Punch's Cousin, Chapter 32

“Whatever do you mean, Lord Fallbridge?” Nanny Rittenhouse asked, trembling.


“Me name is Molliner!” Punch spat.

“Julian, Sir,” Robert interrupted. “Now you’ve had your fun, but perhaps it isn’t kind to tease Miss Rittenhouse so.”

Punch growled, “I ain’t teasin’ no one.” He bent down to reach for the paperknife, but Robert stopped him by clamping a strong hand on Julian’s shoulder.

“Oh, Sir.” The woman blushed. “You’re playing that little game you used to play as a boy.”

“Ain’t no game.” Punch hissed.

“Isn’t this a memory?” Miss Rittenhouse fanned herself with her hands. “He always enjoyed make believe when he was a lad. Ever since he first saw the ‘Punch and Judy’ shows at Covent Garden. Oh, yes, how he loved to pretend to be Mr. Punch. It’s very sweet of you to remind me of your little follies.”

“Who’s pretendin’?” Punch retorted.

“Yes, he used to love those puppets. His father even bought him one. I would take him to the Punch shows each time we were in London.” Miss Rittenhouse rattled on.

“’Ceptin’ that one time. Yes? Remember the one time?” Punch howled.

“Julian, now, that’s enough.” Robert said firmly.

“I didn’t do nothin’!” Punch shouted. “I didn’t do nothin’!” Again, he bent down for the paperknife—again, stopped by Robert. “Cut, I was—cut in two. Torn and split, and…” Punch grasped Julian’s head in his hands and shuddered.

“That’s just what he did as a boy.” The nanny fluttered about.

The ink that blotted Julian’s eyes dissipated, and soon, he became aware of being in an unfamiliar place. Robert put his arm around Julian’s waist to support him. As if he were walking directly into the sun, the light in the cabin burned both Julian’s eyes and his mind. A spasm rocked Julian’s body.

“I’m dizzy.” Julian mumbled—back to the surface of his own thoughts.

“You’ve gone and gotten yourself overexcited.” Nanny Rittenhouse said sharply. “You were always doing that.”

Julian looked up at Robert who subtly shook his head. Lord Fallbridge straightened his back and distributed his weight on his own feet.

“You’ve dropped your paperknife, old chum.” Robert said, reaching down and picking up the icy silver object. He tucked it into his own pocket. “You must have absent-mindedly put it in your coat before you and I came down here to pay a call to your former nanny.” Robert spoke slowly, but casually, hoping that Julian would be comforted to be informed of his surroundings. The doctor knew instantly when Mr. Punch had retreated and Julian had returned. He had been learning to tell when the change had taken place, and hoped to discover what patterns triggered the transformation.

“Of course,” Julian responded with an eerie calm.

“You must forgive me, Nanny.” Julian continued. “I hope I didn’t say anything to offend you.” Julian rubbed his forehead as he sifted through the empty crate of his memory. The last thing he recalled was being alone with Robert and learning that someone else—something else—shared his body with him.

“You see, Miss Rittenhouse.” Robert spoke up. “Lord Fallbridge has been under a great deal of strain.”

“Sure he has,” The woman nodded, “He never did like to travel—not even a carriage ride to the city.”

“No, it’s not merely that.” Robert shook his head. “His Lordship received some unsettling and tragic news.”

“My father.” Julian said slowly. “I’m sad to say—the reality of it…it hasn’t even fully struck me—has been…” Julian gagged.

“Sir Collin Molliner has been murdered.” Robert finished the sentence.

“They didn’t?” Miss Rittenhouse gasped. “Tell me they didn’t.”

“Who didn’t?” Julian raised his eyebrows.

“I…” The nanny trembled. “I don’t…just… Oh! What horrible news. The poor, poor man. And Her Grace! How must she be taking this? With Barbara so far away…”

“Sir Collin was attacked by thieves, it seems.” Robert explained. “Jewels which he had just purchased had been taken.”

“He was in France?” The nanny asked.

“Yes.” Julian nodded. “How did you know?”

“You must have told me. Must have done.” The nanny stammered. “My condolences, Sir, to you and your Lady Mother.”

“Thank you.” Julian nodded.

