Beneath the oily shadows, cast by the protruding stalagmites and hanging stalactites, a creature stirred free of its ancient restraints. Its features were obscured and distorted, mangled by the unforgiving passing of time and some other wicked magics that kept the creature existing for the last centuries.
From what appeared to be the monster’s maw, an odd gurgle echoed throughout the halls of the cave. A staccato of breaths and hisses mixed together into one unnatural rumble that was slowly raising in volume. With it, a rancid smell of something rotten and acidic came forth. A breath of death, it must’ve been.
To Gobby, who was frozen behind a piece of a fallen ceiling, that meant the beginning of something terrible. He almost choked on the horrific stench coming from the center of the hall. Using his scarf, he covered his face and hid further away in the shadows to think on what to do. He did not expect encountering a strange, rumbling, and stinky creature on his routine inspection of the southeast side of this cave system. He came to check around this section every couple of months and every time before now, in the place of the unrecognizable silhouette, stood one large rock. Now, upon closer but careful glance, in the place of that characteristic rock, were mere parts of it. Scattered around the hall of the cave. As if blasted around the perimeter of this hall. As if something came out of that grand rock.
Gobby could hardly believe it. Such thought; such idea was ridiculous. It was downright insane. What sort of animal, or in this case creature, would be able to survive being entombed in a rock? Gobby’s mind did not venture further down this road, for it led to madness.
This was an unusual situation and he was meant to inspect the caves for such occurrences. What was the protocol for this again?
Gobby exercised every part of his brain to recall what he was told to do in this case. Was it to gather more information or run back to his boss?
Before his mind was able to arrive at an acceptable answer, the creature helped Gobby make his decision. How? Simply by taking a step. Or Gobby thought it was a step. The creature’s oily body slithered on the floor in one direction. In Gobby’s direction.
Well, and that was that. Gobby ran away.
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When stray pieces of sunlight touched Gobby’s sweat-covered face, a tsunami of sweet relief filled the young goblin. Now, while trying to catch much-needed breath, Gobby’s mind continued to think. The boss’ house was close to here. Gobby’s been there a couple of days ago to give a report on the other side of this cave system. It should be near; somewhere north.
With newfound strength and an immersing surge of loyalty, young Gobby strutted toward where he needed to go. The dense vegetation of the forest couldn't deter him for he was a goblin. A smart goblin who knew where to step, what to watch out for. Not like the city goblins. No, Gobby was better than those lazy buns. He was a working goblin and the boss’ word was law.
With those thoughts in mind, the not so short hike towards the boss’ hut felt quite short. Gobby was relieved to see a familiar, and a normal face, as the boss stepped out.
The boss was an older goblin. One could tell based on the many noble folds covering his face. His wrinkled expression spoke of many sleepless nights and stressful life. But also of dignity brought by many years of hard work.
That was a true working goblin, Gobby thought.
His image was a promise, nay, a glimpse to Gobby’s own future.
“Gobby? Weren’t you supposed to be down, lad?” A gruff, but loud voice, spoke to Gobby. The young goblin came closer to where his boss stood. At the perch of the little hut, that is. Now that Gobby was where he wanted to be, he wondered what to say. It would sound insane were he to describe what he experienced down there. What if his boss fired him for incoherent mumbling? Gobby didn’t know what happened to goblins who were fired for incoherent mumbling. That’s why it scared him to say the truth. But if he couldn’t tell the truth to his boss, who could he say it to? The answer was easy. Nobody else.
“Boss, there was something in the caves. In the southeast part, where the big rock is. It ain’t standing there no more, boss.” Gobby took a deep breath and continued. He started now, so he must finish. “There was something there, boss. A creature or somethin’. I dunno, but it smelt bad and looked bad, and sounded bad!” At the widening of his boss’ eyes, Gobby started to plead. “Please, boss. Believe me! I’m tellin’ you the truth!”
As the silence stretched, the shiny images of Gobby’s future seemed to disappear at an alarming rate. He felt his legs shake, and before he realized it, he found himself on the ground. Kneeling and looking straight at the disbelieving face of his boss.
Just when Gobby’s mind turned to treacherous thoughts of running the hell away, the older goblin spoke.
“Lad! Get up! Now, tell me again what ya saw down there!” The boss came closer to Gobby and shook him by the shoulders.
