Bermuda by Robert Enright

Author:Robert Enright
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Robert Enright
Published: 2018-06-07T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

The fallen twigs and leaves crunched under his foot with each step as Franklyn slowly wandered through the mighty trees. They shot up from the ground like rockets, their thick, impenetrable trunks fastening them to the ground. Their first branches didn’t reach out until at least twenty feet above, blocking out the sun and washing the new agent in a deathly shadow. With a click, his torch shot to life, a beam of light propelling itself forward, before splashing against the surface before him.

The ground was warm and stiff, while the air carried the warmth of a cool summer evening. That, and a waft of nicotine as Franklyn drew another cigarette to his lips and let the greyish smoke filter behind him like an echo.

Denham strode purposefully behind, his leather, fingerless gloves clasped around his meaty hands, neither of them more than a few inches from the handles of his blades.

They had been walking the woods for over an hour, the senile groundsman keen to send them on their way and return to his rapidly declining wife. He had suggested they head north, upon which Franklyn looked to Denham who rolled his eye, nodding to inform his new recruit that he knew the way. Since then, not a word had been uttered, the two of them casually strolling through the woods, the flick of the torch lighting up the increasingly regular dark pockets.

‘You ever seen The Blair Witch Project?’ Franklyn asked with smoky words, not turning back to his other-worldly mentor.

‘There was a creature known as the Fair Witch who roamed the distant plains of my world. She would capture, skin, and then dissect creatures both feral and free. She would try to incorporate them into her medicines, the outcome of which lead her to become feared and hunted.’ Franklyn had stopped in his tracks and was staring at his partner in disbelief, the cigarette hanging lazily from the side of his mouth. ‘It was a memorable day when I slid my blade through her spine.’

Silence hung like death between them, with Franklyn directing the light of his torch right into the fearless, scarred face of his superior.

‘You’re a terrifying creature, you know that?’

Denham flashed a row of pearly teeth before Franklyn returned to his search, stubbing his smoke out on the trunk of the nearest tree and letting it drop to mud.

‘So, what do you think?’ Denham asked, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, pressed against the base of his spine.

‘I think you’re a fucking scary dude.’

‘Not about me. About the case?’

‘Well, I will say I don’t envy that man. As sweet as he was, that cabin smells of death and it must be terrible to see your other half deteriorate so fast.’ Franklyn felt his heart clench, realising his other half was to marry someone else.

‘The human condition is weak and pathetic.’ Franklyn stopped and turned to the mighty Denham. ‘No offence.’

‘None taken. Although I’ve never heard of a disease or anything that would render someone as disabled as that poor woman.

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