Letters 41-44: The Riverman, A Terrible Mistake, Final Report, Home!
Letter Summaries
Letter 41 is the climax of the SH, and is from Bax to George. The letter begins with Sentinel news stories about Lupine’s and Nicholas the Butler’s nocturnal activities. Martha wants Bax to help her find Emlyn and Lupine and put an end to the attacks. Bax and Martha head out to the Skotos strip with Toby and Winker Inari.
They find Lupine and confront her. They then remove her skin, and start to destroy it. However, Lupine summons werewolves, and a battle is joined.
The combat is temporarily interrupted by a phone call from Nicholas the Butler. Apparently he had been cornered by George, Doris (returned) and Madame Orizia, and forced to return to his trunk. Doris gave Nicholas her cell phone, to call Bax, as part of the deal.
Martha advises Bax on a spell, which he uses to summon the Riverman. The werewolves are defeated, and Lupine’s skin destroyed. Emlyn and Ieuan emerge from the woods and tend to Lupine.
Zwart finally reveals himself, bearing his golden staff (a clue that he is Goldwurm). He acknowledges his “Old Nick” identity was a ruse, and welcomes Bax as a “brother sorcerer.” Martha asks to return to Faerie with Zwart, and he agrees. Zwart advises Emlyn on helping Lupine. Zwart prompts Bax about dealing with George, who he says has “no talent.”
In Letter 42, Doris writes to Bax. She apologizes for dumping him. Apparently she returned to Medicine Man during Bax’s confrontation with Lupine, and assisted George in confining Nicholas. She asks to renew the relationship, and describes another encounter with Ted’s ghost. Even though she is in town, Bax apparently never meets her.
Madame Orizia writes to Bax in Letter 43. She advises him on the disposal of the vampire Nicholas, and submits her final bill.
In Letter 44, “George” writes to Millie. He explains that Bax has gone to Faerie to live and won’t come back. George will manage Bax’s properties, after serving thirty days community service for striking Kate Finn. He proposes to take Millie on a long trip around the world, and that he will be a better husband.
Goldwurm Revealed: The gold headed staff was the final clue for me that Zwart Black is also Goldwurm the Warlock. Remember, Zwart is also associated with the Shamir worm of the King Solomon legend. So Zwart has both a “gold” and a “worm” attribute. He is the only character with these two associations. Thus it was Goldwurm/Zwart that murdered Ambrosius/Ted(?), his “friendly rival.”
Bax the Chivalrous: Bax is not a good man, but not a villain either. He chooses an odd time to display chivalry when he drops his sword and gun and fights Lupine “hand-to-hand.”
George’s Letter: I think most readers realize that Bax is actually writing that last letter (44), and has assumed George’s identity. Bax serves the community service, and then assumes the identity of Millie’s husband for an undetermined period. There are several clues, including his plans to read Victorian literature to children at the local library. Bax had a degree in 19th century literature. He is also bringing the Fox Sword and Winker Inari along with him. The flowery language is also more consistent with Bax.
Bax and George: My view is that George is dead. They had the duel, and Bax won either due to magic, cheating, or just from all his practice with the pistol. Bax may have had no intention to kill George, but may have killed him in self-defense when George decided to go through with the duel. George’s fate was foreshadowed by Kiki or Mary King, spiritual creatures who are omens of death.
Zwart wanted Bax and George to fight, and Zwart gets what he wants in the SH. This is a tragedy, remember. Zwart is also a liar. George had “no talent”, and yet he was able to imprison a vampire, and somehow safely spent time in Faerie. I wouldn’t be surprised if Zwart was separately talking with George and telling him that Bax had “no talent.”
Doris’ Change of Heart: As stated in the last post, Doris’ “Dear John” Letter and subsequent return seem very strange. Part of me wonders if Zwart used magic to make her leave the first time.
Ted’s Ghost: He appears for the third time in the story. Many things occur in threes in the SH. Doris thinks he is crying because he wanted her and Bax to “be together.” I am not so sure this is it. It may be more that Zwart’s plan has apparently succeeded (conning Martha and Bax).
Nina O’Brien: This is Martha’s best friend who had recently been killed by a hit and run driver. We never meet her in the story. I believe Zwart killed her, maybe by using the antique vehicle, his “hearse.” Why? Zwart is trying to get Martha back, and to do so is eliminating her reasons for staying in Medicine Man. Getting her sons to come to Faerie doesn’t hurt either. Nina’s death may have been signaled by Mary King, who was a ghostly figure and omen of death.
The Battle: I have a feeling the whole combat was almost a pantomine to allow Zwart to influence Bax and Martha. Zwart knew Lupine, and in the note in the pistol box asked Bax to spare her. She is his ally. He was watching the combat from nearby, and likely would have intervened if Martha was near death. Perhaps the battle stirred Martha’s warm memories for the magic and excitement associated with Faerie, as Zwart intended.
“I spent about forty years here as a sorcerer’s wife“: Martha makes this statement before the battle. Martha is about 90 years old, like her sister. Though her appearance is only of a woman in her 40s or 50s maybe. This may refer to the duration of her marriage to Zwart, and that she got “divorced” around the time of Bax’s birth. This seems consistent with the suggested timeline.
Hardaway – Martha says “I know him. Watch out.” This is final confirmation that Hardaway is a bad guy, and has been Zwart’s agent all along. Hardaway denied knowing Martha to Doris earlier in the SH. Hardaway is probably the one who winds up managing the Skotos Strip and the Black House after Bax and George “disappear.” His cigar smoking may be intended to make us think of brimstone.
version 1.0
The Duchy of Cumberbatch 