The Silent Scream of the Straw Man

by Corinne F. Gerwe

  “As you can see, Chief, I put him back together before doing my examination. He was quite a mess when they brought him in. I put the crime scene photos on the instrument table next to his body, so you can do a comparison. He almost looks human lying there, doesn’t he, except for his face? I’ve been keeping it covered because, to tell you the truth, it scares me every time I come into this room.”

  Drake left them alone with the straw man to finish his report.

  Dev looked at Farley and said, “He’s a strange one, that lad, but seems capable.”

  Farley almost cracked a smile. “I am not going to call this thing a he.”

  Dev replied, “Maybe Jacob has a point. Making it seem real might help us learn something about the killer. For example, Jeff, what do you see when you look at the scarecrow? What can you teach me about it? The people in Serena seem to love them. Almost every garden and farm in the community has one.”

  “I suppose my first thought would be that it’s something folks have been doing for generations, a custom. Around these parts, some take pains to give them character, each are a little different in appearance. I’ve never seen one made to look like this,” Farley replied.

  Dev studied the face and then the crime scene photos. Farley watched him, knowing he would analyze the mutilation differently than he had. Dev understood things he could not fathom; he was a man of remarkable depth and sensitivity. There would be no hasty deduction. He would need time to process his observations with relevance to the investigation. Hopefully, not too much time.

  Dev turned from the macabre burlap face and said, “Jeff, do you have time to come for dinner tonight. I’d like to discuss the case with Kate. She’s been a bit jumpy since you stopped by to talk about the murder. I haven’t had a chance to tell you that we have a guest staying with us who is part of the film company. Kate had no concern about him until overhearing us talking about the crime scene. That started her worrying about me and having a stranger in our home.”

  Dev went on to explain about Steven Frye being a friend of a former colleague without breaking confidentiality regarding his treatment.

  Farley replied, “I guess it’s natural for her to get nervous now and then after all that happened when you first came here. I’m sorry I stopped in like that without thinking.”

  “It’s not that, Jeff. We should have thought to include her. She is, after all, a respected professional. Instead, she was a wife who happened to overhear her husband being asked his opinion about a grizzly crime scene. That’s what triggered the worry. It is much better for Kate to be involved than excluded. I want to include her in the investigation, focusing on the scarecrow, as I am doing now, rather than the murder. I know her, Jeff. She is tougher than she realizes. The desire to live in a world where nothing bad ever happens again is not uncommon after a traumatic experience. For some who have suffered great loss, the fear of loss can become an obsession. I don’t want this to happen to her. I won’t let it happen. You have a murderer to catch and if I am to help you, Kate must be involved.”

  “What time should I be there for dinner?”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  AURA LEE WAS STILL HARD at it when Farley returned mid-afternoon. He was starting to get concerned.

  “Aura Lee, have you been to lunch?”

  “Yes I have, Chief, but don’t be getting your hopes up. I haven’t found out one thing about the Gaithers. It’s no use when alls everybody wants to talk about is that movie being made. They got them extras all fitted out in costumes now and some have even been put to work. Do you know they even get paid when they’re standing around doing nothing? Hettie Darnell told me there’s been some fussin’ right from the beginning. One of the extras got let go right off. Course it’s natural for jealousy to be brewing when some get to do more than others. But you will never believe who got picked out of the litter and is already working out at the compound.”

  Farley almost asked, “Who?” during her brief pause, but she continued before he had the chance.

  “Do you remember a young fellow named Zach Tanner, the one Deputy Purdy had such a time with a couple years ago? You remember, Chief. Thinks he’s a Romeo. He beat up his girlfriend and then she refused to press charges and he threatened to sue Purdy for false arrest. I heard she finally broke up with him. Then he moved in with Marty Bowling’s ex-wife, Margaret, who from what I hear supports him, even though he can’t keep a job and is seen out and about with other women. She’s older than him and probably thinks she has to put up with his running around. Seems she’d have more sense. He’s a bad lot if you ask me. I don’t care how good-looking he is. If ever a man laid a hand on me that would be the end of him, that’s for sure. Now he’s got himself hired for the movie, probably putting on a good front for all them movie people. Course, they don’t live such perfect lives, either.

