Blood Red Road

by Moira Young

  I grab onto the trunk of a dead tree as it slides past me. I pull myself up so’s at least my head’s outta the water. I hang on tight as I go rushin along on the river of mud an bones.

  Jack! I shout. Jack!

  The heavy rain means I cain’t see no further’n three arms-length in front of me. There ain’t no way of tellin how far I am from the riverbank, but I know it’s there somewhere. I gotta try to make my way over to it.

  I grit my teeth an kick hard, tryin to steer away from the middle of the river, but the current’s got other ideas. The moment I start to make headway, it snatches at my tree an whirls us off. I keep on tryin, over an over agin. But the current’s too strong fer me to fight.

  Then I start to hear another kinda roar. One that ain’t the rain, but somethin else. It reminds me of … I cain’t think what, but I know that whatever it is, I heard it not so long ago.

  The river’s gittin narrower an narrower. I’m bein carried towards a group of jagged rocks that stick up outta the water.

  I’ll try to grab holda one.

  But I’m goin too fast. As I reach the rocks, the tree trunk I’m clingin to hits the first rock an cracks in two. I lose my grip. I’m dragged unner the water. My nose fills. My mouth fills. I’m chokin. My body smashes aginst stone. Once, twice, I hit the rocks, still unnerwater. I’m tumbled every which way.

  I bob to the surface. Gasp fer air, spit out water. Grit in my mouth, on my tongue. I got nuthin to hang onto now. It’s all I can do to keep my head above water.

  The current races me downstream.

  That roarin I bin hearin … it’s gittin louder. Ever louder.

  Now I remember where I heard that sound. It was at Darktrees. The day when Maev an me went bathin.

  An my heart stops in my chest. Because I know what that sound means.

  There’s a waterfall ahead.

  Jack! I scream his name as loud as I can. Jaaaaack!

  The roar of the waterfall’s gittin louder. The river’s gittin wilder, throwin up filthy water in great sprays.

  A rock lies straight ahead. Right in the middle of the river. It’s wide an flat. Not too high. I could pull myself onto it. But it’s smooth. Nuthin to grab hold of.

  I’m there. I reach out. No! I’m bein swept past the rock! I feel the rush of the falls. Draggin at my legs. I fling my arm back. Over my head. Make a grab at the air. Grab fer anythin. There! My hand closes around somethin. My arm’s near yanked outta its socket.

  I stop.

  I’ve stopped.

  I wait there fer a second, gaspin, as the river roars around me, tuggin at my legs, frantic to rip me from my handhold an throw me over the edge of the falls.

  I hang on. My arm’s pulled backwards over my head. Whatever I got hold of, it seems strong enough. A piece of metal stickin outta the rock. Cold. Rough. Sturdy. I flip myself over, git ahold of it with my other hand too. Then slowly, fightin aginst the current with every bit of strength still in me, I manage to drag myself outta the water an onto the rock.

  I lie there. Pantin fer breath.

  I can feel the rain pound down on me but I hardly notice it. After a bit, I lift my head to see what it is that’s saved me. A iron spike. Rough an rusted. What it’s doin in this rock in the middle of this river at the top of this waterfall an who put it here, I’ll never know. I’m jest damn glad it’s here.

  I pull myself up to sit, still hangin onto that spike. Then I cain’t help myself. I peer over the side to see how close I came.

  An I start to shake.

  Because my lucky rock is hangin over the edge of the waterfall.

  Below me, the waters roar as they plunge down.

  My bowels clench an I scrabble back from the edge.

  I’m on a rock. On top of a waterfall. In the middle of a river. With no way off.

  I look down.

  The water’s still risin around me.

  If it keeps on, I’ll be swept over the falls. I got no idea how high they are.

  My teeth is chatterin from the cold, or maybe shock. I huddle in the middle of the rock. Hug my knees to my chest.

  Saba! Saba! Where are you?

  My heart leaps. A voice. Muffled by the rain, but—

  I peer through the curtain of rain, try to see where it’s comin from.

  Then I see him. He’s in the river, swimmin an bein carried along by the current. There’s a rope looped unner his armpits, tied high around his chest.

  Jack! I shout. I kneel an wave. Jack! Over here!

  He spots me.

