Saving Face

Saving Face is the thirty sixth chapter in the Wombles Eight.

Murdock was flying all over London and the home counties but there was no sign of Harry Potter. Hannibal was the lookout using powerful binoculars and sometimes the scope of a sniper rifle.  Murdock looked a little worried when he saw Hannibal with the rifle.  “Don’t worry Murdock!  It’s not loaded.  I’m just using the scope.” Hannibal said hastily as the tigers eyed him warily. They didn’t like guns at all. Hannibal switched to the binocs after that as the tiger club looked like they meant business!

“That’s it Colonel we have to refuel pretty darn soon” Murdock told Hannibal.  Murdock looked again at the dial.  It was on empty!  The chopper listed and all the passengers fell out.  Desperately Murdock tried to get the aircraft level but he just couldn’t. It went down as flames erupted then the world was spinning into oblivion.

“Wake up old son!” said an English voice.  Murdock opened his eyes with a start and looked around.  The helicopter was a little off its line but he easily corrected it. Everyone was present and correct in the back.  Hannibal was still looking out of the side for Harry Potter but somebody else was in the co-pilot’s seat.  The man was blond with a long coat and a scruffy suit and tie.

“You were lucky!  You would have crashed if I’d been a second or two later.  Now please avoid the two letter word that rhymes with kit!” said Constantine.  “I was born lucky!  My name is Howling Mad Murdock.  The only sane man aboard apart from the tigers and the womble!  And you are?” replied Murdock.

“Constantine, master of the dark arts, hence the banishing of that demon you summoned” Constantine said introducing himself.  Hannibal took his card.  He and TCUB read it through.  “Excuse me Mr Constantine but would you by chance be able to restore a soul to a body?” asked TCUB.

“I could but I couldn’t promise ya anything.  Most people don’t come back the same as they were.” replied Constantine.  TCUB and Hannibal carefully took Constantine through the tiger club.  Constantine was a bit surprised to see a lot of tigers on board and more than a bit worried. The biggest tiger, TCUB’s white Siberian, crouched low and bared her teeth.  She backed down when she realised that TCUB was with Constantine.  Hannibal showed Constantine Face’s head, Zombie Neck and Face’s soul.

“You don’t want much do you eh?” Constantine said incredulously.  “I can restore his soul if you tell me how it was separated but fixing heads back on?”  Face’s soul was held up close by Constantine for Face to tell his story.  “The Devil’s rider!  You really are pushing your luck!  I’ll do what I can but I already have a demon to fight and a lady to rescue.”

Hannibal replied “No luck needed!  You’ve got the A Plus team!  Just tell us what you need.”  “Park the bird first.” Constantine instructed.  Murdock landed at the City Airport.  Everyone got out.  TCUB was carrying Face’s bottled soul.  Hannibal carried his head.  Zombie Neck was guided by the tigers.

“All right then I’ll need the zombie, head, soul, a wise man that’s pure of heart, and a lock of hair from a spirit who is truly free.” Constantine said with a look of doubt at the others.  “Would a wise womble be sufficient Mr?” asked TCUB.  “Constantine, we don’t have much time before the soul is doomed to restlessly walk the earth for eternity.  I just hope you are pure of heart.” Constantine replied.

Just then Constantine felt something warm.  He looked down to see a cute white cat.  “Hello and where did you come from?” asked Constantine not expecting an answer. “From me” said a man in a smart blue suit.  “David Vincent!  Still chasing those aliens?” Constantine asked the man.  “If you kept up with the news then you would know I am one of those aliens.” Vincent replied.  “Well fascinating as that may be I’m trying to save a soul, stop a demon and find somebody’s sister.  I don’t really have time for weirdos who think they’re aliens!” Constantine retorted.

“We know” said the white cat rather surprising Constantine.  “You need somebody pure of heart and my heart is as white as snow” said the cat.  “Meowy White is telling you the truth Mr Constantine and as you say there isn’t much time.  Meowy White is pure and free, and I have the wisdom of Solomon!” added Vincent.

Constantine looked at them both like they were mad.  Vincent and Meowy White said “SHAZAM!” together.  There was a blinding flash and Vincent was now musclebound wearing a blue costume with a cape and a lightning symbol on the front.  The white cat was now a tabby standing tall looking Constantine dead in the eyes.  “I think I’ll have to decline your offer Mr Womble” Constantine said to TCUB.

“Ho hum” replied TCUB and went off with the Tiger Club lead by Murdock.  Constantine wrote an address in America and gave it to Captain Marvel Junior and Meowy Marvel.  The Marvels took Zombie Neck and Face’s head whilst Constantine apparated with Face’s soul.

Meowy Marvel and Captain Marvel Junior took the zombie and head into Constantine’s strange house. It was an old eerie looking house surrounded by a vast forest.  Constantine lead them through a small doorway.  On the other side they gathered in a big cavern.  There was a large chalk circle on the floor intersected by the star design.  The star design was made of three triangles crossed over in the centre of the circle.

Zombie Neck had the head gently placed back on as Constantine mumbled a strange incantation. The neck glowed red and as if by magic, which it was, the head rejoined the body.  Captain Marvel Junior was given some strange words to say on Constantine’s signal.  Three hairs were plucked from Meowy Marvel with each one placed carefully in the intersecting parts of the triangles.

Next the bottle containing the soul was pushed into the dead looking head’s mouth.  Constantine gave the signal and together the final incantation was shouted loud with Captain Marvel Junior.

*"Quod perditum est, invenietur. Not dead... nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum, I call. Gods, bind him. Cast his heart from the evil realm. Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte. Nici mort, nici al fiintei... Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el. Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum! Acum!"*

Captain Marvel Junior had a sheet to read from with the spell in English.

*"What is lost, return. Not dead nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum, I call. Gods, bind him. Cast his heart from the evil realm. I implore you, Lord, do not ignore this request. Neither dead, nor of the living... Let this Orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him. So it shall be! So it shall be! Now! Now!"*