The Reader

Chapter Ten - Ogai's Master

Chapter Ten.

The darkness cloaked him in a tender embrace, surrounding him entirely. He raised his face slightly, the hood casting a shadow across his face, and sniffed at the breeze. Somewhere further ahead, where the golden light from shop lanterns spilled onto the street, was a stable.

As he moved forwards, keeping to the back alleys, the folds of his long cloak clinked metallically. A shaft of moonlight illuminated the blade of a dagger carelessly stowed in his left boot. Each step he took was silent and careful as a hunting cat, pausing every now and then to test the breeze and listen closely to the faint laughter emanating from a bar at the other end of the street, away from his destination.

The further he travelled the more oppressive the darkness became. It enveloped him, folding its arms around him in a tender embrace. It promised danger and demons hidden in its embrace.

The buildings in the small town ended abruptly a hundred yards before the graveyard began. A lonely old church, white paint faded and peeling, stood sentinel just off the road. A rusty waist-high gate rested amongst tangled weeds off to its side. He did not bother with the gate, it would no doubt squeal if opened.

Instead he vaulted the small fence and began to weave his way through the dilapidated headstones. He needed no lantern, the moonlight was sufficient enough. It danced silver off the long grass, illuminating the crooked, forgotten graves. Nothing made a sound except the crickets which chirped ceaselessly and the occasional rustle as a stray breeze passed through the gnarled trees at the back of the cemetery.

The trees were his destination. He bee-lined as best he could towards them, eager to finish his errand. The last few yards were taken at a breathless jog-trot.

The man who had sent for him leaned casually against a buckled, knotted young tree. He was black all over, both skin and clothing, and stayed so motionless it would have been impossible to find him if the seeker didn't know where to look.

"You are late, Ogai," he drawled, voice deep and menacing.

Ogai fell to his knees in the weeds, pushing his hood back with shaking hands. "Forgive me, master."

The black man sighed and used his shoulder to shove off the tree. His great boots thudded in the earth as he approached Ogai, who focused on them rather than the man's face.

"Why do I rely on your incompetence, Ogai?" he said. He wasn't asking Ogai the question, and even if he had of Ogai had no answer for him. "It's because you're obedient. If you're not obedient, Ogai, then I have no use for you. Tell me, do you like your head?"

Ogai swallowed, mouth dry as dust. "Y-yes master, I do."

"You want to keep your head, don't you?" The voice was dangerous and sibilant. Ogai feared to reply.

"Y-yes, master."

An ear-splitting blow was delivered to the side of his head. Ogai yelped, falling to the ground with stars dancing in his vision. He raised his arms to cradle his throbbing skull, whimpering as the black man stepped around him and used a boot to flip him over.

Ogai found himself staring into Hell; lurid eyes in a leering face. "Then don't disappoint me," came the hiss.

"F-forgive me m-master," Ogai stammered, wincing as a fresh bolt of pain sliced behind his eyes. "But I got the B-book."

His hands were shaking so much he almost couldn't remove it from his cloak. Somehow he managed to extricate it and hold it out. The horrible fiery eyes removed their focus from him and flicked to the carefully wrapped package.

"You got it." The black man's tongue darted out to wet his lips.

"Y-yes, master."

Large hands reached out to take the package from him, holding it as if it were made of glass. Ogai clambered back onto his knees, watching his master fondle the package like a precious gem.

"Well done, Ogai. You have not failed me as badly as I first thought."

"F-failed you, master?"

The anger was back. "You let her escape."

"Who, master?" Ogai was confused. He had been told to retrieve the Book, which he had done. There had been no other instructions.

"The girl, you fool," the black man spat, turning sharply on his heel and striding away a few yards.

"W-what girl, master?"

The black man span back, fire blazing in his eyes again. "What girl do you think I mean, you idiot? What other girl could there possibly be in an army outpost?"

"The c-cook, master?"

The next blow came from the black man's boot and connected solidly with Ogai's chin. He was flung backwards violently, hitting the earth hard and tasting blood.

"Don't get smart with me, Ogai. I own you, remember?"

Ogai couldn't speak, his jaw felt shattered, instead he nodded.

"One snap of my fingers and you will suffer in agony for the rest of your miserable life. Do you want that?"

A shake of the head this time. Ogai thought he could feel bone shards grinding together as he did so. The pain made his eyes water and turned the black man into a blurry shadow.

The shadow moved, stepping around where he lay sprawled on the earth and over towards a lonely headstone nestled beneath a dying tree. A large hand emerged from beneath his cloak and rested it against the rock, the black man leaning forwards deep in thought.

"Ogai, I want you to bring her to me," he said slowly.

Ogai rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself back onto his knees. "The ... girl, master?" he ground out, jaw moving like rusty hinge.

"Yes, the girl. And I want her unharmed."

"Of course ... master."

The black man turned and fixed his lurid eyes on Ogai. "I mean it, Ogai. If she has so much as one scratch, one bruise, or even the hiccups, you will sorely regret it."

"I wouldn't ... dream ... of harming her ... master."

He laughed a little, white teeth flashing in his dark face. "Of course you wouldn't, you're terrified of me. But your men, however, may deem it their prerogative to have a little fun with her."

"I will ... make sure ... they don't touch ... her, master."

"See to it that you do. Now get out of my sight, I have more business to attend to."

Ogai scrambled to his feet and scooted backwards, hastily bowing. He was almost out of the trees, and ready to turn and run, when the black man ordered him to halt. Dread settling in his heart, Ogai looked up only to see his master holding the Book out to him.

"Take it Ogai. I have no use for it right now. When I need it, I will summon you."

Ogai watched him for a moment, amazement rooting him to the spot. Then he found his voice: "What will I do with it, master?" The black man laughed again. "Use your imagination, Ogai. Just think of how easy Gyurel will be to take over if you have the Book at your beck and call."

Ogai licked his lips and deliberated only a second longer before stumbling forwards and taking the Book. The black man smiled in satisfaction.

"Now get out of my sight," he said.

Ogai hurried to obey, breaking into a sprint before he even hit the tree-line. He galloped madly across the graveyard, past the cloaked figure who was slowly, reluctantly weaving its way to take his place. Ogai barely spared the other a glance, too eager to get as far from the black man as he could. He didn't want to hear what might go on once his fellow sufferer reached the trees.

But his haste was in vain. Ogai had barely reached the edge of the sleepy town when the screams began. He paused, panting slightly, and half-turned to watch the dark splotch that was the graveyard's forest. The shrieks rose on the still night air, and Ogai knew why children believed that demons stalked the darkness. He thanked the gods he had been spared and, clutching the Book tight against his chest, continued on.

He didn't look back a second time.