This chapter takes place in Ireland in an unnamed (because I couldn't remember the name of the town I'm picturing and couldn't bring myself to make something up) small village in County Galway.They are on the opposite of the island from Dublin for those who are trying to picture this in their head.
After spending the next 4 days sleeping more or less nonstop, Carl felt like maybe he was ready to rejoin the living. Besides, Van Helsing's constant fussing over him was making him crazy. If he said he looked ragged, peaked or pale one more time, Carl was going to shoot him with one of the many weapons he had made for Van Helsing over the years.
Since Carl had declared himself more or less functional, they finally began the two-day journey to the place where the Boggarts ravaged the countryside. They had to make camp the first night and Van Helsing almost lost his life when he said to Carl "You sit there and rest and I'll get the firewood. You're still looking a bit rough around the edges".
It was all Carl could do not to throttle him. "Stop telling me how horrible I look!" he yelled and stomped off to find firewood. Because he had his back to Van Helsing he completely missed the baffled and hurt look that crossed the Hunter's face. But even if he had, he probably wouldn't have cared. The man was driving him crazy!
Carl grumbled his way around the nearby hills, finding little firewood and completely exhausting himself. By the time he returned, Van Helsing had already made a fire and had dinner practically completed. Carl collapsed onto a log and wrapped his cloak around himself. He refused to look at Van Helsing who merely handed him a plate of food and a mug of tea. Carl ate what was in front of him and then shook out his bedroll, intending to go straight to bed. Van Helsing looked like he was going to say something but then shook his head and kept his mouth shut. Carl wrapped himself up tightly in his blanket and was asleep in minutes.
The next morning dawned bright and clear and Van Helsing had once again beaten him to the chores. Breakfast was handed to Carl with nothing more then a quick "morning" from the Hunter. Van Helsing had apparently gotten the message that Carl did not want to be asked about his health. Still, Carl could feel the Hunter's assessing gaze as he ate. It made him feel rather guilty but not enough to apologize for yesterday's outburst.
As soon as Carl had eaten, they broke camp and got back on their way. It was late afternoon when they finally reached their destination. A villager told them how to reach the cottage that they would be using, which was on the far side of town.
The cottage turned out to be quite quaint. Ivy twined its way up the sides of the stone walls and there was a tiny flower garden out front. Once inside they found a small but serviceable kitchen and a tiny common room with a large fireplace. What they didn't find was two beds. Van Helsing merely shrugged and said "Well, I guess we share" Carl cringed. There was no way he could share a bed with Van Helsing. It was just too cruel to be in the same bed with the man and not be allowed to touch him.
"I'll just bunk out in the common room," said Carl, grabbing up his bags and making for the door.
Van Helsing grabbed his arm. "Don't be ridiculous, Carl. The bed is plenty big enough and it's important that we both get enough sleep if we're going to fight Boggarts" Van Helsing grabbed the bags from Carl and dropped them back in the corner. Carl sighed and resigned himself to long, sleepless nights.
Van Helsing busied himself by unpacking their weapons and bringing in firewood from the pile outside. Carl checked out the kitchen and found cooking equipment but no food. He called to Van Helsing and told him "We're going to need food if we're going to stay here. I'll head back into town and get what we need for a couple of weeks." Van Helsing frowned and opened his mouth to speak but Carl cut him off. "Van Helsing, if you are about to tell me to stay here and rest while you do that, don't! I'm perfectly capable of doing a simple supply run"
"Carl, I know you are capable but you haven't been feeling well. You still look pretty pale and …" Carl once again cut him off "I'm always pale. Will you just stop harping on and on about my complexion?"
Van Helsing looked hurt and said quietly "I'm sorry, Carl. I don't mean to upset you. I'm just worried about you. You haven't been yourself lately"
Carl closed his eyes and prayed for strength. "Look, if you don't want to upset me, just stop telling me that I look pale or peaked or any of the many other ways you seem to have to tell me I look terrible. We can't all be handsome, manly Hunters. Some of us are just ordinary friars." With that he opened the door to the cottage and hurried out. He had let slip a little more then he had intended to with that last comment.
In the village he was able to not only get supplies but useful information regarding their mission. It would appear that the boggarts had come to the area about 6 months ago, and had been stealing local livestock and destroying property. When the men of the village banded together 4 months ago in an attempt to kill the boggarts, several of them had been badly injured. That was the last time anyone had tried to follow the boggarts back to their lair. Still, at least he now had a fair idea where he and Van Helsing needed to start and that was a big help. Thanking the man, he gathered up his supplies and headed back to the cottage. It was getting dark as he arrived.
Van Helsing came out immediately upon hearing Carl's horse. "I was beginning to think I was going to have to come find you." He tried to casually look over Carl to check for exhaustion but Carl saw through his ruse. "Stop examining me and help me bring the supplies in. Sooner they are in, the sooner I can start dinner." He handed Van Helsing a couple of sacks and took the rest in himself. Once in the kitchen he briskly set about sorting through the supplies and putting everything away. After running into Van Helsing for the 3rd time he said "Van Helsing, this kitchen is far too small for two people. Why don't you go out and attend to my horse while I do this?." Van Helsing nodded and did what he requested. Carl breathed a sigh of relief. The kitchen was so small that it was impossible not to keep rubbing up against Van Helsing and that was having a rather stimulating effect on his body. And since he was going to be sharing a bed with the man in a couple of hours that was not a good thing.
Van Helsing came back in from the stables just as the food was ready. He handed Van Helsing plates and silverware and told him to set up the small table by the fire for dinner Carl brought over the platters and both men sat down to eat. Conversation was sporadic and awkward as Van Helsing seemed afraid of saying something that would set Carl off and Carl was too lost in his dread of bedtime to make his usual chatter. Both men seemed relieved when the meal was done. Van Helsing offered to clean up and Carl agreed rather then risk having to go back into tight quarters with the handsome Hunter.
He had noticed some books on a shelf in the common room and decided to read as an excuse to avoid Van Helsing. He grabbed a book of folk tales and curled up in one of the chairs by the fire. Who knows, maybe there would be some useful information in there? Van Helsing finished with the dishes and after glancing at Carl (who studiously ignored him) he too grabbed a book from the shelf and sat down in the other chair. It was all Carl could do not to stare at him as the firelight highlighted the lines and planes of Van Helsing's face. The man was a vision that could crumble even the strongest man's resistance and Carl had never thought of himself as particularly strong. He sighed and applied himself to his book.
He was so focused on not noticing the Hunter that he failed to see that his companion was watching him very cautiously. Van Helsing was very confused and even more concerned about Carl's behavior. Carl was even more on edge than usual while on a mission and Van Helsing was at a loss as to why. Nor did he know how to bring up the subject without setting Carl off again. Perhaps it hadn't been such a good idea to ask Cardinal Jinette to bring Carl along, but he had really thought that some time together might get Carl to open up and tell him what was troubling him.
He considered Carl a good friend and the only person that Van Helsing really cared about. He hated the distance that was growing between them and was afraid that at some point he had done something to upset Carl and that it was this unaddressed injury that was eating away at their friendship. He made a pledge to himself that before they returned to the Vatican, he would have fixed whatever was wrong between them.
TBC
