Peter finished up in the bathroom and was silently replaced by James T. When the tea pot boiled and let off the whistle, Peter filled up the two mugs that were already prepared with coffee and spoons. Peter took a sip and exclaimed with a satisfied sound that coffee was one thing he couldn’t do without. It took a while to get dressed as long handles and such things to ward of the elements, took Peter some time to accomplish the attire. When he was finished a full length mirror hung from the back of the door so he took a gander. He couldn’t explain how he looked with his wool pants, a lined, long sleeve plaid shirt in greens and yellows and stark white wool socks. Around his neck hung a necklace of beads that were made of wood and looked very old indeed. He looked at the time on his old Timex wrist watch and saw it approaching seven thirty.
Peter sat down at the desk with his cup of coffee and logged in to check his E-mail while James T came out of the bathroom with a large towel wrapped around his waist. After James T was dressed, the only thing that looked different between the two of them was the shirt color. His was black and orange plaid instead of the yellow and orange of Peters, also around his necklace was a similar necklace made out of copper rings the size of quarters interspersed with wood rings the size of dimes.
James made some toast for both of them and drank his coffee while Peter checked his mail. At close to eight am, a soft knock on the door produced a smiling Sam Splicer. Sam bade them a good morning and told them when they were ready he would take them to the local café for breakfast. Peter looked at James T who gave a slight nod and said, “We are ready Sam and looking forward to a good breakfast to start the day with.”
The moment they walked through the door, bells jangling, every head in the place stopped what they were doing and looked at the trio coming in. The word had gone around town that a black man was coming, but against the white snowy back ground the contrast was especially noticeable. At first it looked like twins coming as they were dressed the same with long overcoats and black wool pants and matching boots.
Neither Peter nor James T paid any attention to the locals staring at them as they made their way to a table by the window following Sam’s lead. At the table next to them sat Ed the Nose and Candice who were expecting them. Candice would wait until Breakfast was over before introducing herself and then back off giving them their space. She would bide her time and watch and listen then ask for an interview before all the rest of the media hounds attacked him.
“What do you recommend Sam,” asked Peter.
“To tell you the truth Peter, there is nothing on the menu that is not good,” replied Sam.
“Then I’ll have two poached eggs on whole wheat toast and a glass of chocolate milk.”
James T added his order saying, “I’ll have your basic ham and eggs over easy with whole wheat toast. Coffee is fine with me. Sam did notice that when looking at the menu both Peter and James T. had identical half glass residing in the left hand pocket of their new plaid shirts. The waitress came and Sam ordered for all three of them and sat back taking a look around the restaurant to see who was nosy this morning. As his eyes roamed the room, in a remote corner he saw Ms. Gorn and two of her friends glaring at the table he sat at. Sam glared back and all three dug into their pancakes like nothing had happened. The last thing Sam needed was the old battle axe, Mrs. Gorn, interfering with his guests.
Sam finished up his breakfast with a satisfied look about him and said, “Peter, the mayor will call me this morning to set the time for a meeting. Meanwhile, I called one of the old timers last night and he said to come around any time you want to. His name is Ralph Naslind and his age is around eighty plus, but seems of sound mind. He’s lived here all his life and his father before him. Suffice to say, he knows the history of this area.”
“Thanks Sam. Let’s make good use of our time and go visit him before the mayor calls. The more background I can get the better for us.” As Peter shoved his plate to the center of the table, that was Candice clue to make her acquaintance known. In a flash she was standing before Peter introducing her and handing her business card before Peter had a chance to move. Peter smiled up at her and with his usual patience waited until she had finished her spiel. Then he said, “I’d love to meet with you later this afternoon Ms. Candice. Shall we say around four pm at the police station?”
“Oh, that would be fine Mr. Fleck. I promise not to be a pest, but the story needs to be told, don’t you think so?”
