The Scary Round VI was our Halloween-themed contest for 2011. It also marked six years of our writing group! My entry for that round wasn't really scary, or based on Halloween in any way, but it ended up being my favorite story of all the ones I had ever written! (Still true, by the way.)
For the village of small, wooden men in this story, I had taken inspiration from a variety of sources, but the biggest one was a drawing by my 9 year old son. He was trying to draw a Cyberman from Doctor Who, but I mistook it for a person with an hour glass on their chest! We had a good laugh about that, but I was fortunate in that it provided me with a nice burst of creativity. Add to that the idea I had often entertained, of an alien being in the large pine tree of our backyard, and you have one strange story on your hands! I liked this story so much, in fact, that I have outlined an entire novel based on it. Now if I would just get it written!
The Hour Men
by Rusty Keele
Who leaves the pine-tree, leaves his friend,
Unnerves his strength, invites his end.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Woodnotes"
The calm reverie of Coriander's morning psalm was pierced by a desperate cry. He opened his eyes and stared blankly at the wooden prayer stick - which was only half covered with metal rings, indicating his need for more prayer. Had someone actually cried for help? He wasn't sure. He cocked his head slightly and listened carefully for any follow-up.
"Help! Help me... anybody!"
There was no doubting the cry this time. Setting the remaining prayer rings on the mat he arose and went to look out the front window. In the center of the grassy field near the village tree was his friend Fennel - and he was kneeling over a motionless body. It was Fennel's voice he had heard. Coriander looked about the village, saw others coming hesitantly out of their houses, and decided he'd better go see if he could help.
Walking carefully down the artisan steps he eventually made his way to Fennel's side. "What has happened?" he inquired.
Fennel looked over his shoulder at Coriander and lifted a wooden arm into the air, waving it slightly. "Someone has attacked Sage. His arm is detached... and he is prone - I believe his sand has stopped."
Coriander quickly went around Sage's body, and knelt on the other side. Looking with concern at the other villagers who had gathered, he reached down and carefully opened the small door to Sage's chest cavity.
They were all relieved to see that the hour glass was not broken, but had only stopped flowing when Sage had fallen down.
"Help me lift him." Fennel handed Sage's arm to one of the by-standers and helped Coriander raise him into a sitting position. Carefully he reached into Sage's chest and turned the hour glass upside down. As the sand started to flow Sage gasped to life coughing and blinking fiercely.
The old villager looked around him with amazement. "What happened? Where'd he go?" His voice carried more than a hint of fear.
"What happened Sage? Who did this to you?" asked Coriander.
Sage blinked slowly as he looked into their faces. "I don't know... a dark shape rushed at me as I strolled around the tree last night." He looked down at his left side and the exposed wooden shoulder socket. "I...I just don't know who could do such a thing." His face contorted in shock at the sight of his wounded wooden body.
"Come on Sage, let's get you fixed up and then we'll figure out who did this." Coriander helped him to his feet and instructed some of the bystanders to take him to Basil's repair shop. After they were gone he looked around at all his brothers with a new feeling, one he had not had before: mistrust. "Let us all meet at Tarragon's for a village council after breakfast," he said slowly.
This seemed to pacify most of the crowd and they began to disperse. Coriander and Fennel waited for them to leave, then they looked around the carefully manicured grass ringing the giant pine tree. Amidst the ruffled grass and pieces of Sage they found a few small branches torn from the pine tree. Coriander could smell the fresh pine scent as he picked up one of them. Twisting it thoughtfully he looked up and wondered how it got down here.
***
Tarragon's home, like Coriander's, was in the first ring of houses around the tree so there was plenty of room for all the villagers to gather in front of it. A sizable crowd had gathered by the time Coriander made his way across the lawn to the meeting. Few people talked, but it was easy to tell that all of them were very worried about what had happened to Sage. Coriander stood next to Fennel and fidgeted quietly while he waited.
The house door opened and Tarragon emerged after two other village elders. He remained on his porch and looked around at the crowd before speaking.
"Brothers, as I'm sure you've all heard, a terrible thing has happened to Sage. Sometime last night while he strolled about the tree he was attacked most savagely. While Basil repairs his arm, we must decide what is to be done - and how we can prevent further attacks."
One of the villagers called out a question stoically, "Do you have any idea who did this?"
"No. If any of you have information you must give it to us now. These types of things can not be allowed to happen, or our peaceful way of life will become a thing of the past. Does anybody know anything?"
Only silence greeted Tarragon's inquires.
"Has anyone seen anything strange at all? Anything - no matter how small?"
Caraway raised his hand uncertainly, "What about that smoke plume yesterday evening?"
This ignited a stir of activity among the crowd. Several people began to ask about it, forcing Tarragon to hush them. "Now Caraway, I certainly didn't see any smoke plume - did anyone else see it?" Two more villagers raised their hands. Tarragon continued, "Well tell us about it - maybe it's important!" He fixed his gaze on Caraway.
"Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I noticed smoke rising out of the north west there." he pointed over Tarragon's house. The crowd turned and looked, but nothing could be seen now. Caraway continued, "It was a thick, black pillar, billowing hotly as if something was burning fiercely."
"Yes, that's right." said Peppercorn. "I saw it too, and it was just like that."
There was some general murmuring as the crowd quietly discussed this new development. After consulting with the other elders, Tarragon spoke to the crowd again. "Okay, we're not sure what the smoke was from, or what it means to us, but we will send someone to investigate it. In the meantime, does anybody have any more information about the attack on Sage?"
When no new information was volunteered he continued, " Well, then, I propose that we post some of us to watch the field and the tree during all hours of the day and night - at least until we figure out what happened." Again there was a murmuring among the crowd, but this time it was a murmur of agreement. Heads nodded and Tarragon and the elders looked mildly pleased that the suggestion was being met agreeably.
"Okay then, " Tarragon continued, "Fennel - why don't you take the first watch. Keep an eye on the field and tree and everyone in it. Do that until sunset, and then Coriander and can take over for the night. Caraway, you relieve Coriander at sunrise. And everyone please be aware of who and what is around you - we don't want any more incidences."
The crowd nodded in consent and began to disperse. Coriander looked at Fennel and gave him a slow nod, then returned to his house to get some rest before his watch began.
***
Coriander was awakened by a sharp rap at his door. He stumbled sleepily to answer it. Fennel greeted him with a nod and a long hard look, "It is sunset, Coriander - time for you to take your watch."
Coriander nodded and stepped through, closing the door behind him. Fennel waited for him at the bottom of the steps, and walked with Coriander as he made his way towards the tree. "Coriander, my watch was not uneventful." He cast a sidelong glance at Coriander. Fennel continued, "I believe there is someone hiding in the tree." Both of them looked at the huge pine tree in the middle of the field. The big, bushy triangle of a tree was nearly 100 feet tall, and was more than capable of hiding a person in its midst.
"What makes you think that?" asked Coriander.
"I swear I saw something move among the inner branches... several times. Yet I was never able to see clearly what caused the movement. Coriander, " he stopped walking and turned to face him, "keep a careful watch my brother. If you require any assistance please come and get me." He gave him another long look and then departed for his own house. Coriander watched him go with a strange feeling in his stomach.
As the sky continued to darken, Coriander made long, slow circles around the tree. He watched the branches carefully for any movement, but also tried to keep an eye on the houses and any people moving among them. Most of the night passed without incidence.
Sometime in the middle of the night, however, Coriander heard a faint rustling sound emanating from the middle of the huge pine tree. Coriander stopped walking and hid himself in the shadows of one of the houses. He crouched down and peered intensely at the tree, searching desperately for any sign of movement. He found it. The branches rippled as something moved down them towards the ground.
He could also hear heavy breathing and grunting. He watched in amazement as a long, dark form dropped down to hang from the lowest branches, and then drop to the ground. It vaguely resembled a humanoid form, but was a whole head taller than himself, and it was covered in long, ragged, black fur. Most strange was the fact that it had two pairs of arms. As it dropped down and looked around Coriander froze with fear as the dark, red eyes turned to gaze at him.
He didn't move at all, but held the creature's gaze. It had noticed him. A long, deep rumbling sound came from the beast as it slowly started moving towards him. He looked around for something he could use to defend himself, but there wasn't anything. When the creature was several yards away, Coriander heard someone yelling - it was Fennel.
"Hey! Coriander, run my brother!" He was charging out of his house, heading straight for Coriander and the beast.
The sudden appearance of Fennel, and his loud yelling, startled the monster, who quickly bounded back to the tree in confusion and anxiety.
Fennel arrived at his side. Coriander, who still had not moved, glanced at Fennel, "What was that thing?" he asked.
"I don't know brother, but I don't think it had good intentions for you." After a small pause he continued, "We need to defend ourselves, why don't you go and get some work tools that we can use. I'll stay here and keep an eye on our furry friend."
Coriander was happy to comply with Fennel's request, and quickly went to his shed. All he had was a shovel and a pitchfork, but he figured they could be useful if the creature chose to attack again. He hurried back to Fennel with the items.
When he arrived he found that two other people had joined Fennel - Caraway and Peppercorn. "They heard the commotion and have come to help," Fennel said. Both of them carried long club-like sticks.
"Thank you brothers," Coriander said. "I appreciate your concern."
"Your concern is our concern, I'm afraid." said Peppercorn.
The four of them surrounded the tree and observed it closely while still watching the village. There was no mistaking the signs of the beast as it growled and prowled about the tree. And it wasn't very long before it dropped a bundle of something onto the ground next to the tree's trunk.
The four of them looked questioningly at each other. Caraway and Coriander were the closest to it. "I'll investigate if you watch my back, brother." Caraway said to him. Coriander nodded his agreement warily.
The two of them made their way cautiously towards the tree, wielding their tools in front of them as menacingly as they could.
