The Butcher and the Butterfly

by Ian Dyer

  10

  That night Mike, Daisy and Doyle lay in their separate beds dreaming. Varula had sniffed an opportunity and she was slowing taking advantage of it. All three dreamed of the Orb. They would not remember the dream for it is locked away at the back of the mind where tricks are played and memories robbed. The dreams are dark; filled with chaos and torment. None of them know what Varula is doing; none of them know that she can see all that they know and all that they want. She is conniving in her work and the three helpless souls toss and turn in the night trying in vain to stop the rot.

  Dotty also dreams of the Orb but her dream is filled with lush forest and deep blue streams. She is happy with the friend she makes in the forest; happy to play with her and to swim naked with her. Her new friend has no name but this doesn’t matter to Dotty who is rubbish with names anyway. When she runs it feels as though the two of them could fly, when they swim they feel like the fish that they chase. It is a happy dream, a good dream and when Dotty’ mother appears and flies above them like a beautiful butterfly Dotty reaches up to touch the sky and feels the warmth on her hands and the flutter of tiny wings upon her fingers.

  Back in the home of Thatcham, locked away in the drawer in his study, Varula pulses deeply in her wooden box.

  11

  The next day was hot and sunny. Spring, summer and autumn now rolled into one haphazard season with only winter bringing any real change to the climate. Sat on the porch seat smoking a cigarette basking in the morning heat Simon, son of Mike Thatcham, contemplated the days Tommy foolery he would be having.

  He was given the day off work today to watch the simple girl Dotty paint the picket fence and make sure she did it a) correctly and b) without making a scene. ‘Making a scene’ his father had said with eyes that glistened in the sunlight and told the young man that if she were to fuck up then it was his problem and young Simon would be dealt with accordingly.

  It was nearing eight o’clock and Dippy Dotty would be here soon. He would taunt that stupid cow something rotten today; maybe even getting her to take her top off or flash him her lady bits.

  Dotty was thick as pig crap and like his dad, Simon hated the retarded. He was clever, ‘street smart’ as his father says. Able to judge a situation and deal with it before it gets out of hand. Take the death of his mother for instance; Simon knew it wasn’t a suicide but rather than go to the local authorities and raise a concern he could see that she was nothing but a nuisance to this family. Best for her to go that way than for the family to be left with nothing but an empty bank account and debt. This family was important to the city; essential even, because they supplied most of the work, most of the feed, most of the homes, most of the dwellings most of fucking everything at the end of the day. Christ, if they were to up sticks and go this town would be fucked. So that is why his mother had to go and Simon was happy that his father had made a point of telling everyone how strong Simon was being, how supportive in these tough times, how so much like his father he was and that one day the city would have a new, even better businessman. Oh yes, how Simon was happy with that.

  He took a deep drag of the cigarette; his blue eyes closing as he lingered on the hot sourness in his mouth. Simon kept his eyes closed as he remembered the girl he had dreamt about last night. She had been tall, red haired with a body to die for; firm backside, narrow hips and ample titties. The dream had seemed to go on all night, tiring him even when he was awake after a good ten hours sleep. He’d had a hard cock when he woke and he could feel it coming back. She had done whatever he had asked for last night. But who the fuck was she? Simon had never seen her before and he really wanted to meet her if she was real.

  If he only knew her name then he would seek her out. He was good at finding people. Especially those that didn’t want to be found. Devious to the last and Simon had a way of seemingly being you’re friend as he destroyed everything around you and at the end still left you felling like ‘Hey, that Simon is an alright kid and ‘hey, even though he has scammed me out of my parents will; I will buy him a beer down the local.’

  Opening his eyes he looked to his right. Dotty should be here any moment. He pictured her in his mind’s eye and laughed at the stupidity of her body. She was built like a man. Built for heaving equipment across vast distances, but in the end only good for painting and fucking about with.

  Be careful with that one Simon.

