THE COMPANION

His work, there was so much of it and it was so important.  He hid away to do it.  He didn’t see friends or communicate with family.  This life suited him, but it was terribly lonely.  It was not physically possible to work all the time and soon he realised there was no-one about when he looked up from his desk.  Nobody to share the wealth and luxury he’d accumulated with.  When the music records stopped playing, his home was eerily silent.  It was splendid and miserable isolation.

Then he saw the Woman passing his cottage in the woods, the sun on her hair as she collected firewood and berries.  She was beautiful and alone, a highlight he’d watch out for, but soon he needed more than just the sight of her.

He made a Charmer’s Mask, a handsome face he could wear that she wouldn’t see through.  He cut down a tree and piled the wood outside his cabin.  He saw her notice it as she passed and called out of the window; “Please take some.”  She stopped, unable to believe what a handsome man he was.  He lured her into his cabin with the promise of wine and then the Charmer’s Mask did its work.

“You’ll stay with me now,” he told her, “there’s no need to ever leave.  Everything you could possibly want is in this cottage.”

His work, there was so much of it and it was so important.  She daren’t disturb him.  She cooked, cleaned up and looked after his needs when summoned.  In early days he’d summon often, now he was wrapped up again.  She tried to leave, but he’d put the Charmer’s Mask back on and convince her to stay.  This life didn’t suit her, it was so terribly lonely and when the music records stopped playing, home was eerily silent.  It was unbearable and perpetual isolation.   Why did he want her when it was clear he didn’t have time?  Every night she drank the wine until she could sleep.

He had forgotten something, surely.  He looked up frowning.  There had been no noise for some days, no feet on the stairs, no food appearing outside his room.  There was something missing.  What?  The Woman!  Had she left?  Surely not, she would ask his permission first and the Charmer’s Mask prevented her going.  Why the silence?  An investigation revealed every room to be empty and filled with a feeling of dread and guilt.  Why guilt?  Because he’d taken something he didn’t really need?  He hadn’t checked the wine cellar.  She was lying beneath the racks.  There was a smell of sickness and decay, shattered glass on the floor and wine spilt everywhere.  How could she be so clumsy?  On closer inspection; how could she be so decomposed?