McCann, Maria - As Meat Loves Salt

by Balefanio

  I laughed at such assurance. ‘And what do you think?'

  'We should all help one another.'

  'Help you empty Ferris's pocket! And I'm called proud because I won't do your work. What's Hathersage for?'

  She muttered low, as if the words were themselves a betrayal, 'It needs someone stronger.'

  I was weary of the Domremys and their preaching fool of a man. 'I tell you what,' I said. 'If Hathersage himself will come and ask me, using just those words, I will do it.'

  'O Jacob, how can—'

  'What!' I said, 'Surely he's not proud?'

  Catherine rose without further speech and walked away.

  Ferris ate with relish. He was perhaps recalling her praises and finding hope again for the future, when he should be thinking over the coming encounter with myself. Men are so stupid, so slow to learn that in the end this little fleshly hope means nothing.

  He put away his bowl and took some beer from the common jug. I watched him walk over to me, a cup of beer in each hand.

  'Here,' he said, and handing me one of the cups he lay down on the grass beside me. Taken aback, I found my face returning his smile. Clearly he did not know himself detected.

  Susannah had not warned him, or had not known he was in the wood. Catherine, I was certain, would not have guessed what he did there, for though more jealous than her sister-in-law she was much slower witted.

  'You had a hot walk of it today,' Ferris went on. He took a pull on the beer. 'Won't you have some, Jacob? You should, it's good for once.'

  I drank to gain time and found he was right.

  'What's that?' he asked. I frowned, not understanding, and he touched my chin. 'A bruise, or dirt? You look as though someone hit you.'

  'A fall.' I held out my forearm and showed him the punctures in it, now reddish-blue and angry.

  Ah—!' He drew in his breath so that a man would have sworn the sympathy was honest, then stroked the pads of his fingers over the wounds. Hatred near choked me.

  'We must get you some ointment,' he said when he had finished pawing.

  'It is nothing,' I murmured, 'they are closing over already. And what of your blisters?'

  'My blisters are — better. Yes, better.'

  'So you will want to go to the inn tomorrow.' Now I have you. And what of your dear aunt? You have not yet asked.

  His eyes skidded away from mine. 'I have still some pain.'

  'Except when you're lying down?' I suggested. At this he could not help looking back at me, but I was ready with a face full of concern. 'They don't give you pain now?'

  Ferris shook his head.

  'I have something to tell you,' I said.

  'Some message from the inn?'

  'It needs privacy.'

  Ferris hesitated.

  'Shall we go to our secret place?' I asked.

  He stammered something. I had again drawn blood, and was be­ginning to enjoy this game of pricking him. We got up and walked over to the trees, Ferris now going with a limp. The sight of it made me itch. I thought, I could put an end to him, and none the wiser. Make him beg for mercy. I considered what I would do after that, and saw in my mind's eye the basin beneath the spring.

  'Jacob?' He peered up into my face. 'It grows late. This is far enough.'

  'I can find the way back in the dark,' I said.

  He sat down within sight of the others and though he smiled, the joy was gone out of it. I saw he would go no further with me.

  'Come, your message.'

  'Not that precisely,' I said, seating myself next to him. 'But a con­fession. You being my truest friend.' That was another dig with the knife. 'You know I left home about a year ago.'

  Ferris was silent.

  I went on, 'I was contracted to a young woman, a servant. But I had to flee the house.'

  He nodded.

  'For murder.'

  Ferris stared at me.

  I said, 'A woman saw what I did, but she got away.'

  'Got away?'

  I waited and let my meaning sink in. 'Aye. She was a whore, with child by Zeb. He was best rid of her.'

  Ferris winced despite himself. I smiled inwardly to think that had he understood me in full he would have got up and run. I continued, 'But my tale is all disordered, I must first tell you about the killing of the boy.'

  'You told me,' he broke in at once. 'Self-defence.'

  'Is that what I said?'

  'Indeed you did.' His voice, breathless and thin, told me how his body had stiffened.

