13- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR - SECTION 6

Asger was at his wits end when he heard the desperate cries of the children, the clamor of thrown furniture, the clash of the swords, the desperate struggle that must have ensued as Tekuob while protecting her children, fended off (fought off) this dastardly fiend’s murderous, vicious assaults.

01- LORD ASGER THUXUR MARROG ZHON (99) JP

Heavenly Gods, preserve us!

 

Asger’s eyes at this point inexplicably had fallen on Zandar’s parting gift the empty puzzle-box that rested inconspicuously on the small mantlepiece in his bedroom; thus, a flicker of recall (recollection) and then the grateful tears suddenly manifested in his eyes.

Lord Asger straightaway hence, and this time without interruption, inwardly invoked the “Ewbinuko Hex.”  He then using his life-force, his core energy (chi) and utilizing the mental steps- summoned (commanded) every molecule of the poison coursing through his bloodstream, tissues, bone marrow and all, to detach from the host bodies, to congregate, then to advance (march) towards his stomach cavity.

 

02- LOR ASGER THUXUR MARROG ZHON INVOKES THE EWBINUKO HEX - JP

His will next directed every particle (cell, atom) tainted by poison to rise to his esophagus, to the throat and then finally the last bit of the journey, the entire jot (hint of poison and tea), now propelled by one awesome force, got lobbed out (hurled, thrust, vomited out) from his then compelled (forced) agape mouth. Once the poison was extracted in its entirety in this manner, Asger, then released from paralysis, he at once leaped to his feet. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and hastened (darted) out of the room, stopping only to retrieve the twin sword from the locked chest.

                                                                                         ~

  

Earlier on, Tekuob sensing danger, had woken up with a start. Desiring to investigate but not wishing to wake the children, she had crept across the room, quickly dressed and then armed with the sword she had just reached to turn the handle of the doorknob. But try as she might the doorknob would not budge. By some inexplicable reason it had refused to give way(budge) and the door remained sealed tight, closed. Just then Svein, also awakened, had quietly crawled out of his bed, one hand rubbing his eyes, with the other he tugged at his mother’s skirt. Three years old, with his limited grammar

(vocabulary), he asked, “Things wrong mommy?”

“Yes, my darling, things very wrong!”  

Just then Lueling had also woken up, and she hastened over to their side; Tekuob picked her up, and then all returning to the bedside, in hushed voice she calmly instructed both children to hide under the bed.

“Mommy, you be all right?” Svein again asked in a worried voice.

“Yes, darling nothing bad will happen to me, this is only a cautionary measure; now no matter what you may hear, stay well hidden, and keep safe” She directed the twins. “Svein, I know you are brave but promise me you will not be reckless and come out from under the bed…And please for now take care good of your sister, till all danger has passed.”  Tekuob had barely finished saying this when just then the door had suddenly, violently burst open; she at once jumped to her feet and wheeled to face the armed foe.

 

03A- TEKUOB FACES THE INTRUDER (19)

 

“Tisk, tisk, tisk, girls shouldn’t be playing with swords, you may cut yourself accidentally.” The Dark Eunuch Egil Viggoaries threw his head back and laughed uproariously, before he launched his swift, murderous attack on Tekuob.

Despite her proficient martial skill, adroit (dexterous) strikes and implacable wielding of the blade, his prowess was so unearthly, and he fought with such supernatural potent force and velocity (speed) that, she soon was (situated, placed) compelled to fight defensively.  It was all she could do to keep him at bay; but in fact, he was only toying with her, amused as he was that she could wield the long dagger with comparable warrior’s competency (skill). Nevertheless, her sword’s blade being short and far inferior, he knew she would not last too long. Meanwhile with his supernatural prowess, he could have at any instant, bested her yet he’d deliberately held back (his ability), knowing after the lengthy anticipation, at the end of this superfluous scuffle, when it came time to devour this morsel, her screams would cause still greater anguish and anxiety(torment) to Asger.

