Free Bohemians of Sesqua Valley by W. H. Pugmire Page B

digging his fingernails into Simon’s brow. “This hand has touched the seventh statue, the residue of which has left a paranormal stain. Feel it sink into your bestial hide and find your throbbing brain. Let the Circle conjure itself inside your mind. Feel its image bubble in your diseased brain. Yes, there you go! Isn’t it fantastic?”
    As Sarah watched this performance, she was overwhelmed with a sense of being trapped inside a dream. Her surroundings, and the macabre inhabitants she encountered in it, disturbed her. Akiva Loveman had altered absolutely, and she did not recognize the man before her now. No longer the shy boy she had known in Providence, the poet seemed to tremble before her with a subdued inner-power that lit his eyes. Sarah was not alone in her astonishment.
    “How dare you touch me,” panted Simon Gregory Williams; and yet he did nothing to push the poet from him, and his silver eyes grew more fantastic as Akiva kept his hand on Simon’s brow. The beast of the valley was bewildered, for he had been used to his role of intimidation and control, especially within his valley realm. Although his eyes had remained wide open, dream-like images began to filter into his mind. He saw a steep ravine and a descending trail with broad steps of rough-hewn stone. A wide stream cascaded as waterfall over rocks and boulders and fallen trees in an area that Simon did not recognize. “This is mere delusion and delirium,” he muttered, and yet he could not escape the image in his mind. In vision, he walked away from the singing stream, to an area beneath the trees and ferns where the earth was smooth. It was there that he visualized the circle of diminutive statues, dark gnome-like figures that each held a sphere composed of pale stone. This vision angered the beast, and he sneered. “This is your imagination only. How dare you try and transpose it onto me with your feeble witchery.”
    “No,” Akiva countered, “the site exists. Manly took me there.”
    “Enough. I will not listen to your babble of secret places and second shadow-lands. I would know if my brother still existed in the valley, in whatever hidden pocket of it. You have fallen under the spell of Manly’s poetry, as have others before you. Incredibly, you seem to have spent a night within the Hungry Place, and as a result of this unheard of behavior you are now utterly deranged. Obviously, you cannot withstand the influence of the valley.” Simon turned to Sarah. “It would be best for you both to return to Providence and not return. You are unwanted here.”
    Before either outsider could answer, Simon stalked away. Turning a flustered face to his friend, Akiva cried, “But I did visit it, and Manly lives! Let me share it with you.” He raised his hand to her face, but she blocked his movement with an arm.
    “No, don’t touch me.” The harshness in her voice surprised her, and she winced at the painful expression in Akiva’s eyes. Taking hold of his hand, she brought it to her lips and kissed it. And then she, too, walked away from him.
    V
     
    Sarah was in her room, packing things into her small suitcase, when she heard the commotion in the living room. Going to investigate, she saw Akiva striving to lift the strange black statue. Seeming to sense that she was watching, he turned and grinned at her.
    “It’s not very heavy, actually. I think I can do this.”
    “And what exactly is it that you’re doing?”
    “Manly suggested that it would be appropriate to take this to the Circle of Seven Suns, that maybe it would help to evoke the Crawling Chaos.”
    The woman laughed. “Akiva, when did you become consumed with all of this esoteric nonsense? I’m beginning to agree with Simon—you need to escape this place. Come with me to Providence.”
    “Manly’s book was my key, you see, and the valley is my gateway. I’ve connected with the valley’s laureate, and I think he wants to crown me with his laurel. I am destined to become