always be as respectful to him as he was to his father.

  Hesper thought it strange though that he only seemed to visit when his father was away.

  When his father was at home, his mother was never without a smile. She would hug him and his father constantly. At night they would sit in the garden and watch the skies, his father educating him on the different stars, his knowledge seemingly endless, while his mother contented herself with sitting and listening to them.

  Hesper was fascinated and asked many questions of his father. He repeatedly told him about the Evening Star, Hesperus, and its position in the sky until he knew it by heart.

  Although the house was isolated, his parent’s friends in the area constantly visited and stayed for the evening meal which went on long after he was in bed asleep. The one thing he remembered was the permanent supply of food on the table. And if anyone fell on hard times, his mother was the first one to help them out.

  Then, one night, shortly after his mother’s friend had left, his father had returned unexpectedly. Seeing the man leave, his father had enquired as to who he was. His mother explained that he had been a family friend from before they had married and that he visited from time to time. For the first time that he could remember Hesper heard his parents arguing. He buried his head in the bed and tried to shut it out. Eventually everything went quiet and he heard his father go out into the night. In despair he sobbed until finally he cried himself to sleep, the arguing still playing over in his mind.

  The next thing he remembered was waking up and coughing violently. He was instantly aware that the house was on fire. He called to his mother and father in terror but he got no response. Rushing into his parents’ room he found his mother lying in bed, asleep. He tried to wake her, unsuccessfully. He also realised that his father had not returned. Thinking that he should find him to help his mother, he rushed to the stairs. In his haste he slipped and fell to the bottom, cracking his head violently on the stone floor.

  He awoke to find himself in great pain. He dragged himself across the floor to the door and outside, hoping to see his father but to no avail.

  By this time the fire had taken hold and, as he watched, he knew that his mother was dying in the flames. He never found his father.

  Over and over he played out different scenarios in his mind as to what had happened, steadfastly avoiding the most evident truth – that his father had burned down the house knowing that both he and his mother were asleep inside it.

  As he watched the flames licking into the sky, he whispered to the house “If only we could go back and stop it happening.” Instantly he felt an unbelievable pain in his chest. Somehow he knew that his very soul had been taken
from him. It had been viscously wrenched from his body.

  After the conflagration, after he had regained consciousness, he had attempted to throw himself on the kindness of his neighbours or his parents’ friends, but such was the shame of the event, they had all turned their backs on him, refusing to recognise even his existence.

  He was reduced to begging on the streets among people who rejected him and treated him as a stranger.

  Damn his eyes, he thought to himself, and then, curling up against Merlin for comfort, he sobbed soundlessly to the wind.

  Chapter 15

  “Did you and Merlin have an enjoyable walk, Hesper?” Shasta asked as he hobbled in. She couldn’t help noticing his puffy eyes indicating he had been crying at some point.

  “Yes, thank you, Shasta,” he answered, very subdued.

  Unsure of the situation, she tried again. “Did you go to the beach?”

  “No, I went to my old house. I often go there. It helps me to remember my parents.”

  With a sudden gush of sympathy and understanding she moved towards him to hold him.

  At first he stood firm, and then his lower lip began to tremble and he hobbled forward towards her and collapsed in tears in her open arms. Merlin softly meowed sharing the pain.

  Shasta held his frail body until the tears subsided, her kind heart feeling desperately sorry for his loss. She resolved there and then that if ever she and Erasmus had a child she would ensure that Hesper never felt neglected and always part of the family.

  Finally his tears stopped flowing and, with her help, he lay down in his bed. Lightly covering him, she marvelled at the way Merlin instantly took up his position at Hesper’s head.

  Inseparable, she thought, and went to sit in the garden. From her favourite seat she watched the sea as the waves slowly ebbed and flowed and wondered what Erasmus was doing at this time. She hadn’t seen him for a few days.

  After the initial frenzy of discovering love, they had fallen into a pattern of taking time in between meetings. This made their time together even more special.

  She was expecting her very close friend Esmeralda to visit tonight, so she sat and awaited her arrival.

  When she arrived, Shasta greeted her using the familiar shortened version of her name.

  “Hello, Esme, how are you?”

  “Yes, I’m well, thank you. I see that love agrees with you, Shasta. You’re absolutely glowing.”

  “I have to admit I have never been happier,” she said, smiling.

  “How are things now with Hesper? Has he settled in all right with you? I often hear his laughter in the garden when he plays with Merlin. It’s a joy to behold when you consider his affliction.”

  “Actually, dear Esme, I was hoping to ask you about that.” She motioned her to a seat. “You used to live quite close to that ruined house on the rocks.”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you ever know anybody to live there?”

  “No, the house has been a ruin for as long as anybody can remember. Why?”

  Shasta frowned. “It is something that Hesper told me. He appears absolutely convinced that his story is true but it cannot be. If it is true, it must have happened many, many years ago.”

  “But Hesper is but a boy.”

  “Yes, he is but a boy.”

  “Why, what does he say?”

  “Well, he says that his father was a merchant and quite wealthy. Several times a month he would travel by boat into Cornwall and trade with other merchants. In his absence, his mother took to regularly entertaining a man at their house. He just seemed to appear out of nowhere, almost as if he had stepped off a cloud that was passing. He was a very good looking man, according to Hesper, with a neatly trimmed beard.”

