The Cries of the Butterfly - A LOVE STORY (82 page)

“Besides you meeting Ms. Burns on the Internet. That was the most unfortunate occurrence.”

“Can I ask you one more thing?”

“Yes, please.”

“Was the fertility test you and Rochelle took fixed too?”

Art went cold.

I thought so,
Wolf thought. Suddenly it became all very clear in his head. He had no doubt now he had chosen the right path. The residues of misgivings, of doubts, were gone, listening to this cold, heartless man.

They fell silent, and the miles got eaten up under them.

Wolf had selected the great Banyan tree, the same tree that had killed his family two years ago. No place was more fitting. He knew it only too well. It was his shrine…a most sacred temple. How often had he gone there on the quiet, usually late at night, kneeling under the giant tree, praying, remembering, weeping silently. And now finally it was time to join them—time for The Great Tree to embrace and consume two more members of the family…so that the remainder of his family could be saved. In spite of himself, he shivered. He was scared…badly scared.

They were still several miles from it and Wolf kept the vehicle at a moderate pace. The traffic was mild at this time of the evening. The passenger flow generally started after ten pm. Only the saunterers, those like the Butcher brothers, out on the long drive thing, were on the road.

The voice was low, so low, Wolf wasn’t sure he’d heard it. He looked at his brother.

“You said something, Art?”

“Something has to be done. This can’t be allowed to go on,” Art was mumbling to himself, looking distantly out the windshield, his voice, like his eyes, far, far away.

“What?” Wolf asked a little taken aback.

Then Art suddenly turned to Wolf. He grabbed Wolf’s arm.

“Stop me, Wolf, please stop me!” There was a pleading look in his eyes.

Wolf pulled his leg off the gas. “What! … What’re you saying?”

“Stop me…or I’ll destroy them all! I’ve already ruined Rochelle’s life. But I won’t stop till I’ve finished her off completely. I can’t help myself, Wolf!”

Startled, Wolf swung the jeep to the side of the highway. The speed fell further.

“If I’m not stopped, Wolf, I’ll destroy Savannah, and in destroying her I’ll destroy Robin. And I’ll destroy Father, and in destroying him I’ll destroy mother. I’ll not rest till I’ve destroyed them all. I just can’t help myself, Wolf, please help me!”

Wolf now pulled over. Something was terribly wrong. Had this man gone suddenly insane?

“You know I was very close to Uncle Eric. I considered him my real father…my mentor, my guide, my God. I’ve never loved any human being more than him. And yet…” He broke off and Wolf thought he heard Art give a sob.

“…when Uncle Eric died…my first thought was not of grief, but that I shall now be the sole boss of the mighty Butcher empire…that I had now become the richest man in the world without having to share that title with anyone else. I felt so ashamed, but I could not shed the euphoria and the exhilaration that was within me. People thought I was strong and dignified to get over my grief so quickly, but they didn’t know the truth that lay hidden deep within my heart.

“That’s how I am, Wolf, that’s the way I’m made…that’s the way I was born. I go to bed at night and put the lights off and a little part of me comes out, a little hidden part. It says:
stop it!...stop what you’re doing. How many lives are you going to destroy?
And I want to stop. But when I wake up in the morning, when I stand on my two feet again and see the sunlight, I cannot help myself. I’m compelled forward helplessly by this urge…this necessity to manage everything I come in touch with. I need to get my way, Wolf, like I need to breathe. If I cannot be in charge, I cannot live. And then my intelligence goes about formulating legal and moral positions to justify my actions, arguments that no one can ever fault on a rational plane. I’m so good at it, Wolf, so bloody good.” His face was ineffably miserable. “I’ve gained the whole world, Wolf, but I’ve lost my soul. But I cannot help myself…I just can’t. My urges are too overpowering. I must have everyone under me…everyone who depends on me for anything. I’ll go to any length to get my way, Wolf. And you know what’s so dangerous? I’ll find a way to make it happen within legal parameters. I’ll find a way to impart social and religious respectability to my actions. And if I ever have to cross the threshold, I’ll see to it that I’m never found out. I’m very clever, Wolf, too clever, just too clever…”

He screwed around in his seat and faced Wolf fully. He placed both hands on Wolf’s shoulders. And there came into his face a look Wolf had never seen before—of utter helplessness, of desperation. His voice changed now—it became small and brittle, like a child’s.

