Evil's Fingers (2)
"He said that they were playing 'forest pirates', whatever that is." "Well then, maybe that's what they're doing," said Mr. Hutchinson, who was feeling a little relieved. "There's nothing wrong with children playing forest pirates." "Yes, but why does Timmy possess the sudden urge to play with other children?" said Mrs. Hutchinson. "I mean, admittedly, we've always tried to steer him in that direction. There isn't much good about being a loner, in any part of the world. But why is he suddenly responding to our demands now?" Mr. Hutchinson said that he didn't know and that it would probably be best if she not worry about it. Then Mrs. Hutchinson brought up the idea that his peculiar actions might be linked to Evil's Fingers. "You know," said she, "he may be acting like that as a result of that tree." "Please, Marie! Please! Don't mention that abomination in this house." "I'm just saying that I think he may have been influenced by it. Many a Blackberry Villager can attest to the evil in that thing. What if it's gotten to Timmy?" "Don't think like that," said Mr. Hutchinson. But the Mrs. still held tight to her convictions, so the Mr. came up with a solution that would settle her reservations. "Well then, if you feel so strongly about it why don't you go talk with Mayor Braddock and see if there's been any other queer happenings with other children. If there has, I'm sure he would be privy to it." The Mrs. was relieved to hear his suggestion and that was how they ended their conversation. The next morning came swiftly and Mrs. Hutchinson (as it was discussed) forsook going to work and took a carriage to Mayor Braddock's estate. There was a good many people out and about in the early wee hours of the morning. Some were heading to work themselves, some were headed toward the different pubs and breakfast establishments. It took Mrs. Hutchinson about seven minutes to make it to Mayor Bradely Braddock's estate. When she got there, she exited the carriage and made her way to the front door. She knocked and after a time was greeted and welcomed into the estate. The maid who answered the door, as it so happens, knew of Mrs. Hutchinson, as she and her husband were both vocal proponents of Mayor Braddock. Mrs. Hutchinson climbed an extravagant flight of stairs and then made her way to Mayor Braddock's office. A lone assistant was situated just outside of his office in a secretarial room and, as Mrs. Hutchinson was making her way to the door, she sought to impede her progress. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Hutchinson, but Mayor Braddock is busy and can't be bothered at the moment." Mrs. Hutchinson was more than a little perturbed to hear this. She then drew herself up for a response. "He's busy you say? What kind of busy?" "He's planning his remarks for the village meeting that is to be held in two days time." "Well, it just so happens that I have urgent business with Mayor Bradely Braddock, and that he would be willing to make an exception in this instance." "I'm sorry, Madame Hutchinson, but he told me to specifically to prevent any, and I repeat, any and all entrance into his office. You'll just have to come back another time." Mrs. Marie Hutchinson became infuriated. Just who was this little lout to say what she could or could not do? As much support as she threw Bradely Braddock's way the least he could do was answer a few questions. She thought up a rather clever retort but decided against it. She then responded in like manner, trying (but not succeeding, mind you) to keep her cool. "Tell him that Mrs. Marie Hutchinson requests an audience with him. Tell him that she has some very urgent business to discuss. Furthermore, tell him if he doesn't respond positively then the Hutchinson household will be forced to back his opponent in next Blackberry Village election." She smiled, seeing that her words began to resonate with the secretary. "I will go and see if he'll speak with you." "Good." The secretary went and stayed for a brief amount of time. She then came out with a smile and said that Mayor Braddock had agreed to see her. Mrs. Hutchinson smiled a rather pretentious smile and gingerly made her way into Mayor Braddock's office. Mayor Braddock was a corpulent and gaily gentlemen and seeing Mrs. Hutchinson enter into his office did not, initially, upset him. Indeed, it took a lot to get Mayor Bradely Braddock all riled up. He stood and then ventured to greet Mrs. Hutchinson. "Ah, Mrs. Marie Hutchinson of the Hutchinson estate. How pleased I am to see you looking so lovely, as you are often wont to look. Look at you! You are just as splendid and as fantastic as you could possibly be. How have you been?" "Life has been kind enough to me, Bradely. And what about you? How have you been doing?" "Oh, you know how it is with Martha and myself. We're the happiest of the happy in Blackberry Village." He smiled at her and she returned a smile herself. Bradely Braddock was intensely devoted to his supporters. Especially those who contributed to his reelection campaign. Mrs. Hutchinson knew this, but never said or gave any indication to testifiy against his facade. A thought came to Mayor Braddock and he just had to share it. "And just how is that son of yours, little Timmy? You know, I'm sure that was really a hard and trying time for you and Theodore, not knowing where your son was and all. Why, just last night, Martha and I were discussing how hard it must've been and the kind of thoughts that must have been coming to your mind, when you didn't see Timmy coming through the door at his usual time and how, as time went on, he still was