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6. QUARTET

"Mrs..."

Just a slight pat on Bellena's shoulder, she opened her eyes. The eruption of fire sounded calm inner that came from the barrage of torches on each front wall of the houses. Beside him stood the kind old man who drove him home without a penny. Although not until he arrived right at his home address.

"Sorry, Madam. I didn't know where your house was, so I stopped the train at my house."

Bellena smiled and replied that there was no problem if she had to return home on foot. It doesn't seem too far away anyway.

"Do you want me to take you home? It's dark. I'm not sure the village streets are safe for women to walk through at night. It is said that many bandits roam the alleys that like..."

"No, I'm used to going through there."

"alright. If you want, I have a trolley. Maybe your luggage is too heavy."

"Oh, I'm so grateful."

"Attent. I'll get it."

The old man entered his wooden house. Bellena's outside. On the lonely side of the road. There are only frogs that splash through sewers or crickets that try to scrape the soil. The woman clasped her hands in front of her chest as the night wind blew against her body until it nearly shivered.

How's Vasco doing now? Is she okay? Has he eaten? Too many questions in your head. It was a concern that Bellena had never punished Vasco before. Bellena shouldn't have done any of that. He regrets his actions and may Vasco thus regret his misdeeds that have exceeded his limits.

Duk...

Suddenly the silence was avenged. The voice distracts Bellena who initially only thinks about the condition of the house, house, and house.

Dukes...

He further sharpened his hearing. Shortly after, however, it was quiet.

"..."

Bellena's a little relieved that it's nothing. However, another voice broke his suspicions just now. The wheels of the trolley vibrate as it rolls over uneven ground. He suddenly twisted the body and found the old man was struggling to push his trolley.

"Let me help you."

"This is for you, madam."

"Oh, no... You will need it again later on. Tomorrow I'll return it."

"No, Mistress. I can buy a new trolley. After all, this trolley of mine is rarely used."

"Well, thank you" he said nervously as he lifted a box of his fish from the horse-drawn carriage.

"No problem. Be careful on the road, ma'am."

Bellena nodded her head, then pushed her trolley into an alley where the street was the most memorized. In haste he stepped. Bellena knew she was very brave last night because not a single bit of her attention around so much to face the little Vasco. Unlike tonight which seems gripping. Actually, there is nothing to worry about. Warm exploding torches on the fence or wall of the house. Meanwhile, the sound of knocking again unsettled him. Bellena had to stop.

Dukes...

He understands now. The origin of the sound is none other than the fish box it carries. Bellena was hesitant to open, but her distraction irritated her by the frequent. Moreover, in addition to that beat, there was also a small whimper that lasted a short time. Bellena also strengthened her will. His hand extended to the box-opening lever.

"Bellena?"

The man rubbed the back of the head whose hair gradually molested due to age. His rampage seemed that he felt guilty for his presence which made Bellena surprised like she had just met a ghost figure.

"You haven't come home yet?"

Bellena shook her head quickly and said, "I forgot to tell the coachman where my house is, while I myself went to sleep on top of his vehicle until I got here." His eyes then investigated Bill from eye to toe and he added, "And you?"

"Ah, I just watched an impromptu wrestling match."

'The 'impromptu wrestling' became Bellena's point of concern. He frowned before then replying, "Who's fighting?"

"Oh. that's," said Bill trying to remember, "Edward. The man quarreled with his neighbor."

Bellena doesn't know who Edward is. No matter that guy either. But then he tried not to make the conversation stop just like that with the word 'oh' or make the interlocutor finally disappointed with the short response.

"What's the reason?"

"I don't know that much. I know that there are a lot of people who have covered both of them. Basic, huh? They are like children. But it's been broken, take it easy," explains Bill timidly if Bellena is worried about it.

"Good then. I go first," Bellena said as her hand waved.

Bill nodded, then dragged his already tired feet to leave where he had originally stopped. So did Bellena. His roar calmed down again and forgot the question mark that knocked on the wooden box he was carrying.

***

There's nothing more fun than sailing. Just a day absent from his magic, Vasco was bored. Being at home all day without doing anything feels empty. Without friends or relatives, because he himself was an only child. Vasco has tried to do house chores just like a mother does. Clean the house, wash his own dirty clothes and also the dishes that were originally left to accumulate.

After that, it was empty. Time wasted without something to do. Vasco was locked up in the house anyway. If the door were wide open for him, he would go play. Yes, again by yourself. Who would want to be friends with a murderous child?

Countless how much Vasco sighed and how long he sat hunched over the edge of his bed while twisting his bedspread.

But not for long, his back stiffened as the crackling of the wooden door sounded. Vasco is convinced that Bellena has returned home. But he did not care much, for perhaps the woman would soon nag long for his umpteenth.

"Vasco?" That call is what Vasco was worried about his departure all day. He was so afraid this morning that the voice could no longer be heard in this house.

Bellena combed the whole room until she got what she was looking for. Vasco sat on the floor of the room and turned his back.

"Vasco..."

The eight-year-old boy looked over for a moment. From his facial water alone had made Bellena have to blame herself. He was not used to this treatment. It was never in his mind to punish Vasco in the house and lock him up. However, it was more heartless if his son was languishing in the cell.

"Mom's sorry, Vasco. But, that's how it is." Bellena crossed her arms and threw out a breath that had been held back. "Tomorrow you'll stay home. I'm still worried about your presence around people. At least five days will make you aware of your mistakes."

In front of him, Vasco was still pondering. Her face was dimmed after hearing a statement that her sentence would last five days. He should be grateful. Unfortunately, he never knew that other parents could lock his child up to two weeks or more.

As a result of not getting any response, Bellena then decided to get out of the room. Then, seeing how Vasco did not leave the house unkempt as he exited. Everything looks fine.

Suddenly a wooden knock was heard again and louder accompanied by a long whimper like a baby cry. Sontak Bellena remembered the thing that had made her mess up on her own. He ran towards the box that was just transported inside. Vasco, who was listening, also moved. However, his steps came to a halt at the door of his room. See how and what Bellena found in the fish box.

***