Hunter

Chapter 32

        Night eventually came. It had sunk horizon and the rest of the world with it. I had calmed down, but I still boiled with a craving to smash again and again Henri's head in a wall until it exploded like an egg on the rim of a bowl.

Sophie had let me use her bathroom. I knew Sophie less rich than I was, but was still surprised there were no bathtub. Nonetheless, since I did not need it, I did not ponder the question, come to think of it, the house was not so big, there was nothing strange in not putting a bath in it. After I washed my face, I looked into the mirror. Still the same face: a man with brown hair and blue-grey eyes. The only differences, rings under the eyes and the premises of a beard. For a moment, I remembered myself looking into the mirror years back: Susanne appearing behind me, laying delicatly her arms on my shoulders when I was thinking in front of the mirror. As always when I saw her, a knot blocked my throat. Susanne. I pulled myself together and went back to the living room. Only Agate and Ulysses were there. My daughter looked up at me, smiled, then she went on playing with her rag doll, who apparently had to go to a very important reception, at least, that is what she had told Ul who was quietly looking at her, his head laid on his legs. Sophie and Arthur's voices reached my ears. They were both in the kitchen. One of them, probably Arthur, was laying the table while the other was cooking.

"What do you think he is going to do?" Arthur asked.

"Nothing."

"I hope you're right."

"Your father isn't crazy. He is a rational man, he won't do anything."

"But you saw how mad he was! I'd never seen him like that. He is always so calm."

"Yes, I know. But your are his son. It's a violent reaction, sure, but normal in my opinion."

I was standing in the middle of the living room, listening to them, afraid to interrupt them. It was a good thing for Arthur to talk to a woman. He had completely lost feminine contact since his mother's death. I let them talk a few more minutes, then, taking advantage of a blank in the conversation I entered the room. Sophie, who was going through pans, turned her head towards me and smiled. Arthur, leaning on the back of chair did the same.

"I'm sorry, Gustave. You'll have to sleep in my bed, I'll take the couch."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll take the couch."

"But..."

"I prefer to be downstairs, just in case."

Sophie did not try to reply. She perfectly understood what "just in case" meant.

Few minutes later, she put down a dish on the table and we dined. The conversation was mostly small talk and Sophie did her best to avoid the subject which worried us all.

"How is your dissertation on fairies disappearance going?"

"Steady pace."

"Why do you think they have become so rare?"

"Well it's probably because of slavery by...

"... by wizards and other powerful creatures."

"Oui... Saddly."

It kept going this way to the end of the meal. Then, as we were all exhausted, especially me, we went to bed. Sophie did not try to change my mind and let me sleep on the couch. Agate had insisted I went upstairs to tuck her in, so I had gone upstairs with heavy steps and tucked my two kids in. Arthur and I had laughed all along. There was something comical in tucking in a 17-year-old boy. Finally, I had kissed Agate on her brow and smiled to Arthur. He had smiled back. I was going to the door when his voice caught my ears.

"Papa!"

I turned.

"What is it?"

"I... I'm glad you're here."

I smiled again.

"Nothing bad will happen to you. I promise."

I left the room and closed the door.

The night was deep and moonless. With slow and steps heavy  with fatigue, I reached the couch and dropped on it. I pulled the blanket Sophie had given me upto my chin and closed my eyes, listening to the soft snore of my faithful friend, Ul, as I fell slowly asleep.