Unwept

by Tracy Hickman

  “… Should I?”

  Ellis brushed aside her thoughts and looked up. Jenny was yanking on a tendril of hair that had escaped from beneath her bonnet near the nape of her neck.

  “Oh, Jen, it’s so beautiful and long. Don’t. I miss mine; at least I think I do.” Ellis ran her fingers along the strand and tucked it back in place. Jenny awkwardly patted Ellis’s curls that peeked out beneath the cloche.

  “No. We are stopping at the barber’s in town. I’ll get mine bobbed and we’ll look just like sisters. Besides, I have my heart set on wearing that hat you have on.” Jenny’s eyes danced with a mischievous light that made Ellis laugh.

  The young women pressed up the road as it rose before them, climbing now almost directly along the slope of the large hill. They turned the corner onto High Street; the much wider main road ran along the base of the hill, descending gently toward the town to the south. The dying leaves from the trees cascaded down around the road in the gentle breeze.

  Suddenly Ellis stopped in the middle of the road.

  “Ellis,” Jenny asked, “what is it?”

  The house was enormous, set back from the road and surrounded by large lawns that sloped around it down the hillside toward the harbor beyond. A wide porte cochere supported the northern side of the mansion while a rough stonework face and columns supported the steeply pitched gables of the roof. A round turret struck toward the sky on the corner of the home with the curve of a broader, squat turret beyond. There was a chilling aspect to the home as though someone had originally intended it to be charming, but somehow it had grown monstrously out of hand. It was four stories of curved glass windows, balconies and ostentation all striving for, and forever failing in, harmony. Worse, for Ellis, there was a familiarity to it like a nightmare just at the edge of wakeful thought and a lovely dream that had gone terribly wrong. She was both drawn to the place and repulsed by it at the same time.

  The thought that this should be familiar to her made her shudder.

  “That’s the Norembega!” Jenny smiled, though perhaps not as brightly as before. “It is Merrick’s home. I think it turned out wonderfully; don’t you agree, Ellis?”

  Ellis drew in a deep breath.

  “Maybe we should call,” Jenny said, brightening at the prospect.

  Ellis shivered at the thought of approaching the house. “No, Jenny. You said our party today was to be a surprise. We wouldn’t want to spoil it, would we?”

  “No.” Jenny hesitated. “I suppose not but—”

  Ellis did not wait for any discussion. She quickly continued down the road, with Jenny having to catch up.

  The truth was that Ellis had remembered something … something cold, dark and foul that was calling to her, whispering to her from underground. It remained just beyond memory and she could not decide if she wanted to recall it or not.

  Ellis barely heard Jenny’s prattle for some time. She duly noted the Three Sisters’ Inn on the west side of High Street between the Norembega and the northern edge of Gamin. The Disir sisters operated the inn. According to Jenny, Nurse Finny was the eldest of the sisters. Ellis had no desire to pay a call at the inn if her younger sisters were anything like Finny.

  “Gamin should never look like that,” sighed Jenny.

  Ellis looked up. She had not realized that they had reached the town. High Street had turned on to Main, but it seemed that half of the town on the right side of the street was a charred ruin of partial walls; its bricks were soot covered and its windows stared back at them from empty partial arches. In most places the burnt timbers and fallen roofs had been cleared away and there was even evidence of scaffolding going up and fresh lumber prepared to rebuild the lost buildings.

  Storefronts that were now nothing more than black gaping maws and boarded-up windows were at odds with the crisp, clean perfection of shops on the opposite side of the street. Beyond the central intersection of the town, next to a small park, was the ashen husk of a church. There was less of it remaining than the other ruins, but Ellis could see that the pulpit still stood in the charred remains. There was no evidence of rebuilding at the church. Three soldiers stood in the park next to it, just looking at it. One of the soldiers caught Ellis’s eye and tipped his hat to her.

  “Don’t look at him,” Jenny warned. “He’ll think we want to talk to him.” Before Ellis could protest, Jenny grabbed her elbow and hurried her back down the street and into the barbershop.

