Roger Taylor - Whistler

The consequences didn’t bear thinking about. He must resist while he still had some semblance of his humanity about him.

Yet he had no inkling of what was happening. On the rare occasions when this had happened in the past it had been as a result of Leck’s reaction to being unable to escape the unwelcome attentions of a dog. But this was not the case now, Privv knew. The emotions engendered by such incidents, though powerful, were not as bad as this. And too, they were quite distinct: loaded with massive, visceral violence which the deeper reaches of his humanity could at least appreciate. He was usually content to let them ride for fear that any interference on his part might mar his partner’s ability to defend herself. But this was different. And he was being drawn further and further in.

He felt Horld’s arms about him, supporting him.

No, he cried out to himself. Not here. This mustn’t happen! Yet even as these thoughts came to him, others, scheming and ambitious, arrived with them. He was going to get inside the Witness House. He was going to be the centre of some confusion as the Brothers fussed about him. Opportunities were opening.

But these compensations were like corks in a buffeting ocean. And Privv was drowning. Images whirled and twisted through him as his mind fought against Leck’s fearful insistence.

‘Cat!’ he screamed desperately through the inner mayhem, hoping that the simple call might distract her, but the sensations did not even waver and, abruptly, a deeper part of him was awake. When he reached out again, his will was brutal and cruel. This was now a conflict with the unalloyed animal ferocity of his partner for control of the common ground of their psyches, and in such circumstances there could only be one leader. Thus menaced, his own primitive nature rose to the fore, worse by far than any animal’s.

‘Enough!’

The command, laden with savage meanings far beyond anything in the word itself, hurtled through the mysterious by-ways of their joining. Leck’s spirit bridled against the impact with her own screaming rage, filling Privv’s mind with a spitting fury of glittering teeth and claws. But it yielded before this greater menace nevertheless.

The whole incident had lasted perhaps only a few seconds but, as the uproar began to recede, Privv found that he was being almost carried by Horld towards a long bench-seat at the opposite side of the entrance hall. He had a fleeting impression of Morem somewhere also. I’m inside, he thought jubilantly, momentarily forgetting what had happened to bring him there. Then Leck’s rage returned.

‘Don’t you ever do anything like that again,’ came a blistering outburst.

Though sorely tempted, Privv managed not to respond to the anger. Leck had been downed completely and that which was human in her would not only need to abuse him, but could be allowed to with impunity. He let Horld sit him down on the bench.

‘Are you all right?’

His own question to Leck coincided with Horld’s and the words resonated unpleasantly in his head. He raised his hand gently to fend off Horld’s inquiry, saying softly, ‘A moment, please.’

‘Leck, what in the devil’s name was all that about?’ he demanded.

Unexpectedly he received no further abuse. Leck was icily calm.

‘A good word, devil,’ came the enigmatic reply. ‘I need to think.’

‘But…’

The word echoed back to him through a special silence. Leck had withdrawn. Privv, head lowered so that Horld could not see his face, grimaced. Leck had been deeply disturbed and her language had been hung about with images that he could not begin to interpret. He reached out, more gently this time.

‘I don’t understand,’ he replied. ‘What’s happened? Has something threatened you?’

Still there was no reply.

Privv swore inwardly but had neither the strength nor the desire to launch another assault on his partner. Something very strange had occurred – something the like of which he, and, he suspected, she also, had never known before. But he could not go chasing about the Witness House to find out what, and he knew well enough that he would gain nothing by badgering her. Besides, rare opportunities were opening up for him here. Horld was still leaning over him, his face genuinely concerned.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked again.

Privv looked up sharply, making Horld start. ‘Yes, yes,’ he nodded. He searched for a convenient lie. ‘I think I’ve been working too hard lately,’ he said, then realized as soon as he had spoken that it was not a reply likely to induce sympathy in Horld. ‘But I’m fine now, thank you,’ he added hastily. With an effort, he set his concerns about Leck aside. Whatever had happened had happened. She was obviously in no danger now and, doubtless, he would learn about everything in due course. Thus, at least partly unburdened, the opportunist in him began to reassert itself fully.

‘If I could perhaps sit a moment,’ he said, looking around the entrance hall with its ornate mosaic floor, sweeping staircases and fluted columns rising to the high domed roof. ‘It’s very calming here. And would it be an imposition to ask for a glass of water?’

Horld pondered the request, his mistrust of the Sheeter returning in direct proportion to Privv’s recovery. ‘No, not at all,’ he said slowly, but he looked around for a servant to undertake the errand rather than risk leaving Privv alone. At that moment, however, Morem appeared bearing a glass of water and a large blanket and looking very businesslike. Privv rejected the blanket with a gesture, but gulped down the water greedily. He was parched… indeed, his throat was painfully dry. Fear, he realized. Leck’s fear. He reached out again tentatively but, though he could feel the cat’s presence, there was no acknowledgement.

Morem was looking at him, at once concerned and shrewd-eyed. He was hefting the blanket purposefully, apparently loath to relinquish it before he had put it to good medical use. Privv stood up to demonstrate his returned well-being.

‘Thank you… Brother Morem, isn’t it?’ he said, returning the empty glass to him in order to still the fidgeting blanket. Morem smiled broadly, lured on by this unexpected recognition. As he was about to speak though, Horld, his face darkening, stepped protectively between them. He laid a comradely, but strong arm around Privv’s shoulders and began ushering him towards the door.

‘Well, if you’re sure you’re all right now I’m afraid I’ll have to see you out. We still have our meeting to finish, and it’s already been a long one.’

‘I understand, of course,’ Privv managed, risking a brief stop. ‘And I’m sorry to have been such a trouble. But as I’m here, I wonder if it would be possible to have a word with Brother Cassraw? If I picked up a rumour about his being hurt, then it’ll be all over Haven Parish tomorrow. A word in my Sheet would help to stop a lot of foolish gossip.’

Horld moved him on again. ‘I’m sorry. As I just told you, Brother Cassraw’s resting. He’s less than happy about his little tumble and he certainly doesn’t want to be disturbed.’ He looked significantly at Morem. ‘As Brother Morem will confirm. Besides, I doubt anyone will be seriously interested in such a trivial incident, do you?’ he concluded as they reached the door.

Untypically, Privv had almost been reduced to stammering as Horld opened the door and pushed him gently, but determinedly through it. ‘Well, thank you… er…’

His eyes looked past Horld and back into the entrance hall. Coming down the stairs was Cassraw.

‘Ah!’ he exclaimed, his face lighting up.

Both Horld and Morem caught the look and turned round. Morem reacted with unfeigned surprise, but Horld merely kept his arm across the doorway to keep Privv out.