A Memoriam Of Trees
I, Alexandre Savoie, alias Romantyke -- or David Mathenge, for the confused ones --, claims ownership of this story. All names, characters and events mentioned indicia are purely fictional. Anything happening to be akin to those is coincidential.
This is part seven. Sorry for bringing this one a little late. I got to write a report for the journal and needed this done by Saturday evening at all costs. I hope it did not cause any uproar. Please, forgive me for the inconvenience.
Note -- For those who asked me my real name, it is Alexandre Savoie. I am French Canadian, and live in a quaint town in the only French province in the country. I am fluent in French, English and Swahili. The two aliases I am referred to online are Romantyke, and David Mathenge. Romantyke is a diminutive of romantic. David Mathenge is a name I invented for other online purposes. I do travel a lot lately for the job and was asked for a different syllabus to my name. Sorry for any confusion.
Sit down, light up and enjoy, if you please.
April 12th 2009
Vallee de la Rouge
Quebec, Canada
' You missed supper, young ones!' Said a WOOFER sternly as we arrived home.
We had just left the tree memoriam and were back for supper too late. The stars shone up in the sky as we were on the sawing field standing on the mountain's feet.
' Sorry. ' I stammered.
The WOOFER raised a eyebrow, looking from Todd to me.
'You guys might get into trouble being this wild. Just don't cross the boss, got it? We have schedule rules here. Follow them. ' she said gravely.
We nodded.
' Come. We left you something. '
She beckoned us to follow her. We left the boathouse and went behind her to the kitchen. On the huge counter were two plates, with the food. Or rather, craps from the supper.
' That is all we have for you.' said the WOOFER. ' Our storerooms downstairs are getting short on food. We are April, remember? We can only go back to the fields once spring really comes. Now take these and fly. '
Ten minutes later, Todd and I were in the barn roof. Lying on the hay piles, we were done with sex and now our bodies covered with sweat were also covered with hay bits. Smoking a cigarette in silence, we could hear the wind outside.
' We should tell the boss. ' Todd suddenly said.
' What? No, Todd. They must be behind something about that place. But we can't. '
' You insane? They will throw us out if they discover the truth without us telling them. '
' They had the key in their bedroom drawer. '
' Maxime, that is what I am talking about. '
' Then what? We just tell them? That place will make the papers! '
' But-'
' No, you listen, Todd. '
I got up and went to the clothes piled near us. I took out the key.
' I have a plan, for this, Todd! ' I said, holding it out.
' Which is? '
' We go to a keyhole shopkeeper and make a double. '
Todd stared at me.
' This key is old fashioned, baby. Think he can? '
' Well, we will find out once there. '
I began to dress up.
' Where you might be going? '
' To town. And make a double. '
' It is late, and the shop is certainly closed. '
' Then get a move on. No sleeping this night. We have a few tasks to do.'
' In town? What else? '
' We have to get what is necessary to revive the tree memoriam. '
' Like what? You mean, fieldwork material? '
' Yep. '
' What if we just take these here? There are plenty! '
' This will raise suspicion, Todd. No risks can be involved. '
' Fine. Then I go with you. '
Once outside the barn, I stopped Todd.
' Wait, can you drive? '
' Nah. '
I got pale. Walking to town would take at least a week.
' I know. ' burst out Todd. ' Come with me. '
He got back inside.
' What do you plan to do, Todd? '
' We will ride out. With a buggy. '
' Neat! '
Forty minutes later, the carriage was on the road. It was being pulled by four of the youngest and most reliable of the horses. Saturn, Kim, Kate and Jim.
It took nearly an additional hour to reach town. People were staring at us. The buggy looked definitely out of place.
Saint-Jovite as a touristic place was usually bustling the most during the skiing season, and during the Blues Festival on August. However, it was very late in the night by now, and the skiing season was over because the snow on the Moutain was almost all replaced with the grass under, making skiing impossible. The tourists were gone.
