The fourth part of the 1st chapter.
Bléumond walked silently in the already dark woods, although scattered rays from the setting sun touched the damp earth here and there,enough light for Bléumond to follow the man who appeared recently.The man was wearing a robe,a hood covering his face from being seen even when the canopy broke and they were in the open.Bléumond had been following aimlessly before that,her thoughts occupied,until she realized they had reached the river.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"To your home," he answered as they walked along the banks.The word home lifted her spirit although he said in a rather indifferent voice.Flat.And it sounds faraway,the way sounds echo in the woods.Hearing his voice reminded Bléumond being back in the wood,reminding her of the handicraft man,or Instur as she called her.She finally asked the hooded man.
"Is the man dead?"
"No.I have no need for that," he replied plainly.Other people would stop when he used the word 'no need',but Bléumond obliviously didn't.
"But he said that we were poisoned,the way cubs are taken from their mother.And he also said that she is normally killed.I wonder if he was only lying to me.Wasn't he?" Bléumond asked rather to herself but she turned towards the man nevertheless.For once since they walked,the man turned to her.Her heart skipped a bit.
It was just a glimpse.His face was shiny and skin taut over them,his hard skull as if protruding from within.It was as if they were made of wood.Suddenly however his face smooth out and left Bléumond wondering whether her eyes was tricked in the dim lighting.She then looked at his eyes and notice they were faraway,as if pondering a decision.
Bléumond heart stopped once more when she remembered her question and realized that Instur's life was in danger,as her question triggered the hooded man to reasses his own action.
After a pause he finally said,"The horse is over there."
Together they rode with her in the front saddle,towards her house,leaving the forest behind.Bléumond was scared to look back,though she managed to steal a peep from under the arms of the hooded man holding the reins.She then exhaled quietly,relieved that nothing happened to the handicraft man.
******
Bléumond was tired by the time they reached her home and it took a while before she noticed the house was different.
"What happen?Where is the light?" Bléumond jumped off the horse and went inside."Why isn't Wok putting up the lights?" She was searching for the house servants when she a stranger blocked the corridor.She looked up and saw the man had a menacing face and wore a grin with a blotch of birth-marks on the right of his face.He spoke and it instantly reminded her of the bull she saw with a patch of red skin on its back.
"So this is the young girl,"he said."You did manage to bring him,eh?"
The last words were directed to the hooded man,who ignored them.Instead he said,"Keep her in this room.I'll be waiting in the next room until the seal is finished."
The man with the blotch on his face followed the orders a bit reluctantly,his dislike for the hooded man clearly shown as he muttered words under his breath.He was about to hold Bléumond when she noticed that his father's study room was open and to her surprise her cousin,Lenna was sitting in there,scared.
"Lenna!You came!" she shouted to Lenna,though she didn't seem to hear.Before the blotch-faced man could react,Bléumond was already entering her father's study.She stepped into the room when instead of her cousin,she saw the back of the hooded man and the blotched faced man coming towards her.She looked to her left and saw her right leg,which cause her to let out a gasp.The hooded man turn and before Bléumond could figure out what was happening,he caught her by the shoulders and pulled her out from the room,holding her tightly and preventing her from going back.
He spoke angrily to the other,"Look after her,now."
He then turned away into the opposite room.
Bléumond felt her hand pulled by the blotch-faced man,who was still muttering under his breath.He dragged her to the living room,from which Blèumond could see Lenna sitting alone scared.In the living room she discovered two more strangers.
"What are you mumbling Links?" asked the first.
"The monster.Thinks he can order us around,eh.Just because he's a magician.Give me some wine,Port," said Links to the second stranger.
"You shouldn't drink in front of the lady,Links.It's bad manners," the first stranger chipped in.
"You and your manners.You thinking yourself some kind of noble,eh Filip?" Links replied.
"Maybe he thinking he's some kind of magician.You know,like the monster next door," jest Port,followed by Links' laughter.
"Is he really a magician?" Bléumond asked,cutting the laughter.
"Well the lady is asking herself," said Port."You know,he's not really a magician,he's a monster.Isn't that the right manner to say it,Filip."
"I don't know.Sometimes he seems good enough.Better than Lord Farquar most of the time"
Suddenly Links slapped Filip,leaving him speechless."You stupid.Lord Farquar is our master," said Links,followed by a few seconds of silence.He then took a sip of the wine and said in a better mood,"Besides,the monster only behaved because he has his intentions."
All this while Bléumond watched as her three guards talked about the hooded man and their master,a man named Lord Farquar.Occasionally she would asked a few questions and due to the liquor,the men answered them uninhibitedly.Through them,Bleumond also discovered the hooded man was a magician,and so was Lord Farquar.Morlai,for that was the name of the hooded man though they called him monster, was a man the guards hated much mainly because for his attitude,but also for his weird ways of 'magic'.Links was describing how Morlai set up the walls surrounding the study room,one that interested Bléumond so much that she forgot Lenna was actually kept caged in there,when suddenly the living room door opened.
The manner the guards changed,suggesting the incomer was important, in which he then voiced his authority.He was Lord Faquar.
"Links,grab her.You two stand up and ready."
Pulled to her feet,Bléumond saw Lord Faquar held out his hand and on his finger glittered a ring.The ring sparkled as she looked,creating an expanding blue wave that came closer to her eyes,before they passed through her eyes and vanish beyond her body.
