by David Falchi
«That’s why you need an assistant. Do you want good old Lerner to sing a lullaby for you? I can sing in tune. I used to sing in a band back in my days».
«I’ve never been fond of ballroom music».
«We played the blues, Kiesel. The perfect kind of music for the moment that you are living right now».
A part of me wasn’t willing to lose control and fall into an induced sleep. It would have been like sinking into the darkness that I’ve just met inside the Guidis’ house. On the other hand, if I hadn’t rested I couldn’t have gone back there and work on the case. I was exhausted and last spell had only made things worse.
«Why don’t you lie down? I’ll tell you a story».
I grabbed the mirror and brought it in bed. My legs were still shaking. Even though I still needed to breathe some fresh air I forced myself to close the shutters. I couldn’t have lied down knowing that I could have been reached so easily through the window. I, at least, had to pretend that I was safe.
«Once upon a time, there was a spirit hunter», singed my assistant, «that one day ended up being hunted...»
It didn’t matter what he said, what mattered now was the barely audible song that came from Lerner’s throat. Before I closed my eyes I smiled, and then, all of a sudden, I fell asleep.
I slept like a baby like I haven’t done in months. The following day I woke up at seven, feeling rested and as good as new. I dreamed of Priscilla. I was relieved that in this oneiric dimension the encounter came from my subconscious.
6
After I shaved my beard and I allowed myself a shower I was ready for another day.
The doubts that had assailed me last night were no longer there. The ten hours of sleep had given me my usual determination.
I went down the hall and I headed toward the table. The waiter that I met the day before was already on duty, and as soon as he saw me he greeted me. I did the same by bobbing my head and I put some marmalade on a few toasted bread slices. I’d already had half of my orange juice when Mr. Guidi joined me. He seemed even more tired than the day before.
«Did you sleep well? » he asked, without even saying good morning.
«Yes. I would have asked you the same question but you clearly didn’t have much sleep. But, don’t worry. We’ll soon find a solution for your problem».
«Actually, my wife and I had quite a heated discussion. She tried to convince me to drop everything, and sell the property, even at a ridiculous price, and then go back home. She can’t take this anymore. I don’t agree with her, and I think her idea is absurd. Especially now that we’ve called you. I’ve faith in your skills and I’m sure that we’ll succeed».
«You shouldn’t get into an argument when you are feeling tired or scared», I replied, hoping that he got the message.
I could understand the woman reaction. After all, that was a family house. And seeing that it was turning into a place of darkness must have been a torture for her. It didn’t surprise me that she wanted to leave the house and forget that she ever came here. However, what she ignored was that evil was never going to leave her. Unless she had beaten him at his own game.
«Do you think that I was in the mood to fight? » replied Mr. Guidi in a terse tone. He grabbed a chair and quickly jump on it, putting his hands on his head. «Hell, no. I just want this crazy thing to be over. It’s the crappiest thing that I’ve ever seen. And if someone had told me about it I would have made fun of the poor guy. But I can’t do that because I’m the fucking protagonist of this story. Of this damned shit! »
I let him vent, and in the meanwhile I finished my orange juice.
«Maybe you should leave everything to me from now on», I replied. «You’re both very stressed and that’s understandable. After the meeting with the Mayor, I’d suggest you to take a break from this place. It doesn’t matter where you go, just pick a place that’s far away from here. You need to cleanse your body from what’s poisoning it. I only ask you to keep your cell phone on. I might need to speak with you».
«Please, forgive my smutty language» said Mr. Guidi. «I generally don’t use swear words, but I’ve really had enough of this».
«Don’t worry», I replied, while I called the waiter with a hand gesture. I was used to Lerner’s rambling speeches, and even though I wasn’t fond of that kind of words, that language didn’t bother me that much. «As I was saying, being jumpy is quite normal in cases like these». Just like it was normal that I had regained my cold-bloodedness, despite what happened last night.
«What can I bring you? » asked the young guy.
«Do you have some chocolate croissant? »
* * *
We met the Mayor in the village main square, where several families had already gathered up, even if it was still pretty early in the morning. Kids were playing tag in the ample and well-kept lawn, and were climbing the sculptures at the end of the square. In the middle, there was a fountain. A group of elders was sitting on its rim and they seem to enjoy being cradled by the steady burble of the water.
The first citizen of Piancastagnaio was a refined man on his fifties. He was almost six feet high and he could be easily identified because of its deportment that was kind of unique.
Even though while he walked he kept his shoulders back and his chest up, he was a quite easy-going person.
He shook my hand firmly but without being too aggressive.
«I’m Alessio Genova», he said to introduce himself.
His tanned face showed a black and white beard. The sparse hair on his head had the same colour nuances.
He had a bent nose so I suppose that he boxed in his youth.
I didn’t draw his attention though; he seemed to be more interested in Mrs. Guidi, whose night must have been worse than her husband’s. It must have been quite a lively discussion and even the Mayor had noticed it. Maybe that was the reason why he had asked us to follow him. «This is a small town, so, every now and then, I can afford to host somebody at my place. Follow me. We’ll have a coffee in my yard, and then we’ll talk freely».
