The additional chapter

by Jerle

Summary:

A complimentary chapter to Cain's Jawbone, that you can add to the main story.
I don't pretend to have Torquemada's talent, it's just a little tribute. I hope you will have fun resolving it. This was not beta'-read, so please tell me if you have any comment regarding it.
Have fun !

Chapter 1

The house was silently still. The green and black sofas were void of anyone and the library undisturbed. I never liked the heap of gravel on the north wall. Dull and rough stones clumbering the space, collecting dust. His collection he called it. Whatever. Mariage is an act of compromise and he had accepted the Dark French Grey. It reminded me of simpler times, times when Romeo had still wooed Juliet and brought her to see the mute von Stroheim in the big city. O those joyous days ! But perhaps I will too, live the adventure of a merry widow. Afterall, there was no saying how he would react to this paper and my obvious preference for Henry. But the darling deserved the very best and I was ready to give him Captain Flint's treasure without the associated arduous search. Tea time’s dessert today was an Apple crumble, Henry's favorite. Wasn't it a sign ? Should the old man take offense from my initiative, I would once again become a Green girl, ready to discover the world. It is never too late to be what you might have been. In fact, I should leave right now, and not wait for him to find out the truth. To flee, perhaps to go to Henry. He had already moved into my old flat in London.

Chapter 2

Obviously I did not hate him, since we were married in the first place. In his youth, he used to be a dashing man, parading around in his polished shoes and his tweed deer-stalker. Previously with glabrous chin and smooth skin, he seemed now a different person. Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love. I hated being told I was rude. I was not. It was more of a dental fricative. Henry never made the mistake, even when he did not have the necessary teeth. But then Henry always called me more lovingly. Did he, ever call me lovingly ? No evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from. It felt crushing -his love or evil- but I never stopped loving him. Was Henry not the proof of that ? The morning continued its languid course while my mind continued racing, eyebrows frowning. Soon, it will be time to break bread. My feelings were conflicted, but I had to decide a course of action.

Chapter 3

The morning air felt warm, despite the lack of sun. A lack of sun did not mean a presence of rain and that was unordinary enough to enjoy it. The cup was dark and rich, but there was a touch of acidity that I never felt in it. The cute Flora was new here and had not yet learned the proper blend ratio. My eyes skimmed over the correspondence without stopping. What a strange language ! Who knew he was so cryptic. Or was it cynic ? Ah, the head and tail were the same but the body was longer. At least, the numbers were comprehensible. I was surprised, but deep down, I knew he was an intellectual. He just never was with me. Flora brought some delicious brown and purple balls, soft and steaming inside. It washed away the previous burn like a spring shower. Those days, the sky was quite merciful. It did not feel like England. It was the day the first Academy Awards were distributed on the other side of the Atlantic, and the new selection looked promising this year. The convoluted script catched my attention again. The old fool had drunk too many of his Spey Royals and lost his last marble. Conniving with the Reds ? What a folly.

Chapter 4

He was pestering about the idiotic taigs that did not know what was good for them, and the audacity of those fenians. The rough and low voice was crepitating, a few words were lost. Lost on who ? He then continued on the value of the ruble. He called me a compassionate friend, but I did not remember being this close to him. The colour of spring would be more appropriate between us. Was it really such a necessity to have an Ericsson DBH, if it was to be contacted by such a dunce ? My mind could not help but wander. Soon Sancho and Alonso will be revealed with the opera singer and I could not wait to see them. The night creeped behind the windows, and the sky had a purple hue. Perhaps Monet was right. I was excited to eat at Lyons tomorrow. Did they still have their wonderful treacle tarts ? There was the matter of the juridical paper. To whom could I entrust it ? Henry needed to be estranged from the whole story. Perhaps this girl that came for tea last month ? She was as sweet as the month of May.