The keyhole shop was closed, as to be expected. Todd turned the buggy farther on the Rue Principale, until we reached the Church. This place was condemned over fifteen years ago. Our province had abolished religious rights long ago now. And the Churches have been all sealed and closed for good. After the uproar of the people in 1993, the law of religion abolition had been signed, thus disbanding all religious groups for ever. Abusing the people with the use of a divinity had made the province open its eyes. ' Perhaps we are the only province in the country to be this free... ' I thought.
Todd parked the buggy on the Churchyard.
' What are you doing? '
' We have to settle in here until the break of dawn. '
' Todd, this building is sealed. We cannot go in there. '
' It is getting cold, and we all need some rest. The horses can enter this place as well. Enough space. '
Twenty minutes later, we were all inside the place. It was in a desperate state of disrepair. Teens had broken in there several times, obviously. There were signs of vandalism everywhere. Walls were splashed with words like ' we are the free generation! ' or ' God never intended to do abuses to people like his agents did! '. It was a eerie place. The statue of the Christ had been the only thing left untouched.
The horses were stashed in the Presbytarium, covered with blankets and eating the grass that had managed to get inside during the years of abandon.
' Now what? ' I asked, shivering.
' We will rest a bit before taking off again. '
We both smoked a cigarette, then I fell asleep in his arms.
The sunlight was warm on my face when we woke up. Dawn had broken. The light was filtering through the broken windows.
' Come on. ' said Todd. ' We have to move before we are found. '
The keyhole shopkeeper was sitting behind his desk, holding out the ancient key in his hands. His face was showing a shrewd, calculating look as he was examinating it.
' Whence came this? ' he asked to Todd and me.
' Why the question, sir? ' Todd replied.
' Many, many years lie on this key. I can hardly believe no rust is on it. This black metal is in perfect shape. No dent. No sign of usure. And yet there is a magical feel to this item. '
We both gulped.
' I can try to make a double for you. ' the keyhole shopkeeper went on. ' But it will cost you something extra. '
' How much? '
He smirked.
' A hundred. '
Todd and I shared a glance.
' What the hell! ' Todd exlaimed. ' It's only money. '
The keyhole shopkeeper smiled even more broadly.
' Come back before sunset. You will have your key. '
' Thank you, sir. '
The rest of the day, we busied ourselves buying the stuff needed for the restoration of the tree memoriam. The buggy was being under my guardianship, while Todd was going in the shops getting everything.
Kim looked not well. I was caressing her soft musle.
' Kim, it's all right. We will be back home tonight. I promise! '
But she did not seem to notice, or care about what I said. I went to her back, and checked her vagina. Then I blanched.
Todd and I had forgot Kim was pregnant. And she looked about to have her foal very soon. The vagina was secreting a white ooze. The moment of birth was very soon. How could Todd and I forget this? Kim was scheduled to have her foal by... when?
I remembered with a stunning heartleap. She was supposed to give foalbirth by April 10th! And it was the 13th. Oh, shit...
Todd came back with the last of the material. While charging the buggy with it, I told him the bad news. He was rattled.
' I have completely forgot about her pregnancy. '
' Then what? '
' We have to get back home before she give foalbirth. We have to! '
' She IS near foalbirth, Todd! '
' How do you know? '
' Her vagina is oozing!'
' Shit! Shit! Come up, get in! We are going to get the key and clear outta here! '
He climbed on the front seat, took my arm and pulled me upward.
' Take the reins! ' he shouted. ' And make them gallop back to the keyhole shop! '
' But Kim! '
' The three others will take over! Ride! Ride on! '
I slapped the reins. The four horses neighed fiercely and started to gallop madly out of the parking. People started to stare at us.
' We are going too slow! And we look like idiots! ' I screamed.
Todd looked at the horses. Then he got up on his seat, and then...
' Kula Ridd! KULA RIDD! '
It was definitely African dialect. The words had made the horses go mad with panic. Neighing furiously, they began charging at the fastest speed four horses could go, with a heavy buggy behind.
Todd lost balance and fell in the wagon behind.
' TODD! '
But he was all right. He emerged from the stuff stacked inside.
' Don't mind me! Keep it on those goddamned reins, and ride! Ride on!!! '
To be continued...
Parliament of Canada
Ottawa
Ontario, Canada