Then there was a thud.The five people turn towards the sound,where a body was lying convulsing on the floor.There was only 2 lamps in the room and by the meek lights they provided,Bléumond saw that the body had scaly and glistening skin.Port and Filip quickly grasped the body upon Lord Faquar's command.They pulled him upright and under the light Bléumond gave a gasp.
"Instur!"
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Beep Beep! The Ice cream truck
Since I am so lazy,I'm still procrastinating(is it spelled right) to write Bléumond.
So here's a light piece.
"You're late to school!Quick now Dori," said Mrs Smith.Ushering his son out of the house,she gave him the lunch pack."Don't forget this Dori and come back home directly after school."
"Ok mom."
Theodore is 8 years old.Yes,his name is Theodore and only his mother called her Dori.At least until one day she picked him up after school due to an emergency,that she forgot and called him Dori in front of his class.Case close.Thus he was known all through his 1st grade as Dori.Dori!What a peculiar name,teachers used to ask.
But that was last year,almost at the end of the year.So last night before he went to sleep,Dori hoped people would forget the incident and called him Theodore,but right then he wished fervently he wasn't too late for the bus.The first period was Mr Hankins, and you wouldn't like to make him mad,as he would be all red and puffy.People said if water is poured on his angry face,it could steam a bun!
Of course not one of the pupil knew if it was true,as clearly no one ever tried.
Focusing the story back to Dori,who was rushing to the bus stand,fervently hoping it was still there.
Dori had missed the bus.
*****
Mr Hankins was signing his big ominous Teacher's book,with big curly letters spelling his name on it,when Dori arrived at the door.The class was silent and only the scribbling handwriting of the students were heard,which stopped when the class began to notice Dori's arrival.Noticing the peculiar silent,Mr Hankins looked up and was stumped.He was so shocked that he forgot to be angry."Why are you late?" he asked monotonously.
"Well,I missed the bus and then there was this big ice cream truck that stopped in front of me and asked if I wanted a ride,but I said no because mother teached(taught?) me so.And the driver said,would I like some ice cream.And I said yes,and he asked what flavour.And then he whispered to me there is a magic flavor ice cream,that if you eat you can see invisible things.So I said ok and ..then.." Dori slowly stopped when he realized Mr Hankins was quite and sure enough when Dori looked at his teacher's face,it was deep red and puffy,like a steam engine train stopped head on by Superman.
Mr Hankins was quite for a while,quietly before barking at Dori,"You came 1 hour late,all haggard and dirty and I expected a logical explanation and you spin all this bullocks!"
He took a deep breath before continuing,"Now go stand outside,I will bring you to the headmaster,PERSONALLY."
Once Mr Hankins brought a bully PERSONALLY to head's office and through unknown contraption and plans,the boy was transformed and by the end of the year was the head prefect.
Dori gulped hearing that,turned and slowly walked to the door.
"Wait!" Mr Hankins suddenly barked.Dori's heart beat wildly.Maybe Mr Hankins is not mad anymore,maybe he knew I was telling the truth and he wanted to hear my story again,thought Dori.
"What is your name?Full name," asked Mr Hankins.
Dori turned and answered,"Theodore Smith."Now can I sit? he asked in his mind.
"Smith..Samuel..Skyparsky..Here.Smith,Theodore," mumbled Mr Hankins to himself,before addressing Dori, "Now go stand outside."
******
To Dori's surprise,there was already another pupil standing outside.Raymond also camea bit late (about three minutes) that day,so he had been standing there for about an hour by that time.
"How big is the ice cream lorry?" Raymond whispered.Dori took a while to answer,so he said," You didn't see any ice cream lorry,did you?"
"Yes I did!"
"Shh..He can hear you.Don't talk so loud,or he will come and tell us to stand away."
"Ok ok..But I did see a lorry ice cream!It was so big,it was like a contena.It had lots of wheels and very long,with boxes with different types of flavors,in the back."
Raymond was in awe,but managed to ask,"How come you know there are.You said your mother said don't take rides with stranger."
"The driver told me.Besides,they were painted on the side of the back.Chocolates,vanillas,strawberries, and lots more.It even had those yucky yam flavour and others that I don't know."Seeing Raymond drooling,Dori continued,"But I was in a hurry,so I didn't have the time to taste,and then the driver asked why I was in a hurry.After I explained,he gave me the magical flavor ice cream,so I can see invisible things."
"Why would he want you to see invisible things," Raymond suddenly broke out of his awe and interrupted.
"Umm..I don't know.But he gave it to me.It was like white,like yogurt." (Dori wanted to say it was cream in colour)
"Was it good?"
"Hmm..it didn't really taste anything.But i eat it all anyway.Nothing happened so I walked to school."
"What about the lorry,the big ice cream truck?Where did it go?Did it went towards Crab Hill,because my father told me there was a big factory there."
"Umm..I don't think it went there.But the driver said he went to find old bikes.Yep,old bicycles."
"What for?!"
"Hmm..you know big trucks have tires in the middle,those are bicycles tire,that's why the tires dont touch the road,cause they will break if they do."
"Owh,I see.But Dori,why do they collect bicycles tires?Not trucks?"
