Post by Jack Trove on Jun 14, 2009 21:17:02 GMT
ooc: Set the day after the battle. Sorta like... follow-up to explain what's happening in Orchid. Hope it helps!
“Any questions, Mr Trove?”
“Eh, yeah,” he scratched his head, hotly uncomfortable under Hoodham’s piercing gaze, “several.”
It was the day after the battle, and Jack couldn’t have been more exhausted. His injuries- most of them- had been recovered, but he couldn’t say his emotions had been. This morning, when he’d looked out his Dorm window, the charred remains of the forest had shocked him horribly. In his sleep-deprived state, Jack had honestly been convinced that there’d been vandals running around school property… until, that was, the gory details of the battle began to slip back to him, and he remembered that he was in fact the one responsible for the fire.
Students were moving slowly, many sporting injuries. When they saw Jack, he was hounded with their questions.
“What next, Jack?” they kept asking, and Jack kept having to shake his head and tell them the same old answer: “I don’t know.”
He’d eventually grown so tired of it, he’d had to turn to Jude for help. The good friend had consented to stay with him for the day, lending Jack some of that invisibility he was so lucky to have. Jack had decided after a couple of hours of just hanging out with Jude- though neither had spoken much- to go and visit Kira, and see how the Head of the Spies was faring.
Jack left Jude to go and see her around noon, and was surprised and mildly impressed to see her sitting up, awake, alert and snappy.
“Oh, Jack,” she’d relaxed when she’d seen his Head above the milling Carers. “There you are. Hoodham wants to talk to us.”
“To us?” Jack frowned. “What for?”
Kira had shaken her head. “You’re a Head, now, Jack. Better get used to it- get off- what are you tugging at my bandages for?!”
The Carer had squeaked and ran away. Jack slipped into the gap the Carer left, and peered at Kira closely.
She looked as bad as he felt. Her blonde hair hung limp, sticking to her forehead with sweat. Purple pools swam beneath her eyes; her cheeks looked hollow; her arms lifeless. Where Carers were pulling at her clothing, Jack caught images of the bandages that were wrapped around her torso. Three times, they said she’d been stabbed. Three. And every time- the lucky girl- her vital organs had been missed.
She was putting up a good show, but the tight lines around her mouth told Jack that she was in severe pain.
Kira’s grumpy mood was soon explained. Hoodham had requested to speak with her, and Nurse Gornray (backed up by a band of Carers) was refusing to let her out of the Hospital Wing. Eventually- after a lot of negotiating and a lot of tears on a couple of Carers’ parts- an exhausted Gornray let Kira go up to the office with Jack.
Under these conditions:
1. She was brought up by stretcher.
2. She attended with three Carers- one for each wound.
3. She did not over-exert herself in any way, shape or form.
So, off they went. A strange group, perhaps, but their methods were sufficient. Kira submitted to the Carers and let them fuss over her; too weak to protest. She was carried first into Hoodham’s office, and when she came out, her eyes were closed; her expression unfathomable.
Now it was Jack’s turn.
Prof. Hoodham nodded. “Well?”
“Why don’t I care about Sophie?”
“Ah,” Hoodham looked slightly surprised, perhaps because this was the first question Jack had asked. Jack supposed it didn’t really seem like a priority… but, hell, it felt like one to Jack. The insane emotional impact of the possibility that the girl was dead was all it took for Jack to temporarily cave to insanity and face off with the late Reuben Knight.
Within minutes of this face-off, Sophie had been shot down beside him. This time, dead for sure.
But he hadn’t cared.
He’d flinched.
And that was it.
He’d kept talking.
What the hell happened?!
“Have you ever heard of hypnosis?”
… what?
“Hypnosis is that thing Kira does.”
“Miss Norris,” Hoodham leaned backwards in his chair, “is very skilled in the area, yes. Hers is a special sort- an enchantment by… a look. A focus. A stare that hooks one under.”
Jack knew all too well about that look of hers. It was the reason Kira Norris was the only person alive (aside from Jack) who knew without a doubt he was still a virgin.
“Sophie didn’t… hypnotise people?” What had originally intended to be a statement became a question. He felt a little abashed. He’d felt certain he knew the girl better than that.
“No,” Hoodham sighed, “not… consciously. Miss Mathieu possessed what is known as a dormant power. I believe this was what… ah, effected many of our male students so profoundly- in particular, you.”