Gobby’s trained mind listened to the boss’ command and gave the report again. And again. Until the boss was satisfied with his answers. Though, maybe the word satisfied wasn’t the best description of the boss’ state of being.
After the exhausting retelling of every second that Gobby spend in the cave, looking at the strange creature, the boss seemed to be at a loss. At least Gobby thought so, because he’s never seen his boss at a loss.
What was a working goblin to do in this situation?
“Listen, Gobby! Listen carefully now, lad!” The boss seemed to reach some sort of conclusion. He shook Gobby once and then took a step back, while taking a very deep breath. “You gotta go to Appletown and talk to Mimsy. Ya heard that?! Mimsy, I said! Now, repeat, lad!”
“Mimsy, boss! Mimsy!” Gobby did as he was told and repeated the strange name.
“That’s a good lad!” He gave Gobby an approving pat on the head. The distress that marred the boss’ face seemed to disappear somewhat at the young goblin’s diligent following of orders, Gobby noticed. While it did, Gobby himself started to feel it. His brain seemed to catch up to what the boss said. Those strange words, meaning “Appletown” and “Mimsy”, opened some hidden alcove in Gobby’s mind.
He remembered those words used before, many years ago.
Gobby might’ve not known the exact meaning of these words, but he kind of knew where Appletown was. He also knew that he should not go there under any circumstances.
The young goblin was confused as to why he felt that way, since he didn’t know what Appletown or Mimsy exactly was. The boss probably saw that on the undignified and unwrinkled face of Gobby’s.
At first the boss didn’t look like he knew what to do with Gobby’s confusion. After a moment, though, he seemed to have remembered something. Gobby could tell.
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“Wait here a second! Got somethin’ for ya!” The older goblin turned around and went to retrieve something from his hut.
Gobby stood alone for only a couple of minutes. When the boss came out, he carried something in his hands. It was a pack of sorts. A mangled ball of cloth, Gobby thought.
“Here. Smell that, lad!” The boss thrust the ball of clothes under Gobby’s nose.
As the wonderful smell of childhood reached Gobby’s nostrils, he remembered.
He knew who Mimsy was and he was certain on how to find Appletown. Memories of his infancy filled his mind and a new-found feeling of familial-loyalty took place in Gobby’s heart.
As the boss said. Mimsy would know what to do. After all, Grandma always knows.
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The trip to Appletown was the most exhausting thing Gobby has ever done. There was a driving force with his every move. Almost magical determination stirred his will to move forward. Gobby had no time to think, just do. Time for thought would come soon enough anyway.
As the trees became sparer and the ground more beaten, Gobby had a feeling he was getting closer. Some part of him knew this place. He might’ve been here before even, but no memory of it made itself known. There was simply this deep feeling of belonging, of knowing this place.
“What was that?” Suddenly a voice sounded from Gobby’s right. The young goblin hid himself away in the bushes as quickly as he was able.
That was close. Humans weren’t supposed to see goblins. Even Gobby knew that, and Gobby was a working goblin. It meant he rarely, if ever, had opportunities of encountering stinky human folk. If one were to see him, Gobby worried what he would do.
As the steps and voices grew fainter, Gobby moved forward. Soon, buildings started to show themselves through the trees and the young Goblin knew that in one of them was Mimsy. The one he needed to see and tell what he saw. But how was he supposed to find her in the sea of stinky humans? At that thought, a picture of a small, wooden house emerged in Gobby’s mind. His feet moved by themselves and soon he stealthily came up to the back door of said house.
With a deep breath, Gobby knocked. Soon, steps and voices sounded behind the closed doors. Gobby’s heart did leaps and somersaults with stress. After a minute, doubt started to creep into the young goblin. What if this was the wrong house? Or maybe someone else lived there now? Gobby knew he should’ve brought a disguise with him! Stupid, stupid Gobby! What an idiot-
“Whatcha doin’ here, child?” A shrill voice assaulted Gobby’s senses as the door almost got ripped out of its hinges.
Before him stood a Grandma. But… It wasn’t Mimsy. Who was it then?
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“I see. So tell me again, where was it?” Grandma Mimsy asked for the tenth time. Gobby was glad that there was more than one Grandma. Otherwise, Gobby wouldn’t know what to do. If Grandma Jan, who opened the door was the only one, Gobby would probably run away. But those were ‘what ifs’. Gobby had no time for them. He needed to be attentive now. After all, he had an audience. The Grandmas decided to listen to his story. All four of them.
