The sun, the moon, and a bottle of whisky

Krige van Rensburg

Andrew Coven was nervous. He had been nervous before, but today was the day. They were seated beneath a tree, close to a lake, and the atmosphere was perfect. He had brought his girlfriend, Judie Walters, here for one reason only. He was going to ask her to marry him. But now, as he replayed the whole procedure in his head, he didn't feel as confident as he had the night before. He reached down and felt in his pocket … it was still there. The silver engagement ring had cost him an arm and a leg, but he truly believed that there wasn't a price on love.

"It's beautiful out here isn't it?" Judie cooed. Andrew looked around, but didn't really see anything. The words "Will you marry me?" were roaming inside his head and obstructing his vision.

"Uh, yeah, it's nice," he replied, feeling completely stupid for his choice of words.

"I've never seen so much wildlife," Judie continued, "we should come out here more often. There's not a car around, few people … it's perfect."

"It's only perfect because you are here with me," Andrew replied, thankful for being more focused.

Judie looked at him and melted with his words. "Oh honey, you're so great," she said, and hugged him tightly. He took this opportunity to take the ring from his pocket and hold it in his hands.

When she pulled away slightly, he said, "Honey … will you … uh …"

"Yes, Andrew Coven. Yes I will marry you," she said with a warm smile.

Andrew evidently hadn't heard her properly. "No, no, no honey, wait. Ahem … Will you marry me?" he announced triumphantly.

She looked at him oddly. "Uh yes … yes I will marry you."

He smiled and managed a short mad laugh before jumping up and screaming, "She said yes! She said yes!"

An elderly man who was feeding some of the ducks said something like "good luck" before shaking his head.

Andrew took Judie's hand and slipped the silver ring on to her finger whilst looking into her eyes. He didn't notice that it was the wrong finger, but Judie didn't mind. Tears of joy ran down her face and she hugged him again. "Oh Andrew, you make me so happy," she cried, looking at the ring. She tried to take it off for the other finger, but it didn't budge. Nothing that soap and water couldn't fix later.

Andrew pulled away. "Look at the beautiful sunset," he whispered, and pointed across the lake.

The sight was truly amazing. The sun's reflection was a dark shade of pink and orange, and it looked like an oil painting with extreme amounts of detail. "I'll be right back, stay right here," Andrew said and jogged off. He had paid a guy earlier to hide a bottle of champagne in a designated spot near the toilets, and hoped desperately that the man had been true to his word.

He reached the small building and moved to the back of it, looking in the spot where the bottle would be. There were a lot of shrubs around, which was expected, but Andrew estimated a bit less. After a few minutes of digging around, he finally found what he was looking for. He held the bottle of bubbly in the air and smiled victoriously. "Found you, you little bugger!"

As he turned to leave, something bit him hard on his ankle. He was so surprised that he fell over backwards into the shrubs, catching a glimpse of his attacker before hitting the ground. He wasn't quite sure what it was, although it did resemble a furry thing. A big black furry thing. He stood up cursing and dusted broken twigs and leaves off his clothes before picking up the bottle and inspecting his ankle. A small amount of blood was soaking through, but it didn't look too serious. He tested it by shifting his weight onto his ankle a couple of times, and then made his way back to his fiancée.

The sun had already set, but it was still light outside. When he came to Judie, he saw that she was holding her arms around her legs. "Where were you? It's been almost fifteen minutes, I was just about to come and look for you," she said concerned. He stood before her and took the bottle out from behind his back. "Tadaa!" She smiled again, the worry leaving her face as quickly as it had come. As she took the bottle from his hands, Andrew noticed a purplish mark on her skin around the ring, but chose not to comment. He realized it was on her middle finger. "Did you bring glasses?" she asked unexpectedly.

"Um, no, actually I thought we could drink from the bottle, as we did when we were younger," he said quickly.

"Oh, you're the greatest," she replied, and started to open the bottle. He took off his sweater and wrapped it around her, which made her smile at him again with her big appreciative eyes. As he sat back, a sharp pain exploded in his ankle, making him wince. "What's wrong?" Judie asked immediately.
"Oh nothing. Something bit me on my ankle, but don't worry, it's not serious."

"Something bit you? Oh my God, let me have a look!"

