VICKI
by Malekim
Victoria (or Vicki, as she preferred her friends to call her) had mostly had a
wonderful time in Ireland. She found the countryside to be beautiful, and loved
to take long walks or go horseback riding through it. The only blot on the trip
had come in the last week when her father had been desperately been trying to
match her with Captain Nate Broderick, the son of his old friend and their host,
Lord Broderick. Nate was interested in everything that bored Vicki. He adored
telling of his life in the army. These stories mostly consisted of brawls in the
barracks or whipping some poor Indian boy into line. He loved to talk about how
the Englishman was the creature most favored by God to live on the planet. (Then
he'd remark how he was willing to forgive Vicki her American nationality,
promising he could teach her how to pass as a proper English lady.) But, most of
all, Nate was fond of hunting. Since the Broderick estate already contained more
than enough food to feed a small regiment for a week, Vicki saw no use for it.
She saw no good thing coming from the various "trophies" he had around the great
hall.
She had gone off by herself, wandering the woods that border the estate, when
she heard a sudden tinkling sound. She left the path, trying to locate the
source of the noise, and found it was a bell attached to one of the numerous
snares set around the estate. Some poor creature was dangling upside down,
hanging by a length of twine stretched over a branch. Vicki could see whatever
it was struggling to free itself. Its efforts became more frantic when it
noticed her approaching. In response, the bell attached to the snare jingled
louder. Finally, Vicki was close enough that she could see what had been
captured. But it still took her a moment to believe it. Hanging upside down in
the snare was a tiny woman! She was pretty, looked to be slightly younger than
Vicki. But the girl was no more than a foot tall, and dressed in a small green
jacket and skirt. The poor thing was having a devil of a time trying to get
loose and keep the skirt up at the same time.
"Vicki!" she heard Nate yell from not far away. He would be there any second.
Vicki took the pocket knife she kept in her skirt pocket. She'd been told many
times it was something no proper young lady should be seen with, but she found
it frequently came in useful. She pulled out the blade and then grabbed the
small woman. Instantly, a torrent of profanity poured loudly from the creature's
mouth.
"Shh," said Vicki. "They'll hear you!" Quickly, while holding the girl-thing
with one hand, Vicki cut the twine. She had noticed a small piece of cloth, a
hat, laying on the ground. Vicki picked it up, handed it to the girl, and set
her down.
"Now go!," cried Vicki in a whisper. "Hurry, before he comes and sees you!"
The tiny woman stared up at Vicki in amazement. There was a rustle in the bushes
nearby. Vicki turned to see Nate come out, followed by Harrigan, one of the
groundskeepers. Then, she turned again to look at the girl. The small creature
was nowhere to be seen.
"What is it?!," cried Nate excitedly. "What have we caught?" Then he saw the
string, cut on its end. He looked at Vicki, knife still in her hand, and glared
momentarily.
"It was -- only a chipmunk or something," she said. "Some small rodent. It
wouldn't have made a mouthful, and wouldn't have been worth the cost of
stuffing."
"Mounting," said Nate drily, but with a smile. "Can't imagine no chipmunk or
anythin' that small bein' able to trip this snare," said Harrigan.
"Perhaps it had something in its mouth," she offered. "Something to make it
weigh more."
"Nothin' on the ground," said Harrigan after a brief inspection. "Still, you
should have just killed it," said Nate. "The poor thing will be hobbled by that
string around its foot."
"It was caught by its front paw," said Vicki. "I should imagine it will have no
trouble gnawing the string off."
"Perhaps. Still can't see no chipmunk settin' off that snare," said Harrigan.
"It would take a rabbit, or a squirrel, or -- somethin' else." He looked at
Vicki carefully.
"Harrigan!" exploded Nate. "I will not have you questioning the honesty of one
of my father's guests! Is that understood!?"
"Nate, please," said Vicki. She hated how some of the landowners treated their
servants, especially Nate and his father. She hoped she'd be able to live to see
the day when the Irish finally got tired of their British "jailers" and kicked
them off the island. "He meant nothing and I'm not in the least offended."
"Very well," simmered Nate. "Harrigan, go check the rest of the traps."
"Very good, Captain Broderick," said Harrigan.
***
That night, Nate had been regaling the dinner table with the tale a major said a
sergeant had told him about how his colonel had been chewed out by a general for
letting the regimental wine stores become warm. It been all Vicki could do to
keep her head propped up on her arm and her eyes open. Her father had given her
a gentle kick a time or two under the table, but it had done little good.
Consequently, when she finally went to bed, she was surprised to find herself
unable to sleep.
She slipped down to the kitchen and had the cook make her a cup of chamomile
tea. She also gave Vicki some biscuits to eat. Vicki returned to her room, set
the food on her bedside table, and started to read her new book, the newest
collection of Sherlock Holmes stories by Conan Doyle. She'd heard rumors that
Holmes dies in the last story. She hoped it wasn't true. Surely, Mr. Doyle could
never murder such a wonderful character.
Suddenly, Vicki heard whispering. Actually, she barely heard it. She raised her
eyes, but not her head and saw, on a table near an open window, two small
figures. She was positive one of them was the girl she'd freed earlier that day.
