Read Online HIGH STRANGENESS-Tales of the Macabre by Billie Sue Mosiman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Billie Sue Mosiman
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that slowly came forth to defeat the fury of the animal the being had become to survive in the north alone. He knew Walton. Oh, h e knew him.
“ I came on this long journey to find you.” Walton now said. He saw the monster lower himself before the fire and stretch out his marble white hands to the golden flames to warm himself. “ I knew in my soul that you had too much pride to destroy y ourself on a pyre the way you said you would. You are a superior creation, built from flesh and blood, given life again, and you couldn't end it, could you? I knew, someway, that you still lived. And now I've found you.”
The first efforts at speech were li ke gears grinding and flooded streams gurgling over their banks. The monster made guttural sounds, shook his great shaggy head, threw out his arms in frustration, and tried again to overcome the limitations of his unused, rusty vocal cords.
Finally the wor ds he tried to bring forth were just intelligible enough for Walton, leaning in close and paying strict attention, to decipher.
“ You...should...shouldn't...have...come.”
“ Yes, I should have come. I had to come. Destiny meant it to be. I've spent my life ob sessed with you and what you might be doing if you lived. I dream about you. I write about you. I could not die without knowing you better.”
“ I...I...am...a dangerous... thing ...”
“ You do not have to be dangerous. I've thought about your former deeds of murder and evil and came to the conclusion that had I been outcast from man, unloved, hated, feared, reviled, I might have done the same as you. What man can be set apart from the world and still be compassionate to it? Yes, you killed Frankenstein's f r iends and the ones he most loved, and he never forgave you for it, he died cursing you, but haven't the years alone taught you anything? Have you not come to terms with our God and asked to be relieved of your murderous desires?”
A look of absolute scorn s uffused the being's face. Walton drew back, uncontrollably shaking and afraid to stare into those yellowish eyes.
“ I ask nothing...of...God! There is no...God...who would allow my creation in His...universe.”
Quietly, meekly, Walton said, “ All things come from God, even you. And unto God you will return one day, as will we all.”
The being reached out and with his bare hands thrust into the fire, scattered the burning coals all around the area between them. Walton jumped back so as not to catch fire to his c lothes. He stood, looking down at the bowed head of the most incredible creature ever designed by the mind of man. Those arms , he thought, come from another human. Those legs, that torso, the massive distinctive head upon the broad shoulders. They all belo ng to men long dead. I do not believe Frankenstein could have known what he was intent on creating.
“ You...must...go away.” The being left the twinkling bits of coal and moved to where his bed waited. He lay upon his back, one graceful arm flung over his e yes to blot out the moon splashed night.
Walton followed. He would never give up. He knew now the same furnace of ambition that drove Dr. Frankenstein. He must take this bounty, this remarkable genesis of a new man to show the world. The being had spent tw enty years paying for his crimes. He was a different creation than he was when he jumped from the ship, devastated by his master's death. He was not as articulate, his hair was uncut and filthy, his clothes consisted of animal skins, his mind was desolate and empty, but he was a complete and total wonder, a demi-god.
Walton said it. “ You will be a god before the people if you return with me. They will hail you as they would a king. I have money, plenty of money. I will fill a coffer for you, give you rooms, buy you a wardrobe. I will introduce you to the greatest men in the world and watch from the sidelines as they go down on their knees before you. There has never been another like you in the history of the world.
“ I came on this long journey to find you.” Walton now said. He saw the monster lower himself before the fire and stretch out his marble white hands to the golden flames to warm himself. “ I knew in my soul that you had too much pride to destroy y ourself on a pyre the way you said you would. You are a superior creation, built from flesh and blood, given life again, and you couldn't end it, could you? I knew, someway, that you still lived. And now I've found you.”
The first efforts at speech were li ke gears grinding and flooded streams gurgling over their banks. The monster made guttural sounds, shook his great shaggy head, threw out his arms in frustration, and tried again to overcome the limitations of his unused, rusty vocal cords.
Finally the wor ds he tried to bring forth were just intelligible enough for Walton, leaning in close and paying strict attention, to decipher.
“ You...should...shouldn't...have...come.”
“ Yes, I should have come. I had to come. Destiny meant it to be. I've spent my life ob sessed with you and what you might be doing if you lived. I dream about you. I write about you. I could not die without knowing you better.”
“ I...I...am...a dangerous... thing ...”
“ You do not have to be dangerous. I've thought about your former deeds of murder and evil and came to the conclusion that had I been outcast from man, unloved, hated, feared, reviled, I might have done the same as you. What man can be set apart from the world and still be compassionate to it? Yes, you killed Frankenstein's f r iends and the ones he most loved, and he never forgave you for it, he died cursing you, but haven't the years alone taught you anything? Have you not come to terms with our God and asked to be relieved of your murderous desires?”
A look of absolute scorn s uffused the being's face. Walton drew back, uncontrollably shaking and afraid to stare into those yellowish eyes.
“ I ask nothing...of...God! There is no...God...who would allow my creation in His...universe.”
Quietly, meekly, Walton said, “ All things come from God, even you. And unto God you will return one day, as will we all.”
The being reached out and with his bare hands thrust into the fire, scattered the burning coals all around the area between them. Walton jumped back so as not to catch fire to his c lothes. He stood, looking down at the bowed head of the most incredible creature ever designed by the mind of man. Those arms , he thought, come from another human. Those legs, that torso, the massive distinctive head upon the broad shoulders. They all belo ng to men long dead. I do not believe Frankenstein could have known what he was intent on creating.
“ You...must...go away.” The being left the twinkling bits of coal and moved to where his bed waited. He lay upon his back, one graceful arm flung over his e yes to blot out the moon splashed night.
Walton followed. He would never give up. He knew now the same furnace of ambition that drove Dr. Frankenstein. He must take this bounty, this remarkable genesis of a new man to show the world. The being had spent tw enty years paying for his crimes. He was a different creation than he was when he jumped from the ship, devastated by his master's death. He was not as articulate, his hair was uncut and filthy, his clothes consisted of animal skins, his mind was desolate and empty, but he was a complete and total wonder, a demi-god.
Walton said it. “ You will be a god before the people if you return with me. They will hail you as they would a king. I have money, plenty of money. I will fill a coffer for you, give you rooms, buy you a wardrobe. I will introduce you to the greatest men in the world and watch from the sidelines as they go down on their knees before you. There has never been another like you in the history of the world.
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