"That's because when a bicycles punctured,and the people have to push the bicycles back home instead of riding them,the ice cream driver can help and give them the old spare bicycle tire.You see,trucks don't need spare tire.Have you seen a punctured truck?No?See."
"That is jolly good of that driver,"said Raymond,"he gave you ice cream and he help cyclist.I think my father once did tell when his bicycle had flat tire and OUCH!"
Raymond's story stopped immaturely,followed by Dori's exclamation as his ear was boxed too.
"I sent you to stand here,not to spun your bullocks,"barked Mr Hankins."Follow me,Theodore!You,go back into the class."
Unwillingly Dori followed Mr Hankins and through the corner of his eyes he saw Raymond went quickly into the classroom,relieved.
To be continued
So here's a light piece.
"You're late to school!Quick now Dori," said Mrs Smith.Ushering his son out of the house,she gave him the lunch pack."Don't forget this Dori and come back home directly after school."
"Ok mom."
Theodore is 8 years old.Yes,his name is Theodore and only his mother called her Dori.At least until one day she picked him up after school due to an emergency,that she forgot and called him Dori in front of his class.Case close.Thus he was known all through his 1st grade as Dori.Dori!What a peculiar name,teachers used to ask.
But that was last year,almost at the end of the year.So last night before he went to sleep,Dori hoped people would forget the incident and called him Theodore,but right then he wished fervently he wasn't too late for the bus.The first period was Mr Hankins, and you wouldn't like to make him mad,as he would be all red and puffy.People said if water is poured on his angry face,it could steam a bun!
Of course not one of the pupil knew if it was true,as clearly no one ever tried.
Focusing the story back to Dori,who was rushing to the bus stand,fervently hoping it was still there.
Dori had missed the bus.
*****
Mr Hankins was signing his big ominous Teacher's book,with big curly letters spelling his name on it,when Dori arrived at the door.The class was silent and only the scribbling handwriting of the students were heard,which stopped when the class began to notice Dori's arrival.Noticing the peculiar silent,Mr Hankins looked up and was stumped.He was so shocked that he forgot to be angry."Why are you late?" he asked monotonously.
"Well,I missed the bus and then there was this big ice cream truck that stopped in front of me and asked if I wanted a ride,but I said no because mother teached(taught?) me so.And the driver said,would I like some ice cream.And I said yes,and he asked what flavour.And then he whispered to me there is a magic flavor ice cream,that if you eat you can see invisible things.So I said ok and ..then.." Dori slowly stopped when he realized Mr Hankins was quite and sure enough when Dori looked at his teacher's face,it was deep red and puffy,like a steam engine train stopped head on by Superman.
Mr Hankins was quite for a while,quietly before barking at Dori,"You came 1 hour late,all haggard and dirty and I expected a logical explanation and you spin all this bullocks!"
He took a deep breath before continuing,"Now go stand outside,I will bring you to the headmaster,PERSONALLY."
Once Mr Hankins brought a bully PERSONALLY to head's office and through unknown contraption and plans,the boy was transformed and by the end of the year was the head prefect.
Dori gulped hearing that,turned and slowly walked to the door.
"Wait!" Mr Hankins suddenly barked.Dori's heart beat wildly.Maybe Mr Hankins is not mad anymore,maybe he knew I was telling the truth and he wanted to hear my story again,thought Dori.
"What is your name?Full name," asked Mr Hankins.
Dori turned and answered,"Theodore Smith."Now can I sit? he asked in his mind.
"Smith..Samuel..Skyparsky..Here.Smith,Theodore," mumbled Mr Hankins to himself,before addressing Dori, "Now go stand outside."
******
To Dori's surprise,there was already another pupil standing outside.Raymond also camea bit late (about three minutes) that day,so he had been standing there for about an hour by that time.
"How big is the ice cream lorry?" Raymond whispered.Dori took a while to answer,so he said," You didn't see any ice cream lorry,did you?"
"Yes I did!"
"Shh..He can hear you.Don't talk so loud,or he will come and tell us to stand away."
"Ok ok..But I did see a lorry ice cream!It was so big,it was like a contena.It had lots of wheels and very long,with boxes with different types of flavors,in the back."
Raymond was in awe,but managed to ask,"How come you know there are.You said your mother said don't take rides with stranger."
"The driver told me.Besides,they were painted on the side of the back.Chocolates,vanillas,strawberries, and lots more.It even had those yucky yam flavour and others that I don't know."Seeing Raymond drooling,Dori continued,"But I was in a hurry,so I didn't have the time to taste,and then the driver asked why I was in a hurry.After I explained,he gave me the magical flavor ice cream,so I can see invisible things."
"Why would he want you to see invisible things," Raymond suddenly broke out of his awe and interrupted.
"Umm..I don't know.But he gave it to me.It was like white,like yogurt." (Dori wanted to say it was cream in colour)
"Was it good?"
"Hmm..it didn't really taste anything.But i eat it all anyway.Nothing happened so I walked to school."
"What about the lorry,the big ice cream truck?Where did it go?Did it went towards Crab Hill,because my father told me there was a big factory there."
"Umm..I don't think it went there.But the driver said he went to find old bikes.Yep,old bicycles."
"What for?!"
"Hmm..you know big trucks have tires in the middle,those are bicycles tire,that's why the tires dont touch the road,cause they will break if they do."
