Babster Dast and the Magic Varnish

By Tosh Konnett

Babster Dast and the Magic Varnish, Painting World series, Book 1

Tosh Konnett offers you his first novel in the Painting World series, "Babster Dast and the Magic Varnish", which lays the foundation

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maple Publishers
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781915492043

Book preview

EARTH

PART ONE

Beginning of the Search

Chapter 1

Spawn of Hell

He was an amateur singer but professionalist as a disturber of the peace in the top chamber of the long inclined, multi-gallery cave called Hell. Everyone who knew him was ready to confirm it. His name was Babster, and he and his sister Sinta lived in the smoky semi-darkness of the top chamber of the cave since they were babies. They belonged to the human race and grew without parents in this inhospitable place. Made by the circumstances to survive among thousands of the weirdest creatures that have ever existed, they learned how to communicate with most of them. About themselves, they only knew they were storfs, but nothing else.

The top chamber, called High Hall, was the longest and highest of all the caves of Hell. Some torches put in wall sconces close to the ceiling threw dim light everywhere. Life here had various shapes, breeds, types, sizes, and colours. The place was teeming with small, creeping on the dirty floor, slimy wights crawling, creeping, running, or walking on all sides. Giant lizard-like creatures quickly moved on the floor and trampled the smaller ones. Legless, snake-shaped reptiles were crossing the dust, leaving curved prints on it and hid in the darkness of the closest cracks, threatened by crab-shaped and lobster-like creatures that were clicking with their strong tongs against them. There were tens of two-legged, nose-whistle monsters, ape-resembling beasts with sharp horns, several broom-smouldering monsters, a couple of human-resembling creatures and one bagpipe human-like being. Flocks of bat-resembling beasts with dry grey wings hung from the ceiling, occasionally throwing filth on the creatures below. Long centipedes lurked in the narrowest crevices.

In all that chaos, only several High Hall inhabitants, like Babster and Sinta, could enjoy their private niches carved in the rocky walls around three feet over the bottom. Once higher, nowadays, the cavities were closer to the floor as dirt and dust gradually accumulated.

The horrible smell of the creatures' dirty, sweaty bodies mingled with the stifling smoke coming from the burning liquid magma in the farthest cave of Hell called the Bottom, creating a toxic atmosphere that made everyone's eyes run.

Despite having a healthy, well-developed body, Babster was short in size. His head barely could reach the shoulder of his sister Sinta. No one, including him, knew his age. He had an oval face with wrinkled skin like the older people but with plenty of acne, typical for teenagers. His cheekbones were a bit protruding, so his nose seemed short between them. There was a noticeable brown birthmark on the left side over his upper lip. The same had his sister Sinta at the exact place, but her facial skin was clean and fresh. Both of them had blue eyes, but while Sinta’s were smaller in size, Babster’s were big and bulging, and he could see in the dark, while his sister couldn’t. Her age was also unknown but according to the other creatures, despite their different heights, they were not only brother and sister, but even twins.

Babster was always wearing a black beret on his head and often had to push a restless long strand of hair under it. When he was thrilled, he liked to lift and lower his beret three times with both hands and finally strike it in the ground. He wore a yellow T-shirt with rolled-up long sleeves and a sleeveless brownish coat over it which had six big pockets. Another two pockets he had on his roll-up grey pants fastened with a leather belt around his chest. All of them were full of various sorts of things. Babster believed that anything he possessed would be helpful to him one day.

One of the storf’s most precious possessions was an iron chainlet's pocket knife attached to his pants. He received it from one of the snake-shaped reptiles. Some of the visitors of Hell, who never returned to the world outside, crossing the High Hall, had thrown it in the dust. For a while, it had gone unnoticed by anyone but a reptile. After lengthy explanations, Babster proved to the long creeping creature that the chain he was entangled with was not another reptile to play with. At one end of the chain was the knife the storf had always dreamed of having. The reptile agreed to part with its find when Babster finally convinced it that the snakes do not have hands, pockets or belts, so they don’t need knives or chainlets.

On his feet, Babster wore sandals made of papatak leather. It was a rare Hell inhabitant, a four-leg jumping creature resembling a frog, which possessed thick and robust skin. The ancient tradition of the papataks said that when they grow old, they must bequeath their skin to one or more of their closest friends to remember them. The latter usually ordered something like a belt, pair of gloves, or hat and often forgot the name of their benefactor the next day after their death.

One day, a massive crowd of various High Hall inhabitants gathered around a heavy breathing creature, lying in the dust. It was a papatak that the crowd was eagerly waiting to die. Everyone was expecting to hear their name as the heir to the precious skin and had begun to bet on which of them would win it. Until this moment, no one noticed the old, already dragging, creature and passed it without helping it. Suddenly, many willing appeared when it came time to skin him. Barely whispering, the animal bequeathed his skin to some Drat-Ster, probably his friend, whom no one knew. The barefoot Babster was in the crowd, curious to understand who would be the happy heir. He also wanted to inherit the frog-like creature’s skin, but he had never paid any attention to that slimy green pile, let alone to become his friend, even for something so valuable as its skin. His opinion about friendship was highly negative. For Babster, this meant supporting someone when they needed help, listening to their endless complaints, and even worse, sharing their happy moments. He did not want to waste his time living with problems and happiness that would not be his. That’s why Babster didn’t have friends and didn’t want to have any.

When he heard the beast saying something similar to his name, Babster looked around to see the lucky creature, but no one showed up. He didn’t know that at this moment, the two-legged, limping, human-like creature was cleaning the dirtiest, stinking toilets, two levels down, not aware of his dying friend. Babster took advantage of the situation.