  The next thing you know, he’s comin up right below me. I hang onto the spike with one hand an reach down with th’other.

  He grabs it. I give him a pull an he scrambles up beside me. He drags the slack of the rope outta the water an plops it onto the rock.

  That was close, he says. He sits there, pantin.

  Jack! I throw my arms around him. I’m shakin, head to foot. I never bin so glad to see anybody in my life! I says.

  He shrugs me off. Looks at me with narrowed eyes. What happened?

  I lost my … my necklace, I says. I had to go back fer it. Then I lost my footin an … well. Here I am.

  He don’t say nuthin fer a moment. Then, Did you find yer necklace?

  I can feel the heartstone burnin aginst the skin of my ankle, where I shoved it deep down inside my boot. Yeah, I says.

  Good, he says. I’d hate to think this was all fer nuthin. Well. Much as I’m enjoyin sittin here … talkin about … jewelry … I think we’ll continue this conversation somewhere safer.

  He scoots around behind me so’s I’m sittin between his legs. He loosens the slipknot on the rope around his chest.

  At least we’re even now, he says.

  Even? I says. Whaddya mean?

  He lifts the rope from around him an starts makin the loop bigger. The rule of three, he says. You remember, I explained it to you. You save somebody’s life three times, their life belongs to you.

  He slips his arm around my waist an pulls me in closer.

  What’re you doin Jack! I—

  Shut up or I’ll throw you in, he says. He lifts the rope over so it’s around both our waists. As I was sayin, he says, you saved me back at Hopetown. That was one to you. Jest now, I saved you from goin over the waterfall so that’s one to me.

  You did not! I saved myself!

  You wanna quibble? I’m happy to leave you here.

  No! I says. No! Don’t do that!

  Well then, he says. I think we’re even.

  I don’t believe it, I says. Rule of three. That’s about the stupidest thing I ever—

  He yanks the slipknot tight. My back’s crushed aginst his chest.

  —heard of, I says.

  Stupid, eh? He whispers it in my ear so’s his breath tickles. I shiver.

  I hope you got somethin strong at th’other end of this rope, I says.

  Ajax, Ash an Epona, he says. All right?

  I nod. He gives the rope a sharp tug to let ’em know we’re ready.

  Then we slide down into the river.

  Ash an Epona give one last haul on the rope an Jack an me’s dragged outta the water onto the muddy riverbank.

  We lie there, gaspin fer breath.

  Saba! Emmi throws herself on top of me. Saba! I thought you was drowned! I thought I’d lost you!

  C’mon, Emmi, says Ash. Give Saba a chance to git her breath back.

  Thanks, Ash, I says.

  She peels Em away from me. Epona gives me a hand up an wraps me in a fierce hug.

  Thanks, I says.

  Ash an me ain’t much good at swimmin, she says. Yer lucky Jack was here.

  He grins his big jimswagger grin. Would you mind repeatin that, Epona? he says. I don’t think Saba realizes ezzackly how lucky she is.

  I’m startin to feel stupid that I threw my arms around him like I did. Like I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t need savin, I says. I was perfectly fine till you came along.

  He stares at me. His mo
uth drops open. The rain runs down his face into it.

  You, he says, are insane. Truly insane. Five minutes ago, you was stranded on a rock in the middle of a river at the top of a waterfall with no way—I repeat, no way—of gittin off. Any normal person would not consider that to be fine. An—correct me if I’m wrong—but when I got there, I distinckly heard you say you was never so glad to see anybody in yer life.

  Did not, I says.

  Uh … I think we’ll jest start on up to the tavern, says Ash. Her, Epona an Emmi disappear.

  Jack gives me a hard look. You make my brain hurt, he says.

  An yer the most puffed-up, big-headed swagger boots I ever met, I says. I got news fer you, Jack. You ain’t so great. You ain’t great at all. Not even the slightest bit! If it warn’t fer you an yer stupid plan to go see yer stupid friend in some stupid tavern, I wouldn’t of ended up in the river in the first place!

  Oh, I know what this is about, he says. This is about Ash agin.

  It is not! Anyways, I couldn’t give two hoots about you an Ash or you an anybody else!

  There ain’t nobody else! he yells. It’s all in yer tiny little mind! You know what you need?