“I was… under a spell?” His eyebrows lifted. He felt sure the news should carry more impact than it did. Yet… honestly? It wasn’t a surprised.
It fitted, actually. His infatuation with Sophie had been at times… obsessive. Unrealistic. Nothing like the days when his life was a sweet balance of Olivia, rugby and Warrior training. Sophie had obscured and obliterated most of his life and most of himself, too, as a person.
“Kira didn’t like her.” This thought was sudden. Jack watched Hoodham jump forward slightly, a little too quickly.
Steadying himself on his oak desk, Hoodham’s joints knitted together thoughtfully. “My,” he spoke softly, “so her instincts are sharper than even I thoug… Mr Trove, are you aware that those who possess hypnosis are immune to others with it?”
“No, sir,” Jack frowned, but again, was Hoodham was saying made sense.
“Indeed, Mr Trove…” Hoodham said, but as he spoke, his eyes did not meet Jack’s, but rested on a spot somewhere to the left of Jack’s head, as though Hoodham were more talking to himself than to the Warrior 2i/c. “Miss Norris was perhaps the only person to see Miss Mathieu as she really was…”
… hadn’t Kira called her a French skank?!
Jack shook the thought from his mind. “But… Hoo- Professor, I don’t understand. Why should Sophie’s powers have effected… me, like that?”
“I believe, Mr Trove,” Hoodham’s hand slid over a file on the desk Jack had not noticed before. Across its beige cover were the small, typed letters, ‘Sophie Isabelle Mathieu’. “I… believe the girl had a troubled background, as do many of our students. She came to Orchid Hill for a fresh start, again, as do so many others. However… the only explanation I can think of for the strange way in which her powers manifested themselves is this- Sophie wanted to be loved. She wanted boys to watch her, and she wanted girls to envy her. And so… she made them.”
Jack let the news wash over him for a couple of seconds. Yes. Yes, it made sense. He wished it didn’t make so much sense, actually- it almost seemed to obvious. All that stuff he’d said and felt… had manifested due to the selfish desire of one girl to be liked?
That was sad. He didn’t care what sort of background she had.
That was sad, and he wanted nothing more than to forget it.
Fortunately, as no real emotions were attached to any of the situation… he was able to.
“She genuinely cared about you, Jack,” Hoodham’s eyes were boring into his, now, “she wasn’t aware of her power. It would not have effected you so if she hadn’t really loved you.”
Professor Hoodham’s use of his first name made Jack hotly uncomfortable. It felt too familiar; overly so. Unnatural. As did the way Hoodham’s stare’s sudden increased in intensity.
Why was he watching him like that?
Jack cleared his throat. “Ah… Professor. What about the forest?”
Hoodham blinked, the tension broke, and Jack’s shoulders relaxed.
“Ah. That. Extreme, wasn’t it?”
The tension crept back into Jack’s body as he shifted uncomfortably. “Wasn’t my idea.”
“Mr Dorrian told me you wanted to burn the whole forest down.”
One of these days, Jack swore he was gonna kill that Cowboy.
“I wouldn’t have, really,” Jack muttered, adding a quick, “sir,” at the end of his sentence to soften the note of impertinence to his tone.
“You’re lucky, Mr Trove,” said Hoodham dryly and Jack breathed an inward sigh of relief at the sound of his surname once more, “Miss Wright has agreed to spare you this time under the circumstances. The SCR has consented to helping our Carers repair the wreckage caused by the fire so that the Hospital Wing doesn’t go… understaffed.”
Jack nodded. Well, that was good. Even if it meant toerags like Levi Ryder would be running around the forest.
“Other students,” Jack decided to ignore Hoodham’s pointed stare here, “may also volunteer to help if they so wish in order to allow more Carers the freedom to work alongside Nurse Gornray.”
Another nod. “Okay… and Kira?”
“The Head of the Spies will make a full recovery,” Hoodham beamed, and Jack felt a knot loosen slightly in his chest. “In the meantime, I have asked her to order her Spies to continue their look-out duties. Miss Norris… would’ve liked to act otherwise, but she understands how volatile our current position is and has agreed to act accordingly.”
Jack bit his lip. “So… we’re really doing nothing?”
