Chapter 6
Five years later
bALBERT BOSWELL/b
- Mama Annabelle! Papa is here! – I heard the happy exclamation of that sweet crystal clear voice of my little princess.
- How do you know it is Papa? – Madame Bonhumeur smiled and stroked the child's short black wavy hair.
- I can hear his footsteps. No one comes like Papa, he is heavy and he has loud footsteps.
All of us laughed and I hugged the funny child. She gave me so much happiness all the time. She was even cute as a baby, but since she learned to talk, there wasn't a cloudy day for me, even though we had to deal with difficulties because of her failed eyesight. She always told something sweet or funny. Indeed a talkative little one she was, she hardly ever was silent, even in her sleep she would talk sometimes. Even though she was blind, she loved to jump around the room, clapping her hands and sing the songs I taught her. Madame Bonhumeur sometimes didn't agree with what I taught Suzanne, she would sometimes call her boyish and was worried about she will turn out unladylike when she grows to a teenager.
Maybe she was right, Suzanne really did not like her hair long, we eventually always had to cut it, as she complained it bothered her. And she did not really like to play with dolls. She would rather climb on trees, making the poor old lady nearly get a heart attack sometimes. Yes, she was boyish. Brave, talkative, sometimes even too brave, she could whistle with her fingers in her mouth, and at home she rather just wore a plain shirt and knee- length pants. She only wore skirt when she was taking a stroll with either me or Mme Bonhumeur in the village. It was maybe partly me that encouraged her behavior, but as a man in his early fifties, maybe I couldn't find the proper way of making a lady out of a girl child, but I know it was bigger part of the child's personality. Some neighbors that moved in the village later thought she was a boy for a long time.
I was successful in teaching her to take good care of herself. She was five years old but she was able to get dressed, take a bath, eat, drink, and comb her hair all by herself. I was teaching her to tie her shoes for long hours, with patience and love, and she wasn't forced to do anything. She was the one who wanted to improve and impress everyone by how much things she could do. I was happy that my great clever girl won't need anyone's help but can live on her own. It is a painful thing to depend on other people's will.
- Yes my Princess I am home. And do you know what is today? - I lifted the little angel from the ground and kissed her cheeks.
- No – she shook her head and looked at me curiously – What is today?
- It is your Birthday, my angel! You are five years old today! – I kissed her again and hugged her, then waved to Madame Bonhumeur to carry the cake in.
We celebrated Suzanne's Birthday on 9th September, the day we found her in front of my door. We failed to find out her real name and date of birth, so I talked to the priest to register her as Suzanne – Héléne Boswell, born on 9th September, 1839. I never told her she wasn't my own daughter. Actually I told her that her Mama passed away and Mama Annabelle is her Mama's aunt. I did not want to make her feel miserable about things she wasn't capable of understanding yet. Why to make her cry about her real parents didn't like her?
As I was looking at the child who ate her birthday cake with such a bliss, I was wondering if I should ever tell her the truth or not. She has a happy life as my daughter. Why should she know she isn't my real child?
- Papa! – she jumped off of her chair after placing her fork back on the plate and ran to my chair.
- Yes, my sweetness? – I leaned closer to her.
- Do you know what I ask for my Birthday?
- You have already gotten something; don't you want to look at it first? – I laughed.
- Is it a violin? – she exclaimed in happiness.
- Violin? – I asked with surprise. – Why would it be?
- Isn't it? – She stopped jumping and stood still for a bit, but after she finally regained her happiness and followed Madame Bonhumeur to the living room to open her gifts.
Violin? How did she get this idea at all? She never talked about music before, or the want of being musically educated. I did not really like music, only some songs, but I hardly ever sang them, especially not in front of her, as those weren't suitable for a however freely raised young girl. Madame Bonhumeur sang some nursery rhymes or lullabies to her when she was younger, but not anymore, and I don't even think those could be enough starting a child's interest in learning to play the violin. The only way she met that instrument was when Christian played it, but I doubt that any child with at least normal hearing wants to learn to play it after they heard that cat scratching like sound.
The idea was bugging me and I went to Suzanne's room to see what was she doing. She was happily playing with her new toys, among them was a wooden locomotive. She seemed to be very much content with her gifts but the violin idea still did not leave me be. I knelt down beside her and patted her head. She laughed and looked at me.
