The Haunt of Danzig Ruin

Last Days

     

             Petrich finally did rouse in the deep of the night, and the pain from his left extremity gave him a cold sweat. He groaned in nauseating pain, but Nora was immediately by his side.
       She did not speak, but only thought out to him gently.
       Now you are awake, come and be put to bed.
       He felt her assist him from his right side. His left arm was bandaged from the elbow to the fingertips and supported with a linen shoulder sling.  Petrich rose to his feet unsteadily, fearing he may sick if he did not get into the bed quickly.
     Once horizontal again, his nausea passed but the pain throbbed throughout his left arm. 
        Nora brought to him a small cup of something steaming and smelling rather rank. 
        "It's a tea made from a gratogin root.  I had some help finding some outside. Was hoping it grew here 200 years ago."
       Petrich grinned thankfully, and sipped the hot liquid. Any pain relief beat none at all. He yearned, however, for the tiny vial of cauldomin they had acquired in Dresgorn but had been left in an unretrieved knapsack in Danzig Castle just outside the Dream Plain.  But that was about 900 miles west and 200 years in the future.  Just a bit out of reach. This broth of gratogin root would  have to suffice.
        It took time to take effect, but the severe ache finally ebbed to a dull throb.  Nora brought to him fresh bandage linen and gently began to unwrap the bandages that had been on his arm for nearly 12 hours.
        Before she revealed what lay beneath the bandages, Nora asked, "What do you remember?"
        Petrich took a moment to concentrate. All was now just a blurry haze. 
         "I had a night terror," he finally answered, in a slow drugged voice, "Yes, I had a dream. I was working on the tapestry and I had a visit from Theo Xander."  Petrich looked curiously at the bandaged arm. "What happened? Did I smash my hand while I dreamed? It hurts as if my fingers were caught in a heavy door. And the arm. . .did it get cut or something? Feels like more than one."
            Nora looked at him pityingly, and took the last of the bandages away revealing the horribly bruised nails and mutilated forearm. Petrich drew in his breath sharply. His right hand flew up to his mouth, he squeezed his eyes shut and quickly looked away. Only then did he uncover his mouth, but refused to open his eyes.
           "Please cover it up, Nora." he said as calmly as he could manage.
           Nora obeyed, having quickly applied more astringent. Once the forearm was wrapped again, she noticed  Petrich had opened his eyes again and was looking curiously at just his left hand fingers.
           "Ah. . .yes. I remember now." he said with a shaky sigh, "The tapestry needle went rogue in my right hand." He looked at Nora, trying to blink back tears. "I heard you call out to me. I knew you were in trouble somewhere along the beach, and then the stabbing began. . . And I could not stop it." He sniffed back the sobs, "I should have been there for you, darling."
          Nora took up his right hand and kissed it. "You warned me against the unseemly, and yet, as you imagined Theo Xander, I imagined Hilary again, and he led me to the shore with The Lux anchored within swimming distance. I mean, how much more unseemly could it possibly get? And yet I followed. When I came to my senses, the waves had just nearly overtaken me. But then Huter came along and snatched me out."
            Nora's last statement made him look up curiously. "Huter?" he asked.
            "Yes. . ." Nora turned her head to a far dark corner. "Huter," she called, "Come meet Master Petrich."
             The big dog sauntered over to her, sat and looked at Petrich, its nose twitching. Nora again removed the collar for Petrich to read.
             "I wondered if Crinoline would send any sort of help. Just couldn't know what form it would take." said Petrich.
             "So, Huter was to be expected?"
             "I've heard tell of guardians for those visiting the Dream Plain. Perhaps I dismissed the idea of one coming to us after so long a time here. But, I suppose, better late than never." Petrich reached out to pet and Huter accepted graciously, then unceremoniously went back to its corner and quietly lay down again.
              "It is true that the longer we remain, the more often we may need a guardian to save us from ourselves."
           Nora nodded solemnly in agreement. Dream Plain insanity was now a dangerous reality to them both.
           Petrich again studied his freshly wrapped arm. "This will certainly slow the process of finishing our task."
           "Yes, it will," said Nora, "But may I make a suggestion?"
           "Of course."
           "Well, how about letting me take up the needlework and you guide the stitching through me? I'll need more guidance with embroidery than I ever do with painting, and it might be slow going at first, but I'll pick it up quickly, you know."
            A shadow of a smile touched Petrich's mouth. "Yes, I know you will, darling. And it is a suggestion I just may take you up on."