“Indeed I do and let’s discuss it further this afternoon.” And with that being said, Peter stood up and Sam hurried to pay the bill, of course not forgetting to get a receipt.
Sam had parked right in front and even though it was very cold out and cloudy, there wasn’t any snow coming down at the present time. Sam noticed Peter give off a shiver and James T the same small shake. Sam had been told years ago that after eating the stomach takes a lot of energy away while attacking the food mass. The result was a shiver from the idea the body was cold. He wondered if it were true as he pulled out and headed for their intended visit with Ralph Naslind.
Ralph lived just outside of town on a few acres. As Peter looked out the window Sam turned down a snow packed road that led to a rather small house with smoke coming out of the steel round pipe denoting the smoke came from a wood burning stove rather than a conventional fireplace with a brick chimney.
It was rather stark as the snow covered the fields, but around the back and side of the house stood two very large, but leafless oak trees. Peter thought that in the spring this would be a lovely little farm and wondered how much time Ralph spent working around his place. Sam pulled up near a long freshly shoveled cement walk way that had a small gate to enter through. Peter noticed a little white picket fence surrounded the house and gave it a sense of home. Peter imagined flower beds sprouting in the spring time and as Sam raised his hand to knock, the door swung open revealing a pleasant faced man holding a coal black cat with yellow eyes. Ralph was not for all intense and purposes, an outgoing man. Quite the contrary, he rarely ventured out and only left to acquire the few needs of a senior citizen. But in this case, Ralph smiled, revealing a true welcome to the visitors. Peter sensed he was actually happy they had come by and now he hoped a good story was to follow. Ralph led them to a small living room that was neat as a pin.
A pellet stove sat in the corner of the room and a lazy boy recliner was not far away. A small sofa against one wall and the other wall was top to bottom with books. Sitting next to the recliner, sat a sturdy table with a reading light and three books lay on the table with two closed and one open sitting on the other two. Above the closed off fireplace a landscape picture hung depicting a similar scene which could have resembled this farm in the summer time: fields of grain waving in the wind; high scattered cumulus clouds appeared floating across the clear blue sky; and a much larger house with a barn, sat in front.
Ralph, as he sat in his recliner, and the cat now on his lap glaring at the new comers said, “That painting is of our farm when I was a boy. My father fell asleep with a cigarette, or so I am told, and burned the house down along with the barn. I was away at school and there were no survivors. The land lay fallow for many years and when I retired my wife and I had this small house built for the two of us. Be that as it may, you’ve not come here to talk about my place, but I know you are looking for some answers to what is happening to the town and its people. So, how can I be of help?”
Peter introduced James T and followed that by saying, “Mr. Naslind, any light you could shed on this what appears as some black magic or a curse would be of enormous help.”
Ralph was constantly stroking his cat and the cat closed his eyes each time a long stroke ran down his back. Like a neon flashing light, the cat almost kept time with the wall clock ticking away. Peter waited patiently and noticed on the coffee table three mugs sat empty as if they were expected. One thing that puzzled Peter and as he glanced at James T how did they know there were three of them coming? Then most unexpectedly from aro
und the corner a small cherub white haired woman carrying a pot of coffee came silently into the living room. Mr. Naslind introduced his wife Ethel and she silently nodded at the three gentlemen poured the coffee and wordless left the way she came.
Ralph said, “Please forgive my wife as she is both deaf and dumb. She is so conscience of making noise she does everything very methodically and slowly. Now to what you gentlemen came for. You had best get comfortable as this is a rather long story that can’t be made short. I am one of those fortunate and unfortunate people that have total recall no matter if it is oral or written. Sometime my head is so full I want to end it all, but so far, I’ve maintained living with it for eighty two years.”
Peter had brought a pocket recorder and sat it on the table as Ralph had a strong voice incongruous to his age. Peter looked at him and Ralph nodded never missing a stroke on the glossy black cat.
