Tales From The Wyrd Museum 2: The Raven's Knot (5 page)

‘Cool,’ said Neil's neighbour, letting the magazine fall to the floor whilst the teachers shifted uncomfortably upon their chairs and Mrs Stride uttered nervous little coughs.

‘No, the nails didn't go through the hands. The bones aren't strong enough there—they'd shatter and wouldn't support the weight of the arms. Through the wrists the nails were hammered and, if you were lucky, it'd sever the arteries and you'd bleed to death. But if you weren't, then the feet would be skewered to the cross, only they'd be pinned to it either side, with the nails driven through the heels.’

For the first time in over a dozen visits, the vicar knew that the children were listening to him. Some of the more squeamish ones might have been appalled at the gruesome details, whilst others were morbidly fascinated, but all of them were enthralled.

‘When the hammering was over,’ Peter Galloway resumed, ‘the cross was hoisted upright and there you'd stay until you died. Most people probably perished from shock but others suffocated. Hanging there, with your head slumped on your chest, the only way to draw a proper breath would be to push yourself up by the nails impaling your heels. But to stop the prisoners doing this, the Roman guards went round to each one and savagely broke their legs.

‘That is what happened to the man born in Bethlehem—His legs were smashed and splintered, but still He lived. Although the agony and the suffering was excruciating, somehow He managed to cling to life. However, the following day was the Sabbath and no one was permitted to be on the cross during that time. Having survived all this torment and pain, our Lord was finally killed by a Roman spear thrust viciously into His side.’

The headteacher had never known the theatre to be so full and yet so silent. Looking worriedly at the children, she hoped none of them was going to be sick and had already decided to have a word with the Reverend Galloway afterwards. If she ever allowed him to speak to the pupils again she would make certain she knew what he was going to say beforehand.

Taking a step towards him, she hoped to lead the outrageous man from the stage and let the children return to their classes. But the Reverend was not done yet.

‘Yes,’ he cried, revelling in the unfamiliar but immensely gratifying experience of holding their undivided attention. ‘That man died on the cross. He was tortured for the sins of the world, but He rose from the tomb and because of His ultimate sacrifice, we can all find forgiveness and know true happiness.’

Trembling with excitement, the Reverend ran to the edge of the stage where he had placed a tape recorder upon a table, but hesitated before pressing the play button.

‘This is what it's like to feel that joy,’ he enthused. ‘To know that incredible elation of the soul. The Lord lives in me and in all of you if you'll let Him. He is knocking upon the door of your heart right now, and don't turn Him away. He is the light of the world, the Son of Man—"the Lord of the Dance".’

With that he punched the button down and the tune to that hymn began to blare from the speakers.

In one practised movement, Peter ripped open his cassock to reveal a full length black leotard and at once he began to leap about the stage in time to the music.

Waving his long arms in the air, he capered around in a wide circle, waggling his head from side to side and tapping his feet upon the floor as the hymn played on.

For a whole minute both the children and the members of staff could only gape at the zealous young man as he endeavoured to illustrate the overwhelming joy that so consumed his spirit.

No one could quite believe what they were witnessing. The sight of the Reverend Galloway cavorting about the stage, twisting and gyrating to the music, was the strangest spectacle most of them had ever seen and they were frozen with astonishment.

To and fro he gambolled and the expression on his face was one of perfect serenity. In his mind's eye he was as graceful as a swan, exquisitely conveying in the poetry of his movements all that he could not form into words. In reality however, in that black leotard and with his wild haystack of hair, he looked more like a member of some bizarre circus launching into a peculiar and ungainly mime. Blissfully unaware of the effect this unexpected performance was having, he danced on—but it did not last for long.

As the tape recorder continued to thump out the tune, gradually the general amazement thawed, and the pupils began to stir and look at one another. Quickly the shock subsided and, in one great united voice, the entire theatre erupted with a terrific peal of laughter.

Totally unprepared for this explosive reaction, when the shrieks and hoots of ridicule came, Peter's steps faltered and he stared about him—bewildered and dismayed.

‘No,’ he protested. ‘You don't understand. All I'm trying to do... it's the beauty of God's love... please. I just wanted to show how wonderful it makes me feel... can't you see that? Listen to me. Children, listen.’

But it was no use. The respect he had commanded only a few minutes ago when he appealed to their bloodthirsty natures was gone. There was no way he could reclaim it and, to his horror, he saw that the teachers too were sniggering behind their hands. Staring at them, with the children's derisive laughter trumpeting in his ears, the colour rose in his face as a bitter coldness gripped the pit of his stomach and he realised the full extent of his humiliation.