I knew what he meant when he said freely. The rumors about the Guidis’ house must have spread all over town and the first citizen didn’t seem to want anything to do with it.
If the meeting had taken place privately maybe the damages, regardless of what they were, might have been contained. If the spouses hadn’t been so rich he probably wouldn’t have even met them. He couldn’t be blamed, after all, he was a prominent figure, and having a good reputation was indispensable.
«Even better», I supported him, «I might need to borrow your notes».
As soon as he heard those words he lost his smile. «I am not going to need to check that many things. I’ve already studied everything that I had on the subject».
We followed him quietly along the main street, until we saw a yellow house, surrounded by high and sharpened bars, which were slightly covered by big trees with every sort of coloured flowers.
If you looked at it from the outside it really seemed a fairy tale dwelling. He didn’t even have to ring the bell that the door suddenly opened on its own, allowing us to come inside. The first thing that crossed my mind while entering that heavenly place was that the Guidis were completely out of place. All around them there were colours, while they just looked grey and dull. They were consumed.
«Give me a second», said the landlord. «I’ll go ask my wife to get us a few drinks».
«... and don’t forget to tell her that a gang of screwy has just arrived at your house» chuckled Lerner in my head. My assistant had been quiet until that very moment. He was probably collecting all the information about the place and the people around us. I wondered how the garden looked in the mirror. I was sure that instead of flowery trees there were deformed and dried branches. If that was the real look of the environment then the spouses were a perfect match. It was in that moment that I made the link: the Guidis could have been characters from Lerner’s world.
«Why don’t you l
et me talk to the Mayor? », I suggested, once we’ve walked half of the garden path. «Didn’t I tell you to take a day off? »
«We’ll follow your advice after we’ve had this conversation», replied Mr. Guidi. His voice was tense, just like the skin on his face.
«We really want to hear what the Mayor has to say. It’s our house and we have a right to know».
«The fact that you have a right doesn’t mean that you should take part in this conversation», I replied, while I saw Mayor Genova coming back.
«Follow me», he said, showing us the way toward a canopy that was entirely made of climbing plants.
We all sat, and the first citizen took the head of the table. Once again, he had lost his smile, and he has gotten serious. «There’s not much to tell. I don’t like this situation. I’ve heard some alarming rumors. Some teenagers are planning night trips to visit the haunted house. Older kids see you two as the cause of the infestation. I’m not a patsy but I don’t know what to think.
I just know that this whole thing could blow up in my face. Maybe you should talk first. What’s going on? »
Mr. Guidi was about to answer but I anticipated him. «I’m the one who’s taking care of the situation. You don’t need to believe to anything until I’ll have found out what’s really happening. If I were you, I’ll just keep the kids out of that place. It might be very dangerous».
«Might? » repeated the Mayor.
We were interrupted by Genova’s wife, a blonde and well-dressed woman that brought a tray with coffee, mugs, and two pitchers: one that contained lemonade and one that contained milk.
«Forgive me if I don’t join you» said the woman, «but I still have some chores to do».
She greeted us with a gesture of the head and then she came back inside. If until now her husband had pretended to be polite, she had made pretty clear that she had no intention to stay with us. I couldn’t blame her: these matters were thorny and they could damage the image of prominent people like them.
«It’s dangerous» I corrected myself. «No one should go near that place. The more I know and the sooner I’ll be able to fix the problem. So, maybe, you should share with us the information that you have».
«And what do you think I know? » he burst out, suddenly losing his self-control. «There’s nothing to say about that place. Or at least nothing odd. If you thought that I was going to mention some sort of ancient ritual performed at the beginning of the Twentieth century you are completely off the track. Nothing has been recorded. I even spoke with a few local elders – and when I say elders I mean people that are over ninety years old and that have never left this place – and no one’s been able to give me precise information. I have no clues to share. There are no urban legends about the house. I could tell you every sort of things about the previous owners but that would get you nowhere. I’ve already checked».
«I could go through your sources», I suggested. «I might be able to notice some detail that you’ve underestimated».
«Do what you want», he replied. He stood up and he poured some coffee on the mugs. His hand was trembling though, and he poured part of the hot drink on the tray.
«If it wasn’t silly to even think this, I’d say that you were the ones who brought evil inside that house. And I don’t know if saying this makes me feel more stupid than having spent four hours of my time to prove that there had been other ghost infestations in that property».
«I’d like to read your notes, if you’ve got some», I repeated. I had no intention to share my thoughts with him. He was way too nervous and his authority might have come in handy in the following hours. They would have been crucial and I couldn’t let a group of impetuous kids interfere with the case.
«Alright, Mr. Kiesel» he replied, standing back. «As I already told you I think this will be a waste of time. You are not going to find anything useful in there».
«You may be right, but this nothing that you are talking about can be very deceiving» I replied. «Let me do my job. And I’ll suggest you to do the same and do yours».
