Episode 88 - Broomsticks

## Broomsticks

A black background with a sketched white border resembling gathered twigs tied together towards the corners. Within the border a white old fashioned broom with an ornate handle lays slanted, on one side of it a tea cup and saucer are depicted in red, and on their other they are depicted in white. Bellow these images but still within the border the word "88.BROOMSTICKS" are written in white

### Author

William A Wellman

Diggory calls the Phantom Station, Clara finds her way, and Mrs. Wicker prays for victory. The theme of tonight's episode is Broomsticks

> ***Content warnings**: Abuse, Ableism, Animal death (Dogsmell as usual), Violence, Kidnapping and abduction, Death + Injury, Blood, Mental illness, Transphobia, Homophobia, Birds, Emotional Manipulation, Body horror, Religious Violence, Lengthy Prayers*
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## Intro - Little Birds

Nikignik narrates to the Dreamers someone who enjoys caring and has anxiety, finding the former as an outlet for the latter. Now they carve a broom, a hundred birds set into the handle, stained black with blood, and they carry it outside place it on the grass and sing a prayer to the heavens to let it c the skies power as they did, lift its bearer up with adoration. Lightning flashes and thunder roles.

Nikignik resides in what he describes as "a kind of nowhere space". Born only of perception, a warped world presented to one mind by another. The sky was visible through the ceiling, and the stars crackled and buzz like electric dials. A paradox in the room of upturned tables and broken glass.

## Story 1 - Return Caller

The Phantom Station tells its audience that they had a return caller in the form of Diggory Graves (see Episode 64 - Stations). They remind Diggory of how last time they'd spoken Diggory had been weighting some heavy decisions, asking how they'd been since then. Diggory ignores that question and accuses the Phantom station of having followed them, though the satiation in turn ignores that accusation and tells Diggory to take all the time to answer they needed. Diggory tells the Station that they felt as if they were dying (see Episode 83 - Hopes), that they did not yet know why they were made. The Station tells them that they were made to dig a grave, but Diggory refuses this, that they must have been made for more, that had something to give. The Station reiterates that Diggory thought they were here to give, to parcel themself out until there was nothing left. They had done nothing but give and look at where that had brought them. Diggory asks it what it wanted from them, that if they were dying that were glad to not be alone, but the Station unsettled them. The Station tells them that it was there to take nothing, rather give, and offer to make Diggory a part of its audience, so they could live the rest of their days in peace and leave their so-called friend behind. They would last as long as the station, but would fade long before the end, so they would not have to see it. Diggory correctly assumes that this meant the station fed off the souls that made up its audience, and the Station confirms this, but tells them it was akin to falling asleep with the radio on. It tells them that they had asked for their next step, and that was what it was offering.

Diggory tells the station that if this was where their story ended, then the time they'd spent was worth spent, all of it, but the station could stop calling them, they had friends who were in trouble, and a family up north (see Creations of Irene Mend) and a road that called them; and they would not leave yet. The station tells Diggory that they would live to regret this before it leaves, and they become suddenly aware of Danielle O'Hara trying to get them down from the wall with a broom. She succeeds at this moments later, they thank her and ask if she was okay, which she tells them she was, if tired, hurting all over, and starving. Diggory hears sounds in the distance that they identify as people calling out Danielle's name, and she tells them that she'd put out an S.O.S in dream, she just hoped that the people approaching were the people she wanted to find them.

### Interlude 1 - What Witch

Nikignik tells the Dreamers that those who made a career out of studding that which was best left unknown were very particular about their terminology. Students at Downing Hill Public Library may call themselves witches, but those in independent covens may disagree, believing witchcraft to be something incapable of being taught in a classroom. And while the Church of the Hallowed Name may be similar in their studies, they would say that witches should be burned - unless, of course, the practitioner was an ordained priest or other minister, and holds tenure within the Church. All that set a curse apart from a miracle was for whom it was convenient. Needless to say, witches had no appreciation for this and were just as likely to set aflame the Church leaders. None of them truly knew what it was they studied, and it was for the better, as the human mind only had room for so much universe.

## Story 2 - The Busy Dead

Clara Martin and Harrow Blackletter observe the severed hand of Arnold Eggers (see Episode 78 - Runaways). Harrow asks if she thought the hand knew where they were, wondering how it could still be moving without a brain, that perhaps he'd been all brain, but Clara tells them that didn't sound right for Arnold. She calls Dogsmell, and tells it to keep an eye on Harrow and Arnold, receiving the three arrows and Clara's glasses that it'd managed to collect. She gets ready to leave, telling Harrow to remember to keep the fire going to that she could find them again, and maybe also Victoria Tepiani and Friday Rescher. She asks them if they'd be okay, and they tell her that even if they got back, they didn't know if they'd be okay, as they didn't want to disappoint C. S Blackletter. She tells them that if they made it back their mum would be proud of them, and she'd [Clara] be proud of them too. But all they had to do was keep the embers burning. They ask how long she'd be gone for, and she tells them that she should be back before sunset, before once again telling Dogsmell to stay with Harrow, and walking into the forest.

