Blackwater

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

the Usual Suspects Copyright Mr. Simon Barber.

It was May of 1937 and Miss Devinski was very unhappy with the news from Europe. Still she looked up from her class notes as Miss Blande walked in, an envelope in her left paw. “Good news?” the hound asked, knowing from her partners expression that it could be anything but that, yet hoping she was wrong.

“No” the feline answered, pulling a chair up, sitting before she continued her news. “A letter from Ulla. Do you remember her?”

Ulla, of course the hound remembered Ulla. Devinski could remember every student who had ever entered Songmarks gates, every prospective student. Even that French boy who’s mother tried to pass off as a girl not too long ago, along with others who’s parents simply would never accept ‘girls only’ as pertaining to their sons. However it was something she hid from everyone, that impossibly accurate memory. It really only worked with faces and names though, not with anything else. Why, she couldn’t even remember what she had for dinner this time last week. “German girl. Father was murdered by that little corporal the year she was to graduate. One of our first students. Pretty little Daschund, eyes always bright. Always getting into trouble. Graduated even with that pain.”

“That was Ulla” Miss Blande agreed. She offered the envelope. “Her last letter.”

“Last?” Taking the envelope in paw Miss Devinski quickly pulled two papers from the open envelope. It had been addressed simply to Songmark and as such, those letters were Miss Blande’s territory. Thus she had read it first as was her privilege, and duty. Opening the pages the hound noted almost instantly that the paw that wrote it wasn’t Ulla’s. Ulla had one major failing in her life, only she could read her paw-writing. And even she had trouble with it now and then.

“My loved Instructors” she read. “This is my last letter, I have already written my family. Here I lay here in Africa, on my back with no male to warm me. Oh dear, I just embarrassed the Sister who is writing this for me. So be such things, she has no idea what she has been missing, will always miss. I have Blackwater dear Songmark, and this place has only Sister Sophia to care for the ill. She has agreed to write my words for me. I fear my time is coming before the sunrise. For I feel a weakness even now within me that should never be there.”

“Blackwater, malaria at one of its worse” Miss Devinski gasped. “A horrid way to die.” She looked up to her sister instructor. “We have lost another daughter.”

Nodding in agreement the feline waved to that letter. “We will lose many more Catherine, before it ends. Please read it all. So I can take it to the others.”

“It isn’t Ulla’s way of talking” Devinski noted as she turned back to the paper.

“No it isn’t. I checked the records twice. It certainly isn’t” Miss Blande agreed. “We know those busy body helpers, correcting everyone’s English simply because they can.”

Silently agreeing the yellow furred hound returned to Ulla’s letter, noting absently that her own paw wasn’t shaking in the least. It had, badly, that first letter so many years ago.

“I have been flying rich and foolish adventurers into deepest Africa with my floatplane these last three years. It is not the best money, still it has been rather fun. A few weeks ago I felt the chills. We all know what Malaria is like, so I took the medications. They did not help at all. Now I must do in hours what I had intended to do in the long future.”

“Dear Songmark. Your instruction was the most difficult three years of my life. It was the greatest three years of my life. I have done so much, seen so much that I would not have seen otherwise. Morn not for me my beloved Songmark, for you granted me the greatest gift any woman could ask. Freedom. I thank you. Now I go to join my father in peace, though you know how I feel about peace.

Know that my last thoughts will be of you all. Ulla.”

That signature the hound noted was in a very weak paw, its marking light due to lack of strength. Ulla then had signed her letter herself. Turning the paper Miss Devinski noted it was blank, but the second sheet held writing in the same paw as the letter.

“Ladies of Songmark” it said. “I am Sister Mary Sophia. I have tended this village for forty years or more alone. When your Ulla arrived she was a Godsend. Though she was traveling to Durban, she changed her plans when she saw our need. These last three years she has helped my small flock to prosper. Teaching them to build good wells, hygiene, strong homes. Even providing medical care with her own paws. It is true that she flew expeditions into the interior, an act that reduced the difficulties we have had with other such expeditions as they waited to march inland.

She had such wonderful stories to entertain even the most dour mind. Her laugh was heard daily and she never refused to help anyone. Such a joy she was to have, if even for so short a time. My people have looked upon your Ulla as a Goddess in the fur. Her strength and fighting ability have faced down other aggressive tribes, until today we have peace. Her knowledge of so many things even I was unaware of has raised this small village out of the red clay mud and brought real hope to everyone.

I fear though that the medication she took turned out not to be strong enough. Perhaps it was tampered with, I can not know. Yet I have never seen a Malaria this strong. Nor has the expedition she carried inland returned, though they were due back over two weeks ago. I fear the very worst for them.

