Popov.

Popov Ch 13 Deadly Relations

Chapter 13 Deadly Relations

Popov entered the nursery his arms full of fresh laundered nappies. He kicked the door shut behind him with his heel and glanced over at the ornate crib to see a woman bending over it. She was leaning in, tickling Chronos on the cheek and saying –‘Who’s a cheeky chappie then, yes he is, yes he is.’ Popov coughed and she turned.

‘Ah Popov, I do hope you used lavender fabric conditioner on those.’

‘I er, I er don’t do – Mrs Harris does the - I’m sorry you are?’

‘Wonderful person Mrs Harris. Such a pleasant woman. So kind of her to help out. She does for the a –a – oh – the what do you call em’s’

‘Seraphim ma’am. She says it’s no trouble ‘cos it’s less mess than they make, ma’am. Would you mind telling me who you are?’ Popov placed the nappies on a table and stood watching the woman. She was dressed in a long pale green gown with a hint of primroses about it. She smiled and patted the ivy wound into her tangled brown hair.

‘Hasn’t little Azreal told you about me? I come every year to take a look at my boys.’ She turned back to the cot and smiled down at the gurgling Chronos. ‘You are taking such good care of him.’

The door opened and Death came in looking around as if searching for something.

‘Ah there you are mother,’ he said, ‘I thought you would be here around about now. How have you been?’

‘Oh it’s been a terrible year, such a problem with an imploding star and a whole galaxy disappearing. Farming is not like it used to be you know, I really can’t get my head around artificial insemination - not to mention young ladies being able to access medication that stops their –‘

‘Yes, thank you mother. Times are hard for all of us. I really meant how are you? Chronos looks well doesn’t he?’ Death stepped towards the crib.

‘An angel at this age, such a pity he has to grow up. It is a real shame you were only a baby once dear. Such a lovely child you were, with little ringlets of long blonde hair, until the Lord made me take your wig off.’ She sighed, ‘I tried to make you look sweet but everyone just said how ugly you were, you had such a boney face. Come to think of it, it hasn’t changed much. The Lord said I shouldn’t try to make you what you weren’t, so you never won Peter’s annual baby contest. Chronos is so different, such a lovely looking child. I had to stop entering him year after year. Peter said it wasn’t fair on the other mothers. Three hundred and fifty wins in a row, I still have that cup you know, somewhere. I was just telling Popov dear, what a wonderful job he is doing, much better than you ever managed.’ Popov’s jaw dropped as he watched the woman pat Death on the cheek. Death darted a sharp look at him.

‘It would seem Popov is doing a wonderful job all round,’ he growled. Popov’s face twitched.

‘Such an excellent idea to get Mrs Harris to help with the laundry. How come in over two thousand years you’ve never thought of that son?’ The woman tweaked at the crib covers and then set it rocking.

‘It would seem that Popov is the one with all the bright ideas,’ Death snarled and Popov took a step back. ‘Come mother the Lord has asked you to supper, Popov you are in charge.’ Death took the woman by the elbow and began steering her to the door.

‘Goodnight Mrs – er Mrs –‘

‘Just call me mother Popov, like everyone else does,’ the woman called back over her shoulder. ‘Mother Nature’. Death gave Popov one last hard look and closed the door behind them both. Popov breathed out.

‘Good morning el hijo. After your late supper with Himself last night I thought you would like some porridge this morning with a fried egg floating in a pool of melted yellow margarine set right in the middle of it, followed by some nice greasy fried bacon, tomato sauce and hot hash browns with the dripping oozing out of them.‘ Popov hovered beside Death who sat at a table covered in a drifted snow white table cloth