  “It’s a shame that out of all the nice folks we have around here, they’d pick him. Who would have believed he’d show up at the auditions in the first place? He probably thought he could make some easy money. His reputation is so bad he doesn’t have the nerve to show his face around town. You know how it is, Chief. They don’t know enough about him. He’s as much a stranger to them as they are to us.”

  Farley thought Aura Lee had made a good point. They knew nothing about Zach Tanner except what he’d told them or filled out on their form. He thought of Kate and her concerns about having a stranger in the house, someone she and Dev knew only through another person. Eleanor and Willis Gaither were like strangers in their own community, even Aura Lee couldn’t find out anything about them. He considered the film company; they were all strangers, although a few of them were known to the world.

  “Aura Lee, call Eleanor Gaither and make an appointment for her to come in tomorrow morning for questioning. Let her know that Deputy Purdy will pick her up and take her home if necessary.”

  Eleanor Gaither was at present his number one suspect, despite his doubts about her guilt.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Once I said to a scarecrow, “You must be tired of standing in this lonely field.”

  And he said, “The joy of scaring is a deep and lasting one, and I never tire of it.”

  Said I, after a minute of thought, “It is true; for I too have known that joy.”

  Said he, “Only those who are stuffed with straw can know it.”

  Then I left him, not knowing whether he had complimented or belittled

  me. A year passed, during which the scarecrow turned philosopher.

  And when I passed by him again I saw two crows building a nest under his hat.

  - Kahlil Gibran

  WHEN KATE CAME HOME THAT afternoon, Dev greeted her in overalls covered with mud. He took her by the hand and led her to the back yard to show her the first two rows of low rockwork embankments he had built into the sloping hillside

  “You see, Katie, you’ll be able to plant your flowers along here and they’ll have enough soil depth to take root. I was hoping to have another rock wall done, but had an interruption. I’ll tell you about it as we go in. Then, I’ll get cleaned up and help you with dinner. I hope you don’t mind. We’re having a guest.”

  She stopped abruptly and looked at him, “Do you mean Steve?”

  “No, Katie. Jeff Farley. Come on, I’ll explain.”

  Kate replied, “I’m the one who should explain. We’re having two. This morning I felt guilty for having second thoughts about Steve, so before leaving for the university, I slipped a note under his door inviting him to join us for dinner. I left a note for you, too, which you’ll find on the kitchen table. You must have missed it before leaving.”

  Dev understood the courage it had taken Kate to move beyond her fears. He had the same fears but would not allow them to take hold. They could not live out their lives in a safe cocoon because of what they’d experienced. She’d come to that conclusion before inviting Steve to dinner. He’d come to it when deciding she would not be left out of his efforts to help Jeff. H
e wanted her mind and her heart included in everything he did. It was his job to protect her.

  Dev thought about calling Jeff to reschedule but reconsidered, thinking it might be an opportunity for all of them to get to know Steve. He checked with Jeff, who agreed that Kate should know beforehand why he’d been invited. That would eliminate a discussion about her involvement in the investigation during dinner. Instead, after getting acquainted with Steve, they could talk about scarecrow mythology and share what each knew on the subject. After all, Steve was a writer and could bring a literary perspective to the conversation.

  As evening approached, Dev was pleased to see Kate in a lively mood. His talk with her, after calling Jeff, had eased her anxiety and enlivened her curiosity. Having removed herself from the problem, she became excited about the prospect of finding a solution to the mysterious case at hand.

  Kate called to him from the kitchen, “Darling, they’ll be here soon. Let’s plan to have everyone gather around the fireplace after dinner. I don’t think Jeff can keep those long legs of his scrunched up under the dining room table for more than an hour. It’s already getting chilly. Could you turn on the gas logs? I didn’t have time for more than cheese and crackers for an appetizer, but the beef goulash and warm yeast rolls will make up for it. There’s nothing like comfort food to satisfy the appetite while putting everyone at ease, and the pumpkin pie you picked up from the bakery looks delicious. I put notepaper on the coffee table in case we come up with something useful for Jeff. You’d better lead the discussion and I’ll take notes.”

