Yelevan didn’t wait long for an answer. Suddenly, a woman in white coat appeared in the mist.
“Greetings, honored guest,” she said.
“Who are you?”
“I am Simoom of the village. And you?”
“I am Yelevan, the specialist in such matters of beast-hood and unspeakable things that roam about.”
“Oh, you are the protector from Shegirkenirk. I will take you to my village.”
“Good. Good. Please take me there.”
“We must hurry. The wolf lurks nearby.”
“I am well aware of the creature. It has consumed my clients and my companion. I must get to the village and make more stakes.”
“You had a companion?
“Yes, my faithful servant, Chibu. He had always carried my bag of stakes on such journeys as this one.”
“It appears he, too, was devoured. “
“Devoured, he was. You perceive well. It wasn’t an accident.”
“But you, sir, are the welcome guest. It is best that you come to meet the villagers.”
“Tell me, Simoom, I thought this creature is an honorable sort and it only attacks those with whom it has business. It doesn’t carry out its bloodthirsty deeds randomly.”
“Yes, but you and your deceased companion are the exception. You are well known among the last of werewolves and you are a threat to the species. Therefore, I suspect you are as fair game as we, the villagers are.”
Yelevan was alarmed. “Stakes!” he cried. “I must get to the village and make more stakes!”
“Sir, you are very esteemed by all of us. You, who have come to forestall our doom at this hour.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Yelevan said, calming down, putting aside his fears. “It is my privilege to be of service to your community.”
“Come with me now. We will soon be in sight of our homes. Tell me, how is it that you have roamed here, on this lonely road?”
“By my ancestors, whose lineage goes back centuries, I am sworn to rid the earth of all unnatural creatures who prey on humans. I am doing this work more out of the love of it, rather than for the paltry sum my deceased clients have offered me.”
“You are a very chivalrous person, sir. There must be no other visionary in the world like you.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I am dedicated to your protection.”
“We will see the village lights in a moment. Now tell me about your wonderful exploits!”
“Yes, I swear by the beard of our fearless leader, Selgirk the First, who dwells in the National Palace, that none have had adventures such as mine.”
“I have read blazing stories about your victories, sir. I always thought they were storybook tales, but now, you are here in the flesh and I am amazed.”
“There are many stories, but none so great as the tale of the Chubbutz brothers, used car dealers, that they were, terrorizing the bustling port city of Shegirkenirk.”
“Tell me!”
“Well, I simply went to their used car lot and asked to see both of them. A vengeful, jeering mob followed me to the lot. There, I saw the True Face of the beast in each of the countenances of the brothers.”
“…What did you do?”
“I asked my deceased companion, Chibu, for two number five stakes, and gripped them in my hand. When the brothers saw me with stakes in hand, they paused, and one of them said ‘Wait a minute!’ and then, they both ran back into their office. A moment later, they reappeared with sacks of gold coins.”
“…And what happened?”
“While the mob was still jeering and hurling insults, they distributed the gold in their sacks until there was none left. Then, they both took poison and expired.”
“Was that all?”
“That was all. I did nothing to exterminate them. It was amazing! How noble the wolf-brothers were, while the humans acted like animals!”
“How did the people treat you?”
“Well, the vermilion-skinned wine-maidens came for Chibu and I, sat us on golden thrones, and sang songs with us in moonlight until we were stupid drunk and could sing no more.”
“You have wonderful stories, sir. I wish to hear your stories, all night long.”
“Yes, but now we have work to do.”
“I am not afraid, sir, now that you are here. I am glad I am a maiden in your protection.”
“Thank you, and protect you, that I will. Fear no more. There will be blue skies for all Muzhenghaakis.” He sang his song:
“Oh, we’re off to slay a werewolf!
I’ll tell you my surprise!
I’ve sharpened a stake, I’ve practiced my aim,
And right in the heart it dies!
“That’s a funny song,” Simoom laughed, “I like that song. Full of good spirits.”
“A happy song, full of faith,” Yelevan replied, “but you may not know what faith is...”
Simoom grasped Yelevan’s arm. “Sir?”
“Yelevan. You may call me Yelevan.”
“Yelevan, sir?”
“And your name? What did you say your name is?”
“I am called Simoom. I am so afraid of what lurks in the night out there.” She snuggled up to Yelevan.
“Yes, my dear. I will protect you.”
“I am so terrified of the hour. I feel our doom has come.”
“Nonsense. There is no doom at all.”
“But I feel warm and safe by your side. May I be by your side, Yelevan, sir?
“Of course you may. Of course you may.”
“And you have such confidence in the face of all that lies before you.”