"No, don't worry about it honey, I'll be all right."

"Andrew please …"

"OK," he sighed and took off his shoe and sock.

They both stared at the bite for what seemed like days. There were four neatly positioned holes in his ankle, and the flesh around the bite was orange and dark blue. "Good God," Judie said finally, breaking the silence, "what exactly bit you?"

"I couldn't see, the bushes were too thick. I think it was a dog, although they don't usually bite people and run away, do they?"

"No, they don't. We need to get you to a doctor, honey, fast. That doesn't look healthy."

"No, don't worry. I'll be all right, it's just a scratch!"

"A scratch my ass. Come on, let's go."

"But honey, we haven't even had a drink of the champagne yet, and look … it's going to be a full moon tonight."

Judie looked up and saw the big pearl climbing its way into the sky and glowing with all its might in the cloudless heavens above her. It would've been a terrific evening.

"Come on, we can celebrate after we go and see the doctor."

"Aww, but Judie …"

"No buts. Come on," she said and helped him to his feet.

He walked with difficulty but was supported by Judie every step of the way back to their car. She opened the passenger door for him and got in on the other side. Night was upon them. The last rays of sunlight had left with the day, but the full moon provided its own luminous light. Judie started the car and switched the overhead lights on. "OK, we should be there in half an hour; I'm going to take the short cut. How's it feeling?"

"It burns like hell."

"OK honey, hang on," she said and spun the tyres on the gravel road before pulling off.

After a while, Andrew decided to break the silence.

"Slow down, honey, it's not like I'm going to die or something," he commented rather shakily.

Judie turned her head. "Andrew, I'm just worried, OK? You need a tetanus at least; I don't want you to get rabies or something." When she focused on the road again, a huge dog stood a few metres in front of her, making her step on the brakes. The canine ran from the road, but the car swerved and struck a kerb, buckling the car and finally bringing it to a stop in a cloud of dust.

They both sat still for a while, each looking at the bent hood of their car.

"Was that the thing that bit you?" Judie asked eventually.

"I don't know, to tell you the truth," he said, "it might have been. We should probably check the car."

"What? No, what if the thing is out there?"

"The thing? Judie, it was a dog. They have furry ears, hair all over their bodies and they chew your slippers. There's no need to refer to it as a 'thing'."

Andrew opened the door, but Judie leaned over and closed it again. "No, don't go out there."

"Why not? It's just a dog. Contrary to popular belief, they do not attack people."

"Oh yeah? How do you explain your ankle then?"

"What? That could have been anything. I said I thought it was a dog. It could've been a squirrel."

"Squirrels don't leave such big bite marks."

Andrew took her hands in his.

"Look honey, we probably blew a tyre, and we can't wait here for somebody to pass us by, because that might take hours. Even if the little doggy is out there, it's not going to hurt me." As soon as Andrew was finished with his sentence, a great howl pierced the evening stillness, making him jump onto Judie's lap.

"Little doggy, hey?"

"Shit, did you hear that? It sounded like a …"

"… wolf," Judie concluded.

They looked at each other, and simultaneously peered down at Andrew's ankle. "No, that's not possible," he said, "this isn't a game park or something. There can't be wolves around these parts."

"Unless …" Judie said and trailed her sentence off.

He looked at her and saw what she meant. "No, how can you even think that?"

"Think what?"

"That I've been bitten by a werewolf."

"Well, it's possible."

"Honey, please, listen to yourself … a werewolf?"

"Well, the idea had to come from somewhere. Maybe the guy who thought of werewolves is a werewolf himself."

"Oh, and let's say this was true. That means that because I've been bitten by one, I'm going to turn into a werewolf myself?"

Judie looked at him with big eyes and kept quiet.

"What the hell are you saying? Are you going to drive a wooden stake through my heart?"

"No, that's vampires. Werewolves are killed by silver, don't be stupid."

"Well it's pretty damn hard to think rational when your new fiancée thinks you're a werewolf and wants to kill you, you know what I mean?"

"No sweetie, I don't want to kill you," she protested. "I'm just saying that if … you know, I have to protect myself."

"I don't believe this," Andrew said and got into his own seat, scratching his arm.

"I'm going to check the car, you just sit tight," he ordered and got out of his side. Judie closed the door behind him and locked it.