“Southeast part of the cave. It was a grand hall, Grandma Mimsy. A big rock stood there once.” Gobby said again. The young goblin wanted to feel like he was doing a good job, but the growing worry and horror on the Grandmas' faces filled him with dread. Was his fate worse than getting fired?
“Lou, you know those caves better than any of us. Is what he’s saying right? Did we put it there?” One of the Grandmas asked the other one.
Gobby at first thought they looked like any old and dignified goblin, mostly because of the many wrinkles covering each of their faces. At closer inspection though, they looked like a human. That is they had non-green skin, were a bit taller and hairier too. Just like any other human Gobby was able to catch a glimpse of. They didn’t stink though. They almost smelled like a goblin. Actually, what were Grandmas? Gobby’s mind automatically halted when that question appeared.
“We did. Even if he saw something else. Other than it, we should still treat it as an emergency.” Grandma with deep-seated wrinkles said. “Thoughts, anyone?” She asked the room. The young goblin was sure the question wasn’t for him.
“I do. Listen here, y’all. This could be an opportunity for us. Just listen to me for once-” The Grandma by the name of Jan, the one that opened the door for Gobby started to speak, but Grandma Mimsy interrupted her.
“We ain’t listening. You told your part already. There is a different approach for this. So-” Grandma Mimsy started to talk as she walked towards some other room. The other Grandmas followed. Although Grandma Jan did so reluctantly, Gobby thought so.
Just like that, a couple of hours passed. With Gobby sitting on a chair that was too tall for him and whispers he couldn’t make out coming from the other room.
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When Grandma Mimsy came out of the room, where the Grandmas had their discussion, her expression was happy instead of the annoyed and scared one she had before. Gobby felt relieved at that. He didn’t want to disappoint Grandma Mimsy.
“Gobby, was it?” The young goblin almost fell out of the chair at the unexpected attention. There was only Grandma Mimsy before him, with low hanging wrinkles dignifying her face.
“Yes, Grandma!” Gobby answered excitedly.
“I got a mission for you, Gobby. Follow me.” Grandma gestured for him to walk, so Gobby did just that. When they reached the back garden, the night was at its peak. Gobby could tell, since the Moon shined bright.
“Catch.” Grandma Mimsy called out as she stopped and threw something at Gobby. It was a leather pouch. Gobby could tell it was no ordinary leather pouch, though. He wasn’t sure how he knew.
“I need you to go back to the cave. To the place where you say you saw the creature.” Grandma Mimsy said. At first Gobby was certain he must’ve misheard. Go back there? To that stinky and oily creature? No way! “Before you say anything, listen to me, boy!” Grandma Mimsy raised her voice. Gobby straightened his back. “There’s a room behind this hall. You know of it?”
“The No-Go Room?!” Gobby almost screamed at the implication, but tried to control himself all the same. It wasn’t easy.
“Yes, boy. You must go there and fetch me something. You think you could do that?” Grandma asked.
“But… what ‘bout the creature?” Gobby asked with a tremble. He didn’t want to see it again.
“It moved. There shouldn’t be anything to stop you from going to that room. So you must go there and take what’s in it. You will put it in that satchel.” Grandma Mimsy pointed to the leather pouch in Gobby’s shaking hands.
At first, everything in the young goblin screamed with protest at the prospect of going back there, but the longer he looked at Grandma Mimsy the more empowered he felt.
He was a working goblin, after all! And working goblins listen to orders! With this newfound confidence Gobby shook his head to agree.
“I will, Grandma! I’ll fetch it for you!” He wanted to make Grandma proud and he thought he succeeded if the small smile on Grandma’s face was any indicator.
“That’s my Gobby.” She patted his head. It made the young goblin tremble with pleasure. “You must do it quickly and when you get what you need you only give it to me. Understood?” Gobby shook his head fervently. He will! He will! “That’s good. Well, go then. Now.” Grandma Mimsy turned him around towards the direction of the forest and Gobby took off.
The hunger for Grandma’s approval was his driving force as he skipped and ran through the dense shrubbery. He will do it! He will! He will-
Something made him stumble. He fell on the ground with a hiss of pain. What happened, Gobby wondered as he slowly got up. It was night so the visibility was quite bad, even for a goblin, but he was able to notice an emerging silhouette from behind a nearby tree.
As the figure came near him, Gobby realized who it was.
It was Grandma Jan. What was she doing here?