When the papatak said the name of Drat-Ster as his heir and died, Babster declared that the creature had said his name, slightly changed, as it had been toothless. After that, no one questioned Babster’s claim, but everyone reluctantly accepted him as an heir because everyone knew him as a rude and brazen being. No one had ever seen the storf help the frog-like beast, and the visibly disgruntled crowd, muttering, dispersed, leaving the lucky winner with the dead body of the papatak.

* * *

Babster was thoroughly soaked with the malignant spirit of the ‘Code of Evil’ of Hell. Unlike Sinta, he had adopted the ‘Five Basic Principles’ studied in a two-month course, twice a year, which was based on the ‘Code of Evil’ and was mandatory for every being in Hell. The principles were mischievousness, outwitting, hostility, mockery and pretending. Everyone had to train with each other, improving their skills. Different beings had different talents. Babster’s strong point was pretending. At every moment, he could turn into someone tired, sick, humiliated, innocent or offended, according to the case.

For Sinta, the ‘Code of Evil’ was like breathing the suffocating smoke coming from the Bottom. Difficult to inhale but inevitable, as there was no alternative.

Recently Babster was thinking very often about his own and Sinta’s past. Who were they? Where did they come from? Who were their parents, and were they still alive? And the most crucial question, Babster asked straight to himself - Was he able to find them?

This question had occupied his mind and he could not get rid of it. So at such moments, he sat in the thick layer of dirt under his sister's niche and, leaning his back against the cave rock, asked her the same questions each time.

Sinta, we belong to the same race, don’t we?

Yes, Babo. Sinta called him in short, ‘Babo’. How else?

And we are brother and sister, aren’t we? said Babster in a sad voice.

Sinta loved her brother very much and was willing to do anything to see him happy, so she always mentioned the handkerchiefs found wrapped in their swaddling clothes. Their full names were embroidered on them along with the strange word ‘storf’ they assumed meant their race, but both were aware that it wasn’t enough to explain who they were. Babster often used his handkerchief to clean his nose or his forehead of sweat and it had turned yellow a long time ago while Sinta’s had remained pure white.

Of course, Babo. Don’t you trust the evidence we have?

After hearing the answer, Babster usually continued,

I trust it, Sinta, but why am I so short and ugly compared to you, considering we belong to the same race and family?

Who said that you are ugly, Babo? Sinta tried to calm down her brother. Why don’t you think that I could be ugly in the eyes of all those creatures surrounding us? We don’t know who represents our race better, you or me, as we have never seen someone like us. Am I right? Babster tended to agree with his sister, and after the conversation, he was hiding in his rock niche. He took a yellowish handkerchief from his pocket and began stroking the inscription, embroidered with blue thread, ‘Babster Dast, storf boy’ . There was nothing else. There was no information about where he and his sister had come from, not their parents' names or how the storfs looked. He knew that on Sinta’s immaculate white handkerchief, it was embroidered by a pink string, ‘Sinta Dast, storf girl’, and nothing else as well. They had accepted they were storfs and presented themselves as such. They both were thinking that Babster was older because of his wrinkled face and the small round mirror with a yellow frame found in his swaddling clothes, along with his handkerchief.

With all these thoughts in his head, Babster fell asleep, but he always had the same nightmare.

* * *

Babster and his sister were babies, lying in a big basket, and foamy river waves took them far and away. There was a woman's figure on a shore, desperately stretching her arms to them, yelling. Unfortunately, Babster couldn’t distinguish her facial features. The figure started to run through thick bushes on the shore downstream, trying to make her way to the floating basket, but in vain. Babster and his sister were loudly crying but the roar of the water drowned out their voices. Turbulent muddy waves pushed their cradle back and forth. The figure following them from the shore fell behind and then disappeared. At times, the children fell asleep exhausted until an enormous wave woke them up and their cries echoed around again. After long hours of sailing in dizzying waters with horrible whirlpools and sharp rocks, the basket finally reached a quiet place. Babster saw the blurred features of a panting creature, emitting a pungent odour of sweat, leaning over them. Then everything sank into a fog.

* * *

All the inhabitants of Hell, including Babster and Sinta, were required to participate in the ‘Inferno Choir’. Each being owed its life to the skills it possessed and contributed to the collective sound. Some of the performers in this terrible choir played drums, rebecs or pipes. Another made a noise, beating rusty tin cans or wooden bars with the yellowed bones of long-dead creatures. Some of them made noise even with some part of their body like the monsters playing with their noses. But most were singers like Babster and Sinta.

If one of the performers in the choir lost their skills for any reason due to injury, ageing or loss of a musical instrument, they disappeared with no trace or finished their days, constantly doing the dirtiest jobs in Hell. The rules of Hell were relentless.

The ‘Inferno Choir’ provided the unique type of horrible music known as ‘Hell’s Yowl’ for the Supreme Lord. This mystical creature was called the Remorseless among the choir performers because no violation of the rules of Hell went unpunished by him. He wanted to hear ‘Hell’s Yowl’ when he was visiting Hell, followed by a victim called ‘a client’.

The High Hall inhabitants knew that the Supreme Lord got people’s soul power after their death and added it to his own. No one knew why he accumulated so much energy but it was known that he contracted only greedy, fearless and ambitious people, ready to do everything to become rich and powerful. The rumours said that the Remorseless helped them lie, cheat, steal, rob and avoid justice with impunity. After they died, he, according to the contract, led their souls, dressed in their last clothes, to the eternal fire in the Bottom, where through a sacrament, he received their power. No one in the High Hall was interested in how it was working. The most important for the creatures was the ‘Tradition of Giving’. Before leaving the top cave of Hell to the Bottom, the ‘clients’ souls had to empty their pockets and purses, spreading around everything they had with them, favouring the choir. Usually, after that, began a quarrel on the floor. Massive clouds of dust filled the enormous cave up to the ceiling.

