Strangers, Strangeness and Surprises
A log rolled from the grate, startling Aleister awake. He'd dozed off in the parlor, it seems...awaiting Jack's return, to no avail.Rousing himself from the sofa, he flipped the log back from whence it strayed and stirred the dying embers. Well, may as well head on to bed then...Al sighed. He was divided between genuine concern for his friend, and for himself. He was lonesome, he knew.
Where was his Alice? She had been napping beside him when he
'd dropped off. Just then, he heard Boreson whinny shrilly in the pasture and the sound of running hoofbeats. What could all this be?
Al stayed prepared nowadays. Grabbing the shotgun by the door and shrugging into his coat, he headed onto the porch outside.
At first he could discern little in the gloom. He took the small electric torch from his coat pocket and switched it on, heading for the pasture gate beside the big barn. Boreson neighed and ran to the gate, pawing excitedly, wild eyes showing white. Al grabbed a rope and hitched it to his halter, opened the gate, and led Boreson, leaping about like a scalded cat, on through. 'There, old boy, what's the matter then, eh?'Al asked his equine companion, patting his sweating neck. Boreson reared up then, snorting; action most uncharacteristic for this Amish-trained Halflinger,always steady and sure as the sunrise.
Al wrapped the rope around the hitching post afew times and
tied his beast up tight; although a smallish horse, Boreson was still a draft animal and formidable indeed. He then turned his attention to the pasture, as he entered, Boreson whinnied a warning, dancing about and pawing the ground madly.
Al shone the light about the dark pasture, which was comprised of many acres of darkness to the light's small luminosity. He saw nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps we should get a good large watch dog, Al thought belatedly, as well as Alice...
He trudged over the uneven ground, tripping here and there in the dark, calling 'Who's there!?' altered with: 'Alice? Kitty, kitty!'
He thought he spied something in the corner of the fenced field. Heading that way, he heard something now, it was Alice! She was racing to and fro and hissing and growling like a thing posessed. But at what? As he neared, he saw.
Good gods! It was a bear!
And his little Alice was trying to keep it at bay!
. . . . . . .
The days were warm now in the canyons of Mexico. Emmeline felt healthier and was taking long herb-gathering hikes up
and down the hills surrounding Esperanza's village. In fact, she thought, as she stood at the top of the ridge gazing about at the miles and miles of hills and canyons surrounding, she had never felt better, at least in mind and spirit, if not quite whole in body. She coughed abit still and found herself winded more than she was used to. 'Take it slow,'Esperanza told her. Em sighed. She wasn't used to doing that. She was too impatient to live.
'You're like a clock wound too tightly! Your minutes will tick by too quickly if you don't learn some control, and slow your thoughts! Admit it you don't sleep well!' Esperanza had told her, and she was right. Her mind was like
a crazed monkey at the worst times...nights she felt, just weren't for sleeping! She could doze in warm afternoon sunshine, but nights...she felt she belonged to the night.
'That's fine, as far as it goes, there are things best done at night, indeed,'Esperanza had agreed,'...But! -- you need to master your thoughts or you will be dragged about by them like being roped to a runaway caballo!' And she motioned Emmeline down next to her on the sheepskins before the fireplace and they both sat cross legged,a maneuver which, Em was surprised to find, the older woman seemed to execute with ease. Esperanza then instructed her on how to breathe.
'Here, from the belly.' She put her warm worn hand on Em's abdomen. 'Breathe in and out deeply. Push energy from your belly, into the chest, and then into your head, and back down and out.'
Em tried this now, sitting on the ground above the arroyo far below, and incorporated something Jack and Yeats had begun to teach her as well, what they called 'zazen' or sitting meditation, counting breaths. In-one, out-two...up to 10 and begin again.
She managed this awhile, in between coughing fits, and after a time, she felt more at ease with herself. She sighed. It just takes practice...and time out from hiding from lynch-mobs, and breaking friends out of jail, and doing battle with the library, and trying to find work and a place to live, etc. etc...
Well, perhaps she could, at last, catch up with herself here. That would be nice for a change.
Suddenly she thought she detected movement on the far ridge across from hers. She slowly stood to a crouch and inched her way behind the manzanita.Narrowing her gaze she pulled her wide hat brim down to shade her as she studied the trees and brush that lined the mesa yonder. There! Someone or something had just moved behind that tree...too tall to be an animal. Moved like a man. Could be someone from the village, but they usually would greet her, not skulk about.
Best hie thee to home, girl, she told herself.
So much for catching up, she thought.
. . . . .
'Alice!' Aleister yelled, thinking only to distract the bear. Not large, a young brown bear it seemed, although hard to make out in the dark. Al shouldered his rifle and aimed, although he hated to kill any living creature, it was especially loathesome for a man dedicated to saving lives. Alice stood her ground still, crouching and growling low. The bear regarded Aleister then and ducked it's head as if to charge. Al pulled the trigger. And missed.