  'I drowned him.’ Here I paused, to enjoy the sound of Ferris pant­ing. 'Kept a grip on him, held him down until he breathed water. He was small,’ and here I paused again, before adding,’ like you.'

  'You were— You said, a man— O God.'

  'Would you like to know why?' I offered pleasantly.

  Something like a sob came from him; I took it for 'yes' and brought my face very close to his. 'He thought to make me his fool.'

  Ferris's eyes were grown dark against his bloodless cheeks. He made suddenly as if to rise but I was ready for that, and I caught hold of his arm.

  'So we had to leave, for that and for some pamphlets we had. It was the day of my espousal. That was how you found me, in my wed­ding clothes.'

  'Prince Rupert.' He bowed his head, then jerked it upright. 'Why tell me this now?'

  'I want no secrets between us.' I smiled at him and though he could barely see me in the thickening darkness, the smile spilled over into my voice. "There are none, are there?'

  'None.'

  He could not keep a quiver out of that word. The struggle in him excited me. I thought of dragging him into the wood and there forc­ing him to the ground, but I put it to one side for the time being.

  'It's something that you talk to me again.' I patted his arm. 'And you let me go to the inn. But you were kind from the day we met.'

  'I gave you water and got you a pike, that was my kindness. Now let me go.' So unnerved was he that he sounded like Nathan. I loosed

  my grip and Ferris was on his feet at once. Not even Sir George, I thought, could have frighted him better.

  'Another time I'll tell you about my wife,' I called after him as he walked away.

  He could have told me about Caro. He had chosen to keep the thing dark, and continue his double game. Very well, let him look to his cards, for the hand I had been dealt at the inn would sweep away card-table and all.

  'Ferris!' I shouted, and dimly saw his moving figure pause in the dusk. 'Let me go for your letter tomorrow.'

  'Yes, yes!' He quickened his pace.

  Until I knew my own mind, he must be kept from talking with the landlord.

  Morning, and the second stalk lay alongside the first, poking crudely out from the sod as if part of some lunatic scheme for sowing corn within doors. After a dream in which I slit the boy's throat and found that I had killed Ferris, I had woken in the dark and walked out be­tween the buts for the air inside mine seemed full of my fear. Stopping by his, I heard a snore. At least he was not in the fields with her, but that brought him no nearer to me. The sky was clear, the stars brittle. Where is God? I thought. Everywhere we see evil and misfortune.

  As a child I once asked God to give me a sign, promising that if I received it I would tell everyone. The sign I never received, and when I told the minister he said that I should be beaten for demanding such a thing, as if I were some juggling Papist. Did I not have the whole of revealed religion set before me in the Bible? If that would not suffice me, surely I would not respect a sign. Now I turned my face up to the Heavens. Do You see me at his door? What will become of us?

  I went back to my lonely bed, and was seemingly not long asleep when I was called by my familiar incubus. He sat astride me, said I was forgiven for he had always loved me best, kissed and fondled me until I woke, wet and aching, to find I had poured out tears as well as seed.

  Day leaked through cracks in the hut. It was worthless, for noth­ing remained to do. I had no wish to hel
p with the work, no loves to prosecute, not even a farewell to utter. There remained five days, and as I lay in the straw scratching fresh bites I knew I could not face the time out.

  The key still hung from my neck. The ribbon had originally been red, and was now a rusty blackish-brown. I would go first to the inn; let him get his amours out of the way. Then I would dig up the box of money. Should he want more, he had only to get to Cheapside. The rest must forage for themselves, it was the common fate in our times. I wondered what was become of Botts, and of Rowly. Eunice Walker was most likely Eunice Keats by now. Their lives had moved away from me like the roads around the common, over the hills and out of sight: they were all of them despicable, yet all of them skilled beyond me in that they knew how to live without Ferris.

  If he married Caro he would raise the child. It was, I told myself, most likely Zebedee's. I only hoped Zeb might one day cross their path in town: I pictured his face on seeing Jacob's keeper with Caro and in charge of his own son. If Zeb wanted Daniel he would take him, and Ferris, being nowhere able for him in a fight, would be lucky to come off still walking. This thought, which once would have pained me, now made me smile, and that smile was the measure of my misery.

