Christmas Jack-o'-Lantern
She remained silent for some time, and then spoke in a very serious tone “I am very sorry to say this. I really hate to tell you that I am promise bound not to spare you either. If you fail in this mission, I shall have to order my obedient servants to…by the way, you must have already noticed my invisible servants. They serve drinks on tray to guests and they serve severed heads of defaulters on tray to me. They can travel on the back of wind, and they have your smell. No hiding place is safe from their reach”.
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Chapter 20
Horns of Dilemma
Jack tossed in his bed, unable to sleep.
Baba Yaga might be right. My decision to flee might become my last decision Jack panicked I must decide fast. He pulled away his blanket and threw it away. He sat on his bed, trying to concentrate. He let out a deep sigh, and then getting out of his bed, he started strolling to and fro in his cavern room, occasionally punching his fist on his palm.
He went to the mirror, and staring at his own frowned face, he addressed “You must decide Jack. Scepter or skull?” and then absentmindedly turning away his face, he uttered to himself “Loyalty or death?” and fell silent.
He strolled for some more time, and then opened the door and walked along the dimly lit corridor. He knocked at the door of his adjacent room.
After some brief apologies, he said, “I must disclose my dilemma Barbarossa”.
Barbarossa was annoyed at being woken up at this late hour. “You seem very troubled ever since you have returned back to Iceland from Russia. But you have decided not to tell me anything” Barbarossa said in an irritated tone “so how can I help you, unless you disclose to me Jack? Want an elfish cigar?”
“No thanks, Barbarossa” Jack stared hard at him “You know very well, I don’t smoke”.
“A little smoking wouldn’t have killed you!” Barbarossa replied, as he pulled out a barrel-shaped greenish elf cigar, lighted it and gave one or two puffs.
“I wanted to discuss something urgent” Jack said.
“I am listening” Barbarossa replied. His eyes were closed and he was making smoke rings.
As Jack started narrating, Barbarossa’s sleepiness vanished and the size of the eyes showed that he was more than wide-awake.
When Jack finished, Barbarossa tossed his head “It’s a very deep dilemma Jack. Our Elf friends have put so much faith on us. Besides we are sworn to loyalty. On the other hand, it is unthinkable for me to lose you Jack”.
Both of them sat in silence. Barbarossa hung his head down. Jack closed his eyes rubbing his fingers on his forehead.
“What if the scepter isn’t cursed?” There was a tone of hope and excitement in Barbarossa’s voice “What if it is just a rumor? Then we can trade off with some worthless junk with Devil”.
“And what if it’s true? Elves are our only real hope at this moment” Jack said.
* * *
It wasn’t difficult for a person like Jack, fully trained and armed with all the tricks of espionage, and having close contact with top rebel elves, to dig out the information that the scepter of elf land lies hidden in the ancient ‘temple of Freya’.
Jack also gathered the information that it was lying mostly unguarded, because nobody thought that the secret location is likely to be found out.
Jack had made a detailed and meticulous planning.
Once inside the temple of ‘Freya’, Jack pulled out a scepter from under his robe. Then Jack confided to Barbarossa “I have made this replica of the scepter from the drawings I obtained from an ancient text in the ‘royal Volundr library’. I deeply regret it…” Jack sighed and hung his head down in shame “………..we’ll have to replace it for our personal sake”.
Both of them remained silent for a long time.
Barbarossa broke the silence “Why don’t we hand over this replica to Devil instead?”
“I wish I could” Jack sighed again “But remember; no elf would bother to verify all of a sudden whether the scepter lying in their temple for decades is still genuine. But the one I hand over to Devil will be under intense scrutiny from best experts”.
Both of them fell silent again.
As they lay hidden, waiting for the right moment to execute their plan, Jack whispered, “I wish all they say are really rumors”. Jack shook his head hopelessly and let out a sigh in deep disappointment.
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Chapter 21
The Christmas Parole
Three days later, Jack visited Pandemonium.