"Owh,I see.But Dori,why do they collect bicycles tires?Not trucks?"
"That's because when a bicycles punctured,and the people have to push the bicycles back home instead of riding them,the ice cream driver can help and give them the old spare bicycle tire.You see,trucks don't need spare tire.Have you seen a punctured truck?No?See."
"That is jolly good of that driver,"said Raymond,"he gave you ice cream and he help cyclist.I think my father once did tell when his bicycle had flat tire and OUCH!"
Raymond's story stopped immaturely,followed by Dori's exclamation as his ear was boxed too.
"I sent you to stand here,not to spun your bullocks,"barked Mr Hankins."Follow me,Theodore!You,go back into the class."
Unwillingly Dori followed Mr Hankins and through the corner of his eyes he saw Raymond went quickly into the classroom,relieved.
To be continued
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Bléumond 1.3
The third part of the 1st chapter
The third part of the 1st chapter.
Bléumond was calling after the handicraft man and was catching up to him, who was by that time taking a turn into a small path through the wood.
"Wait, pea...Wait seller. Sir! Wait, please," she called out, but his shade was already hard to see behind the bushes and the dense overhead canopy cast shadows as if veiling the man. Bléumond stood at the edge of the forest, hesitant of stepping into in. Although she had heard what the handicraft man said that it was all Joha's fabrication, she still could not forget the stories she heard. Image of monsters pouncing on her, made her wait for a few minutes on the path, pondering.
Finally she called one last time to the handicraftman, although she knew he would barely hear her, let alone respond.
"Why does he have to go in there?" she sighed to herself, before taking a deep breath.
Thus Bléumond ran on the path all the while shouting after the handicraft man.
A loud "Sir, wait up!" was heard repeatedly but soon diminished as well as her silhouette was no longer seen from the river.
****
In fact Bléumond ran for only a minute, a few hundred steps, but her imagination was playing trick on her that she felt it was a long run until she saw the back of the handicraft man. She was then so delighted, that she rushed to him.
"Sir! Sir!"
The man was startled and turned around. He was slightly puzzled, she could tell, but then spoke with irritation, "Didn’t I leave you at the bridge?"
"No, I followed you. Why didn't you stop when I called you? Where are we going?"
"Peasant," he said bluntly. He then turned and continued walking.
"Peasant?" she replied."I did not say peasant. I didn't...near the forest that is...and after the bridge. Where are we going?"
"You said pea, then you changed to sir."
"You did hear me! Why didn't you stop?"
After waiting awhile to no answer, Bleumond asked again,
" Where are we going...“ before adding "...sir?"
The man turned, amusement on his face.
"I see that you called me sir."
"Yes I did. Where are we going sir?" she repeated.
The man ignored her question but instead asked, “ Why are you following me?"
"Because...because I saw you did magic," she said "and I would like to learn...“
"Aha!" He clapped his hands, which startled Bléumond this time around."I knew you had some plan. I see that your courtesy was a manner you adopted. Quite interesting."
"Will you teach me then," she asked hopefully and had almost forgotten, before adding,“ sir"
"No," he said and walked away.
"Why not?" Bléumond asked.
"You have dropped sir."
"Why not sir?"
"Stop calling me sir. It is annoying. If you still want to continue with your pretense of demeanour, why don't you use something else. Master,or something to that extent. Instiur would be fine."
In truth, Bléumond doesn't know what pretense, demeanour or Instiur meant but the word master provoked her, " I am not your slave, to call you master!"
"I see. Don’t call me then."
Bléumond was silent for a while as the man began to continue walking.
"If I call you Instiur, would you teach me magic?"
"No."
"Argh!I despise you! You stupidd..peasant."
He turned around and said,“ I see that you are back to normal. Now. Go. Home."
"I don't know the way back."
A smile flickered across the man's face. He walked back towards the 10 years old child, closer to see her face. He finally squatted and peered into her eyes and asked,“ Are you scared, Maise Bleumond?"
"No I am not! I just don't know the way."
The man smiled again."It's just over there. Follow that path, keeping the sun to your left and you will reach the river. I am sure you can find your way after that. Owh, the sun has almost set. You must be quick and better go home now," he said condescendingly with a tad of amusement.
Bléumond hated the man at that moment but she realized that it was almost dark like he said. She looked at the road and looked back at the man, who was watching expectantly.
"Go on now."
Thus Bléumond decided to conquer her fear and maintained her pride, and walked home. Occasionally she would throw a few glances and see that the man was still sitting there, watching her go. She was starting to feel comfortable when she caught at the tail of her eyes that the man was gone, so she turned around quickly and ran back searching for the man. She searched frantically around but saw nothing. Instinctively she called out.
"Instur!"
She didn't know why she could hear the fear in her voice.."Instu.." she was cut short as someone pull at her leg, so she automatically kicked away.
"Stop it! Lie down,"
To Bléumond's relief, the handicraft man was hiding below the bush, motioning her to hide too. But then she realize she acted coward for running back and hated herself for that, but she hated the man more for making fun of her. As they were lying on the earth, Bléumond wanted to hit the man but almost stopped when she saw his face, concentrating instead of lines of smiles. However she had already threw her punch, which was fortunately caught in mid-air.
