Lamekis

by Charles de Fieux

  When the little boy saw this, he started shrieking himself and begging his father with tears to get his lunch back for him. He did his best to come after me, but as weak as I was, I swam off fast enough that they could not catch me. But I got out of one danger only to face another. Hundreds of different kinds of fish were chasing me in the water and doing their best to devour me. The fact that there were so many of them slowed them down and warded off the evil because their fighting over the prey prolonged my death. No sooner did one of them get a hold of my foot than another jumped and made it let go. This merry-go-round lasted quite a while and exhausted me to the point of almost giving up.

  A dog came to quench its thirst at the shore and saw me—it changed the form of my punishment. I looked like an appetizing snack, so it started swimming straight toward me, snatched me up and carried me back to shore. It put me down and stared, probably trying to figure out if I would make a good or bad meal. It was already licking me and nudging me with its nose to sink its teeth into my tastiest part when it turned its head at the sound of a voice shouting “tok-brifs,”287 which saved my life. The dog’s master had a bow and arrows and was no doubt hunting around the lake. He came up to me, looked at me and stepped back with his hand on the dog’s head, saying “Bah!” I thought I might get out of it and in fact the dog followed its master without thinking twice.

  It turned back to look at me a few times, but I did not let it bother me until it suddenly sprinted back and stood over me slobbering, ready to snatch me up and gobble me down in some corner without its master knowing. I was so scared that I screamed out “tok-brifs, tok-brifs!” The dog stopped and the master, who was 30 feet away, turned around to see where the voice came from. The dog came and went a few times, wanting to plunder me, but when I found that I could talk, I did so every time my life was in danger—it was too easy to pass up.

  However, the hunter got really worried and could not figure out where the “tok-brifs” kept coming from, so he finally came back to his dog and me and very soon noticed where the voice came from. When he was sure that it was coming from me, he recoiled in fear and surprise and in a trembling voice asked me the reason for such an extraordinary phenomenon. I came up with an idea that I thought perfect for my current situation: I said that I had been raised by a great philosopher who wanted me to talk and who had found the means to teach me. My answer reassured the hunter who thought our meeting was so special that he lifted me up, put me in his hat and covered me with his handkerchief, saying that he was going to make me the happiest bird on earth. I did not think I should respond to this and even less that I should talk so much, afraid of getting into more trouble. It was enough that I had found a way to save my life—as unlucky as it was, I was not ready to lose it. This might seem hard to believe, Lamekis, but I admit my weakness: I was never able to stay cool in the face of death.

  The hunter carried me to a nearby manor, gave me something to eat, cleaned my wounds and took such great care of me that after a few days I was in perfect health. Even my feathers were starting to grow back and it did not take long before I looked like one of the best-dressed owls of the country. I found myself so much better off compared with where I was before (except for worrying about what became of you, Lamekis), that I fed their good feelings toward me by talking sometimes, without, however, being too intelligent, afraid that the marvel might make them think too much. My behavior was successful. In the hope of making me talk, he did all he could for me. I was treated like the most valuable bird in the world.

  Every time my master left, he locked me up in a cage and took every precaution that I would not fly away. One day when it took him longer than usual to return, he came back with a man whose voice I recognized as the villainous Zelimon, whom you mentioned so often, the architect of your disgrace. If I had as much strength as I had righteous indignation, your revenge would have been accomplished—I would have torn him to pieces.

  The hunter was his servant, as I could tell by their conversation, and told him everything about his valuable find. “It’s a real present to give the Queen,” he said. “No bird of his species has ever spoken before, especially with so much intelligence. It’s a sure way to get back in her good graces.”

  “I agree,” Zelimon said, “but that makes 20 times I’ve hid here to witness what you’re telling me and I haven’t been able to see it for myself. I’m certainly not going to risk taking it out unless I’m absolutely sure.”

