She led the way, rattling off all kinds of questions, such as: “When did you get here?” “How long did it take?” “Did anything happen?” And so on.
I smiled, remembering the inquisition I’d received when telling my story—the difference being that Jane and Hannah enjoyed it and were much chattier than I’d been. Wanting to give them some privacy, and feeling a bit like an outsider, I slipped out the front door while they migrated into the kitchen.
I walked over to the pasture railing, climbed up, and sat on it. Smoke had given up trying to harass the cows and now joined them in grazing the lush grass. He wandered over after noticing me sitting there. I wrapped one arm around his head and patted him with the other.
With Jane and Hannah here, reality was setting in. I recognized that I was only a guest, and the time was close at hand for my departure, maybe a day or two at the most. Of course, I’d known I would have to leave eventually, but I had kept shoving it out of my thoughts. Now, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer, if I were to find a place before the real cold set in. I had already pushed my luck and would have many a frigid night ahead before I found a suitable town and place to live. And though I was certain Sarah would be willing to keep me over the winter, I had no right to impose myself on her goodwill anymore. She was no doubt sincere in her fondness of me, but was probably putting up with me out of loneliness or perhaps even pity.
Where to go was the question haunting me now. I supposed there was Marysvale. I wondered if this is what Sarah meant when she said, “I expect before too long you’ll want to go there.” However, a town plagued by monsters and famine didn’t sound at all appealing. And I doubted if there would be people willing to feed me when they, themselves, were starving. Perhaps someone may, but I wouldn’t feel right about taking their food if another option existed. Besides, what was the difference between that and staying with Sarah—other than Sarah didn’t look like she had any lack of food? The only plan I could think of was my original one: travel west and then far enough to the south where no one would know my name.
Maybe I could even learn a lesson from Sarah: instead of trying to live among them, I would find a nice piece of fertile ground and start a little farm of my own; just close enough to a town to get supplies, but far enough away that I wouldn’t be bothered. If I rode hard, I could make it in a few weeks: find a room to rent, obtain some work, and wait for spring when I could put my plan into action. The only difficulty with this plan was the Brean; but that was something I would have to deal with no matter what course I took. I wondered if it really mattered whether I lived or died; no one would miss me, except maybe Smoke—that is, if he survived.
The smell of frying fish and baking bread floated in the air and made my mouth water. I could sympathize with what it must be doing to the sisters. I stroked Smoke a few more times on his dark neck, then hopped down and made my way back to the cabin. I halted after a few steps when I realized that Sarah, Jane, and Hannah were standing on the porch watching me. Both the sisters munched on apples (Sarah’s temporary cure for hunger). When Sarah saw the look on my face, she smiled, turned to the others, and said something. They, too, broke into grins. Suddenly, a debate waged in my head….Which was worse: a forest full of monsters or a house full of women? Without the ability to tap into their feelings, I felt utterly outgunned.
Sarah, seeing my consternation, hollered, “We’re not going to hurt you.”
I called back, “I’m not convinced.”
All three of them broke into laughter.
“How about a peace offering? I have some tea brewing on the stove and supper is almost ready.”
“Very well,” I said hesitantly. “I accept.”
We went into the kitchen where Sarah poured tea and Jane served it.
“You didn’t have to run away,” said Sarah.
“I know; but I thought that you might like some privacy.”
“Nonsense, you’re as welcome here as anyone.”
Jane looked as though she didn’t agree, but said nothing.
Hannah piped in, “Besides, I want to hear about your escape.”
“You might as well tell your story,” warned Jane, while trying to pretend she wasn’t interested. “She’ll never leave you alone until you do.”
“Like I said, there isn’t much to it. However…since Jane is so fascinated, I’ll tell.”
She furrowed her eyebrows and I dove into my story before she could fire back.
Sarah, ever vigilant with the details, interjected now and then some bit of information that apparently I had omitted.
“You’re right; there wasn’t much to tell,” said Jane with a mocking smile when I had finished.
“I think he is very brave,” said Hannah coming to my defense. “You only had to deal with one. And John at least kept his clothes on.”
“Hannah, that’s enough,” breathed Jane threateningly.
Seeing my curiosity piqued, Hannah continued, “And she had to walk all the way here without them.”
Turning red, Jane snapped, “It wasn’t like that. You’re making it sound much worse than it was.”
Sarah, hiding a grin behind her cup of tea, suggested, “Why don’t you tell about your escape, Jane?”
Jane grunted, “I might as well, since Hannah will tell you about it anyway—and she has a tendency to stretch the truth.”
“I don’t lie,” said Hannah defensively.
Jane ignored her.
“You see, Sarah and our family had an arrangement…”
Jane glanced at Sarah as if asking her permission. Sarah simply nodded.
“We’d bring Sarah supplies: tools, buckets, things like that; and in return, she gave us food.”
“Until those awful men put a stop to it,” said Hannah, cutting in. “Only concerned about the welfare of those lovely girls—have to protect them, you know,” she quoted, with dripping sarcasm.
“Will you please let me finish,” pleaded Jane.
“Sorry, I won’t interrupt again.”