nowhere to be found. And what about that noble Paul fellow? You know, we really ought to give him an award or accolade for what he did. Why, if it wasn't for him who knows how long little Timmy would have had to endure that trial. In fact, we could even name it after him and all those who receive it from then onwards would be the recipient of the 'Paul the Giant' man of the year award. Uh-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! That would be something, wouldn't it? Uh-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" It must be noted here--as can be easily perceived--that Mayor Bradely Braddock was quite the conversationalist. Or, perhaps the better label would be he was 'garrulous.' Mrs. Hutchinson listened to him whine on and on until finally she couldn't take it anymore. She told him to stop and then went on to answer his question that led to the 'speech,' as she would have put it. "Timmy is fine. At least that's what I would have said before he fell in that pit. The truth is, there's something about him that's bothering me and that is why I have sought you out." "So all is not well, you say? Really? Well, that's too bad. Tell me then, what's bothering you concerning your son?" "Well", began Mrs. Hutchinson, "you may or may not see this as a huge or glaring peculiarity, but myself and Granny Weatherall feel that little Timmy is behaving strangely with the other children." "Huh? Stangely you say? With the other children? How so?" "He's playing with them, something he never used to do. He'd always play by himself and now he claims to be playing 'forest pirates' with the other children of Blackberry Village." Mayor Braddock said a plethora of 'hmm's' and 'ahh's'. He and Martha didn't have any children Timmy's age, but it did intrigue him that Mrs. Hutchinson would be concerned about something seemingly so trivial. "I came to you today to ask if there has been any other strange reports concerning the children of Blackberry Village. I think," began Mrs. Hutchinson, and here she was hesistant to continue because she had a feeling of how Bradely would react but she continued anyway, "I think it might have something to do with Evil's Fingers." "Evil's Fingers?! Oh, dear me! I do hope, Mrs. Hutchinson, for your sake and the child's, that this has nothing to do with Evil's Fingers. People have turned up missing because of that thing you know. It has the power to send people straight to limbo. Oh, dear me! Dear me indeed. You mustn't speak that name here, here or anywhere. It's unseemly to do so. It attracts the green mist, I'm almost sure of it. Oh, dear me! Dear me indeed!" Bradely continued on with his rant for some time until Mrs. Hutchinson couldn't take it anymore. "Mayor Bradely Braddock, you still haven't answered my question. You've just been going on and on and on, talking about your fear of Evil's Fingers, and how it is out to get us and what have you. I contribute to your re-election campaign, so the least you could do is answer my question in a timely fashion, so that I may take my leave of you. Now please, has there been any strange reports concerning the children of Blackberry Village?" Mayor Braddock drew himself up in preparation for a response. He was sincerely hurt by Mrs. Hutchinson's ranting and raving. He began to straighten out his tie and he cleared his throat. "In response to your question, I will say that I have heard of children behaving what you would call 'strangely'. There has been a sudden surge of children turning up missing for a few hours and then they'd come back, most confessing that they'd become lost in the forest." "Interesting," said Mrs. Hutchinson. "Yes. It is," said Bradely Braddock as he cleared his throat again. "But this is all I know. Now if you will excuse me, I must get back to writing my address for the bi-monthly village meeting. Good day to you, Mrs. Hutchinson." "Good day, Bradely Braddock," said Mrs. Hutchinson as she stood and made her way to the exit. Mrs. Hutchinson went home and waited for her husband to return from work so she could tell him about the conversation she had with Mayor Braddock. His interest piqued when she told him that there had been instances of children disappearing and then reappearing. "That sounds queer," said Theodore Hutchinson as he stroked his chin. "I wonder what's the meaning behind it." "Who knows but the children. Whatever the case may be, I think we need to keep a close eye on Timmy. In fact, I'm going to tell him tomorrow that I don't want him going to forest anymore to play forest pirates." Theodore Hutchinson agreed in earnest. Both were only doing what they felt was best at the time. Little did they know, however, that an event was about to happen that would change the course of history for all of Blackberry Village and its neighbors. The next morning came swiftly. Theodore left for work at his usual time and Mrs. Hutchinson awoke with her agreed upon plan in her mind. She would tell little Timmy Hutchinson that she did not want him playing forest pirates with the other children of Blackberry Village and that she didn't want him going to the forest anymore. It had caused enough trouble as it is, with him falling in the pit and whatnot, and all the misfortune that came about because of it. She would tell him this before she left for work. She went to his room and was perturbed to find that he wasn't there. That's rather odd, she thought. She made her way down the elaborate staircase with the intention of talking with Granny Weatherall. Granny Weatherall was making biscuits for breakfast. Mrs. Hutchinson made her way toward her. "Have you seen Timmy, Granny