Luckily, or not, thought Al,hoping to have hit him, the bear turned tail and ran.
'Alice!' Al commanded. As the bear loped off toward the safety of the trees, Al strode toward his little calico defender,still crouching frozen. 'Alice...baby...are you alright?' He squatted next to her and gently touched her back. She growled. She was in shock, Al realized, but seemed otherwise unharmed. He lay the gun down and took his coat off, and wrapped it around her.
He scooped up Alice, coat and all, having left a wee aperture for her head, and taking the gun, he headed back to the house. What to do now?
He had to get Boreson somewhere safe. It was nearing 11 o'clock when he left the house. Woody's would still be fairly lively and he could get there in about half an hour.
Woody wouldn't mind letting Boreson stable there overnight.
And there was the added safety of being across the wide river from the bear.Al and Alice could sack out in the backroom of the Lizard while Al thought about what to do.
Al took Alice into the barn and lighted a lantern, then made a cozy nest in the hay with her in his coat still. He inspected her as much as she'd allow and found her safe and sound, just scared out of her wee wits momentarily, shivering with nerves. Al shook his head, wondering at his cat's intrepid defense against a bear of all things! But he had to get moving. He saddled up Boreson who stood sweating and shivering , and gave him a handfull of oats which the animal wasn't too beside himself to give attention to, and then fetching his hat and another coat and blankets from the house, Al locked up and taking the shotgun and Alice still wrapped in his mac, up against his stomach before him in the saddle, they were on the road to Woody's.
Hopefully they'd get to the bridge before Mr. Bear.
. . . . .
Emmeline found no one home at Esperanza's so she went across the creek to see Carlos. Habanera and Lobo came trotting up to greet her, tails awag, sniffing where she'd been.She patted the big wolf dogs and went to find Carlos in his workroom, stringing a violin and humming to himself with the satisfaction of nearly completing a long job done well.
'Carlos! Buenos...dias? Or is it tardes already?' Em smiled at her music mentor and friend.
'Ah! Emmeline! Come in! Do have a seat...what do you think of her, eh?' He held up the violin proudly, a beautiful piece of work.
'Absolutley gorgeous, Carlos! Who is it for?'
'I don't know...I've been here working since daybreak...it could be tardes already. Who cares?' He smiled. Em was confused, wondering who Tardis was.Then she realized he had answered only her first question, and smiled in return.
'Ah, it's to be for a Norte Americano, but someone with relatives here in the village. Not a gringo. In fact, someone living not too far from where you hail. It is going on a journey to San Francisco.'
Em frowned then, thinking of what she now had labeled The Past and had since stored away in the far attics of her mind, not wishing to be reminded of the jumble of chaos remaining therein. She tried to never think of it and to focus entirely on Here and Now. It was exceedingly unpleasant to be reminded of The Past.But then, there was that skulking dark figure on the hill...
'Carlos...I was up on the ridge and I thought I saw someone over on the western mesa, a tall dark figure. I just glimpsed it for a minute, but...'She didn't know how to express what was just an uncanny feeling. '...well, it didn't seem to be anyone from the village here. They would be out in the open, not trying to hide.'
Carlos regarded her seriously, putting the instrument down.
'No one you recognize then?'
'Didn't really get a chance to see them properly. They seemed hooded and cloaked, all in black.'
He frowned in turn. 'Hmmm...could be someone out hunting...
but, just to be sure, perhaps you stay near Esperanza's and keep close to the village awhile, si? We are fairly safe here, nena...no one could enter from outside the pale, you see. But...there are some who have a certain access, by the back door,you may say.'He gave Em a curious glance.
'Where is Esperanza? She's not at home.'
'Oh, she's off to the see the wool woman, you know, Elena, who keeps the sheep in the valle. That's why I'm keeping los lobos here. For some reason, they make the sheep nervous.' He grinned.
'I sympathize with the sheep,'Em did. She felt rather stalked herself at the moment.
'No worries, nena! We'll see what Esperanza has to say about your mystery man. Meanwhile, los lobos are on guard here!
Fear not.'He stood and smiled at her. 'Well, this job is nearly finished. How about lunch? I've made a fine stew...with plenty of comino and chilie peppers just as you like, eh?'
Em felt a little better then, with chilie figuring prominently in the Here and Now.
. . . . .
Al heaved a sigh of relief as he crossed the bridge into West Pankhurst at last, bear-free. Boreson was sweaty and jumpy still, snorting and starting at moon shadows and totally unlike his steady self. Alice rode quietly and had inched herself deep inside his coat making herself small as possible against his warm stomach. Poor bloody creatures, thought Al. But, soon, they'll all be fairly safe and secure for the night at least.