Nervous, but not wanting to seem so, she marked her place in the book, and set
it aside. As she reached over for the tiny sewing kit she had under the bed, she
saw, out of the corner of her eye, the two figures duck behind a lamp on their
table. She opened the kit and took out two thimbles. She set them on the bedside
table. Then, she took her teacup off of its saucer and set it on the serving
tray. Making sure she had spilled no tea onto it, Vicki broke two pieces off of
a biscuit and set them on the saucer. Then, she dipped each thimble into the
teacup and took them out, filled to the brim. Holding the teacups carefully
between her thumb and fingers, she got out of bed, picked up the saucer with the
biscuits on it, and carried everything over to the top of her dresser, making
sure she kept her distance from the table by the window. She set the saucer down
and carefully leaned the thimbles beside them, trying again to spill none of the
tea. Then, she returned to her bed.
"The food on the dresser is for you," Vicki declared, not too loudly. "I broke
off part of the same biscuit I was eating from, and the tea comes from my cup.
You don't have to worry about them."
Cautiously, the two figures emerged from behind the lamp. With more speed and
silence than Vicki would have thought possible, both creatures jumped from the
table, crossed the floor, and scurried up the side of the dresser. They both
sniffed at the food and the tea, and started to eat. In a few minutes, they were
done. They jumped to the floor and cautiously approached Vicki. "It's all
right," she told them. "I won't hurt you. If you don't want me to, I promise I
won't even try to approach you."
"It's like I told you, Da," said the one that Vicki now knew for certain was the
tiny girl from before. "She's a good one."
"And so it seems, Kate," said the other, who Vicki could see was a small man
with red, silver-streaked sideburns. Like the girl, he was dressed in green with
a small hat on his head. He came closer, less fearful, to Vicki. "I'm Pat," said
the man. "Pat O'Glenn. This be me daughter, Kate, who ye rescued today from that
nefarious trap set by Harrigan. I wanted to express me thanks to ye, lass."
"Vicki," she said. "And I was happy to do it. I'd hate to think what might've
happened had Nate gotten hold of her."
"Aye, I felt the same way meself," said Kate. "I'm sorry I gave ye such a verbal
abusin' earlier. I didn't expect ye to set me free."
"I must admit I was surprised at that meself," said Pat. "Know ye not what we
be, girl?"
"I'm guessing you're the little people I've heard so much of," said Vicki.
"Leprechauns."
"Aye, that we are. But if ye know that, ye must know that if ye catch one of us,
we're bound to grant ye a boon!"
"You mean a pot of gold? My family is wealthy enough, thank you." Kate laughed.
"Tha's the first one o' ye I've ever heard talk like that!," she said.
"I have, but not for a long time," said Pat. "I di'n't think there were any like
you left in the world. Sure an' it pleases me to know there are. But is there
nothin' ye'd like, lass? I'm thinkin' I should give ye somethin', on account o'
ye savin' me daughter n'all. Plus, I think ye should be rewarded fer yer kind,
unselfish nature."
"I don't know that I'm all that unselfish," said Vicki. "But I don't believe in
anyone owning or having power over anyone else. Where I'm from, we fought a war
nearly three decades ago over that idea."
"An' from where d'ye hail?" asked Kate.
"I'm from the United States. In America."
"Ah! We've heard much o' America!"
"Aye. Many lads from hearabouts have left for that land. Is it as glorious as
they say?"
"It's quite a country," said Vicki. "The United States is very large, big enough
to hold maybe a dozen Irelands in it."
"Be off wi' ye!" said Kate.
"It's quite true. I live on the East coast, in a city called Boston."
"I've heard o' it! An' New York! Do ye know New York?"
"It's the biggest city in my country. I think over three million people lived in
it the last I heard."
"Three million! Bless me soul! Tis more wond'rous than anythin' I've seen."
"I don't know. I've never seen anything as wonderous as the two of you over
there."
"Aw, cut out yer blarney, Vicki," said Pat. "Ye'll turn our heads. But are ye
sure there's nothin' we have that ye'd want?"
Vicki thought for a moment, and then smiled. "Only one thing I can think of.
Your friendship."
To her father's concern, Kate leaped upon the bedside table and curtseyed.
"That, Vicki me lass, ye had the moment ye set me free!"
Vicki extended her forefinger and thumb and gently took and shook Kate's hand.
"And I'll treasure it all my life."
Deciding it was safe, Pat joined his daughter. Removing his hat, Pat bowed low.
"And I extend my friendship as well," said Pat.
Smiling, Vicki leaned over and carefully kissed him on his balding head. As she
withdrew, he looked at her, sputtered a minute, then smiled, turning a deep
crimson.
"Ah, Da!," said Kate. "I've not seen ye turn that red since the Widow Grady
caught ye bathin' in the pond!"
"Go ahead and have some more tea and biscuits if you like," said Vicki.
"Ah, 'tis a generous lass ye are!" said Pat. "Are ye sure I can give ye nothin'?
I hate bein' in someone's debt."
"You aren't in my debt. I just did what any Christian woman would. Besides, I
wouldn't want you to think you're in my power the way my father thinks I'm in
his."
Pat O'Glenn studied Vicki, stroking his sideburns as her did so. "Be yer father
tryin' to enforce his will on ye?" he asked.
"I'm afraid so. He wants me to marry Nate, the son of the lord of this manor."
"Faith! I know better than to be tryin' to force Kate here into doin' anythin'
she don't want. And I'd never want to force her to marry against her will, least
o' all to the likes o' that great lout!"
"I really hate to do it. My father and Lord Broderick are good friends, and the
Brodericks have been our hosts."
"But tha's more price than any decent host should ask for," said Kate.
"Perhaps. But I'm not too worried. Tomorrow, we set sail for Boston again and I
doubt father will mention the idea any more."