When Jack entered, Devil was watching puppet show. Two wooden soldiers riding wooden horses were thrusting their swords, dodging, charging and striking again, blocking the opponent’s strikes by their shields etc. One person pulling the strings from above the stage controlled every action.
Jack bowed and placed the scepter of Elf-land in front of Devil.
“This is the scepter which you always wished” Jack said.
At first Devil was speechless. Then he took the scepter in his hand and started inspecting it very minutely.
Jack took a quick look around. Some dolls were hanging by their neck with thin strings. A few dolls were lying on the floor with the faces slashed and disfigured by something sharp. Some were lying with the limbs broken or with the neck wringed or beheaded. One doll had its head & belly punctured by a nail; its eyeballs scooped out, and looked particularly gruesome. The place was dark and bleak and had an eerie feeling.
“The scepter of elf land?” Devil asked in disbelief.
“Yes!” Jack said, “If it pleases you, may I ask one favor, my Lord”.
“I am very pleased with what you have achieved” Devil spoke as he eyed the inscriptions written in old Elfish language on the scepter. He moved his fingers on it slowly to feel its fading texture.
He looked at Jack and said “Even before you ask your wish, I grant it”.
Jack was stunned. How did he know what I am going to ask? Is it selfish Baba Yaga’s deed? Has the news of the theft already spread in Elfland? These negative thoughts struck one after another like hammer in Jack’s mind.
“Will you grant my wish” Jack said.
“Yes” Devil replied, “Of course I will. I appoint you my representative of Elf land affairs. You shall have full discretionary powers to make treaties with Gryla, and deal with rebel Elves in any manner you please. Hang them, roast them or impale them to death; whatever you wish. And henceforth you’ll be my eyes on Elfland affairs”.
Jack heaved a sigh of relief that it was only Devil’s guess after all. He bowed and replied “That’s very generous you. But that’s not what I wish to ask”
“What do you want?” Devil asked with a frown.
“I want my freedom”
“I see…” Devil said, turning serious “I am awfully sorry. But that is simply not possible! Ask something sensible”. All the excitement and joy faded from Devil’s face.
“In that case,” Jack said, “I want you to release a large number of your prisoners from prison camps, sinners and criminals of hell, and bonded mini-demonic slaves on parole”.
“Release them on parole!” Devil blurted, “You want me to free them only on condition of good behavior? To display my philanthropic and generous spirit, I suppose?!” Devil’s tone turned bitter and sarcastic.
“Well, there is another meaning of parole” Jack replied. “It means releasing them on a special purpose-”
“I should have understood that this scepter comes with a string attached” Devil said harshly. “You didn’t take the pain of obtaining this scepter for prolonging my rule in Elfland. You were not serving my purpose…” Devil’s tone was mixed with irritation and hatred “now you have your own purpose, you ungrateful vermin!” Devil hissed with anger “Now spit out your venom, Jack. Let me know your special purpose”
“Well, I was discussing about parole, not about my personal purpose” Jack tried to clarify “I want to fulfill the wish of a Russian witch, for her role in obtaining this scep
ter. She wants to deploy these forces under Ded Moroz for maintaining a standing army against Santa Claus”.
“I see!” Devil muttered, “That’s interesting”. The excitement and joy started returning back on Devil’s face.
Devil’s eyes glistened with joy, and his face brightened up with a cunning, malicious smile. “Wish granted! You shall have your army, dear Jack! Not one, but two!” Devil said.
“Thank you my Lord” Jack said, “two strike & espionage units should be more than sufficient for Ded Moroz”.
“Wait Jack; let me finish. I have one condition…”
“I offer my units” Devil continued “on the condition that you shall deploy one unit for Moroz, and the other one for Santa as counterweight. They are already at each other’s throats. This will give both of them teeth and nails to tear each other apart”.
Jack was stunned for a few moments at this Devilish idea.
“But what if, the Russian witch ever comes to know of this double-crossing?” Jack asked.
“Till now, this little secret is only between us,” Devil said, “It is in your best interest to keep your mouth shut”.
