Of course, of course.

Part One: The Torch

They told me that I should be the one to take the cargo. I didn't know then what the cargo was, of course, but they assured me quite firmly that I was exactly the man for the job. Of course, of course! I am very reliable, I am! Never have I ever lost anything, even my mother's torch, oh no!

"You'll find this easy. Drive the train, dump the cargo. They're especially dangerous, so don't set them free. Easy," the man had said. He was an old man but he looked strong, stronger than me, anyway. Especially since one of my arms was gone. Of course, of course, this should be easy for a one-armed man. Of course, of course.

It happened a few months ago. I was in the woods, looking for a torch I had lost the day before. It was my favourite torch. I think it was my mother's. I forgot to bring another light in case it got dark. It was already dark; black trees, black sky, black grass. No, I could see. Of course, my eyes can see anything. I walked through the trees even though they looked like just meek twigs in the dark. I wasn't afraid, because my mother was with me. Of course, of course. She wanted her torch, too. So I trudged on. Then there was a noise. It sounded like my tractor starting up, but much lower. I turned towards the sound and I laughed.

"Tractor? At this hour? In this wood? Silly tractor," I said, but of course it wasn't my tractor. The owner of the noise slunk forward, and even though the sky was black as ebony I could see the wolf, but it was no ordinary wolf. Black skin pulled over a skeletal frame, like a tight painter's canvas, bright red eyes and glisteningly grotesque teeth lining its open jaw. It was beautiful. I looked at it then called for mother.

"Mother! Come see. It's a little wolf. Look, it likes me. Can we keep him?" I called out, but mother didn't answer because she was afraid. I tried to seize her by the arm but she wouldn't let my hand catch her. Then she melted into the trees. I shook my head sadly.

"Always leaving me alone, mother. Of course, of course. Well, little wolfie and I don't need you anyway. Forget about your torch," I muttered spitefully, though I was grinning all over my face. I reached my hand out to the wolf, who was still growling at me like that old tractor. Or maybe I never had a tractor. Was there anything back home? Did mother ever exist? I swear, there was never anything in that old field of mine. The old farmhouse – it wasn't there, of course. I laughed again for being so silly.

"Silly, silly me. Come, wolfie, before you stop existing too. Follow your friend."

The wolf glared at my hand and there was a flash of black. Then red. Then my arm stopped existing, too. I was on the ground, and the leaves were tickling me, making me giggle. The wolf was above me, his tomato-stained jaws slavering. He looked like he was eating a long, pink-and-red stained baguette.

"Without me, wolfie?" I teased him with a giggle. Of course, of course, greedy wolfie. Then my shoulder started hurting. I looked over at it and there was red everywhere. All over the leaves, making them look like lots of little rubies. I'll be rich! Of course, of course, I could buy that farmhouse in the field. If only it weren't for that silly pool of blood. It can't be blood – blood only appears when you stab someone or bite your lips too hard. But then again, there was quite a lot of blood on my shoulder. Whoops! I wondered if I slipped on something. Probably my mother's damned body again. Silly, silly mother, always getting in the way! She won't be getting her torch back anytime soon. I giggled, thinking of how angry she'd be when she realises that I stole her torch and hid it in the woods. What a scolding I would get!