The Leaping Lizard was a welcoming sight all alight and soon Al could catch strains of fiddle and banjo ringing out into the late evening. They would be wrapping things up around midnight which Al knew was soon. He rode around the stray groups of folk smoking and talking outside in the chillish air of late spring, and continued on back to Woody's stable where he unsaddled Boreson and haltered him, and gave him a nice rubdown just to help settle the beast's poor nerves then gave him a cup of oats and some hay and water and put him in a stall next to Woody's old grey who was now too old for much, but Woody kept him like a prize racehorse still, for old time's sake.Sentimental, like me, thought Aleister, as he scooped up Alice again and took her wrapped like a mummy in his coat, into the bar which was quiet now with folks winding down the night at last. His shotgun Al had stored in the tack box in the stable for the time being, as Woody didn't allow firearms on the premesis.Recalling Jack's troubles there, a good thing too, thought Al.
Greeting a few people Al recognized, some of them recent patients, Al headed in back of the room and found Woody there wiping down the mahogany bar and glad-handing a few
gents farewell. Woody saw Al and raised a hand his way.
'Well, party's about over, Doc! What brings you here in the midnight hour?' Woody heartily shook Al's free hand.
'And what's that you got there?'He nodded at the coat wrapped up under Aleister's arm.
Al sighed and took a seat at the bar, setting Alice in his lap, who stayed well-hidden. 'Been quite a night, Woody. Have you any coffee? And a brandy, if you please.'
Woody was a good judge of people and moods, having made serving the public his business. He said not a word as he
readied a cup of black thick midnight java and pouring brandy in a snifter, set it sideways on the coffee cup to warm, just as the doc liked it.
'Thanks. When you have a minute, we need to talk, Woody.'
Al eyed him seriously.
'You got it, Doc. Give me a sec to see to these stragglers, and I'm all ears.' Woody collared a bartender who was sweeping up and set him to patron-wrangling and herding the strays on out the door, then he poured himself the last of the syrupy coffee and a shot for himself and took a seat next to Aleister.
Al looked about finding only the staff cleaning up about them now. He sniffed the warm brandy's bracing scent and took a sip. An another. 'Had a run-in with a bear tonight.'
'Good lordamighty! You don't say? Where?' Woody knew bear talk was serious stuff.
Al sighed. 'At the house. Well, out in the pasture, really...'
and he recounted the whole surreal scene for his captive audience, now encluding most of the staff who had heard the word 'bear' and were now all about Aleister like moth to flame. '...and this little package...is my brave watch cat, little Calico Alice...the Bear Warrior.' Al's eyes misted up abit as he touched the warm little lump not stirring still upon his lap.
'Ooooohhhh...the poor little thing!' Sugar the waitress was at Al's side then, and put her hand on his shoulder. 'It's amazing what our animals will do for us sometimes! She's still scared, isn't she?'
Al nodded and finished his brandy. Woody poured him another. 'On the house,' he said, and a shot all round for staff. This was now a community affair.
Taking another gulp, Al continued,'The thing is, although I have taken the liberty of putting up Boreson in your stable...?' Al looked enquiringly at Woody who nodded,patting his shoulder in consent, 'Jack and Trotsky are out of town, gone up in the hills to Homer and Jethro's. He's been out there alot of late. And I don't believe he'll be back tonight but...he doesn't know we're being stalked now. He'd turn his bay out into the same pasture where I found our bear.'
One of the bouncers spoke up then, Tom. Al recalled he'd come to see him last week regarding a sprain received in line of duty at Woody's. 'Say, doc! I head back up that way on weekends. In fact, I was going back up tonight. I could stop at Homer's and let Jack and them know about our lil' bear problem...be no trouble. And the shoulder's feeling better now too, by the way.'
Al closed his eyes with relief. 'That'd be a mercy, Tom! Thank you! Next visit's on me--no charge!' Al suddenly felt the adrenaline drain from his system at once. 'Finally, I can take a moment to just breathe...'
'Well, we're safe enough on this side of the river, 'long as Mr. Bear doesn't find the bridge...that's aways from your place...but word should go out that there's a bear headin' for town!' Woody looked around at his people and they nodded unanimous agreement.
By the next day, the whole town would no doubt be up in arms and loaded for bear.
. . . .
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Music, Mystery and Magic
Chapter 2
Music, Mystery and Magic
Jack was quiet... Homer lit his pipe and puffed as he gazed out into the distant dark. Jethro picked up his Amanda and began to softly strum.
At last,Jack inhaled deeply and asked,'Anymore of that jack about?'
Homer roused himself and poured.They sat and drank together, letting the newsbomb dust settle awhile. At last, Jack spoke, 'I'd...no idea,'he allowed.
Homer blew a stream of blue smoke. 'S'abit you haven't been privy to as yet regardin' that lil ole gal, I reckon there, son.'
'I guess so...' Jack furrowed his brow and regarded the night, full of mystery.
Jethro leaned over and saw Jack had drained his glass. He administered more medicine before continuing the operation he had in mind, adding a bit for himself. '...Anyone just meeting our Emmeline would consider her to be just as she looks: a sedate and proper library lady. And so she is. That, indeed, is one of her many aspects.' He paused, sat back and sipped. 'You know, Jack, we grew up together Em and myself...I've seen all her many incarnations, you might say.Thus far, at least.'