 

04- TEKUOB FIGHTS WITH  EGIL VIGGORIES  (55)

The Dark Eunuch Egil Viggoaries, before long tiring of this charade, however, with ferocity of a rapacious beast, he then pounced on Tekuob to finish her off; thus, with a preponderant swipe, in one powerful blow, his sword’s blade at that moment sliced clean through hers, leaving her with the hilt (handle) and a four inches stub of blade at the end of it. In a blinking of an eye, she was disarmed, then tripped and pinned to the bed.  When Egil Viggoaries’s powerful grip reached for Tekuob’s keck, though suppressed by his supernatural power, she still had fought off the Dark Eunuch (commanding Fradel’s body) with her last ounce of strength, again to the ultimate amusement of Egil Viggoaries.

 

Impetuous Svein could not stand by and do nothing any longer, not when his mother was in grave danger; he crawled out from under the bed and with a fierceness of the lion’s cub, his sister following suit, Svein and Lueling both pounded their fists and tried to bite the assailant’s legs, at the same time relentlessly (with unrelenting zeal) tugging and pulling at his trouser.

The bothersome children now mildly annoyed Egil Viggoaries, though he could not have asked for a better outcome than this! His subsequent, curt (brusque, gruff) threatening bark stunned the toddler twins, but only for a spell; despite their age, understanding of their mother’s dire-straits, and witnessing her desperate struggle to free herself, Svein with child’s innocence, had next, bravely rushed off to retrieve, his mother’s discarded and partially broken sword from the ground where it lay, and returning, then putting all his might into it, he hacked at the intruder’s ankle, shin and leg, that was well protected by the thick knee length leather boots he wore.

 

Egil Viggoaries had been amused at first by the twin’s raw courage and their futile attempt to rescue their mother; when the novelty wore off, however, typically intolerant of children, the twin’s persistence now irked the Dark Eunuch. Tekuob still paranormally (mystically) pinned down, Egil half-turning, first with the back of his hand ruthlessly knocked (dispatched) the little girl clear across the room and then, grabbing Svein by the leg, he held him up high in midair.

“What a feisty piglet!” Egil Viggoaries roared, observing the still kicking and irate child; then, with a malevolent grin, he as well cast (discarded) Svein to the far corner.

 

“Oink, Oink… Oh, look at the little piglet fly!” Egil Viggoaries’s vicious, cruel laughter had reverberated in the tense air, as his eyes had trailed Svein’s catapulted form which eventually had slammed hard against the tall dresser, rendering the toddler promptly unconscious. The tragic scene appeared far worse, however, with the blood from the children’s lacerations instantaneously staining the furniture and the floor mat, in part assuaging Egil’s wrath; nonetheless, children’s bodies are malleable (supple) and resilient at that age, and even though, they both lay there perfectly still, thankfully they would survive this terrible ordeal.

 

“Finally, some peace!”  Egil Viggoaries exhaled in relief and turned his venomous gaze back on Tekuob.

 

“Vile beast!” Tekuob (with her mother’s love) momentarily overriding the spell just then, her fists clenched she struck (hit) a fierce blow at Egil Viggoaries’s chest; unfortunately, Egil’s unearthly powers interceding, her fierce punch was rendered useless, it came to naught!

 

“Oh, you think the little piglets are no more?” Egil Viggoaries in an incredulous tone, pursing his lips, flashed Tekuob a delighted grin.

Her attention, meanwhile, was at once drawn to the assailant’s sword, temporarily cast aside, leaning against the commode (or chest) just behind him. It was within an easy reach! Summoning all her strength she kneed him in the groin and in that moment setting herself free, she made a dash for Asger’s ancestor’s sword.

 

Egil Viggoaries had been a Eunuch (nearly) all his life, now in Fradel’s body, experiencing this kind of intense pain, for a spell it had derailed him. Rage fueling his swift recovery however, in an agile maneuver he then had not only retrieved the sword forcefully from Tekuob’s hand, but wrathfully, with the back of his fist (and the hilt) he struck the side of her head. Her knees buckled and hit the floor hard; meanwhile, she was overcome with sudden vertigo (dizziness) and her right temple (pounding) throbbed with excruciating pain.