“Well, thank you. I’m just doing my job…”
“No, no, this is not just your job. This is a heroic thing you are doing for people of my village. I trust you will be successful.”
“Yes, I admit I do this work more for the pleasure of saving humans from their fears and neuroses.”
“Saving?”
“My expression, dear Simoom. Oh, what I mean is, we live in a world of shadows, of fleeting moments, moments perishing in the night of snow and ice. To rid people of their fears is my task of joy.”
“You are so noble, so noble, dear Yelevan, sir.”
“All we have among us is our lives, Simoom, our lives to hold onto and cherish, the warmth of our hearts to give us comfort in the silence that surrounds us.”
“You are so right, my Yelevan. And yet, the people sit on the fence day after day, counting oranges and cows, worrying themselves over how many oranges and cows they will gain or lose.”
“Yes, Simoom, people are so alone in their private universes. They do not even notice the earth beneath their feet.”
“It is said in the Book of Ghirke there will come a time when men will arrive with machines and tear up the earth and gouge precious stones from the ground.”
“I have read the holy book from which you quote, Simoom, and I am on the same journey as your own.”
“I am so glad you have come, beloved Yelevan. I’ve had dreams that a knight in shining armor would arrive in the final hour, and now I know it is you.”
“For you and your people, I have found a new horizon beyond the blue.”
“You will save us from the river of death, kind sir. Most of all, you will snatch us from the land of ghosts and awful things.”
“Light! I see light ahead!”
They arrived at the town’s edge, which, by then, was in flames, smoke rising from burning houses like crematoriums, the people scurrying about in fear, without hope, without purpose. Some broke open kegs of wine and some jumped across burning fires. Other families performed the shameless orgy, as though it was their last.
“It is written that in the time of the end,” Simoom said, “the fabric of society will be rendered apart like a useless rag. Families will be families no more.”
“I see people rushing from place to place,” Yelevan replied, “trying to free themselves from the fear of death, whose hand grasps their hearts.”
In the midst of a carnival of homes and barns on fire, a thin, well-dressed man materialized out of the fog, creeping about, wearing a top hat and frock coat. He stopped here and there, greeting a citizen or two. As the apparition became more real, he approached and circled Yelevan and Simoom, touching her white coat. “Don’t I know you?” he asked Simoom, suspiciously. Without waiting for an answer, he impulsively shook Yelevan’s hand, and said, “Good evening, good folks! I see the young lady has brought you to our hospitality and our welcome fires, our warm fires!”
He introduced himself. “My name is Elber Girgik and I am the mayor of this time-honored village, the town of Muzhenghaak.”
“Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, your Honor,” Yelevan replied, extracting his hand from Elber’s grip. “Now, we have a matter of urgency. We must gather wood so that I may replenish my armory of werewolf-killing stakes.”
“Yes.” said Mr. Girgik, “I am confident we will find you the material you need. We Muzhenghaakis are an enterprising lot. You’ll be surprised at how well we’ll help you. You’ll see, you’ll see.”
Simoom was not impressed.
“Ah, let me tell you,” Elber replied, “I know how to agitate the assemblage of people in favor of my client’s views and policies. I know all the tricks of the trade.”
“Your honor,” Yelevan replied, “it sounds like we have a lot in common.”
“Yes, my friend, and let me tell you of the plans I have for the future of this village. A kiosk over here, a modern shopping mall over there…”
Simoom strongly protested. How could he think of shopping malls in this hour of doom?
“All my career, I’ve planned for the day when my Muzhenghaakis burn down their filthy huts and replace them with prefabricated ranch homes!”
“You are a far-seeing man, your honor.”
“He is a silly dreamer.”
While the crazed villagers ran back and forth, Elber, ignoring the mayhem, beckoned them to walk with him around the town. Strutting down the sidewalk, he told them of his grand plan: where the barns were standing, he would build a modern factory to produce his brand of guaranteed, gilded horse carriages; where the silos stood, he would build a modern sports arena of 50,000 seats, and a casino, too. Soon, the revitalized town of Muzhenghaak would be a bustling place of business, as well as pleasure.
“And I will help ensure that you survive to rebuild your town, your Honor.”
“Your Honor, Elber, whatever,” Simoom replied, “I presume you are feeling safe at this moment, as though someone has laid a five-shot revolver on the table before you. I hate to tell you, but it’s time to get real! There will be no protection in this town until you get this man some wood for stakes!”
“Yes, there’s a slight matter of weapons,” spoke Yelevan.