Jack glanced his way, raising an eyebrow. 'Em did tell me that she thought highly of you, Jethro. Said she admired a man with brains.'
Jethro strummed an old mountain tune and continued, '...yeah, well, maybe that's her problem...'
'How so?' Jack sipped some, deeply,intuiting that more painful revelations were perhaps headed his way.
'Welp,' Jethro stopped strumming, and regarded Jack,'See, I know a little of what makes that lil gal tick, and, though it hasn't been easy, I finally got to the heart of the matter.' He looked down and sighed softly.'Ah, Jack...though it may not be much comfort to you, and believe me, it pains me to say it,
but--I'm convinced now that Em cares for you deeply. I might even reluctantly admit that yes, she even loves you.'
Jack laughed out loud then,he couldn't help himself.'Sorry, Jethro, but man, she sure has a funny way of showing it!'
Homer and Jethro both just stared at him silently then. 'What?' Jack asked.
Jethro poured more all 'round. 'That's just it, Jack. You see,she thought nothing of spending all her time with Lev, simply because she was not attached to him in the least, and there was nothing to hold her to him... you know about Lev, don't you?'
'What do you mean?' Jack's gaze narrowed. He liked Lev, considered him a comrade and a good man.
'Now, don't get us wrong Jack, we all think the world of Lev, and Marco and Ian and Stephen as well, they're good people...'
Jethro looked at Jack.
Jack let that sink in. 'Ian and Stephen...the actors?' Jethro nodded. 'Oh.' Jack was becoming slowly enlightened. '...and Marco?...but...'
'Some folks are omnivorous, shall we say,'Homer tossed in this garbled bit of wisdom.
'I think Jack's beginning to cogitate,' Jethro smiled. 'Yep. So, Em feels at ease with these guys. They won't make demands upon her and they're not about to get serious, see? Not that they don't care for her...Ole Lev was broke up somethin' fierce when she cut things off finally...but make no mistake, Jack: the more she cares for you, the more dangerous she feels you are, the farther and faster she'll run from you.'
'And, to be sure, Jack,'Homer added, 'We never did see her run so far or fast from a feller before now! Oh, man, that's love alright! She's got it bad for you, Jacky boy...'Jack looked at Homer but he wasn't smiling.
'That doesn't make things any better,' He sighed. 'Damn.'
Jethro nodded. 'Now you see how it is.'
Jack hung his head and sighed. The bullfrogs took up their croaking again and night breezes stirred the oak leaves. At last he raised his head, and stared off into the dark as if trying to define things in his mind. 'What makes her that way...?' He asked more to himself...not really expecting an answer.
Jethro took up strumming again. 'Well, it's not hard to see, really, if you know her background...her old daddy, now he wasn't a bad sort, just real distracted and self-absorbed and old-fashioned...he thought women were good for marriage and babies and that was all there was to it.Never gave the gal credit for nothin and pretty much ignored her...well...'Jethro sighed.
'Yeah,'Jack allowed, 'I see now.'
. . . . .
Emmeline awoke feeling the heat. But it was more without than within and that was good for a change.
Blinking open her eyes she cautiously gazed slowly around her.
Lying on sheepskins on woven rugs...a stone fireplace at her head.
Stone and adobe walls, many bundles of herbs hanging from wooden
beams above. She thought maybe she could sit up.
Her head swam slightly and she moved back against the fireplace and propped herself up with blankets behind and around her. When her ears stopped rushing with the sound of her heartbeat, she noted sounds outside of wood chopping, chickens and goats...
A clay pitcher and basin sat nearby, and a mug. She poured water and drank, and washed up a bit. Diosa, it was good to feel like a human for a change, and not just a bundle of throbbing misery.Only then did she notice she was wearing a light cream colored cotton shift.
The blanket hanging over the doorway opened,letting in the daylight and Em closed her eyes at the glare. When she opened them she beheld the petite older woman with the long white braids who had given her tea.
'Buenos Dias,' Emmeline said, nodding.
''dias!' The woman smiled a small smile. She approached Em and hovered over her, hands on hips. 'So, better, eh?'
'Gracias, diosa! Si. Muchas gracias. Dona...?'Em enquired.
'Just Esperanza. And, you are Emmeline.I am Marta's mother.'The woman surpised Em by announcing.
'Marta's mother!'Em attempted to rise.
Esperanza bent over and helped pull Em up on her feet. Em's head swam.
'You are probably ready to go outside by now, eh? Come,'She took Emmeline's arm, much as Alice would have done.
'You have been sleeping long. You're ok now though. Needed rest is all. Be yourself soon. This way...' and Esperanza led Em out into the yard and bright as lightning it seemed to Em.