  What I’d just heard hit me hard—I felt a strong desire to change my fate. I thought it would be a lot better to belong to the Queen than to this nameless hunter. With this in mind I thought I should talk and did so. The few words I pronounced were so perfect for what was just said that Zelimon was beside himself.

  “Let’s not talk about the Queen for the moment,” he said lifting up my cage, “this may be too precious to give to anyone but the love of my heart. You know how crazy I am about that adorable woman; how I have sighed after her for so long; whom my passion has put in irons. You know how far I’ve gone so far. Well, here’s a good way to be seen in a gentler light. This bird will entertain her in her prison and maybe even do something better. I’ve given this cruel woman some time to come around to my point of view. I gave her my word. But I don’t want to miss any opportunity that might fulfill my desires in a good way. After that, if I use the rights that I’ve got in kidnapping her, she’ll have only herself to blame and I’ll have nothing to criticize myself for.”

  Saying this, which he did not seem too confident in even though he pretended to be, Zelimon took me into his room, grabbed some big keys from a closet, lifted a trap door and went down a stairway lit by hanging lamps. I did not know what to think of all this. We threaded through cellar after cellar until he finally stopped at an iron door. He opened it and we entered a magnificently furnished apartment.

  There were several rooms that we crossed without meeting anyone, but in the last one, Lamekis, I saw her—that lovely Clemelis, the object of your desires! I was sure of it because her name was called and I recognized her from all your descriptions. She received Zelimon’s gift with tears. She did not see it as a diversion, but as an omen that her misfortunes would continue. She spit out all kinds of bitter complaints, called her abductor all the names he deserved and swore that she would kill him herself if he dared to show up again.

  In spite of the traitor’s cruelty, he obeyed and left, but before locking the door he told her that he would do as she said until the agreed upon day and after that, he too, would be respected. Clemelis did not deign to answer; she kept sinking deeper in sorrow.

  The bitter situation reminded me of mine and I got depressed. “Oh Heavens,” I said, forgetting all about the fact that Clemelis was there, “could it be that you take pleasure in bringing nothing but unhappiness?” Although your respectable wife should have expected to hear me speak since Zelimon had warned her of it, still she cried out in astonishment and fear. “Don’t worry,” I told her, “if destiny is hunting you down, you’re not the only prey. Lamekis, your loyal husband, is disastrous proof of this…”

  “Lamekis?” Clemelis stared at me with fright in her eyes. “How…what do you know about his fate?”

  “Stay calm, Clemelis,” I said in response.

  “Ah! I’m out of control,” she dropped on a pile of sheets. “You’re far too shocking to overcome my fear. I’m not used to such wonders. Who are you that you know me so well? Please, fast, put a stop to this cruel uncertainty. That’s the only way to help me.”

  I quickly told her who I was and as soon as I said I was your close friend she asked me, trembling, how I had miraculously changed my form and where I had last seen you. I told her in full everything she wanted to know. She listened carefully, which proved her love for you and her surprise. But when I came to your transformation, she clasped her hands together, stared at the sky and stayed in this position for so long that I thought she had turned to stone. I called out to her until she finally responded by crying. She
choked on her tears for more than an hour without being able to say a word.

  A truly compassionate soul forgets its own misfortunes to lament those of another. I used all my energy to comfort lovely Clemelis. To succeed I got her to hope that the Heavens would bring you back to her some day and that you were beholden to her for the end of your metamorphosis and unhappiness. The idea seemed to calm her down. “Oh, if his happiness depends on my faithfulness to him, Lamekis will stop being a snake some day. The Heavens have protected my virtue until now, in spite of the terrible, tempting assaults that I’ve had to endure. I believe it’s still pure.”

  “It’s for sure,” I said. “Take comfort, Clemelis, let’s both take comfort. The great Dehahal promised Lamekis and me that we would get our original forms back. He is too great and too respectable to debase himself to fool us.”