“Thank you.”
“But can you believe they are getting fatter when the town is starving? Oh…sorry again, Jane.”
“As I was saying…I was younger then, and not as careful as I am now.”
She said this with a glance at Hannah, who didn’t seem to notice her implication.
“It was before the town council put a stop to our trades. Father was ill and Hannah—well, she was just too young.”
“Was not! It’s just that Father was too terrified to send both of us.”
“Will you please?” said Jane irritably.
Hannah closed her mouth.
“It had been a long time since any attacks or sightings, so Father let me make the trip here alone. He was ever so worried. Nevertheless, I pestered him for days, and he finally relented. He warned me to come straight here as quick as I could. But he always said that no matter where I went, so I paid little attention.”
Hannah was fidgeting in her chair, wanting to say something, but Jane gave her a look that kept her quiet.
“It’s not very often we get to leave the safety of the town. Imagine how it is, seeing the same things over and over again without change….So, instead of coming straight here, I used my freedom and rode a trail along the shore of the lake. There is a nice overlook atop some cliffs, and I decided to stretch my legs. I tied Sam (that was the name of our horse) to a tree and walked over to the edge. It was a bright, beautiful summer day. The sun was warm and the sky a clear blue. I sat under the shade of a tree and listened to the sound of the waves gently washing ashore; it made me sleepy. I think I may have dozed off…it was so stupid of me! How could I fall asleep like that, unarmed and alone, in the middle of the day?” She sighed and continued, “I woke to the sound of Sam whinnying. I tried to see what caused it, but there was nothing there to see. No movement…no sound…other than Sam working himself into a frenzy and straining to break free. Of course I knew there was something, I could feel it; and I was scared. I
hid behind a tree not sure what to do. It’s strange what you think about at a time like that. I remember thinking how disappointed Father would be over the loss of Sam. Poor Sam, he was nearly free, but…”
She looked pale, and hesitated, trying to find the words.
“It was so fast and powerful! It came out of nowhere—like it simply melted out of the forest! It slashed Sam’s neck with its claws and teeth, while at the same time throwing him to the ground. Blood sprayed everywhere. I couldn’t believe what I saw and how quickly it happened. I’d never seen one before so close. I ducked behind a tree trunk before it saw me; but it knew I was there. I shook so hard I thought it would hear me; I couldn’t control it! It was terrifying—the way it sniffed the air to find me—I knew it was the end. Every time it stopped and sniffed, it was a little closer. My heart was pounding so hard, I couldn’t think.”
She stopped again. “Sarah did you feel that way?”
Sarah nodded and put her arm around Jane.
I thought about my own experience and supposed I didn’t have time to be afraid; plus, I was mounted and armed, not alone and defenseless like Jane.
She continued, “I prayed silently that it wouldn’t end this way, or if I was going to die that it would be quick and painless. That’s when I remembered Sarah’s experience of jumping into the lake to escape. I thought about jumping in as well; but I didn’t think I could swim very far, and drowning didn’t seem to be a better way of dying. Then a thought came to me so strongly that I didn’t even question the absurdity. As quickly and quietly as I could—which was near to impossible with my shaking body and pounding heart—I removed my clothes, wrapped them around a rock and tried to throw the whole bundle into the lake. It landed near the edge, rolled once, and fell over the cliff and into the water. When the Brean heard the splash, it ran to the edge and crouched down. I assumed it was trying to figure out if I’d jumped. Then, I ran at it and, with all of my might, I shoved it. I hit it so hard I nearly went over myself, but it worked. The smelly beast fell over, its arms and legs flailing, trying to grasp anything it could on the way down. It couldn’t swim—it tried, but it just sank—and in seconds, it was out of sight. The rock must have fallen out of my clothes when it hit the water, because they were still there, gradually sinking through a stream of bubbles where the Brean had disappeared.”
“That’s why you had to walk here without clothes,” I muttered quietly, still taking in what she’d said.
Jane heard and, misreading my expression, exclaimed haughtily, “You can wipe that look off your face, because it wasn’t like that. I wasn’t completely naked; I still had my undergarments on.”
“No…It’s not that,” I said blushing. “It’s just—I think it was brilliant.”
“You do?” asked Jane and Hannah in unison, both slightly bewildered.
“Yes, I do. If you had just thrown a rock, it probably wouldn’t have been fooled. But with your scent going over the edge and your clothes floating in the water, it was confused just long enough for you to push it off. I don’t think anything else would have worked, except for throwing yourself over; but like Sarah, you may have been forced to swim quite a distance and parts of that lake look very deep and wide.”
Sarah interjected, “Why are you so surprised Jane? I’ve already told you that it was a smart thing to do.”
“I know,” said Jane. “But you’re like our mother. What else would you say? I thought you were just trying to comfort me.”
“Of course I was trying to comfort you; but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t true.”
“Oh,” replied Jane simply.
Sarah finished preparing the food and placed it on the table. We said grace and I watched the girls eat. I wonder if I looked that hungry when I got here? I thought. They had manners, but were obviously starving—their enthusiasm over the food showed that.
