As he slept, Charles had a dream that he rode with others on the clonsayees through the Passageway to the kingdom. Somehow while they were visiting, the animals broke loose from Virgil’s corral and had wandered off into the fog. Everyone took a lantern and went in different directions trying to find the animals. As Charles walked along a path in the Whispering Forest, he hummed the tune he had heard Todd humming to the creatures in the stable. In the distance he thought he heard the clonsayees’ distinct sound, as if they were answering him. It seemed to Charles that he knew where the path was leading. He walked with purpose in the direction of the echoing sounds.
A small furry creature joined him in the moonlight. Sometimes it would walk beside Charles, or would follow closely behind in his footsteps. He bent down trying to touch the creature, but it shied away from him. Charles walked on ignoring it, just glad for its presence on his journey. For a brief moment the creature darted off the dirt path and was rustling among the plants. There was a pause when Charles couldn’t hear any activity. He thought it might have decided to go its own way. Suddenly it playfully caught up with him. As they continued to walk, the creature began alternating going into the forest and then returning to Charles on the path. It did this several times acquiring Charles’ full attention. He was curious as to why the creature was behaving this way. He heard the rustling of the trees’ leaves along the path. He figured the trees were amused with the antics of the chelivaziah creature. Eventually Charles decided to follow it off the path. It darted wildly here and there. He tried to catch up with the creature, but ultimately he lost sight of it. The creature had completely disappeared.
When Charles looked up, he realized he was now in unfamiliar territory and felt hopelessly lost. Nothing looked familiar in the dark. The only light he had to see by was provided by the lantern that was dim in the shadows of the trees, and the light from the moons shifting through the leaves. The trees that surrounded Charles sensed his fear and began whispering amongst themselves as the wind rustled through their leaves. Their distinct whispers about his presence were making him feel all the more disoriented. He kept walking, hoping to get away from the trees so that he could regain his composure.
A rabbit-like creature scampered out from under a bush Charles had stepped on, taking him by surprise. The animal had a long narrow snout and wild poufy fur. Because Charles was caught off guard, he let out a startled gasp causing birds in a nearby tree to take flight, briefly blocking out the light of the moons. As they swooped by him, Charles wildly flapped his arms to shoo them away from his body. Their cries of annoyance rang out through the once silent night.
Charles froze, waiting for the forest to calm itself, before he decided the time was right to move. He breathed as shallowly as possible so that he wouldn’t be heard. The grass that had once been flat across the ground was straight at attention now, lightly brushing his ankles as he carefully crept forward. The forest was awakening all around Charles and was clearly trying to figure out why he was there causing a disturbance of this magnitude at this time of night. He seemed to have the trees’ undivided attention for the moment. Shining eyes of curious creatures popped out all around him. They observed him until they decided he wasn’t a threat. They eventually lost interest, and once again disappeared into the night. Charles turned and attempted to make his way back to the path, but he had become disoriented. Everything looked the same, he couldn’t be certain of the direction he had come.
Charles ended up going in circles, stumbling deeper into the forest. He was looking everywhere but where he was stepping. Tree roots that were in his way tripped him and he fell to the ground. He stood and brushed himself off. Charles walked cautiously in the direction he thought he heard the clonsayee creatures neighing. Eventually he came to a foggy swamp. Fear of forever being lost, beckoned him to continue walking forward in search of something, anything that might be considered familiar. He walked around the banks of the swamp and pressed on through the ankle-deep sludge. The bulrush that had grown up now surrounded him and came to life when awakened by his movement. The curiosity toward him became annoying. He began pushing the blades of grass away.