Weatherall? He's not in his room. Has he come down here at all?" Granny Weatherall turned around and shook her head. "I can't say that I have, Mrs. Hutchinson. I haven't seen him nor have I heard him coming down the stairs." Just then, there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Hutchinson went to answer and saw an old friend in Darlene Fields. Both were some of the wealthiest people in Blackberry Village, the Hutchinson's and Fields'. Mrs. Hutchinson had put on a small smile when she noticed it was Darlene, but as the expression on Darlene's face became clear to her, her expression changed to one of concern. "Oh my God, Marie! Have you or your son seen Christie? She's been missing since late last night. I thought to wait and see if she'd turn up by the morning, and that if she didn't I would go around the village and ask anyone if they'd seen her. Have you seen her?" Mrs. Hutchinson was at a loss for words. Her mouth was opened but no words were coming out. Finally she managed something. "Actually, I haven't seen her nor Timmy. Would you like to come in? Granny Weatherall is making us some breakfast biscuits." "So your son's missing too? I'm sorry but I have to decline your offer. I have to find my daughter." Darlene scampered away and Marie noticed that toward the horizon there was a good many people in the streets, seemingly in perplexity. People were in the streets crying it seemed. What in God's name was going on? As time went on, and as more and more concerned parents came to her door, she began to realize the horrible truth of the matter. The children were missing! All of them, mind you, had seemingly disappeared over night. The next day came, and the children of Blackberry Village did not return to their homes. Theodore and Marie Hutchinson had been handling the matter as best they could, having some previous experience with an event such as this. Theodore had brought up the idea that the men of the village should form a search party for the children and some of them had already begun doing so. Theodore was with them. They had been searching since the wee hours of the morning, but no children had been found. The time of the bi monthly town meeting was fast approaching, and Mrs. Hutchinson had a topic that she wanted to discuss. It was the evil influence of the tree that had been doing this. That entity. That cold, malicious, malevolent, disgraceful thing that was entrenched in evil. That unclean thing. It had taken the children. It knew that the children were the only people of Blacberry Village that wasn't afraid of it and now it used the children as a way to get to the parents of the village. She would bring up the only possible solution to the village's problem at the meeting: the complete destruction of Evil's Fingers. Night had fallen. The search party had given up on looking for the children for the day. Everyone began filing inside of the village hall, where the meeting would take place. There was much talk and commotion as everyone began to file in. There were chairs situated throughout the hall. Mayor Braddock called for everyone's attention and they gave it. "The fifth village meeting on the calendar will now commence," said Mayor Bradely Braddock. But before he could start speaking he was interrupted by Mrs. Marie Hutchinson of the Hutchinson estate. "We don't have time for the pleasantries, Bradely. Everybody knows what's on all of our minds. We want our children back!" Mostly everyone erupted into riotous agreement. Mayor Braddock tried to calm everyone down. "Please! Let me finish! I was going to say that this was going to be a special meeting in light of recent events. Yes. I know. We all want the children back. But how do we go about doing that?" There was silence for a short while. No one seemed to want to voice their opinon. Finally Darlene Fields spoke her thoughts. "It's that tree, I tell you. Something's gotta be done about that tree!" There was moaning and groaning from the villagers. Everyone seemingly agreed that the tree was the source of the disappearing children, but not many were set on confronting its evil. Marie Hutchinson saw this as her chance to speak her mind. "If we don't confront that apparition we'll never see our children again," said she. Her husband held her hand tightly in support of his wife. "That thing has been the cause of many disappearances throughout the history of Blackberry Village. I think that's something everyone can agree on. It's only common sense that tells us that its the tree's evil that has caused the disappearances of our children." There was some splattered hand clapping and hearty 'here here's'. Still though, the people seemed unwilling to commit to confronting the tree, especially Mayor Braddock. "Come now," he said, "it may turn out to be something completely different than that tree. We don't have to be rash about things. Let us reconsider our course of actions, for who knows what may happen to those that oppose Evil's Fingers." There was some hand claps and voices in agreement with Bradely's statement. Mr. Hutchinson stood up in protest of what Bradely said. "Listen here, Bradely. My child is missing. I know that it has something to do with that tree. It has been a thorn in our side long enough. It's high time we got rid of it. What say any of you?" There was some hand clapping and even some that stood up in support of Theodore Hutchinson's comments. He nodded his head in agreement with them. A lone man by the name of Thomas stood to contest his statements. "So what are you proposing we do? Go out into Blackberry Forest with axe's in hand and uproot Evil's Fingers? And