Remorseless, a tall creature covered from head to toe in a black hooded cloak and burning eyes ordered his two assistants to restore order in the High Hall of Hell. At the same time, he and his client’s soul started descending to the Bottom.

Lest Denon Demon, the manager of Hell and Gallo Sect Demon, the keeper of the Hell’s Gate, started immediately to soothe the mad creatures. The two possessed noise-isolated, comfortable side caves immediately to the right of the Hell Gate, away from the poisonous breath of the main cave.

Except for the High Hall inhabitants, there were a dozen horrible creatures, called the ‘Fire Demons’, living around the dreadful flames of the magma at the Bottom. They were the helpers of the Remorseless with the assimilation of the power of the people’s souls. No ordinary creature from the High Hall had ever seen any of them as they weren’t allowed to go to the Bottom. There were horrible rumours about how sinister these demons were looking and behaving. The choir creatures could only hear the appalling giggling and howling coming from the Bottom when Remorseless was receiving the soul power of his next client.

* * *

Hell is situated in the wall of a volcano crater, and its lower part reached its centre. An old crawling creature that had accidentally stopped to give rest to his rheumatic legs near Babster's niche number thirty-seven had answered the storf's question about their location. The ten-legged, lobster-like, creeping being, lying deep in the thick layer of grey dust, clicked its big, horrible pinches to support its words. It did it every time it had to express anger, joy, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, agreement, disagreement and dozens of other mental states. Its long grey feelers were moving in all directions.

Babster lay on his back, tired. He was opening his mouth without singing for three hours in the morning rehearsal of the choir and the grimaces he had to make exhausted him more than if he sang. The storf didn't like his job as a singer and had been on undeclared strike for some time. He thought no one knew what he was doing, but despite being a talented swindler and deceiver, someone had noticed that he did not sing.

Babster’s mind was recently engaged with his parents, whom he decided to find. He tried to learn more about the long, stinking cave, secretly making plans to escape it. Sure, the Gallo Sect Demon would never let him out the Hell's Gate, so he had to outsmart him, but for that, he needed as much information as possible to succeed.

There was an empty, rusty tin box close to the creature, tied to its tenth right leg with a leather cord. Babster had never seen his collocutor before. There were too many of those creeping forth and back nasty creatures so that he couldn’t memorize even a limited number of them. Yet, although the being was tired, it was unexpectedly talkative and continued to explain to Babster,

You know that the name of the cave where we live is High Hall but it is not correct, as its original name is Antechamber of Hell.

I know, I know, go further! Babster didn't know that but he didn't want to waste time because he wanted to hear something significant. The story of the stinking hole didn't interest him.

Hell itself starts from the ‘Antechamber’ and finishes deep down at Ingle Cave with the flames, now incorrectly called the Bottom. The creature pointed with its tail the fire at the remote end and clicked its pinches again. Nowadays, everything is messed up. Not like it was in the past. The creature sighed. We have to use new words, new names.

I didn’t understand what a volcano is? Lying on his back on a comfortable mat, made of the most refined materials which he could find, Babster had put his left hand under his beret, with his face turned to the niche vault. He held in his outstretched hand facing his eyes, his yellow-framed mirror, which had three functions. The storf was switching them, killing time left for the lunch.

One day, playing with the mirror, he accidentally found that some dents on its peripheral fit his index, middle and ring fingers. He began to press them and the mirror displayed his face in various formats. Later on, Babster named the modes. The index finger turned the mirror to the ‘Supreme’ function, revealing a much beautiful face than the real one, used by Babster when he was depressed. The middle finger triggered the so-called ‘Real’ mode, which showed the face like it was. He switched it on for his sister, Sinta, when she wanted to see her face as she was beautiful.

The ring finger started the ‘Ugly’ function and the mirror displayed the image ugly as of a monster. It was meant for all the other creatures in Hell who annoyed him with their constant pleas to let them see what their faces were looking like. Babster was reluctant to show his valuable gadget to anyone because he feared it might be stolen. In Hell, things changed hands in the blink of an eye.

Moreover, he did nothing without receiving anything in return. And if a creature boasted of looking in the mirror, it meant that it had done him a priceless favour.

In recent days Babster had found a new function. By pressing the back of the mirror, it showed the reflection behind his back on a vastly broadened scale. He could see many more details looking at the mirror than watching with his own eyes.

I don’t know what a volcano is…, said in a couple of minutes, the old creature which had sunk deeply in its thoughts, …but my grandfather, peace of the dust of his pinches, had told me that one day, long time ago, being on duty, he had approached the Hell’s Gate, to bring lunch to the then keeper. The Gate had been left open for some reason and he had seen the world outside. There had been a sky, something like the ceiling of our cave but much higher and a shining orb hung on it, called the sun. It had been much brighter than the strongest firelight coming from the Bottom or the broom of a Broom-Smouldering Monster. Almost blinded by it, he moved two or three steps beyond the doorway and had thrown a glimpse around.

And what had he seen? The volcano? Babster was so intrigued that he even stopped to play with his mirror.

No, he had seen the Vastness.

The storf remained silent because he didn’t know that word. In a while, he said,

The Vastness?

Yes, this is something that we don’t have here in Hell.

What had it looked like?

As far as I know, it had been something like the distance from here to the Bottom, but much longer and in every direction.

The creature threw up a brief look to the shining mirror in Babster’s hand but couldn’t see its image reflected there as the storf immediately turned its front to the wall. The being sighed, this time deeply, and continued,

And then, the keeper had appeared panting from somewhere outside. He was perplexed; he had quickly explained to my grandfather, peace of the dust of his pinches, that the Hell is situated in the tilted wall of a volcano. Everything that he had seen outside was called Vastness. With a few words, he explained to him what the sky is and that the horrible hot light orb hung on it is called the sun, then had pushed him back to the High Hall and had quickly locked the Gate behind him.

The creature stopped talking and looked to the mirror but failed to see its reflection again. Angry, it snapped its tongs, saying sarcastically, Don't think that you are the only one who owns something valuable. Do you know how many things like your mirror are behind the Hell’s Gate? Billions. The creature sighed deeply again and said. If I only escape Hell, I will achieve my dream.

Your dream is to have valuable things, is that so? Baster felt happy to learn someone’s secret, as he didn’t say anything about his own. The being thought for a while, then wisely said,

Yes and no. Dreams are the good things that we hope come true as soon as possible in our lives, but unfortunately, they occur too late or never come. The sad thing is that when a dream comes true, it is not a dream anymore….

Wait, wait! Do you mean that if I am dreaming all day long for my dinner and at the end of the day, I get it, I will not be hungry anymore…? Babster was hungry and that was the only example he could think of.

No…look…it is different….

Is it? So there are different dreams? Babster sighed with relief. He couldn’t accept the thought that he would not need his parents once he found them.

The lobster-like creature didn’t answer and changed the subject, saying viciously,

Have in mind that you will never be allowed to leave this place.

Why do you think I will not be allowed to leave this place? Babster continued to play with the mirror, crawling his tongue, rolling his eyes and making gestures while he changed modes. He didn’t hear the creature responding and decided that it fell asleep. He put the mirror in his pants pocket and, stretching his right arm from the niche, pulled out the long slime feelers of the motionless creature. The action was so startling that it jumped into the air, making a cloud of dust with its tail in the panic. Babster released his grip and bowed his head to the creature, asking the same question in a louder voice,

Why do you think I will not be allowed to leave this place?

Don’t shout! I am not deaf! The creature looked offended and scared at the same time. It was out of breath and needed some time to calm down. Then said, Because, first of all, the then Gatekeeper hasn’t been a stern beast like Gallo Sect Demon, the current one. Nowadays, no one can approach the Gate of Hell and is even less likely to look behind it, but they say that fortunately, Gallo's time is running out. And, second, let us speak the truth. You and your sister are humans and have nothing to do with us, the species originating from these caves and known under the common name, ‘Spawns of Hell’. You are incorporated in this group and you, Babster, are practising the Evil Principles even better than most of us. No one here could understand why you are so short compared to your sister's size. At the same time, your face looks older than hers despite the same facial features. We all are curious to know why.

Me too. I want to know it as well, muttered Babster. He was offended by the creeping creature's last words, but something that it said intrigued him. What do you mean that Gallo's time is running out?

There is a gossip that he wants to resign. It means that his job will pass to someone else. According to Hell’s rules, the new Gatekeeper should have obtained a self-training wandering in the Vastness. A competition called ‘Vastness Race’ is held to select the best candidate. Only the biggest and strongest High Hall creatures are nominated to participate. They are secretly informed of the start time, which is usually one hour before the ‘First Reminder’ wake-up signal of the nose-whistling creature on duty, not to gather a crowd and other creatures to escape Hell in the commotion. The Gate is opened to clear the smoke while Gallo Sect Demon and Lest Denon Demon personally wake up the nominees. They are aligned in a crouched pose in the middle of the High Hall and when the Hell’s supervisor gives a sign with a lit torch, the competitors start to run to the exit. They can fight each other, kick and bite, but the first to cross the threshold in that early morning is the undisputed winner. Then the Gate closes after him. He is free to go into the Vastness to apply the five basic principles over people and gain experience from it. He is welcome to come back whenever he decides he is skilled enough. It could be in months, could be in а year. The Gatekeeper position is kept for him. Unfortunately, you cannot be nominated for this race as you do not meet the requirements. The creature snapped contentedly with tongs, but Babster didn't understand his mockery. He remained pensive for a while, then said,

Tell me what you know about my sister and me?

The creature raised his eyes in a last attempt to see the mirror, but it was in Babster’s pocket, so disappointed, it sighed and said,

No one of the beings around remembers when you and your sister have come here as all of us live no more than ten years. It means that both of you are older than anyone of us. I am ready to bet that you know only a few of us, but we all know you and Sinta very well. I have remembered you since my feelers were no longer than your little finger. My grandfather, peace of the dust of his pinches, told me that you and your sister belong to the human race and have come from another world. It is located somewhere in the Vastness, but he didn’t know any details about it. You didn’t change so much during the years, but your sister grew up before our very eyes. You two are kept here for a reason, but no one of us knows what it is.

Babster didn’t say anything. The old creeping creature told him many intriguing things, but he needed to see them with his very eyes to believe. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an easy task to escape this place. Every time he tried to approach the massive Hell’s Gate at the top of the High Hall, he could see how Gallo Sect Demon, the Gatekeeper, was pointing at him with his enormous fists. The guard was a giant beast, strong and healthy. He had a round, red face, white hairs thickly covered his swine ears and his big nose had the shape and colour of a tomato. Harsh, black bristles covered his head instead of hair. His entire muscular body was covered by the same bristles but reddish at places. The Gatekeeper wore only something like an apron. Everyone in Hell knew that he was a proven killer, very skilled in his job of guarding, who wouldn’t allow even a flea to cross the gate without permission. Babster knew it would be a mistake to provoke such a wild force, so every time he saw the bristly figure of the beast in front of him, he made a turn and went back to the centre of the cave.