  Shasta took in a deep breath and checked that Hesper was still sleeping. She needn’t have worried because he and Merlin were exactly as she had left them.

  Esme, eager to hear more, indicated so.

  “Hesper says that his father had been away and returned unexpectedly to find that a man had been visiting the house and had been doing so regularly in his absence. Hesper’s mother explained that the man was a friend of long standing. Hesper’s father, being of a jealous nature, demanded to know exactly what had been going on. His mother tried to convince him that nothing had happened, but to no avail. Evidently his father stormed out of the house into the night. After that Hesper is uncertain as to what happened. He awoke to find the house on fire and his mother unconscious in his parents’ bedroom. Rushing to get help, he fell down the stairs. When he regained consciousness, it was too late. He dragged himself out of the house but his mother perished in the flames and his father was nowhere to be found. When he approached his neighbours, they refused to even recognise his existence.”

  Shasta looked meaningfully at Esme.

  “I remember my parents mentioning the visit of a boy. But he didn’t exist. Nobody has lived there for maybe a hundred years. Was that boy Hesper? He could not have come from the house. Whoever he is, he did not come from there.”

  “Oh well, whoever he is, he is here now,” said Shasta contentedly.

  “Hesper’s story does not concern you?”

  Shasta smiled. “No, not at all.”

  Esme held Shasta’s hand earnestly. “You have a good heart, Shasta. Be careful.”

  “I have indeed been warned,” Shasta replied, “but all will turn out well. A beggar boy is now a well fed and contented member of our family”.

  After Esme had left, Shasta sat and looked out over the ocean. The moon reflected itself onto the sea and sent out sparkling shimmers which seemed to dance across the waves. It reminded her of the first night she had met up with Erasmus. She made up her mind that henceforth Hesper’s life would be as comfortable as she could make it. From now on he would get only the best she had to offer.

  Chapter 16

  Erasmus had been sitting in his cave contemplating his future with Shasta. He had made up his mind to accept Hesper as his adopted son. He had a common interest of astronomy with the boy. At times when he gave lectures and informal talks he had been astounded by the boy’s knowledge of the subject. Whilst he had been consulting charts the boy had the information stored in his head. Somehow it didn’t bother him that the boy got in first with his answers. In fact at times it was quite amusing for him. Apparently he had been taught by his father over many years. Realistically he knew nothing about the boy except that his given name meant Evening Star. This in itself made him rather special in Erasmus’ eyes.

  Strange, he thought to himself. Since I became involved with Shasta not once have I thought of home or going back in time. It’s as if this is my home and time now.

  With this thought, he let out a deep sigh. He was content. Suddenly he felt guilty. Not once had he thought of his mother. Well a quick visit wouldn’t do any harm.

  Sitting quietly he waited to be transported back in time. Nothing happened. Panic set in and he tried again. This time he could see his mother but still he was rooted in the present time. He tried to reach out and touch her. He could see her sitting in her kitchen looking old and frail. How had she aged so quickly, he thought to himself? Have I been away so long?

  Again he tried but still nothing happened. As the vision had come, so it went, and he was left looking at the bare wall of the back of the cave.

  What had happened, he thought to himself. Am I losing my powers? Is this what love does to you? Does this mean I will never be able to go back again? For a moment he panicked again. What could he do?

  Suddenly inspiration struck. He would visit the woman in the market place. What was her name, Lyandra? No it wasn’t that. Liana, yes, that was it. She might have the answer. With speed he left the cave and went straight to the market.

  As luck would have it she was there, sitting quietly on her own with her eyes closed.

  As he approached and without opening her eyes she said “So, Erasmus, you return?

  Without even considering the fact that she kne
w it was him he immediately sat in front of her showing his urgency.

  “Liana, I just tried to get back to my own time to make a short visit to my mother and nothing happened. I just couldn’t go back. What has happened to me? I have always been in control of my actions. I am omnipotent, Liana!” Frustration made him blurt all this out in one. Normally he would be more self-controlled but no longer.

  “No, you’re in love, Erasmus. There is a difference.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked startled and a little bit fearful if he was honest with himself.

  “Emotions, Erasmus, emotions. We let our guards down when we are in love and become vulnerable. There is nothing we can do about it. We see things differently and become softer in our feelings and ways. Before you were always in control of your actions, and responsible to no one. Now you have taken on responsibilities in your life and it has changed you into a human being. A rather nice one if I may be permitted to say so. I didn’t like the old Erasmus. He was nasty and assumed he was superior to all. Now you have become mortal and it takes some getting used to. Eventually, when you accept things, you will be able to go back to your time but it will be different. You will just have to wait until fate decides the time is right for you. Now go and let an old woman sleep in peace. But remember all is not as it seems.”

  With that she waved him away. The discussion was at an end as far as she was concerned.

  Dejectedly he slowly walked away and back along the beach. He didn’t like being so vulnerable. He wasn’t used to it. What was happening to him? He loved Shasta to the depths of his soul but he didn’t expect to lose his powers in exchange for it. With mixed emotions and a heavy heart he made his way back to his cave. He contemplated going to see Shasta but decided he needed some time on his own to think. He would see her tomorrow . It wasn’t as if she was that far away.