  The barber was astonished at the women coming into his establishment. Ellis thought it odd that she and Jenny appeared to be the only two customers. The barber stood from his chair, looking somewhat at a loss as to what to do with Jenny as she removed her hat and sat down in his chair. Despite his nervousness, he managed to do a credible job of copying Ellis’s style, and thirty minutes later two young ladies left the astonished barber sweeping up Jenny’s tresses. As the women exited the shop, Ellis removed her hat and offered it to Jenny. Jenny, in turn, proffered her bonnet to Ellis.

  “Now I feel ready to reintroduce my cousin to the Nightbirds.”

  “And your cousin’s hat, too?” Ellis drew her mouth into a demure pout, which melted into a grin. Jenny poked her in the ribs and laughed.

  “Come on, Ellie; they are all waiting for us,” said Jenny.

  Ellis stopped. “All who are waiting for us?”

  “Everyone. Well, everyone who matters.”

  Ellis didn’t move. “Jenny, just for whom is this ‘surprise’ intended?”

  “None of us could stand that the doctor wanted to keep you confined to the house. It seemed ridiculous and a little mean.”

  “But I’m not sure I’m ready to meet a lot of people … especially people I am supposed to remember but obviously do not. Maybe we should just go home.”

  “Oh no, you don’t! I’m wearing a stylish frock, hat and new hair. We are going to go make a splash down at the literary club. Besides, there will be an informal luncheon. You wanted to know more about Gamin and the people; well, here’s your chance.” Seeing Ellis hesitate, Jenny continued, “Please, Ellie, they planned it for you. Act surprised!”

  Ellis understood that Jenny wanted to show off her new fashions to this “literary society” of hers at least as much as and probably more than she wanted to help her bewildered cousin. Jenny had concealed the fact that there was a planned gathering for Ellis. She let out a breath and realized she couldn’t blame her. She would have stayed home if she had known it was a large party. She admitted inwardly that she might have done the same thing as Jenny. She fell into step alongside her cousin and they turned back up Main Street, past the shops on their right and the charred buildings on their left toward a brick building tucked back at the top of a small rise, which Ellis had not noticed on their way into town.

  “See? It’s just above the park. Just think. Maybe you will remember something.”

  Ellis singled out the stately redbrick building they were approaching. Geraniums and daisies bloomed in profusion in large pots flanking the tall front door. “So I have been to the literary society before?”

  “Oh yes. I thought you understood. You see, you were—are quite a favorite. Everyone knows you there. You will be among friends.”

  Friends. Friends that I can’t remember. She felt a weariness descend over her as she and Jenny climbed the front steps. “It’s so kind of you to bring me here. Can we leave after lunch, though? I’m afraid I will be quite worn-out before we get home.”

  “Of course, Ellie. We don’t want to upset the doctor!” Jenny winked at her and swung open the gleaming white door to the Nightbirds Literary Society.

  The sound of the crowded hall poured out of the doorway, surrounding Ellis. She felt suddenly uncertain again, as there must have been nearly twenty people crowded into the space to welcome her.

  “Oh, you’re here. Finally!” Alicia, the young woman Ellis had met yesterday, rushed forward from the gaggle of young people. She was the other girl in the picture on Ellis’s bed stand. Alicia too
k Ellis’s arm and ushered her forward into a crowd of about two dozen young people. “Come in, come in. We are all so pleased you have returned to us. We are aching to know about—” Alicia faltered midsentence, not knowing how to finish.

  “—the city,” boomed a deep voice from the doorway. All faces turned in surprise toward the door. A shocked, anticipating silence fell on the room.

  “Merrick! What a delight to see you here.” Jenny’s voice sounded more nervous than pleased. She turned on her heel so quickly that she stumbled awkwardly into the man’s chest. He stepped back and steadied her with his arm as he moved toward Ellis.

  He looked around at the faces of the small crowd and said casually, “It seems that my invitation was misplaced. Well, no matter. I’m certain it was just an accidental oversight.”

  Silence reigned for a heartbeat before Alicia replied, “Of course it was. We couldn’t get along without our founder.” The exchange took the air out of the room.