  Clemelis and I spent three whole days telling each other everything that happened to us. Since I can assume, Lamekis, (Sinouis went on) that you didn’t know what happened after Zelimon’s detestable deed when he got into your wife’s room under your name, seeing that the story you confessed to me was interrupted when you killed him, I’ll tell you what followed. I’ll do my best to tell it like she did. Pretend it’s Clemelis talking.

  (In spite of the proofs of my lovely wife’s virtue, the idea of this made me turn pale. “Well,” I said in a broken voice, “what miracle snatched her from that wretch’s arms?”

  “That’s what you want to know?” Sinouis asked. “Don’t be scared. Your honor is in wise hands…too wise to take it away.”)

  Clemelis continues her story

  In spite of the wonderful sensation I had when I kissed my husband, I suddenly felt a certain repugnance that did not seem natural to me. My elation gradually subsided and something secretly opposed the passion I was feeling. To answer it, I had to resort to that art of imposture that puts emotional masks on the outside that we do not really feel on the inside. At first I was the most ungrateful being in the world. I thought that what I felt about my husband was resentment, but it was really a premonition. The colder I became, the more the one who seemed to be my husband assured me of his love. All of a sudden I found myself so distraught that I my knees gave way. I had to lie to hide my frigidity. I said that I was feeling bad and I pretended to faint. I needed some time to breathe and ponder over the cause of the strange state I was in. I tried not to appear too obvious.

  And my so-called spouse, believing that I had fainted, dashed off and came back a moment later carrying a torch and a bottle full of an elixir that was surely meant to revive me. I opened my eyes just a little, hoping that the sight of him would bring back my fading emotions. I thought I had not opened them enough because I did not recognize the face that I kept so well guarded in my heart. I stared and screamed at the same time. “Ach! Wretch!” I recognized Zelimon and jumped up in anger. “So that’s your wicked, evil game. Watch out now, I could kill you, which should have happened a long time ago.”

  The traitor, being caught and discovered, dropped his torch and it went out. I started screaming so loudly that every-one came running. Zelimon got scared of being arrested and fled, finally ridding me of his awful presence.

  I asked so many questions of my servants that I ended up finding the villainous slave who had betrayed me. I kicked her out with all the fuss she deserved and to avoid running any future risks, I decide to never go to bed without locking myself in. After Zelimon’s two bold attempts, I could not be too careful. I complained again to the King and if it weren’t for Boldeon I would have been avenged, but he was pardoned in this case on the condition that he never set foot in the Court again.

  Several months passed without a word about him. I fooled myself that I would never again have to worry about him, but one night I was awoken from a deep sleep by a terrible sound at my door. I jumped out of bed, ran to the windows and shouted as loudly as I could, but it was useless. He had taken careful measures that I not be helped. The door of my room burst open and Zelimon stood there, sword in hand, ordering his followers to take me away. After a long trip he brought me into this underground room where he told me that same night that I would be locked in until I fulfilled his passion.

  Oh wise friend of my worthy husband, (Clemelis cried a river of tears), can you imagine what became of me after this detestable attack. I spent my days and nights in grief, rage and despair. As these emotions slowly abated and I fell sick, the traitorous abductor got scared that I would die and swore awful vows that he would never resort to violence, which promise held my worries and fears at bay. My sickness did not get worse. I slowly got over it and in spite of myself I started living the life that was given me, that I would have cut short a thousand times if it weren’t for the hope of seeing my beloved husband again.

  Since this time my abductor did not dare to force himself on me, but a few days ago he seemed a little less respectful. When I complained to him, he was adamant that in the end I would have to answer to his consuming passion since there was nothing to hold him back. In spite of my tears, prayers and threats, he told me to make up my mind to satisfy him, swearing that in a month he would resort to violence.

  So, Sinouis, that’s where I am. You can see how just my tears are. I see only death as a means of escaping the awful destiny that the Heavens have apparently condemned me to without appeal.

  Sinouis goes to the Court

  Clemelis had just finished talking when we heard the horrible noise of locks and bolts announcing Zelimon’s entrance. Clemelis trembled. “Oh Sinouis, what’s going to become of me? The tyrant is surely coming to unleash the rest of his brutality. The time has come for me to prepare myself. So, do we see now that the Heavens never protect the innocent?”