               *.          *.         *.    

               Their work continued and for a week Nora took up the tapestry needles, threaded them, arranged them in order, then sat in front of the tapestry frame blindfolded. Petrich mentally guided her hands, and it was true that it was slow  and exhausting in the beginning.  Petrich likened the process to operating the strings to a marionette.  But the stitches were just as precise as far as he could judge. 
               Huter continued to be their ever present guardian, only taking her (Nora had witnessed the dog squatting to urinate away from the house) leave to feed, stretch and exercise her muscles, and relieve herself.
                Throughout any given day, she would suddenly jump up and growl lowly at some unseen thing. Nora would try to catch whatever apparition could be lurking and felt quite sure she'd just nearly catch something familiar just ducking around the corner and out of sight. It was a constant reminder of their mental vulnerability with each passing day and it greatly concerned her.
              Petrich slowly healed. His fingers returned to working order and he was again able to stitch the tapestry that was now three quarters finished. The left forearm, however, remained wrapped.
When Nora questioned the progress of healing on his arm, Petrich tended to give short, noncommittal answers, then quickly deflect to another subject.
                 At first this did not concern Nora so very much. She and Petrich pushed through many long hours in hopes to finish the tapestry ahead of the already tight schedule. Taking focus from this one goal, even to eat and sleep caused for terse answers from both of them to most all other inquiries.
Since Petrich's incident, however, Nora sensed a change in him, even beyond the post trauma stress they both suffered. The time he did not spend at the frame, Petrich spent on long walks alone. Huter would always follow, a good ten paces behind, never at his side, so as not to disturb, but close enough to protect him if need be.
Are you alright? Nora finally thought out.
In answer, Petrich merely looked at her grimly, forced a grin, but said nothing.
Nora concentrated to look into his mind. She knew this was an extremely grievous act between scribe and assistant, but was at a point of much desperation.
Just before she had the answer to his melancholy, Petrich glared at her.
Don't you dare, he warned in thought.
Nora stepped back in fear, never having Petrich look and speak to her with such venom. Nora looked over at Huter who lay in her corner. If something or someone had possession of Petrich, Huter would have leaped up to take action. But instead, the dog lay her head on her paws, rolled up her eyes to Nora's face and merely let out a soft whine. Whatever this was, Huter had no part to play.
When the tapestry was but days away from completion, Nora had hopes that Petrich's mood would finally lift, but it did not. As the last day approached, Petrich went missing.
Nora woke alone with a start. Petrich was nowhere to be seen, neither was Huter. Nora pulled a blanket about her, lit a lantern and stepped out into the night. No more than a hundred paces from the bungalow, Petrich sat, loosely hugging his knees. Huter lay a few yards away from him, and lifted her head as Nora approached.
Nora sat down the lantern and sat beside him. She remained completely silent, waiting.
Petrich finally spoke. "I apologize for my behavior over the past few weeks."
"Apology accepted." Nora replied, simply.
Petrich looked at her. No, it was more like he studied her. He reached out and touched her face, her arms, her hands. He urged her to lay back on the blanket and his hands leisurely roamed her body over her night dress.
Nora lay as still as she could manage, catching her breath as Petrich touched her more sensitive areas. He had not touched her much at all since his incident, and Nora hungered for him.
             Now she moved to unfasten his trousers, then laid back and hitched up her gown invitingly.  Petrich leaned over her and kissed her, moving against her sensually slow, keeping control for as long as was possible.
Nora savored the moment, as she did every time they shared this particular pleasure, and throughout she lay her mind bare to him. For the most part, he did as well, except for the very deep source of his melancholy behavior. It was shut tight, even when, at long last, he climaxed, and when most hidden things were suddenly left out in the open for all to see. Not this hidden thing.
Oh, Petrich, Nora thought out, Please help me understand you. . .
Petrich now lay on his back next to her, staring up at the bright stars. "It's time for you to know." he said.
He unwrapped his left forearm, and turned it over under the light of the lantern. The puncture marks were still there, scabbed over.
"These were never random." Petrich explained, "They make up a star chart of my death. Which, according to this, is tomorrow, and I need to break our bond, Nora, before it's too late."