"Leofdaeg" for The Seven Days of Halloween Challenge- Day 6

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

The prompt:

Napoleon, Illya and April Dancer carefully walked down into the depths of the sloping tunnel.

A few spots were easily passable with steps carved into the floor. The farther they walked the more they realized what an amazing feat of engineering this was.

It had been carefully chiseled by hand, the walls and the low arched ceiling must have taken years to create.

Napoleon likened it to the carving of the pyramids, and Illya immediately took umbrage.

“Please do not bring up pyramids or mummies to me for that matter.”

“That’s right Illya,” April giggled,”And how many times were you wrapped up like a mummy.”

“Not funny.”

“Don’t go there April, our Russian is a bit touchy on the subject.”

“I think it’s rather funny, only since it’s happened to you what...three times? Are you like some sort of mummy magnet?” April laughed again.

Even Napoleon chuckled at that remark.

“You two should remember that revenge is a dish best served cold?” *

“Oh I’m shaking in my go-go boots,” April giggled. “Now to get off that topic, this place kind of remind me of the Erdstall Tunnels of Europe.”

“I agree April,” Illya said.”though at present no one is entirely certain as to why they were created in the first place. Some advocate the idea that the erdstalls date to the Stone Age and are of the opinion that these structures are a network of subterranean passages that stretched from Scotland all the way to Turkey…”

“Quiet you two,” Napoleon whispered. “Hear that?

There was a soft voice echoing farther down the tunnel which was becoming quite damp and the walls were now slimey.

The agents were there to verify reports of something strange going on in this particular tunnel to nowhere. They had no details, and had just been reported to look into it. There was no village or hamlet within miles so as to who could it have been that claimed something strange was going on was also a mystery.

Finally a warm glow appeared farther down the tunnel and they could smell a fire burning.

It was at that moment all three agents automatically drew their weapons and endeavored not to make a sound as they moved forward.

As they came to a what resembled an entryway, they found themselves in a small cavern.

There was a roaring fire in a fireplace, though when they were up above there were no signs of smoke venting into the air from the hill above the tunnel.

Seated at a table was a leathery looking man...well, man was a term one would use rather loosely.

Whatever it was, it was hairless, its skin was a combination of beige and red, there seemed to be no nose and its eye sockets were empty. It had a fishlike mouth, with no lips and it what looked like small fins on its forearms.

Had they just found a monster, a cousin to the Creature from the Black Lagoon?

It slowly raised its hands, with very elongated fingers and when its the hands reached up to its face, palms outward, an eye opened in the middle of each of its palms.

“Grrrrreetings, and welcome,” it spoke English with a voice was deep and guttural.

“Ummm no, sorry,” Napoleon answered.

“Who or rather what are you?”Illya asked.

“Pity. Have you no mannerrrs? Since you arrre visiting me should you not be the ones to intrrrroduce yourselves. I howeverrr will begin. The name last given to me is Leofdaeg, though I have had many names throughout my life. This name was given to me by a young boy called Hrrrroldulf who befrrriended me and would visit me. Sadly he grew old as yourrr kind does and I have not had many visitorrrrs since my frrriend surely died. I do miss having tea and porrrrridge with him as well as the converrrsation.”

Solo’s eyebrows raised as he was completely taken aback by the civility of the creature. It was well spoken, though it rolled its “R’s. It seemed quite intelligent.

Carved into another wall were nooks, stacked neatly within them were hardcover books. Beowulf, Frankenstein, Dracula, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Count of Monte Cristo as well as many other titles, all written in the 1800’s.

“My apologies Leofdaeg; my name is Napoleon, this gentleman is Illya and the lady is called April.”

“I am ever so pleased to make yourrr acquaintances. Might you all join me for a cup of fish broth? “

“No thank you,” April said. “Leofdaeg, have you ever left this place?”

“No, I do not belong up there in your world, most humans would not understand that I would do them no harm unlike the monster in the book Frankenstein.”

“How long have you been here?” Napoleon asked.

“I rrrememberrr a time when yourrr kind wore furrrs and carrried clubs, some of you worrrshipped me as a sorrt of deity. I trrried to tell them I was not a god.”