He stepped up onto a rocky peninsula that was in the middle of the swamp. As Charles followed the shore of the peninsula, he observed a snizpah on his arm. He held out his pointer finger, allowing it to walk onto his finger. He held it out in front of his eyes, so he could take a closer look at it. It looked like a tiny winged reptile with a curled tail. Charles blew a gentle breath over it. The snizpah puffed itself up and floated away. He noticed a swarm of what appeared to be its kind making humming sounds in the distance. He crept around them, being as quiet as he could, so he wouldn’t be detected. He feared they might be dangerous. The last thing Charles wanted was to provoke the creatures by disturbing them. They had sharp teeth and used them when threatened. He made it past the swarm and looked for the single snizpah. He spotted it and observed that it was floating along the water’s edge. As he was watching the creature, he glanced directly below and noticed an unusual silhouette in the darkness. It looked like it could be one of the white clonsayee creatures. Charles crept up to the silhouette to find out what it was. The creature eluded him and went deeper into the fog.
His lantern suddenly winked out. The fog was thick enough here that he couldn’t see much around him. He thought he heard the clonsayee once again. Charles cautiously made his way forward, softly humming the same tune he learned from Todd, hoping to draw the clonsayees to him. The fog lifted enough that he thought he recognized something solid ahead. As he reached out to touch it, Charles was startled when a giant yellow globe appeared before him. The eye had a black slit that instantly dilated to take a closer look at him in the darkness. Charles froze as he stared at his reflection in the beast’s shiny cornea.
The next thing he knew, he was sitting up in his bed wide-awake. Charles could feel his heart pounding.
Chapter 24
Once on the other side, Joseph was tempted to find Nxy and tell her that he’d told his parents their good news; but he decided he’d better find out what his father was yelling about first. He went to his father’s office and stood outside the door.
Donovan was writing and motioned for him to come in. He ordered Joseph to close the door, which he did. His father pointed to the chair in front of his desk. Joseph promptly sat. Donovan wrote a moment longer, before putting the pen down. He leaned back in his chair and looked Joseph over before speaking. “You know Joseph, your actions will have consequences.”
Joseph shrugged. “Like what?”
“Like, the child will need a father who won’t be there because he has another family, another child to rear. I’m worried about your ability to make decisions. You don’t listen to anyone. I’m concerned that this might be your downfall and undoing.”
Joseph argued back, “I disagree…”
Just then, they heard shouting throughout the compound. Donovan shook his head then stood up from his chair to open the door.
Suddenly they heard Non’s voice, “Not now you idiot. It will have to wait! I need to tell the boss that the Ball Wrecker is here!”
Donovan paused and put his pointer finger to his lips for Joseph to be silent.
Then Joseph heard her unmistakable voice, as if she caught the comment that wasn’t meant for her ears. She corrected him: “It’s wrecking ball, Non.”
Non froze and turned around to face her. “No Ma’am, not from where I stand.”
There was silence. Donovan closed his eyes, flinched and shrugged all at the same time, afraid to laugh. Joseph watched his dad’s expression and wondered if there was time to evacuate. He stood to make a run for it, but his father grabbed his shirt and whispered, “Oh no, you don’t Son. You aren’t going anywhere.” He pushed Joseph back into the chair, forcing him to sit back down. Joseph swallowed. He heard her flirtatious laugh at Non’s comment.
Joseph thought: It sucks to be Non right now, but then another thought crossed his mind: She
came for me. He turned white. Donovan read his mind, smiled and nodded.
Joseph glared at his dad. “You set me up.”
Donovan shrugged. “How was I to know she’d come to the compound? She hasn’t been here in years. That woman only comes to attend the auctions because she adores the attention she receives working the rooms.”
The Ball Wrecker demanded, “Where are they Non?”
Non said in a slightly higher voice, “In the office.”
She seemed almost too cheery in her response. “That will be all Non. No sense in you going to warn the boys now. No doubt they have already been informed. Carry on. The auction is tonight, is it not?”
Non confirmed it was that night. He no doubt kissed her hand, as he always did and left. Most likely thankful for what he still had.
Joseph could hear her heels moving in their direction. Donovan hurried to his chair, leaving the door open. Right after he sat down, Maureen appeared in the doorway.