The gossip about the possible beast's retirement gave Babster a moment of hope that the next Gatekeeper would not be rigorous and he could escape. To himself, he agreed with the lobster-like creature that he could not be one of the nominees, but he would never admit it to him. He had to find another way to leave Hell.

The storf thoughtfully cleaned the slime from his hands with his handkerchief. So, according to your grandfather, peace of the dust of his pinches, the storf world is somewhere in the Vastness?

No doubt, no doubt. Since you are not from here, you must be from somewhere else, right? The lobster-like creature, harried to answer this time, not willing to risk getting his feelers pulled out again said, "Of course, my grandfather, peace of the dust of his pinches, hasn’t seen any humans outside, but they exist there for sure. Otherwise, where does the Remorseless take their souls from to lead to Hell?

Isn’t there any other exit from this place? There are so many side caves around the main one. Babster felt he had revealed his intention to escape Hell, but the creature pretended he didn’t notice it.

My grandfather, who's no longer alive, peace of the dust of his pinches, told me that there is only Hell’s Gate and no….

Stop, stop, stop that at last! Babster got angry and showed his whole head from his niche. The lying in the dust creature stepped back, raising his tongs, expecting to be tortured again, but Babster had already cleaned his hands. He began to imitate the creature’s voice. My grandfather, who's no longer alive...peace of the dust of his pinches…has told me… Isn’t there at least one living creature who witnessed what happened here in the past? Tell me!

Deeply insulted by the Babster’s rude tone, the creature said in a spiteful voice,

There is, but I doubt you’d dare to ask them. Go and speak with Lest Denon Demon. Will you? Do you dare?

Hearing this name, Babster paused. He realized that speaking with the supervisor would reveal his intention to escape Hell. He already had said too much to this slimy creature and was already sorry. In a while, he muttered,

I think that he cannot tell me anything about it.

On the contrary... Who else other than him and the Supreme Lord would tell you what is going on in this place as they created it and its rules? The creature's words crushed Babster.

Lest Denon Demon and the Remorseless? The storf started to find out what force held him and his sister captive, along with these horrible creatures, but couldn’t understand why.

Yes, both of them. The creature clicked his pinches angrily. My grandfather, who's no long….

Peace of the dust of his pinches …, said Babster nervously, leaning over the creature again, ready to grab its slimy feelers, but quelled his anger in time because he wanted to hear what his would collocutor say.

…has told me, courageously continued the creature, noticing Babster’s hesitation to bully him again, "that he and my father, then already an orphan, after my grandmother’s death, were forced by the Remorseless, supported by Lest Denon Demon to leave the Ingle Cave, the nowadays Bottom and settle here, in the old Antechamber, the contemporary High Hall. They have had a comfortable two-bedchamber crack with a view of the magma which provided them with the warmth and light necessary for our genus to live and develop normally. Unfortunately, deprived of the needed heat, my grandfather's and father’s legs twisted from rheumatism. I inherited the disease.

At that time, all lower and side caves of Hell had been evenly inhabited by the ancestors of the beings, which are now crammed in the High Hall. They have lived a happy life as there has been plenty of space and suitable living conditions for everyone. But unfortunately, their life changed against their will in literally a minute as two mighty conquerors appeared in Hell, entering the cave through the then free entrance where the Hell’s Gate is installed now. You already know that this is the Supreme Lord called among us the Remorseless and Lest Denon Demon, the supervisor."

And what happened then? Babster was absorbed in the creature's story.

"The Supreme Lord stepped forward and put his left arm over something that was sewed on his cloak and pointed it down to the bottom Ingle Cave through all the nine main caves of our Hell. The object emitted some attractive light beam and thousands of creatures gathered in minutes before the Supreme Lord. They crawled out of shelters, holes, and cracks. He told them in a firm voice that they were conquered and he would be their Lord from now on. Тhey would live only in the High Hall which he renamed the Antechamber and should participate in a musical formation called ‘Inferno Choir’ to play and sing the horrible ‘Hell’s Yowl’. To the last creature, all of them remained speechless and motionless like they had been struck on the heads with a piece of frozen lava. They had never been conquered before, no one had ever ruled them and they had never come together at all, at least to play and sing. The Supreme Lord told them they should make every effort to get used to the new situation; otherwise…Then he forced all of them to kneel and swear allegiance to him. In case of refusal, he would throw everyone into the fire in the Bottom. At this moment, an old, blind and deaf rat-like creature moved around, asking what happened. The Supreme Lord threw it to the burning lava fire at the Ingle Cave with one only movement of his head. Probably after this horrible act, the nickname Remorseless appeared for the first time in someone’s head and had become popular among Hell’s creatures later. No one knows his real name, as he has made everyone call him Supreme Lord.

Anyway, panicked, all the creatures, even the bravest, kneeled before him and declared they would be obedient and submissive. My grandfather, who's no longer alive, peace of…only he wasn’t scared at all and swore, but refusing to kneel; so brave he was. They say it’s been because he had rheumatic pains, but it is not true. I'm his complete copy as far as courage is concerned. The Remorseless has proclaimed Lest Denon Demon as his deputy in this place. From our ancestors’ time has survived only the name Hell."

The creature deeply sighed.

In this case, it is better not to ask any questions, wisely concluded Babster and waited to hear the opinion of the lobster-like creature.

Yes, better don’t ask, shortly it said and added, it is time for me to go. I need to prepare for the choir's performance for tonight’s show. The Remorseless will come with a client’s soul. The creature clicked its pinches, this time in joy, and stood up on its rheumatic legs.