  They young man squinted as he tried to pick out whose voice that had been. It was female, sort of like his mothers, but much more seductive in tone. He took another drag, stood and dropped the butt to the floor stamping on it as he walked down the flight of stairs from his porch and out onto the front yard.

  Don’t ignore me Simon. I won’t come again if you do.

  Simon stood stock still and looked down at his feet. He recognised the voice.

  ‘Sorry. I won’t ignore you.’ He said to the floor.

  He didn’t see Dotty turn the corner.

  Now listen to me Simon and listen well. Leave the girl alone. Mess with her and that’s it between us. Leave her alone and…’

  The voice tailed off and Simon felt a hand grip his balls and start rubbing them. He breathed deep as his cock began to grow.

  ‘Good morning, Simon.’ Dotty yelled from halfway down the road.

  The young man sighed as the hand removed itself from his pants and when he looked up he wasn’t surprised to see Dotty trudging down the road waving her hand like a complete fucking idiot; paint tins clanging together like an out of tune church bell.

  12

  It didn’t take long for Simon to explain to Dotty what was needed to be done. The fence needed, cleaning, sanding and painting; the paint was in the shed it was white and don’t make a mess. That’s it. When it came to everyday tasks Dotty was a stupid as the day is long but when it came to painting she was smart. Quick to understand and quick to deliver and today she would work unhindered. Whatever it was that had come to him earlier on, he sure was preoccupied with. Simon lay in the front yard his face turned to the sun for the rest of the day thinking about the woman that seemed to fulfil his desires without a second thought.

  13

  Dotty was pleased Simon was distant today. She had been in such a good mood after the great dream she had had last night that she at first thought Simon was going to be a little sod and play her up. But that didn’t look like it was going to happen. Simon looked as though he was sleeping; so Dotty got on with her work.

  She at first walked the length of the fence making sure she checked both sides for damage and apart from a few nails that needed hammering in the fence was in good condition and by ten o’clock she was sanding it down; a job that would take all day.

  Whilst she sand down the fence her mind would drift back to the dream. Usually when she painted or sanded the surrounding area would be filled with song but today Dotty did not want to sing. There had been enough singing in last night’s dream to last a year and she was happy in the silence. Old Man Thatcham’s house was situated at the end of a rather long road filled with large houses with even larger gardens. Old Man Thatcham’s was the largest, the grandest and the neatest. Only the fence needed repair. The rest of the house was pristine. Like a dream in itself and Dotty enjoyed looking at it from time to time. It was a house that deserved a family she always thought to herself and she wished that she could have had her family in that house. The house had a huge front door painted black and either side of it were two massive windows. Three windows were on the second floor and built into the slate roof was another smaller window. That was were Old Man Thatcham study was and where no one was allowed to go. Not even Simon according to her Dad.

  You can come and play though.

  Dotty carried on sanding down the uppers of the fence. She didn’t ignore the soft voice coming from the girl she had met in the forest during her dream; on the contrary, she listened to the voice like she listens to all the voices.

  You can come and play in the study. Mike won’t m
ind.

  ‘Not allowed. Dad says so.’ Dotty said to the voice in her head even though she wanted too.

  Ahh come on Dotty. Come and play with me. I promise it will be okay.

  Dotty shook her head and stopped sanding the wood; turning her head she looked up at the window in the roof and she saw the young girl with red hair waving at her. ‘No. Not allowed. Now stop asking me.’

  The voice stopped and the girl moved away but Dotty was certain she was still up there, somehow watching her behind the walls and waiting for the right time to ask again. Dotty was unsure if she could keep on saying no.

  14

  Varula

  She’s a pretty thing. Sweet like chocolate with a hard middle. I would very much like to have her.

  I’m going to have her. Make a nice tasty treat before and after what I has planned.

  She is going to be stubborn. Simple people are always stubborn. But I is clever and she isn’t. I have lived for hundreds of years and I can be stubborn too.

  All I need is these others to keep on going and I will have all that I want and I will be my own mistress like I was before.

