The Two Confessions John Whitbourn (best books for students to read txt) 📖

door Samuel took a deep breath and then lifted the new andheavy latch. The callers were revealed. This time there was a pair of them.

‘Comewith us,’ they said.

‘No,’replied Samuel.

‘Please.’

‘Never.’

Theyoungest of them, a stunning girl dressed in London high fashion, pleaded withhim. Her exhalations frosted in the air.

‘Youmay have anything you wish of me! The flesh is of no account: we may give allquite freely. All! Imagination is the only fetter. And Ican-....’

Trevanimpatiently waved her to silence. She obeyed with lowered head. Jet-black curlstumbled down from her bonnet.

‘What-do-you-want?’Samuel asked, an element of desperation in his voice. Their predecessors wouldonly say in the most general terms, but these two looked more senior. Time wasshort though: soon Melissa would be down to pry.

‘Thefuture!’ answered the male, bluntly. He looked like an elderly undertaker.Trevan's first action had been to check that the man's boots connected with theground.

Gettingno response the man had to expound. ‘One future, much to our taste, flows onlythrough you,’ he said. ‘We wish to describe its beauty and persuade you to letit be.’

‘There'sno common ground here!’ Samuel exploded, though trying to keep his voice down.‘I don't share your cack beliefs!’

Thatcaused them to wince, but they rode it in the interests of a higher cause.

‘Butyou shall,’ said the beautiful fanatic. She leant forward, her eyes fiery withthe desire to save him. ‘They are such sweet reason when embraced!’

Therewas food for thought in that, especially coming from her. But then Samuelnoticed that underneath all her finery she was just skin and bone. Thecarefully contrived glimpse down her bodice showed a wasted landscape.

‘Convincedor not,’ said ‘Undertaker’, hurriedly, observing the failure to beguile, ‘thepromised days will come through you. All we ask is that you be informedof your destiny.’

‘Anddo as I'm told.’

‘Andbe yourself, Mr Trevan,’ said the girl. It was hard to argue with her:she was so brimful with respect. ‘What could be more natural than that?’

‘Goforth: build businesses,’ suggested the man, full of fervour, ‘make things -anything. Employ slaving hordes-....’

Thatgot Trevan’s attention. ‘But I’m not allow-....’

Undertakerswept all that aside. ‘We have people in the highest places who will shieldyou. Be busy and bring on the new age!’

Samuelwas troubled and confused. The now familiar fuzzy shape was coming up his driveto stand behind the two. They seemed to know it; the man-like form beingback-up to their appeal.

‘Firstoff you try to kill me,’ Trevan protested, ‘and now you expect-....’

‘Mistake!Mistake!’ cried Undertaker, in honest regret. ‘Our god put us to the test butwe failed to perceive his sublime design. We have long mortified ourselves forthat lapse….’

Toprove it - and badly misjudging his audience - the old man whipped off oneglove. The hand inside came with it. The remaining stump was moulded to mount afalse extremity.

‘Igave this for our wicked failure,’ he said, ‘and for your forgiveness.Come with us!’

‘Comewith us,’ echoed the girl, and licked her blue lips.

‘Samuel?’said a far more feared voice from behind. ‘Who is it?’

Trevankicked the door shut in their faces and turned on Melissa to stand in her way.

‘Peddlers,’he answered her.

Shelooked round him, as though the truth could be discerned through solid oak.Predictably the attempt failed.

‘Peddlingwhat?’ she asked, far from convinced.

Samuelshooed her back. Reluctantly at first but then more freely, Melissa permittedit.

‘Peddlingmeddling,’ he told her.

************

Whenhis wife was settled back in the parlour and wrestling with Jane Austen again,Samuel ventured upstairs to look out. The duo was still there in the dark,standing in silent vigil before his door. Indistinct movements suggested theymight now be fully three in number – but only two of them human.

Atlong last reassuring fury arrived at being besieged 'in my own bloody house'.It sealed off all bar one of the annoying branchways of choice. Trevan went tothe kitchen and took a kettle from the range.

Backupstairs in the bedroom he flung open the sash window. Below, two pale discsturned skywards in earnest hope.

‘It'sa cold old night,’ Samuel shouted down. ‘Have a hot drink with my compliments!’

Theytook the scalding water full in the face and were seared. For a few secondsthey shrieked - but then overcame and stifled further cries.

Trevanhesitated and stopped the flow. His victims looked up again. They radiated…love.

Hedidn't want it and so poured again. The recipients, complete master andmistress of their despised flesh, took it and even danced, cavorting under thesteaming stream, accepting whatever he might offer without complaint.

U[U[U[U[U[U[U

cHAPTER 4

'His former - and soon tobe again, and most solicitous thereto - acquaintances from WELCOMBE,Devonshire, request the pleasure of the company of:

 

MR SAMUEL MELCHIZEDEKTREVAN

 at:

The Sheriff's Room, TheWhite Hart Hotel, High Street, Lewes.

For warm refreshments (tho' of a differing sort than he lately provided us) and dinner.

5.30 for 6.00. Saturday,January 30th 2021.

Black Tie.

R.S.V.P. c/o AlfredWaterhouse, Proprietor.'

************

'To whom it might concern, c/o Mr A Waterhouse, The White Hart Hotel,Lewes (with apologies for his trouble).

From: S. Trevan Esq. Galen House, Keere Street, Lewes, Sussex. (Nocallers on business).

The 28th day of January, 2021 A.D.

 

Sirs: re your recent invitation:

 

Matthew: ch. 27, v 5.

Luke: ch. 10, v 37.

(And by the by, the lack of 'anno domini' in your missive wasinjudicious.)

 

I have no intentions tobecome, be or remain, sirs,

 your obedient servant.

 

Samuel Trevan'

 

************

TheGospel according to St Matthew: Chapter 27, verse 5:

'Judas departed and went and hanged him himself.'

TheGospel according to St Luke: Chapter 10, verse 37:

'Go, and do thou likewise.'

 

************

'A Dinnerin Honour of:

 

SAMUELMELCHIZEDEK TREVAN.

 

The 30thday of January, 2021.

The WhiteHart Hotel, Lewes Town, Sussex.

 

APPETISER: Snails with black butterand garlic cloves,

or:

Caviar

or:

Black Pudding.

 

MAIN COURSE: Rump Steak inblack-pepper crust.

 

PUDDING: Prunes in the Greekfashion (with soured curds).

 

Followed by: TOASTS.'

U[U[U[U[U[U[U

cHAPTER 5

‘You must eat something.The manager will think it amiss.’

Thatactually made Samuel laugh, though said in all seriousness. It was anincongruous sound at such a party. The ‘Sheriff's Room's Tudor fireplace wasablaze but it failed in combat with the company's intrinsic chill. The bestfunction hall in Lewes' grandest hotel it might be, but this lot made it feellike a crypt.

‘Ishould imagine he's already suspicious,’ Trevan told the Bogomils, feigningconcern for them. ‘You're taking an almighty risk.’

Theirleader inverted his usual expression to affect a smile.

‘Youare worth it, master,’ he said, from the head of the banqueting table.

‘Don'tcall me that.’

‘Whateveryou instruct.’

‘Isthat so?’ said Samuel. ‘Right then: