Page 37 of The Voice of Wild Places
Watt shook his head.“Yes, sorry.I just … he was a good man.”
Surprisingly, Cornelius smiled a little.“He always did like you.”
“I don’t think there's anyone he didn’t like.”
Cornelius was quiet for a minute.Then he said, “He did break your father’s nose, you know.”
Watt swallowed, arms flexing around Cornelius who had tensed up again.Oh, he was still holding him.Was he supposed to let go now?
“Could you … I understand if you don’t want to, but could you … tell me?”
Cornelius had already started shaking his head when Watt began to speak.“No.Forget I said anything.”
“Cornelius, I—”
Cornelius pushed away from him, staggering to his feet.“No.I don’t want to talk about this right now,” he whispered, bracing himself against the wall.He held a hand to his forehead, decidedly not looking at Watt.
Watt stared at him, feeling bereft, cold, and idiotic.Why the hell had he thought now was a good time to talk about this?Cornelius had brought it up, but it was clear the man was not in a good state of mind.Belatedly, he got to his feet.“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
Cornelius' hand fell from his forehead to cover the rest of his face.“Just please go, Watt.I want to be alone now.Actually alone.”
Watt’s hands flexed at his sides, and his left one cramped and spasmed painfully for a fleeting moment.He shook off the feeling, then started towards the door.He paused at the entry and said, “If you need me, don't be afraid to knock.”
Cornelius’ hand fell away from his face and he nodded.“Thanks.”
Watt closed the door between them.
He returned to his room, and only when night began to twist into morning did he fall into a fitful sleep.He willed his mind to dream of memories he’d long forgotten, but all was darkness.
As Intended
April10th,1930
Watt listened to Cornelius and Antunes talk, their conversation shifting from Brazil and her decades long transformation, to the Institute.They chatted about snakes and the exponential growth of antivenin research, and everything in between.There had been so much damn talking from the moment they met up for breakfast, that Watt had barely gotten a word in with Cornelius, to check in with him or otherwise.He looked tired as hell, but otherwise acted like his usual self.One would never know the type of night he’d had.
“And what about you?”
Watt tore his attention from the passing landscape out the window and blinked at Antunes.“What?”
“Are you familiar with snakes?”Antunes asked.He smiled and his dark eyes were warm, but it all had the opposite intended effect.
Watt shifted in his seat, doing his best to dislodge his irritation.“Ah, yes.Cobras and horned vipers mostly.”
“A snake is a snake, the only difference is how they like to take their prey,” Antunes said.
Cornelius opened his mouth, but then the car turned onto the drive and the Institute was in view.The building was enormous, all white with tall rectangular windows and intricate stone carvings along the rooftop.The words‘INSTITUO BUTANTAN’ were carved across the front of the building, and as they approached it became clear just how large the building was.It seemed to loom over them, even taller than the decorative palm trees standing vigil outside.The lawn was meticulously cared for and several ferns decorated the place along with some short hedges and other nicely trimmed vegetation.
'Sterile for a lawn,’Watt thought.
They were deposited onto a stone and dirt drive.Cornelius wielded his cane and walked at a leisurely pace, taking in their surroundings.Watt kept close to his side, hands in his pockets as he studied the establishment.Antunes did not seem to be in an exceptional hurry, but he did eventually lead them into the facility.It had a punctual air about it, very clean and filled with people dressed in white jackets who kindly bid them good morning.They met with the director, an older man who only spoke Portuguese.The ensuing conversation, relayed and translated by Antunes, regarding what type of snakes they may encounter had Watt feeling a bit queasy.Cornelius on the other hand appeared unbothered, which made Watt suspect that he was actually very bothered indeed.
“Would you like to see how the antivenin is made?”Antunes asked, glancing between Watt and Cornelius.“It is not required, but they have offered.”
Cornelius stiffened at the question, then glanced over at Watt.His eyes were wide, and his lips set in a bloodless line.Watt felt it would be rude to say no, and education was gold.He inclined his head to Cornelius in an 'up to you' sort of way.
Cornelius nodded curtly.He shifted his attention to the others and said, “That would be fine.”
Watt followed behind everyone else as they were led outside to where the majority of the snakes were kept, feeling like he’d done something wrong.Again.He could brood on it later, for now he tried his best to pay attention.There were palms everywhere, along with a variety of prim and proper plants.A tall stone wall with short metal fencing atop it surrounded a large area, which was further sectioned off into small pens with waist height stone walls.The grass in the pens was neatly manicured, furnished with stone mounds that had small arches for snakes to pass through, the surfaces of which were covered in growing grass.Pathways connected each mound, as if snakes cared for such things, and little saplings further decorated the area.Big fancy white signs accompanied the area, and Watt couldn’t read much of it besides the‘serpentario’bit.He figured that it had something to do with snakes.