There will be a show? Babster was surprised. He didn’t hear the Lest Denon Demon’s announcement as he hid in his niche exactly before the morning rehearsal had finished. What do you have to prepare as your job is only to beat that empty tin can with your tail? You don’t even have to sing like me. Babster smiled to himself, thinking how he had cheated the others by only opening his mouth without making even a sound.

The creature pretended that it didn’t hear the last words of Babster. It put the rusty box on his back and withdrawing, said, I wish you luck if you have the opportunity to go out of Hell, but my advice is to stay here. It is much safer here than outside, despite the piles of the shiny things you can find over there. Profoundly sighing, the creature added, Trust me; you will never be able to go out of Hell.

Bla-Bla-Bla! Speak about yourself, rheumatic loser, thought Babster. Shiny things! What a sick mind! I only need my parents, not valuables. He didn’t want to listen to that harmful thinking creature anymore. He had learned from him what he needed. Throwing a derisive look behind the retreating being, mumbling, he said to himself,

You deserve to creep in the dust until the end of your life, never to see the shiny things you are dreaming about. Your dreams will remain just dreams, and who knows, probably you will be happier if you do not achieve them. My dreams will come true, loser, no doubt. Be sure.

What... what did you say? The creature yet heard him and gazed back its bulging eyes.

Nothing. I just wished you all the best! Babster lay back on his back, put both his hands under his head with a beret on it, stretched his legs, and sank into a deep nap.

* * *

The sharp voice of Lest Denon Demon woke up Babster.

Attention, rabble! Take your positions immediately! The Supreme Lord is already close to the Hell Gate with a client. Prepare to start playing and singing when he enters the High Hall! Players, align and adjust your tools! Lest Denon Demon raised his voice, observing with pleasure the panicky moving creatures, which were trying to find their place in the two long lines of the choir. All of you remain in line after the Lord leaves Hell. We’ll have three hours of evening rehearsal. Did you understand me right, gang?" All the creatures said ‘yes’, except for Babster, who, yawning sleepily, was still sitting on the edge of his alcove.

When the storf jumped on the soft floor, raising a cloud of dust, almost all beings were aligned to meet the Remorseless and the client’s soul. Babster greeted himself one more time for his smartness.

Until recently, his niche thirty-seven belonged to the only Bagpipe monster in Hell - Thin Rans, whose instrument emitted the sharp smell of skin many feet around him. Babster convinced the bagpipe player to swap it with his niche number thirteen on the same side of the wall, closer to the Hell’s Gate. According to the words of the storf, it meant fresher air. Thin Rans agreed to the exchange. He desperately needed cleaner air to keep his lungs in good condition to inflate his bagpipe. From another side, Babster had the advantage of not passing the long cave. It was enough for him to leave his niche, and he was in his place in the choir at the lower part of the High Hall. Thin Rans settled the former Babster’s slot expecting to enjoy fresher air but soon realized the horrible truth that he had become a victim of a fraud. The smoke gathered on the top of the High Hall was denser and more toxic than in every other nook of Hell. From then on, an undeclared war started between the Bagpipe monster and the storf. Thin Rans insisted on getting his niche thirty-seven back, but Babster ignored his pretensions.

Pushing several creatures aside, Babster entered the first of the two rows and stood to his sister's right. He noticed that she played with her beautiful blond hair, the most beautiful in Hell, wrapping and unwrapping it with her delicate fingers. Babster knew that she did it in cases when Thin Rans was around. The stinking bagpipe player was staying next to her left side. She liked the human-like creature and flirted with him secretly because she knew Babster would go mad if he understood that. She didn't know that her brother was aware of her affair and waited for the right moment to intervene.

Thin Rans, a slim but tough creature, was wearing an old grey sack with a big hole for the head and two smaller for his arms. It was tight with a leather cord around his waist. He was wearing his bagpipe hung on his left shoulder. His bonny face, framed with a matted, long time ago washed hair was incredibly disgusting for Babster. Sinta had found something charming in him. She was three inches taller than Thin, but it wasn’t an obstacle for her to like the bagpiper. Babster was convinced that the player enchanted his sister with his music. Anyway, all recognized Thin Rans as the best musician in High Hall, and Babster knew it. His bagpipe played a crucial role in the choir, giving the Hell’s Yowl music a specific tone that sounded soothing to people's souls and greatly facilitated the Remorseless, leading them to the Bottom's horrible flames.

* * *

Babo, are you OK? Sinta, staying between him and Thin Rans, whispered close to her brother’s left ear. She was wearing dark brown leather leggings, a white blouse with rich embroidery, covered by a short light brown corset fastened by leather strings. Her white socks and flat yellowish shoes never had even a trace of spots, despite all the dust and dirt around. Babster always wondered how his neat sister could like a stinking slob like Thin Rans.

Yes, I am. He felt danger in the air and stepped slightly to the right. Why are you asking, Sinta?

Babo, I know when something horrible happens to you. Sinta cast a quick look at Thin Rans, who with puffed cheeks was filling his smelly bagpipe with air.

Something horrible happens to me? What do you mean, Sinta? Babster whispering looked around anxiously. There was nothing to threaten him except the hateful bagpiper who always could pose a danger, regardless of the innocent expression he had on his face.

I know that you have lost your voice, Babo. You cannot sing anymore, can you?

Who said that? Babster turned in the direction of Thin Rans with eyes full of hatred.

No one, Babo. Sinta caught his look and quickly said, I've been watching you for a while. I am concerned about you, so I will inform Lest Denon Demon as early as tonight. You know what happens with the choristers who lose their ability to perform, don’t you? The sooner the problem is reported, the better solution will be found.

