A Memoriam of Trees
I, Alexandre Savoie, claims ownership to this story. All names, characters and events indicia are purely mythological and fictional, along with most stemming from my own works.
This is part fourteen, and brings forth the elemental events forward to the closure of the first book. I hope you will enjoy.
August 1st 2009 Vallee-de-la-Rouge Quebec, Canada
Like in several mythological beliefs, the red dawn was a brilliant and beautiful sight which also brought an ominous sign of slaughter the night before. Accompanying it was almost always a cold fell wind which blows on the lands, right before a week and watery red sun.
Standing on the threshold of the cabin door, Todd was staring at the field. The wind was caressing his black shining beard and his long curly detached hair. His vest was opened and his vast muscular torso's dark coal skin was shining in the feeble light. His black eyes were twinkling.
Todd's arms on his back, he was smoking a cigarette calmly, waiting for the sun to rise after the ominous calmness of this dawn.
Standing beside him, I was doing the same. Looking at the deep blue, cloudless sky, I was feeling a sense of bad foreboding which brought me uneasiness. I kept looking at Todd from the corner of my eyes. So handsome was he, so elegant and so charismatic even without speaking.
Todd turned to me. He held out to his hand to me.
'Come.' he said ' We have to go back.'
We crossed the desert field, then we passed over the little Church hill, down to the property.
It was dead calm. Far too quiet. Even Todd showed signs of nervousity.
'Hold it, Maxime...' he commanded, holding out his arm to stop me.
His African instincts were reacting yet again. What did he sense this time?
'You will inspect the manor. Check every single room, search every single nook and cranny. And don't do anything stupid! Meet me at the boathouse in half an hour.'
'What, you think no one is here today? What about the animals? They need to be attended to... it's morning now.'
'I'll take care of everything. I will also search every other sheds, farmhouses and even go to the other houses down the trail. Don't leave the mansion, stay in the crops reserves until the time has come to meet with me. Got it?'
'But you?'
'I told you already. Just do as you are told. That's a direct order! There is a crisis. I just know it.'
Obeying to Todd's command, I went into the house. Looking back as I closed the door, Todd was walking down the trail. His shoulder seemed saggy with some kind of burden...
Once inside the mansion, I suddenly felt a very dull ringing. But it was not a true ringing. It was the blood coursing in my head. Because there was dead silence.
'Catherine?' I called, but there was no answer.
I started to search in the basement. The weaving room door was locked and no light was filtering through, which meant there was no one in there. The crops reserve was as it ever was. The WOOFER's basement living quarters were empty. No one there. Not even in the beds. On the first floor, the kitchens, the master's wing and the common room were all soulless. Same for every one of the other floors.
'Catherine?' I called again as I went down to the common room again.
I stood there, clueless. In my brood, I spotted a black ribbon attached to one of the wooden posters supporting the ceiling. It was not there before. It looked like it has been attached with clumsy hands, and in quite a hurry.
The only way to do that was because it was a time of grief. Did someone here die? Was that the reason of everybody being away ?
Todd was shaking his head when he was back. An unlit cigarette in his his thick brown lips. His hands fumbling in his pockets for some fire.
'Here...' I said, lighting him up.
'Anything here?'
'Well... follow me... there seems to be a problem...'
I took his hands and led him into the common living room to show him the poster with the black ribbon. Todd's face became flabberghasted.
'Baby?' I said to him uncertainly.
'That's why there has been a red dawn...' he faltered. 'Someone here died!'
'But who could have died? There has been only one night since we have been away...'
Todd finished his cigarette with a mad look in his eyes.
'I'll get you, son of a bitch!' He shrieked before bolting away, out of the boathouse door.
Confused, I just stood there. And I was still standing there when the front door opened, letting the whole household in, except a few persons.
All of them were dressed in black. All. Every single one. Including the children.
'Maxime!' Shouted Amethyst, and she threw herself into my arms.