  Soon Little Dotty you will come and play. Come and play with Varula; but first I am going to have a little fun with you.

  See you in your dreams Little Dotty

  Play Time

  1

  ‘Bring her to me, Mike. Bring her to me and I will let you have me for all time.’ The red haired woman, beautiful to Mike beyond description, said as she caressed the old man’s face.

  He could not answer for he was besotted with her. He simply nodded in acceptance.

  ‘That is good Mike. You are a good man. A strong man. A man that get things done. And you will get this done for me, Mike. You will get this done for me or you will face my wrath.’

  The woman ran her soft hands down his chest and over Mike’s naked legs. He yearned for her to do more but knew, knew deep down inside, that she would not.

  Still unable to speak, he nodded once more.

  ‘You want me don’t you Mike?’

  ‘Yes.’ Mike was surprised by his own voice. The woman wasn’t.

  ‘You are strong, aren’t you, Big Daddy,’ the woman looked down between his legs then back to his face her right brow raised. ‘But you can’t have me. Not yet.’

  Her lips were moist, her mouth tempting with every movement. Her body was smooth, skin pale with a soft glow. Mike wanted to reach out and touch her. But he couldn’t. He mustn’t. There was something about this woman. Powerful. Evil.

  But she was just a woman. A woman that he could have. He has screwed many women so why shouldn’t he have this one. He can have this one. He will have this one.

  Mike reached out to stroke the soft skin of her bosom; his hands a soft tremble.

  The woman stood; pushing Mike to the ground his head hitting the floor with a thump. Her face was now a mangled mess, her soft pale skin now ripped and decaying.

  ‘NOT YET BIG DADDY! BRING ME THE GIRL!’ She screamed and Mike…

  …awoke covering his eyes. He was laying on the sitting room floor; his body sweaty and his head throbbing. He sat up rubbing the back of his head where it had struck the wooden floor. All he could remember was the red haired woman and how important it was to get the girl.

  2

  Simon laid upon the bank of the River Strain, the sun in his eyes the wind caressing his naked form. The woman had come to him again and had satisfied herself upon him and now she spoke to him of the girl.

  He had to leave her alone, she said. He had to let her be and all will be well. He had to go from the house Tomorrow before the girl arrived and he had to come to this place and wait there all day. Not to go back. Not for anything. Not for anyone. When the sun begins to set then he could go back.

  Simon was sure the woman was still there. He could feel a hot breath on his left shoulder. He was happy here on the banks of the river. Not really one for such things as lying by the river and sun bathing; but here, right now, with this woman, he was happy.

  The breath was still there. The wind still blew over him but the breath blew on him. It was intoxicating that breath. Like a kiss that needn’t be on the mouth. He reached over to touch the woman, to maybe get her in the mood again.

  But it wasn’t soft skin he felt. It was fur.

  ‘YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH!’ The woman screamed…

  …Simon awoke naked in the front garden. His hand was holding onto something furry and the hot breath that felt so good in the dream now felt dirty, weak. Wrong.

  He removed his hand and looked to whatever it was lying next to him.

  In the moonlight he could see what looked like a fox; its neck twisted awkwardly, its tongue hanging out and its stomach split by the hind legs.

  The young man held his hands to his mouth to stifle a scream and to stop the puke. But as he did he saw they were darkened with what looked like blood; as too was his chest and arms. Following the dark blood he looked further down his body and when he saw what was covering his penis, dripping from the head like a drooling hound, the puke found its way back up, this time unhindered by covering hands; it splattered the fox.

  3

  Dotty was running in the fields; her father had recently ploughed. Her massive legs bound across the deep ruts, her feet; bare, dug deep into the soil. She felt free. Free as the birds in the sky and she was sure that if she flapped her arms that she could rise into the blue wonder and fly for miles and miles.

  But the other girl couldn’t fly. The other girl, the girl at the window, the girl of last night’s dream, was on the floor covered in red.

  Dotty stumbled to her. The ploughed field now the front garden of Old Man Thatcham but Dotty did not notice.