  “We won’t spoil our first little reintroduction for Miss Harkington over such a trivial matter.” He smiled, acknowledging Ellis and removing his hat. “Besides, I’ve brought my own surprise. Come in here, Elias, and join us!”

  A young man of slight build stepped through the doorway, hat in his hand. His brown, curly hair held tightly to his head as though it had a will of its own. He had a slightly bug-eyed look and seemed uncertain, as though he wasn’t confident about his welcome.

  “Ely!” exclaimed Jenny. The group that surrounded her washed past Ellis to welcome the young man clapping and laughing, talking all at once. Relief and pleasure were on their faces. Ellis heard the word “fire” mingled with questions and tones of relief.

  She observed that Merrick stood apart watching the others move around the young man, his face expressionless. “Enough about you, old chap. This party is to welcome back Miss Harkington and to reintroduce her to the Nightbirds.”

  “Yes, please come in all and sit down,” said Alicia, who seemed to be the queen bee here. She led them all back down the hallway. There were closed doors to either side, but the group flowed through a set of doors at the end of the corridor and into a large wood-paneled room. Tall windows flanked a small stage set into the back wall, its curtain closed. Chairs had been set in a crescent on the polished oak flooring. Alicia was still piloting Ellis through the group, some of whom reached out furtively to touch her dress as she passed.

  “Ellis, you sit here in the place of honor so that we can all see you.” Alicia indicated an oversized ornately carved wooden chair that was the focal point of the room. It made Ellis think of a throne. Sitting on a throne seemed like something children would do, but she acknowledged a pleasurable sense of being allowed to sit in the place of honor, so she sat down in it. She felt nearly swallowed up in the chair’s deep cushions. Her feet dangled near the floor. The skin near the neckline of her dress grew warm and heat rushed up into her cheeks. She couldn’t decide if she was flushing from pleasure or embarrassment at so much attention. She looked about at her little court and felt something was missing, though she didn’t know what it was. The rest of the party seated themselves in chairs and on floor cushions, bohemian-style, about the room.

  Jenny brought a pillow for Ellis to rest her feet on and seated herself on a large brocade cushion next to the throne chair. Ellis was about to speak when Merrick stepped up to stand next to her, facing the group.

  “As you know, one of our own has returned to us. But for her it is as though it were her first time.” Merrick turned toward Ellis, his eyes intent and never leaving her face as he continued, “Let us all be considerate of that. Miss Harkington, welcome.”

  Ellis felt a disconcerted delight under the handsome man’s gaze. She glanced down at Jenny, who gave no indication that she saw how pointedly Merrick looked at Ellis. Ellis was careful to smile and acknowledge each person in the group arrayed before her, avoiding Merrick’s gaze.

  “Thank you all,” Ellis began tentatively. “You are all most kind to—”

  “Tell us about the city!” said Alicia, and a rumble of approval rippled through the group.

  Ellis swallowed, her heart skipping a beat. What could I say, really? There was nothing but a gray fog, before the train ride here.

  “Yes!” called out a young man leaning anxiously forward on his chair. “Is it true that there is murder there? Tell us about murder!”

  “Oh yes,” cooed a plump young woman sitting in the front. “And diseases … and ecstasy. And cruelty! Is there cruelty in the city?”

  “Yes, what about pleasure and silk?” asked a nodding barrel-chested man at the end of the row with a carefully trimmed mustache. “And fear … tell us about fear, by all means.”

  Ellis blinked, uncertain how to answer.

  “Please,” murmured Elias from the edge of the crowd, “tell us something of the city. Anything at all.”

  Ellis stared at the expectant faces looking back at her.

  Merrick folded his arms across his chest, a smile playing about the edges of his lips.

  Jenny leaped to her feet. “Here’s something from the city! Come on, Ellie; let’s show ’em.” Jenny tugged at Ellis, who rose from the chair. Though Ellis didn’t know what Jenny meant, a wave of relief washed over her as demanding eyes shifted from her to her cousin. “You know, the frocks,” Jenny whispered over her shoulder.

