Act 3: The mossy face

Bill walks back into the marsh to retrieve what left of his sled. He didn’t lose much, with the notable exception of his tent and his security system. To that end, the night sky couldn’t be clearer, and the land chirps with small woodland creatures. Bill leans up near one of the rocks nearby, he’ll make food come morning, but he needs sleep. He sets up a fire and sits back with his rifle and a hearty blanket.

As he leans back against the mossy stone he stretches his neck towards the sky and gazes at the endless patter of stars. The crackle of the fire and the squeak of nature slowly puts Bill to sleep.

“Bill, Bill, wake up!”

A voice calls to Bill begging for him to wake up.

“Leave me alone boy, can’t you see ya father’s gettin’ a little shuteye?”

“Sorry dad, you said you’d take me?”

“And I will, I will… James?”

“Yes dad?”

“JAMES?”

Bill wakes up violently once more. The fog has settled back in the marsh, but it’s clear up here at the mossy face. The mossy face was an endlessly climbing cascade of large mossy stones. It wasn’t impossible to climb, quite easy actually, but the altitude and the remote nature made it a perfect place for bears and apex predators of all kinds.

Bill kicked the fire to sleep and packed up what he could carry. He couldn’t take the sled, so he grabbed a days’ provisions, if he was gone longer than that… he'd work that out when it happened. Bill stocked his satchel and slung his rifle over his shoulder for the long hike ahead.

The mossy stones were endless, large, and annoying. Bill barely made any distance forward, but incredible distance upwards. He climbed over boulders, and strode up paths so perfect they were almost stair-like in their nature. As he climbed and the world disappeared beneath him, the steps became more precise and beautiful in their construction. Before Bill knew it, the sun wasn’t setting above him, but before him. He was almost at the peak.

Bill looked off the side of his campground and could barely tell where he’d started. He’d climbed a mile upwards at least. Bill made a meager fire with the wood he’d brought, and cooked up the last of what he had.

Warm beans touched his tongue as he sat within the endless purple sky.

“Ain’t that a thing.”

“Sure is Bill.”

Once again Bill turned to find a small woodland creature speaking back in human words. A squirrel possessed by the nature of this evil sat beside Bill and even partook in his beans.

“Hope you don’t mind Bill.”

“I do mind, I mind this GODDAMN much!”

Bill pulled his pistol from his hip and popped a shot at the creature, but they were long gone.

“You seem more accepting this time around.”

The squirrel’s moved behind Bill, beans still in hand.

“I’ve seen enough shit the last five days to know when I’m dreamin’.”

Bill pulled his pistol to his own head smiled at the squirrel.

“Goodnight then.”

“That’s not gonna do it Bill.”

Bill reluctantly pulled away the pistol, stood up and approached the cliffside.

“Then how about this?”

“That’s not what I meant Bill! You're not dreaming!”

Bill toed towards the edge of the cliff.

“Then what do you want?”

“What do YOU want Bill? Tell me.”

“Let me talk to her.”

“Bill that’s not a good idea…”

He takes off his hat and throws it towards the fire, as he closes his eyes a new voice calls out.

“Bill?”

“James?”

“Are you gonna step back now?”

Bill turns to find his dead son talking to him in a calm and adult manner.

“James? Is that really you?”

“No, unfortunately.”

Bill walks towards the fire and sits besides the form of his son.

“Then what the hell are ya’?

“I’m here to help.”

Bill gets angry with the child.

“And I’m TIRED of this talk! Now I know this whole BEAST thing is you, I ain’t seen a bear, wolf, or lizard the whole damn day. Now you can get out of Amarok Valley, or I can MAKE you.”

The boy turns to Bill.

“And why are YOU the only one that gets to be angry? I’ve been trying to reason with you in dream and in practice for days now and this is-”

“THAT was reason? THAT? I’d just HATE to see what angry James looks like.”

“I’M NOT JAMES.”

The earth shakes with a nauseating thunder.

“I’m not your son, I’m not your wife, but Lord help me I’ve been trying. I’ve been trying so hard to break down enough walls to hold a decent conversation. I’ve had to drive you INSANE just so I could look you in the eyes and tell you, YOU’RE NOT A GOOD MAN.”

The boy screams at Bill. The earth shakes, the creatures flee, and an unnatural silence settles over the land. The words cut Bill deep and harsh. They’d be painful any day, but the voice of his boy is salt in the wound.

“What do you have to say then? I’ll listen.”

Bill gives his genuine attention to the boy and the tension blows away with the smoke of the campfire.

“I’m here because of Black River.”

“Is that how you knew my boy, and my Jess?”

“I help people move on Bill, that’s my job.”

“Then why am I still here?”

“Somehow you did a service back in Black River.”

“Somehow? Those BASTARDS DESERVED IT.”

Bill stands in anger.

“I know Bill, but usually these things don’t go unresolved, you fought a losing battle and won. I’m here to collect, but I can’t do that if you don’t accept the memory.”

Bill’s voice is unsteady, his hands shake.

“I can’t go back there.”

“I know Bill, that’s why I’m here.”