  The other girl was still. Eyes shut tight to the evil that she could see. Dotty wanted to speak to her; to tell her it was okay. But her mouth was shut and she had no words in her.

  The red covering the other girl wasn’t blood. Dotty knew the smell of blood all too well and this wasn’t it. The red was paint.

  Red paint.

  The front garden shifted and Dotty was in the desert. The sand was hot on her feet. Really hot. The sun beat down on her and for the first time in a long time; Dotty was unhappy. The other girl was still on the floor. But now her eyes were open and she was smiling.

  ‘Paint it red, Dotty. Paint it all red.’

  Dotty shook her head.

  ‘If you don’t, they will kill me.’

  The other girls eyes shifted to the right and Dotty followed their gaze.

  Dotty saw two men walking toward her the desert haze making them look like ghosts; axes in their hands blood on their clothes.

  The desert grew cold and vanished and Dotty was now in Old Man Thatcham’s butchers. Carcasses hung from the ceiling, the pig’s faces blank; their black eyes piercing. Dotty was scared now. The other girl had gone. She was alone with the dead pigs.

  ‘Paint it all red, Dotty.’ A voice from nowhere spoke.

  ‘Paint it all red and she will live.’

  The voice was all around her, the voice was the pigs and…

  Dotty awoke screaming; her hands covering her face her legs trying to run from the butchers and from the dead pigs.

  4

  Ted was lost in the forest. He had been walking for hours and was unsure of where he was going and why he was going there. It was hot under the trees today, hotter than it should have been. The undergrowth was brown with decay, the lush green forest burnt to death. He stumbled around, lightly tripping over loose stumps and long dead roots sticking up out of the ground like un-dead hands.

  His head was thumping. Pressure building like a pot with a tight lid on the stove. Ted didn’t like it here.

  Up ahead the forest parted and became green again.

  ‘The Clearing.’ Ted said.

  It was cooler now. The trees split and the ground opened up revealing lush green grass, a blue sky and bright yellow flowers carpeted the floor. Looking around he sa
w a small hut in the corner, two little bird like creatures were fluttering wildly in a jar. Beside them two men sat, one was naked the other wore a brown shirt. They looked at him and he felt as if he had interrupted a great debate. But he cared little.

  His dream eyes made him look to his left where the floor was greener than what surrounded it. It glowed without glowing and when Ted stepped upon it he wasn’t surprised to feel it pulsing beneath his feet. He walked along the path away from the clearing and soon he found himself back in the hot forest; but that too didn’t faze him.

  He walked for some time unaware of the sweat pouring from his body until he came across a woman.

  The woman was tall. Plain faced with deep green eyes that stars could be born of. She stood surrounded by a pale glow; her hands were by her side, her head slightly tilted to the ground.

  She spoke softly to Ted. ‘I am here because of them, Ted.’

  Ted sat upon the floor and looked up at the woman. ‘Who?’ Ted asked.

  ‘One will kill you and your daughter. The other is sent to kill him.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘You are not supposed to Ted. Your daughter is in danger. A man is on a path to meet you this very day. He can help. Will help, without question; for it is his destiny.’

  ‘Dotty. In danger? How?’

  The woman looked Ted in the eyes and he was entranced by her.

  ‘I cannot tell you Ted, for it is not I that chose your destiny. I only help you on your way.’

  Ted rubbed at his eyes. ‘Who sent you to help me?’

  ‘You’re wife.’

  Teds eyes filled with tears but he did not cry.

  ‘And who are you?’

  The woman moved toward Ted and knelt before him. She held his head in her hands and wiped away the tears. Her skin was cold but soft. Her eyes, massive now that they were close, were lidless but full of life.

  ‘I am Palaluka and we shall not meet again.’

  Ted moved his right hand meaning to touch her face…

  …But he awoke to screaming. He didn’t register for a moment what was happening. He reached up to his cheek to try and savour the touch of the woman but she was gone.