- Suzanne, sweetheart… - I started my speech as I moved even closer to her. – Why did you think you will get a violin?
- Because it was promised to me.
- Who promised that, Christian? – I had a jaw drop at that moment . But it was nothing compared to what I heard next.
- No. A voice.
- What voice?
- I don't know a voice I haven't heard before.
- Was it… a man or a woman, dear?
- I'd say it was a boy. It was a very pleasant voice, soft, not too high but not that frighteningly deep either.
- How old that boy could be? – I asked, and I was thankful she could not see my scared expression.
- I think, about 10-11 when he first spoke to me.
- Did he speak to you more times? When? How? Didn't I tell you not to talk to strangers?
- I didn't talk to him, he talked to me. It was bedtime and I went to sleep. Not long after I heard music and nothing else. I did not know who was playing. At first I thought it was Monsieur Renard, but I knew he could not play so nicely.
- And what has happened after?
- Once I asked who that was and how could they play so nicely. The boy did not answer my first question but told me I will play this nicely once. He said when I turn 5 I will get a violin to start my musical education.
- When was this?
- It was last spring.
- Why didn't you tell me about it? Dear you could have been in danger! How often he speaks to you?
- I haven't heard of him since then.
- Tell me when he returns. – I shook with fear as a shiver ran down on my spine.
- I will, Papa. – she replied and I could hear a bit of fear in her voice too.
Was it a boy from our village? I did not know any boys that played the violin, if a child even got musical education, they mostly chose the piano, but there only was one boy playing the piano in Darnéthal, and he was in his late teens already, so much older than the boy Suzanne talked about. How on Earth can he talk to the girl at all? The nursery was on the first floor, only a tree under the window. Did he climb up there… or did he even get in my house? What does he want of my child? Who this boy was? I did not know who this thing was but I will make sure to teach him a lesson if he shows up again. Suzanne is my girl and I will protect her from this creepy creature of night.
bERIK/b
- Where are you going again? – Ilka asked with displeasure as she lifted her head. I thought she was already asleep. I turned back from the tent's entrance and put my finger to my mouth to silence her.
- I have to do my business, just sleep.
- And do you always carry your violin with you when you take a piss? – she groaned. – Don't think I am a fool, Erik. You always get crazy when we arrive back to Normandy. You always leave at night and arrive back hours later. I know you were born here, but be careful. It will end badly.
- I can take care of myself. Please don't worry.
- Every teens think so. You will think twice about it after I have to pick small shot out of your butt cheeks after you were chased with guns. You will then wish you stayed on your ass.
- Oh, please… I am 13 and I was never caught. When we are here I always go there and…
- You keep trying till you get caught. Just don't come back to cry if it happens. – she turned back to sleep as she obviously lost hope of convincing me about common sense.
Cry? As I was ever crying to her. She was a great friend but sometimes she was worse than a mother, bossy, protective and her language was really unbearable sometimes. I had to warn her from time to time that I was a free spirit that can't be tamed. My mother tried to do so, but never succeeded, how could a Gypsy woman tame me then?
I had good time with the gypsies. I saw all Europe in these 5 years, I learned a lot of tricks from the magicians, and I made them jealous of my ventriloquism. They kept asking me to teach them that, but they never succeeded in learning the voice throwing trick. They could do the ventriloquism, but my own little ability remained my secret. No one could ever learn it or do it after me. Finally I wasn't a caged animal but a boy who was wandering all over Europe with a friend and a companion that did not cry out in panic upon looking at my face. They got used to it after a time, and finally I could walk around without a mask.
When we were in Normandy my sister always came to my mind. I was wondering if she was treated well and if she was doing well. I tried to get her out of my head, living my own life and leaving her to her new family, but in the end I always found myself walking to that house where I left her, with the violin in my hand, to see at least if she was still alive. I climbed on a tree next to the nursery window and sat on a branch, looking at the sleeping girl. I once felt like I needed to play her lullaby, but I ended up waking her up. I talked to her in a few words, I don't even remember most of it anymore, but I know I promised her a violin for her 5th Birthday. I know how unpleasant it is not to get your Birthday gift, so I wanted to make up to my promise. I could not give her gift to her on her real birthday as I wasn't in the area back then, but now, a bit of later, I can finally deliver it. I grew this violin out, really. She will be happy about it.
