Heptathalon

Heptathalon (Spring-Helled Jack) 10/2

In October

a girl – Mary Stevens

worked in Lavender Hill

On her way through Clapham Common

a dark man – possibly a man

held her arms tightly – began

to kiss her face – rip her clothes

She said with claws

she screamed – he

leapt into darkness

The next day – near Mary Stevens' home

a dark man – probably a man

jumped in the way of a carriage

and escaped by jumping a nine foot wall

They said – bell-like laughter

Jane Alsop – months later

February – answers the door

on vomiting blue flame

She said his eyes were balls of red fire

wrapped in a dark cloak – a helmet

and white oilskin

He held her arms tightly – began

to kiss her face – rip her dress

his claws were metallic – cold

He caught her on the steps

tore her neck with his claws

She said her sister saved her

Eight days later – Lucy Scales

returning home from Limehouse

with her sister

Along Green Dragon Alley

dark man – maybe a man

standing at a angle

She said – a quantity of blue flame

fits for hours

She said – tall thin gentlemanly

carrying a police lamp

In August – years later

in Aldershot's barracks

a sentry – in darkness

A figure advances from the gloom

He said – stop or I will shoot

The figure is quick and upon him

slapping him – one – two – three

He is shooting at the dark man

most likely not a man

then the figure is gone

with astonishing bounds