Just as the audience had begun to harken to his words and think about what he was trying to communicate to them, he had thrown it all away by his own misjudgment. How could he have been so blind not to consider the preposterous exhibition he was going to make of himself?

His hopes and spirits crushed, the Reverend Galloway walked over to the tape recorder and turned it off. Then, retrieving his cassock, he left the theatre with the laughter still resounding in his ears and branded upon his heart.

‘All right, all right,’ Mrs Stride called. That's enough, the fun's over—we'll have
The Lord’s Prayer.’

Still tittering, the children bowed their heads and began to chant. ‘Our Father...’ Murmuring along with them, Neil wondered if the world outside The Wyrd Museum had always been this strange and he just hadn't noticed before, whilst at his side the bespectacled boy uttered, ‘Dear Alien, up in your spaceship...’

So Neil's first day at his new school commenced. But when the assembly was over and he trailed off to his first lesson, he found himself longing once more for the excitement of The Wyrd Museum.

Already he missed the dark, shadowy corners of its lonely galleries and the display cabinets with their unusual exhibits. Yet as he sat at his desk, the time when the Webster sisters would need his help again was already drawing near.

Ever since her outburst in the Chamber of Nirinel, Miss Veronica had been sullen and silent. Now, sitting in a worn leather armchair, with her cane resting upon her lap, she stared vacantly at the small square window, watching the rain streak down the diamond latticed panes.

Over her white powdered face the faint drizzling shadows fell, but whether she was aware of the soft, rippling light or was lost in a corner of her jumbled mind it was impossible to determine.

A plate of her favourite delicacy, jam and pancakes, lay untouched upon the table at her side and this fact alone worried her sister.

Miss Celandine Webster had tried everything she could think of to coax and cajole Miss Veronica out of her tedious sulk, but the wizened woman in the armchair was oblivious to all her urging.

‘You're no fun today, Veronica,’ whined Celandine. ‘It's not fair—it isn't!’

‘Let her be, Celandine,’ a curt, impatient voice interrupted. ‘If Veronica wishes to be childish do not spoil it for her.’

Miss Celandine turned her nut-brown face to the fireplace where Miss Ursula, resplendent in a black beaded evening gown, stood cold and detached.

‘But it isn't like her, Ursula!’ she protested. ‘Veronica never mopes, not ever!’

‘Then she's obviously making up for lost time,’ came the cold reply. ‘Leave her alone.’

The Websters’ quarters were a poky little apartment situated at the top of The Wyrd Museum. Cluttered with bric-a-brac collected over the endless years, it was almost a monument to the building's history.

Images of the place in various stages of its enduring existence covered the shabby wallpaper; from a small stone shrine to a twelfth century manor house. A later watercolour showed the building to be a graceful Queen Anne residence surrounded by well-tended gardens. But the final portrait of the ever expanding abode of the three Fates was a faded, sepia photograph of the stark and severe looking Well Lane Workhouse and this grim print brought the record to a bleak and melancholy close.

Unaffected by the tense, oppressive atmosphere, Edie Dorkins paid little attention to the Websters’ squabbles. She was too busy examining the dust-covered ornaments and fingering the collection of delicate, antique fans to care what the others were doing. For her the place was a treasury of enchantment. She felt so blissfully at ease and welcome that sometimes the rapturous sense of belonging swelled so greatly inside her that she wanted to run outside and hug every corner of the ugly building.

Lifting her gaze to the mantelpiece, Edie looked only briefly at the oval Victorian painting of the three sisters, before staring with fascination at the vases which stood upon either side. Never had she seen anything like the peacock feathers which those vessels contained and she quickly pulled a chair over to the fireplace to scramble up and snatch a handful.

‘Lor’!’ she exclaimed, shaking off the dust and holding the plumes up to the dim light. ‘They're lovely. Can I keep ‘em?’

‘They are yours already, Edith, dear,’ Miss Ursula replied. ‘Everything here is yours, you know that.’

Edie chuckled and gloated over the shimmering blues and greens, like a miser with his gold.

‘I never seen a bird with fevvers like this,’ she muttered. ‘Much nicer'n that big black ‘un last night.’

Miss Ursula smiled indulgently. ‘I really must get that fool of a caretaker to board up the broken windows,’ she said. ‘I cannot have the museum overrun with pigeons.’

‘Weren't no pigeon!’ Edie cried. ‘Were the biggest crow I ever saw. Bold he were too, chased me clean through the rooms downstairs and tried to bite he did.’