'I am so relieved to see you back! But...' I started.
Several of the WOOFERS had opened bottles of white wine, and serving several cups to the closest ones. Some just fell into the armchairs, the pouffes or the sofas, looking wrecked. Several had lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes, so much that the whole ceiling was already clouded in bluish smoke. The children were looking dumbfounded, and had no intention to play. Anael and Naila were both crying in WOOFER Johanne and Weaving Teacher Tineke.
'What the...' I just stammered.
I turned to everybody, but Catherine was nowhere to be seen, not even Patrick.
'Where are --' I started, but WOOFER Dion, a cigarette between his lips, just interrupted.
' The masters are both gone. The farm is finished. We are free now. The days of this place are over.'
'Gone? The masters?'
'Uncle Patrick has left a note, yesterday night, saying he had enough of this lame farm and he stated his wife would take over as true regissor.' Explained Amethyst through tears, a glass of wine in her hand.
' But Catherine... we found her dead in her bed. Yesterday night. '
Added Tineke. ' We found another note from Patrick, and it was saying he set the WOOFERs free and bequeaths the farm to his son Anael. But look at this child!' She continued, hugging the little young four years old boy. ' He cannot be our master at his age!'
'Who, now, can keep our home, our stuff and our crops to continue?' Said Dion. 'No one! That's who! We will be leaving tonight. We are free now.'
I turned to Amethyst.
'So, you mean that you went through the obsequities this fast? Without any autopsy?'
Amethyst shook her head apologetically, tears still trickling down her cheeks.
' We had no choice, Maxime. When we found auntie Catherine's body, and Uncle Patrick's note, it was generally and preferably decided that you and Todd should lead the farm until Anael grows up.'
'And?' I pressed her on.
'Well, the truth is...'
The door opened again, and two other WOOFERs came in, windswept and out of breath.
'Leah and I are back. ' The male one said.
Tineke stood up.
' So?' She asked. 'How did it go?'
' I can't believe them!' Shouted the female one. ' They just left, and they did not even take one look back! Heartless scum! I'll never forgive them!'
'What is happening?!' I shrieked with impatience.
Tineke sat down, looking even more wrecked. Amethyst turned to me.
' We told everyone about our decision for the time being.'
' Two of the other masters, the ones leading the handicapped ones, just about exploded.' Added Dion. 'They left a few minutes after the funeral.'
' So it leaves the handicapped ones with no persons to help them anymore, does it?' I understood.
' Not only that. It leaves the farm even more leaderless, Maxime.' Said Amethyst.
' So they did not want Todd and me as their captain, did they? '
' I tried to propose Amethyst to lead, we tried to talk them out' said the female WOOFER, ' but it was a waste of time. '
Tineke sighed deeply.
' They did not want to lose their lives to inexperienced regissors...' she weakly murmured.
'Or gay ones, maybe?' I rectified sourly.
' It doesn't matter, anyway.' Interfered Amethyst with steely tones. ' It had been decided. You, Maxime, and your lover Todd, are now the masters of our property until Anael grows up. If anyone is unhappy about this, he or she can leave! As long as it involves only losing some members, there is no reasons to make such a fuss --'
' How can you ever say that?!' Shouted Dion at Amethyst. ' How can you ever say that, you who lived all your life here, as the masters' niece! After all the work we WOOFERs did for you guys, for free! How can you ever say that?'
Tineke just sighed and looked at me.
' I am sorry, Maxime. I could not prevent any of this... '
' I am not accusing anybody here.' I replied with much honesty. ' If any of you want to leave, I won't be offended. If any of you is homophobic and hate Todd or me...'
' Maxime!' Shrieked Amethyst, shocked. 'Don't talk about yourself like that!'
' I am not saying that to gain anyone's pity. ' I simply said. ' It's the truth. '
Amethyst just looked at me curiously.
' Maxime? Then what will you --'
' I have not given up yet. I will follow your wishes. I will inherit command of this company and assume its leadership.'