This had been what he was afraid of. A total lack of action. Passive resistance. Stepping back and leaving Madeleine to stew whilst they all watched the camps from afar.
Nothing.
Nothing.
For Chrissake… didn’t the school students feel useless enough as it was?
A muscle jumped in Hoodham’s jaw. “Nothing, I believe, Mr Trove, is an exaggeration.”
Jack reddened. “I didn’t-”
“The Spies will remain on look-out duty. The Warriors will continue training. The Carers are working round the clock. The Academics are discussing new strategies. Meanwhile, I and the staff are doing our utmost to assist you students- and that includes the appointment of several ex-Heads here at the school to offer experienced advice to you and the three other Heads.”
… ex-Heads?
“Ex-Heads?” he blinked. “Really?! Wow- wait- how many? Which ones- there’s loads…”
He cast back, trying to pick out names. He remembered Madeleine’s predecessor- Hugh Sanders, a muscle-bound, sword-fighting genius with a uni-brow. He had served from 2005-07. But Jack reckoned it couldn’t be him. He knew for a fact Hugh had decided to live a more peaceful life after his time as Head, and when he’d left school and headed immediately for the North Pole to save polar bears.
Then before Hugh… ah! Harry Jenkins. A weak follow-up of his predecessor. Hoodham wouldn't bring him back on principle. The dude started 2003 and quit after 8 months. His 2i/c had had to take over until Hugh's appointment in 2005.
Before that there was famous James Bradley- a personal hero of Jack’s- who had served 2000-03. But James was in the Sahara war zone… so it couldn’t be him…
Then before James there was Andrew Paver-
“Mr Trove,” Hoodham raised an eyebrow, and Jack blinked.
“Oh! Yes, sir? Professor?”
“Mr Trove, I cannot disclose that information at present. However, I do know that they will be arriving within the month.”
The month? Flip! Jack felt a thrill of excitement.
Then he thought of Madeleine. God. What she wouldn’t give to meet an ex-Head-
“Do you understand your instructions?”
Jack nodded dumbly in response. “Yes sir.”
Hoodham didn’t look convinced. “Keep training the Warriors. Keep morale up. Do not give away details of this meeting- simply tell them that you are following orders.”
“But, sir,” Jack looked up, “they’ve got questions. About services for the people they’ve lost. About… Madeleine and what to do next. They want to take action. Maybe if-”
“There is no maybe, here, Jack.”
There it was again. That horrible familiarity which made Jack want to writhe back into his seat. He supposed it was Hoodham’s way of trying to be, ‘understanding’. But to Jack, it felt almost condescending.
“I know how you’re feeling-”
The hell you do.
“- but the staff think that this is the best course of action-”
You mean you think.
“- for the school. We cannot hope to bring back the Head of the Warriors without proper consideration and planning. You of all people must appreciate the value of time for preparation- especially after the experience of the last battle.”
Jack couldn’t argue with that. He dropped Hoodham’s gaze. It was a long pause before either spoke again.
“You may go, now, Mr Trove.”
Jack’s head snapped up. A million arguments swam forward but they must’ve all gotten in each others’ way, because Jack’s throat stuck, and all he managed was a vague grunt.
“Yes, Mr Trove…” Hoodham said vaguely, but he’d already moved onto looking through more files. He leaned behind his desk and pulled out a long, unnaturally tidy drawer, in which Jack spied many beige folders just like it. Hoodham set Sophie’s face-down at the front of the drawer, and closed it.
Jack let himself out of the office.
Kira was waiting for him. The Carers had set her stretcher down against the wall, and allowed Kira to lean up her back against it, so that she was sitting. No students had passed, and Kira was resting. Her breathing was shallow, and her eyelids were fluttering.
“Y’know,” one Carer was saying to another, “her removal was against all procedures. Look! She’s exhausted!”
“Nurse Gornray’s under a lot of pressure,” the other replied, “and Norris was putting up a hell of a fight. I guess-”
Jack cleared his throat. The Carers jumped.
“Trove! Sir, I-”
“Is Kira awake?”
“N-no-”
“Yes.” One bleary blue eye fluttered open. “Jack.”
He dropped to his knees. “Yes?”
“What’d he say? Did he- did he change his mind?”
He didn’t need to ask what she meant. “No. Nothing. We’re doing nothing.”
Her eyes closed once more. “Bástard.”