  Yeah! I need you to shove off an leave me alone! I yell back.

  No! What you need is to lighten up! My gawd, if yer outta yer mind, I must be outta mine even more! An you know why? Fer even thinkin fer a moment that you an me could of—

  Could of what?

  Dammit, Saba, I thought we could have a good time together! You know … I’d help you find yer brother an you an me ’ud … you know.

  No! I don’t know, Jack! What the hell’re you talkin about?

  What I’m talkin about … is this!

  He hauls me to him, grabs my face an kisses me.

  I hold my hands away from me, stiff. At first, from shock. But now to keep ’em away from Jack. They’re itchin to touch him. All over. His arms, his face, his back, his chest. I cain’t let ’em.

  I give him a shove. He goes sprawlin backwards into the mud.

  What was that fer? he yells.

  Fer kissin me! I yell. An don’t you dare do it agin!

  Oh don’t you worry about that, he says, I’d rather throw myself over that waterfall!

  He picks hisself up.

  I’d rather sleep naked in a nest of scorpions! he says.

  He stomps off, leadin Ajax behind him.

  I follow with Hermes.

  My lips is tinglin.

  The faded sign creaks on its hinges. The painted head of a man glares down at us, a bloody hole where one of his eyes oughta be.

  Here we are, says Jack. Welcome to the One-Eyed Man.

  The dark stone tavern hunches, low an mean-lookin, into the side of the mountain. Rain sheets down its saggin roof an pours over the edge. A pale thread of smoke trickles outta the chimley.

  It don’t look too welcomin to me, says Ash.

  I don’t like it, says Emmi.

  Yer jest cold an tired, says Jack. Once you git a bowl of Ike’s rock squirrel stew inside you, things’ll look a lot brighter.

  We lead the horses to a lean-to. There’s a few horses there already, includin a big piebald mustang an a sturdy little gray donkey huddled together fer warmth. They flick their ears an whicker softly as we tie our horses next to ’em.

  See? says Jack. We ain’t th’only ones here. We’ll git settled in first, then we can deal with the gear an the horses.

  There’s a candle burnin in th’only window, a narrow slit set halfways along the wall. Jack rings the bell beside the battered old wood door. Right away, the candle goes out.

  Looks like yer friend Ike don’t want company, I says.

  Probly heard you was comin, says Jack, all sour faced.

  He tries the rusty latch. It don’t move. He bangs on the door with his fist. Thud thud thud. Thud thud thud.

  Ike! he shouts. Ike Twelvetrees! It’s me! It’s Jack! Let me in!

  Nuthin.

  Hey! Open up! I yell an pound on the door. I go to try an shoulder it open, but Jack holds me back.

  Hang on, he says. There’s a knack to it. He leans back, lifts his leg an gives the door a almighty kick. It flies open. He goes in an we trail behind.

  We see ’em right away.

  I snatch my crossbow an take aim.

  Beside me, Ash an Epona do the same.

  Hold fire! says Jack.

  My heart pounds wildly. We keep our crossbows up, bowstrings drawn, arrows ready to fly.

  We stare at the men who face us, their weapons at the ready. There’s at least twelve of ’em. On their feet, with blades, bows an flintsticks pointed straight at us. They’re the most scurfy lookin pack of villains I ever seen in my life. A knife scar here, a eyepatch there, busted noses, missin ears, three fingers. They make the low-life scum of Hopetown look sweet as spring clover.

  I do a quick sweep of the room. Take everythin in. It’s one long room with a low ceilin. The fireplace in the center’s got a blazin fire goin. In front of the fire, there’s a large table with a stewpot in the middle an stone drink kegs.

  Wooden benches lay on their sides. Kicked over when they all jumped up.

  There ain’t no sound but the cracklin fire an the rain poundin down on the roof.

  Hello boys, says Jack. Nice to see y’all.

  Jest then, a man comes through a door in the corner that I didn’t notice before. He’s tall, at least six five, six six. He’s got a huge platter of roasted meat hefted onto one shoulder. He don’t even look our way as he goes over to the table an dumps the platter down. Then he starts over to us.

  Ike! says Jack. He steps forwards, smilin a big smile an holdin out his hand. Hey man, long time no see!