Taking care of business and washing up, Em looked about at the surrounding hills, trying to recall coming here, but couldn't. The big trees casting shadows and the creek nearby were all a surprise to her.The village wasn't big, and was nestled in a winding fashion following the natural pattern of the hillsides, so that dwellings were allowed their own privacy and neighbors were near enough but not within immediate view. She thought she could hear a guitar nearby however...
She went back into Esperanza's and found her cutting up fruit, and she handed Em a small bowlfull.
'Gracias, Esperanza. Where is Marta, and the others? They are alright?' Em enquired.
'Si, they are well. They continued on into town. Marta believes that it would be best if you stay here, for now.' She looked at Em, dark eyes gleaming. 'I hear you are her apprentice.'
Em nodded, and sat back on the sheepskin, savoring the juicy fruit. 'I hope to be.'
'Well, she apprenticed to me, as did Ernestina. So! You are ready now for graduate school!' She smiled, hands on hips.
'Gracias, Esperanza!'Em smiled back. 'I would be honored.'Em sighed. 'I admit I wouldn't mind staying here, and was not looking forward to the city...just now.'
'It will take some time for you to get your hiking legs back. You have been sleeping nearly 18 hours.' The petite bruja looked seriously at Em.'We will have plenty of time to put you to work.
No trabajo for a while yet. And, just as Ernestina has taught the village to speak English, we will teach you to speak Spanish! Maybe, if you are lucky, some 'Indian' words as well we locals use.'
'Wonderful! Muy bien.' Em had long wished to improve her Spanish. Her immediate knowledge was muy poco at best.
'Ok!'Esperanza helped her up once more.' Feel up to a little mosey then?' Em nodded. 'We will meet our closest neighbor, Carlos...I heard his guitar earlier. He's not far.'
As they strolled around the hills, Em noted a chicken run beside Esperanza's and hens pecking therein. A sleepy burro stood by a water trough and she noted a narrow creek which ran around the bottom of the hillside, a tributary of the larger creek she could hear beyond the cottonwood trees. Goats in a pen stared at Em with their otherworldly eyes and bleated, Ummm, goat cheese, thought Em, characteristically. She seemed to be getting her appetite back.
Em noted grape vines terraced along the hills. Large century plants, agave,aloe, prickly pear cactus and others, and fruit and nut trees lined the base of the hollow wherein rested the village's immediate environs. Wild rose and berry vines snaked throughout the brush.
They walked over a short wooden bridge spanning the small creek and rounded a hill to find another adobe and rock dwelling built into the hillside. Large agave and cactus grew along the walls, the plants themselves much bigger than Esperanza's. Maybe this place had been here longer...down the path Em espied a small cornfield with vinegar plants lining the field's outer edges, but unlike most fields, this one was not squared off but more oval in shape. That was wise, Em thought, that way all the plants would get pollinated.
'No use hiding, Carlos, we heard your guitar already!' Esperanza called.
A man who looked to be about Esperanza's age emerged from behind the blanket covering the doorway and smiled, 'I was not hiding! Not yet. Well, well, look what the storm brought!' He regarded Emmeline.
'Carlos, this is Emmeline. She is my new apprentice.'
'Very good! Pleased to meet you, Emmeline. I am your neighbor and
resident songwriter and storyteller. In short, I weave the threads of life and spin tales to make myth and magic.' Carlos gave her an intense look behind his smile.
'Pleased to meet you, Carlos. Your village is very beautiful.'
'Magic is not all he weaves.' Esperanza gestured proudly at the beautiful woven sash she wore about her waist. 'This is Carlos's work.'
'Ohhhh...'Em was truly impressed. 'The colors are so rich and the pattern...very intricate! You are a master, don Carlos!'
'Just Carlos, please...I am not such an old don yet or I do not wish to believe so anyway. '
'He is.' Esperanza teased her friend. Em could tell they were close friends...perhaps more? she wondered. 'He also makes wonderful instruments for his beautiful music making...'
'Ah, truly? I love music, Carlos! It is the one constant in my life...'Emmeline had that far-away look that some women have when thinking of lovers or children. Carlos recognized this.
'Come. Something I will show you.' And he turned and headed around the side of his house, Em and Esperanza following, and the older woman gave her a sidelong hint of a wink.
Another adobe and rock structure seemed to grow out of the hill which wound around the backside of Carlos's house. Again, more cactus and agave ranged about the walls. This doorway had a wooden door however and Carlos touched it in several mysterious places and in a seeming pattern and the door opened slightly. He stood aside and ushered the women in.
Inside the adobe building it seemed cooler, and smelled of fresh wood. Em noted with amazement the different instruments both finished and in progress...what looked to her like guitars of many sizes, some with as many as 12 strings!--and some exceedingly large, nearly like a bass fiddle. Something she at first took to be a casket was on closer inspection a sort of harp with strings rising up from the top of the 'lid'. A violin or two here as well.