"Now honey, why did you do that?" he asked blatantly.

"I'll open it when you get back!" she shouted from within the car. Andrew just shook his head and scratched behind his ears.

The moon was big now, the luminous light playing across the brushes around them. The car's light was artificially beaming in a cone over the gravel road. There wasn't another car or person in sight. Andrew walked to the front of the vehicle and knelt down, peeking over his shoulder just in case. The right front wheel was flat, and the rim was bent rather badly. He stood up and scratched all over before knocking on his window again. Judie lowered his window slightly. "Who am I?" she asked.

"What? What do you mean, 'Who am I?'"

"I read somewhere that werewolves lose some of their memory in the transformation phase."

"The transformation phase?"

"Yes, that's when you cross to the other side."

"C'mon honey, open up, I don't have time for this."

"What's my name?" she asked again.

Andrew's skin was itching all over now. He was scratching desperately, and rather hard too. It just annoyed him further. "Judie. Judie Walters. You're a virgo, 27 years old, and your breast size is 34A."

She opened the door and folded her arms. She waited until he seated himself before saying "You didn't have to mention my breast size."

"Honey! What's wrong with you?" he asked, his fingers playing piano across his body.

"Me? What's wrong with me? Why are you scratching yourself so badly?"

"I don't know, it itches. It itches all over …"

"It's the transformation …" she prophesied, her eyes as big as saucers.

"Oh for goodness sake, Judie, please, I'm not turning into a wolf."

"You could've fooled me, look at your arm!"

Andrew looked down at his arm in astonishment. The hairs were standing on end, and little spots covered the entire skin beneath as if new hairs were going to sprout out of them.

"Yes, you see. And now you tell me tell me to calm down."

"I … I can't believe this. Look at it." He rolled up the hem of his trousers and discovered the same pattern on his legs. His stomach and hands shared the same fate. "What … what am I going to do?" he whispered in a voice of a man who would speak after he had found out he had a fatal disease.

"Now don't panic. If I remember correctly, you have to find the wolf that bit you, and kill him."

"What? How do you know that?"

"I saw it in a movie once."

"A movie? Shit Judie, how am I going to find the wolf that bit me, and kill him for that matter?"

"I don't know! Stand outside and whistle or something."

"What? Listen honey, even if he does come, how do you expect me to kill him with my bare hands?"

"Well, excuse me for helping," she retorted and folded her arms again.

Andrew was scratching badly now. His skin was on fire, and his ankle was throbbing with pain. "OK, tie me up."

"Honey, this is hardly the time …"

"Just do it! Use the cigarette lighter and burn a piece of the seatbelt off. That should hold me if I transform and rip the flesh from your bones."

To Judie there was truth in his words, so she didn't hesitate. Pretty soon he was tied around the ankles and wrists, unable to move. She was about to double-check his bonds when a light appeared in the rear-view mirror.

"Oh honey, it's help!" she cried and jumped out of the car. Andrew tried to stop her, but was unable to. "Over here!" she shouted to the already approaching car and waved her arms in the air. A small red truck stopped beside them, and an elderly man opened the passenger window.

"Car trouble?" he asked politely.

"Yes, but we need to see a doctor as well. My boyfriend … my fiancι is hurt."

"OK, there's a doctor about two miles from here, I'll take you to him. Is he hurt bad?"

Judie looked at her tied-up fiancé.

"Yes, we think so."

"Do you want him to sit in front with me? There's only space for one."

"Oh no, we'll hop on the back, thank you!"

She went to Andrew's side and opened the door. "C'mon honey, maybe the doctor can help you."

"Honey, are you sure …?"

"Yes! Now let me take care of you," she said and helped him hop to the back of the truck.

The elderly man came out to give a hand and noticed the spectacle. For a moment they all just looked at one another.

"Uhh, he has fits, this is to restrain him," Judie pointed out.

The old man raised an eyebrow and helped her lift Andrew on to the back. When they were on their way, Andrew coughed terribly as the dust rose. Judie just looked at him wide-eyed, and touched him with her fingers for support.

There was an awkward silence before Andrew spoke. "OK, listen … if I … change … I want you to kill me."

"Honey … no …"

"You have to. I don't want to risk your life because of my … affliction."