Feeling an unexpected upsurge of affection for his fellow Head, Jack began to laugh.
At least it gave him some relief.
“Any questions, Mr Trove?”
“Eh, yeah,” he scratched his head, hotly uncomfortable under Hoodham’s piercing gaze, “several.”
It was the day after the battle, and Jack couldn’t have been more exhausted. His injuries- most of them- had been recovered, but he couldn’t say his emotions had been. This morning, when he’d looked out his Dorm window, the charred remains of the forest had shocked him horribly. In his sleep-deprived state, Jack had honestly been convinced that there’d been vandals running around school property… until, that was, the gory details of the battle began to slip back to him, and he remembered that he was in fact the one responsible for the fire.
Students were moving slowly, many sporting injuries. When they saw Jack, he was hounded with their questions.
“What next, Jack?” they kept asking, and Jack kept having to shake his head and tell them the same old answer: “I don’t know.”
He’d eventually grown so tired of it, he’d had to turn to Jude for help. The good friend had consented to stay with him for the day, lending Jack some of that invisibility he was so lucky to have. Jack had decided after a couple of hours of just hanging out with Jude- though neither had spoken much- to go and visit Kira, and see how the Head of the Spies was faring.
Jack left Jude to go and see her around noon, and was surprised and mildly impressed to see her sitting up, awake, alert and snappy.
“Oh, Jack,” she’d relaxed when she’d seen his Head above the milling Carers. “There you are. Hoodham wants to talk to us.”
“To us?” Jack frowned. “What for?”
Kira had shaken her head. “You’re a Head, now, Jack. Better get used to it- get off- what are you tugging at my bandages for?!”
The Carer had squeaked and ran away. Jack slipped into the gap the Carer left, and peered at Kira closely.
She looked as bad as he felt. Her blonde hair hung limp, sticking to her forehead with sweat. Purple pools swam beneath her eyes; her cheeks looked hollow; her arms lifeless. Where Carers were pulling at her clothing, Jack caught images of the bandages that were wrapped around her torso. Three times, they said she’d been stabbed. Three. And every time- the lucky girl- her vital organs had been missed.
She was putting up a good show, but the tight lines around her mouth told Jack that she was in severe pain.
Kira’s grumpy mood was soon explained. Hoodham had requested to speak with her, and Nurse Gornray (backed up by a band of Carers) was refusing to let her out of the Hospital Wing. Eventually- after a lot of negotiating and a lot of tears on a couple of Carers’ parts- an exhausted Gornray let Kira go up to the office with Jack.
Under these conditions:
1. She was brought up by stretcher.
2. She attended with three Carers- one for each wound.
3. She did not over-exert herself in any way, shape or form.
So, off they went. A strange group, perhaps, but their methods were sufficient. Kira submitted to the Carers and let them fuss over her; too weak to protest. She was carried first into Hoodham’s office, and when she came out, her eyes were closed; her expression unfathomable.
Now it was Jack’s turn.
Prof. Hoodham nodded. “Well?”
“Why don’t I care about Sophie?”
“Ah,” Hoodham looked slightly surprised, perhaps because this was the first question Jack had asked. Jack supposed it didn’t really seem like a priority… but, hell, it felt like one to Jack. The insane emotional impact of the possibility that the girl was dead was all it took for Jack to temporarily cave to insanity and face off with the late Reuben Knight.
Within minutes of this face-off, Sophie had been shot down beside him. This time, dead for sure.
But he hadn’t cared.
He’d flinched.
And that was it.
He’d kept talking.
What the hell happened?!
“Have you ever heard of hypnosis?”
… what?
“Hypnosis is that thing Kira does.”
“Miss Norris,” Hoodham leaned backwards in his chair, “is very skilled in the area, yes. Hers is a special sort- an enchantment by… a look. A focus. A stare that hooks one under.”
Jack knew all too well about that look of hers. It was the reason Kira Norris was the only person alive (aside from Jack) who knew without a doubt he was still a virgin.
“Sophie didn’t… hypnotise people?” What had originally intended to be a statement became a question. He felt a little abashed. He’d felt certain he knew the girl better than that.
“No,” Hoodham sighed, “not… consciously. Miss Mathieu possessed what is known as a dormant power. I believe this was what… ah, effected many of our male students so profoundly- in particular, you.”