There wasn’t anyone meaner than Maureen Grey in the entire world. She had a temper that flared hotter than the sun. She could be charming, but then turn on you in an instant to be vicious and cruel. If you were ever stupid enough to cross her, you never got a chance to do it again. She’d see to it.
She came into the room, shut the door and said, “Well, well. I suspected I’d find you both here.”
Joseph stood to hug her. “Hello, Mother.”
She held up her hand and commanded, “Sit down this instant young man.” He did as he was told. She walked into the office and closed the door.
She turned to Donovan and said, “You obviously haven’t done your job…”
“I was just getting ready to Love.”
Her eyes flashed at him, then at Joseph. Joseph looked away. He’d seen that look before and whatever happened next wasn’t going to be pretty.
She said in a calm voice, “I heard your news Joseph. When were you going to tell me yourself?”
Trying to be humorous, he said, “When the baby is born.”
Maureen simply said, “Not funny.”
Joseph looked at his hands and then at his father who sat stone faced. He thought: I could use some help here. He was suddenly aware that he wasn’t going to get any help from Donovan. He was certain there would be no interruptions. She wouldn’t want anybody around to hear his screams for help or mercy. They’d all run for cover by now. He was on his own…
He turned to her and blurted out, “Mother, I was going to seek your advice but Father kept me busy all day with idiotic clients, doing his busy work. Just as I was about to come to you, he yelled for me to follow him here.”
She melted, turned to Donovan and purred, “You kept him from coming to me?”
He glared at Joseph who smiled. “Son…”
Maureen said shaking her pointer finger and in a mocking voice, “No need to be indignant.” Then she said in a voice that meant business, “I’ll deal with you later.”
She turned back to Joseph and in a sweet voice said, “Now, where was I, hmm?”
Joseph said, “I was going to come to you and tell you everything. Really I was Mother.” She nodded. Whether she bought it or not he couldn’t tell, so he pressed the luck he had used with his father. Right here was his opening, he once again exclaimed, “It’s all Duh-lores’ fault!”
Maureen shrieked, “I knew it! Didn’t I tell you Don? It was that…”
Joseph helped her by saying, “Witch!”
“For lack of a better descriptive word.”
Now that he had her on his side, Joseph continued, “This has been going on for some time, but I didn’t want to trouble you with my problems…”
She glared at Donovan and then smiled at Joseph. “Go on Dear, your father hasn’t told me about this. I am so sorry. Tell me everything…”
Joseph pulled the other chair over to his mother, and helped her to sit down. She suddenly seemed genuinely interested, so he continued, “Yes, you won’t believe what that evil woman has done to me.”
“Oh, I’d believe it.” Maureen frowned. “Go on.”
Joseph put on a depressed look. “She’s moody all the time. She doesn’t cook or clean. Why just the other day she yelled at me.”
Maureen shrieked again, “She what? The nerve!”
“Yes, and she told me…” He knew this would get his mother in the heart. “She told me to rearrange my own closet.”
Maureen grabbed her chest with a fistful of her blouse and gasped, “That’s woman’s work!” Joseph looked down and the corners of his mouth drew up. His mother yelled, “I hope you told her to go…”
Donovan interrupted, “Dear, I tried to save you from all of this; really. See how it upsets you?” A tear sparkled in her eye as she looked at both of them. He went on, “Now that it’s out, I might as well tell you, Dolores rearranged his closet and tricked him into wearing a ridiculous outfit to work. It was pathetic…”
She turned to Joseph. “Is it true?”
Joseph looked away. “I was so embarrassed.”
Donovan said, “Dear, if you don’t believe me, ask Non! It was hideous.”
Maureen put her hand to her open mouth. She stood, threw open the door and screamed, “NON!”
The big man came running, faster than an Olympian in the last seconds of a foot race. He was at the bottom of the steps instantly. “Ma’am, yes Ma’am?”
She stood with her shoulders back and asked, “Did Joseph look ridiculous the other day?”