The three of them chatted a while, then Vicki found herself growing tired. Pat
and Kate O'Glenn said their farewells, and Vicki turned out the lamp and fell
into a deep sleep.
***
The next morning, Vicki awakened, convinced she'd had a strange dream. Then, she
noticed the ring on her night stand. It was pure gold, with a beautiful emerald
stone set in the center. Beside it was a note written in a hand so small, Vicki
could hardly read it. The note read:
"Thanks again for your great kindness. If ever your father or anyone should try
force their will on you, put on this ring and press the stone three times. You
shall have the same power over them as your people think they have over us. Turn
the ring so the stone is on the other side of your finger and press it thrice
more, and the power will end, until needed again. The love and friendship of the
little people go with you. Pat and Kate O'Glenn"
***
How exciting the return to America had been! Vicki and her father had sailed
back on The Queenstown, which docked at New York. They had decided to go there
instead of directly to Boston so they could visit relations in Manhattan. While
they were on the dock, awaiting their luggage, a man approached Vicki. To her
great surprise, it had been none other than Mr. Charles Dana Gibson! So stunned
were they when he presented Vicki with his card, her father at first had refused
to believe who it was.
"How do I know you aren't some scoundrel after my daughter?," he had asked.
"I'm sure you must be careful of such men with such a lovely creature as this
for a daughter," he'd replied. "But I do have proof of my identity with me." He
pulled out his proof, photographs and drawings of his likeness taken from the
pages of LIFE magazine. Both Vicki and her father were convinced. "With your
permission, sir, if she is interested," Mr. Gibson said, "I would like for your
daughter to come to my studio and pose for some sketches."
"Oh, Papa!" she'd cried. "May I?"
"These will be decent drawings?" said Mr. Nash.
"Papa! Mr. Gibson does no other kind. He's not like those Bohemians you hear
about."
"Sir, you have my word as a gentleman, both I and my pen shall treat your
daughter with the greatest respect."
That was all Mr. Nash needed to hear. Arrangements were made for Vicki to stay
with an aunt for a few days, during which she would "model" (as Mr. Gibson
called it) for the eminent illustrator. The job required little more than
posing. Vicki looked happy, sad, loved, whatever Mr. Gibson asked. He
complimented her on the expressiveness of her face. He also commented on the
beauty of the emerald ring she wore. "A present from friends in Ireland," she
told him, smiling so beguilingly at the concealed truth that Gibson made her
hold the smile until he had it on paper from several angles.
After a week's work (for which, to her surprise, she was compensated; she had
never even considered anything other than the honor of being a "Gibson Girl" in
return for her posing), she returned to Boston. As the carriage took her home (a
spacious manor in the country), Vicki could only reflect with astonishment upon
her adventures in Ireland and New York. No sooner had she entered the ballroom,
however, than her reverie was shattered. Nate was there. With him was Lord
Broderick, and two young gentlemen, Corp. William Leeves and Sgt. Harold Foxx,
friends and soldiers in Nate's command. The three young men were in full dress
uniform, complete with swords at their sides.
"Welcome home, Pet," said Mr. Nash. "Look who's come all the way from Ireland to
see you again!"
"Captain Broderick," said Vicki with a stunned voice.
"Please," said the young officer. He approached close enough for Vicki to smell
that he'd been liberally helping himself to her father's bourbon. "I insist you
continue to call me Nate." Nate bent low, took Vicki's left hand, and bent over
to kiss it. He stopped short when he saw the ring. "What's this?," he asked.
"It's a ring Vicki got from friends in Ireland," said her father.
"I know of no one around our lands who could afford a ring such as this," said
Nate. "And this looks to be a ring far more than one would get from a friend."
"They were people I'd done a favor for," said Vicki, not untruthfully. "They
seemed simple, but I gathered they had wealth when they wanted it. I think the
ring had been in their possession for some years."
"An heirloom?," he said, his temper starting to rise. "It must have been a large
favor for you to receive this in return."
"Nathan," said Lord Broderick, sensing that the bourbon was having an effect on
his son's behavior. "It's only a bauble. Don't let it upset you. Tell her why
you've come."
"I'm not sure I should now, father."
"Nonsense! You've traveled a long way for this! Now is not the time to back out
due to bruised pride."
"What did you come for, Capt, er, Nate?," asked Vicki. Nate took a deep breath
and unsteadily lowered himself to the floor on one knee, a movement made more
awkward by the sword at his side. He took Vicki's ringless hand in his. "Miss
Victoria Nash," he began, slurring the words some. "Will you marry me?"
Vicki was not stupid. She'd suspected Nate's business from the moment she
arrived. She'd just hoped she'd been mistaken. Nevertheless, when the dreaded
question came, Vicki felt herself quite unprepared for it.
"What? I, uh -- no!," she stammered. She saw astonishment, injury, and building
rage on Nate's face. She tried to rephrase the rejection to make it less painful
to Nate. "I'm sorry. What I meant is ... "
"I think you've made it quite clear what you meant!" said Nate, standing up. His
face was taking on a shade of red and an expression horrible to see. "You see,
father, I told you! Coming here was a complete waste of time and money!"
"Nathan," said Lord Broderick. "Calm down!" Behind Nate, his companions looked
at him with sadness and total sympathy.
"Nate, please," said Vicki, trying to soothe his feelings. "It's just -- you
took me by surprise! I need time to think!"