My flock have buried your sweet Ulla with their Kings. With all honors and in her Songmark jacket. Know that she did as you taught her. Know that should any Songmark woman touch these shores that they will be treated with honor by my people.

                                                                                                                    Sister Mary Sophia.”

Carefully folding the letter Miss Devinski slid it back into its envelop. “When the others have read this, call all students together. They must hear this as well.”

“Of course” her feline partner agreed as she retrieved that letter. “I will read it to them myself.”

After the feline had left Miss Devinski felt a tear fall from her fur. Ulla had been a good student, full of tricks and almost always with a laugh in her eyes. Even after the Winter test. To have lost her. “An honorable death to be certain” she whispered before returning to her own work.

Late that night Eva Schiller eased around the hillocks corner, her senses alert for her tutors and any of the girls guarding tonight. She had waited weeks for this night. Though nearly exhausted by her tutors latest physical challenge she had saved enough strength for what she had expected to be a quick reconnaissance trip. This was the one place in Songmark that no one seemed to go near, yet it was mathematically in the dead center of Songmarks fenced in property. Once one ignored the new land that had changed Songmarks original boundaries that was. That change had taken Eva weeks to discover, since it had occurred long before her arrival. Only a chance comment by a third year had set that key into place for her. Opening her eyes to the truth.

Now she had her special water resistant rubbing paper and the hard processed oil shale that was used with it. There was at least a full hour remaining before the second year girls changed shifts. When that happened wide awake eyes and noses would be searching. Even with her special scent naturalizing soap Eva knew that her chances of escaping fully alert second years was about the same as her surviving meeting that little kitten the third year Ada doted on. Having her mind turned to mush was an event Eva desperately wished to avoid, if at all possible.

Tumbled carved stones came into view as Eva reached her chosen place. A place she had scouted for some time now. Now, pulling out her rubbing paper she began making three dimensional images of those ancient carvings. ‘Funny’ she thought as her paws made sense of ancient carved stone. ‘All the figures are female, but they don’t feel normal.’ Still she worked, her Uncle was depending upon her for this information. To date she had never failed him. Not since she was thirteen and he had sent her into that ancient cave alone to talk to its spirit. She still remembered that encounter. Years later she understood her favorite uncles actions. Only a true maiden of her family could enter that place and leave alive. And sane.

An opening seemed to appear to her left. It was small she noted, barely wide enough to squeeze into. Why hadn’t she seen it before Eva wondered even as she pulled out a tiny flash-lamp, one not available as yet for commercial purchase. Turning a thumbwheel first to slide its red filter into place she triggered her little lamp. An opening yes, just large enough for her to slip through. Maybe. She would have to give up her clothing first, but for the well trained young German that was no problem. A chance to discover what was hidden within this hillock was worth a bit of earth on her fur. First though she withdrew a sliver chain from one pocket, a tiny carved crystal hung from its length. It had been given to her by her instructors in Nuremberg and had never failed her. Holding her crystal out over the opening Eva watched carefully. Nothing, not even a slight tug that would indicate ancient power now waning. Not to be fooled Eva also watched the fur on her arm. It too remained only sightly raised. No more than it had been since slipping out of her dorm window. Safe then. Putting the chain about her neck she started slipping out of her clothing. Then Eva began to carefully work her way though that opening, papers and rubbing stone in paw.

Some distance away Miss Blande again knocked upon Miss Devinski’s door, too be answered quickly and silently as only a Songmark instructor could manage. “What this time” the yellow furred Labrador asked the waiting feline.

“Its that German first year. Eva Shiller” Miss Blande answered. “She’s at the temple.”

Whatever color had been in Miss Devinski’s face after todays letter vanished at those words. “The little fool.” Without waiting to grab a frock, only her waiting jacket Miss Devinski pushed passed her fellow instructor. Within seconds she was out the door and headed directly for Eva’s location, hardly a stitch on her body. She would be too late, was already much too late the hound knew. Yet not to try. That was not the Songmark way. Behind her the feline watched in silence. Each of Songmarks instructors knew to defer to another in certain areas. When it came to religion, and that pile of ancient stone shards, all knew that Miss Devinski was the one to call for.

As Miss Devinski was running for the hillock her arctic fox student had already made her way to the center of that hillock. Turning her flash-lamps filter from red to clear Eva gazed in awe at what was around her. Yes, the collapsed chamber was tiny. Not much larger than her own dorm room. If that large. One of the broken columns caught her attention, so taking out a sheet of paper she approached her prize.

“You took longer than I expected” a voice announced in perfect German.

“Impossible” Eva answered even as she spun towards the hole that had allowed her entrance. She was no fool. If something was alive down here then her only option was to run. Run now. Her entrance through she discovered in horror, was closed. “No” the German gasped, reaching up to the archaic symbol now hanging from her neck. Not that it would help her defeat whatever was here, but it might just help her remain sane. Should she be allowed to live.

