Chapter 1 “Two Deacons On The Mountain”
Outlast 2 fanfic "Tample Gate Before"
disclaimer: I apologize in advance if there are some grammatical errors, English is not my language and I helped myself with Google translate. So if there are any mistakes, you are completely free to tell me! Thank you!!! ♥♥♥
It was a week before the spring equinox. By morning everyone had been busy with their work. Val was truly elate; at school he had shown to the children how to make paper decoration and in no time angels, flowers and animals had taken shape. When the bel rang and everyone rush out he was left alone to tidy up the classroom. He was amazed at how much of a mess the kids could make when they were given the freedom to use glue, scissors and painbrushers. But he didn’t complain; it wasn’t often that they where allowed to use the paper for drawing instead of doing their assignments. Meanwhile he was thinking about where he would hang their decorations, Sullivan knoth entered, the two crocesses bouching on his cest as the fat man awkardly made his way toward the young man.
«Good morning, Val.» Sullivan’s attention quikly shifted from the thin blond boy to the desk occupied by the small mountain of clippings.
«I see the kids have been busy making decorations this year.» He observed.
«Yea they can’t wait the next weak.» Val leaned across the table and picked up a cutout that looked a bit like a green bird.
«It wasn’t easy though. Some of them argued obout the collors. By the way, they’re all gone now. Could you put them on the list?»
«Oh Val, you know today isn’t the day for discuss the list, but i’ll keep that in mind when i’ll write it. Now i wanted to talk to you obout something.»
«See i wanted to give you a commission; you should find someone good with wood to ask for a deer statue for me.»
«It’s an allegory. The deer, in turn is like a lord of the woods, and its antlers fall off and grow back, just as fields perish in winter and flourish again in spring.»
«Mmmhh mmmhh.» Val nodded, trying to follow him. He’d always thought Knoth find too many things sacred. There wasn’t a thing he didn’t attach some significance to God, but he had to admit, he was always been fascinated by this side of him.
«I understand, but then why ask me? Can’t you do it yourself?»
«Yes, but as you know, im very busy. I have others matters concerning the faithfull and_»
«I get it.» Val cut him off. «I’ll take care of it.»
«Thank you so much. it’s nice to know i can count on you when i need it. Here, this sheet of paper has the dimensions and the others details.»
After which he headed for the entrance, opening the door to find Laird byron standing before him.
«Morning Laird.» Sallivan greated the short man.
«Good morning Papa, i’m here to see Val.» He smiled.
Val approached, appering next to Knoth.
«Ehi Laird.» The teacher smiled at him.
«Remember your commision, Val. Actualy, Laird, you don’t happen to have any plans now, do you?»
Knoth asked to his subjected.
«Actually no. If i can help with anything, you know that i’m always available.»
«Great than accompany Val. He’ll explain to you on the way. Oh, its always so nice to know i can count on my deacons.»
With that said, he walked down to the avenue and disappeared among the buildings and people.
It was already eleven o’clock, and Val and Laird were walk on a path along the mountain a alf an hour away from the city. The sun was rising almost set at noon. Only the pine trees and the shade of a few rocks helped them better endure the fatigue and the neat, witch would become increasingly intense as the moths passed.
Douring the journey they talked for fill the time that separeted them from their goal.
«So that’s why Papa want’s a deer sculpture?»
«Exactly this are the estructions he gave me.» Val show them to Laird.
«But rather.» Val said tried to change the subject. «How come address Sullivan with such reverence? You’re like one of the first people he’s ever recruited, and you’ve been friends for over ten years now.»
The short man gave him an amused look before giving him back the paper.
«Same old story. You already know the answer, Val. Knoth is the God’s chosen prophet. Even though we are friends it’s only right to recognized as such and treated with respect.»
«You can treat him with respect even without be formal, old man.»
Laird was tired of talking but especially of climbing the mountain, they had climbing it for over a quarter of an hour.
He began to slow down. It wasn’t easy walking with prosthetics legs for so long time. At that moment he envied the man next to him for being a normal person and having legs. He was immediately ashame of his disgusting though and looked away from him.
At one point Val looked back to him and realazing that his friend had fallen behind on the path. The teacher than stopped and asked him if everything was okay.
Laird endend up reaching him.
«I’m fine. It’s just that the sun and this mountain have tired me out.»
The young man was well aware of his friend’s problem. «We can stop here for a second.»
«Papa seemed eager to get that deer, we can’t disappoint him.»
«Look, it’s not a race Laird. And stopping for ten minutes won’t kill us or speed up the statue’s costruction. With your problem it’s normal that...» Val stopped himself from sayng anything else; he know that was a sensitive topic for his friend.
