The Black Museum

Chapter 1

The mist has been hiding the beach. But now the wind is awake and blows it into the sea, turfing it off the land like an unwelcome tenant. The beach is a poor, sickly stretch of land, anaemic and desolate. Scruffy tufts of grass are sprinkled across the dunes nearby. They look like discarded hair pieces, the wigs of giants who prefer to walk the land bald instead. The beach is empty save for two shapes. They look out of place, mere smudges at the water’s edge. But when the low clouds that scud at a pedestrian pace overhead part for a second, the shapes sharpen and come into focus. One of them is a man, slight and furtive. The other is a great beast, hulking and savage. They have come to this empty place on the east coast to make a compact. The fens and the flatlands flow away in all directions, ever shifting, undulating and sinister. The sea, cold and steady, provides a backdrop that is huge in scale. No sail nicks that grey horizon, and no bird flies overhead. Only the wind dares whisper from the safety of the dunes nearby. The Beast is the first to speak.

“You leave no footprints, how so?”

The man looks over his shoulder and then back.

“Never really given it any thought.”

The Beast tilts its head to one side as if hearing a sound in the distance. Then it snorts. Something has amused the Beast, but it does not say what it is.

“No matter. I have considered your proposal and I will take care of my side of the bargain. You know my price and what awaits you if you fail to make good on it. Crossing me would be folly. You know this.”

The man pulls the collars of his greatcoat up tightly around his ears.

“Have no fear about p*****t. I will honour my promise. What will you do with your prize once you have it?”

The Beast growls and rakes the sand with one great paw.

“I shall travel to places that have been closed to me, perhaps I shall walk on this beach once again.”

“Carry out my plan successfully and leave no trace of your actions and you will be able to go wherever you wish.”

“So then. When shall it be done?” asks the Beast.

“The next maiden’s moon is forecast for the 12th of next month. Do it then.”

“And when and where shall I receive p*****t?”

“Meet me at the place where you left your mark with fire on the doors of the church. The day after the battle on the marshes it will be yours. Remember though, Beast, unless it is given to you by my hand, it will not obey you. Try to steal it beforehand and it will be lost to you forever.”

The Beast growls and the man takes a step back.

“And what of her body, what should I do with it?”

“Rip it to pieces, consume it, use her hair to make a bonnet. I don’t care what you do with her, just make sure she disappears.”

The Beast considers the man and does not like what he sees.

“Just be at the church after the battle, the sooner we get this done the better.”

The man makes a slight bow of the head and when he lifts it again, the great black beast is gone.