Devil watched the wooden toy soldiers being made to strike each other by the invisible operator. He placed his hand on Jack’s shoulder and whispered, “Let them strike each other incessantly, Jack. Let them destroy each other stealthily, and drain their coffers”.
Devil held Jack’s palm quite unexpectedly, stunning Jack. Then he shook hand with Jack like an old friend, quite forgetting his own strict disapproval to Jack about shaking hands as equals.
When Christmas world falls like a house of cards, you shall rise, Jack. Halloween shall become the greatest Festival. And you shall become the greatest legendary figure. ”
Jack felt a strange sensation, like tingling down his spine-an outburst of excitement and ecstasy. He remembered the prophecy shake hand with the devil if necessary and you shall have unprecedented fame and glory. He felt that he was nearing the fulfillment of his ambitions.
“I will try my best to satisfy your desire of seeing them fight bitterly” Jack replied. He was shocked at his own Devilish reply and at the selfish thoughts going inside his head at this very moment.
Devil fondled his own thick beard and said, “I am letting a large number of my sinners of hell, and mini-demons on parole only for initial deployment. You must augment them by including vampires, and zombies and witches”
“I’ll raise more dark, forces from my Halloween world” Jack said “but, I have one condition too!”
Jack’s heart started beating more frequently. What are you doing Jack? Don’t take another step towards the cliff end someone from deep within his heart whispered in his mind.
Don’t listen to that moron, Jack; another voice spoke instantly Strike while the iron is hot. Or else, you will regret it all your cowardly life.
“I was expecting some condition” Devil said with a dry smile “Speak up your mind Jack!”
Jack was still tossing indecisively over arguments and counter-arguments. You have already taken several bold steps Jack the same voice again, now don’t retrace your steps. Jack’s heart was now thumping hard. He was struggling with his own inner self.
Still getting no reply form Jack, Devil grew impatient with each passing moment. Unable to bear any longer, he snapped, “Now let me hear your tough condition”.
Go; grab your chance, Jack the voice urged put up your demand Jack. Either now or never!
“Both the units shall be under my direct command” Jack demanded.
Devil remained silent, increasing Jack’s anxiety tenfold. All Jack wanted now was some quick response from Devil-whatever it was. But a hanging decision was unbearable.
Rather than offering relief to Jack, Devil asked “Would you like some coffee?”
“No thanks” Jack said as politely as he possibly could “I would rather like to hear your reply”.
“Being too ambitious, eh? Can you yank the strings as skillfully as that man?” Devil raised the question thoughtfully and pointed above the puppet-show stage. Devil smiled and said, “It pleases my heart so much to watch the wooden soldiers striking each other”.
Devil continued in a confessional tone “I had always wanted to see you in that position, which you desire to occupy Jack. So be it! My generosity has no bounds. Take control of the helm. Play your cards well”.
Devil took out a withered, rolled parchment from his jacket and displayed it to Jack. “Your soul belongs to me. You shall have to report to me. There can be no question about who the real boss is!” Devil said with a malicious grin and tucked the parchment back in his jacket.
Jack didn’t seem to mind Devil’s trick. He was rather excited that he was getting much more than he had expected from the bargain. I have crossed one major milestone towards my goal Jack thought.
“How soon can I have those armies?” Jack asked, trying his best to suppress his excitement.
“Well, let’s see…” Devil said pondering “…since Christmas is around, won’t it be a nice joke to release them on parole on Christmas, to shake the Christmas world?”
Devil picked up a whip and scratched his own neck with its handle. Jack recognized at once that it was the same black and red whip, with which he had mercilessly tortured his own favorite horse. And then he let his henchmen leave the indelible scars on Jack’s back. Within moments, Jack’s excitement subdued, and he felt a violent outburst of revenge.
When Jack left, Devil started watching the puppet show again, giggling and laughing like a child.
* * *
“Let me get this straight”, Barbarossa said to Jack “You don’t mind deploying dark creatures and Devilish forces in the Christmas world?”