05- TEKUOB FIGHTS THE DARK EUNUCH EGIL  (58)

Tekuob had nevertheless fought to stay cogent and focused. Egil Viggoaries squatting in front of her next, his free hand viciously grabbed her by the back of the neck, lifted her up to her feet, pinned her face right into his, and he growled: “Beauties are not allowed to play with swords! But I forgive you, just this once!” The Dark Eunuch, so ejecting, as if on second thought, he abruptly pressed his vile lips onto hers, but she fiercely bit down hard his lower lip, drawing blood.

His reaction was cold and sinister; his tongue in slow motion licked the blood off his lips. The unnatural power at the next moment augmented; she felt her iron resolve and her total physique (body, corpus) being forcefully subjugated. He let go and stepped back to critically appraise her. Her body meanwhile rigidly, like a post stood in front of him; she was floating in air, with her feet three inches off the floor.

“You are the beloved wife of Nevetsecnuac….” Egil Viggoaries pensively stated out loud; his piercing fiery eyes, meanwhile, burrowing into her flesh, he studied her form (figure) for a long while and then he lewdly (lecherously) grinned. “Where is he? Where is your dear husband now….?”  He read the fierce protective defiance in her eyes and nodded with understanding, ‘even if she knew she would not tell him.’

“Have it your way, you’ll tell me eventually; I have time ….” He then with malevolent glint in his eye, gripped her chin and forced another kiss on her lips, but this time his mouth had pressed so hard against hers that it had practically stolen all her breath away.

“Too bad he’s not here to save you…” His implicit threat further incensed her.

Lueling at that moment coming to, impulsively grabbed the exquisitely carved wooden wolf spear (one of her favorite toys) and with a wild scream, “Stop hurting my mommy!” She rushed to stop the villain’s next aim. 

“Children should mind their own business.” Egil seeing red, reeled (turned right around), presently brandishing his sword, and this time bent on permanently eradicating (slay) the annoying (bothersome), galling pests.

A mother’s innate love and devotion overriding the effects of the spell, however, Tekuob spontaneously and in lightning speed at that instant, had just hurled herself into the sword’s deadly path.

Was this it, was this the end of Princess Tekuob?

No, indeed; for at that precise juncture, a strange phenomenon had occurred: first a miasmic cloud enveloped her, as simultaneously, predominant time simply stood still. Everything froze.

Subsequently, from this growing miasmic (vaporous) white cloud emerged a most potent (powerful), immortal being.

 

06- IMMORTAL SHETOR AND ELDERS OF KARN 999  -,JP

This intrusive power was none other than the (ambitious, conniving) alien Sthetor who had his own secret agenda to fulfill. Sthetor a key Immortal, was one of the three sole survivors (the other being His Eminence Olavingemar and his daughter Tekubzan) of the most ancient branch of Kongrul; subsequently, both Olavingemar and Sthetor had joined the Race of Karn.

Acting on his premonitory vision, Sthetor had secretly absconded (snuck out without permission, as he had done once before, when he had affected the demise of Chandor, Zonar’s father,) from the Immortal realms, right after Dwengzur’s departure and descended on this mountain abode.

Sthetor’s concealed powers being almost omnipotent (supreme), he had easily bypassed the protective spells put on the mountain by mere mortal Lord Asger. Intrigued by what was happening with Asger, Egil then with Tekuob, he had watched it for a while, the unfolding scenes, undetected, from the shadows. Knowing, however, what would follow if he did not intercede- that Tekuob’s allotted time prematurely would expire, that she would next instant be mercilessly, instantaneously cut down by the very blow that had been intended for her beloved daughter- Immortal Sthetor had decisively made his move.

Though she was a mere, puny human being, she was, in fact, far too valuable a player, a chess-piece, a commodity, to be lost to providence. Aside from her lineage and her link to the Emperor of Kontu Deng Hedenko (a once promised bride to be), who was a key component in Wenjenkun and Korion’s future history, she was also the wife of Elder Aegeus’s (half-breed) grandson Nevetsecnuac, who happened to also be the renegade Zonar’s nephew. She could, therefore, be used as an effective source of manipulation, as a leverage, a bargaining chip, to constrain Zonar, Nevetsecnuac and, even Elder Aegeus, when those future confrontations transpired.

And so, suddenly from the miasmic cloud this invincible immortal Sthetor in pseudo human form, with long white hair and pallid face, precisely the moment had warranted it, had manifested in the room.