Cheerful laughter answered her action, as a rather attractive young skunk appeared from around the column Eva had been about to make a rubbing from. But there was nothing but rubble there the fox knew. She had looked carefully. How then?

“Wrong religion” the skunk instructed, though there was no taste of hate in her voice as Eva had expected. “This place is older even than that symbol, and I am older than this place. Eve Schiller, my daughter you are in no danger from me. Now shall we talk?”

All strength washed from her body as Eva tried to sit, only to discover that her fur was bottled out as far as it would go, and for an Arctic fox in her Winter coat that was a great deal. “I have no choice” she managed. “I was unaware this place was German.” Though she managed to keep her voice calm, Eva was quaking inside. She had seen what happened to those who stepped where they should not. Now she was going to be one of them.

“I have already promised that you will not be harmed my daughter. You are also incorrect in your supposition child. This place is not German” the skunk answered. “I simply speak the language you are most comfortable in. Now we will talk, or will you try to run again.”

“Talk. I guess” Eva managed to get out. Why hadn’t her tests warned her? She had been so stupid to... Never mind. Now was now. ‘I am a Schiller. I will bravely face my destiny. No matter how horrible’ she told herself.

“Very good. Tell your Uncle that he may watch Kama all he wishes. He may even speak to her, if he is brave enough. But to even touch her.” The skunk shook her head. “Would be the last thing he does in this, or any future life. You will warn him for me, and his men?”

“I will” Eva agreed. ‘I must give a warning, then I may retain some of my mind after all’ she thought.

“Very good. You are part of Crusader Dorm. It is good to see those who stand for the law together. But know that one you all feel is a friend is a blood enemy. You may each find your deaths at that ones paws, or worse.”

“Who” Eva asked sharply.

“No. I will warn you little first year. I will not feed you the meal you so desire. Ah, that was quick. She who rules this land under my guidance already awaits you outside. Little fox, you and yours, all who are joined under Songmarks note for even a day are my children. Remember that always. Now do not come here again unless invited. Unless you wish to remain here forever, as my playmate.”

A rumbling sound behind Eva notified her that the opening had reappeared. “One question” she asked softly, daring such though her mind screamed to run now. Run and never stop running.

“One answer” the skunk agreed. “One answer that you will be unable to tell anyone that does not already know.”

“Who are you?”

When Eva eased out of the opening it was to discover her clothing gone, and it was raining again. Heavily. “Enjoy yourself” a well known voice asked.

Eva turned to that voice, clutching her still unused papers tightly against her naked body. “Miss Devinski” she gasped. “You rule for her?”

“Your tail is still in the opening, it will close soon” the hound warned. “”Did you find what you wanted?”

Eva gulped deeply, feeling her body react to fear she hadn’t really realized she had experienced even as she stepped further away from that opening, thus saving her precious tail. She was, though she had never told anyone, very proud of her tail. “More than I expected” she admitted.

“And you still live. So tell me. Do you wish to leave Songmark now? I will have you on the next aircraft, there is one leaving well before sunrise. Or you may run for your place here.”

“No Mam” Eva answered. Her fur was now plastered tightly against her skin, water dripping to the grass below her feet yet the hound standing before her was strangely dry, even though almost undressed. Eva decided not to remark upon that fact. “I will run yes. She said I could stay. I should stay. I want to prove I am as good as Ulla. As good as Nikki. So I will.”

“Give me your papers Eva” Miss Devinski demanded, waiting until the roll of water resistant papers and the scrap of processed oil shale were in her paws. “I will see that you get them when you next have a pass. So you wish to run? Very well. Fifty laps of the fence line for being caught here without permission. Counter clock-wise. If you please.”

“Fah... FIFTY?”

“Or pack and leave now, before sunrise” the hound agreed. “It is after all your own free choice. Isn’t it.”

Shivering already in what looked to be an all day rain event Eva swallowed. “Fifty. Before Sunrise?”

“If you would please” Miss Devinski answered with no humor in her voice. “Or the fate awaiting you by sunrise. There is a Pan American flight leaving at nine in the morning should you fail your fifty. It has two spaces still open.”

“Fifty” Eva repeated in a defeated voice. It was doable, but barely. “Thank you Miss Devinski. For the choice.” Turning she trotted towards the waiting fence line.

“She has potential” a voice announced from the opening after the fox had departed. An opening which had not closed, though Eva had not noticed that fact. As Miss Devinski watched the female skunk walked out into the rain. “But not as a priestess. As something else I think.”

“You are getting wet” the hound noted.

“Fear not. Henrika will not become ill. I will never allow her pain again. Catherine. I have not felt true rain in thousands of years. Though you protect yourself from it, bear me this one sweet indulgence.”