"Oh, yes, I'm sure!" thundered Nate. "The time it takes to look at the ring on
your finger! I'll bet you said 'yes' to him right away!"
"I've done no such thing! I'm engaged to no one!"
"'Yes' doesn't have to be said for just an engagement. It can be used for other
things that your ring could've been payment for!"
"How dare you!," said Vicki standing up.
"Nathan!" said Lord Broderick.
"You unprincipled lout!" shouted Mr. Nash. He walked up to confront Nate. "No
one addresses my daughter in such a manner under MY roof! I thought you were a
gentleman, but I see I was mistaken. Leave these premises at once or I shall
throw you out!" In his outrage, Mr. Nash didn't see Nate draw back a fist. The
captain struck his host hard in the nose, sending him reeling onto the floor.
"Nathan!," shouted Lord Broderick, who then shrank back at his son's expression.
"Shut up, father!" Nate bellowed. "I've had my fill of these, these commoners!
Thinking their money puts them on an equal standing with us?! I kowtowed to them
when they were our guests, and I had every intention of being the good soldier
to this bitch here. But it's clear it would be wasted effort!"
Mr. Nash tried to stand up, while stanching the blood from his nose at the same
time. Nate gave him a kick in the face, bowling him over again. Nate's
companions laughed.
"Nathan," came a soft voice from behind. Nate turned to receive a hard slap in
the face from Vicki. "I shall NEVER marry you! Get out, before I have the police
summoned!" Nate responded to the slap by shoving Vicki violently backward. She
stumbled and landed awkwardly on her bottom. She regretted the bustle had been
out of fashion for some years.
"Didn't you know? Your servants are off today!" said Nate. "And right now, it
doesn't matter whether you'll be my wife or not!" He began to undo his belt.
"What -- are you doing?," whispered Vicki, though she already knew the answer.
Mr. Nash, on his feet again, started toward Nathan, only to be grabbed by Leeves
and Foxx. They restrained him with little effort.
"Nathan!" gasped Lord Broderick. "You can't!"
"I not only can, I'm going to, father!" said Nate. "If it bothers you, leave the
room!"
"I'll kill you," said Mr. Nash. "You can hold me back now, but after you leave,
I'll have you hunted down and shot like the dog you are!"
"Not if I kill you first," chuckled Nate, fingering the hilt of his sword. "But
first, to more pleasant business. You may marry another, Victoria. But your
condition will be that of used goods, if not worse. It's up to you. You know.
How much you struggle."
Vicki said nothing. She reached for the ring and pressed the stone three times.
At first, she thought she'd made a terrible mistake. After the third press, her
breath left her. She tried in vain to inhale, without success. She clutched at
her throat, trying desperately to breathe. Nate hesitated for a moment, thinking
she was having some sort of fit. Then, she realized the problem. Her corset was
tightening. She'd long wanted to stop wearing it, knowing of women who had
swooned over too-tight undergarments. But her father insisted it was far too
improper. Now, the whalebone pressed tightly against her torso, making breathing
impossible.
She felt a "pop," followed by another. The stays were breaking off of the
corset! Similarly, the buttons had begun to fly off of her shoes, which were
pinching her feet terribly. She could feel a hole appear in her stockings, a
hole which grew. There was an awful pressure at her waist, which she knew was
made by her tightening belt. She reached to undo it, when it was torn apart
somehow and flew off of her. Her skirt was ripping itself apart, followed by her
blouse. Its torso fell in rags to the floor, followed by the now-unrestrained
corset. All that remain on her body were the muttonchop sleeves of her blouse.
The forearms tightened and tore first, then the puffy shoulder pieces which gave
the fashion its name split open and slid off of her arm. Vicki had been looking
at Nathan, who was backing away in shock. No, he was doing more than that. He
was contracting, dropping out of Vicki's range of vision! So was her father and
everyone, everything else in the room.
Vicki suddenly found herself sitting naked upon the ballroom floor. She stood,
and realized that her surroundings had not diminished in size. She had grown!
From her natural 5' 6," she'd inflated to 11 feet. Then, she grew further to 22
feet. Finally, her sized doubled once again. At 44 feet, she towered over the
little men in the room. She started to try to cover herself with her arms, but
stopped. Why should she be ashamed? She wouldn't feel awkward standing naked in
front of a cat or dog. These creatures around her were no larger than that in
her eyes. Indeed, they were littler little people than those she'd met in
Ireland.
She placed her hands on her hips, letting those around her drink in her
magnificence. Minutes ago, she'd have felt conceited to use such a word to
describe herself. Now, she could think of no other.
"Take your hands off of my father!" she commanded. Foxx and Leeves obeyed,
though their faces showed they were barely aware of it. She grabbed them both,
one in each hand, and held them before her face. They looked at it, and then
down at the floor perhaps 30 feet below them. "If you EVER lay hands on him
again, I'll crush you like I would a spider!"
"Put them down!" shouted Nate. He had drawn his sword and was waving it
menacingly in her direction. So intent was he on her that he didn't notice Mr.
Nash coming up from his side. A second later, Vicki's father struck a blow on
Nathan's jaw that more than avenged the punch the Captain had given Mr. Nash
earlier. Nate fell to the floor, dropping his sword.
"As you wish," said Vicki to Nate's earlier order. She lowered her hands
slightly and let the two men drop to the floor by their commanding officer.
Their heads struck the wood hard, and they lay still, moaning. Nate reached for
his sword. Before he could grab it, Vicki pressed down on his hand with her
thumb. With her other hand, she flicked her finger against Nate's head, sending
him flying across the room. She then picked up the sword and bent it in her
hands.