The bundle was wrapped in a dirty cloth and knotted at the top. Caraway looked carefully into the tree, and seeing no sign of the monster he indicated to Coriander to keep guard. He then laid his club on the ground and began tugging at the knot in the cloth, trying to undo it. Suddenly, after just a few seconds, the beast dropped from the tree like a bomb and crushed Caraway to the ground.
Coriander fell back in surprise and shame - he hadn't heard or seen any sign of the beast! The creature was crouched on top of Caraway's now motionless body. It turned its head to glare at Coriander, and with its many hands grabbed both the bundle and Caraway and sprang back up into the tree.
Coriander, gasping and in shock, cried out for the other two. They had seen what was happening and were already behind him, nearly as shocked as he was.
"I think its time to wake the elders," Fennel said.
***
The whole village was awake and had gathered around Tarragon's house by the time the elders arrived. When Tarragon had explained what had happened, everyone was in agreement that the thing in the tree needed to be taken care of. After making sure that everyone was armed with some sort of makeshift weapon, they decided that the beast must be made to come out of the tree. Fire was the obvious answer, but no one wanted to burn the only tree in the village. However, it was that or allow the monster to remain in the tree, terrorizing the villagers at will.
Soon an angry mob with pitchforks and torches had surrounded the giant pine tree in the center of the village. Fennel, along with several other villagers, crept forward and quickly arranged a pile of kindling at the base of the tree. As soon as it was finished he touched a torch to it and the group backed away, waving their weapons menacingly.
The creature in the tree didn't like the villagers' plan, and certainly didn't like the smoke that was now billowing up and through the branches. It began howling and screeching and it jumped from branch to branch in the tree.
Eventually it began throwing things at the fire in an attempt to scatter it. The villagers were horrified to see that the beast was using pieces of Caraway's body to accomplish its purpose. One particularly well placed throw succeeded in scattering the blazing kindling enough that the immediate danger of the tree going up in flames was removed.
The creature had used Caraway's head to disperse the flames, and as it rolled slowly towards Fennel something in him snapped. He looked into Caraway's lifeless face and his eyes grew dark and angry. He turned his burning gaze on the beast in the tree and began to stride defiantly towards the faltering fire.
Coriander snapped into action and followed Fennel towards the smoldering trunk. As soon as he arrived Fennel dropped to his knees and began to rebuild the fire nest, only bigger this time. Coriander stared up into the branches, determined not to be surprised by the beast again.
But the monster did surprise him as it dropped on the opposite side of the trunk this time. With blazing speed and uncanny accuracy it whirled around the tree and struck a blow at Fennel's head as he was standing up to defend himself. Long, sharp claws cut easily through Fennel's neck and his head tumbled to the ground - sliced cleanly off his still standing body.
The monster slowly turned to face Coriander, its red eyes burning into him with intense hatred.
Coriander wielded his pitchfork and tried to be brave by not backing away too quickly. He dared not remove his eyes from the creature's face. Slowly it came towards him as he backed away from the tree.
But he momentarily forgot his fear as he saw Fennel's body moving in the background. Without his head to guide his blows Fennel's body was swinging its club wildly in long, powerful arcs.
The sight of Fennel's body provided the spark of courage that Coriander needed. He growled and thrust his pitchfork in the beast's direction. His sudden bravery caught the monster off guard, and it took a few cautious steps back. That was enough. One of Fennel's flailing swings caught the creature in the back of the head. It was knocked off balance but quickly regained its footing and spun towards Fennel. Coriander immediately took advantage of the monster's change of focus and thrust his pitchfork with all his strength into its back.
The creature's body was surprisingly soft, and the tines of the pitchfork not only punctured it but went straight through and poked out of its chest. A dark red liquid began flowing from its body as it gasped and sputtered - howling in agony and frustration.
Fennel's body, unaware of what was happening continued to beat the beast with its club. The monster slumped to the ground with a groan, casting a fierce glance at Coriander and the other villagers who had rushed forward to help him and Fennel beat it down.
Soon the beast lay unmoving on the ground - in a pool of the red liquid that spilled from its wounds. Coriander eventually removed his pitchfork and warily poked the monster several times to make sure it was inert. Several other villagers restrained Fennel's body while they retrieved his head, then they led him away towards Basil's repair shop.
When they were quite certain the beast no longer posed a threat they rolled it onto its back, and searched for its chest door. They never found one, and eventually postulated that the lack of sand, as well as the presence of the red liquid, meant that it did not have an hourglass within it. Not knowing what else to do they used the kindling to burn the creature's body - far away from their precious, wounded tree.
Later, as Coriander returned to his home, tired and covered in dirt, ash and dried red liquid, he noticed that his prayer stick still stood where he had left it yesterday morning. Protocol required that he finish his psalm before the resting period, but he didn't care. He walked off to his resting niche, opened his chest door and deliberately twisted his own hour glass to a horizontal position. It was several days before anyone found him and started his sand flowing again.
The End
This story copyright © 2011 by Rusty Keele. All rights reserved.