Hearing this, Babster got angry and began to hiss in his sister’s ear.

Sinta, do not do anything unless I ask you to do it! You are in the wrong way. I am in excellent form. Trust me.

At this moment, they heard Lest Denon Demon’s voice from the top of the cave and stopped talking, moving their heads to the left in the direction of Hell’s Gate. First appeared the figure of the Supreme Lord, followed by the soul of a slim old man in an expensive cloak with long white hair and a beard. Lest Denon Demon gave a sign and the choir started to play and sing. All creatures, including Sinta, looked to the Supreme Lord's horrible figure with awe. Babster didn’t waste his time with useless adoration and quickly moved three beings to the end of the front line. He pushed to the right a creeping creature, beating a rusty tin box with its tongs. It instinctively tried to pinch him, but Buster simply pushed him away with his right foot. The insulted player found a free position in the second line, not stopping to protest against the intruder by clapping its tongs, but in vain.

* * *

The Supreme Lord was floating over the ground, not touching the floor. A long black robe with a hood on its head entirely covered his body and only his horrifying yellow eyes were seen. He started slowly moving along the choir, not looking to anyone as they didn’t exist, heading to the lower end of the High Hall. He was followed by the old man’s soul which left a long trace on the ground as its cloak was dragging the thick layer of dust. The choir, led by Sinta, was performing the Hymn of Hopelessness, written personally by Lest Denon Demon himself.

"Welcome, glutton, to this eerie place!

No more worldly pride; you'll find disgrace.

Redemption follows from now on,

All that you have enjoyed out there,

You must fully pay it down here."

The singers raised their voices, and the cave trembled. Dust fell from its vault while singing the chorus.

"Forget that you loved conveniences,

they are now covered by forgetfulness."

Babster opened his mouth without producing any noise. He felt that his sister was gazing at him, but she was too far to be able to hear his voice, so he continued not to make any sound. The players with musical instruments were making incredible noise, increasing its level more and more. After seeing her brother at the end of the line, Sinta was convinced that something was wrong with his voice. She was more than determined to speak to Lest Denon Demon the same evening.

Remorseless, followed by the client’s soul, passed by the middle of the choir’s line. The voice of the creatures sounded powerful and solemn.

"Go down, glutton, don’t you ever turn back!

To go out, you’ll never have a bit of luck.

The fire down thirsts for your soul,

where our master’s power is grown."

Lest Denon Demon also joined the chorus.

"Forget that you loved conveniences,

they are now covered by forgetfulness."

According to the traditions in Hell, the Remorseless and the soul stopped next to the last creature on the line. This time it was Babster and he started to tremble when the Remorseless turned his head to him and a pair of evil yellow eyes met his for a moment. Then, the choir stopped singing and playing, and profound silence lay in High Hall.

Lest Denon Demon clapped his hands and said in a loud voice, The last song, then you have your two minutes. Now start!

It was the most significant moment for all the creatures. All choristers began to sing frantically, giving all the best of them. They all lived for that moment — when their efforts would be paid. Even Babster started to sing in a loud voice, forgetting for the moment he was on strike. He didn’t have any chance to pretend singing as the Remorseless stayed in front of him. Unfortunately, Sinta wasn’t looking at him.

"Empty purses, pockets, old!

Coins, jewels, silver, gold,

let them cover our floor,

it’s a bonus for the choir."

After the song finished, it was the moment the victim led by the Supreme Lord had to leave all his valuables in the High Hall. Small silver and copper coins flew in all directions, some drowning deep in the soft dust of the floor. The creatures had two minutes to find as much as they could. The usual quarrel started in the dirt. Babster never joined it as he knew that sooner or later, all the valuable things would come to him at a reasonable price. Meanwhile, ominously giggling, Remorseless had started to descend the caves to the Bottom, followed by his client’s soul.

* * *

The choir rehearsed a long time after the Supreme Lord had left Hell. The following hours were annoying for the creatures, busy learning a new song of praise for the Remorseless written by Gallo Sect Demon. The text and the music were rude and untidy as the author himself. At last, the torture finished, and Sinta could approach Babster. He tried to hide among the dispersing creatures but failed.

Good night, Babo! His sister didn’t say anything else, and he thought with relief that she had given up talking to Lest Denon Demon. He was ready to forgive her passion for the stinking Thin Rans.

Good night, Sinta!

Don't worry, Babo! Sinta whispered soothingly to her brother. It is too late now, but tomorrow morning I will speak with Lest Denon Demon about you, and everything will be OK. He is strict but fair.

Sinta, I am telling you for the last time not to do anything. I haven’t lost my voice. I was just entertaining while singing with no sound. Babster even raised his voice, angry with himself for assuming that his sister would give up so easily. He was aware that he should tell her about his strike under no circumstances.

Yes, Babo, I know, I know. Calm down, my brother. You are nervous and it is understandable. She smiled at him and Babster realised she didn't trust him at all. No doubt, she would do what she had decided to do. Sinta was a wonderful sister, but she had her own rules to follow. He was sure that she would meet Lest Denon Demon in the morning. Babster could not afford any obstacles to prevent him from fulfilling his intention to escape Hell. Ironically, his sister would thwart their parents' search. She would focus Lest Denon Demon's attention on him and Babster could say goodbye to his dreams. Her excessive concern for him was why he didn't tell his sister anything about his intention to escape Hell in an attempt to find their parents. He was sure she would report to the manager immediately, thus thinking she would preserve her brother from significant danger.