«I know what you’r going to say, Val.» Laird touched his hand. «It’s ok. I won’t be offended. I shouldn’t have come. I should have know i’d be a burden to you.»
«Don’t be tragic old man.» Val laughed, squeezing his hand then added. «But i think, yes, now that you mention it, the prospet of carrying you like a princess to the carpentry isn’t so appealing.»
«ha ha that’s funny, go to hell Val.»
Val smiled, looked like he was having a blast.
«So.» he said, looking around in search of something. «If we are going get there, you’re going to need help.» his attention flickered to one of the many trees; some sticks were stacked under it. Val went to the pine tree and began rummanging underneath until he found a suitable stick for his friend.
«Take your stick, your grace. » Val handed him the stick.
«Thak you, what would i do without you my great friend?» the diacon bowed to the young man.
Val snapped at Laird with a nervous laugh. «Please don’t start talking like this to me too.»
After an hour’s of walk, they reached the large red hut near the river witch was used as the city carpentry. The two deacons entered in the grassless field that surrounding the building, filed with tools and planks.
A large number of the carpenters were ghatered in a corner of the field, sitting on a pile of plants and trunks. They were eating their lunch; dried meat and boiled potatoes. When they noticed the presence of the deacons, they welcome them and offered them food, witch Val did not refuse.
«We thank you for your hospitality, Rupert. We have come here from the city to deliver an order on behalf The New Ezekiele.”
The workers pricked up their ears. «We’d love to take on your commision, but unfortunately we are a bit behind on some things.» said the foreman of the carpentry; a bald man with a goatee beard.
«Realy? What kind of thing? Can’t you postpone it?» Laird asked.
Val watched them the whole time in silent while eating, leating his colleague explain everything.
«Unfortunately, that’s not possible; all the workers are already busy… But wait!»
Rupert lit up. «I might have the right man you are looking for. His name is Nick Trambley. I didn’t see him busy with anything at the moment.»
«Perfect, is this Nick Trambley among your boys over here?» Everyone shook their heads, some blurted out something or smiled. Their boss turned and look at them over, then he goes back to Laird. «No, sir. He never eat with us. He prefers to isolate himself. He’s not a particularly talkative guy, and he dosn’t like being around people. He’s been working with us for about a few months now and even at work he’s never been very sociable.»
«Idiot.» Sombody whispered in the group behind him, interrupting Rupert.
«Perdon, what did you say?» Laird asked angrily. Val quickly wiped his mouth with a nappkin and glanced at his friend; he looked worry.
«Nothing sir… i wasn’t talking about you...» The boy who had spoken had stepped forward, a young man with long black hair covered by a hat. «I mean Nick. He’s an idiot, everyone here know that.» The boy looked around as if he wanted to find support by his coworkes, but no one come forward.
He stoppet abruptly, stuk by the look that his boss give to him. Rupert than spoke. «Excuse the boy, your grace. What i was about to say is that Trambley is, troublesome. His mind is wrecked and his hearing is not the best. But he know how to work with wood and i’ev got a letter from Papa Knoth himself where he asked me to take him on here to the carpentry.»
«Papa told you to hire him?» Rupert nodded. «I understand.»
«so where we can find him? I’d like to speak with him in person.»
«Sure, he usually goes behing that hill.» Rupert pointed a finger to the hill teeming with pine trees next to them.
«Just take that path and when you see him, you will know that is him. Trust me.»
«Thanks Rupert.» Laird turned to his friend. «So Val, shall we leave them alone?»
His friend was stuck up in a conversation with some of the mans nearby him. He looked up to Laird and answered to him. «You know what? Why don’t you go? Maybe i’ll will wait here, i need to chat with this kids. Here give him this when you’ll find him.» The joung man passed him the sheet of paper with the instructions for the sculpture.
Laird recognized some of the boys sitting there; they hed been not a long time ago, some of the students that Val had taught when he was in his mid-twenties. He know Val very well and he know how much big is his affection for his students even if they are grow older. Maybe he fell a little eritate but it wasn’t a big deal after all. He totaly can complete their duty alone. So without his company he began the trek up the hill alone.
A short time later the man was already on the other side of the hill, but he still dosn’t see enyone. Around him were only trees and reeds reflected in a small body of water too small for being called lake and too large for being called a pond. The croaking of the frogs and the buzzing of insects grew louder as Laird approached the water. He didn’t remember that area being marked on the Tample Gate land map.
In fact it seem to be a very quiet place, he spotted a small dock and approched it; it looked quiete old. Other than that there was nothing man-made. Laird kept checking the surroundings for anyone but he saw or heard for no one. Impatiantly, he learned against the trunk of a tree and placed his walking stick next to him.