Hoisting the hem of her skirt, she pulled and twisted her hole-riddled stockings to show the others the raven's clawmarks.

‘Make a real good scab that will,’ she grinned. ‘I was gonna get me own back but the mean old bird took off before I could catch him.’

Miss Ursula's long face had become stern and her elegant eyebrows twitched with irritation.

‘A large crow,’ she repeated in a wavering voice. ‘Are you certain you are not mistaken, Edith?’

The girl fished in the pocket of her coat, pulled out the talon that the creature had left behind and flourished it proudly.

‘There!’ she declared. ‘That don't come from no mangy pigeon—see!’

Miss Ursula stepped forward, the taffeta of her dress rustling like dry grass as she moved, and took the severed claw between her fingers.

‘No...’ she whispered uneasily.

Gingerly holding the raven's claw as if it were the deadly sting of some venomous insect, Miss Ursula's expression changed from disbelief to horror and dismay.

In silence, Miss Celandine padded up beside her and she too appeared frightened as she sucked the air through her prominent teeth and bit her bottom lip.

Edie glanced from one to the other, their unspoken fear alarming her.

‘Did I do wrong?’ she asked. ‘You won't send me back will you? I doesn't want to go back to then—even with its pretty bombs. I don't know what the bird was.’

For a whole minute no one answered her, Miss Ursula's face had grown even more pale than usual and Miss Celandine seemed to be on the verge of panic. Then a sorrowful, whimpering voice said, ‘I know.’

Edie and the others turned sharply. There, still seated in the armchair but now with her head turned to face them, Miss Veronica was peering at the thing in her sister's hand and a thoughtful scowl creased her powdered face.

‘A raven!’ she announced, her vermilion circled mouth widening into a jubilant smile. ‘The talon belongs to a raven.’

Closing her eyes, she struggled to remember more, but the pathways of her muddled mind were too tangled and meandering, and she tapped her walking cane with impatience.

Her sisters regarded her cautiously.

‘Veronica!’ Miss Celandine trilled, dashing over to the armchair. ‘Do have a pancake, or would you like me to read you a story?’

Miss Veronica ignored her. ‘But weren't there two of them?’ she muttered under her breath, trying to wade through the neglected memories. ‘I'm sure there were.’

Still clutching the claw in her hand, Miss Ursula glared at Edie. ‘Have you told me the truth, child?’ she demanded fretfully. ‘Did you really see this creature in the museum last night?’

The girl backed away. Miss Ursula was usually so composed and controlled, to see her afraid was startling and distressing.

‘Answer me, Edith!’ the woman snapped, seizing her by the arm.

Edie nodded resolutely and Miss Ursula drew a horrified breath.

‘Then I can only hope you are mistaken,’ she hissed. ‘It is too soon... too soon. Nothing is prepared, we are not ready! Can the hour I have long dreaded be here already? Have I been caught out at the last?’

Casting a final, fearful glance at the confused figure in the armchair, the eldest of the Websters whirled about and hurried quickly from the room.

Miss Celandine scowled at Edie. ‘You mustn't upset us so,’ she chided. ‘Fancy mentioning the ravens, and in front of Veronica too. See how agitated you've made her. Veronica, speak to me, Veronica.’

Edie wanted to run after Miss Ursula, but even as she hastened to the entrance her quick, capricious mind had already decided against it.

If she was caught spying there was no telling what might happen. Of the three Webster sisters, Miss Ursula was the most formidable and Edie knew she had to be wary in her presence. The other two seemed much easier to handle—perhaps she could learn what she needed from them.

Sitting beside the armchair, the girl looked at Miss Celandine's ripe wrinkly, walnut-like features framed by her straw coloured plaits, and Miss Veronica's haggard, overly made-up face.

‘Why is Ursula so scared?’ she asked.

Neither of the Websters replied. Miss Veronica seemed to have drifted off into her own world again and Miss Celandine was nibbling her lip as if wondering what to do.

‘There's some things even you can't be told,’ Miss Celandine eventually blurted. ‘I thought you were here to look after us but that hasn't happened at all—quite the opposite. It is, it is! Well, I shan't say anything to you unless Ursula tells me to—and Veronica won't either.’

But her words did not deter Edie. Apparently unconcerned, she lifted the plate of pancakes and sniffed them experimentally.

‘Put them down!’ Miss Celandine squealed. ‘They're not yours, they're not, they're not!’

Impudently Edie arched her eyebrows and proceeded to stuff two of the pancakes into her mouth, much to Miss Celandine's outrage.