"But …" A tear was rolling down her cheek. "How would I do that? I don't have silver."

"Yes you do …," he said and held up her hand with the engagement ring.

She looked at him oddly. "What do you want me to do? Make you swallow it?"

"I don't know, melt it and turn it into a knife or something. Make it quick … please."

"Melt it? Do I look like McGyver? How the hell do I melt this ring, and besides, how do I get it off this finger?" she asked and held up her middle finger.

"Look, I'm only trying to help; sorry I'm not perfect. Do you have any idea how much that piece of shit cost me?" Andrew said, wishing he hadn't.

"That piece of shit? I thought you believed that love doesn't have a price?"

"Honey, please scratch behind my leg."

"Don't change the subject. I thought you believed there wasn't a price on love."

"Yes, honey … I guess I used to. Take my situation here, however. I need to pay with my life. Sometimes the price is pretty darn high, you know what I'm saying?"

"Ohhh, I can't believe you!" she replied furiously.

She was about to unleash a verbal death when the truck came to a standstill.

She stood up, and saw a little house a few yards away.

"Well, here we are, I'll go tell the doctor you're here, and you can bring him up," the old man said and went through the gate that leads to the house. It was almost nine o'clock now, the moon higher in the sky.

"How will this doctor help me?" Andrew asked rudely. "I'd rather let you take my life than some stranger."

"My sentiments exactly," Judie replied, a grin on her face. She helped Andrew off the van, and they proceeded toward the house.

A doctor came out in his nightgown and adjusted his spectacles on his face to take in the newcomers. When he saw Andrew, he took them off and wiped them clean. When he put them back on he saw the same sight and frowned. "What's wrong with him?" he asked.

"Oh doctor, it's a long story," Judie grunted, "would you please help me to get him inside?"

"Oh yes, sure, sure." They helped Andrew inside and seated him in one of the chairs. The doctor took his desk lamp and aimed it at Andrew. He finished inspecting him in less than a minute, and spoke before Judie could tell her story. "Oh-ohhh, third one this week."

Andrew and Judie looked at each other and back at the doctor again. "You mean … there's more like … me out there?"

"Oh yes, sure. It's not as uncommon as you might believe."

"Can it be cured?" Judie asked anxiously.

"Of course, I have a cream that will work." Andrew was puzzled.

"What? Cream? What about the silver?"

The doctor raised his eyebrow again. "I don't know about silver, but you have a skin irritation. Let me guess: at the park, somewhere near the public toilets?"

"How did you know?" they asked simultaneously.

"Well, as I've said, there were two people here this week with exactly the same thing. They got it in that area, so I guess from a plant of some sort. It causes an allergy on sensitive skin."

"But what about the bite?" Andrew continued.

"What bite?"

Judie took off his shoe and sock to show the doctor.

"Mmmhhh … definitely a nasty bite, I'll give you a tetanus. As for the colour, it's sprained."

"That's it?" Judie asked wide-mouthed.

"That's it," the doctor concluded and went to fetch a syringe.

She looked at Andrew and blushed. "Yes, you should. You owe me an apology."

"What? I owe you an apology? You were just as screwed up as I was! With all your 'I want you to kill me' bullshit!"

The truck driver had been standing around, but chose this moment to disappear.

"Yes, but that's only because you …," Andrew tried, but was interrupted as the doctor returned.

"OK, let's get the seatbelt off … There. Now bend over." Andrew complied and winced as the needle entered his buttock. After that, the doctor knelt on the floor and bandaged his ankle professionally.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry," Judie said and hugged him. He held her close and whispered, "So am I."

She looked at him. "Do you still want to marry me?"

"Of course," he smiled back and took her hand with the ring on.

The doctor stood and cleared his throat. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

Andrew looked into Judie's eyes and then at the doctor. "Yes please, Doctor. I would like to use your phone, but for now a bar of soap to help remove my fiancée's new ring and maybe a bottle of whisky please."

About the author

Krige van Rensburg wrote an interesting quote once: “My life was fine until I started thinking.” Since then, his days consisted of endless searching and digging for meaning. He hasn’t found it yet. But what he has found, is a career as a copywriter in advertising, a beautiful girlfriend, a half finished novel, his lost car keys and an interesting way to tell a story in his own words.

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