Chapter XXII:
Geissler’s Operation
When Kurt left her outside the gym, Verity did not figure he recognized the man in the surgical mask, as their experiences in world of shadows were not completely alike; she had become too acquainted with that man herself, while Kurt had only heard tell of his name and infamy.
But in spotting him, and he her, she tried to avoid any hint of her recognition of him, any fear; hate.
Much of the future that was revealed to them had already proven to be true she had discovered: whether it was Kurt’s knowledge of the Weever, or little things she overheard around her family’s estate; and all the strange gossip about the Subohemians, and the apegift booths to be soon established countywide. Her father did not oppose the booths, she had overheard a few nights prior, calling them “free self-improvement centers for the paupers.”
Whenever the vaighlings and ettins visited her home, she hid in her room, listening.
They could smell her suspicion, especially Orbaulker declaring himself lord of the county and lord of her father "the ape" and "his spawn."
She saw in that creature nothing but the abyssal soul of the Unghost, a dead machine for the diabolic without a shred of humanity, even before she learned of its true nature.
Most of her family had fallen in prostration before that beast long ago.
Her father had reluctantly resisted, until a month before Kurt and her spoke of their shared memories.
The process of submission for government officials was of recruitment to the Order of Azza, this sequence of events of which Etzel also aware, the two as shadows having experienced first-hand all which that horrific recruitment entailed.
Thus, she said nothing to Etzel, avoiding him as much as possible.
They had spoken only through their eyes, their examining each other in silent recognition of the knowledge they jointly possessed.
Hers was a look of shame, his of disbelief. As she returned home that day of her discussion with Kurt, she was greeted by descending aircraft; a tall, black winged obelisk with a green eye glowing from its cockpit head.
She hastened indoors to examine the visitors in private.
Shutting herself in her bedroom, she watched from her window to see those outside disembarking the craft and onto the neat, green lawn at her doorstep.
Martin Count Von Herrenhausen West, the most recently admitted member of the Order of Azza, strode out onto the grassy makeshift landing pad to hail his overlords.
First, in a black and blue uniform, stepped out a tall man with neat flaxen hair, wearing a long red cape, grinning white horse-like teeth: Erich von Herrenhausen-North Sr, the Groomslayer.
Her father displayed an outstretched arm salute to him, waved off by the Prince of the Wildermark as if he was doing Martin a favor from an old friend.
“Salute the Unghost! I am your pal, Marty! Hey, where’s your kiddo at...can’t wait to tell her the good news...”
Next followed a man she had seen hours before in a surgical mask, his hair like straw. It was Eugenius Geissler, the Chief Surgical-Engineer of the Order of Azza. The three men stepped inside, and making herself hidden like a shadow on the wall, she crept along corridors of the house to hear any bit of information. Kurt’s pulver ear would have been useful then, she thought.
Erich spoke in a loud pompous voice, heard throughout much of the mansion. “Can’t tell you how pleased I am that you joined the order, Marty. Really it’s best for the family, that little stretch of rebellion you carried out, 'twas rather a bad look for us…for you and your girls…But we’ll have it sorted out, can’t have a Von Herrenhausen holed up in a Rural County shitheap! No, that won’t do, the lack of benefits, I mean, for you especially, but when we get the girls on board, they won’t believe the sort of advancements we’re making out in the Wildermark.
Seriously mind-boggling stuff…by the way, old Eugenius here saw little Verity at school today. Just checking in on the little rugrat, of course, no need to worry…”
“Why?…" said Martin, sharply, "my family is supposed to be off limits in this affair…if they want to join the Order, that is their freedom, but otherwise-"
“-You think that was off-limits?? You know what little Verity was doing today? Thank goodness, Dr. Geissler found her when he did…That little ragamuffin was talking to one of Carolus Eisenforst’s bastards. Goodness knows what they were sneaking about doing…I mean, the bastard, as you know, fought against our men in that little taboo skirmish a few years ago. Can you believe Eisenforst thought he could take the whole Order on? Sheesh…Well, all this protection we’ve offered them, that you offered him, it’s not a good look for the Country’s security.
I mean you need to get rid of them, those brat kids of his, ASAP.”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“No, Erich, they live within their legal limits. They are not permitted to leave the County Zone just like any other citizen, and as Count and Sheriff of Great Oak I am obliged to uphold their rights…otherwise you are demanding a second peasant rebellion, and one certainly deadlier than the last.”