  I rose and dressed. It was still early, for the day was bluish. I thought it would be cool and hoped we might have some rain, then remembered it would make no difference.

  The fire was unravelling sulkily in smoke. Hepsibah bent over it, a soot-stained kitchen demon.

  'God give you good day, Brother Jacob.'

  'Is there any pottage over?' I asked.

  'Look in the tent.'

  I went in there and found a small bowl of it. There was a spoon lying nearby. I plunged it into the mess and ate three or four spoon­fuls without tasting them. At once I wanted to retch, but by breath­ing quietly and taking a little beer in sips I kept the food down. I could not, however, swallow any more. I carried the things over to the fire.

  'Thank you, Brother.' She came to take them from me, and paused, looking into my face, the pot only half given into her hand. 'Are you well?'

  'I have been better.'

  'Your eyes are bloodshot.'

  I shrugged. 'Lack of sleep.'

  'I can give you something to bring it on,' said Hepsibah. There came to me the memory of stroking Ferris to sleep and I pushed it away. She went on, 'We all of us need rest.'

  'No, thank you. I have a most important work on hand, fetching letters for King Christopher.'

  Hepsibah stared at me. 'You are not yourself. When he sees you I'm sure he'll not even send you for a letter.'

  'Whatever he says.’ I laughed, but she did not join in.’ Tell him I'm in bed,' I said, 'and under his command.'

  Again she stared. 'I have valerian for sleep. Do you feel feverish, Brother?'

  'No.' I must be haggard indeed, I thought, for as a rule the colo­nists never concerned themselves with my health, but treated me like a piece of iron.

  As I crossed the grass back to the hut the early morning cold pierced me. My walk in the night, the dreams, all seemed to have cut into my strength. Perhaps I would fall sick unto death.

  He will look into your grave, his hand clasping hers. They will feel themselves free.

  Will he recall my kisses and embraces as they shovel the earth over?

  What does it matter? You will be with Me.

  In the hut I lay with my knees drawn up, arms across my chest, unable to get warm. The Voice continued in whispers as I lay half asleep.

  / will use you at leisure.

  Some time later I woke to find a jug by the side of the bed. I reached out and put my finger to it. It was no hotter than the surround­ing air, and the light still fed into the hut but much more brightly and through different cracks. The flesh felt strangely heavy on my bones

  and the bed, with all its fleas, was become delectable. As I turned myself over there was an ache in my arms and legs like the beginning of cramp, or like a man's thumb driven into a muscle expressly to give pain. My skull suddenly tightened, but before I could like down I felt a great longing to drink. The jug had what looked to be crushed roots in the bottom of it: valerian. I took a mouthful, then remembered that I had to get to the inn before Ferris, and that the potion would bring on sleep. I emptied the jug onto the earthen floor before I could be tempted to drink the rest.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, I tried my legs. When I attempted to stand upright, I feel against the wall of the hut and scraped my face on it. I dressed, wondering if Ferris and Caro were doing the same, and remembered they would have been up and field hours before. I heard myself laugh aloud. Go for the letter, Jacob.

  I stepped delicately out from the hut and shaded my eyes, the sun being overhead. They were engaged in digging the new ditches, and I saw at once that he was with them. Caro stood nearby. It was hard to cross the field keeping strong and steady in my walk. As I approached the line of diggers, folk stopped and leant on their spades, glad of some excuse for taking a rest.

  Hepsibah came up to me, looking anxiously into my face. 'Did you find the medicine?'

  Aye.' I smiled at her. ‘And slept better for it.'

  'Brother Jacob!’ That was Jonathan. 'We thought you were sick.'

  As you see, I walk and talk. I lacked sleep, that is all.'

  All this time Ferris had kept digging as if I were not there, dis­playing to the whole colony the coolness between us. I wondered if Susannah had taken her revenge after all, and if some now knew it for a lover's quarrel.

  'I am very much better,' I said, 'but would not wish to dig just now. Perhaps, Brother Christopher, I might go for the letter?'