"Vicki," gasped her father. "Pet. What's happened to you?"
"It's the ring!" cried Lord Broderick. "She got it from the little people in
Ireland. She had to!"
"Black magic!" spat out Nate, standing and wiping blood from him mouth. "I
shouldn't be surprised that she'd stoop to such deviltry! It isn't worth all the
money in the world to be your husband now, you immense cow!"
"What?" said Vicki. She was upon him in two steps and had him clenched in her
hand the way she'd held his men moments earlier. She looked at her father.
"I don't know what he's talking about!" he told her. Facing Lord Broderick, he
said "What is the meaning of this?"
"I'm sorry," said the old lord with a sigh. "I didn't want to tell you. We're
nearly broke. Some investments this last year went bad. It used up nearly all of
what's left to travel here. Our lands are going to be sold next month if we
don't have the money. "That's why I encouraged Nate to marry Vicki. If they'd
wed then, under English law... "
"... the money in my dowry, plus what I'd inherit one day from Father, would
become Nate's!"
"Yes. But I truly did not know what a monster my son had become. I could live as
a pauper. But I could not live with the shame Nathan has brought upon our name.
Nathan," he continued, facing his son in Vicki's gigantic hand. "I'm glad now
that I will have little to leave to you. I suggest that, when we depart, you set
sail to return to your unit. I don't want to see you again."
"And who said I want to be around an old fossil like you any more!? If it
weren't for you, I would've stayed in India, and never have met this, this
greatest of bitches in the world!" Suddenly, something moved in front of his
face. Vicki's hand opened around his body, but his head was grasped between the
thumb and forefinger of her other hand. His body dangled in mid-air, his face
smothered by the enormous thumb.
"I'd much rather not have met you either. You are the most monstrous individual
I've ever had the misfortune to meet! I should kill you right now and free the
world of your presence once and for all."
"Vicki, pet, no!" cried Mr. Nash. "I know you feel he deserves it, and I'm much
tempted to do it myself. But killing him would only bring questions I don't
think any of use would care to answer."
"He'll be miserable enough without his allowance, lass," said Lord Broderick.
"If you kill him, you'd only be doing him a kindness."
"Very well," she said, letting him drop to the floor. He landed hard on his
feet, then limped toward Foxx and Leeves, who were regaining consciousness.
"You'll regret this!" he said in a low voice. "No one treats me like this!
Especially no woman!"
"Father, open the door to the garden, please."
Mr. Nash did as his daughter asked. Vicki then grabbed Nate between the toes of
her right foot.
"No!" screamed Nate. "Don't step on me!"
"I've no intention of dirtying my foot with you!" she said. She clumsily moved
to the open door, keeping Nate trapped between her toes. Propping herself
against the wall over the door with her arms, Vicki bent her leg backwards, then
swung it forward in a kick. At the apex, she spread her toes and Nate was again
airborne. He landed with a great splash in the decorative pool in the garden.
"Get him off our property," she told his men. "Now!"
Foxx and Leeves furtively rushed out of the door, glancing behind them to make
sure Vicki wasn't going to give them similar treatment.
"I'll depart now, too," said Lord Broderick. "I'm so sorry for what happened. I
will not dishonor you with my presence again."
"Michael," said Mr. Nash. "Wait. Please. I don't hold you responsible for your
son's actions. Let's talk."
The two old friends went into an adjoining room. After they left, Vicki turned
the ring so the stone was on the inside of her hand, and pressed it three times.
She returned to normal size. As she gathered up the tatters that had been her
clothes, she glanced through the door. Closing it, she saw Nate and his men in
the distance walking away. She could hear cries of outrage coming from the
captain. She had a suspicion that it still wasn't over.
***
Though she expected many things to happen over the next few weeks, returning to
Ireland hadn't been one of them. But there she was, with her father, back on
Lord Broderick's estate. But it might not be his much longer. Her father had
agreed to settle his old friend's debts, and assume ownership of the lands,
permitting Broderick to remain as his guest. Vicki wasn't sure how she felt
about this. As her father's only heir, she would one day own the property. She
found it a magnificent country and had no problem with the idea of living there.
But would she really need so much land to herself? And the memories of Nate...
if she hadn't been able to grow to giant size...
She carefully fingered the ring. She had used it a couple of times since her
eviction of Nathan, mostly for purpose of being measured by her maids. (The
measuring had been rather fun, with the maids scurrying about -- and sometimes
over -- her naked body. There was a sensuality to the act she found partly
disturbing, and partly arousing.) Mr. Nash had decided that, if she did have to
use the "cursed ring" (his words, not hers) again, she should at least be
decently clad. He'd commissioned an outfit for her full height. The tailor and
shoemaker weren't quite sure what the idea was, but, at the rates Mr. Nash was
paying them, they decided questions weren't necessary. Best of all, Vicki had
convinced her father that a corset was not only inconvenient, it was decidedly
dangerous! He no longer demanded she wear one. The only darkness in this victory
was Vicki's feeling that her father had agreed -- because he was afraid of her.
Ever since that night when she'd grown and so forcibly evicted Nathan and his
men from her home, her father had changed in regards to her. He spoke so
deferentially. On topics where once his voice might've boomed with indignation,
he now was subdued if not absolutely meek. Once, when they were in a minor
argument, Vicki's finger had moved toward her ring in jest. She regretted it
when she saw how Mr. Nash had paled.