  But Ike don’t smile back. An he don’t take Jack’s hand.

  He walks straight up to him an punches him in the face.

  Jack goes sprawlin on the floor.

  Jack’s down. Hurt. The red hot rips through me. I ain’t felt it since Hopetown.

  I aim my bow at Ike an walk at him—fast—till he’s backed aginst the wall with his hands on top of his head. I press the arrowhead into his throat. He gulps.

  There’s a quick rush of feet an the men surround my back. Without takin my eyes offa Ike, I can feel their weapons pointed at me. Hear their breathin.

  It’s all right, Saba, Jack calls. Don’t kill him. I deserved it.

  Tell these dogs to stand down, I says to Ike.

  Weapons down, boys, or supper’s off, he says. He don’t move his eyes from mine.

  There’s a pause, then a clatter as guns an bows an knives hit the floor behind me.

  Epona? I says.

  Yer okay, she says. It’s all clear.

  I step back from Ike. Lower my bow. He feels his throat. Grins an shakes his head.

  Gawdammit, he says. I bin waitin fer a woman like you my whole life. Jack, I think I’m in love.

  Ferget it, Ike, says Jack. She’s far too dangerous fer the likes of you.

  Oh, says Ike, it’s that way, is it?

  He goes over to Jack, reaches down a hand an gives him a tug up. Jack rubs his jaw where Ike punched him.

  Don’t worry, says Ike, I didn’t do yer pretty face no harm. I should of though. After what you done to me.

  He glares at Jack an Jack actually looks shame-faced. Ike jabs him in the chest with a big meaty finger.

  You left me, you sonofabitch, he says, hangin upside down, stark naked, with all them women in their—

  Jack grabs his hand. Not now, Ike, he says. We’ll talk about it later.

  Not to mention the time you was supposed to meet me at Pat O’Dooley’s an I waited there like a stooky fer two months, with that little dog of his that’s always bitin at yer ankles, an all the time you was off with that—

  Ike! Jack yells, pointin at the villains at the table. Look! He’s takin seconds!

  Oh no, he ain’t! Ike rushes off.

  Jack grins at me. Poor Ike, he says, tappin the side of his forehead. C
razy as a coot.

  Somehow I don’t think so.

  The men mutter among theirselves as they sit back down at the big table an git to work on their meal. Ash elbows through ’em an fills three trenchers fer her, Epona an Emmi. The one with the eyepatch tries to slide his arm around her an she gives him a sharp rap over the head with the stew ladle.

  Then they pull three chairs close to the fire an tuck in. Both Ash an Epona keep their crossbows close. Nero perches on the back of Emmi’s chair an sets about dryin hisself an puttin his feathers into some kinda order. He hates gittin wet.

  I roll the stiffness outta my shoulders, let the warmth of the room soak into my cold bones.

  Jack motions me over to join him an Ike at a table in a dim lit corner. It looks like the kinda spot where plots git hatched.

  I pull up a stool an sit down.

  No hard feelins? I says to Ike.

  Naw, he says. I like yer style.

  Ike’s got a big head to match the rest of him. With a bushy beard an moustache an straight black hair down to his shoulders. His eyes is dark an set deep. His voice rumbles from somewhere down near his toes.

  Ike, this is Saba, says Jack.

  I hold out my hand fer Ike to shake but he grabs it, lifts it to his mouth an gives it a big wet smack of a kiss.

  Marry me, he says. I got all my own teeth, I wash twice a year an I’ll cut you in fer half the business here.

  My cheeks flame hot. No thanks, I says. I try to pull my hand away, but he clutches it tight to his chest.

  Maybe not right away, he says, but once we git to know each other. A week or so. I don’t mind a little wait. Jest don’t keep me simmerin too long, sweetheart.

  I don’t really think I … uh …, I says.

  I shoot Jack a help-me-out-here-yer-friend’s-crazy kinda look but he don’t even look at me. He leans back in his chair with his hands behind his head an his legs stretched out.

  Will wonders never cease, he says. Ike Twelvetrees finally caught in the net of love. I gotta hand it to you, Saba. Name the first boy after me, will you?

  The first—! I shove back my stool an jump up. I ain’t marryin Ike! I ain’t marryin nobody! What the—?