"I don't have time for this. Be silent, let me listen," he said earnestly, facing Bléumond.
Quietly she nodded a reply. He stills her hand but she let it be, afraid to break his concentration. So they were side by side, as if they were daughter and father on a walk while holding hand, except they were lying on the ground.
It was uncomfortable on the hard ground and after long minutes passed, Bléumond was wondering how to tell the man, when he suddenly turned to her.
"I need to ask you questions," he said with a sense of urgency, in which she just nodded dutifully.
"Sit up. Now, did anyone follow you from the river? No. Then do you have any guardians?"
She was about to ask but he cut her,“ I mean, is anyone following you around, like a maid?"
"Yes," she said,“ but I left her at the market."
"Is there anyone else?" he continued asking,“ A man? No. Did your father had guardians? How many were they in your house whole?"
The man continued to bombard questions and Bléumond tried to answer them all. She was however getting tired and her eyes were sleepy that the man had to shake her from sleeping. She managed to answer a few more questions, telling that her relatives were on their way to Kyushu, before the drowsiness crept back.
She almost fell asleep, vaguely hearing the man's voice but as her eyes were about to close for good, she felt a sudden prick and pain. Looking into her hand, she discovered her middle finger covered with blood and in the man's hand was a stained knife.
And he thrust it into her hand."I want you to listen carefully. I want you to watch in my eyes, and when my eyelids almost close, stab the knife below my fingernail. Any fingers, does not matter but below the fingernail. Do you understand?"
The knife dropped from her hand and she stared at her wounded finger incredulously.
"Do you understand me?" he repeated.
She finally spoke," What did you do?"
"You..We were poisoned. A sleeping powder. Used for catching cubs. Mother tiger killed," he answered between nods,“ Not much time. Someone will come. You must wake me. Below the nails. Remember. Only when eyelids almost closed, not..."
The sounds that came from him now were mumbles, that she shook him.
"Wake up..Wake up. Can’t I just let you sleep? I can wait for you. I will wait for you, I promise I will. Instur!"
He opened his eyes wearily for the last time, slowly put the knife back into her hands and said,“ You are the cub."
Thus Instur fell asleep.
Bléumond tried to drive the knife but the child was scared to her wits and the knife was lying motionless in her hand. A sound started her, she turned and saw the brambles move. A person appeared and stood near a tree, his face in the shadow. He just stood watching the poor child staring frightened.
"Will he die?" she asked.
"Will you come?"
"Will he die?"
"Do you want him to live? Then come."
Wearyingly she followed with a heavy heart, thinking that maybe, maybe sometimes the mother cubs are spared.
The third part of the 1st chapter.
Bléumond was calling after the handicraft man and was catching up to him, who was by that time taking a turn into a small path through the wood.
"Wait, pea...Wait seller. Sir! Wait, please," she called out, but his shade was already hard to see behind the bushes and the dense overhead canopy cast shadows as if veiling the man. Bléumond stood at the edge of the forest, hesitant of stepping into in. Although she had heard what the handicraft man said that it was all Joha's fabrication, she still could not forget the stories she heard. Image of monsters pouncing on her, made her wait for a few minutes on the path, pondering.
Finally she called one last time to the handicraftman, although she knew he would barely hear her, let alone respond.
"Why does he have to go in there?" she sighed to herself, before taking a deep breath.
Thus Bléumond ran on the path all the while shouting after the handicraft man.
A loud "Sir, wait up!" was heard repeatedly but soon diminished as well as her silhouette was no longer seen from the river.
****
In fact Bléumond ran for only a minute, a few hundred steps, but her imagination was playing trick on her that she felt it was a long run until she saw the back of the handicraft man. She was then so delighted, that she rushed to him.
"Sir! Sir!"
The man was startled and turned around. He was slightly puzzled, she could tell, but then spoke with irritation, "Didn’t I leave you at the bridge?"
"No, I followed you. Why didn't you stop when I called you? Where are we going?"
"Peasant," he said bluntly. He then turned and continued walking.
"Peasant?" she replied."I did not say peasant. I didn't...near the forest that is...and after the bridge. Where are we going?"
"You said pea, then you changed to sir."
"You did hear me! Why didn't you stop?"
After waiting awhile to no answer, Bleumond asked again,
" Where are we going...“ before adding "...sir?"
The man turned, amusement on his face.
"I see that you called me sir."
"Yes I did. Where are we going sir?" she repeated.
The man ignored her question but instead asked, “ Why are you following me?"
"Because...because I saw you did magic," she said "and I would like to learn...“
"Aha!" He clapped his hands, which startled Bléumond this time around."I knew you had some plan. I see that your courtesy was a manner you adopted. Quite interesting."
"Will you teach me then," she asked hopefully and had almost forgotten, before adding,“ sir"
"No," he said and walked away.
"Why not?" Bléumond asked.
"You have dropped sir."
"Why not sir?"
"Stop calling me sir. It is annoying. If you still want to continue with your pretense of demeanour, why don't you use something else. Master,or something to that extent. Instiur would be fine."
In truth, Bléumond doesn't know what pretense, demeanour or Instiur meant but the word master provoked her, " I am not your slave, to call you master!"
"I see. Don’t call me then."
Bléumond was silent for a while as the man began to continue walking.
"If I call you Instiur, would you teach me magic?"
"No."