She tells herself that what was happening was just her problem, and she was good at solving problems, she was lost in the woods, she had friend who she needed to get home, she one bow, three arrows, and no dead people in sigh. After some reflection she starts trying to think like one of the Downing Hill Library cards, only to wonder into a neck of the woods that did not resemble those which she was coming from, all leading to a tree larger then the others with rough black bark and red knots. She is unable to shake the feeling she is being watched, and she calls out to her missing companions, looking around. There is no response and when she looks back to the tree, all of its knots had split open to reveal hundreds of eyes, all focused on her. She does not scream; instead introduces herself. The tree tells her that they knew who she was, as they'd been watching her.

### Marketing - Daughters of Witches

Lady Ethel Mallory interrupts Nikignik's broadcast with her marketing segment. She tells the listeners that it had been a hard road to equality in the US, and there was still a long way to go. For instance, Botulus Corporation leadership historically had always employed similar managers to its own founder—and there was no sign of change anytime soon. If there was to be change in Botco, they must have change-makers in charge. She tells them that he believed she spoke for all marginalized peoples when she said that "*we are the daughters of the witches you couldn’t burn*" (misquoting Tish Thawer), and they had fire of their own.

### Story 2, Continued - The Busy Dead

Clara asks who the tree was, and the tree introduces itself as the Watching Tree, she asks it if there was anything it needed, apologising for disturbing it, and it asks her if it brought any news from Jude the Wonderer (see Episode 27 - Spirits), that it had been a while since it had heard from him, and they feared the worse. She apologises and tells them that she did not know who he was. It tells her that this was a shame and asks what it was Clara was looking for. She tells it about Downing Hill. It tells her that it did know Downing Hill and points her in its direction but tells her it was many miles away. To walk to distance was to walk to her death. She tells it that this wasn't fair, she had to get home, everyone was counting on her, and she had too much to do. The Watching Tree simply tells her that most who died were busy.

Clara becomes aware that what she really needed in that moment was her broom and is able to summon it. She mounts the broom and bids the tree fair well, that she'd visit it again if she could, and the tree closes its eyes, telling Clara they it'd see what end she met. She kicks off the ground and flies in the direction the tree had pointed her in, taking note of smoke in the distance meaning that Harrow had maintained the fire. It isn't long before she is able to make it back to Downing Hill on her own, running to the doors and pushing them open. Instead of finding herself in the entrance hall she walks into C. S. Blackletter's office, where she finds the Director and Winona Carline waiting for her. Clara immediately tries to warn the Director of Winona's alleged plan (see Episode 68 - Sands) but she tells her not to be rude. Winona congratulates her on completing her test.

### Interlude 2 - Sufficiently Magical

Nikignik tells the Dreamers that any sufficiently advanced technology was indistinguishable from magic. This was because magic was also impressive and beautiful. Could any mathematician ever hope to document the dysfunction of light and sound and sense that allowed Noptilnopt to walk unseen? Nikignik then gives ends out a message to Noptilnopt, that knew they had never spoken, but they were welcome to come visit. And certainly, when Indescribables power made its way to earth it may seem magical, impossible. But it was not sufficiently advanced technology—it was just that they were alive, existent beyond their own understanding, and incomprehensible to the calculating human mind.

## Story 3 - The Altar

Mrs Wicker prays to the Christian God, that he should purify her and use her as a perfect vessel. She asks him to protect her children from the work of the devil, as she had raised them to worship him, and know good from evil. She prays for Jacob Wicker, that he be a string leader, when she got news from him over the radio that it was of his victory and that he was alive (see Episode 85 - Roots). She prays for forgiveness in how she'd delt with the Scoutpost for using deceit. He'd led them to a new land of promise, and she understood that to survive they must burn out sin wherever they found it. She prayed for Buck Silver, that he should find his way back from the darkness, purge himself of vileness and sinful lust. She prayed for Rick Rounds that he'd redeem his wrathful heart and be humbled. And she prayed for Bob Wicker, for forgiveness for murdering him. She jumps at the sound of the radio bussing to life and picks up the call. Announcing that it was Fort Freedom on her end of the line, Jacob recognises her and announces himself.

She asks him if it was done, but he tells her that the people of the Scoutpost weren't what they'd thought, everything had gone wrong, before he is cut off by Violet Keene taking the radio off him. Mrs Wicker asks what they'd done with Jacob, but Violet just tells her that it wasn't anything he wasn't planning on doing to her. She tells her that her invasion had failed, asking how could she. Kellyanne tries to backtrack, but Violet cuts her off, that what was left of the Fort Freedom soldiers had told them everything. They'd only hurt one or two, but the forest had taken alot more. She tells Mrs Wicker that it was over, Fort Freedom had lost. She asks her if they were going to kill Jacob, and Violet bluntly tells her that she was upset but she wasn't a monster, she wanted to exchange a ceasefire, Fort Freedom got their people back, in exchange they would never step foot in their forest again. Mrs Wicker tries to tell her that they needed Fort Freedom to fight the forest, but Violet tells her she had no idea who she was talking to, because at that point, they were the forest. She tells them to meet her at the same place they had their first meeting the next day and hangs up. Mrs Wicker continues to pray.

## Outro - Broomsticks

Nikignik waxes poetic about broomsticks and tells the Dreamers that he wondered that if someone else was ever to step into the parlour of his soul, would they find it inviting? Would they hang their coat without asking, find a place to sit by the fire? Would it feel like home to them? he worried sometimes that they would not. But he had languished in the darkness for a while, and it had not fixed itself. So, he would pick up his broom and brush the worst of the webs away—and hope that when someone again peered into his life, they did not mind a little mess.