He began, “When I was a boy, around the age of five, my daddy started taking me on a few short hunts not so far from our house. He was a talker until it came time to do the actual hunting and then quiet and stealth was the order of the day. By the time I was a teenager; I could sneak up on a deer and or lay in wait for a wild pig. The remarkable thing was that when I was ten, one day we were out hunting in the fall, and two Indians appeared in front of us. My father just smiled and both Indians gave a brief nod. They had some broken English, but soon they switched to their native tongue and my father spoke their language. I was most curious and wanted to ask what was transpiring between them, but I waited like a good little boy. After we returned home and we were in the barn feeding the animals, my father stopped pitching hay to the cows and told me the story. To summarize, my father and his father before him had a good relationship with the local Indians. My grandfather had an old flintlock and would shoot game for Indians in the winter time. In return, the Indians would bring wild herbs, mushrooms and fresh caught fish.”
“On one particularly bad winter, the same two Indians came to our door and knocked quietly. My father welcomed the two Indians and later he told me they were a little short of food. That night we went out and slaughtered a pig and hung it up. When the next day came, the two Indians were there at daylight. They had a pole between them and underneath the pole hung the pig.”
Later that same winter as one blizzard after another came through, my father on a cold winter afternoon told us kids the story of magic that these very same Indian tribe had witnessed involving two black people and one young white girl who in the Indians opinion was a bit touched in the head. The black couple was always wandering off and the Indian medicine man followed on more than one occasion. He saw what trees they scraped bark from; he saw what mushrooms and plants they picked for use in what was apparent as some form of magic. My father at that time told us the names of the trees and plants and I can remember the names to this day. In addition, I know where their village was at the time of the days of magic.”
Shocked is not the appropriate word to describe both Peter and James T at that moment in time. Peter couldn’t remember the last time his was speechless, but now he couldn’t find a word to say if his life depended on it. Ralph, expressionless sat there stroking the cat and the cat kept opening and closing its eyes each time a smooth stroke was made. And if by some strange reason, Mrs. Naslind came in with a fresh pot of coffee and homemade cookies. How did she know a break had happened and what sense did she have others was not aware of? More questions ran through Peter’s mind, such as how does Ralph know so much and is that black cat a symbol of something we should be aware of? And once again looking at Ralph, Peter thought it rather strange that not a flicker of emotion or any change in expression happened since they arrived. No warmth and other than a clock ticking, not a sound was heard throughout the house. Peter reminded himself to check into the background of Ralph Naslind.
Sam saw Peter staring at Ralph and wondered what was going through the old man’s head. He too was shocked at what he heard and burned his tongue on the fresh made coffee Mrs. Naslind delivered with her usual soundless entry. Sam heard Peter say to Ralph, “Mr. Naslind, that is a most remarkable story and I have no doubt every word you told is true. I need to think about this and would it not be too inconvenient to return and ask some more questions at a later time?”
“You are welcome anytime. Please call ahead to let me know what time you want to visit and in the meantime, I have some dates and names in our old bible. There are some fascinating side stories I am sure you would be happy to hear about.”
Peter thanked him for his hospitality and told Ralph to not get up that they would find their own way out; Sam and company spent a quiet ride back to the office. Meanwhile, after they were gone, Mrs. Naslind came into the living room and looked at Ralph. Ralph continued to stroke the cat and then he said slowly, “No, I don’t think they know, but even if they do, nothing they can do to end it.” She turned and returned to the kitchen to fix some lunch: a special herb soup was called for.
Chapter 16
All the principals were in attendance for the afternoon meeting taking place at the library. The afflicted kids sat around one large reading table and three other tables were put together to seat the parents. No outsiders were expected and Sam placed himself at the door to make sure they weren’t disturbed.
A light snow was falling but not much wind. The library was recently equipped with forced air heating and cooling so inside it was quite comfortable. Most of the locals had shed their coats, but both Peter and James T kept their overcoats on. Apparently everyone was waiting for the good reverend to show up and just then from the door a loud voice was heard. Everyone turned their heads to see what was transpiring and a big sigh was heard around the room as all, except Peter and James T, recognized the voice of Mrs. Gorn yelling at Sam that it was her right to enter the public library.