I put the violin under that tree in front of the house. My eyes got blurry from tears and I wanted to walk away at first, but after I wanted to see my sister again. I climbed up on the tree and looked into the nursery window. The child was sleeping peacefully; she was even smiling in her sleep. It was too dark to see her very well, but I think she was cute. She will at least have an easier life than me.
When I wanted to climb back down on the ground, I saw the nursery's door got wide open, and a woman with a candle stepped in the room. I tried to hurry but she saw me. I heard a scream and some yelling.
I jumped off of the tree finally and ran as fast as I could. I thought I was fast enough, but soon I heard dogs were chasing me. I could also hear a man crying for help and he was followed by more people. I knew I could not yet go back to the Gypsy camp, but I had to get rid of the dogs. They were getting closer as I could hear their bark. I was running as my life depended on it, and finally I reached the river. I jumped in the cold water and quickly swam to the other side. I was very tired and climbed under a tree to hide. I could not hear the damned dogs any more. My teeth chattered in cold and fear and I knew I should never come back again. Ilka was right.
bALBERT BOSWELL/b
We arrived back to my house disappointed as the monster fled away. Poor Madame Bonhumeur was so terrified of that thing that she passed out when she saw it. She could tell me only that the boy had a death's head. Yes, he had, I saw it too. It was a sight I will never forget. My hands were trembling as I poured some cognac for myself and my friends when we sat down at the table.
- I don't think he returns. – Christian broke the silence after a few minutes.
- I hope he won't. – I sighed and drank all of the alcohol at one slip. I wiped my forehead with my sleeve and leaned my forehead against my palm.
- Papa! – I heard Suzanne's worried voice on the top of the stairs.
- What's wrong sweetie? – I stood up and walked upstairs to hug her. – Didn't Mama Annabelle tell you to sleep?
- She is sleeping on the floor in my room.
- Oh, poor lady. I accompany her to her room, be a good girl and go to sleep. – I caressed her face. She obeyed.
When I knelt down to help Mme Bonhumeur up from the floor, I noticed her eyes were wide-open and she did not seem to be breathing. I bit my lip and jumped up and run to fetch Christian. We took the lady out of the room, carefully, not to wake the child up again. Christian checked her pulse and listened to her heartbeat. He then looked at me and sadly shook his head.
I could not handle such a grief, I went outside to have some fresh air. Under that tree I suddenly noticed a violin. I knew the monster left it there, as it promised Suzanne she will get one. At first I wanted to kick it away and jump on it until it breaks to small pieces, but… finally I couldn't do it. I just sat down next to it and was thinking.
- A violin? - I heard Christian's voice above me.
- Yes.
- Will you give it to her?
- What if… it is from the devil? – I slowly stood up and looked at him.
- I don't think so. And maybe music will help her… to make her loss easier to handle.
- You might be right.
I lifted the violin case up, undusted it and sadly put it down next to Suzanne1s bed so she will find it when she wakes up.
- I have news! – Pierre, one of my best friends caught my shoulder when I left the nursery. – There is a gypsy camp at the border of the village, they are staying here. I am sure the monster is with them as Romain says he once saw that creature with them.
- Are you sure? – I asked excitedly.
- I am.
- Call the boys. We will take care of the monster and his gypsies for good.
bERIK/b
It was dawn when I finally arrived back to the place where our camp was. Everything was randomly thrown away, the tents were destroyed, pieces of broken bowls were around my feet. I accidentally stepped in one piece then sat down to get it out of my foot. The animals were gone, and so were everyone else. I slowly stood up again and paid no attention to my wound, and walked around in the camp. I was more and more nervous. Our tent was destroyed as well, the fabric had huge holes on it, I think it was burned.
I could find some signs of the violence that was going on, I could see the ground had blood on it at some places, but I could not find any dead bodies. Could they flee?
-Ilka…
No answer came. I knew even if she was alive, she fled and did not have the time to wait for me to return. I knew now that I should not have gone back to that house. If the gypsies were still alive I don't know where to find them, but it would not even be a good idea. They are in danger because of me…. just like my mother was.