“I was… under a spell?” His eyebrows lifted. He felt sure the news should carry more impact than it did. Yet… honestly? It wasn’t a surprised.
It fitted, actually. His infatuation with Sophie had been at times… obsessive. Unrealistic. Nothing like the days when his life was a sweet balance of Olivia, rugby and Warrior training. Sophie had obscured and obliterated most of his life and most of himself, too, as a person.
“Kira didn’t like her.” This thought was sudden. Jack watched Hoodham jump forward slightly, a little too quickly.
Steadying himself on his oak desk, Hoodham’s joints knitted together thoughtfully. “My,” he spoke softly, “so her instincts are sharper than even I thoug… Mr Trove, are you aware that those who possess hypnosis are immune to others with it?”
“No, sir,” Jack frowned, but again, was Hoodham was saying made sense.
“Indeed, Mr Trove…” Hoodham said, but as he spoke, his eyes did not meet Jack’s, but rested on a spot somewhere to the left of Jack’s head, as though Hoodham were more talking to himself than to the Warrior 2i/c. “Miss Norris was perhaps the only person to see Miss Mathieu as she really was…”
… hadn’t Kira called her a French skank?!
Jack shook the thought from his mind. “But… Hoo- Professor, I don’t understand. Why should Sophie’s powers have effected… me, like that?”
“I believe, Mr Trove,” Hoodham’s hand slid over a file on the desk Jack had not noticed before. Across its beige cover were the small, typed letters, ‘Sophie Isabelle Mathieu’. “I… believe the girl had a troubled background, as do many of our students. She came to Orchid Hill for a fresh start, again, as do so many others. However… the only explanation I can think of for the strange way in which her powers manifested themselves is this- Sophie wanted to be loved. She wanted boys to watch her, and she wanted girls to envy her. And so… she made them.”
Jack let the news wash over him for a couple of seconds. Yes. Yes, it made sense. He wished it didn’t make so much sense, actually- it almost seemed to obvious. All that stuff he’d said and felt… had manifested due to the selfish desire of one girl to be liked?
That was sad. He didn’t care what sort of background she had.
That was sad, and he wanted nothing more than to forget it.
Fortunately, as no real emotions were attached to any of the situation… he was able to.
“She genuinely cared about you, Jack,” Hoodham’s eyes were boring into his, now, “she wasn’t aware of her power. It would not have effected you so if she hadn’t really loved you.”
Professor Hoodham’s use of his first name made Jack hotly uncomfortable. It felt too familiar; overly so. Unnatural. As did the way Hoodham’s stare’s sudden increased in intensity.
Why was he watching him like that?
Jack cleared his throat. “Ah… Professor. What about the forest?”
Hoodham blinked, the tension broke, and Jack’s shoulders relaxed.
“Ah. That. Extreme, wasn’t it?”
The tension crept back into Jack’s body as he shifted uncomfortably. “Wasn’t my idea.”
“Mr Dorrian told me you wanted to burn the whole forest down.”
One of these days, Jack swore he was gonna kill that Cowboy.
“I wouldn’t have, really,” Jack muttered, adding a quick, “sir,” at the end of his sentence to soften the note of impertinence to his tone.
“You’re lucky, Mr Trove,” said Hoodham dryly and Jack breathed an inward sigh of relief at the sound of his surname once more, “Miss Wright has agreed to spare you this time under the circumstances. The SCR has consented to helping our Carers repair the wreckage caused by the fire so that the Hospital Wing doesn’t go… understaffed.”
Jack nodded. Well, that was good. Even if it meant toerags like Levi Ryder would be running around the forest.
“Other students,” Jack decided to ignore Hoodham’s pointed stare here, “may also volunteer to help if they so wish in order to allow more Carers the freedom to work alongside Nurse Gornray.”
Another nod. “Okay… and Kira?”
“The Head of the Spies will make a full recovery,” Hoodham beamed, and Jack felt a knot loosen slightly in his chest. “In the meantime, I have asked her to order her Spies to continue their look-out duties. Miss Norris… would’ve liked to act otherwise, but she understands how volatile our current position is and has agreed to act accordingly.”
Jack bit his lip. “So… we’re really doing nothing?”
This had been what he was afraid of. A total lack of action. Passive resistance. Stepping back and leaving Madeleine to stew whilst they all watched the camps from afar.
Nothing.