  He reluctantly turned towards me. I saw by his face that he dis­liked that 'Brother Christopher', but I liked it just then better than 'Ferris', which to me meant love. He hesitated, full of mistrust, while Caro, thinking herself unobserved, glanced from one of us to the other.

  'Jacob ought not to walk in this heat,' Hepsibah protested.

  'What do you think, Jacob?' He regarded me solemnly. 'Do you find yourself well enough?'

  'I will go slowly, and be the stronger for the exercise.'

  Ferris unknotted the small purse he wore at his waist. He took out some change and paused; I watched him struggle with himself. As I had expected, lust vanquished prudence, and he held out the money. 'Pray do not hurry. Rest at the inn before coming back.'

  'Have no fear,' I said.

  As I turned and began my journey over the fields I heard him say, 'This ditch-digging tires us out of all reason. It is close on noon, shall we break for a while? I would sooner cut wood in the shade.'

  This was a well-loved game, one that I knew by heart. Caro would not go to him directly, he would have tutored her too well for that. She might not even be able to join him. But he would be ready an­other time when she did come, and their delight all the fiercer.

  I paced myself on the road to the inn, for I felt much weaker than I had revealed to the others. Most of the time I was as good as blinded by the light bouncing up from the stones of the road; once I almost sank down on the grass, but recovered. Let him go to her, let our place be theirs. I should take every gold piece in the box. Back in London, I should find myself work, and in time come to forget him.

  I passed very quickly through the inn yard, with its rosebush and underlying stench. The pale girl was elsewhere. The landlord came in through the same door as last time, Hector having seemingly repaired the thing for it opened meekly.

  Ah!' the landlord said when he saw me, 'there is another of these,' and he handed me a letter. I saw at once from the paper and the neat hand that it was from Cheapside, and I paid him the money.

  'There's a deal of writing to your friend,’ said he.

  'His aunt has been ill some time.'

  'She'll be an elderly lady, as I guess?' He was inclined to talk, but I told him I was indisposed and should not be come out, and begged his indulgence if I seemed hasty.

  In the road I examined the lette
r, wondering had Aunt died, or had the girl written to say that her cure was now complete. What is it to you? I heard the voice say. You will eat no more flesh in that house.

  I must know. I broke the seal and opened it, screwing up my eyes for the sun shining on the paper faded the words almost to nothing. The girl wrote that Aunt had taken a turn for the worse, and was un­able to speak. Doctor Whiteman was at a loss; two others had been called in but none could rally her. She was sinking.

  Here was a stay of execution given into my hand, for if I once showed it Ferris he would go directly to London and there be safe from Sir George. Not only would his bones be unbroken but the colo­ny most effectively levelled in his absence. I stood paralysed, clutching the letter to my breast. Then I heard again his moans as he lay with Caro. My body shook with great tearing sobs as I crushed the paper into a ball and flung it away from me.

  The man was drawing himself a cup of ale as I went back into the inn.

  'You've already paid me,' he said. 'Are you well? You need to sit down by the look of you.'

  ‘’Tisn't that. I have a letter to send — pen and paper if you please—' I counted up what I had in my hand, '—and a flagon of Rhenish.'

  He raised his eyebrows at this unwonted debauchery, but my money was good, at least as good as the wine he brought me.

  'Where do you come from, then?' he asked, seeing me drink but not write. 'You don't talk like folk do here.'

  'I was raised near Devizes.'

  'That's by Wales, is it not?'

  I shook my head.

  'Yes, surely it is, and they have their own tongue.'

  'If you will.' I could not be bothered with them, nor with him neither.

  Are you Welsh?'

  'English. The son of a gentleman, would you have guessed that?'

  Evidently he would not have, for he gave no answer and instead asked me, 'Is it good country there?'

  'Would to God I had never left it!’I drained my first cup of Rhen­ish and spread the paper on the table. At the top I wrote My dearest Becs then, losing courage, refilled the cup.

  'You're going at it,' said the landlord.

  The wine heated me and made my eyes itch, perhaps with fever, perhaps with unshed tears. I took up the pen again and continued: