Last night I had the strangest dream.
I stood alone on a weary embankment. The sky was red and grey and streaks of lightening struck forks far in the distance.
I looked across a field of hay and saw a dark figure moving within. I felt an irresistable urge to follow the figure and so I did, trampling beautiful stalks in my way without a care.
The figure seemed to get further away, until with a mighty swoop I cast aside a mass of hay and found myself on the edge of some great canyon. Far below a crooked stream like Mrs Fairweather's good index finger stretched down before me. I carefully negotiated the perilous cliff face and soon my barefeet were in the cold water. I could taste sand in my mouth.
Across the brook, the dark figure waved at me to join him in some woods on the far bank. Still encased in a trance, I stumbled and staggered over underwater rocks and moss and made my way to the other side. The figure moved on into the trees.
I climbed out, breathless and with a tight diaphragm. I moved hesitantly into the darkness of the looming wood and soundly I heard heavy breathing. Constant. Unrelenting breathing, getting louder.
Up ahead I saw the figure beckon me toward a small cabin of log with a moss and silt roof. I walked towards it and entered. In between shadows created by candle light I saw a table and the figure at the head. On the table; a loaf of bread, a napsack and some rope.
"CHOOSE" He beckoned in a harsh and misty argot I could not distinguish.
I selected the rope without question and his veiled face mocked me in laughter. I was about to enquire his identity, when he pulled aside his long cloak. Inside his heart, with flames abound it shone out, blinding me for a moment. After a while I saw his heart was bleeding, torn into several parts by a rusted piece of barbed wire which ran around it thrice. His laughter became unbearable. I screamed out against the din:
"Who are you, what the hell do you seek???"
I shut my eyes and screamed loudly, I'm unashamed to say. Suddenly he rose and put a tight hand on each of my shoulders. His yellow teeth shone in hellish hue.
"I AM WAITING BY THE CAVE OF LANGERHANS. MEET ME IN FOUR DAYS."
Then to my horror, he gave my face a big swooping lick with a large tongue that smelt of potato and wardrobe.
I awoke with a start as Argos leapt onto my bed. He panted. I shook cobwebs from my eyes and stared in disbelief. Not only was my dear dog back, he was also BACK! No more his eyes shone red, nor green smoke emitted from his furry anus.
I wept with joy, but my heart was filled with fear at my appointment with the Devil of The Niolo. He must be faced once and for all.
RB.