He eyes rested upon what looked like a sort of lute. It had some fine workmanship and inlays decorating the borders.
'Ah...you like?' Carlos took up the instrument and strummed a chord or two. Then began a series of arpeggios.
'Oh, Carlos! This is heaven!' Em gazed about her, enraptured.
'I think you have found a kindred spirit!' Esperanza exclaimed, approvingly.
'Try it!' Carlos surprised Em by handing the lute her way.
'Oh! No, I have never played a stringed instrument. Only piano.
But...I have always wished to learn!'
'Muy bein.' Carlos nodded. 'We start now. Let us go outside,
there are chairs and a table out back...'
'I'll leave you two to get acquainted.' Esperanza declared. 'I need to gather some herbs before it gets too hot. Do not tire her out, old man!'She looked about her.'... And where is my dog?'Putting her fingers to her mouth, she blew a shrill sharp whistle and bounding down the hillside came two large dogs which seemed to be part wolf.
'Looks like wolves!' Em exclaimed.
'They are, in part! But, they are good dogs now, aren't you?' Esperanza bent to pet her furry friends. 'This female is Carlos's dog, Habanera. This crazy guy is mine,'she said, firmly patting the dust from his coat as the dog stood tongue lolling as he panted in the heat. 'He's a good boy and he is called Lobo.'
'Mucho gusto!' Emmeline felt intros were in order. To her surprise, both dogs snapped their tongues smartly into their mouths and blinked at her, as if in acknowledgment of her introduction. They then sniffed her and began happily panting again.
'OK, we're off, then. You will help me make a nice stew when I return with herbs and rabbit. We will dine together, Carlos?' He nodded. 'Yes. But Carlos, my apprentice needs to lie down inside and rest soon. She is still mending, si?'
'I see. No problema, off with you and your wolves, scary woman!
'Vamanos!' Esperanza grabbed a nearby staff and calling to her poco wolf pack they headed up the hillside.
'Let us sit in the shade. I will show you some simple chords and scales, then you go back home and rest, no?' Carlos steered Em to a table underneath a bushy shade tree and they sat on benches whilst the old music master and weaver wrapped his knotted fingers about the neck and made magic upon the strings...it sounded a little like a mandolin and indeed, had 8 strings. Em was relieved it was not 12. She managed afew finger positions and the strumming techniques Carlos showed her and was pleased to be able to hear some sweet sounds coming from the instrument that she chorded herself. She liked the high, wild notes. She handed the lute back to Carlos, smiling.
'Not bad! Not bad for a first time, eh? But you will need to practice!' He shook a gnarley finger at her and handed back the lute. 'Keep it near and practice. Then come around and show me how it goes, si?'
'Oh, Carlos...I couldn't! It's much too fine...' Em protested.
'It is just an instrument.' Carlos waved to the building full of guitars, etc. 'I can always make more.' He smiled. 'I can't seem to stop. I insist. It's a good one to start out on. You go rest now, nina.'
And so Em began another of her new apprenticeships.
. . . . .
The night was deep and dark out in the Sierra. If a bear was hovering about the edge of darkness, he'd be invisible. But neither dogs or horses showed any hint of alarm, so the men felt reasonably sure that Mr. Bear had indeed ambled off down the valley elsewhere.Still...
'Think you better stay on here tonight, Jack,'Homer was saying between pipe puffs. 'Don't want to worry about you and Trotsky becomming bear grub on your way home. Can head back come daylight.'
'Think I'll just do that, thank you boys kindly...' Jack allowed that he was feeling the jack now, having administered dose after dose to kill some of the pain of remembering Emmeline so intently.
Loved him, eh? Frankly, that was a thought that Jack had never so much as remotely entertained. Novel idea, though.
Jethro strummed a final chord, finished with 'Shave and a Haircut, 2 Bits' and handed the mandolin to Jack. 'Here. Work on it awhile, Jack. I think you have a real feel for mandolins.'
'Really?' Jack looked at him, head a little woozy now. 'I like 'em, so I do...nice sound, this one. Did you make it?'
'Naw, I can't do woodwork so fine. Actually a friend of Marcos makes them, way back yonder over the border. Just wonderful work,well worth the wait to get one from old Carlos! --makes instruments of all kinds. Could put in an order for you Jack!'
Jack accepted Jethro's Amanda. 'I'll treat her right Dirk Gently, Jethro, thanks. Wouldn't mind a little practice whilst I'm here.'
'I'll show you afew tricks, Jack. Right now, we're off for bed. You can have the spare room next to mine whenever you're ready...see you come mornin' then!'
'Hasta manana, Jack,'Homer followed suit and ambled after Jethro, taking his guitars with him.
'Hasta luego, muchachos!' Jack smiled to himself and leaned back in the porch chair and noodled about on the mandolin in the infinite darkness, hearing soft snores of the hound dogs out under the trees. Little did he know that both he and Emmeline were united in their mandolin apprenticeships at nearly the same time and with instruments both conjured by the master musician and magician, don Carlos.