While they were speaking, Babster’s gaze accidentally fell on the ten-legged, lobster-like creature that was putting an empty tin can on his back, and a thought came to his mind on how to solve the problem he had. He said to Sinta with a feigned, tormented smile, Thank you, Sinta! I know that you wish only the best for me. You correctly noticed that I have a problem with my voice. I didn’t want to involve you in my problems, that’s why I told you it was entertainment for me. You know that I am timid, he cleared his throat and continued in a pathetic voice, so it is difficult for me to speak to Lest Denon Demon by myself. I would rather die than…You understand what I mean.

I understand, Babo. I will not allow you to turn from a promising singer into a constant toilet cleaner or to disappear at all. Sinta was on the point of starting to cry, seeing her brother so unhappy.

Hearing her last words, smiling inwardly, Babster said desperately,

Will you speak on my behalf, Sinta?

Of course, Babo, I will do it. Be sure!

Sinta...!

Yes, Babo.

Can I wake you up tomorrow morning half an hour earlier to be sure you will have enough time to prepare on time for the talk with Lest Denon Demon?

At this moment, they heard the ‘Last Reminder’ signal of the nose-whistling creature on duty and the commands given by Lest Denon Demon for everyone to go to bed. Sinta quickly said,

Of course, Babo, you can wake me up earlier. She kissed her brother’s forehead for a good night and quickly went to her niche thirty-four, a little bit above his own but on the opposite side of the cave.

* * *

The following early morning, long before the ‘First Reminder’ signal, an incident occurred. A horrible female scream filled the High Hall and woke up all the creatures in the area, making them jump half asleep around in panic. Something was burning in one of the niches. Fortunately, the two human-resembling creatures sleeping nearby put out the fire. The awakened beings heard Babster’s desperate voice for help and although the fire had already been extinguished, they gathered in front of his niche to learn details.

Sitting on his comfortable mat, hiccupping and sniffling, with watery eyes, he started to explain to his public what had happened.

Last night, my sister Sinta asked me to wake her up early this morning. Babster avoided the fact that it was his idea and continued, With a lighted clay lamp in my hand, I approached her niche when I unexpectedly stumbled over one of the dust-creeping creatures and dropped the lamp over my sleeping sister’s head. That beast escaped the place of the incident immediately, and I couldn’t see what it was.

Then a creature’s voice asked, Why did you need a clay lamp as all of us know that you can see in the dark?

Babster pulled out his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes to see better who dared to ask that question, but he couldn’t distinguish the creature in the crowd and explained,

Because my eyes are constantly leaking thanks to that horrible smoke of Hell. We all suffer from it, don’t we? He expected all the creatures to support him unanimously, but they remained indifferent. Even the anonymous voice which asked him the question kept silent. Babster sighed in desperation and continued, I needed extra light as I was half-blinded by the smoke. Don’t you think that the Hell’s Gate should be opened from time to time for fresh air to enter the High Hall? The creatures didn’t think the door should be opened and again remained indifferent. Babster understood that he didn’t have any supporters and continued to explain, sobbing,

Imagine what bad luck! There are so many other niches around, but that creature I stumbled on was sleeping close to my sister’s. Most of you heard her horrifying screams of pain, well, didn’t you? Many thanks to those who heard my cry for help and saved my sister’s life. I am sure that without me, they wouldn’t do it. To be honest, I didn’t expect it could burn so fast. Babster felt that he had said something wrong and looked around awkwardly, but none of the creatures reacted. He deeply sighed and continued, I am so sorry that I wasn’t able to help my poor sister by myself, as falling, obviously, I have hit my head on rock and fainted. I was so dizzy that I didn’t know where I was. How is my sister now? As far as I can see from here... He threw a desperate look to the opposite wall, a little bit up, where Sinta was still bitterly crying in her niche. ...her whole hair burned to the root, didn’t it? Thanks to all of you who have brought me to my place. I would have burnt as well. The creatures started to mumble in disagreement. Babster was puzzled. What are you talking about? Have I come by myself? Are you sure? Didn’t anyone even try to help me? After the last question, the creatures around kept silent. Babster raised his voice for his sister to be able to hear him. All of you, have in mind, that the creeping creature which crossed my way and escaped so fast from the scene of that horrible crime, will not escape my revenge, as sooner or later I will recognize it. I would do everything for my sister, remember that.

* * *

After the ‘First Reminder’ signal, Sinta was still desperately crying in her niche.

Babster approached her but stopped at a distance as if she was suffering from a dangerous disease. He felt the specific smell of burnt hair and skin around. His sister had changed beyond recognition. Her face was swollen, her left eye was fully closed, her left eyebrow was missing and there was no hair on her head at all.

Babo, what am I going to do now without my hair? I am ashamed to show myself before Lest Denon Demon. Forgive me, my brother, but I will not be able to help you. And she started to cry louder.

At the same time, Babster was ready to sing with joy. His plan worked and he was happy. Outwardly sad, he said. Don’t you worry, my dear sister! It is not urgent to speak to Lest Denon Demon. I can wait with my problem. By the way, take this rag. It's not very valuable, but I give it to you from the bottom of my heart. I clean the dust in my niche with it. Coil it around your horrible bald skull, not scare anyone with your appearance. You can give it to me sometimes for my cleaning.

Will I have my hair again, Babo? Sinta was sobbing.

Babster touched his forelock, trying to put it under the beret and mumbled indefinitely,

"Probably. But you don’t need it, Sinta. This place is dangerous, full of

Reviews for Babster Dast and the Magic Varnish

[Diyana Bancheva · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For the first time I have read art fаntasy book .I am very excited and I would highly recommend it to all the fantasy genre lovers.