The One – Song 9: Darkness Rising, Segment 2

Originally published November 25, 2019...

Once again, we are in the thick of it. New characters arrive on the stage, and the main character starts taking the name, Hart. An odd trio, Skitch, Mim, and Nivel, appear to welcome the MC; however, motives soon become clear. As for the trio, it’s hard to know whether they are even related, or just habituated to each other. Nasty doings appear to be developing from opportunities presented. Even the dog, O’Gill is somewhat of an enigma, although he is definitely the kindest of the bunch. The MC immediately develops an affinity for this dog; keep an eye on this canine as the story progresses. At the end of this segment, a short trip into the dream landscape shows up, presaging extraordinary events and reptiles to come, as well as dragons past.

Our segment begins with the MC having just entered the trio’s residence.

“You can call me Hart,” I lie but speak truth

because that name claims me for my own good

scarred into my mind and my heart’s being

“Hart it is,” Skitch says, and stamps one large fist 

into the other. “So, by this good name

we will call you as it’s the one you give.”

Skitch knows somehow my name is otherwise,

and “otherwise” suits me as much as Hart

since I am “other” to these odd people

and I may be “wise” to keep my name safe

Truly, I don’t know what to think of them

I’m still naïve to their hidden motives

I know nothing of them, and it is true

they don’t know a single thing about me

“Go on,” says Mim to Skitch. “Tell him about

what we’ve found out.” She pushes Skitch’s back

“Don’t be shoving me, you hag.” Skitch raises

a fist to Mim’s face, but she stands firmly

crosses her arms, sniffs, and throws her head back

Skitch mumbles something, then turns back to me

“Well, it’s about the boat you said you lost

We went out to dig up what we could find

It’s nothing yet. Just a rumor really . . .”

Mim butts in. “We think we know who stole it – 

that you didn’t lose it on the river”

“Stop interrupting me,” Skitch says hotly

“You would take all day to tell the story”

“I just don’t want to raise up hopes,” Skitch says

“Hope is for fools. We’re talking evidence.”

I see these two will bicker long and hard

“Tell me what you found out,” I say firmly

and Skitch continues through Mim’s impatience

“There’s an old man at the harbor village

who doesn’t work at all, it seems

but who always eats and who has shelter

He wears good clothes, but there is something else

“Go on then,” I say exasperated

“Yes, well . . . this old man is hard to look at

- crooked back, pocked face, and one rheumy eye 

But more than that, a rancid smell rises

from his clothes, and then there is the spitting . . .”

Like Mim’s, Skitch’s story is wearing thin 

as my patience and need to know boil hot

“What does this have to do with my boat then?”

I cross my arms and stare boldly at Skitch

“Well, it’s said this man keeps plenty plunder

of stolen things acquired in unfair ways,

but no one knows where the hoard is hidden

“It’s hard to hide boats even small ones,” I say

“Yes, I know, but such people have their ways”

“What makes you think this old man has my boat?

Anyway, I have lied about the boat.

There is no boat to be concerned about.” 

Mim, frustrated, inserts herself again

“Someone we know saw this person hauling

a small boat by a long line to a pier

that’s tucked away from outward larger docks

and this is the first time such a vessel

has been known to be in his possession.”

“Still,” I say, “that doesn’t mean it’s my boat”

“Well, thank you! Mim scoffs in a huff and spits

right on the wood floor of her own dwelling

“Now, now, mama. Hart means no disrespect.”

Mim’s not appeased. “We go to the trouble

finding all this out, and what thanks we get!”

“I am just being careful before I

invest myself in dead ends and your lies!”

Mim moves quickly closer and pokes my chest

with one boney finger. “I’ll tell you what,’                         

you ingrate – you’ll not find that little boat

of yours without us. No one knows this town

like we do . . .” Just then Skitch pulls Mim’s shoulder

“It’s all right,” he says. “Hart is just afraid

that there is no way to escape from us.”

“I did not mean that at all, but I must

take care who I believe and what’s the truth.”

“Again, we’re called liars!” Mim shouts roughly.

All this time, Nivel has gone off to play

with O’Gill in a nearby corner where

they tug o’ war and wrestle while we three

quarrel, mince words, and largely achieve zilch

“Look,” I say, “I’m sorry. I’m shaken up

about losing everything to someone

who likely can’t use a boat like I can.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

“No worries, mate. We’ll find it,” Skitch declares

“We’ll figure out how – and I have a plan.”

“At last, we get to the important part,”

Mim stresses and backs off from poking me

Skitch speaks next and motions toward the table

where we three sit and continue talking

“There is more to gain here than just your boat

If this wretch has a plentiful fortune

we could all benefit from finding it.”