Ignoring their comments, Mr. Girgik took them to the horse stables, where his Muzhenghaaki-made horse carriages stood. He tried to sell them a carriage. Yelevan replied with a more urgent need, but Elber was in denial. Yelevan pleaded with the Mayor, asking him to organize the villagers quickly, because the doom-bell would not stop ringing.
“I ply the snows in a modern, petrol-driven vehicle.” Yelevan retorted.
“No carriage? No carriage?” Elber caught the sleeve of Chungrani as she passed by, pulling her into the stable. “This lady, here, will testify as to the ultimate, luxurious pleasure of riding in a guaranteed, gilded carriage. Chungrani? What have you to say to this man?”
“The serpents!” Chungrani mumbled, carrying a loaded shotgun. “The huge green serpents coming to get me! Mouths open and red fangs!”
“Chungrani!” Elber cried, impatiently, “please behave yourself and help me tell this fine couple of the heavenly attributes of our Muzhenghaaki horse carriage product.”
“Listen all of you!” Simoom shouted, her hand shutting Elber’s mouth, “don’t you see this lady is distraught from the effect of the doom bell and the screaming-hour?”
“The birds!” Chungrani mumbled. “Huge owl-like creatures bobbing up and down…”
“My stakes!” Yelevan cried. “I must make my stakes!…”
“Your Honor!” Simoom cried. “You who call yourself Mayor! Don’t you see the plight of your people? Don’t you hear the screams of the Muzhenghaaki people?”
“There’s no reason to scream if I can just get my stakes…”
“…Reason?” Chungrani mumbled. “Who said anything about reason when slimy things are crawling in the corridor!”
Simoom and Yelevan pleaded with Mr. Girgik to put aside his untimely carriage-selling mania, but he was incapable of embracing reality, so they found.
“Well, well, no contract, no sale,” Elber said. “How about if I leave you folks with that thought, and maybe you can call me up when you’re ready?” He handed them his business card.
Elber politely ushered Chungrani outside, coaxing her, pleading with her to show more approval for his merchandise. She replied with a list of hallucinations, shouting and spitting in his face.
He insisted she tell them about the velvet drapery, the perfumed seats, the gold-plated wheels, but she collapsed and rolled on the ground, wiping mud on her face. He helped her up, lecturing her on the need for etiquette when among his customers.
And so it went with Elber and Chungrani, disappearing in the fiery night, each one buried in his or her own dementia.
“…I have an idea! I have an idea!” he whispered. “Why not sell them the one essential ingredient missing in the Muzhenghaaki horse carriage – sex!”
“And the red dragons are marching by!”
“…Yes, we’ll add the one advertising solution that will get everyone’s attention – have sex in a Muzhenghaaki carriage!”
“Red dragons turning into green lizards!”
A moment later, a gunshot rang out. Whether it was Chungrani murdering Elber, or vice versa, or that crazed woman blowing her own brains out, Yelevan and Simoom would never know.
For a moment, they stood speechless in the stable. Finally, Simoom said, “There is nothing left. No ground to stand on. Everything is falling apart…”
“…Such pessimism does not help me make stakes!”
“…Everything coming apart. The end of life. I’m afraid it’s the end of time…”
“…I see homes in orgy…”
“…I will not dwell on despicable acts that families commit in time of the end…”
“…Yes, this is the night of mention, as written in the holy book...”
“…The people seem to come and go, appearing and dissolving in the snow…”
“…The people are counting their ghoors of gold and wrangling over their comeuppance, even at the hour when doom looms…”
“…Oh, the trees in the garden are tended by phantom inhabitants now, and all is breaking up, breaking up…”
“Simoom, let us leave these traumatized people be! I will gather materials and improvise weapons for myself!”
“Yelevan, my beloved, wherever you must go, please do not leave me to the darkness of my soul.”
“Simoom, my lovely Simoom. Whatever happens, stay by my side.”
“I will always be by your side, Yelevan.”
“Whatever happens, it will be over, like a thunderbolt!”
“When I am by your side, my blood stream is alive with fire.”
“Simoom! Whether we live or die, it matters not! Let us spend these few lingering moments together, as though they are centuries – as though they are lifetimes!” They embraced.
“Yes!” Simoom replied. “Let this moment last for eternity! Let us fly on streams of wind!”
“Yes! The wind turns warm and flowers bloom.”
“The world is transformed into the springtime of a myriad of petals.”
“For us, alone, the fields are green and the dogwood tree blooms again.”
“Let the cherry blossoms fall. The doorway is opening over there, across the green fields, where night turns to noon. And the sun and moon are seen through the doorway.”
“I will go to the doorway with you. I see the face of the Goddess appearing in the doorway, and I will go to the end of the earth with you.”
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