Punch's Cousin, Chapter 367

“Here, boy.” The vision of the man sneered as he bent over the hallucination of young Julian. Both the adult Julian—who watched the memory along with Mr. Punch from inside their shared body—and the phantom of the child Julian gasped as they studied the man’s grotesque face. It was gray, festooned with grizzled whiskers upon a leathery quilt of wrinkled skin. The man’s eyes were yellow where they should have been white and from his mouth, a foul air seemed to fall out in a flood like so much wet garbage.


“He can’t hurt ya now, Master.” Punch whispered. “This is just a memory. They ain’t real. The man. The nanny. Even little you over there. Ain’t nothin’ gonna hurt ya, it ain’t. I won’t let it.”

“It will hurt.” Julian shook his head as he continued to watch. “I feel it—just as if I were there in front of him again.”

“Aggie,” the man winked at the vision of the nanny. “Wherever did ya get yerself such a fine lad? He’s a real nobleman, this one. Look at them buttons he got. One of them buttons costs more than all the gold I’ll earn in me own life—a hundred times over.”

“He’ll do—if you like piggies.” Agnes shrugged.

“I do,” The man laughed.

“What’s yer name, Boy?” the man asked.

“Julian, this man is talking to you.” Agnes spat.

“Julian, is it?” The man sneered. “Allow me to introduce me-self. I’m called ‘Gus.’ I’m a friend of your fine nanny.”

Julian nodded.

“Don’t go tellin’ him lies, Gus.” Agnes spat. “You’re no friend of mine.”

“Yet, you came all the way here to see me from Fallbridge.”

“Not out of friendship.” Agnes sniffed. “I got my work to do. No one’s going to look after me when I’m old. What’s the harm in setting aside somethin’ for when the weather’s gray?”

“Ain’t no harm in that.” Gus laughed. He turned once again to little Julian.

“Don’t talk to him!” Grown Julian shouted.

“They can’t hear you, Master Chum,” Mr. Punch said.

“Why not?” Julian asked. “Mother and the nanny heard us when I revisited a different memory.”

“But, not now, Master.” Mr. Punch shook his head. “Some memories can’t be changed. This is one of ‘em. We gotta just watch.” Punch pointed.

Julian frowned, but kept quiet.

“And, ain’t that a fine puppet, ya got?” Gus continued.

“Gus is talkin’ to you.” Agnes pushed young Julian forward. “Answer him!”

“Thank you,” little Julian whispered.

“What’s his name?” Gus smiled.

“Punch,” the child said softly.

“Well, then, if it ain’t ol’ Mr. Punch. Come to hit me on the head, is he? Gonna hit me like I were Judy?”

The child did not respond.

“Wish I could have done,” Punch whispered to the grown Julian as they continued to watch the scene from the past.

“As do I.” Julian nodded.

“Would you like to show me your puppet?” Gus asked as the memory progressed relentlessly.

Little Julian shook his head.

“Go on!” Agnes spat.

“My friend, Mr. Punch, will hit you, Sir.” The child said politely and softly.

“Will he now?” Gus laughed

“Oh, yes, Sir.” The child smiled. “Would you like to see him do it?”



Did you miss Chapters 1-366? If so, you can read them here.