Part 3

That sudden tone, as sharp as stone,

Was spoken from the bar.

The captain’s glare met Colin’s stare,

Whose mouth had gone ajar.

 

‘I did not mean to scare them, sir,

It was the truth I told.

I’m never one to tell a lie,

My heart is not that cold.’

 

‘Then you’re a simpleton, for in

Your sombre tale you err.

You either dreamt it, or had been

Misled through your despair.

 

A Devil’s pact is never done

How you say yours had been.

Thus had Devil been the one

That brought forth your chagrin?’

 

‘I swear to God the Devil came

That night at eight-o-three.

He came out from the tunnel’s gloom,

And how he stared at me

 

With both of his unearthly eyes

That gave a reddish glow.

And then he said he’d raise my dead

To ease my dismal woe.

 

And, as I said, that’s what he did,

But it’s my debt I fear.

For after three and thirteen years

I’ll drop and disappear.

Had that not been the Devil, sir,

Who, then, might it have been?

A necromancer? Voodooist?

No doubt one stained with sin.’

 

‘Indeed, yet I now find bizarre

How you’re within this inn

That’s nowhere near where people are,

And quite engulfed in sin.

 

By ev’rything that gives us cheer,

Your dead have all been raised!

Thus how be it you should be here

Dispirited and dazed?’

 

‘I fear my debt. Did you not hear

What I’ve been telling you?

And, mind, I’m with my family

By night, and morning, too.

 

I rued the accident in March,

And now I rue the day

I bargained with that man in mauve,

Who’ll take my soul away.’

 

‘Ay, simpleton, you’re most bizarre

For claiming you’ve been cursed.

When telling people who you are,

’Tis odd to say that first.

 

The Devil! Ha! O what a clown.

But here’s a laugh to tell?

Both questions asked for names and town,

And got the tales as well.’

 

He laughed aloud, extremely proud

About the wits he bore.

The captain drew a sip of brew,

And then he laughed some more.

 

But Colin’s stare, changed then and there

From fearful to irate.

His ashen brow was furrowed now,

His eyes now slits of hate.

‘Who are you, sir, to mock me so?

I swear I’ve never seen

The likes of you in all my life,

You lunatic sardine!’

 

‘O simpleton, once more you err,’

The captain said with glee,

‘As you were blind behind your stare,

You failed to notice me.

 

I’ve been here long before you came

That night two months ago.

I saw your head bow low in shame

With some displeasing woe.

 

Think you’ve been long here, that’s not true,

Your mind is most askew.

Perhaps you also think he’s new,

Since thought had blinded you.’

 

‘Of course he’s new, my eyes can see,’

Snapped Colin looking grim,

‘I’ve been here more, and never saw

The likes of you or him.’

 

‘Peace, gentlemen! I have a name,

And thus would like the both of ye

To cease this nonsense pronoun game,

For know the name I bear is E.’

-EDP