“Pfuck it, what does it matter to us? They’re apes, Marty. Apes. I mean, technically that includes your girl, but we’ll work on that, get the apegift squared away, else, well, she’ll be handled with either way…how’s that new heart doing by the way? Still ticking away?”
There was a brief moment of relative silence,before Martin said, “What is that?…”
“This letter? Instructions from the Higher-Ups, I mean, you-know-whom. The Governor and, ergo…from Azza.”
“It has to be her choosing this, Erich! That's what the Order is all about! Freedom of body and mind!”
“Exactly! And how else will she learn the truth with an education in ape territory?
You can’t trap her in the middle of ass-pfucking nowhere like this, pal.
The good doctor here agrees…talking to apes like the Carolus-bastard is a dangerous road, and will be disastrous for the family in the long run...else, well, you know what happens to apes in the woods. Think about it, Marty...just five years and she graduates from Subohemia High School, my kid is going there you, know, little Junior! Wonderful institution...no bad influences there to put anti-superlative ideas in her head…I mean if you knew the sort of 'dirt' we had on John Ormsvard…guy is at the top of our list for rabble-rousing ape-shit… can’t be rehabilitated.”
“She will choose.”
“Did you forget your contract's stipulations already?”
More silence.
“My son will make great friends with her, I'm sure, and what’s more, they’re having a school dance up in the mountains tomorrow night.
Carolus Eisenforst of all people built a castle up on Mockwitch Peak and is renting the place out…greedy little shit he is, he worships Mockwitch for some reason, you know, I mean... it’s close enough, right? To worshipping the Unghost?"
“…Give me time, Erich.”
There was sharp sound, a thud and glass shattering.
“That’s the Groomslayer to you, groom. Your prince,” hissed Erich.
More glass shattered.
Verity rushed down the hall.
“Dad!!!”
Martin was covered in blood and shards from the glass dinner table, his face smashed and unrecognizable.
“DAD.”
“Shut up, schlut,” said the Groomslayer smiling. “You were eavesdropping, I guess. So, I won’t repeat myself. Get your things, we’re leaving.”
Eugenius gripped her from behind, puncturing her spine with a syringe.
She went limp.
“Call one of my apes to bag her, Doctor, let’s get outta this shithole.”
Uniformed men from the aircraft marched into the house, one hauling Verity over his padded shoulder.
As they reached the front door an arquebus shot exploded.
The men fell over.
Clenching his gun was the bloody mess of Martin von Herrenhausen.
“Martin…Martin, ape hunting is perfectly legal, but that ape was my property. I’m going to have to write you a fine for that infraction.”
He pointed to another soldier to haul Verity, and said, “tell the others to set this place on fire. Marty here has been a very naughty boy.”
As the ranch house of Martin Von went up in flames, the aircraft lifted up over the county, off over the hills towards Mockwitch Peak.
In a few seconds they reached the mountain’s peak and their lodging. “What the hell is that thing on her neck, Doctor?” asked the Groomslayer.
“Quickore,” responded the doctor looking over her undressed body.
“You mean anti-pulver? Her father give her that?”
“I would imagine.”
“What a load of shit…---yeaughhh!!!!” In agony, the Groomslayer howled.
In his hand was the Tooth of the Weever, punctured through from palm to knuckle. He had snatched it from its chain, his eye on a trash bin at first, now he writhed on the ground, eyes shut, sweating pulver.
“Do something!!! Do something, Geissler!! That pfuckin tooth stabbed me!”
Eugenius stood calmly over the Groomslayer striking a match and puffing a pipe before saying, “I can save you, but the arm will have to go. The amputation must be carried out at once before the Quickore spreads to the rest of you...with your consent, we can begin the operation at once.” “FINE! HURRY!” The Groomslayer’s hand had become a stump,and kept shortening as if being eaten by invisible insects.
The Tooth, still chained about Verity’s neck fell back to her breast.
Eugenius plunged the same syringe he had used on Verity into the Groomslayer’s spine, who then fell limp and cold.
“For you, Master Azza” he said quietly.
“Thank you for this beautiful body. I will not wear it in vain.”
His knife drawn, he carved into the corpse of Erich, the dead face affixed to his own, sewn together with pulver thread and fire and smoke.
Chapter XXIII: An Ape for a Shape