The Devil's Daughter by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 23

The night continued without further episodes. Janet managed to calm their baby, and lull it back to sleep, while Bradley sat stewing over having been scolded. But eventually, all three fell asleep, leaving Kaku outside, to keep watch. Like others in his town, he had met very few Americans, and now that he sat in the company of them, came to realize that he could not stand them. They seemed to insist on being treated as though they were special, to be waited on, and pampered, almost as an act of worship.

Morning arrived to find Bradley slowly stepping out from the carriage. Fully clothed in a casual suit, he trudged over to the still-burning fire, and sitting on a rock, noticed a tin coffee pot percolating on the hot coals. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked. Kaku had been drinking coffee all night, and while wide awake, showed no signs of nervousness or trembling. Rather than risk being bothered about where the coffee mugs were, Kaku decided to simply leave two more out where they could easily be seen. Picking up one of the mugs, Bradley poured out the steaming black liquid, and setting it on the ground, poured another. Janet was still in the carriage, nursing their daughter, and knowing she would want her morning coffee, Bradley took it upon himself to deliver it personally. Approaching the carriage, he knocked at the door, and opening it a few inches, passed the mug to Janet. As she leaned towards him, he could still see the look of fear on her face, from the horrifying event of the previous night.

Returning to the fire, Bradley picked up his mug and took his first sip of coffee. Squinting his eyes, he recoiled slightly at its harsh taste.

“That is some strong coffee,” he said. “I don't suppose you brought any cream?”

Kaku looked at him with silent disapproval. He wasn't ignoring Bradley's question; he simply didn't want to answer, knowing that if he had brought cream, he certainly would have made it available. But by this time, Bradley had become accustomed to Kaku's harsh personality and had reached the assumption that it was this trait that got him through the difficulties of life, but there was still a palpable tension in the air.

“Ah, I suppose not then,” he said.

Another tense moment went by as Bradley considered what had unfolded only a few hours before, as well as his behavior.

“Kaku,” he began. “I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong, and you're right, we're not in America anymore. I risked your life and that of my family. I suppose it's time for me to get over myself. I guess money doesn't buy courage or smarts. So, from now on, you're giving the orders.”

Kaku didn't let on, but he was genuinely impressed. The few Americans he had met, he found arrogant and self-serving. So, he was more than a bit surprised to see, what he thought of as a typical American, bring himself down, not only to confess his flaws but offering a substantial degree of obedience.

Within the hour, the fire was put out, the horses were hitched up, and with their guide, the small American family was, once again, on its way. The narrow road continued to be pitted with deep ruts, and grooves as the carriage rocked from side to side. Travel was painfully slow, but Kaku anticipated they would reach their destination before evening. Although he had traveled this road before, he was unable to set aside his fear, finding that particular stretch of woods with an even darker quality than others, and the sooner he got to Gura Haith, the sooner he could leave. However, he had not informed his clients that his services would soon end, that they would be left to hire another guide for their trip back. He had already taken their money and had no qualms about leaving them in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains.

Bradley and Janet found sleep impossible, as the carriage creaked and bounced along the well-worn road. Occasionally, they would stop, allowing them to step out and work the knots from their aching bodies, as well as to give Janet the chance to nurse their baby. But soon, they commenced their journey, and by early afternoon, found themselves surrounded by the rocky slopes of the eastern Carpathians. Several times, Janet insisted on stopping to take pictures, in spite of the irritation Kaku felt at having to comply.

“We don't have time for this,” he said. But Janet still caught up in child-like romanticism, saw the Romanian countryside too charming not to record it on film.

“It's just a few pictures,” she replied. “It won't take that long.”

After a moment, Kaku gave his last warning in the form of fear. The night before had terrified everyone, and Kaku, not wanting to relive another, reminded Janet of their brush with one of the forests' hungry monsters. “Well, you better hurry along,” he began. “It will be dark before you know it.”

It was a hint too obvious to be ignored and Janet, remembering the sound of gunfire from the night before, was quick to understand and raising her skirt above her ankles, trotted back to the carriage. Kaku smiled to himself, knowing that he had, without much effort, discovered what he could now use as a means of giving instructions. In the absence of any further request to stop, the rest of their trip passed uneventfully, and by late afternoon, the slow-moving carriage made its way into the village of Gura Haith.