The Nature of the Beast

Chapter 16

There was a narrow set of stairs just outside the door. They were steeper than the large marble stairs out front and circular, made of iron. Enid took turns watching over and under the box, straining to see exactly where she was going. There was the faint animal tang Enid smelt the moment she stepped inside the fortress, but now it became stronger the further down they went. M pushed open the door on the main floor with her bottom and the stench of animal feces assaulted Enid. She staggered back, holding her breath.

"What in hell?" she muttered

M smiled "My beasts. Come, you'll get used to it. It's like perfume to me now," she took a deep breath in, maybe to prove it wouldn't kill her.

Enid sniffed, a small discreet whiff. There was a sweet quality to the air of fresh cut hay in the fall. There was also a sour, decomposing smell that overrode any pleasant odours. Part earth, part rot. It made her tongue tingle and cleared her nostrils. Enid proceeded with caution. "What do you keep down here?" she asked, breathing through her mouth.

The hallway looked the same as the floor above. The smells however were completely different. As Enid squinted down the long corridor, she could make out bars on the rooms, instead of doors.

What sort of hell was this? She shivered as she watched M place the box of food on the floor. She took out a bunch of cabbage and some carrots and proceeded to the first room.

"I clean the cages in the morning and feed them breakfast. This is dinner. You, girl, grab some of the same and come along."

Breathing through her mouth, she did as she was told. Curiosity overcame her fear.

The first room they came too was as large as M's. On the back wall was a door and from the sunlight streaming in, appeared to lead outdoors. There was a chain attached from the backdoor to the front cage, which M used to grab hold and shut the door without entering the room. Enid peered inside, looking for its inhabitant. Inside were two large tree trunks and patches of hay scattered about. Milica opened the door and walked inside.

"Come," she motioned for Enid to enter.

"The beast is outside. Sometimes it's easier to feed them if I keep them out while I place their food. I like to hide it for some of them as it makes their day more interesting," she sighed, a deep sad sigh. Enid stepped inside to take a better look.

Strewn around were a few stuffed animals, old and torn but still whole. One of the tree trunks was suspended across the room, from one end to the other, on a slant.

"What lives here?" Enid asked

"A gibbon. She likes to swing on the trees and if I'm not looking she pulls on my hair. Nasty creature. She's a smart girl though, so I hide her food for her. Go ahead," she gestured for Enid to start.

So Enid took a few carrots, and hid them under branches and teddy bears, under hay and on the windowsill. She found it amusing.

When they finished, M ushered Enid out and shut the cage door. Using the chain she loosened the outside door. The gibbon was waiting and pulled the door open itself and strutted inside. It walked in on its hind legs and Enid laughed. She had never seen a creature so human-like in her life. It possessed a wrinkled up face and what looked like a black beard, it reminded her of an old man.

It came right up to the cage and stuck its human like hand out. Milica took it, held it and stroked its fingers. It was such a loving, tender gesture, Enid could have wept. The gibbon never looked at either Enid or M, it just sat holding her hand.

"Ok, ok," Milica said, withdrawing her hand, "go eat."

The gibbon swaggered off and started hunting. It sat upon finding her first carrot and began to eat.