Non laughed. “Yes, Ma’am. I heard it was that wife of his who was at fault.”
Maureen smiled sweetly at Non and batted her eyes. “Thank you Non.”
“May I be of any more assistance?”
She said in her sweetest voice, “No, that will be all. Thank you.”
Joseph made a mental note: One point for Non.
Joseph did his best to look beaten down and dejected. He whined, “Mother, it’s bad. She’s getting worse every day. It’s also the way she’s making Sterling a mama’s boy.”
Maureen exasperated, agreed, “He’s a sniveling brat already.” Joseph nodded in agreement.
Maureen sat back down in her chair. She looked Joseph in the eyes and said, “Son, your father was supposed to go over all this with you earlier, but he’s worthless when it comes to matters of the heart.” She sighed. “I wish it wasn’t true, but it is.”
Donovan interjected, “Now, hold on a minute, Maureen.” She flashed an exasperated glare in his direction.
“Well Son, maybe your mother has a point. I could use a little work.”
She continued, “I know where you are coming from… I too at one point tried to get rid of your father.” She nodded her head understandingly and placed a hand on Joseph’s leg. “But Son, I couldn’t either.” Donovan coughed. She kept talking as if Donovan was invisible. “You see Joseph, we are bound by our marital commitments according to our family’s disbursement of inheritance. In other words, you may not divorce. My dear, this is why I tried to keep you from marrying her. Nor can you disown or change the fact that Sterling, who is first born, shall be your benefactor. He inherits all.”
Joseph sighed. “Mother, you have to help me.”
She gave him a stern look. “I shall not!”
Joseph sat back in his chair and huffed. “That’s cruel Mother.”
“So be it. You made your bed that day you embarrassed me by announcing your engagement; you get to sleep in it for the rest of your life.”
Joseph sat silently. He wasn’t going to argue. He was grateful to have survived the fall out. Joseph knew whatever happened next, had to be her idea.
Right on her cue, Maureen suddenly said, “Well now. Are you going to introduce her to me?”
Joseph looked at his father. Then he looked at his mother. “You haven’t met her?”
“Good heavens, no.”
Donovan raised an eyebrow and thought: This ought to be good.
Non had been racing around, trying to find Nxy, so he
could tell them where she was as quickly as possible, should Maureen demand to meet her. He was relieved when a pawn came to him with a message that they had located her. He already feared what Maureen’s reaction would be when she was introduced to the girl. It would be a coin toss. It could go either way. Nxy was quick on her feet and could sweet-talk anyone into liking her. But no one could predict Maureen’s disposition, if something took her by surprise.
When he first learned Nxy was expecting a child, he knew it was inevitable that she would have to meet Maureen at some point. Non took the time to coach her on how to approach Maureen. He knew Joseph was too arrogant to give her any advice. Now it was up to Nxy to win the matriarch over. Non believed he had it all under control. He had already walked her through the drill several times before. He was confident she knew what to do.
Nxy was puzzled as to why she had been called in from the field. She’d been stalking a big target and setting up for the score, when she was called in by one of the pawns. As she walked through the doorway, Non gave her a warning that Maureen had arrived. Nxy almost fainted when she heard that Joseph’s mother was there, in Donovan’s office.
The moment Non looked at her, he said, “Nxy, that’s not what we discussed.”
She spun around for him and puckered her lips. “You don’t think Mama is going to approve?” She tilted her head and waited for a response.
Non looked disappointed. “First impressions Nxy. They mean everything to these people.”
She slumped her shoulders and sighed. “I know Non, but I need to be me. She ought to see me for who I am. Don’t you like the hair? I French braided it on the sides, with one braid down the back. I inserted a pretty royal blue flower in back, resting on my neck. See?”
He looked at her seriously. “This was your chance to be you. You shouldn’t have blue hair with green streaks.”
“Today I do. That’s how I feel.”
Return of the Clonsayee Page 13