He pondered how to find the man, maybe he could just call him, but if what Rupert has said was true, than there was a chance that he wouldn’t hear him. Just as he was thinking, he heard a noise coming from behing his back. A little nervous he turned around. He could hardly believe who was in front of him. He was simply the the larger and tallest human behing he had never seen and he know Marta.
He immediately reched the face of the man; it was covered by white bandages which only revealed a single, expressionless, blue aye staring to him. Laird almost didn’t know what to say, he was incredulous and after a moment he forced himself to look at the newcomer, who was simply standing there like nothing.
Laird ask trying to make his voice as firm and strong as possible. The guy didn’t say a thing just nodded.
«Ok, i’m Laird Byron, one of the Sullivan Knoth deacons. I was sent here to order a commission on his behalf.» After his initial shock, Laird regained his composur and returned to his usual self.
«They told me you’re a good at woodworking, is that true?» He asked.
He didn’t get a verbal response, but the man confirmed that with a gesture. Laird wait for a second, he decide that he didn’t feel so comfortable to continue a conversation.
«Ok than… i’ll let you the instructions. You have to be finisched for the next Wednesday, ok? I know it’s a little late for a commission like this but_»
Before he could finish and hand him the instructions a bell suddenly rang. The giant turned and slowly walk away. Laird was stunning.
«Ehi where are you going?»
The deacon followed him up to a tree. Nick ad his back to him, sitting on a fallen log and pulling something out out of his pocket. Laird was irritated but also curious, he approached him.
No answer. The deacon decided to also set down on the log.
«It’s true what they say, you’re not very talkative, are you?»
He looked at what he had in his hands; a knife and a piece of wood.
«Are you going to do something with them?»
Nick stopped staring straight ahead and looked at the short man, Laird feared he’d say something wrong so he apologize. After that he remained silent, listening to the sounds of the insects and the frogs. The deacon looked to the treetops; the shadow cast by the pine tree they where stay under was large enough to cover both the two mans. Than the sound of something moving in the tall grass cought his attention. It was right in front of them and it didn’t take him so long to figure out what had caused it. A rabbit had come forward, making its way through the blades of grass.
At that moment, Nick began to slowly carve the wood in silent. The rabbit seemed attracted to something, lying on the ground near a cut log. Looking closer, Laird can noticed that there were fennel stalks all around the base.
He watched the animal eating for a while, then the man next to him. Nick seemed intent.
A few minutes later, the carpenter had finished his work. He stared at it for a while before handing it to Laird. He looked at the little wooden rabbit in amazement. It looked exactly like the real thing,
sitting with its left paw raised and its ears perked up. Laird found it adorable even thought the situation was strange.
«…This…is very beautiful.» He looked back at the giant, who in the meanwhile had already stood up.
«…Wait! Before you go, I have to give you this!»
He stood up as well. Nick turned to him. «Here.» Laird handed him the piece of paper. The carpenter took it.
«I hope you do it well for our prophet.» After that, the two mans parted ways.
When Laird reached the camp Val was there waiting for him at the start of the path.
«It took you a eternity.» He waved his hand near his mouth, he was bored.
Then Val, too, saw the giant slowly approaching the start of the path and couldn't help but stare in disbelief.
«Wow, this one is really big, maybe even bigger than Marta.»
The two deacons simply stood aside as they watched the man head toward the cabin where his colleagues had already returned. Then Laird remembered that he still had the statuine.
«Hey, wait, I still have your rabbit…!” But it was already late, maybe he hadn't heard him.
Laird told Val what had happened on the way home, the young man paying attention until the last word.
«What a strange guy, that Trambley. Maybe we could ask Knoth about him. If I'm not mistaken, he was the one who recommended him to Rupert. What's your impression of him?»
«I couldn't tell you, but he's good carpenter. He's the right man for the job we assigned him.»
«I’m sure.» The teacher was turning the figurine over in his hands. «It's a really nice piece of work. You're going to keep it, right?»
«I guess so, as long as Nick doesn't want it back.»
«I'd keep it. Maybe he'd make me one or two. I'd use them as decorations for my flower pots. They'd be so cute!»
They had begun their descent toward the city when they heard a noise.
«What's that?» Val asked.
«I think it's my stomach. It's true that I skipped lunch while someone here, whose name I won't mention, was stuffing himself as if that were the last meal on earth.»
«Ehi, you could have eaten it too, but you were so stubborn.” Val patted him on the shoulder and smiled. «Come on, let’s go to my home. I have some roast beef and potatoes left over from the last night.”
«Wow, you sure are known for being a great cook, Val.»
«Oh my friend, they were about to hire me at one of those beautiful Michelin-starred restaurants in Los Angeles.»
The End, to be continued?...