how many of us do you think will make it back from such a foolish expedition? Two out of many?" There was a good deal of applause to Thomas' statements, and even some standing. Mayor Bradely Braddock ventured to add to his statement. "You are most right, Thomas. Standing in opposition to Evil's Fingers is not standing at all. It is foolishness." More people voiced their support of Bradely's statement than those who opposed. Mrs. Hutchinson saw her chance slipping from her and went for one last bastion of hope. "So what you two are proposing is that we let that thing keep our children? I'm sorry gentlemen, but that is unacceptable. For those of us who have children missing, we know how hard the sting feels. I can almost pardon you, Bradely. You don't have children missing, and that coupled with your fear of Evil's Fingers has led you to not want to confront it. But Thomas, don't you have a son out there?" Thomas looked around sourly and embraced his crying wife. "I just don't see what you expect us to do in the face of such evil," said Thomas. "The path may be blind to you, sir Thomas," said Theodore Hutchinson, "but we could at least try. We may be sacrificing our lives but in an effort to save the lives of our children I think that it is a noble crusade. A noble crusade indeed." Many a Blackberry Villager applauded Theodore Hutchinson's statements. Marie saw this as her opportunity to get her child back. "Come then! Let us go find axe's and uproot Evil's Fingers!" she said with a motion of her arm, rallying support. Just about everyone stood up and headed for the exit, ignoring Mayor Braddock's plea for order. It didn't take long for the villagers to rally in the square. A good many had axes, the others would simply go to watch the destruction of Evil's Fingers. Their cries were defeaning as they made their way through Blackberry Forest. Darkness had--as it has already been told--descended. That characteristic green mist that hung around Evil's Fingers now surrounded the entire forest. The villagers took note of it, but their desire to win back their children outweighed their fear. When they got to the spot, the tree looked just as menacing as ever. The green mist hung limply around it. The tree itself was a towering, foreboding thing. It was anti-nature in its most inexplicable form. The cries had ceased. Everyone was attempting to take in just what it was they were attempting to do. Everyone just stood there with their mouths gaped wide open. Finally, Thomas (who was initially fearful of taking on the tree) began screaming and ventured to strike the thing with his axe. But imagine his bewilderment when he discovered that his axe did not produce the desired effect. It was true. He had struck the thing, but no hurt was done. Theodore then went to try his hand at injuring the tree but the same results occurred. Everyone was astonished beyond astonishment at this rather queer occurrence. Then Marie Hutchinson noticed something. There was someone standing to the side of the mob, observing. Just at that moment Mayor Bradely Braddock caught up with the mob. "Paul?" questioned Marie Hutchinson. "Is that you?" "You can't destory it," said Paul. "It's as much a member of your community as you are yourselves." Everyone looked at him as he approached the mob. Mayor Bradely Braddock began to voice his disapproval of the mob's intentions. "I told you that it was useless to oppose Evil's Fingers. Now the thing will have its revenge. It'll gobble us all up and send us to Limbo!" Mayor Braddock was eccentric and had to be told to shut up, which is what Marie Hutchinson told him. Paul had--by now--reached Marie Hutchinson. "Hello, Mrs. Hutchinson." "Paul?" began Mrs. Hutchinson who was now wondering what it was that he was doing here. "Where's Timmy?" she continued. "I'm here, mom!" Timmy, as well as the other children, were standing along to the side of the mob. All those who had missing children began to celebrate as they reunited with their loved ones. The green mist then began to evaporate and--what had to be considered as one of the most beautiful sights that any Blackberry Villager had attested to seeing--the tree began to change all at once. It took on the color of whiteness and those hideous formations that reached high into the sky began now to become what many perceived as harmonious. Paul then began speaking to the mob. "Evil's Fingers is more than what any of you know. It is a gateway to a fantastical world. The reason there have been so many disappearances is because people have discovered how to go through that gateway and have elected simply not to return. Such is the splendor that awaits on the other side of Heaven's Tree." The villagers then began to see all manner of fantastical things in the sky (things that they considered fables), such as dwarves, and elves, and pixies, and trolls, and even dragons. They then began to see majestic kingdoms, castles and white towers that reached high into the sky and landscapes brimming with greenery. The villagers were awestruck and unmoving. Paul then began heading toward the tree. "If you are still unbelieving then come for yourself. See what waits on the other side." Paul began moving toward the tree and the closer he got toward the tree the less visible he became. Everyone gasped. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson, being led by their son, began heading toward the tree. And that was the end of that despised thing we call Evil's Fingers, and the beginning of the majestic wonder that Blackberry Village and its neighbors call Heaven's Tree
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