Chapter 5

Of course, I kept a close eye to my finances. Caring is not always sharing, and staying independent was important to my heart. We managed things differently, on that matter. The love of accumulating money grows an absorbing passion in men whose imaginations, even in the very beginning of their hoard, showed them no purpose beyond it. Henry did not think that way, and I was glad we were so alike. The cup was replenished anew, but I drained it almost immediately. Behind my closed eyes, busy coffee shops, bustling with energy. I had felt at home in the five-boroughs city. Accents and languages melting in one pot. With my friends, we were looking like Miss Gibson, admiring Broadway stars and laughing. How I longed for those simpler times. The mechanical mantel shelf clock suddenly rang, like a swiss bird. I could not lose myself in idle thoughts. I needed to take action and protect my hard earned gold. If I did not lever the bridge, it would all flow away in the new Cheka. I had an idea that would protect my assets, even from the cold clutches of Death.

Chapter 6

I did not dislike staying at the old family house. The atmosphere was calm and refreshing, suitable for self introspection and organizing ideas. Spurred by the springly energy, I had been cleaning the study for hours the day before. Old correspondance, academic articles, student papers, so much stacked with years. Nestled in a drawer, a giant Ape terrorizing a poor blond. The old man did not want to hear about this one under the pretense that americans had no subtlety. Dunce man. Henry had liked it, and recommended it to me. The sweet boy always had a caring attention. The envelope was sitting on the windowsill, already opened. Of course, it was an invasion of privacy, but after so many years bickering, was it ? Marriage is so unlike everything else. There is something even awful in the nearness it brings. Even if we loved someone else better than - than those we were married to, it would be no use. I enjoyed a well deserved after that. All this dust ! I was glad it was all done in one day. I had planned to rest for today, but perhaps some thinking was needed. I tried one of the freshly brought buns : delicious.

Chapter 7

How strange life was. One moment a smile, another a tear. New York, the Kent. Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde. One moment a dull and repetitive life, another the surge of energy accompanying change. Hold up your head! You were not made for failure, you were made for victory. Go forward with a joyful confidence. The house now felt stuffy, too small to stay in. The village was an uneventful and forgettable place. Did the furniture always look this bleak and old ? The walls, so small and cramped ? Like a grand-mother's house. I was nobody's grand-mother. Or not yet, should I say. I hurried Flora : what an adventure ! The blues, reds, and yellows found their way pressed together. Cloche, flappers and sequins were dancing around : what an excitement ! To be Dick Turpin and go on an unknown journey, facing dangers and wonders alike, to gain the faraway city. I would become the man of twists and turns, the seven seas sailor ! I could not contain my joy and barely thought of the means to execute the plan. I could not literally embark on the voyage, and there was no contraption for Trevithick’s machinery around here. Whatever, I was not going to be stopped by such a trivial matter, and I had the whole evening to think about it.

Chapter 8

I came down the path that led to Sir Edward residence, and let my eyes wander on the hilly brown and green patches. The tranquility of the air was banal in Kent, but a stark contrast from the everbustling capital. A misleading peace and quiet, hiding a long foretold tragedy. To live in the village of Domesday ! The bells of the church rang eleven times loudly and echoed in the small streets. A chill ran through me. I had ignored the clues for far too long, and it was revealed to me only today. It seemed obvious now, with my recent discovery. I envied Jean Harlow, flying above the fields like a bird, free to choose and to disappear. O to be free of wearing your own name. I had thought about this numerous times during my walk, but I could not come up with another solution. Everything seemed to stare at me menacingly, warning me of a soon-to-be danger. I could not stay here any longer, and I decided to seal this fate in ink. This sin was too enormous to not react.

Chapter 9

It felt oppressive, sitting at this desk. The shy rays of early afternoon were dancing on the dark wood and I felt lonely. What loneliness is more lonely than distrust? It was probably at that same desk he wrote his correspondence with the acronymic country. Could I use the same pen as the one who betrayed us for onirical wealth ? But he was the one who wielded Cain's Jawbone first, and I had no qualms to defend myself. I thought of my childhood and of Mr Powys Mathers literature classes. Our brains were tied in impossible knots at the end of each lecture. How would he laugh, now, reading this ! And would he react, knowing his students were still thinking about him after all these years ? The dull and rebarbative text was strenuous to write, my eyes squinting at the words, just enough to discern the letters. I rapidly began to admire the abnegation of administrative workers. To constantly speak in terms of justice was unfathomable to me. Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbor's buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder. Should such a fate befall me, I would not fear for my sweet Henry.

Notes:

Could you guess who is the narrator ? Who is this Henry ? What is the plot here ?