Amethyst smiled with goodness.
' Of course! '
Tineke stood up.
' You need a Weaving Teacher. I will stay. ' she said.
Johanne, the two WOOFERs who came back and three others stood up as well.
' We will stay here for you, to work for you and Master Todd. '
Dion looked me up and down.
' I am supposed to call you Commander now? '
He then had a good smile.
'Fine with me, then. Boss it is! '
Amethyst stood in front of me.
' I'm in, too. ' she simply said.
' Amethyst, I need your knowledge, I need your wisdom. You won't let me down, will you? ' I asked her.
' Don't worry, Maxime. I will be here, watching over you, protecting you. '
My mouth very dry, I simply found enough modesty to say:
' Thank you, all. I know I am only eighteen, I know I am young. I know nothing of being a farm regissor, I may make some mistakes, but I will try not to let any of you guys down!'
This decision made, several of the WOOFERs left before sunset, with their things. Looking by the window, seeing them go... it was not a good beginning.
Todd was back in the evening looking strained, and I filled him in with everything. Then all he found to say was :
' Come with me, baby. We have to go ask for advice to Vinbieth.'
I followed him downstairs, and just opened the front door.
Thousands of red and blue lights were flashing in the yards. Policemen came out of the cars. Out of a megaphone, a voice was echoing for Todd and me to get down on our stomach with our hands on our head.
We did so. Two policemen, followed by four, then six military soldiers, came inside the farm house. Then two powerful hands dragged me up from the ground and I found myself bound and gagged.
I was being dragged for a while, then I slammed hard on the concrete ground of the compact asphalt of the yard as they threw me down.
Then I heard the sound of fire. A big, bright fire. The army was burning down the mansion, my own house now! The flames were burning everything!
I saw the children, the WOOFERs who had stayed with me, being dragged to us. All of them were bound and gagged as well.
Then a hand gripped my chin and forced my head to look up. I found myself staring in the eyes of a ranger wreck military colonel.
' That's you, right? The one who can appeal to God and have any wish granted? A faggotty kid! '
He spat in my face and slammed me with his gun cross. It hurt so bad I screamed in my gag and fell down, but I was forced up again.
' You will kindly lead me to that Memoriam of Trees. Now! '
I could not resist. Being forced to lead first with the colonel beside me, at gunpoint, I had to obey.
The long walk in the dark woods was noisy, it seemed the whole army was going with me, and the rest of the farm household as well. Helicopters could be heard. It felt so unreal.
Todd kindly had created a sandy trail to the walls through the summer, and we finally reached the door. The colonel took out the false key Patrick had before, and turned it into the keyhole. But nothing happened. The wreck eventually lost patience, broke the key with his bare hand and used a bazooka to explode the door. The sound and scene was horrible. Yet it worked somehow, and to my horror, it was no longer just me and a few other chosens ones who could enter, but every one in the gang.
I got thrown down on the ground alongside my friends. Todd's eyes looked murderous. The colonel lit himself a cigar and looked around the garden magically lit with its glowing flowers.
' Interesting little place, ain't it? Peaceful and magic, huh? Too bad I'll have to burn it down after!'He sneered.
He turned to me, grasped my hair and spat :
' What now to have a wish granted, filth? '
I pointed the stump. The colonel laughed like a madman. He took out his best gun, and pointed it at my face.
' You've done your part now, kid. I need you no more. Especially a faggott like you, cause I will exterminate all of your kin, tonight! And those nigger devils too! Oh yes! It will be a land of men only! No whining women! No other ethnicities than Aryans like me! No other sexes than true straights hotties like me so we can fuck with our own prostitutes! Time to discard of the vermin , once and for all, and I'll become the real ruler of this world! Yes, I owe it all to you, Kid! Gwahahahaah! '
He shot at me straight between the eyes. I felt myself shrivel up and blow away, and I knew no more.
To be continued...
Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts Quebec Canada