  The door opened, but instead of Zelimon, it was the hunter. “Don’t worry, Clemelis,” he approached respectfully. “Your fate will change in a short time. I would like to free you at this very moment, but you would only be put in more danger. If I weren’t afraid of risking your precious life, I would instantly open the doors of this hateful prison, but acting on my incredible compassion for you would kill us both or at least put us under Zelimon’s cruel control forever. I have seen too many of his inhuman acts to doubt it. My plan is the surest. I’m going to the Court to inform the King of your imprisonment and the brutality you are suffering. His sovereign order will break your chains and take revenge on your cruel enemy. I’m tired of obeying a tyrant whose crimes I hate. I will confess them and be protected from his wrath. The unforgivable way he’s been using me, the tyrannical way he’s just taken away the priceless treasure that I thought would make my fortune, has finally made up my mind. This bird was meant for the Queen and I brought it to him for that. I won’t say anymore, Clemelis. Before long you will have reason to thank me, but while you’re waiting, remember not to say anything about it to the tyrant. He is too preoccupied with you to even think about the bird. I’m going to put back the keys I stole. I’ll say no more; time is of the essence.”

  This said, the hunter put me back in my cage. My first reaction was to scream; my second stopped me. Nothing could be better for Clemelis and me than the decision this man made. It was easy to see that it was purely out of self-interest, but whatever the motive only great good could come from it. I was going to the Court to belong to the Queen. And even though the hunter might change his mind and not speak about Clemelis in fear of punishment, I would be there and I could talk. Thinking about this made it easier for me to separate from Clemelis—it was only to be better reunited later.

  Never had anyone made a trip so fast. The hunter was in a hurry to get there. I could see the worry in his eyes and I saw him constantly looking back, thinking that at any moment the formidable Zelimon would be on his tail. All his worries stopped when we got to the Court. The next day he went to the Brouk-chailloc288 and the day after he was presented to the Queen, as he wanted. His present was too well received for him to suffer the least delay. The Queen was enchanted when they told her how
well I talked. The Houcaïs was there jumping up and down. They put me in a magnificent cage and I was celebrated throughout the Court.289 They were waiting impatiently for me to talk. I myself was waiting for the hunter to talk, still hoping that he would tell everything about Clemelis and especially how Zelimon was abusing her. He was obviously debating it. I thought I should start, so I spread my wings, stretched out my neck, rose up on my feet, stared the King in the face and cried out, “Oh Houcaïs, Queen and Nobles of the Court, listen to me, I’m going to speak.” At these words everyone stuck out their tongues290 and paid close attention to me.

  The hunter and everyone else were not a little taken aback by the way I told of Clemelis’ kidnapping by Zelimon. I left nothing out. The Houcaïs got extremely angry, drank down his fury in three straight cups291 and immediately gave orders to free Clemelis.

  After calming down from his boiling anger, he turned to Boldeon and whispered to him that he had better get to the gil-gan-gis because I was surely a Grouil-grou-gran292 and it was impossible for me to be so intelligent without the Bar-bu-fou293 being mixed up in it. I shuddered at his words. Afraid of the impending punishment, I asked to speak with the King: I whistled and he stuck out his tongue to listen to me. I was about to tell him about my adventures and all about yours, too, Lamekis, when a wonder, which seemed dreadful to the whole Court but quite nice to me, terrified the crowd around me. All of a sudden my bones cracked with a horrible clicking sound; instead of wings my old arms popped out and my legs were down there in place of a bird’s feet. The transformation happened so suddenly that in no time at all I was back to my old self, just like you see me today. It was a good thing my cage was big otherwise I would have been crippled for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my nose was too crowded to come out and stayed like you see it—an owl’s beak. It’s pretty tragic, but I hope that the great Dehahal will get it out. He is too great and respectable not to do me this favor.