The Macabre Collection (Box set) by Haynes David

Author:Haynes, David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-06-04T04:00:00+00:00

Encore

“Is this suitable, brother?” Susanna placed the new poster into my hands. Three skeletons swung from a gallows. Their forms were virginal white against the black abyss of the background.

I drew her close and kissed her sweet, soft cheek. “Perfect, Susanna. Your work, as always is breathtaking. Are they displayed far and wide?”

“From here to Parliament!” The curls of her flaming hair dropped carelessly from her bonnet. She dressed like a lady but had not yet completed the transition.

“Then we must make ready for the audience. I feel, after the success of last night, this may be our finest yet.”

We had taken our places and watched as the first Chesterton had arrived. No doubt by now, he had found the final design.

“When can we enter? I wish to watch.” My sister enjoyed a performance as much as I.

“We must wait. There is one member of the cast yet to arrive and we mustn’t disturb his performance, or get in his way.”

I had first come to Chesterton’s gallery as a young boy; a young boy captivated by the thrill of a show and in the elegant beauty of performance. Not that I had been granted entry, for according to R.J. Chesterton, his establishment was for gentlemen and ladies of higher birth than mine. Not even when I returned with a penny and paid my entrance was I allowed entry. No, I was dismissed like a diseased dog with a thump in the ear and kick up the backside. Even the theatres would not turn away a boy with a penny, not even one dressed as I was, in rags and grime. Yet Chesterton was better than they, and could afford to turn away custom, if it was not to his liking. He was an arrogant man and even in death thought he was better than the rest. Demanding, with all the self-importance of the pontiff, to be buried alone and away from the paupers in their stinking pit.

“He’s arrived.” Susanna’s voice wakened me from my hateful reverie.

“Very good. Now we must wait a little while longer.”

I had not yet met the engineer, but Susanna had, and it would be unfortunate indeed to be discovered so close to curtain up. We were both anxious to observe the show but our presence must be timed to perfection to derive maximum pleasure. I took a deep breath of the cool morning air to calm my excited state. For all the wealth of theatrical possibilities, I was happy to be leaving the city; the stench of the dead was tiresome, even for me.

I could restrain Susanna no longer, and after only a few moments had passed, we approached the gallery. I had worked late into the previous night to clear the exhibits, to make ready the stage. The calmness I felt as I winched Chesterton’s decaying body into place was a treasured moment of triumph.

“Fear not, Chesterton for your sons will be along to join you soon.” The orange glow from the gas lamp made a flickering shadow in the voids of his eye sockets.

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