a/n:Prompt from Poseidon-God of the Seas:-Colonel Moran has an unusual present-
Holmes and companions do not belong to me.
Mention of events and references from "The Empty House". Colonel Moran may be a tiny bit OOC.
Thanks to Anony9, for such kind reviews:-) (Private messaging is not the same as emailing.)
POV of Colonel Sebastian Moran-I hope the different forms of type do not cause to much confusion :-)
Present
A dark, dank, London prison
And a sparsely furnished cell.
The warder brings a meager meal,
And something else, as well.
~o~
A parcel?
A package?
A present just for me?
But I'm without close relatives
And friends;
What could it be?
I haven't had a visitor,
Throughout my prison hell;
I cannot think of anyone
On Earth who'd wish me well.
~o~
It's quite a little package;
Wrapped up tight,
Secured in twine.
My name is written neatly on the label;
Yes, it's mine!
~o~
I've studied it,
I've shaken it,
It seems to be a book.
Perhaps a book on cards or tigers?
Time to take a look.
The gold and blue dust wrapper
Has a certain naive charm.
And here's the title; I've been sent...
The Victorian Book of Calm.
I can sense Holmes' mocking laughter,
As I turn the title page...
~o~
A pause; the Colonel rips the book
In one mad fit of rage...
~o~
Perhaps I've been too hasty;
I have never been so bored.
I'll try to sort the pages
So this book can be restored.
I'll piece the bits together,
Like a jigsaw, till I'm done.
I'll get some use from this small book;
Or Holmes will think he's won.
~0~
A pause; the Colonel concentrates
On this painstaking deed.
At last, Moran has finished;
Picks a page;
Begins to read.
~o~
List all the thoughts which trouble you;
And some will fly away.
Hmm...
Kill Holmes,
Kill Holmes,
Kill Holmes, right now!
Nope;
That thought is here to stay.
~o~
Pink and blue are calming shades.
Yes;
That one could be true.
Holmes turned, while I was strangling him,
A pleasing shade of blue.
~o~
A nice hot bath will soothe your mind.
Well, I suppose it could.
Although it did not do my lady victim
Any good.
Yes, poor old Mrs. Stewart;
Such a trusting, wealthy dame.
A tragic death from drowning;
With no proof to pin the blame.
~o~
Articulate your problems
And you'll soon be nice and calm.
"My problem is the hangman's noose."
I still feel great alarm.
~o~
If you have had a stressful day;
Then turn out all the lights.
That might work with my air gun
And the real Holmes in my sights.
~o~
Find a happy thought, and laugh;
If needed, just pretend.
False laughter should ensure a trip
To Bedlam, I contend.
~o~
You'll feel much more contented
If you change your dull routine.
Yes, right; I'll tell the warder
That I need a change of scene...
~0~
Clear out all your clutter;
Watch your tension level fall.
I only have a bed, and chair and blanket,
That is all!
~o~
This book has not been useful;
I'm not reading any more.
And yet...
There is a further use
It might be helpful for...
~o~
Moran picks up the length of twine;
As hoped, it's tinder dry.
He tears the book once more
And piles the little pieces high.
With twine and wooden splinter,
Army skills and lots of time;
He perseveres until
A curling wisp begins to climb.
Then, damp old prison blanket
And "The Victorian Book of Calm",
Ensure that smoke now billows out
And raises the alarm...
While prison staff attack the blaze,
He's vanished, in a trice.
He takes one single page
Which holds some sensible advice
~o~
If you really need a way to get
Your tension levels down;
The countryside is calmer;
So, try hard to leave the town.
~o~
a/n 2: Mrs Stewart's death is mentioned in "The Empty House"
Inspiration for the present taken from "The Little Book of Calm" by Paul Wilson.