The Delivery

by Chris Robertson

Table of Contents
Part 1 appears
in this issue.

conclusion

“Ah,” said the old man as he arose form his black leather bench, “Vada detests rats. That will not do. You see if it were that simple I could simply have paid him to procure them from you. But yes, you are right. And it does get late so quickly. And then there is the most important matter, which is that I am able to watch my beautiful baby eat.” The old man now stood and scooted across the red carpet, beneath a silk robe that hung low to the floor.

It appeared to Pavel as though the man rolled slowly upon tiny wheels, for his feet could not be seen. But none of these things truly interested him and he began to feel impatient toward acquiring his three hundred green American dollars. “Sir I apologize for the hurry, but I must make my delivery rather quickly tonight. I still have matters to attend to and work tomorrow comes early.” Pavel felt quite certain that his words were quite concise.

The old man did not look at him, but rather placed his hand oddly around Pavel’s waist in a loose fashion, so that they began to walk side by side. “Indeed,” said the Brazilian, “Let’s get to the feeding at hand. And your three hundred dollars. Ah, now four hundred!” he declared quite suddenly, “For I truly admire a punctual man such as yourself. Vada, pay our fine deliveryman and let’s be on with the evening’s feeding!”

With this command spoken the bald servant walked coolly toward Pavel and retrieved an envelope from his pocket. Pavel took it with his free left hand, that was unencumbered by the sack, and placed within an inner pocket of his jacket lining.

“And now you probably wish to be rid of those vile things,” said the old man as he touched Pavel’s elbow and motioned for him to begin walking. “Even now, I can see them squirm. Soon they will be so frightened that they dare not even breathe.” The old man laughed a bit and continued walking by Pavel’s side, and it became clear to Pavel that their destination was a door at the opposite end of the room. Behind them Vada trudged along silently, perhaps waiting to catch his master if he should fall. When they had nearly reached the plain, wooden door and his master’s gate stopped, did he walk around and swing it open.

The hinges groaned loudly as the thick door swung around. The air below was damp and odorous, and only with the flick of the light switch did it even begin to seem fit for man to enter.

Vada did so first, halting on the third step below until the old man reached upon the servant’s shoulders and allowed himself to be carried down. For the first time Pavel saw the old decrepit feet emerge from the old man’s robe. Pavel did not quite have time to ponder just how peculiar a scene he had now become part of. Gracefully the Chinaman carried his master downward. Pavel followed at a bit of a distance, keeping them just a bit away from him like he did with the sack of rats. But soon enough the old stairs became an old stone floor and the old man was placed back upon his feet.

“It is not usually this warm down here,” said the old man, “but I warmed it during the day to energize my beautiful pet for the evening!”

Inside the burlap sack the rats stopped their squirming. Pavel gave it a shake, but only the slightest movement did he see. They were intent upon being still now, it seemed.

At about what seemed to be the center of the great hallway, Vada stopped at a door to their left. When the old man was close enough the servant unbolted the latch and swung it open.

Pavel was quite aware that he had begun to sweat, and could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand. He would not enter that room. Everything had not been revealed; he was quite certain and felt it deep in his guts.

When the door had opened Vada reached for the burlap sack, seeming to have forgotten his fear. “Look!” said the old man, “One of my little friends knows it is time to dine!”

Pavel looked inside the wooden door and did indeed see a sleek, dark anaconda snake emerge from a shallow pool of black water. As he watched another snake emerged, and then another. They were brilliant in their movement, shining brilliantly beneath the surely seldom used electric lights upon the wall.

Once out of the water all three snakes halted and tensed. Vada, now seemingly fearless, grabbed the bottom of the sack and poured the rats onto the floor. Pavel stole a glance sideways to the old man who grinned with delight.

“They are beautiful!” he shrieked as he held the side of the doorway while standing out in the hall. “They are the perfect killers! Watch and you shall see!”

Pavel’s heart was now racing, pounding up in his throat. He watched the first snake to have emerged from the pool, tense and then snap at the nearest rat. It was all so fast his eyes could barely follow, the muscle of the snake all at once constricting the vermin. And like that the snake held it in a death grip, the mighty mouth still biting it as it squeezed.

“It is born to kill this way!” shrieked the old man with pure delight. Within seconds the second and third snakes also had stuck their prey. The remaining rats darted frantically toward the open door. With great authority Vada kicked at them, sending one into the black pool of water.

“Come now!” cried the old man, “We leave my beauties now to eat.” Vada did not hesitate, stepped out and closed the door. “Now you have seen how magnificently my pets can kill.”

Pavel did not have much of a reply for this, but stammered, “Yes sir, quite remarkable.” The old man smiled and rubbed Pavel’s shoulder.

“Then I will see you again when they are hungry next, but I shall only send Vada to call upon you. For now Vada will show you the way out. And I will make my way back to the foot of the stairway. Good night.”

Pavel said nothing but followed the silent servant toward the other end of the hallway. Twenty meters farther down the hallway ended flush to another door. Vada opened it, but this door swung inwards, to the hallway that they now stood. The interior was dark and he would be glad to be outside once again. As he stepped through the doorway, the door closed abruptly behind him. He could hear the bolt be set in place.

Instinctively he groped the walls for a light switch to see what was now put upon him. He found an old switch and forced it upwards, throwing light upon the room. To his horror it was much like the foul snake room, and he should have known from the damp stench when the door had first opened. To his great fright he saw that the floor descended roundly to a large black pool of water. This sight was all it took and he threw his body at the door. It was solid and absorbed his weight.

“Vada!” he screamed, “Open this door!” His accent was thick now as he screamed from pure terror. The Chinaman, if he were still there, did not speak a word.

A mighty black head appeared at the middle of the black pool, sending small ripples toward Pavel’s feet. Every instinct Pavel had told him to freeze just as the rats did. To shrink down and cower inside the doorway.

“You are one of many who has fed my darling,” came the words of the old man, muffled from the other side. “The last was a man you may know, a man by the name of Elijah.”

In an instant Pavel’s brain understood, the pure terror of how he had come to be there! Menacingly the giant head of the mother snake protruded, sliding now to shallow water. The size of it was tremendous.

“So I truly am Elijah’s replacement,” realized Pavel, as he scurried along the side of the wall frantically, scurrying like a rat...