  Dev let her ramble on without comment knowing that her mind was in high gear. There wasn’t a peep from the avian crowd, sleepy and soothed by the warmth and smells filling the kitchen.

  Steve was the first to arrive, having come the short distance from the guest room. Again, he’d brought flowers, and a large round wooden container tied with twine.

  “I cannot take credit for these, Kate. I was introduced to your friend, Penelope Cather, today on the set. I don’t know why, but I told her about staying here and having dinner with you and Dev tonight. Before I left for the day, she had one of her staff deliver the flowers and this box of, I’m not sure what, to give to you.”

  “Thank you, Steve. That is like, Pen. You will find her quite remarkable,” Kate said.

  Kate put the flowers in a vase, and then opened the box. Inside was a large assortment of dried fruits and nuts, encircling layers of smoked trout and salmon, arranged in a pinwheel around a horseradish artichoke dip.

  Kate laughed, “This is what I mean about Miss Pen. She’s put my cheese and crackers to shame.”

  Steve added, “She’s done more than that. Our director is so smitten he stopped setting up a scene to talk with her about his lunch menu.”

  Kate smiled knowingly then replied, “He is probably under her spell.”

  Dev added, “Or Mamma Phoebe’s. I don’t think she’s as retired as she has everyone believing.”

  Steve asked, “Mamma Phoebe? You mean the old healer woman we’re not supposed to include in the screenplay.”

  Dev replied, “Yes. But she’s another story, Steve. We’ve got other superstitions to talk about tonight.”

  He went on to explain why their friend, and Chief of Police, was also invited. Steve appeared intrigued and said he had read about the murder in the paper and how they were playing up the scarecrow angle. Before he could go on, the doorbell rang.

  After introductions, Steve and Jeff Farley got acquainted over the delicious appetizers, while Dev helped Kate in the kitchen. Steve had been given the option of bowing out of the after-dinner conversation and Farley had been given the option of postponing discussion about the scarecrow element of the case if he didn’t feel comfortable with Steve. Those options were discarded before the goulash was served.

  During dinner, Kate asked Steve about progress on the movie set, adding that they rarely had a chance to hear about real movie-making and its intrigues. He said he was sorry to disappoint her but could not come up with one scandal to share so far, asking her to be patient because they were in the early stages of filming. He described the challenge of trying to keep up with daily script and story-line changes with his usual wit and humor. He expressed gratitude for being able to return to a peaceful haven each night to write. He seemed oblivious to being scrutinized.

  Farley had been listening and observing Steve with the suspicious notion of finding fault. When Dev had called to let him know Steve would be there, he’d almost cancelled. Dev had reminded him that the case, referred to by the press as The Scarecrow Murder, was no secret. Farley had reconsidered for another reason entirely. He thought Steve might be a valuable contact to have on the movie set and wanted to check him out.

  He’d been meaning to drive out to the McCabe compound as a matter of routine but hadn’t had the time. It had been nagging him that Zack Tanner was working there. Aura Lee was usually right about people, particularly when making dire warnings. He was relieved to learn there were no problems on the set, and that he’d been right about Steve being a source of information. Nevertheless, he wasn’t ready to let Steve in on it, not yet.

  He had asked Deputy Purdy to do some checking on Tanner’s recent activities. He’d been staying under the radar and avoiding trouble for some time. Maybe he had cleaned up his act, and maybe Steve was all he seemed to be, too. Farley decided to put his suspicions aside for the time being and enjoy his dessert.

  There was a cozy atmosphere in the lovely room that had once been half the main body of the church. The reflective glow of chandelier crystals sparkling under tiny pale lampshades cast light patterns across the ivory-colored walls. The burnished color and warmth from the flickering flames had a soothing effect on everyone. It was a dark moonless night, the wind gaining velocity, the possibility of rain. It felt good to be inside and in good company. Dev took the lead and began.

