The milk of human kindness: Frankenstein episode 5

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Frankenstein, episode five. The Creature finds a loving family.

Hello,  

I'm... Viktor Frankenstein's Creature. Here we are, in my hut on the mountains. I'm  

happy to tell you and Viktor Frankenstein my story. How I learnt about the day, the night,  

the hunger, thirst, cold... And I learnt how to live with all this the hard way.  

Imagine that I tried to touch fire?! How silly of me. Of course I was burnt. But I saw good things  

too. These little creatures which made pleasant sounds. Yes, the birds. I tried to sound like them  

but nothing came out of my mouth! And I saw people. I've never learnt how to behave with you  

humans. I was surprised when people who saw me ran away. In the villages, some men wanted to hurt me.

So do you all  

have things you can use as weapons with you?

Yes!

I have a few stones that I can throw at the monster. I'm a good shot!

Go home, boy. The monster could be dangerous. It was seen trying  to get into the house near the central square. 

Shall we go and look for it? This time  we might get lucky, catch it and kill it! 

Kill it! Kill the monster!

Let's go then. We can start near the vegetable garden where he was seen last time. Let's go!

All these people seemed angry with me... Why?

I escaped to the open country and hid in a hut. That was where I was when I watched  

a family in a nearby house. I heard they  were called the De Laceys. I was careful  

not to allow them to see me. The boy, the girl and an old man looked poor but happy... 

That's what we have for dinner today. Some carrots, potatoes, cheese, bread... just one egg.

You like eggs, dad. This one is for you.

You're very generous, dear daughter. But you should have this egg.

Maybe we should give it to my brother then.  

He's been working hard and he needs more food. 

Thank you, sister. I'll try to work harder so that we can have more eggs to eat.

I'm very grateful, son. A blind man's  life isn't easy... The light in my life is the love of my children. 

They were so kind to one another... I wanted to be part of their family. I learned to speak by  

listening to them in hiding. I discovered books lost in the forest and learned how to read. And  

at that time I finally found out why people ran away from me. I saw my own face in a pond and...  

I'm really ugly! I didn't want to frighten this family. I had to find a way to talk to them.

I thought about the father. He was blind and so he wouldn't see me. One day, using all my courage,  

I knocked at the door... Who's there? Come in. 

Please excuse me, Sir. I've been travelling and I was wondering if I could rest here for a while. 

Sure. I can't see and my children, who take care of me, are not here at the moment,  

or I'd offer you some food.  

Do not worry yourself, 

kind man. I'm looking for some friends and I fear these good people won't accept me. 

That's sad. But if these friends are good people, can't you persuade them to accept you? 

I plan to start doing it now. But they believe that I want to harm them… 

You sound honest. I can try and help you. Who are your friends? 

Oh, Sir. You are the first person who has been kind to me! 

Just a minute... I can hear my children coming.

Oh, no! They'll see me! Please, take care of me good man! You and your family are the friends I want! 

Are we? Who are you?

The door opened and there they were - the old  

man's two children. Did they kiss me? Did they run away? That's what I'm going to tell you next time.