“As always Great One” the hound answered. “What did she ask.”

“Who are you. I answered. A better question than What are you. As I said, she shows promise.”

Tapping the roll of paper, a roll obviously not yet used the hound looked to the skunk. “And these?”

Smiling the skunk touched that roll with one claw-less finger. A light, or something bright seemed to flow from her finger to the papers. As the light flowed through those leaves they seemed to puff up, as though they had been rubbed against a three dimensional object. “She chanced so much. It would be a disappointment for her not to return with something. Henrika is well Catherine. I have seen some small advancement, but I cannot bring her mind to advance more than that of a six year old. Something about that age is great safety to her body. Though the mind of Henrika is gone beyond my recovery, some memories do remain. Were I to know what gives such peace maybe. Just maybe I could grant her body a new life. Allow her mind to create a new personality. I fear though that we cannot protect our children once they leave these lands, no matter how much we wish too. And you. You are in debt to the Cipangu born mouse. Have you decided how to pay that debt?”

“I won’t kill her” the hound answered.

“Her, or the doe she foolishly gave so much of herself too?”

Miss Devinski looked out into the darkness where she could watch as the naked arctic fox fought mud, slick rock and rain to complete her allotted penance. “Either. No, I have decided how to repay her. A certain bobcat will be admitted to Songmark. At Oharu’s request. Though I am certain that she will never believe she asked such. I have also arranged with Nikki to teach that mouse everything she wants to know about aircraft.”

A large smile came to the skunks face. “That is good. Elizabeth will need Songmark training, though she will bring more with her than any other. I wager she is over the fence within a week.”

“First night.”

Laughing the skunk followed Miss Devinski’s eyes, watching for a moment as Eva made her way past the surprised gate guards. “First night. I think that even Elizabeth can wait a week or two to visit her husband.”

Miss Devinski stopped watching the German fox run, turning to face her companion. “It won’t be to meet anyone. It will be to prove her ability. We lost another of our children.”

“Who this time, and how” the skunk asked, her eyes on Eva even in the darkness. Just a few more moments before meeting the hounds gaze.

Pulling that roll of paper against her chest harder, as if holding a child Miss Devinski looked down into those endless eyes. Eyes that sometimes held almost no intelligence, sometimes as now seemed to hold the universe. “Ulla. To Blackwater.”

“So Ulla has passed. I truly enjoyed her humor, though she never suspected I existed. And that makes four now passed on, Henrika crushed and three more in danger. One of those very close to slavery herself.” Holding her paws out to catch the rain the skunk closed her eyes. “They are my children, but I may only guide. And then only through you my chosen. They must choose their own path. Will your pet priestess defend her?”

“Oharu?” Miss Devinski shrugged. “She is not my pet priestess, but if I asked she might.”

“Then for her you should ask. Very soon. Tell her it is at my bequest, she will understand. Now, would you have me speak to Ulla. To tell her of what occurred here this day?”

Miss Devinski looked at the papers in her paws. “I could never afford the price” she admitted. “She is at peace. Let her remain at peace.”

“Where my children are involved sweet child. There is never a cost. So I will speak with her. Have you anything to say?”

Miss Devinski looked away, out into the darkness. “I miss her” she admitted in a low voice. “She was one of our best. She deserved better. I looked forward to her letters, hoped she would visit. Yes I missed her. She was such a bright child. I truly loved her as though she were my own child.”

For some time the skunk remained quiet, closing her eyes while ignoring the rain that soaked her fur to the skin. Finally she spoke again. “Ulla found what Fate chose for her daughter. Never forget that. We all choose our own destiny, but fate chooses our deaths. Now I have something awaiting my return. Come again on Monday night, at sunset. I much enjoy our talks.” She opened her eyes again. “I have been alone too long daughter. Songmark has woken me to my need for companionship. Henrika is useful but to a point. And bring the unmarked cards this time.”

As Miss Devinski laughed the opening vanished, with it the skunk. Turning back toward her office she paused, looking down in the mud at a pile of clothing she had been standing on. Stooping down she picked up the mud soaked Songmark uniform and underclothing, then turned towards the gate. Orders would be left to return the mess to Eva when she finished her last lap. Then only if she did so before any Eastern Island priestess sang the first note of morning song. Otherwise she was to be frogmarched to the center of Songmarks compound. There to stand at attention in only her fur while her dorm-mates packed her things. When one made a threat, it was better to carry it out than not. Better for the other students. Reaching the gate she watched as Eva finished her second lap. There was plenty of time, though she would never tell a student that. Plenty of time for Eva to finish. Even if she walked half the laps. No tutor ever presented a challenge her student was unready to complete.