The Cult

This is a continuation from the story of The Babushka, and part of the The Slavic Tales of December 1997.

The four men continued to walk in the snowy forest. During their hour long wander, some of the men claimed they could hear odd sing-songy chanting. At first, Denzel was afraid. He was petrified. He just wanted to see the rest of his co-workers, like Jasper and the Cashmere King. But most of all, he missed his loyal accomplice - Benjamin Sellars. Cecil spotted a middle aged man dressed in a long black cloak. He laughed and giggled throughout the forest. Cecil had thought that he imagined that due to the sheer amount of rum he had drank - 5 bottles in 5 minutes. However, Denzel saw this man too. The four were petrified. Tim loaded his crossbow. Derek loaded his guns (his arms). The four chased this man, in an attempt to scare him off. However, they arrived at a decaying camp-site. They were disturbed by what they saw.

The four spotted a group of about 30 people dressed in long black cloaks holding hands, and chanting around a large wooden effigy of a bull. Denzel was disturbed greatly. He took off his glasses and shed a single tear. When Derek saw that tear, he knew Denzel was scared... Derek felt shaken by this. But he maintained his composure. Tim had noticed that one of the members saw him. All of the men let go of each other's hands, and stopped chanting. Four of them began walking towards the four. Denzel took out his air-rifle and attempted to shoot one of the men. He missed, and hit a tree instead. Suddenly, all of the men began charging towards the Thornton crew. Tim shouted ''RUN.''

The Thornton crew began running, but Cecil, in his drunken state, fell. The cloaked men took Cecil. The other three were distraught. In their panic, they went to save Cecil, however they were caught too. In a matter of mere seconds, they were all put to sleep.

They awoke later, to a dark and sunless sky. The four men tried to move, however they couldn't. They soon realised what was happening. The four were tied to a large wooden pole. ''Kinky.'' Cecil whispered. Around the men was a circular stadium filled with about 80 people, all chanting and cheering. In the middle was a large brute of a man with a great mustache and a perturbing jaw. His head bore a great medieval hat, and his eyes looked like the eyes of a slippery snake. He hissed with his little tongue. A horse was brought in by a lowly looking man in brown tattered clothing. The giant man mounted the horse, and raised a trumpet. ''TOOOT TOOOT TOOOOOOOOT.!' went the trumpet. A massive cheer was released by the audience. Two strongmen arrived carrying two large sticks. The sticks suddenly caught fire, and the men performed incredible dancing with the sticks. Cecil was entertained and began cheering, however, the giant man threw an axe at Cecil's foot. Derek was angered and screamed. Cecil said ''Oh nah, fam, that's well tight, g.''

Denzel noticed that he was skinny enough to escape the rope, so he slid down like a precious panther. The giant man was shocked and fell off his horse. ''HA HA HA, FUCKING DICKHEAD, MAN. YOU LOOK LIKE A CLOWN YOU, MAN.'' The fire-bearers charged at Denzel, but he simply stepped back and the men bumped into each other. Denzel took out his pocket-machete and cut the rope, releasing the other cuties. The giant man rose to his feet , grabbed Denzel, and threw him against the brick wall. The audience cheered. Denzel growled. ''I DIDN'T FEEL A THING. I FELL FROM A VERY HIGH BUILDING, AND I DIDN'T FEEL A THING, NO I-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.'' The giant man shat himself.

Tim ripped his shirt off, revealing a buttered up chest. ''Beast, state your foul name, bitch.'' The giant man was impressed by Tim's confidence, and went to his knees. ''Me? I am humble humble man, you? You are entertainment.'' Tim was having none of it. He took his whip, and whipped the giant. The giant fell to his knees again, and began crying. The people in the audience too, began crying.

Derek jumped onto the beast of a man and began punching him furiously, with all the intensity of a Barrow beating. ''You're deranged, boy. What's wrong with ye', eh?'' proclaimed Derek. The giant continued crying his heart out. Three guards began charging at the fearsome foursome, however Denzel knocked two out with his deadly two inch heels and Cecil bit another, and the rum content of his teeth poisoned the guard's veins. The foursome ran out of the stadium, as far as they could, and never looked back.

To be continued...