"Argh!I despise you! You stupidd..peasant."
He turned around and said,“ I see that you are back to normal. Now. Go. Home."
"I don't know the way back."
A smile flickered across the man's face. He walked back towards the 10 years old child, closer to see her face. He finally squatted and peered into her eyes and asked,“ Are you scared, Maise Bleumond?"
"No I am not! I just don't know the way."
The man smiled again."It's just over there. Follow that path, keeping the sun to your left and you will reach the river. I am sure you can find your way after that. Owh, the sun has almost set. You must be quick and better go home now," he said condescendingly with a tad of amusement.
Bléumond hated the man at that moment but she realized that it was almost dark like he said. She looked at the road and looked back at the man, who was watching expectantly.
"Go on now."
Thus Bléumond decided to conquer her fear and maintained her pride, and walked home. Occasionally she would throw a few glances and see that the man was still sitting there, watching her go. She was starting to feel comfortable when she caught at the tail of her eyes that the man was gone, so she turned around quickly and ran back searching for the man. She searched frantically around but saw nothing. Instinctively she called out.
"Instur!"
She didn't know why she could hear the fear in her voice.."Instu.." she was cut short as someone pull at her leg, so she automatically kicked away.
"Stop it! Lie down,"
To Bléumond's relief, the handicraft man was hiding below the bush, motioning her to hide too. But then she realize she acted coward for running back and hated herself for that, but she hated the man more for making fun of her. As they were lying on the earth, Bléumond wanted to hit the man but almost stopped when she saw his face, concentrating instead of lines of smiles. However she had already threw her punch, which was fortunately caught in mid-air.
"I don't have time for this. Be silent, let me listen," he said earnestly, facing Bléumond.
Quietly she nodded a reply. He stills her hand but she let it be, afraid to break his concentration. So they were side by side, as if they were daughter and father on a walk while holding hand, except they were lying on the ground.
It was uncomfortable on the hard ground and after long minutes passed, Bléumond was wondering how to tell the man, when he suddenly turned to her.
"I need to ask you questions," he said with a sense of urgency, in which she just nodded dutifully.
"Sit up. Now, did anyone follow you from the river? No. Then do you have any guardians?"
She was about to ask but he cut her,“ I mean, is anyone following you around, like a maid?"
"Yes," she said,“ but I left her at the market."
"Is there anyone else?" he continued asking,“ A man? No. Did your father had guardians? How many were they in your house whole?"
The man continued to bombard questions and Bléumond tried to answer them all. She was however getting tired and her eyes were sleepy that the man had to shake her from sleeping. She managed to answer a few more questions, telling that her relatives were on their way to Kyushu, before the drowsiness crept back.
She almost fell asleep, vaguely hearing the man's voice but as her eyes were about to close for good, she felt a sudden prick and pain. Looking into her hand, she discovered her middle finger covered with blood and in the man's hand was a stained knife.
And he thrust it into her hand."I want you to listen carefully. I want you to watch in my eyes, and when my eyelids almost close, stab the knife below my fingernail. Any fingers, does not matter but below the fingernail. Do you understand?"
The knife dropped from her hand and she stared at her wounded finger incredulously.
"Do you understand me?" he repeated.
She finally spoke," What did you do?"
"You..We were poisoned. A sleeping powder. Used for catching cubs. Mother tiger killed," he answered between nods,“ Not much time. Someone will come. You must wake me. Below the nails. Remember. Only when eyelids almost closed, not..."
The sounds that came from him now were mumbles, that she shook him.
"Wake up..Wake up. Can’t I just let you sleep? I can wait for you. I will wait for you, I promise I will. Instur!"
He opened his eyes wearily for the last time, slowly put the knife back into her hands and said,“ You are the cub."
Thus Instur fell asleep.
Bléumond tried to drive the knife but the child was scared to her wits and the knife was lying motionless in her hand. A sound started her, she turned and saw the brambles move. A person appeared and stood near a tree, his face in the shadow. He just stood watching the poor child staring frightened.
"Will he die?" she asked.
"Will you come?"
"Will he die?"
"Do you want him to live? Then come."
Wearyingly she followed with a heavy heart, thinking that maybe, maybe sometimes the mother cubs are spared.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Bléumond 1.2
The second part of the 1st chapter
The second part of the 1st chapter
The crowd was closing upon Bléumond, causing her to be a bit apprehensive, that she began to notice the crowd for once. Their faces seemed uncertain and anxious, and they were looking and jostling at each other, until one of them, the butcher stepped reluctantly forward to speak to Bléumond. He was just about to speak when she rushed through the crowd, for the handicraft man was leaving the market with the seller. The crowd just looked at her and frowned at the butcher.
"Why didn't you tell her.."
Bléumond heard whispers and looked back at the crowd.
"What did you say?" she asked. The crowd fell silent.
Thus she turned her attention back at the handicraft man and the seller, who was already a distance away.
"Wait! Wait!" she called. She paced faster after them but she couldn't catch up with them. The seller was walking with his eyes fixed at front, while the handicraft man was looking back from time to time. Bléumond was sure he noticed her, as he then whispered to the seller, as if urging him to walk faster. They were sure to lose her, if not for they had taken a turn near a building, and Bléumond saw the seller face. He was the man who supplied vegetables to her house, and she knew her.