"Papa!" she had said in concern. "It was a stupid joke. Please, don't be scared
of me. I promise, I would NEVER harm you. You are my Papa!" The hugs and kisses
which she plied him with seemed to relax him. But still -- After arriving in
Queenstown, Vicki learned that friends from the States were in Dublin. With her
father's permission, she traveled there, a journey that took the better part of
a day. She stayed with her friends for three days. Then, a messenger brought a
mysterious letter.
Vicki froze at the site of the handwriting.
It was Nathan's.
She read the letter immediately:
"My Dear Miss Nash,
"I have your father.
"Men loyal to me at the estate of the man who calls himself my father arranged
for Mr. Nash to be abducted -- kidnapped, I believe, is the current parlance. I
am busy returning the hospitality you showed me in America.
"Do not expect help from my father or the authorities. I made it clear to Father
then, as I do now to you, that, should I see anyone other than you, I shall
render unto them a rather old corpse.
"But you may come. I look forward to it. Directions are enclosed for you to find
me. And do bring your lovely ring.
"Best regards,
"Captain Nathan Broderick,
"Her Majesty's Imperial Lancers"
"He means to snare me," whispered Vicki to herself. "To trap me as mercilessly
as one of the creatures on the estate." She tried to envision herself being
dangled upside down, as had happened with the tiny Kate weeks before. But, were
that to happen, she'd merely have to press the emerald, and she'd grow out of
any trap. Besides, there was an "X" marked on the map, denoted with the
instructions "You may grow here." Nathan clearly wanted her at full size, and
would no doubt be prepared for it. Complete cad he was, but not a fool. There
was a time marked when she was expected. She barely had time to make apologies
and goodbyes to her friends. Soon, she was on her way to the meeting place.
***
The carriage brought Vicki to a patch of woods by a road. The driver seemed
puzzled as to why his fare wanted to be dropped off here, along with her
"bleedin' big trunk." But, upon seeing the large gratuity Vicki gave him, he
asked no questions, though he did beg her to "take care" in those woods.
After he had driven off, Vicki picked up the trunk. It wasn't as heavy as one
might've imagined. The material inside was light, though the shoes were
burdensome. Through turns of carrying and dragging, she soon was concealed in
the woods. It was a pleasant afternoon. Vicki could see through the trees the
large clearing the directions had mentioned. She stopped, opened the trunk, and
speedily undressed herself. It only took a few minutes, but they were the
longest of her life. As she removed her chemise, she reflected on how, if she
turned to see a small boy looking at her, she would blush. If she turned to see
Nathan or one of his men looking at her, she would die, at least on the inside.
She stood behind a tree, naked except for her ring. She pulled out the gigantic
dress, spent a few seconds finding its hem, and then slipped it over herself.
She pulled the shoes out of the trunk. Perhaps it would be better to leave them
behind. There was something so ordinary about them. They weren't decorated.
There were no patterns to them at all. They didn't even have high heels, but
flat ones, like a man wore. The overall look reminded her of pictures of what
the Chinese wore. She could never picture anything so out-and-out functional
catching on in the West. Still, Father had spent a considerable sum for their
construction. Might as well wear them.
Vicki took from her old dress the pocket watch she'd purchased in Dublin. It was
nearly time for her arrival. She left the watch with her normal dress, bunched
the big outfit around her as best she could, and then, dragging the shoes behind
her, started for the clearing. Some 20 feet from the woods, she found an "X" cut
out of paper and attached to the ground by a stake pounded through it. Others
might've found the idea amusing. Vicki merely regarded the sign as further
evidence of military life's effect on the mind. She set her shoes side by side
with the stake between, and then stepped into them. She put her finger on the
emerald and pressed three times.
She started to grow. There were the pauses at 11 and 22 feet. When she reached
44 feet, Vicki glanced down at herself. She was disappointed. She had been
excited about the dress, and it looked attractive, bright yellow fabric among
the green of the clearing. It fit well, as did her shoes, though the latter were
slightly loose. But, somehow, she didn't feel right being clothed at all, not at
THIS size. Her father would find the idea scandalous, but she didn't think she
really was Vicki any more. She was someone else, something else, a fabulous
being who had no need of clothing, not on such a pleasant day as this.
She began to walk to the other end of the field, a bit nervous, her finger still
close to the ring. She saw Nathan emerge from behind a haystack. There were four
other such stacks at various points around the clearing, each of them unusually
large. With Nathan were Leeves and Foxx -- and her father. Her father was bound
and gagged, and shaking his head furiously. Was he trying to tell her to run?
Away?
"She is here!" cried Nathan in a high-pitched, commanding voice. "Positions!"
Suddenly, men, dressed in uniforms, emerged from behind each haystack. They were
in groups of three each. As they appeared, they stared at her, dumbfounded by
her size, her beauty, or both. It looked like another man was also in each
haystack, behind -- something. Vicki could see in the stacks nearest her
something moving, repositioning. From each haystack, another soldier emerged,
brushing hay off himself and nodding to the others. From each cluster of men
came shouts of "Ready!"
Vicki glanced at each group, and noticed Nate raise his sword, then drop his arm
in one swift, cutting motion. But nothing was near him. It was a signal of some
kind. Vicki saw sparks and flames in the hands of the man nearest each haystack,
followed by a small cloud of smoke rising from the stacks. She realized just in
time that they were lit fuses. Vicki dropped to the ground. She heard the
cannons booming and the balls flying over her head. Reflexively, she pressed the
emerald on the ring three more times. She wasn't sure why. She hoped to gain
some advantage at normal size that she wouldn't have at 44 feet. But something
was wrong.