  The two young women turned a circle in place to the oohs and sighs of the other girls. Ellis felt a little silly modeling, especially in front of the young men, but it was much better than trying to talk about something she could not recall.

  “And now, the finale! You ready, Ellie?” Jenny fingered the edge of her cloche with a gloved hand. Ellis smiled; she couldn’t begrudge Jenny her chance to cause a splash. Ellis grasped the brim of her hat as well, and together they whisked the hats off.

  Gasps and whisperings, giggles and coughing echoed around the room. “It’s the latest from the city! Many young ladies are wearing bobbed hair.” Jenny cupped the bouncy curls near the nape of her neck.

  “I’m sure you both have caused a sensation and now all the young ladies will be getting a bob,” said Alicia. Her tone lacked warmth. Ellis looked at the young women scattered about the room and noted disapproval on some of their faces. From the corner of her eye she glimpsed doubt sliding onto Jenny’s features.

  Ellis came to Jenny’s rescue. “It’s considered patriotic. Many women have bobbed their hair to work in the factories while the men are gone to war, and besides, it’s so fun with the new dances.” Ellis flipped her curls a little defiantly.

  “Like what dances?” asked a young woman with bright green eyes and red hair.

  “Like the Castle Walk or the turkey trot or even the tango,” announced Ellis. She caught Jenny’s eye at the realization that she had just listed a number of things she had not known two seconds before and it sent a shiver of delight up her spine. She grasped the tips of her cousin’s fingers and whispered, “I think I can dance.” Jenny smiled and nodded. “I wish there was a Victrola or something,” whispered Ellis.

  “Well, I think you’ll probably get your wish,” said Jenny, smiling.

  The room began to buzz loudly as young men leaped to their feet and girls swished their skirts showing off whatever steps they knew or thought they knew. Squeals and peals of laughter rang out as they danced like a swarm of bees gone mad.

  “Say, here’s a Victrola!” yelled a fellow wearing a bright red blazer as he moved to the back of the hall.

  Merrick’s head snapped toward the voice. He glared, his eyes fixed in astonishment on the machine.

  Ellis could not remember seeing it when she first came in, but now a new Victrola record player stood plainly near the entrance door. She stepped up to it, admiring the shining flower horn, the fresh felt on the turntable and the finish on the case. A record case leaned against the table. Ellis reached down and pulled out a glass gramophone from the sleeve. She read the label and smiled. “Maple Leaf Rag,” it rea
d. She centered the gramophone on the spindle, cranked up the motor and set the stylus on the outer area of the spinning disk.

  The up-tempo music poured into the hall out of the Victrola’s horn. Ellis stood in wonder as she watched everyone’s astonishment.

  “What do we do now?” demanded Alicia over the tinny music.

  “Well, you dance,” Ellis said. “Most people dance a turkey trot to this music.”

  “In the city, right?” Jenny urged. “Show us, Ellie, please!”

  The jaunty strains of the Joplin rag echoed throughout the large room.

  “Well, I think it’s something like this.” Ellis pulled Jenny toward her, putting her in dance hold. “Hop on your left foot while raising the right knee, then up on the right foot while raising the left knee. Then you hop four times on your left foot with your leg out to the side while turning, then continue the turn while hopping on the right leg with the left leg held out to the…”

  The Nightbirds in the room were already pairing off. Each couple was trying to dance the steps they had barely seen with enthusiastic abandon. The hall was a chaos of crazy motion, a mad caricature of a dance.

  “Now you’ve done it.” Jenny snickered lightly.

  “No, you started it with that hair,” said Ellis, grinning as she returned the tease.

  Ellis’s laughter faded into curiosity. She watched as Merrick stepped slowly toward the back of the hall, approaching the blaring record player as though it were a thing of menace. He stood for a long moment glowering at the cheerily playing device. He was reaching forward hesitantly to touch it as Ellis stepped up to him.

  “Don’t you care for the music, Mr. Bacchus?” Ellis chided.

  Merrick jumped slightly as though startled but regained his composure as he turned toward Ellis. “I am not accustomed to stepping out, Ellis, and not all things from the city have reached us here as yet. Tell me, did you happen to bring your book with you?”