"Fallar! Wait. Wait Fallar!" she called. To her surprised he stopped.
It surprised her even more when Fallar turned, as his face was white and his eyes were hazy. Slowly colour returned to his face, starting from the chin up to all over his face. It was as if blood was drained from him, and now it was given back. Recognition came to him, "Maise Bléumond?"
Maise is a term of respect towards the daughters of landlords.
"Yes, didn’t you hear I called for you to wait?" she asked.
"I..I don't know.."
"Doesn't matter," she said."Where are you going? Wait!"
Bléumond was addressing the handicraft man when she noticed Fallar was already running back to the town. Bléumond pursued the handicraft man and said, "Wait seller. You have offended me yesterday. You owe me...Wait!" she commanded but the man just continued walking on. They were crossing the bridge when Bléumond put a hand on his robe. She said,“ Stop peasant."
And to her surprise, the man stopped.
He turned towards Blèumond with such a fierce glare, that she was shocked and retreated a few steps back. The anger was however quickly concealed as fast as it appeared, replaced by solemnest and politeness.
"Yes Maise Bléumond, how can I help you?" he asked with such courteousness and deferential, one cannot determine whether it was genuine respect or utter contempt. The man deferential attitude and actions left Bléumond befuddled, that she even blushed.
"I..yesterday..at the market..I.." she stuttered finding words, which failed completely when she looked into the man eyes.
"Now Maise, why don't you go quickly home, as people might be worried about you. Run along now," he said sending her off. Obediently she went away and was about to cross the bridge when someone from across the river shouted her name.
She looked up and saw it was Fallar.
She turned around and saw the handicraft man.
Suddenly she felt very angry.
"How dare you trick me! How dare you peasant!" she screamed at the handicraft man, who coolly stood ignoring her. Meanwhile Fallar and two other men were shouting for Bléumond to get away from the man, as they themselves were fast approaching him.
Finally the handicraft man spoke,“ Be still Bléumond and watch."
"How dare you call me by that. Maise! Call me Maise Bléu.."
"Hush," he replied, quieting her. He then took out a glove and wore on his right hand, before picking up a stick from the ground. With the stick in his right hand, the man drew a line from the end of the bridge, ending a few distances away from the river. He stabbed the stick into the earth. The result was a snake-like trail with its 'tail' at the bridge and the stick as its 'head'.
Bléumond who was watching intently was about to question the man, when Fallar arrived. With him were the butcher and the town elder, Joha. Bléumond promptly bowed towards Joha, in which the handicraft man irked a smile.
"I assume this is a man of importance that even the Maise greeted with respect. However I wonder, why does a revered man doing so far out of town. To what do I owe this visit?"
"Maise Bléumond, come here. This man is evil, you must not go near him," said Fallar.
"Come here Maise, I will protect you," said Joha. Thus Bléumond walked towards them. As she approached, the butcher spoke quietly to him, "Maise,the people wonders if we may stop giving you present today, instead of a week. That is if you agree."
Before she could answer, the handicraft man spoke.
"You wished to protect her, revered old man? Like you protect the village and say there is a demon, so that only you could go and pick the plants in the woods?"
Joha's face turned red.
"And you,“ addressing Fallar, "you who bought, or rather stole my crafts."
"I did not steal your 'things’," Fallar replied.
"They are my crafts, handworks. Not 'things’. It was your wife, but all the same, you should pay or give it back."
"I will not pay for nothing," said Fallar.
"They are NOT nothing," said the man angrily."And I would have taken the money my own way, if it were not for this child," he said addressing Bléumond.
"What did I do?" she asked perfunctorily.
"You called his name, you broke my spell."
Hearing this, Joha the elder jumped the gun."There you hear it. The man is really playing the devil. Stay close Maise, I will protect you."
Those words angered the man greatly."Swindler, liar," he said. He then pulled the stick out. With the end of the stick touching the line, the man swung the stick to the right and left. Additionally, the line he drew on the ground swung in accordance. So did the three men who were stepping on the drawn line.
Bléumond watched with astonished eyes at the sight but she was knocked to the side as the swinging became faster and wider. The three men meanwhile were screaming for help, for their feet appeared to be tied to the trail on the ground.
"Can you even protect yourself, old man? Can you?" said the man before throwing the stick into the river.
"Swim you swine."
The men were released from the spell, as soon as the stick lifted from the earth. However the force of the swing causes them to be thrown into the river and it took a while for them to get to the bank. Bléumond who was very fascinated with the display of magic, followed after the handicraft man. Joah's forebode her but it fell on deaf ears. Or perhaps not, for she turned and said towards the butcher, „Continue to give the offerings. If I am not to collect, my servant will, or you can send them to the House."
Thus Bléumond walked away, catching up to the mysterious handicraft man.
The second part of the 1st chapter
The crowd was closing upon Bléumond, causing her to be a bit apprehensive, that she began to notice the crowd for once. Their faces seemed uncertain and anxious, and they were looking and jostling at each other, until one of them, the butcher stepped reluctantly forward to speak to Bléumond. He was just about to speak when she rushed through the crowd, for the handicraft man was leaving the market with the seller. The crowd just looked at her and frowned at the butcher.
"Why didn't you tell her.."
Bléumond heard whispers and looked back at the crowd.