 

07- AN ALIEN BEING AND TEKUOB  (22) JP

Agast Egil Viggoaries rooted to the spot, watched in mesmerized awe, this clearly omnipotent alien being, without moving his lips invoke a spell; subsequently, the miasmic clouds grew and drifted towards Tekuob and soon engulfing her, the vapor lifted her into air and delivered her (floating) to the Immortal’s hands. Next instant, in a flush, both he and Tekuob had simply vanished without a trace, into thin air.

 

Tekuob one minute stood in peril in the path of the blade, the next instant she was gone; this fact defying all sound reasoning... Reality extending beyond all existential and metaphysical (ontological, unearthly) truths. Was this an abduction or a rescue, was it for the better or worse, Egil Viggoaries could not (rightly tell) determine which.

                                                                                            ~

 

https://legend-of-ne-vet-sec-nuac.blog/2026/10/26/podcast-episode-legend-of-nevetsecnuac-book-13-the-unexpected-visitor-section-6/

 

(END OF SECTION 6)  

LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE STATE OF THINGS - SECTION 26

Canute Yonn swallowed heard, then fighting the blinding, throbbing pain in her head, he continued to relate (reveal) his mother’s tragic story to the indifferent (unsympathetic) ears in court. “Tresor and his wife Suen were a kindly folk; and at the beginning they took great pains with herbal tonics and diligent care, to save my mother’s life. After a partial recovery, however, she was again driven out into the cold; this time the culprit was poverty, and the humble farmer and his wife had to harden their heart to do this.  Their reasons being valid, I carry no ill will towards them."

“How very magnanimous of you," Mouro ejected sarcastically and sneered.

Disregarding him, Canute Yonn elucidated (explained) why he’d so readily forgiven them: "Their deprived circumstances were onerous enough, but that year’s incessant rain had spoiled most yields (crops) and created scarcity. This prohibited any acts of charity to kin, much less a stranger.  Famine had already claimed two of their children, one at the age of three, the other barely a year old. My mother, Helga, was crippled by Senson's countless blows to her legs and could not work the fields or do any other strenuous work; she was a liability and a hindrance to them.”

01-FARMER TRESOR

“Subsequently, with scant clothing and food, her baby a millstone in her belly, my poor mother drifted from place to place, scavenging, begging for alms, to survive.  All the while trying not to hate the innocent child, me, in her womb. I’m telling it as is, when she had later unburdened her heart to me. She had endured these unspeakable hardships, living for the day of her vengeance."

"See, trouble begets trouble.” Micen stroking his beard, mused heartlessly. “They should have made certain of the serving maid Helga’s death before abandoning her in the ditch; if they had, all this trouble now could have been averted."

"I came into this world in a house of ill-repute, where we stayed until the day of my mother's passing." Canute Yonn, oblivious, continued hoarsely.  "I grew up hearing her bitter, tragic sobs every night, for she had never grown accustomed to selling her body."  He gazed dully at the floor to hide his eyes, brimming with tears.  The rekindled pain of those times again tormented his mind, wrenching his soul.

                                                                                       ~

"Please don't cry, Mama!"  His heart breaking, Canute buried his face in the pillow to drown out his sobs.  What was it that ailed her so?  Who was Senson, this name she had so often, like now, cursed out loud in her sleep?  He was seven years old.  He felt quite grown up and he did the chores like grownups, but everyone still treated him like a child.  I'm old enough to understand, why won't she tell me?

He tossed his covers aside and, sitting up, fixed his gaze on the locked door that separated him from his mother.  The room, no bigger than a closet, in fact it had once been used as storage, had a tiny window so high up that it let through only a thin sliver of moonlight.  The wind was howling outside but the dancing shadows in the room did not scare him.

 I wish I could comfort her; he rubbed his eyes sleepily; I know she needs me.

 Hanging his head low he heaved a deep, stealthy sigh wishing he could forget that another, a stranger, who was sleeping snugly beside his mother.  As he tried to purge his heart of the gripping loneliness, troublesome thoughts and haunting questions again crowded his brain.  Why does Mama claim we have no family?  What about my father? 

