Eric--Part Thirty

Splog # 137

Thirty

 

   As the laughter once again slowly melted away, the man stood up and repeated, "What say?"

   Eric rose and put his knapsack over his shoulders. He picked up his wet t-shirt, wrung it out over the pool of the fountain, and then seemed at a loss what to do with it next.

   "Allow me," the man said. He took the shirt from Eric, climbed back into the pool, went up to the statue, unrolled the shirt, spread it over his two hands and then tossed it up so that it draped itself over the horse's tail. He turned back to Eric.

"When we come back this way, it should be nicely dried out." He then waded back to the rim, climbed over it and, once he was back on the grass, he shook each booted leg for a moment to remove the excess moisture. He then took Eric's arm and with yet another "What say?" led him a few feet from the fountain and then turned to the right. Eric could see a path leading through the trees but it wasn't the one he'd entered the clearing from last night. That one was behind him. And somewhere over to his left was the trail that Cor had travelled out on last night. If he was remembering correctly. Eric had stopped to look around him. The man regarded him patiently until Eric looked at him and said, "Where are we going?"

   "You did wish to get something to eat, yes?"

   "Oh, very definitely yes."

   "Then that's where we are going. What say?" And again he took Eric's arm and led him onto the path through the trees. It was just roomy enough for two to pass abreast, although they had to push aside the occasional branch that had wandered so far as to nearly be an obstacle. The man commenced humming a tune beneath his breath and the melody immediately caught Eric's attention.

   "What is that song you're humming?"

   "'There's glory in the night,'" the man began to chant. "'The stars are shining bright. We're something something might. Da da da da da fight....'" He trailed off apparently at a loss for the words.

   "I heard that song yesterday."

   "At the house in the woods?"

   "Yes."

   "I came by there this morning. Hun-fire, hmm? How did it start? You were there, weren't you? When it started?"

   "It just seemed to come out of the fireplace. But there wasn't even a fire. It was just there and it just..."

   "Yes. I know."

   "But why...? And then the door was still there...And then some people came but we ran..."

   "You were with Bev?"

   "Yes. And Nol."

   "Nol..."

   "But they kept calling me Cor..."

   "Of course! Cor! That's what you were doing in the sheep. Did he get the sword? Well, did you get the sword?"

   "I did, but...but then I wasn't myself. There were two of me. Well, there was someone inside me..."

   Eric trailed off and the man kept him moving by a gentle pressure on his arm. At one moment, Eric thought he heard someone following them. He turned quickly but it was only the deer, picking its way along the path behind them. A quick movement in the corner of his eye and he saw the rabbit accompanying the deer. He took a brief look around for the frog but it was nowhere in sight.

   "Too slow," the man said as he gave a little tug on Eric's arm to keep him going. "But he'll be there when we return for your shirt. By the way, got another one in the bag?" Eric shook his head back and forth in mute wonder that the man seemed to read his mind so clearly. "No matter. No matter." They walked on in silence for a while. Eric was feeling the pangs of hunger again and they kept his mind occupied and avoiding the questions and confusions that threatened to overwhelm him.

   "Eric," the man finally began slowly. "Eric, you've handled this whole thing marvellously well and if you can manage to be patient a short while longer, I think I can assure you that everything you've experienced will begin to fit together. If we can wait until we're seated, you'll get, along with a delicious meal, all the answers you need. Now what do you think of that, eh?"

   "I could sure use some of those answers - and a delicious meal, even one that isn't so delicious."

   "Yes, yes, of course. But I meant what did you think of my little speech? Offficial and yet reassuring, no? Serious, but a touch light-hearted, yes?' The man seemed quite anxious to hear Eric's answer.

   "A - uh - a very good speech. It did reassure me and yet it - uh - yes, it was light-hearted..."

   "A speech like that isn't easy, you know. Especially when there's someone listening to it."

   "Is it easier when no one's listening?"

   The man started to say something and then looked over at Eric. "Are you fooling with me?" he said with a grin.

   Eric merely nodded, grinning back at him.

   "That's good. That's good. I'm glad to see you're up to fooling. That's always a good sign."