Zombie Mage (31 page)

Not wanting to ponder over this too much, he quickly
climbed over the fence and made his way to the smaller tent where he first met
Marvin.   Inside it looked exactly the same as he remembered.  The coffin
remained in the same place and the cage was still standing on a small table to
his right.  Olligh rushed over to the cage and peered inside.  He smiled
broadly.  Marvin’s brain was still there in a jar.  His job was done.  Now he
just had to return to Ekelton to finish what he had started.

Back in the Ekelton church resting chamber, Marvin and Gull were trying
out some coffins for size.  Hetty and Michael were sitting next to them, amused
by their antics.

"I like this one," Gull said, stretching his
arms out. "The pillow's lovely and soft."

"Yeah," Marvin replied, "but I don't
need luxuries like that.  You're just a big pansy."

"Hey," Gull continued. "This one’s got
a hand mirror in it as well but it's cracked."

"That's hardly surprising with your ugly mug
gawking into it."

Olligh approached the entrance to the chamber and coughed
loudly.

Hetty noticed him and smiled broadly. “You back! You
very quick!”

“Yeah,” Marvin said. “That’s what all the girls say!”

Hetty blushed.

Olligh folded his arms."Yes, I’m back but please
don't tell me you and Gull are both bickering again?"

"Hey, he loves it!" Marvin chortled.
"He'll miss me once he drinks his potion."

"Yeah, like a hole in the head, which is quite
appropriate considering that's all you've got left."

Olligh smiled at his friends.  "Well, on that
note, I think my job here is done.  You're all present and you've all got
potions to drink."

Marvin waved his bony hand in the air. "Not me! Did
you manage to get my brain?”

“Indeed I did.  It’s in a pot in the opposite chamber
with a healthy dose of potion splashed on top.”

“Do you really think it'll work, pickling my brain in
that stuff?"

"I'm sure it'll have the desired effect.  If not,
come and seek me out at my tower house in Ekelton over the next few days and
bring your brain with you.  I'm sure we'll be able to work something out before
I deteriorate too badly."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure folk will love seeing a naked
skeleton strolling along the country path.  They'll all wave and greet me with
big, welcoming smiles."

"Well use your brain for a change.  Make sure
it's dark outside and stick to the forest."

Gull grinned. "Aye, and if you're lucky, a wild
boar will get to gnaw on you."

"Right everyone, I'm going home now.  I’ve just
got to pack a potion and visit my dear wife. I've decided that I’m also going
to be taking her with me.  I know she'd have liked that."

 With tears in her eyes, Hetty walked over to Olligh
and hugged him one last time. "I'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you too, Hetty, very much so.  Before
you quaff your potion though, you may need the help of these fine fellows to
put two coffins together.  I'm not sure if you'll fit in any of these smaller
ones. You're ever so tall."

Hetty smiled. "Will fit, Silly."

  "Goodbye everyone!" Olligh waved one last
time.

"Rest well," Gull said, rubbing tears from
his eyes.

"Aye, thanks for all your help," Marvin
uttered. "If I could cry you might've even seen a few drops."

Michael looked glum.  He waved at Olligh. "Take
care, Olligh. Thanks for saving me from the meat men."

Olligh turned to leave the room.  He wiped a tear from
his eye.  It was difficult to leave his friends behind after all they'd been
through together but he knew it was the right thing to do.  He crossed over
into the opposite room and lifted Lara gently from her coffin.

"Come, my love. Let's finally spend some quality
time together."

For what seemed like an eternity, Olligh sat with Lara watching the
world go by.  The views were wonderful from their house and it felt good to
share them with her once again, even if it was only her physical shell
remaining.  Olligh clasped her hand tightly and smiled contentedly.  He knew
there was no life without his wife.  She was his everything, his only reason to
exist, but he deeply regretted not realising this properly until now. 
Throughout his life his only real aim was to help people.  Even his research
into the cosmos and death was purely to give people more time together.  Life
always seemed far too short for Olligh.  Ironically, he wondered how much time
he'd wasted on his studies that could've been spent with Lara.  At least the
world triggers had now stopped and he knew that his remaining days would be
next to her where he belonged.

As the days and nights passed by, Olligh felt a cold
bleakness beginning to creep through his mind.  It slowly devoured his memories
and distorted faces and names until they never really existed any more. 
Although he initially found this disturbing, he didn't really care anymore; the
only memories he tried to cling to were those containing Lara.  Eventually, he
slumped from his chair to the floor.  He wasn't sure how it happened but it was
perhaps for the best.  Soon everything would become dark and every thought would
be lost.  He wondered if he'd actually be reborn in another world.  Perhaps it
would be a better world.  He managed a weak smile and shut his eyes, drifting
into another dreamless sleep.

* * * *

Somebody was whistling a merry tune.  Olligh's eyes flicked open. They
felt dry and crusty. He stared blankly at the white ceiling, straining to hear
where the whistling was coming from.  It became louder and he could hear
footsteps approaching. 

A blurry face appeared above him and a hand waved over
his eyes.   He blinked, trying to focus properly.  It was a man leaning over
him.  He had a full round face and his eyes sparkled with excitement. 
"Ah, you're awake.  How wonderful."

Olligh gazed curiously at the man.  He looked
strangely familiar. 

"Now, you may not recognise me so, I'd better
introduce myself to you once again.  It's the only right thing to do
considering these unusual circumstances."

Olligh watched as he reached for some gloves and
pulled them over his hands.

"My name is Doctor Sykes and we're going to be
seeing a lot of each other over the next few weeks.  Don't worry though, my
time with you may be cut short - pardon the pun. This will depend purely on how
I progress with my research. You're a truly fascinating specimen, you know."

With that, the doctor grabbed a carving knife from a
nearby table and carefully sliced into Olligh's flesh.  He smiled contentedly
and continued to whistle his merry tune.

* * * *

THE END

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More by this author

You may also enjoy Barrow of the Damned.  This is another novel set in
a dark, twisted environment with macabre elements and a taste of black comedy.

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