Canute knew that his father was not dead, for once in slip of the tongue, she had referred to him in the present tense.  But why weren't they with him?  Wouldn't he be angry if he came here and found out she had slept with all these men?

He didn't play in the street anymore, for the other kids would tease him and call him and his mother all sorts of unmentionable names.  Like sharp slivers each name-calling stabbed at his heart.  Many a time he had retaliated with fierceness and pent-up anger, beating and dispersing all those who had ganged up on him.  Unfortunately, swift repercussions, beatings and berating soon followed from his elders in the house.  He was in a no-win situation.  Things will never change; why should I fight back (riposte)?  Still, a faint smile brushed his lips when he recalled the proper whipping, he had given to that big bully Yenn Katog, who was always inciting the other kids against him. It served him right!  And, it had more than made up for the thrashing he got later. 

He now stuck out his chest in self-congratulation.

Canute’s mind reverting back to his father, he reclined and closed his eyes in hopeful dreams, imagining that one day his noble, warrior father, their savior, would appear at their door, looking tall and distinguished, kindly and strong, to claim them.

02- CANUTE YONN'S IMAGINED FATHER

His heroic father would rescue them both from that ugly, intolerable existence.  For, to the marrow of his bones Canute detested this place he was forced to call home.  It broke his heart to see his mother ceaselessly tormented, day after day, by this uncaring, insensitive lot.

 Restless, he shifted his position.  His eyes fell on the discarded old plantation fan Tike had given to his mother.  He picked it up and examined it in the scant light, noting particularly the holes.  Absentmindedly he began gnawing at its edge.

 A few doors down he could hear that old tyrant of a house mother, Tike, scolding one of the girls.  In anger he threw the fan aside.  Oh, how he hated that callous old shrew who intimidated everyone, young and old!

He grimaced, thinking how when he was younger still, his mother had kept him in line with the threat that Tike ate disobedient, disrespectful children for supper and that was why she had gotten so fat.

Unsought, he saw before his mind's eye those venomous, piercing beads of eyes, encompassed by a gelatinous face which split into a threatening snarl to expose rows of rotted teeth.  "I'll get you yet, you piece of shit!" Tike was shaking a fat, threatening finger at him.  "Your days are numbered; wait and see!"  He retorted, clawing the air savagely to tear at her reverberating double chin that always seemed to drip perspiration.

03- CANUET FACES TIKE

 Tike thrived on tormenting people, always caning, hitting, beating and cursing everyone.  Never satisfied, never smiling, except at the guests, and then her smile was more hideous than her frowns and haunted his nightmares frequently.  She flogged him incessantly, not sparing the rod even at the slightest provocation.  Worse still, he resented being forced to behave, to be made to quietly submit to her abuse. His mother Helga was made to suffer the worst of it, for every one of his defiant acts.

He could hardly comprehend the extent of the fear Tike evoked in his mother's heart when Tike threatened to throw them out on their own.  In fact, had his mother Helga not been the prettiest and one of the key attractions of Tike's establishment, the street would have been their home a long, long time ago.

Oh, how I hate her!  I swear I'll kill her some day! he shook his clenched fist in the air.

The weeping and cursing finally muted after the slamming of several doors.  It was the same scenario being played out every night.

The following day Canute received an additional reason for despising Tike.  Canute's mother Helga had been sick for the last two or three days now, vomiting and feeling dizzy.  He was really concerned about her so, after the guest had gone, finding the door unlocked, he'd quietly snuck into her room and attempted to give solace to her.  She looked paler than usual.  When the steps of the old tyrant were heard approaching the door he heeded his mother's directive and made himself scarce.  Not wandering too far, he eavesdropped.

"Doctors cost money", he heard the shrew say.  "Besides, keeping it is out of the question."  A few other words he could not quite make out.  Then he observed Tike taking a small bottle from her pocket and handing it to his mother.  "There, I don't want you to think about it any longer.  I was good enough to get you this.  Never mind where I got it, just drink it.  He assured me it would get rid of the unwanted pest (nuisances).  You don't think this is the first time I've had to do this, do you?"

Canute watched with some trepidation hoping against hope that it was medicine to cure his mother’s ailment, as Helga with some reluctance, a grim, ghostly expression on her pale face, raised the foul-looking potion to her trembling lips.