“You must stop me, Wolf, or I’ll totally ruin them. I cannot help myself… Oh, Wolf, save them…save our family. … Help me, Wolf…please help me!”

He gave a heartrending moan, then fell forward and his head dropped on Wolf’s chest. And he hugged Wolf fiercely and began to weep hysterically.

Wolf was in shock. He thought he was seeing some bizarre vision. And yet, the man weeping on his chest was real, as real as his tears—damp and wretched on Wolf’s skin. And in spite of himself, Wolf felt a rush of sympathy for him and he wound an arm around his brother.

Art continued to weep for a long time. Wolf held him and thought his brother was human after all. Perhaps this was a new beginning for them…for the family.

But then he recalled Art’s words:
I can’t help myself, Wolf…I want to stop, but I wake up in the morning, stand on two feet again, see the sunlight, and I cannot help myself. I’m compelled forward helplessly by my inherent nature…

Wolf felt utterly exhausted. And beaten. He knew he had to save his family, but he also knew he couldn’t harm Art anymore. He wished he could go to sleep and never wake up, or if he did at all, that all this would’ve just gone away. His heart was one big ball of anguish. He lowered his face and covered it with one hand, even as he kept holding his brother with the other.

Suddenly Art looked up. He broke away from Wolf and moved back to his seat. He had stopped crying. He fished out his handkerchief from his shirt pocket and quickly wiped his face. He took a couple of long breaths and straightened his back. For a moment he closed his eyes, then turned back to Wolf.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said, his tone flat and cold. “It was most undignified and uncouth of me. I’m ashamed I behaved like that.”

And Wolf was shocked again. He gaped at his brother—it was the Art of yore. How quickly he had restored himself, as if nothing had just happened.

“Do you mind if I drive now, Wolf? I need to relax and driving relaxes me best.”

And before Wolf could counter, Art had moved out of the jeep. He circled the vehicle and was swiftly beside him. As if mechanically, Wolf slid over to the passenger seat.

As Art rolled the jeep back onto the highway, Wolf hunched forward, totally dispirited. He knew he had lost. It was over—there was nothing he could do now to save Savannah and Robin and Rochelle and Dad. Art’s little theatrics had taken care of that. He then realized Art was glancing at him furtively from time to time. It was as if he was suddenly suspicious.
Shit, am I so fucking readable?
He turned his face the other way. A wave of depression washed over him.
I failed you, Savannah. I failed you, Dad…I failed you, Roch… I failed you all…so miserably!

What was he going to do now? He had promised them he would not allow Art to ever hurt them again. He had let them down so badly. He wanted to jump off the jeep and end his life.

They had traveled for about five minutes, when Art suddenly pulled over once more.

He turned to Wolf. “Will you do me a favor?” he asked gently. “Will you please get off here? I urgently need to be alone for a while. I’ll call my staff and they’ll pick you up before long. Please do me this favor.”

Wolf’s jaw dropped.

“Yes, I know it’s a bit unusual. But I’m suffocating…I can’t breathe. Please get down, Wolf.” He pulled his cellphone from his shirt pocket, turned it on, then swiped a name from Contacts. He spoke briefly, then cut the line, turned it off again and deposited it back into his pocket. “They’ll be here very shortly. Perhaps you would like to take a little stroll along the highway until then? Don’t worry, they’ll find you.”

Wolf felt an eerie sensation in his belly. What was his brother up to now?
Sweet shit, is he planning to…
He shuddered.
Has he read my intentions then? Have I been so fucking obvious?
No, he wasn’t going to be such a soft target. If Art wanted to bump him off, he would have to try it himself. He sat up straight.

“I’m sorry, Art, I cannot accede to your request,” he said, a sudden nip in his voice.

But Art wasn’t accepting refusal. “I’ve never asked much of you before, Wolf, I ask you this one time.” There was a whip of authority in the voice.