“You mean stealing, don’t you?” I interject

Mim puffs out an annoyed snort of distain

Skitch continues, “Think of ‘sharing the wealth’

We are four. This rascal is one and old”

Skitch turns to Mim. They share an obvious

familiarity in just one glance

Mim continues and smiles mischievously

“Also, the real theft is already done 

and we would be returning part of it

to the community – that is, to us,”

“I want my boat, but I see no reason

to steal what’s stolen no matter how right

or rational it may seem. It’s still wrong”

“Think of Nivel,” Mim wheedles and cajoles

“He’s not my business,” I say and mean it

while thinking of O’Gill going hungry

which brings up a pang of pitiful guilt

Skitch draws closer. “The truth is we need you.”

“Me? Why me?” I ask in genuine doubt

“You’re the kind of waif we’ve seen Hertwig help.”

Skitch has turned confidentially to me

“Help out? What do you mean? And who’s Hertwig?”

“Hertwig ‘s the target, the one we’ve described

and it appears he has a real soft spot

for young ones like you, down, out of fortune

Mim adds, “No one knows for certain what 

he might ask for his kindness. Could be trouble!”

Unbidden, my thoughts turn toward this Hertwig

-- a sad and lonely case not unlike me

Who knows how many he may have betrayed?

Perhaps, his hoard provides him some pleasure?

and if he does actually have my boat,

returning it might pleasure both of us

Zounds! My thinking’s as twisted as these two

Still . . . what harm in exploring this Hertwig?                                                                                                                                                 

“All right,” I say with worried foreboding

“I don’t see the harm in trying,” adding

“But let’s be clear about my boat, shall we?

She is mine and mine alone – no sharing.”

“Oh, of course. Of course,” says Skitch, and Mim nods.

I’m wary of their enthusiasm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve had enough of these two. Some simpler

company is what I need, so I rise

walk toward Nivel and O’Gill, still playing,

unaware of thieving’s bad intentions

I wave a hand to get O’Gill’s interest

he responds – bounds toward me, leaving Nivel

who doesn’t seem to care and wanders off

O’Gill, primed for play, paws at me and pants

I ruffle his chest – get down on all fours

then on my back and he stands over me

licks my face and ears in his doggish glee

I grab him round his front paws, lift him up

and he grrr-uffs with pleasure, wriggles free

runs, stops and turns, drops down on his forelegs  

dog rump aimed at ceiling begging me to play

I take the same position back end up 

and forearms down, wagging my tailless rear

“That dog really likes you,” Mim says laughing

-- a new side of her I wouldn’t have guessed

“I’m glad he does,” I reply and mean it

Mim throws peeled carrots into an iron pot

to boil with a slab of fatty mutton

Our dinner I’m guessing, hoping it’s not

Skitch sidles over, stands above me, says,

“As to my plan – tomorrow, you will go

to a tavern where you will find Hertwig

He has his lunch at twelve o’clock each day

Here’s some money for you, if you need it.”

Skitch hands me enough for a single meal

I stand and take it, and O’Gill whimpers 

at the curt interruption of our play

Skitch idly scratches O’Gill’s ear, and says

“Try not to use it; rather beg around

for a crust or a coin – that will surely 

get Hertwig’s attention. Then, don’t worry

He will do the rest; of that I’m certain

“We don’t even know if he has my boat!”

“As good a chance as any that he does,

and if not, we know he has plenty else.”

Skitch kicks at O’Gill but misses, staggers,

rights himself as O’Gill skitters away 

I glare at Skitch – he shrugs mumbling a curse

I dislike this talk of “we” as if I’m 

already kindred to this thieving crew

I notice I use “we” as well, so I

must have joined with them at some prior point

If Hart stood beside me, I think sadly

He would know what’s right to do in my place

But wait. My own heart tells me where to go:

that is away from here and from these three

I see I need to get away from me!

Changing tack, I know I’ve no better plot

Skitch knows the quickest way to my red boat                   

All this flashes through in seconds as I

nod to Skitch and say, “It’s tomorrow then.”

At night, I dream of nine dragons flying

far off – fiery wings soaring over sea

Some wisdom, surely, these nine have for me . . .

Background:

And so, the game is afoot, as Sherlock would say. Developmentally, the MC is at a crossroads between innocence and worldliness, between youth and adulthood, and, as it were, between good and evil, or at least worthy choices and bad. When youth and relative innocence meet the unworthy and self-absorbed, inner conflict arises. However, if the MC in question has learned something about morality, the course may be true.  

I remember several incidents in my younger years where I faced choices, choices between popularity and morality; between physical urges and prudent behavior; between promiscuity and chastity; between hope and despair, and on and on. These choices are what converge to manifest our development or lack thereof. Decide for yourself whether the MC is on the true path.

Exploration 1: Do you think there is anything altruistic about taking in “Hart,” on the part of Skitch and the others?

Exploration 2: Why does Hertwig seem like a good target for a scam? What characteristics does he have to defend himself against evil doers?

Exploration 3: How do you interpret the protagonist’s apparent willingness to engage Skitch and the others? What are the possible motivations for doing so?