Steren – Entry Six
The tenth.
These lizards, it has always been said, cannot be trusted.
The eleventh.
We have been watching now for almost thirty years. It has always been a source of enjoyment, at least for myself and dear Sloane, to watch. Developments and deteriorations. I’ve heard contentment comes quite easily to those without intelligence, so I wonder what that makes us.
Sloane caught a finger on one of my razors and the blood dripped down and down and formed a perfect circle on the floor. She stood in it and giggled. In woods in England, there are little clearings where fairies dance just like she did. I refused to enter the circle. Two hours later she emerged and apologised. I told her to clean the floor and never speak of it again. She went back to the bathroom and called for me. She had wet eyes and quivering lips, just like the day I met her.
All the blood was gone.
The thirteenth.
The seas have been kind to us beyond the first few weeks. The lizards have only visited twice. The client believed that they would come with every opportunity presented. I wonder whether they watch the watchers? God watches all of us. I hear names being screamed aloud almost every night.
The sixteenth.
I have sent only five letters; J seventy-one. Our stops are often, which is kind of the captain. There are many others who would force a journey straight through. I value the man. A Frenchman without all the downsides. I play cards with him and compare our conquests. Sloane shows her jealousy by talking ill of him. He is of indeterminant age.
We have been stuck on a small dock for the past two days as the rain refused our attempts to continue. I met a woman with no teeth in a tent and she told me I was a fool for not trusting her. I asked her, who was her? and she nodded. I beat her but she did not answer.
The seventeenth.
I cannot find Sloane.
The twentieth.
The lizards sing to me. GIRLY LEFT BEHIND GIRLY LEFT TO ROTTTT We have been aboard for at least two days and the skies are solid black. I feel tongues on my neck and hard tapping on my toes. J evades me and I have dropped all pretense of my presence being a secret. We are locked in a game now. I saw her once, right as the captain and I decided Sloane was gone. I saw her skipping up the moon. The lizards are aboard and they touch me.
The twenty-first.
I finally went to the captain and explained. He will help me. J must be stopped!
The twenty-second.
The captain is not to be trusted.
by Sam Goward