THE FLASHBACK SCENE

WHEREIN HEM SLONNIGUM

RECALLS HIS MEETING WITH

GLEN BLOMGRIN

“What’s this about, then?” Hem asked tentatively as he shuffled down the stairs into the basement of the Ragged Maiden.

“Just somethin’,” answered Glen like a maddening ghost. “Look, I heard ya talkin’ about how ya wanted to impress that lass o’ yours, Mallry, Meelemee, Maaaaaaaarmermer—“

“Melley,” corrected Hem with a dose of irritation. Glen was eavesdroppin’ on his convos? How the— “What’s this ABOUT, then?” he repeated.

“Ok lad I’m about ready to go fast alla sudden, understand? This is a big moment but we’re still keepin’ the limit to 500 words (around there I reckon) and even THESE words are a waste, so tell me you can handle an overload of information all at once.”


“Aye,” Hem nodded crisply. He was ready. He could do this.

“I got these Wayward Spirits here yeah, you ever heard of ‘em?” Glen gestured to a box the size of a box. It was locked and sitting on the ground next to crates and pallets and all kinds of storage equipment. In the half-light of the basement, Hem thought it glowed with a sorta orange. It was mesmerizing.

“Yeh I’ve heard of ‘em,” he said with the shaded tones of half-truths. He had HEARD of them, but only once, when his da and ma were talkin’ in the late hours one night.

“Ok laddie I’m runnin’ outta room, outta time, outta patience, outta outta outta.” Glen bent down to the glowing chest and pulled a small key from his inner pockets. He unlocked the box and plunged his hand inside, pulling it out a moment later. His entire fist was awash in light, as though he held a ball o’ flamin’ fire in the palm of his hand! How’s he managin’ such a feat?! “I want you to break this thing’s back right in your fist, understand? Grab it like a lil’ doll the lasses play with and just give it a lil’ crunchy SNAP.” On that word Glen did that very thing. A quiet BREAKING sound filled the basement and for a fraction of a docket he wondered if this paragraph was gettin’ too long. But before he could answer he disappeared for a moment in a glow of surpassin’ brightness. The glow faded and with it the Wayward Spirit.

Glen drew hisself a breath o’ massive proportions and let it out just as sizable. “Okay laddie that’s the way of it, if you have yourself any questions I’m afraid I can’t be answerin’ them on account of this situation I’m in at the moment. Waywawywyayayrrrrward Spirits you understand give you a lil’ boost o’ this, boost o’ that, boost of all ya ever need in case ya need it! Take me for example, now I’m me. Is that right? That’s right. I got myself into this on account of tryin’ to get me hands on ‘em for YEARS, YEARS LADDIE!! And oh ho ol’ brother Blom, wise old Blom had to bow outta this business didn’t he? Oh yes he did, ol’ Waywywywyyawyrd Spirit King hisself takin’ leave of the whole operation and did he once consult Glen? Did he ever take stock o’ the opinions of his own partner in this venture and ask his say? Why no oh no he didn’t. Okay laddie you take yourself one o’ these WAywyayayyrd Spirits a few moments prior to the meetin’ with your Melmammmmmey and I reckon you have yourself the finest encounter this side of the Madman’s Mountains…”

Glen continued to roil ’n boil as Hem crept forward and put his hand in the Spirit Box. He pulled out a Wayward Spirit, fist glowin’ like the sun in the afternoon!