Sarah took pride in her cooking. She stated how bored and lonely she often felt; and how much she enjoyed cooking for others. Silently, I agreed with her: I like others cooking for me. It was delicious, as were all her meals.
When we finished, I thanked her for the food and teased, “The fish was well worth risking your life for.”
She paused, tried to think of a reply, couldn’t, and finally settled on ordering me out of the kitchen, so she and the girls could clean up.
I retired to the front porch and did a quick scan of the woods. Finding nothing, I relaxed on the swing. Shortly thereafter, Sarah joined me. Sitting on the porch in the evening, with a cup of tea, had quickly become our nightly ritual. It was something I enjoyed very much. I had discovered the value of simple pleasures, and this was something I’d miss.
“Are the girls bathing?” I asked.
She nodded.
Usually, Sarah just wanted to sit in silence, at least until the tea was finished, which suited me fine; but this time she talked.
“We never finished our conversation about the Brean.”
“We’ve had a few of those. Which one was it?”
“The one about Cain.”
“You mean the one where the townspeople think the monsters are the result of Cain’s curse?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
Already having made up my mind not to go to Marysvale, I didn’t really care what nonsense they believed. But, out of politeness, I responded, “Very well then, tell me more.”
She got up, went inside the cabin, and returned with the Bible.
“After Cain was cursed, he complained to the Lord.” She opened the Bible, handed it to me and said, “Here, read this and tell me what you think.”
I read, “And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth: and from thy face shall I be hid: and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth: and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
“And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”
I laid the book down and pondered its meaning. Sarah sat quietly, waiting for my response. Slowly, I began to understand…
“If the townsfolk believe that the monsters are related, or the offspring of Cain, then they think if you kill one…”
“That God will punish you sevenfold,” finished Jane, who was standing in the doorway.
Dressed in clean clothes, gone was the dirt and grime; and with food in her stomach, the color had returned to her face—though she was still too thin. Her eyes, if possible, looked even a deeper green. Her hair was wet, and she looked beautiful.
Not so inconspicuously, Sarah slid over, making the place next to me the only place to sit. Jane took it. With her side lightly pressed against mine, I found myself having a hard time concentrating on anything; it sent shivers through me, and I savored it. I’d never before been taken with a woman. But now, with Jane, it was like I’d been waiting my entire life for her. I found it unsettling and even a little irritating that I was attracted to her so strongly.
“…think, John?” asked Jane.
“What? Oh, uh, I’m sorry….What did you ask?” I stammered, blushing.
Sarah suppressed a grin.
Jane sighed and re-asked the question, “I was just wondering what you think about the curse?”
“Of course it’s silly! You and Sarah aren’t cursed for killing any of them,” I replied.
“If you want to know what I think,” said Hannah emerging through the door. “I think someone is controlling them.”
I was going to laugh, but noticed that the others were taking her seriously.
“I’ve thought the same thing, Hannah,” confessed Sarah.
Jane nodded in agreement.
“Why do you all think that?” I asked.
Jane answered, “At first it didn’t make sense, and I’m sure it doesn’t to you. There didn’t seem to be any reason or logic as to why so
me people were attacked and others weren’t; but after time, a pattern appeared. Of course it has taken years to see it; but generally, their attacks are calculated to keep the people trapped inside the city walls, and isolating Marysvale.”
I thought for a moment and then asked Sarah, “Is this what you meant when you said they are keener to allow people into this country than to let them leave?”
She nodded. “A few strangers have made it into Marysvale, but no one has ever left the territory and survived.”
“How would you know? Maybe someone made it and never came back.”
“It’s possible,” admitted Jane. “But doubtful. They’ve found remains of those who’ve tried. Sometimes the Brean bring back their heads and leave them at the city gates.”
“So they’ve killed everyone who’s tried to escape,” I said absently to myself.
Almost imperceptibly, Sarah whispered, “No.”
I looked at her and, for the first time, saw fear in her eyes.
I quietly asked, “What do you mean?”
She didn’t respond. Tears welled in her eyes, and I decided I wouldn’t press it.
Presently, she answered anyway.
“I tried to get away from here once, a long time ago. After I had been driven from the town, I wanted to leave the territory. However, I didn’t make it far. One of the Brean followed me for some time. I got off my horse, doubled back quietly, found a good hiding spot, and waited. When it passed by, I killed it. The sound of my gun must have alerted other Brean. Almost instantly, more showed up. I couldn’t reload fast enough, there were too many. It was amazing—I’d never seen anything like it. One would lure while the others encircled me. I think I wounded one or two, but I was promptly overpowered. I, too, hoped it would end quickly, but they toyed with me. The one that captured me tore my clothes off...”
She gulped. When she continued, there was a slight tremble in her voice.
“It sniffed me from head to foot. Its stench was horrid; but it was nothing in comparison to my fear. They killed my horse and ate it slowly while I watched. I thought they were going to do the same thing to me, but they didn’t. The same monster then beat me. I’m sure it wasn’t using its full strength, but it was enough. I was bloody and had some broken ribs.”
Marysvale Page 9