The mayor walked quickly to the door and said, “Even though this is a public building, but this time has been reserved for a meeting that is not a public gathering. The library is closed to the public for one hour as specified by the notice on the door. If you so desire, Ms. Gorn, you can file a complaint with the town’s attorney and we will review it at the next town meeting.”
“I will do just that Madam Mayor and I am not moving from this spot unless forcibly removed. I am also prepared to spend the money to hire the best attorney in Boston to file suit against you personally mayor and the town of Remorse for prohibiting my right as a citizen to enter a public building.”
The mayor lowered her voice and moved slightly closer and said, “You just do that Ms. Gorn and now I am ordering the chief of police to remove you and the door will be locked behind you.” Sam did as was ordered and Ms. Gorn lumbered away screaming discrimination and a few profanities were heard by a few walkers who shook their heads at the obvious interference of Mrs. Gorn.
The mayor stood in front the tables and waited for the murmurs to stop and when it was quiet she said in a normal tone, “There are always glory seekers and folks that want to throw a monkey wrench into the spokes of a wheel. Well, now that we have established our position, I want to say this before we turn the table over to Peter and his associate. As you know my son has acquired what the rest of the birthday kids have when they turn a teenager. I am happy to report he is taken it very well and in fact, says he is enjoying this part of life that few can experience. I wonder as a concerned parent that he thinks we can reverse the affliction and all will return to normal in time. Well, I for one think seeing is believing and no pun intended. Now I would like you all to listen to what Peter has to say about what he has seen and heard so far. I think we all realize that there is no quick fix and I for one expect a long term struggle is ahead of us.”
Peter stood up from behind his table and walked slowly, as if a ton of weight was upon his shoulders, and looked around the room before he spoke. He took a deep breath and said, with total conviction, “Let’s not give up hope here. I for one am here for the long haul, if necessary. So far the best info
rmation we have comes from a long time resident, Ralph Naslind. He told us a most remarkable story this morning. I’ll give you the highlights as I’ve yet to stop and really give what he told us some deep thought, or have discussed it with my friend James T. However, let me tell you that apparently this man and his family had some relationship many years ago with the local Native American Indians. The Indians reported that indeed a Negro couple and a white girl lived for some time with them. Their medicine man witnessed some magic that was totally foreign to them and even the medicine man was afflicted in some mysterious way nobody could understand. Mr. Naslind knows the location and types of things used in a magic ritual that was performed by the Negro couple. Well, be that as it may, we need to visit this location and see for ourselves what is there, if anything. From what I can glean is that with Mr. Naslind showing us the way we can learn a lot more than we do now. I realize this is not much news, but I would like now for us to hear the story about each child that is affected and what they have experienced so far. I am especially interested in their dreams. Now are there any volunteers to talk to us?”
A silence, as one would expect from a library hung like dark clouds on a threatening summer afternoon. All of the parent’s heads turned toward the table of five and it was a bit of a surprise when the reverends daughter raised her hand first.
Sara Goodfellow stood up and with her hands resting on the table top for support said, in a tiny voice, but in a tone of strength, “I have had some weird dreams and so have my other blind friends. We seem to have the same dream but it is like a soap opera drama that continues where it left off. I’ll describe it to you and then you can ask the other kids what they have dreamed about. The first time I was lost in a void surrounded by a violet colored fog. I felt myself drifting, as if weightlessness, as if in space. After a few nights three of us were brought together and we drifted holding hands, but I have not a clue where we are going. I felt it very comfortable and peaceful where we are. Recently with the addition of Brian and Paul, we are all floating along together. There are no sounds except our voices and when I awake, fell very rested and full of energy.”
Curse of Remorse Page 13