"Don't drink it, Mamma!  It may be poison!" His fears triumphing (prevailing) over hope, he sprang from hiding place to shout his warning.

"The idea!” Tike turned her venomous eyes on Canute, panting with rage, hands brought menacingly to her hips.

 "You ungrateful brat, poisoning her, is that what you think I'm doing?  You, you a slandering scoundrel, you!  Haven't I warned you never to come here this early in the morning?  How long has he been there?"  She turned to Helga, worried that he may have inconvenienced last night's guest.  She had another good reason to be fearful, since abortion was illegal in Wenjenkun.  She needed to ascertain that Canute had not heard or understood enough to incriminate her.

"I'll tell-on you!" Canute warned, having sensed her fear.  "I'll have you locked up!" he shouted defiantly, not really knowing what he was threatening her with.

"You, wrenched viper in my bosom; I'll teach you to threaten me, you piece of shit!" shaking her finger at Canute Tike began to viciously berate and curse him as she pounced on Canute.

But Canute was too agile and too swift to be caught, not one with her bulk.

Huffing and puffing as enraged Tike chased him down the hall, her shouts to the others to grab him created such a pandemonium that the whole house was turned upside down.

In the end Canute had successfully slipped through those innumerable, vicious, grasping hands and hid. 

By dusk, when eventually the mayhem settled down and everyone returned to their routine tasks, exercising due caution, Canute Yonn stealthily emerged from his hiding place.

By providence spotting the old shrew, he, hugging the walls, followed Tike all the way back to his mother's room.

Once more Canute hid and, from this vintage point, watched and waited with his heart pounding, for Tike to have her say and depart. Tike’s face was beet-red from all that exertion as she huffed and puffed and animatedly gesticulating, flailed (flapped, waved)) those fleshy arms of hers.

What has she got so much to squawk (crow) about?

Curiosity, getting better of him Canute pressed his ear to the door and eavesdropped. 

On and on, with mounting rage and spurting poison, Tike cursed and scolded Helga, as she unmercifully, vented her cruel diatribes on the hapless, ailing (sick) young woman.

 "I told you to get rid of that brat long ago.  He'll never amount to anything, mark my words.  He's nothing but trouble.  You know he's no good, but then you're no better!  Why do you encourage him to come up here?  Are you stupid or something? Mother’s affection, baloney!  All useless emotions!  You've no business feeling love, not for a bastard, not for anyone!  Now you listen!  I'm just about at the end of my patience with you.  I'll only tell you this once more.  Harden your heart to him or you'll be made to suffer.  Then you'll be sorry.  Get rid of him now, I say, for he'll turn on you too one day.  Just wait.  Don't you know the innate nature of all men by now?"

Tike paced the floor to and for in an unusual quiet, as she mentally formulated (prepared) her next set of arguments and rested her vocals.

The door he was concealed behind, (whom patrons sometimes used) was still unlocked.  He pried it on ajar and peered in to see what was happening.  To his dismay, he saw the emptied bottle in Tike's hand as she toyed with it before returning it to her pocket. Tike was careful that way; making sure to retrieve any would be incriminating items (objects) and destroying it later.

 Suddenly, in a much calmer mood Tike, going over sat by Helga’s bed and, her enormous paws cupping Helga’s delicate hand, she began persuading the ailing woman, to agree to something.  Typically, the shrew was trying first, a kinder, gentler approach but Canute knew all too well that, if this did not produce the desired result, she would in (but a few minutes) a flash reverts to her vicious nature.

