Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 422

Mr. Punch looked up and smiled. Adrienne had fallen asleep—her son nestled in her arms. The child also slept—comforted by the scent and touch of his mother and rocked by the gentle sway of the carriage.

Above them, Punch could hear Cecil softly humming to himself—relieved to have found his boy, relieved to know that, finally, all was right in his world and that he and his family could escape the nightmare which had befallen them in Louisiana. A return to England, surely, would be the answer, Cecil thought.

Marjani, too, had nodded off, her face pressed against the carriage window as she breathed heavily—exhausted from the many ordeals which she had endured during that exceptionally long day.

Only Robert, seated next to Mr. Punch, was awake. He gazed at Julian’s face and wondered where his friend had gone. Punch was aware of this.

“Thinkin’ ‘bout Julian, then?” Punch grinned.

“I am.” Robert nodded.

“This were all too much for him, it was.” Punch nodded. “’Sides, he already had enough of his own battles tonight.”

“How so?” Robert asked.

Punch thumped on his chest as he answered softly so as not to awaken the others. “See, in here, is me master. Just before—or during, I ‘spose—all this chaos tonight, he got himself ready to remember.”

“Remember?”

“Sure,” Punch shrugged. “All the secrets. All them secrets I been keepin’ from him for years. First, he tried doin’ it on his own, he did, but that weren’t no good. See?”

“No.” Robert shook his head.

“Much as I love me master, I gotta say, he weren’t ready. No. Not to face all that ugliness by his own self. It weren’t a good idea. But, I found him.”

“What do you mean? Where was he?”

“Still in here.” Punch pointed to Julian’s body. “He’s always in here somewhere.”

Robert nodded.

“I know what you’re thinkin’.” Punch chuckled quietly. “You bein’ a doctor. You think our bodies are only filled with meat and juice. Only that ain’t the case. Not really.”

“I’ve examined many a body, and they are always muscle, bone, organs and blood—meat and juice as you say.”

“Well, listen,” Punch replied thoughtfully. “You accept that I’m a different man what shares a body with another man. Same body—two men. More, actually. But, for now, we’ll only think of us two. You understand that, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Well, for such a man, the body is also a great mansion, it is. A mansion of many rooms, many places what hold many doors and behind them doors is many things. Some of them things we know and can expect. Some hold surprises. Them’s the worst doors.”

“I see.”

“Me master—he wanted to open them doors, but he weren’t ready for what was behind ‘em.”

“I can appreciate that.” Robert nodded. “It’s rather like receiving a gift from someone you don’t particularly like. You’re curious what’s inside, but rather afraid to open it, too.”

“Sure, if you like. Don’t matter none to me how you describe it, long as you understand.” Punch smiled.

They sat in silence for awhile.

Finally, Robert spoke again. “He’s safe, yes?”

“Yes.” Punch nodded. “He’s safe.”

“Will I see him again?”

“Sure you will.”

“You know, in many ways, you’re becoming more like him.” Robert smiled weakly.

“Am I?” Punch shrugged. “Probably that’s cuz it’s what he wants.”

“Oh?”

“Sure.” Punch sighed. “See, I think he likes it in there. I ‘spose he’d rather me live his life for him.”

Robert nodded slowly.

“Don’t fret, Chum.” Punch patted Robert on the shoulder. “He’ll be out soon enough. I’ll see to it. Ain’t no good him hidin’ in there always. I like being alive, I do. But, sometimes, I need a rest, too. I think once we get home—to Belgravia, when he’s in his own house—he’ll be back. And, then, I can rest ‘til next I’m needed.”

“I understand.”

“He’s pleased, he is.” Punch continued. “Don’t worry ‘bout that. He’s pleased with what we done. I can tell. Maybe once all this kerfuffle is past us, I can help him open those doors again—once and for all.”

“I’d like to help, too.”

“I don’t reckon you’d find in there with us.” Punch frowned, looking at his belly.

“I meant from out here.” Robert grinned.

“Oh.” Punch nodded. “That’d be nice and generous and such.”

Again, they sat and silence.

“Coo!” Punch muttered after awhile.

“Yes?”

“Hard to think it were only a few days ago when it were Christmas and we were openin’ presents and being happy—‘til Iolanthe went and caused us all that trouble. Still when I remember it, I don’t like to think of that bit.”

“Nor do I.”

Punch continued. “All that hope. And, then, with the New Year, it was to be a fresh slate what was all clean and ready for us to start fillin’ it up with what we wanted, not what we got.”

“The year is still young. There’s plenty of time to fill that slate with our own plans and accomplishments. Look at what we’ve already accomplished. I’d say we’ve been quite successful.”

“I ‘spose it ain’t what you got to cope with, but how you cope with it what matters.” Punch replied, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s it.”

“And, I ‘spose we got lots of Christmases and new years ahead on what we can celebrate.”

“We don’t need an excuse to celebrate our lives.” Robert winked.

“So, then, every day can be Christmas if we want?” Punch asked.

“Yes.” Robert nodded.

“Well, then, ‘Happy Christmas,’ Chum!” Punch said excitedly, yet quietly.

“Happy Christmas, Mr. Punch.” Robert patted his friend’s knee.

“Looks like we got the present we wanted,” Punch pointed toward Fuller, still asleep in Adrienne’s arm.

“And so much more,” Robert smiled. “so much more.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-420? If so, you can read them here. Come back on December 27, 2011 for Chapter 422 of Punch’s Cousin.