"What did you say?" she asked. The crowd fell silent.
Thus she turned her attention back at the handicraft man and the seller, who was already a distance away.
"Wait! Wait!" she called. She paced faster after them but she couldn't catch up with them. The seller was walking with his eyes fixed at front, while the handicraft man was looking back from time to time. Bléumond was sure he noticed her, as he then whispered to the seller, as if urging him to walk faster. They were sure to lose her, if not for they had taken a turn near a building, and Bléumond saw the seller face. He was the man who supplied vegetables to her house, and she knew her.
"Fallar! Wait. Wait Fallar!" she called. To her surprised he stopped.
It surprised her even more when Fallar turned, as his face was white and his eyes were hazy. Slowly colour returned to his face, starting from the chin up to all over his face. It was as if blood was drained from him, and now it was given back. Recognition came to him, "Maise Bléumond?"
Maise is a term of respect towards the daughters of landlords.
"Yes, didn’t you hear I called for you to wait?" she asked.
"I..I don't know.."
"Doesn't matter," she said."Where are you going? Wait!"
Bléumond was addressing the handicraft man when she noticed Fallar was already running back to the town. Bléumond pursued the handicraft man and said, "Wait seller. You have offended me yesterday. You owe me...Wait!" she commanded but the man just continued walking on. They were crossing the bridge when Bléumond put a hand on his robe. She said,“ Stop peasant."
And to her surprise, the man stopped.
He turned towards Blèumond with such a fierce glare, that she was shocked and retreated a few steps back. The anger was however quickly concealed as fast as it appeared, replaced by solemnest and politeness.
"Yes Maise Bléumond, how can I help you?" he asked with such courteousness and deferential, one cannot determine whether it was genuine respect or utter contempt. The man deferential attitude and actions left Bléumond befuddled, that she even blushed.
"I..yesterday..at the market..I.." she stuttered finding words, which failed completely when she looked into the man eyes.
"Now Maise, why don't you go quickly home, as people might be worried about you. Run along now," he said sending her off. Obediently she went away and was about to cross the bridge when someone from across the river shouted her name.
She looked up and saw it was Fallar.
She turned around and saw the handicraft man.
Suddenly she felt very angry.
"How dare you trick me! How dare you peasant!" she screamed at the handicraft man, who coolly stood ignoring her. Meanwhile Fallar and two other men were shouting for Bléumond to get away from the man, as they themselves were fast approaching him.
Finally the handicraft man spoke,“ Be still Bléumond and watch."
"How dare you call me by that. Maise! Call me Maise Bléu.."
"Hush," he replied, quieting her. He then took out a glove and wore on his right hand, before picking up a stick from the ground. With the stick in his right hand, the man drew a line from the end of the bridge, ending a few distances away from the river. He stabbed the stick into the earth. The result was a snake-like trail with its 'tail' at the bridge and the stick as its 'head'.
Bléumond who was watching intently was about to question the man, when Fallar arrived. With him were the butcher and the town elder, Joha. Bléumond promptly bowed towards Joha, in which the handicraft man irked a smile.
"I assume this is a man of importance that even the Maise greeted with respect. However I wonder, why does a revered man doing so far out of town. To what do I owe this visit?"
"Maise Bléumond, come here. This man is evil, you must not go near him," said Fallar.
"Come here Maise, I will protect you," said Joha. Thus Bléumond walked towards them. As she approached, the butcher spoke quietly to him, "Maise,the people wonders if we may stop giving you present today, instead of a week. That is if you agree."
Before she could answer, the handicraft man spoke.
"You wished to protect her, revered old man? Like you protect the village and say there is a demon, so that only you could go and pick the plants in the woods?"
Joha's face turned red.
"And you,“ addressing Fallar, "you who bought, or rather stole my crafts."
"I did not steal your 'things’," Fallar replied.
"They are my crafts, handworks. Not 'things’. It was your wife, but all the same, you should pay or give it back."
"I will not pay for nothing," said Fallar.
"They are NOT nothing," said the man angrily."And I would have taken the money my own way, if it were not for this child," he said addressing Bléumond.
"What did I do?" she asked perfunctorily.
"You called his name, you broke my spell."
Hearing this, Joha the elder jumped the gun."There you hear it. The man is really playing the devil. Stay close Maise, I will protect you."
Those words angered the man greatly."Swindler, liar," he said. He then pulled the stick out. With the end of the stick touching the line, the man swung the stick to the right and left. Additionally, the line he drew on the ground swung in accordance. So did the three men who were stepping on the drawn line.
Bléumond watched with astonished eyes at the sight but she was knocked to the side as the swinging became faster and wider. The three men meanwhile were screaming for help, for their feet appeared to be tied to the trail on the ground.
"Can you even protect yourself, old man? Can you?" said the man before throwing the stick into the river.
"Swim you swine."
The men were released from the spell, as soon as the stick lifted from the earth. However the force of the swing causes them to be thrown into the river and it took a while for them to get to the bank. Bléumond who was very fascinated with the display of magic, followed after the handicraft man. Joah's forebode her but it fell on deaf ears. Or perhaps not, for she turned and said towards the butcher, „Continue to give the offerings. If I am not to collect, my servant will, or you can send them to the House."
Thus Bléumond walked away, catching up to the mysterious handicraft man.
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