“There was a time when I believed that Christmas was all about ‘Christmas trees’ and colorfully wrapped ‘gift packages’. But now………….” Jack left his words trailing “Isn’t there a dark side to Christmas already? What about notorious Krampus, who kidnaps and feeds on the flesh of children, and also practices dark rituals? What about Yule Lads and their cannibal mother Gryla?”
“These are just a few exceptions,” Barbarossa said.
“Is it?” Jack snapped “Then what about the past history of Russian ‘Father Christmas’ aka Ded Moroz, when as a cruel sorcerer he froze people to a slow, painful and cruel death? I have managed to sneak into Krampus’s office and see some of his horrible deeds in the past from old records and documents. And, what about Italy’s Christmas gift distributor, La Befana’s secret, and dual life? On one hand, she claims herself as ‘the mother of all children of Italy’, and on the other, she is also associated with dark magic and witchcraft? They all belong to the Christmas world”.
“Good Heavens!” Barbarossa said, “You are introducing so many characters, that I am unable to keep track of them”.
“You don’t have to remember any of them” Jack said angrily “I am telling all these, merely to change your opinion of the Christmas world”
“Well, you see-“Barbarossa stammered.
“Wait! Wait!” Jack said impatiently “And what about the dark companions of Saint Nicholas? And what do you say about French Christmas figure, ‘Monsieur Pere Noel’ and his servant ‘Le Fouettard’?”
“Who’s this ‘Pere Noel’ and ‘Fouettard’?” Barbarossa asked.
“Don’t you really know?” Jack asked in deep irritation “or pretending not to know! I deeply suspect that you are behaving like an ostrich by burying your head in the sand and simply closing your eyes to the dirty reality”.
“Let’s assume that I really don’t know” Barbarossa replied in an equally irritated tone.
Jack stared hard at Barbarossa and said “I believe you really don’t know about him. ‘Le Père Fouettard’ carries a whip, flogs children and distributes lumps of coal! No doubt, people love to call him ‘Whipping Father’ or ‘Father Flog’! What a sadistic way to derive pleasure by torturing children!” Jack paused for a breath “Ev
en his appearance is loathsome-he is draped in rusty chains, dressed in dark robes and keeping unkempt beard!”
“I know much about his past” Jack continued “Le Fouettard was a murderer, who set up an inn along the road to a religious boarding school. He used to lure wealthy children on their way to the boarding school. Then he, along with his wife, drugged them, robbed them, slit their throats, cut them into pieces and stored them in his barrel for selling as mutton later!”
“Now tell me frankly,” Jack said, “what is your opinion about him and his master Pere Noel, who forced him to become his slave, by blackmailing him, for serving his sinister purpose?”
Both of them fell silent. The silence seemed even tenser than Jack’s angry outburst.
“Are you not becoming the same as Devil yourself?” Barbarossa said.
“Now stop pinching me to the point of hurting” Jack reacted harshly.
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings” Barbarossa said “I only wanted to ask, what difference shall remain between you and Devil, whom you hate so much?”
Jack calmed down and breathed a deep sigh. “Both of us want to dominate Christmas & Halloween worlds; so our goals are the same” Jack said “But our purposes are different. Devil is hungry for power. He wants to dominate everyone; keep them under his boots. Whereas, I want to thwart Devil’s purpose; to prove my true worth! And besides-“
Jack paused and took out a pocket mirror and looked at it. “I often ask myself ‘Am I good? Or am I bad?’ But that’s quite irrelevant question” Jack said “What really matters is whether I shall find my proper place among the motley of good and bad people, who change like chameleon between good and evil? Bottom-line is: Am I going to succeed or am I going to fail?”
“I am so sorry Jack” the irony in Barbarossa’s voice was hard to ignore “it was so wicked of me to think that you had a personal motivation”. Barbarossa’s comment sounded of accusation, and it seemed that he was not convinced by Jack’s justifications.
“Maybe you are partly true” Jack sighed, “Though I couldn’t say it before, I secretly desire to become the greatest legendary figure”.
“Since Halloween creatures regard you as their spiritual leader, you have a rightful claim to the crown of Halloween world”, Barbarossa said, “But why do you eye ‘Christmas world’ as well?”