«And what is exactly your job? »
«Here we are again», commented Lerner with a chuckle. «Now he’s going to say that you are a fraud. It was way too odd that no one had said it yet. What technique are you going to use to shut him up? Should we give him a taste of our skills? »
I ignored my assistant’s elicitation. «My job has the purpose of helping your people to live lightly. Your job is to let me do what I have to without interfering. If you don’t let me do my job things will get uglier. The threat is real. But if you don’t believe me you are free to come with me today. I’m sure you’ll get a clear idea of the situation. What do you say? »
Once I was done with my closing argument I poured some lemonade on my glass, and I waited for a reaction. The Guidis were staring at me, apparently incapable of uttering a word. It was as if they knew that in that coloured and lively environment they were completely out of place.
«I’ll go get the notes», mumbled Mayor Genova. The fear of having to accompany me and risking to learn that the supernatural might exist had prevailed over the temptation of continuing to call me a fraud.
«Well done, Master. You used the good old fear. It always works! By the way, how are you? Are you ready to go back into the darkness’ jaws? »
I shiver ran down my spine. Soon that relaxing interlude was about to be over and I would have had to go back to the Guidis’ house. Only this time I didn’t just have to study the phenomenon, I had to destroy it.
I had no intention to make the same mistake and go back there at nightfall. The presence had already showed me that it was stronger at night.
When the first citizen came back I had already drank half of my lemonade. He handed me a notebook, and he said: «Everything I know is in the first pages. I hope this will be useful for your research. I also have the original documents at home, obviously, but I suppose you realized that I am a collector. And I’d rather be the only one to touch this material». I turned a few pages. The handwriting was accurate and delicate, and obsessively neat. I only wished that he hadn’t omitted any detail. If that was the case I would have gone back and knock on his door.
«I know that you want this crisis to be over as soon as possible», I replied. I saw him nodding, even though the gesture was barely noticeable. «But in order to achieve that objective I’m going to need your help. Today I don’t want to see a single person in the entire property. I hope I’m right about the cause of the problem, but, if I’m wrong, you are going to need to make sure that no one approaches the estate ».
He sat once again. «I can have someone patrol the place. For God sake, I have enough reasons to do it. What else do you need? »
«When I say that I don’t want anybody there», I continued, while pointing at the spouses, «that include the owners of the house. I, myself, wouldn’t dare going back there without the sunlight’s aid. Did I make myself clear? »
The Mayor took a dubious peek at the couple and then he replied: «Crystal clear. Is that all? »
«No. I might need a rescue team. Keep your cell phone close-by. I’ll call you if I’m in trouble. Please know that we’ll need to be quick and discrete».
My assistant voice once again resounded with a hoarse and inappropriate laughter. «So, now we are relying on human rescuing system, uh? What’s going on, Master? I’d never expected you to come to such a decision».
Later, I would have had time to cut Lerner down to size.
Mayor Genova handed me his business card. «This is my personal phone number. Keep me posted. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d ask you to leave. The day has already taken an unpleasant turn».
It didn’t surprise me. From what I’ve seen, the man that I had in front of me was meticulous, neat, and fond of bright and open spaces. Talking with strangers of dark matters in his own house must have brought quite a chaos in his life. He must have been eager to kick us out of his house and forget that we were ever there.
There was no need to add anything. The facts were going to prove that I was right.
* * *
«So, what do we do know? » asked Mr. Guidi, once we were on the street.
«I’ve already given you this answer». If before I had talked nicely now it was time to crank up the volume and reinforce the message. «Take the car and get away from here. This issue should no longer concern you; Plus, I can’t simultaneously worry about your safety».
«And how will you be able to reach the house? » asked the woman.
«As I said, this is something that you shouldn’t be worrying about. I don’t want to see you before tonight. You need to get out of this vicious cycle and you need to do it before this situation consumes you».
I was under the impression that Mrs. Guidi wanted to add something but her husband was quicker and shut her up by squeezing her arm, and then he replied: «He’s right. After all, you are the expert here. We only ask you to keep us updated. All right? »
«Sure. The client comes first. I’ll talk to the Mayor after I’ve spoken with you».
«What will you do now? » asked the woman with a whisper.
«I’m going to find myself a quiet place where I can study the notes. Then, I’ll go back to the hotel, I’ll get my tools and I’ll put an end to this infestation. End of story».
Once again, I was under the impression that she wanted to ask me something else. But, just like before, she kept it for herself. I thought that, if there was a real necessity, I would had the chance to analyze the matter once I had returned. A part of me was terrified, but the other one was thrilled.
* * *
I found an isolated park nearby the main street, a place that was between the wood and the residential area. There were several benches with wood tables, which in that precise moment were empty. I picked one so that I could study the notes. I knew that if I had removed the gloves and touched the surface I would have been invaded by memories of picnics, laughs and games on the grass. I would have felt the taste of food, I would have perceived the beer’s aroma. As usual, I would have experienced the illusion created by the positive sensations linked to those moments; but then, when the phenomenon had ended I knew that I would have found myself alone and resentful.