She expected to feel her body drag along the ground as it contracted. Instead,
it was pushing forward her arms, elbows, knees, and toes. Her clothing wasn't
loosening around her, it was tightening. She could feel her toes begin to feel
pinched, then burst out of those shoes that had been so heavy, so mighty in her
hands just minutes before.
She realized what was wrong.
In her terror and excitement, she had forgotten to turn the stone on the ring to
the inside of her hand. She was growing even larger than she had been. Her
dress, her beautiful, new, sunshine yellow dress, ripped at its seams of rope
and twine. Her bare skin slid over the grass and dirt as her body expanded to
ever larger proportions. She felt a flushing, an almost sexual tingling race
through her as she grew. Perhaps it was some liquid in her, some chemical
produced by the human body, that was in temporary disproportion. At least, she
hoped it was temporary. She wouldn't mind this feeling for a little while, but
could see problems if it persisted too long. She lay flat on her stomach. The
feeling of the ground sliding under her nipples as she grew was very sensual,
especially as the grass underneath became smaller, finer to her skin, until it
was like a strange, ticklish fur grown by the ground itself.
She stopped growing. Looking ahead, Vicki saw her face was mere feet way (inches
to her) from Nate, Leeves, Foxx, and her father. She just barely heard a tiny
voice squeak out "reload and fire at will." She saw the man who had been in the
haystack earlier start back for it. Before he could carry out orders, Vicki
brought her fist down on the haystack. The man dove out just in time to avoid
the blow. The haystack was flattened, the cannon driven into the ground so far
it would have to be excavated before it could be used again. The blow had caused
all of the little men (insects! Vicki thought to herself) to lose their footing.
As they struggled to regain it, Vicki used her little finger to flick away Nate,
Leeves, and Foxx at once. They staggered about, like ants that had been brushed
by a child's toe, then dropped to the ground. Vicki lay her head down so her
huge eye could see her father, and the soldier who had manned the cannon. She
started to command ...
"RELEASE MY FATHER OR -- "
Then, she saw the soldier drop to the ground and press his hands against his
ears. Her father similarly was wriggling on the grass. With horror, she realized
what her voice must sound like to a normal-sized person. She remained silent and
pointed to the soldier, then her father. The tiny military man went to Mr. Nash
and quickly undid his bonds. Vicki stood on her knees, nodding at the man to let
him know he'd done the right thing. Then, she heard what sounded like a couple
of caps in child's gun going off. Something stung her calf and buttock. It
reminded her of a time when she was 12. She'd been walking along the side of a
road, when a carriage passed. One of its wheels had sent a stone into her leg.
It had hurt for a second, but no more. That was what this pain was like. She
stood up and realized what had happened. She'd been shot by two of the cannons!
The balls had struck her, but her skin was now far too thick for any real damage
to be done. But that didn't mean she liked it.
She looked at the haystacks. Another soldier was putting fire to a fuse. She
raised her foot and brought it down on the haystack, her shadow alerting the
soldier to what was happening. He rolled to the side as another cannon was
smashed into the dirt. Vicki moved her foot, to see the smoke still issuing from
the fuse. The men near it ran away and jumped to the ground, just as a large
cloud of dust and metal billowed from where the cannon was buried. Dirt, rocks,
and even a few chunks of metal rained down on the men. Vicki could only laugh.
It was like playing with a half-buried firecracker on the Fourth of July.
Quickly but carefully, Vicki gathered the soldiers on the ground with her left
hand, then dropped them into her right. She inspected them carefully. They
looked stunned, but were otherwise all right. Then, Vicki started toward the
other cannons. The men had been too intimidated by what she'd done to the last
cannon to risk lighting another one. She put her heel to each cannon, flattening
it and its concealing haystack. Then, she picked up the men around it, putting
them in her right hand with the others. Soon, she had all the men she could see,
except her father. She lifted him up and put him in the middle of the clearing,
away from anyplace anyone might be hiding to take him prisoner again.
Vicki stood and opened her left hand, palm up, to check the men. It was hard to
tell, but it looked as if some of them were crying. There were several pairs of
men, clutching each other, trembling. A couple of heartier souls looked over the
edge of her hand. Those men crept back to the center of her palm, then dropped
to their knees and faced her, imploring for mercy with their bodies. Vicki
looked at her father, no larger to her than a bug. Even standing, she could tell
their was almost no color in his face. She knew that she, his daughter, his pet,
had become the most terrifying thing he'd ever beheld in his life. She did some
quick mental calculations.
As she'd grown, she'd again felt the brief, regular, pauses. Before this new
trio of spurts, she'd been 44 feet tall. She was certain she'd doubled in size
by each pause. So, she'd become 88, and then 176 feet. With the final doubling
-- Merciful God in Heaven! With the final doubling, she was now 352 feet tall!
She could not recall if there were whales that large! With the realization, she
lowered herself to a sitting position (taking care, of course, to avoid sitting
on her father).
This was all Nathan's fault! His oh, so, stupid, vulnerable, male pride! He
couldn't take being rejected by a woman without trying to have his way with her!
He surely must've felt it the height of humiliation to have any woman deal with
him as Vicki had, giant or not! He must've talked to his fellow soldiers. He
convinced them that a giant woman would be the greatest threat they could face!
And now, she had those 20 poor, deluded men in the palm of her hand and ...