“What are you then?” Illya repeated his question.

“I am...me. That is all I can say.”

“What do you do for food?” April asked.

“Farrrther down the next tunnel is an underrrground strrream from which I catch fish. I use coal that is deeper still forrr my firrre.”

“You like to read,” she admired the books, running her fingers along the bindings. They were quite old and the pages yellowed. “Did someone bring these to you?”

“Yes, I like to read verrrry much so Miss April, though these books I have rrrread thrrrrough many times.”

“Are there more like you?” She asked.

“I have neverrr met anyone like me; therrrre have only been a few of yourrrr kind who have befrrrended me and swore to keep me and this place secrrret.”

“Would you excuse us a moment,” Napoleon finally said.

He gathered Illya and April together and whispered to them.

“I don’t know about you, but this...thing seems harmless enough. I’m wondering if he’s some sort of missing link, or a mutated human being.”

“We should bring him back with us, where he can be studied and cared for,” Illya said.

“Oh noooo,”April said.”We’re not taking him anywhere where he’ll be poked, prodded and put into a fishbowl. Think about how you’d feel if you were put in the same position?

Napoleon and Illya both looked rather guilty upon hearing her admoniton.

“What would you like us to do April, just forget he’s here?” Solo asked.

“Yes and no. I say we go back, get him some supplies... food, candles, books and new blankets...the one on his bed is threadbare.”

“Sounds fair,” Napoleon said. “Illya you go get whatever you think he could use; April and I will stay here and speak with him some more.”

Once Kuryakin left, Napoleon and April sat with Leofdaeg, making small talk while trying to figure out the last time he had been visited by his friend Hroldulf. Both that name and Leofdaeg were Old English names, so that put things into some perspective.

“Was there anyone else after Hroldulf who visited you?” Napoleon asked.

“Therrre was a young man named Blackwood but he only came a few times, sometimes to bring me mutton, or salmon and porrridge. He said he was poor writer, and could not bring much, though I was grateful for anything.

He was afrrraid someone was following him, so he stopped coming. The young man was a very nice human, but he had much fearrr in him. He was obsessed with something called ghosts.”

“Surely not fear of you Leo...may I call you Leo? You seem so gentle,” April asked, “It’s just a short form of your name, what we call a nickname.”

“Leo, that pleases me and is easierrr to say. Is that the purrrpose of a ...nickname?”

“Yes. Leo when you said fear, surely it wasn’t  of you. The shepherd boy was afraid for you perhaps?”

“Yes, that is how it was.”

It was amazing to watch Leo move his hands, and how expressive his eyes were. It took a bit to get used to them being in the middle of his palms.  His movement was slow and fluid as if he were swimming underwater.

Illya finally returned with a massive supply of tea, sardines, a variety of foods in tins (as well as an opener) boxes of porridge, three thick blankets, a pillow, a large box of candles, as well as boxes of wooden matches.

He also brought cooking pots, bowls, utensils and a collection of books that included The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Old Man and the Sea, The Lord of the Flies, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Invisible Man and The Once and Future King, The Borrowers and many more. He endeavored to find books that were more fantasy and not about humans per se, such as the angry villagers in Frankenstein and Dracula.

It took several trips but the last thing Kuryakin brought down was an old phonograph, the kind with a hand crank, as well as a collection of record albums that included many classical composers, as well as rock and roll.

Leofdaeg wept, tears ran down his palms when he heard music for the first time as well as when he realized how much supplies had been brought for him.

“Thank you my frrriends, if I may call you that?”

“Most certainly,” April smiled.

“Will you be able to visit me? Company would be most welcome.”

“We’re not from here,” Napoleon said, but I think we can arrange for someone to visit you and bring you supplies when you need them.”

“Leofdaeg, do you play the game known as chess?”Illya asked.

“No I do not; what is it this game of chess?”

“It is a board game of strategic skill for two players, Each player begins the game with sixteen pieces that are moved and used to capture opposing pieces according to precise rules. The object is to put the opponent's king under a direct attack from which escape is impossible, known as checkmate. When that is achieved, the game is won.”

“It sounds marrrvelous. I would like to learrrn this game.Will you teach it to me?”