  “First of all, the topic of discussion is not the murder investigation, but an aspect of it. It is common knowledge by now that the victim was tied to the post of a scarecrow and the face of the scarecrow altered for a reason known only to the killer. Whatever the reason, both Jeff and I came to realize that the custom of placing a scarecrow in a garden has a long history behind it and it could be beneficial to the investigation to know more about why people continue to do this and what a straw man might symbolize. We’ve gathered tonight to brainstorm, if you will, so I thought I’d start with my bit of research, and then whoever has anything to add, please do.

  “The scarecrow we know today is typically a man made of clothing stuffed with hay placed on a stake in the garden to scare off crows from the fields and protect the crops. Historically, the scarecrow came to be intrinsically linked with harvest. In ancient times, Halloween was originally a harvest festival therefore scarecrows became part of Halloween symbolism. During the days of the early tribes, scarecrows were used during harvesting rituals and took many forms. The Vanir were Norse gods of protection and prosperity, keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Some villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields. Other villages practiced human sacrifice. These scarecrows were nothing like the ones we see in fields today. They were sometimes made with animal skulls or rotted vegetation. Through the ages they were made to reflect images of the occult, of customs, culture, mythology, superstitions, or religion.

  “Scarecrows that were made with religious significance, hung with arms outstretched on a wooden cross, represented the crucifixion. In addition to mirroring Christ on the cross, they may have also served as a severe warning, a No Trespassing symbol, or a sacrifice; an offering in turn for fertile fields. To a farmer they may simply be a symbol of the death and resurrection of the crops.

  “In Eurasia, the Gothic scarecrow evolved from the ancient practice of making a straw effigy that represented agricultural deities or spirits and were part of pre-Christian fertility rites. Because of the personification of the scarecrow as having protective instincts as protector of
the fields and its association with fertility rites, the scarecrow came to be seen as a protector of young children.

  “During the spring season of seeding and planting, children were sent into the fields with wooden clappers to frighten flocks of birds from plucking the newly-planted seeds from the earth. Then the Great Plague came, resulting in the death of many children, requiring adults to take their place guarding the crops. But the adults watched from straw huts or wooden lookouts and for practical purposes, human-like effigies took their place in the fields. They became known by many names, such as hodmedods, murmets and Hay-man, Tattie bogle or bodach-rocais meaning “old man of the rooks,” and other names as these effigies became a cultural presence throughout the world.

  “In the oldest surviving book in Japan compiled in the year 712, a scarecrow known as Kuebiko is described as a deity who cannot walk, yet knows everything about the world. Among the first field gods were Japanese kakashi, a deity of knowledge and agriculture like the Kuebiko who is unable to walk and therefore simply stands in the fields. Japanese farmers began making scarecrows to protect their rice fields about the same time the Greeks and Romans made theirs into wooden statues. At first the farmers hung old rags, the dead carcasses of animals, or fish bones from bamboo poles in their fields. Then they set the sticks on fire and the smell was so bad that birds and other animals stayed away from the rice. These scarecrows were called kakashis, which means something that smells badly. Eventually, they made scarecrows that looked like people, dressing them in raincoats made of reeds and round straw hats that rose to a peak in the middle. Bows and arrows were often added to make them look more threatening.

  “The farmers worshipped the kakashis as the physical representatives of the local shamanic mountain god. They prayed to the god of agriculture to leave his home in the mountains each spring and enter their scarecrows. When possessed by the mountain god, the kakashi scarecrows could see everything, and the birds that landed on them whispered secrets to the god. When the autumn harvest was completed, they were taken down and stacked in a pile. The farmers prepared rice cakes to thank the god for his service and to provide food for his long journey back to the mountains. After the rice cakes were placed around the kakashi, the pile was set ablaze and the god was released to return to the otherworld in winter. The ceremony is known as The Ascent of the Scarecrow and is usually held on the tenth day of the tenth lunar month.