Nothing.
For Chrissake… didn’t the school students feel useless enough as it was?
A muscle jumped in Hoodham’s jaw. “Nothing, I believe, Mr Trove, is an exaggeration.”
Jack reddened. “I didn’t-”
“The Spies will remain on look-out duty. The Warriors will continue training. The Carers are working round the clock. The Academics are discussing new strategies. Meanwhile, I and the staff are doing our utmost to assist you students- and that includes the appointment of several ex-Heads here at the school to offer experienced advice to you and the three other Heads.”
… ex-Heads?
“Ex-Heads?” he blinked. “Really?! Wow- wait- how many? Which ones- there’s loads…”
He cast back, trying to pick out names. He remembered Madeleine’s predecessor- Hugh Sanders, a muscle-bound, sword-fighting genius with a uni-brow. He had served from 2005-07. But Jack reckoned it couldn’t be him. He knew for a fact Hugh had decided to live a more peaceful life after his time as Head, and when he’d left school and headed immediately for the North Pole to save polar bears.
Then before Hugh… ah! Harry Jenkins. A weak follow-up of his predecessor. Hoodham wouldn't bring him back on principle. The dude started 2003 and quit after 8 months. His 2i/c had had to take over until Hugh's appointment in 2005.
Before that there was famous James Bradley- a personal hero of Jack’s- who had served 2000-03. But James was in the Sahara war zone… so it couldn’t be him…
Then before James there was Andrew Paver-
“Mr Trove,” Hoodham raised an eyebrow, and Jack blinked.
“Oh! Yes, sir? Professor?”
“Mr Trove, I cannot disclose that information at present. However, I do know that they will be arriving within the month.”
The month? Flip! Jack felt a thrill of excitement.
Then he thought of Madeleine. God. What she wouldn’t give to meet an ex-Head-
“Do you understand your instructions?”
Jack nodded dumbly in response. “Yes sir.”
Hoodham didn’t look convinced. “Keep training the Warriors. Keep morale up. Do not give away details of this meeting- simply tell them that you are following orders.”
“But, sir,” Jack looked up, “they’ve got questions. About services for the people they’ve lost. About… Madeleine and what to do next. They want to take action. Maybe if-”
“There is no maybe, here, Jack.”
There it was again. That horrible familiarity which made Jack want to writhe back into his seat. He supposed it was Hoodham’s way of trying to be, ‘understanding’. But to Jack, it felt almost condescending.
“I know how you’re feeling-”
The hell you do.
“- but the staff think that this is the best course of action-”
You mean you think.
“- for the school. We cannot hope to bring back the Head of the Warriors without proper consideration and planning. You of all people must appreciate the value of time for preparation- especially after the experience of the last battle.”
Jack couldn’t argue with that. He dropped Hoodham’s gaze. It was a long pause before either spoke again.
“You may go, now, Mr Trove.”
Jack’s head snapped up. A million arguments swam forward but they must’ve all gotten in each others’ way, because Jack’s throat stuck, and all he managed was a vague grunt.
“Yes, Mr Trove…” Hoodham said vaguely, but he’d already moved onto looking through more files. He leaned behind his desk and pulled out a long, unnaturally tidy drawer, in which Jack spied many beige folders just like it. Hoodham set Sophie’s face-down at the front of the drawer, and closed it.
Jack let himself out of the office.
Kira was waiting for him. The Carers had set her stretcher down against the wall, and allowed Kira to lean up her back against it, so that she was sitting. No students had passed, and Kira was resting. Her breathing was shallow, and her eyelids were fluttering.
“Y’know,” one Carer was saying to another, “her removal was against all procedures. Look! She’s exhausted!”
“Nurse Gornray’s under a lot of pressure,” the other replied, “and Norris was putting up a hell of a fight. I guess-”
Jack cleared his throat. The Carers jumped.
“Trove! Sir, I-”
“Is Kira awake?”
“N-no-”
“Yes.” One bleary blue eye fluttered open. “Jack.”
He dropped to his knees. “Yes?”
“What’d he say? Did he- did he change his mind?”
He didn’t need to ask what she meant. “No. Nothing. We’re doing nothing.”
Her eyes closed once more. “Bástard.”
Feeling an unexpected upsurge of affection for his fellow Head, Jack began to laugh.
At least it gave him some relief.