Wolf was now certain Art had something planned for him. Suddenly all the compassion he had felt for his brother not a moment ago evaporated. Gone. And in its place returned the smoldering hate of yore. And with it the strength, the resolve, to stop this man at any cost. He leaned toward Art.

“I’m sorry. I’m staying put with you till we reach home.” Perhaps here was a god-sent, he thought. He could kill Art in self-defense. He perked up with renewed optimism and waited for Art to make the first move…the fatal mistake.

Art’s eyes flashed…but only for a second. He gulped and took a deep breath.

“You’ll listen to me, Wolf!” he commanded, like a fading crime boss to the second in command.

Wolf’s mouth twisted in a bitter smile. He remained quiet.

“Wolf, I said something!”

Wolf grinded his jaws. His voice was flat when he spoke.

“I’ll tell you what, Art—you go fuck yourself. I’m staying right here. This is my vehicle. You get off if you want. And remember, I’m not one of your fucking employees to blindly take orders from you.”

Shock came to Art’s face. He gaped at Wolf. Then a deep sadness rolled up into his eyes and he looked away. His head bent over the steering wheel, he said, “Please, Wolf, I beg you! For once listen to me,” he pleaded.

“Sorry.”

Art squeezed his own cheeks in frustration. Then Wolf heard him give a doleful moan and with a shake of his head, he turned the ignition.

As the vehicle rejoined the highway for the second time, Wolf heard Art babble something. It was only a minute later that his brain deciphered the words.

“
I can’t permit you to come to any harm, Wolf…oh, Jesus, I can’t! I have to do this on my own. Lord, please help me!”

Wolf stared at his brother, feeling that eerie sensation return. But this time it was wholly different—he felt no personal threat to himself. He saw Art suddenly push down on the gas and the jeep surged forward.

“What’re you doing…!” Wolf shouted, grabbing the dashboard before him.

“I must do it, Wolf, I must save the family,” Art said, his voice pale.

It took Wolf a moment to understand…then he broke into cold sweat.
God, no!

“Get off, Wolf, jump!” Art’s small voice rolled down to him. “Go back to them. She needs you, Wolf….and Robin needs you…and Dad. They all need you, Wolf, please go…”

The jeep was flying now, an arrow through the night. The shade trees lining the highway on both sides were gray streaks. Still, Art’s leg kept pounding the pedal.

Wolf’s heart had begun to hammer. What had suddenly come over his brother all over again?

“I’m scared, Wolf, I’m very scared…” His eyes were shining dismally in the semi-dark. “Will you please hold me, Wolf, I’m so scared…”

Wolf clasped Art’s shoulder. He was suddenly ashamed of himself—that he could even think Art would contemplate having him killed.
My mind has become twisted.

“No, Wolf, tighter…real tight… Yes, thank you.” He took one hand off the wheel and desperately clasped Wolf’s bicep. “Please keep holding me, Wolf, do not let go of me…I’m so scared…!”

Wolf felt a renewed gust of affection for his brother. “I’m here, Art. Please don’t be afraid.” He gave him a little squeeze.

“No, Wolf, you go… leave…jump off…I cannot allow you to go with me…I have to do this myself…it is my mess, I have to take care to it…” Tears were flowing down his face freely now.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you, Art. We are in it together…so please don’t be afraid.”

“No, that cannot be, Wolf, that cannot be! You must leave at once. I can’t let anything bad happen to you…” he wept. “But your touch gives me such comfort. It gives me the courage and strength to go through with it. … But still, you must go. I can’t stop the jeep now, Wolf, if I do, I’ll never be able to go through with it. But you jump off, Wolf, go to her, marry her, make Robin your daughter…they’re all waiting for you, Wolf…the family must be saved…”

Wolf felt as if bugs were crawling down his cheeks. The wind was slapping his face, but he didn’t feel a thing. He kept holding Art tightly.

“You inspire me, Wolf, the way you’ve stood by her. You’re my hero, Wolf. … Please don’t let go of me or I’ll lose my will. Then I can’t save the family. Please stay with me, I need you…oh, I’m so afraid…” His babble echoed crazily in the night.