The night was full of mystery indeed.
. . . . .
'I cannot locate Emmeline anywhere, anytime...' Yeats stood before Thelene, seeming somewhat less sure of himself than usual at the moment.
Thelene, for her part, sat back eating grapes. She regarded Yeats with half-lidded eyes. 'Indeed?'
Yeats rather came to himself then, looking more directly at his beloved, straightening to his full not insubstantial height. 'Thelene...toy with me not. It has been frustrating.' Not to mention exhausting, thought he.
Thelene sighed, leaning forward. 'Do have a seat and stop hovering, Shane!'
He sat.
She slowly swiveled his way. 'And here you are, poor lad, off heroically chasing shadows! If it isn't Yeats to the rescue, 'tis no one a'tall!'
Yeats held his tongue, sat back, cap in hand, twirling it now, and gave Thelene his own half-lidded stare.
She regarded him and nodded, 'You cannot find her, because she is out of space and time, as you know it.'
'You know where she is.' It was a statement. Yeats held her gaze.
'Of course. Why would we not?' Thelene and Anara...thought Yeats.
Anara was Emmeline's future self. She knew. She was ever aware.
And, Anara would inform her sensei.
'She is between. In another dimension;an alternate reality if you prefer. She is there at the behest and under the protection of others of our clan. Marta knew you and Jack were time walkers, you know.' Thelene allowed herself a small smile.'She knew when you called forth the ancestors through the Blue Flame. How could she not?'
Yeats hung his head to his chest. 'How not, indeed?' Ah, he was getting too old for this chasing about. Off his own center, and he had no call to berate Jack for same. Naturally he should have known and consulted with the High Council, Thelene at least...truly though...he'd not been in his beloved's good graces of late. Wanted to handle it on his own. And Jack certainly hadn't helped things much.
'You're becoming more like Jack every day,' Thelene shook her head. She was still smiling, however. Hmmm. Yeats didn't trust that, somehow.
'I stand duly chastised and enlightened. Enlighten me further, pray do...' He leaned her way, tired, but still feeling rogueish enough.
'You go haring off...'she began...
'...like an anserine rookie!' he interrupted and finished for her, knowing he aped his own words of criticism to Jack.
'Exactly.' Thelene knew he knew. Besides, it would bother him no end to think of the time he wasted. Price enough and time was short.
She had missed him...
He had the same thought, seemingly. 'Thelene...' he reached out and took her hand. '...you know me so well...my errors are only good intentions gone...slightly sideways, temporarily...' He kissed her hand.
Thelene stood, and raised her tired knight and old lion up with her. Yeats smiled and put her arm through his as they strode to the balcony overlooking the vast dark sea.
'Let us watch the sunsest...' She turned to him and said.
. . . .
Music, Mystery and Magic
Jack was quiet... Homer lit his pipe and puffed as he gazed out into the distant dark. Jethro picked up his Amanda and began to softly strum.
At last,Jack inhaled deeply and asked,'Anymore of that jack about?'
Homer roused himself and poured.They sat and drank together, letting the newsbomb dust settle awhile. At last, Jack spoke, 'I'd...no idea,'he allowed.
Homer blew a stream of blue smoke. 'S'abit you haven't been privy to as yet regardin' that lil ole gal, I reckon there, son.'
'I guess so...' Jack furrowed his brow and regarded the night, full of mystery.
Jethro leaned over and saw Jack had drained his glass. He administered more medicine before continuing the operation he had in mind, adding a bit for himself. '...Anyone just meeting our Emmeline would consider her to be just as she looks: a sedate and proper library lady. And so she is. That, indeed, is one of her many aspects.' He paused, sat back and sipped. 'You know, Jack, we grew up together Em and myself...I've seen all her many incarnations, you might say.Thus far, at least.'
Jack glanced his way, raising an eyebrow. 'Em did tell me that she thought highly of you, Jethro. Said she admired a man with brains.'
Jethro strummed an old mountain tune and continued, '...yeah, well, maybe that's her problem...'
'How so?' Jack sipped some, deeply,intuiting that more painful revelations were perhaps headed his way.
'Welp,' Jethro stopped strumming, and regarded Jack,'See, I know a little of what makes that lil gal tick, and, though it hasn't been easy, I finally got to the heart of the matter.' He looked down and sighed softly.'Ah, Jack...though it may not be much comfort to you, and believe me, it pains me to say it,
but--I'm convinced now that Em cares for you deeply. I might even reluctantly admit that yes, she even loves you.'
Jack laughed out loud then,he couldn't help himself.'Sorry, Jethro, but man, she sure has a funny way of showing it!'
Homer and Jethro both just stared at him silently then. 'What?' Jack asked.
Jethro poured more all 'round. 'That's just it, Jack. You see,she thought nothing of spending all her time with Lev, simply because she was not attached to him in the least, and there was nothing to hold her to him... you know about Lev, don't you?'
