Chapter 6

Scout and Jem

The flag for Spauldingopolis showed a cross. The bottom of the cross was pointed like a dagger and dipped in blood. It supposedly symbolized Beowulf's spiritual beliefs and his warrior prowess. The two symbols contradicted each other, but no one told Beowulf that if they wanted to keep their head on their shoulders.

Grendel and Iago managed to walk through the city of Spauldingopolis without attracting much attention from the crowd. Grendel wore a long robe that covered most of his features.

Dead bodies littered the streets. Some of them were hanging from trees. Iago felt like vomiting.

"We need to seek shelter." Iago said. "There's a chance someone working for Beowulf could spot us."

Trying to avoid the watching eyes of the crowd, the two went and knocked on the door.

Iago knocked on a nearby door. A tall gangly boy opened it. He had to be no more than seventeen. His eyes were wide and sort of bugged out.

"Hello," Iago said. "We're looking for a place to stay. If we could just--"

"Goddam phonies!" The boy screeched in his unnaturally high voice. "Get out of my life!" What followed was a string of obscenities that deeply offended Iago. The boy began pelting rocks at the two.

"Christ, that guy's crazy!" Iago said, pushing Grendel out of the way. "Let's get out of here!" The two ran down the sidewalk with the boy still swearing and throwing rocks at the two. Grendel tripped on the hem of his robe and fell forward. There was a ripping sound as it tore open.

"I'll ask this time." Grendel said. He knocked on the door. When no one answered, Grendel knocked again.

The door slowly opened.

The little girl who answered it had to be around eight years old. She wore a plaid shirt and suspenders.

"Hi!" Grendel said, friendly enough.

The girl let out a loud scream. Grendel had no idea what to do, but if someone didn't act fast, something bad was going to happen. Luckily, Iago stepped in.

"Hush!" Iago said, clamping his hand over her mouth. "We mean you no harm."

"What's going on?" A boy, older than the girl and presumably her brother, asked.

Iago removed his hand. The girl turned around. "I don't know. But lets just listen to them."

"Jeezum crow!" The boy said. "That guy's like taller than Boo!"

"Where are your parents?" Iago asked.

"We live by ourselves." The girl said. "The Really Bad Man had our Daddy killed."

Iago and Grendel looked at each other. "So you just live here by yourself?" Iago asked.

"Yep." The girl said. "My name's Scout, and this here is my brother Jem."

"How do you do?" The boy said.

"I'm Iago, and this here is Grendel."

"We're here to put a stop to the Really Bad Man." Grendel said. "He's going to pay for what he did to your Daddy and countless others."

"You can stay with us if you'd like." Scout said. "We'd be more than happy to share our food."

"That would be great." Grendel said.

"We only have two beds though." Jem said.

"That's okay." Grendel said. "I can sleep on the couch and Iago can sleep on the floor."

That night, Scout managed to make everyone macaroni and cheese. Grendel pretty much took up one side of the table by himself and he nearly broke the chair in half. Iago had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.

The attitude was a pleasant one. Jem and Scout had already learned from prior experiences not to judge based on their physical appearances and knew that Grendel was a nice person inside. Everyone enjoyed each other's company. Grendel had never been treated like an equal before, and Iago had always been sort of a loner. Jem and Scout were just happy to have some adult figures to protect them in this nightmare world.

That night, Grendel took Scout outside to look at the stars.

"Someday I want to leave this place." Scout said. "I miss my home and my friends there."

"Scout?"

"Yes?"

"Why aren't you frightened of me?" Grendel asked. "Most people are."

Scout giggled. "You aren't scary at all. In fact, you look like a big teddy bear."

"I think you just crushed my ego." Grendel said, sounding angry but Scout could tell he was trying not to laugh.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Scout asked, gesturing towards the stars. "Atticus used to take me out to gaze at them late at night." Upon being remembered of her father, she began to cry.

"There, there." Grendel said soothingly. "It's going to be alright."

At that moment Grendel hated Beowulf more than anything else did. Beowulf was a sick monster of a man who used a religion that stressed peace and love to justify his own brand of murder and savagery.

Beowulf's day of reckoning would come very soon. Grendel hoped he would be there to see it.