“I’m afraid I did not bring a chess board and pieces but I will be sure to tell the person who next visits you to bring one as well as a book of rules and strategies.”

“I cannot thank you enough forrr yourrr generrrosity my frrriends. I do hope to see you again someday. I am grrrateful that you arrre keeping my existence a secrrret.

“It’s time for us to say goodbye Leo,” Napoleon nodded. “We’ll have someone visit you in no more than a month’s time, or perhaps sooner. I promise.”

Illya and April said their goodbyes as well, and as they headed up the tunnel they could hear the strains of Beethoven’s symphony No. 6 echoing.

The closer the got to the surface, the music became more and more distance until there was no sound of it at all.

Once outside, the agents got into their car and headed to the local U.N.C.L.E. field office.  There they made arrangements for the entrance to the tunnel to be kept under surveillance. Signs put up stating no trespassing as well as indicating there was a danger of cave ins.

After interviewing several candidates they found the perfect person to visit Leo. He was a Section III agent Rolf Felton who had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he was intelligent, talkative and loved chess.

He was what one might call the nerdy type and when the situation was explained to him, he showed not an ounce of hesitation in accepting the assignment.

Napoleon swore him to secrecy, and breaking that oath meant Rolf would be locked up in Tartarus, the UNCLE prison located in Antarctica...this however, was a complete lie.

Solo, Kuryakin and Dancer felt that little fib wouldn’t hurt.

As far as their report to Mister Waverly, they’d say they found nothing. The only thing that would be dicey would be how to cover the expense for the supplies.

Napoleon decided it was a negligible amount that could be padded into their expense accounts...and that as they say was that.

“Funny how we were so quick to assume Leo was a monster that needed to be studied,”Napoleon said as he and his partner boarded their flight back to New York. April had left to join Mark Slate in Italy.”

“What is the saying about not judging a book by its cover,” Illya replied.

“In this case tovarisch it was apropos, but unfortunately we’ve run into far too many real life monsters about whom we couldn’t say the same.”

Illya folded his arms in front of his chest and closed his eyes. He’d seen far too many human monsters in his life...like the Nazis. He’d try not to dream of them...instead he plotted his revenge for the mummy nonsense.

One eye popped open. “When the stewardess comes by, order me a vodka please with a glass of ice? Actually, make it a double? I am going to take a nap until then.”

“Sweet dreams pal,” Napoleon said. He planned to have a couple of scotches himself. He still wasn’t completely settled about meeting Leo? What if he really was the missing link?”

“Thank you, Napoleon.” Illya was asleep within minutes.

* Kuryakin’s revenge:

Two mummies stood at attention in front of the decorated entrance to the Masque Club, drawing little attention from those entering the establishment for an U.N.C.L.E. Halloween party.

“April,” Napoleon’s muffled voice came through the linen wrappings,” You never should have made fun of Illya being mummified.”

“Hey, you were laughing too," she protested.

“Sorry, I guess it’s a case of guilt by association.”

“I can’t believe he did this to me! Hmm, he better watch out,” she swore,” revenge is a dish best served cold all right!"

“I think Illya just proved that point my dear.”

Beethoven's symphony no. 6

Comments

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this touching and satisfying fic. Later in life Illya would be more used to the idea of these odd cousins around the world. (That little end scene was good, too.)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I tried to make this a little more unexpected, and sympathetic towards "the monster."

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

I should also have said: Blackwood was a fine idea and addition.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you! I think you're the only one who got that little reference.

[gevr.livejournal.com]

Beethoven's pastorale is a true masterpiece. It's no wonder the "visitor"/"alien"/"missing link" was hooked on it from the first note ...

A very nice story - well done. Funny that such a creepy prompt can inspire to such a sweet story :-D

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I wanted to do something unexpected with something that was so definitely creepy.

[gevr.livejournal.com]

you did succeed beyond expectation !!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Wow thank you for that great compliment!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

A beautiful story, with a lesson many could use today. I absolutely adore the name you chose or the Section III agent ;-)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! A change from 'kill the monster' attitude, like in Frankenstein. Ahhh so you got my little 'homage' with the name. :D