Miss Rittenhouse began to sob.

Robert looked anxiously at Julian who nervously twisted the ring on his left hand.

“We’d best take our leave. My apologies for coming with such tragic tidings.” Robert said.

“Oh, oh.” The nanny rocked back and forth.

“Do call on me if you need anything.” Robert said. “I am in Cabin Twenty-Three.”

“I will, Sir.” Miss Rittenhouse coughed through her tears. “I just can’t believe it.”

With that, Julian and Robert slipped quietly out into the passage, quietly shutting the cabin door behind them.

“That didn’t go quite as I planned.” Robert sighed.

“What exactly are we doing?” Julian asked softly.

“It doesn’t matter now.” Robert patted Julian’s back. “Let’s just get you back to the floor above.”

“I’d like some air first if you don’t mind. My mind is still foggy.” Julian said.

“Very well, we’ll go on deck.” Robert said, gently pushing Julian toward the stairs.

“He was out again, then?” Julian asked as they walked. “The thing that lives in me? The thing that calls himself, ‘Punch.’”

“He doesn’t just call himself, ‘Punch.’ He is ‘Punch.’ He thinks and acts just as Punch would.” Robert answered gently.

“That paperknife?” Julian asked. “Was he going to…”

“I think he intended to use it for more than opening letters.” Robert smiled. “However, I wouldn’t have let that happen.”

“Isn’t this splendid?” Julian sighed as they reached the deck. “Not only am I possessed by a demon, he’s a murderous demon.”

“I don’t think he means to be murderous.” Robert said thoughtfully. “I don’t think it occurs to him that mortals are subject to death. Here’s something I never thought I’d say. But, he thinks as a puppet would. If a puppet could think. He has no sense of mortality, being immortal himself. How many times has Mr. Punch murdered his child and beaten his wife only to have them come back again an hour later? He doesn’t realize that the human condition is more permanent.”

“That doesn’t absolve me from the responsibility of what he does.” Julian leaned against the rail.

“That’s why you have me to make sure he doesn’t do anything.” Robert responded fondly.

“I don’t understand.” Julian shook his head.

“How could you? You have no memory or awareness of what Punch does.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.” Julian drew in a deep breath. “Why? Why are you suffering through this with me? You say we’re bonded because you also know great pain and tragedy. But, there must be more. No one is going to stand by and counsel and protect some lunatic puppet-man without expecting something in return.”

Robert chuckled. “You’re not a lunatic puppet-man. Julian, are you asking if I’m mercenary in my loyalty?”

“Are you?” Julian asked.

Before Robert could respond, a group of rough looking men passed by and guffawed at Julian. They must have remembered him from the scene at the Guignol show. They were followed at a close distance by a man dressed in black livery—his skin the color of sun-kissed earth.

He paused in front of Julian and Robert and smiled—his teeth large and white against the darkness of his skin.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen.” The man said in a polished voice with an unfamiliar accent.

“Good day,” Robert nodded.

“I have something you may be wantin’” The man said, reaching into his coat and withdrawing a small red felt satchel which was tied at the top with crimson ribbon.

“We’re not interested in buying anything,” Robert answered dismissively.

“No, Sir.” The man laughed. “This is a gift. Made by Marie Laveau from the direction of the gods.”

“We don’t want it.” Robert said sternly.

“But, it’s made for you.” The man looked at Julian. “It’s made for the ‘Great Man of the Rocks.’ I’m to give it to you.”

“Get away.” Robert stepped forward.

“You can’t deny it, Sir.” The man ignored Robert. “It’s for you.” He pushed the sack into Julian’s hand. “You’re the ‘Great Man of the Rocks.’ We knew of your coming. You are two men in one. One soft, one hard.”

Julian clutched the small bag in his hand. “What is it?”

“Gris-gris.” The man smiled. “It’ll tell you what it wants you to do.”

“Your Lordship,” Robert said to Julian, turning his back to the stranger. “Let us, please, return to the cabin. And, for God’s sake, give that thing back to…”

When Robert turned around the man was gone.

Julian held the sack in the outstretched palm of his hand. “It’s the color of Punch’s cap.”


Did you miss Chapters 1-31?  If so, you can read them here.