“It’s what I’ve been fearing,” Julian answered quietly.
“We’re both in here, we are.” Mr. Punch replied quickly. “Yet, I can tell that our body is up and moving. I can hear voices. I know this feeling. I know what it feels like when I wait in here and you’re out—livin’. But, we’re both here. Who’s livin’?”
“He’s awake.” Julian shook his head, still not moving from the rococo chair in which he sat.
“Who?” Punch demanded.
“Mr. Scaramouche.” Julian whispered, afraid to even say his name aloud.
“Who’s that?” Punch yelped. “Does he live in here with us? Why don’t I know ‘bout him? I don’t understand.”
“He does share our body, Mr. Punch.” Julian nodded.
“Why don’t I know ‘bout him?” Punch repeated.
“I’d hoped we’d never need him.” Julian sighed.
“So, you knew ‘bout him?” Punch rattled.
“I did.”
“And you never told me?”
“I didn’t see any reason to do so.” Julian shrugged.
“How many others we got in here with us?” Punch yelled.
“It doesn’t matter.” Julian shook his head.
“Sure it does!” Punch threw up his hands. “Sure, it matters. Lots, I’d say.”
“Do try to settle down, dear Punch.” Julian frowned. “You’ll only make it worse.”
“How could it be worse?” Punch growled. He frowned. “I’m sorry, Master. Only I don’t know what’s happenin’. Who is this bloke with the loud voice, and why does me neck hurt?”
“Mr. Scaramouche dwells deep within us.” Julian said.
“Where’d he come from?” Mr. Punch asked, trying to calm himself. “When did he grow in us?”
“Around the time I was attacked in Covent Garden.” Julian whispered. “That’s when I first felt him. It wasn’t until much later that he’d grown enough to have a voice of his own. When I learned about you, I began to pay attention to him—during the times that I’ve spent in here, alone. I heard his voice, and heard his name.”
“Scaramouche—like in the puppet show?” Punch asked.
“Yes.” Julian nodded.
“Did you name him?” Punch asked.
“He named himself.” Julian replied, looking at the floor.
“Why Scaramouche?” Punch asked.
“I don’t know. He’s a creature of pure anger and bitterness.”
“But, as the story goes, Scaramouche is Mr. Punch’s nemesis, he is. How could we have one who lives within us who’s our nemesis?”
“Doesn’t every man have a part of himself which only serves to work against him?” Julian shrugged. “Isn’t that part just as loud and just as strong—when released—as ours? Ours has a name, yes. But…”
“But?” Mr. Punch took a deep breath. “But, Mr. Scaramouche—in the puppet show—he hits Mr. Punch and tries to fool him with his fiddle. He’s a terrible, mean man!”
“And how does the puppet react?” Julian grinned.
“He kills Scaramouche—knocks his head clear off his shoulders, he does.” Punch spat. “And, in doin’ so, Mr. Punch gets in awful trouble. He’s got more foes to fight, and…”
“And, then?” Julian smiled.
“And, then he must beat the Devil!”
“Then, that is what you must do.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-252? If so, you can read them here.
No comments:
Post a Comment