Wait, she thought. TWENTY men? Each haystack had 4 men with it. There were five
haystacks, so there should be 21 men! She brought her hand close to her face to
examine them. All of them were there, except --
"Nathan," she said in a whisper that nearly blew the men off of her hand. As
she'd examined them, Vicki had rested her other hand on the ground. Suddenly,
she noticed a sensation, like an ant crawling near her finger. She looked down
and saw Nathan, swinging something over his head and bringing it down on the
stone in her ring. She felt her ring struck, hard! And Nathan was running away
from her. Then, he stopped, and turned to face her.
"There, bitch!" he cried. "I have smashed the source of your witchcraft! Now,
you'll return to your proper size, and then there'll be ... a ... reckoning?"
Vicki brought the ring up to her eye. It was true. The stone WAS shattered! Nate
had used a sledge hammer, had seen a flaw in the stone. By striking the hammer
where the flaw was, he had broken the stone. But Vicki was not shrinking. The
ring's stone was STILL on the outside of her hand! She had been unable to make
out Nathan's last words. That final, stone-shattering pressure on the emerald
had caused one last, monstrous growth spurt!
Vicki could feel the wind whip by her as she enlarged. She looked in her right
hand and saw the ever-diminishing soldiers spread out, away from each other as
she grew, almost falling into the lines on her palm! And, she could hear the
faint, anguished scream of her father as he became less than an insect to her. A
final mental calculation was made. Vicki now stood just over 700 feet tall! She
was certain she had become the biggest, most monstrous creature ever to walk the
planet.
In a panic, she reversed the ring so the stone was on the inside of her hand.
She did not hear the screams, did not care as the men in her right hand rolled
over the skin, the pores, the wrinkles of her palm. A half dozen of them were
about to tumble over the edge, when she righted her hand again and they all
began to roll back to the middle of her palm. As she'd reversed it, fragments of
the stone fell from the setting. She pressed what was left three times. Nothing
happened. She repeated the procedure. The men in her hand did not grow larger,
heavier. She dropped to her knees, letting her right hand rest against the
ground for a few seconds. The men in it used this chance to escape, some of them
carrying others injured by their ordeal. The soldiers ran as fast and as far as
they could from her, each terrified they would see that enormous shadow over
them again. Then, they noticed the ground shaking. Each man stopped and turned.
They saw Vicki frantically pressing at the setting without result. Tears that
could drown any of them rolled down her face. Finally, Vicki gave up the effort,
buried her face in her hands, and began to sob.
"What's to become of me," came soft, windy whispers from her mouth. "How shall I
eat? How shall I drink? How shall I shelter myself when the weather turns cold?
"Why did you do this?" she said, facing the soldiers, still speaking softly. "I
rejected your Captain and took steps to protect myself and my father from him. I
came here because my father was in jeopardy! I would have harmed no one had you
not tried to harm him or myself first! And now, my father is safe... but I
terrify him as much as I do you! Why did you do this?" This display of fear, of
sorrow from so large a being caused a wave of guilt that would dwarf a division
to flood over every man there. Their fear vanished and they approached the woman
they now realized they had horribly wronged. Mr. Nash approached his daughter,
setting his hand on one of her huge fingers. She could not see that there were
tears on his face, too. But a second later, Mr. Nash felt cold steel against his
neck. Before Vicki or anyone else could act, Nathan had run up from behind,
drawn his sword, and placed it at Mr. Nash's throat.
"Now bitch!" came a high pitched squeal. She could barely make out what Nathan
was saying. She thought she heard the words "poison," "exhibit," and "Barnum."
But there was no mistake of the threat. Nathan barked orders to his men. Leeves
and Foxx approached. They took hold of Mr. Nash and Nathan sheathed his sword
and began to walk away. Leeves let go of Mr. Nash, walked toward Nathan, and
said something. Nate turned around just in time to take a blow from Leeves.
Nathan was sprawled on the ground to the cheers of the men. Leeves drew his own
sword and advanced upon the Captain, when an enormous fingernail blocked his
path. Leeves backed away, looking up at Vicki, making motions that clearly
indicated "Why?" Vicki picked Nathan up between her right thumb and forefinger.
Gently, hoping to disorient him but not kill him, Vicki began to roll Nathan
between these digits. She held him to her ear and thought she heard tiny cries
of "stop!," "don't," and a few inarticulate screams. After several seconds, she
lowered her hand to the ground and released Nate. He lay on his back, face up,
eyes open. Leeves and Foxx knelt by him, then looked up at Vicki.
"Dead?" whispered Vicki. Leeves shook his head. He made pantomime walking
motions, then shook his head again, and Vicki understood. Nate was crippled.
***
Vicki spent that night in the open field. Her stomach growled from hunger, her
throat was parched. She knew of streams of fresh water, but feared she might
drain them completely in sating her thirst. Leeves and Foxx had brought her
bread and a little water, but it was nowhere near enough. They had sown together
every blanket in their regiment to try and give her cover against the cool
night. It provided a little protection under her head. It didn't matter. Worry
kept Vicki awake most of the night.
The next day, her father came, along with several large wagons, each covered
with a blanket. He brought the one he was riding close to Vicki and uncovered
it. To Vicki's astonishment, there was a huge ring underneath, gold with an
emerald stone set in it. Vicki took the ring, pl
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wonderful time in Ireland. She found the countryside to be beautiful, and loved Victoria (or Vicki, as she preferred her friends to call her) had mostly had a
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