"Why don't you let me get rid of the pest…? Arr, I mean the boy, for you as well?  You don't have to do anything.  I'll handle the transaction for you.  Why must you be so stubborn? I have your best interest at heart. Why won't you take my advice?  Can't you see that in the long run it would be better for him, too? He’ll grow up in a normal home.  I saw mistress Wang just the other day.  They're looking for another bond servant; trouble is they don't want to pay for a fully grown one. Now, don’t be so quick to turn this down; wait till you hear the rest of it. “

“When she told me of their wish to purchase a boy close to their Therran's age, to keep him company, be his study- buddy and, for to keep their son out of trouble; I'd at once, being so selfless (altruistic), suggested Canute.  She said she'd consider it.  I had hoped that they would have forgotten about that regrettable incident between the two boys.  But listen, if you agree I'll do my best to persuade them to take Canute off your hands; sold for a pretty price, I’ll even get a smaller commission, just to help you out. Besides, couldn't you use another new dress or two?  You really ought to be thanking me for finding him a good home.  You know that if he grows up here, he'll turn on you, sooner or later.  He'll hate your guts for what you're doing.  He'll despise you to the core for ruining his life.  Also, you know as well as I do, that no respectable, good girl will ever marry the illegitimate (illicit) son of a whore.  So why don't you heed my sound advice and get rid of him now, while there's still a chance, while there's still time."

Canute Yonn’s fury rising to the boiling point, he felt he would just explode.  He shook violently, uncontrollably.  He'd just about had his belly full of resentment against that old bat.  Grinding his teeth, he was about to dash out to gouge her eyes out… When,

"I caught you, you little worm!"  A strong hand grasped the back of his neck and lifted him up high.  "So, this is where you've been hiding all this time."

"Let go of me!  Let me go, you cursed dog!"  In vain Canute, eyes agleam with anger, tried to kick and claw his captor, the big, strong bully called Ron, Tike's nephew who (periodically) helped her with the running of the business.

The relentless verbal and physical abuse that both Tike and Ron rained on Canute made his mother livid with fear, worsening her wretched condition still more.  Her tragic pleas for them to stop hitting her boy fell on deaf ears until; finally, she uttered the words Tike most wanted to hear.  Canute was dragged outside, still kicking and screaming, bouncing down the steps until he was violently thrown onto the dirt of the cellar floor.

"I'll teach you to respect your elders." Ron ranted like a mad bull.  "So, I'm a cursed dog, am I, you, ungrateful turd."

He grasped the heavy stick which rested by the stairs.  "You've had this coming to you for a long time.  Take this, and this!"  He pounded solidly and savagely on Canute's tender young flesh.  "Plead for mercy, you wretch, or I swear I'll kill you!"

Despite the excruciating pain, Canute held fast, bit his lip to stop from crying out until he passed out. When he came to the musty smell of dust had assailed his nostrils and dirt coated his tongue.  His battered head was throbbing fiercely.  His fingers tentatively touched the area where the pain was most intense, at the hairline.  Just then he felt a sharp, cutting pain in his ankle and kicked his leg, scaring away the timid rodent that had wanted a taste of his flesh.  His torn shirt and pants had already glued themselves to his wounds.  Though every inch of his body was seared with pain he lifted himself with determination and persistence to his feet. Muffling his groans he groped his way in that semi-darkness, his path barely illuminated with a sliver of light streaming from the small window way up there; with determination, he weaved his way slowly towards the door.  As he had expected, the door had been barred shut from the outside.  His revulsion growing stronger by the minute, he drummed up his last ounce of strength and savagely pounded his fists against the wood.

"Let me out!  Let me out!  I'll get you for this, you fiendish bastards!"

 His strength was ebbing.  "I'll show you.  You can't keep me here for long…I’ll kill you all, you, you…. beasts!”

Curses on his lips reduced to barely audible whimper, his breath now coming in gasps, Canute (limply) collapsed to the ground.  He remained there motionless for an undetermined time until he'd recovered some of his strength.  The urgency of his mother's condition gave him the will, the (fuel) ability to forsake his pain.

05- CANUTE IN CELLAR

Rising to his feet, he first determined the direction he wished to go then slowly felt his way to that far corner.  He was relieved to find things undisturbed and so, with some difficulty, pushed the empty, moldy cart to the side.  This was not the only time he had been cudgeled or flogged then imprisoned in the cellar but, the last time, he had, through his resourcefulness, discovered this exit, this burrow through the wall and, enlarging it a little, had crawled outside, stolen a steamed bun from the kitchen, then returned to his prison without being seen.  He had been smart enough to have concealed the opening of this escape route and had confided its existence only to his mother, in order to ease her anxiety.

                                                                                   ~

(END OF SECTION 26)