‘Wicked!’ she clucked, beating her fists upon her knees. ‘You stop that! At once, at once—ooh, you naughty child. You are, you are!’

Edie ignored her and looked instead at Veronica who was also staring at her in shocked disbelief as yet another pancake disappeared inside the young girl's mouth.

Suddenly the woman in the armchair could bear it no longer. Yowling like a singed cat, she grabbed the plate from Edie and rammed its scrumptious jam-daubed dainties into her own crabbed lips.

Several minutes passed as Miss Veronica chewed and devoured her most favourite food. Then when the last morsel was swallowed, she frowned at Edie and poked her with a bony finger.

‘There were two ravens,’ she said, her eyes glazing over as she struggled to recall the fleeting memories. ‘Two of them, and they belonged to someone... someone very special. What were their names? Why don't I know? I'm sure it's important.’

Leaning back in the chair, the elderly woman sighed heavily and shook her head.

‘You are shameless,’ Miss Celandine berated Edie. ‘Poor Veronica mustn't remember, you mustn't make her.’

The girl eyed her mutinously. Perhaps if she asked about something else she could catch her off guard. ‘Tell me what happened to the land of Askar,’ she piped up unexpectedly.

At the mention of that name Miss Celandine brightened, but she glanced suspiciously at the doorway in case Miss Ursula was lurking there. ‘Come,’ she whispered, ‘over here—we'll sit by the fireplace.’

Together they rose, and Miss Celandine settled herself in one of the chairs by the hearth and raked a poker through the cold, dead ashes as if stoking a heap of flaming cinders.

Edie waited until she had finished before she said, ‘Ursula started tellin’ me yesterday about the ice giants. Did they build the bridge and kill the World Tree?’

Miss Celandine brushed the ash and coal dust from her fingers and gazed mournfully at the charred, scattered cinders.

‘Oh, yes,’ she murmured. ‘The chasm that separated the green lands from the icy wastes was spanned. Oh, but it was so heavenly in those days. Askar was at its most beautiful and Yggdrasill at the height of its power and majesty. It really was glorious—oh, it was, it was.

‘Everyone looked so handsome and attractive then, the gentlemen were tall and dashing. Oh what dances we had, what a delicious time.’

Miss Celandine's voice trailed off as she slipped into a delightful reverie and Edie had to nudge her to continue.

‘What about the giants?’ she urged.

Miss Celandine's goofy grin disappeared. ‘I don't want to talk about them,’ she snapped. ‘Mayn't I only remember the nice bits?’

‘No.’

‘You're as beastly as Ursula,’ the elderly woman bleated. ‘Very well.

‘When those terrible ice lords first stepped upon the shores of the fertile lands, they saw in the distance the wondrous light of the World Tree and knew in their black hearts that they could never hope to attack it. Spanning the chasm had weakened them dreadfully. So, at the edge of the green realm they quarrelled about what to do, until their leader—the tallest and proudest of them, who wore a crown of icicles upon his big head, was so disgusted at their cowardice that he stormed off on his own.

‘Over the pretty hillsides he rampaged, drawing ever closer to the emerald shadows of Yggdrasill and when at last he reached the lowest and most outlying of boughs, he leapt up and swung his great axe.’

Miss Celandine drew her breath and covered her mouth as she let the tragedy of those words imprint themselves upon the intrigued child.

‘Hacked it clear through that monster did!’ she uttered sadly. ‘The world shuddered, as did we all, and after that the sun never seemed to shine quite as brightly again. A horrendous shiver travelled through the great ash, from its topmost leaves to the bottommost root and suddenly we were all afraid.’

‘Is that when the tree died?’ Edie asked breathlessly.

Miss Celandine ran her fingers through the stained and ragged lace that fringed her velvet gown before answering. ‘No,’ she said simply. ‘Only the bough was hewn, the ogre could do no more damage, for the massive branch toppled right down on top of him and broke his frozen head to bits. Served him right it did, but that was no comfort to us. The World Tree was injured and we did not know how to heal it.

‘Oh, the poor thing. Three days it took for the people of the city to ride about the trunk to where the sap seeped from that hideous gash. I couldn't look, it was Ursula and our mother who went with a company of guards. Veronica was away at the time, but she returned as soon as she could. She was often away in those days, exploring the outlying regions, blessing the wild forests and standing upon distant hills. I wanted to go with her sometimes but she always said no. Sometimes she could be so mean and tiresome, I do hope she isn't lapsing back into old habits.’