'What do you mean?' Jack's gaze narrowed. He liked Lev, considered him a comrade and a good man.
'Now, don't get us wrong Jack, we all think the world of Lev, and Marco and Ian and Stephen as well, they're good people...'
Jethro looked at Jack.
Jack let that sink in. 'Ian and Stephen...the actors?' Jethro nodded. 'Oh.' Jack was becoming slowly enlightened. '...and Marco?...but...'
'Some folks are omnivorous, shall we say,'Homer tossed in this garbled bit of wisdom.
'I think Jack's beginning to cogitate,' Jethro smiled. 'Yep. So, Em feels at ease with these guys. They won't make demands upon her and they're not about to get serious, see? Not that they don't care for her...Ole Lev was broke up somethin' fierce when she cut things off finally...but make no mistake, Jack: the more she cares for you, the more dangerous she feels you are, the farther and faster she'll run from you.'
'And, to be sure, Jack,'Homer added, 'We never did see her run so far or fast from a feller before now! Oh, man, that's love alright! She's got it bad for you, Jacky boy...'Jack looked at Homer but he wasn't smiling.
'That doesn't make things any better,' He sighed. 'Damn.'
Jethro nodded. 'Now you see how it is.'
Jack hung his head and sighed. The bullfrogs took up their croaking again and night breezes stirred the oak leaves. At last he raised his head, and stared off into the dark as if trying to define things in his mind. 'What makes her that way...?' He asked more to himself...not really expecting an answer.
Jethro took up strumming again. 'Well, it's not hard to see, really, if you know her background...her old daddy, now he wasn't a bad sort, just real distracted and self-absorbed and old-fashioned...he thought women were good for marriage and babies and that was all there was to it.Never gave the gal credit for nothin and pretty much ignored her...well...'Jethro sighed.
'Yeah,'Jack allowed, 'I see now.'
. . . . .
Emmeline awoke feeling the heat. But it was more without than within and that was good for a change.
Blinking open her eyes she cautiously gazed slowly around her.
Lying on sheepskins on woven rugs...a stone fireplace at her head.
Stone and adobe walls, many bundles of herbs hanging from wooden
beams above. She thought maybe she could sit up.
Her head swam slightly and she moved back against the fireplace and propped herself up with blankets behind and around her. When her ears stopped rushing with the sound of her heartbeat, she noted sounds outside of wood chopping, chickens and goats...
A clay pitcher and basin sat nearby, and a mug. She poured water and drank, and washed up a bit. Diosa, it was good to feel like a human for a change, and not just a bundle of throbbing misery.Only then did she notice she was wearing a light cream colored cotton shift.
The blanket hanging over the doorway opened,letting in the daylight and Em closed her eyes at the glare. When she opened them she beheld the petite older woman with the long white braids who had given her tea.
'Buenos Dias,' Emmeline said, nodding.
''dias!' The woman smiled a small smile. She approached Em and hovered over her, hands on hips. 'So, better, eh?'
'Gracias, diosa! Si. Muchas gracias. Dona...?'Em enquired.
'Just Esperanza. And, you are Emmeline.I am Marta's mother.'The woman surpised Em by announcing.
'Marta's mother!'Em attempted to rise.
Esperanza bent over and helped pull Em up on her feet. Em's head swam.
'You are probably ready to go outside by now, eh? Come,'She took Emmeline's arm, much as Alice would have done.
'You have been sleeping long. You're ok now though. Needed rest is all. Be yourself soon. This way...' and Esperanza led Em out into the yard and bright as lightning it seemed to Em.
Taking care of business and washing up, Em looked about at the surrounding hills, trying to recall coming here, but couldn't. The big trees casting shadows and the creek nearby were all a surprise to her.The village wasn't big, and was nestled in a winding fashion following the natural pattern of the hillsides, so that dwellings were allowed their own privacy and neighbors were near enough but not within immediate view. She thought she could hear a guitar nearby however...
She went back into Esperanza's and found her cutting up fruit, and she handed Em a small bowlfull.
'Gracias, Esperanza. Where is Marta, and the others? They are alright?' Em enquired.
'Si, they are well. They continued on into town. Marta believes that it would be best if you stay here, for now.' She looked at Em, dark eyes gleaming. 'I hear you are her apprentice.'
Em nodded, and sat back on the sheepskin, savoring the juicy fruit. 'I hope to be.'
'Well, she apprenticed to me, as did Ernestina. So! You are ready now for graduate school!' She smiled, hands on hips.
'Gracias, Esperanza!'Em smiled back. 'I would be honored.'Em sighed. 'I admit I wouldn't mind staying here, and was not looking forward to the city...just now.'
'It will take some time for you to get your hiking legs back. You have been sleeping nearly 18 hours.' The petite bruja looked seriously at Em.'We will have plenty of time to put you to work.
No trabajo for a while yet. And, just as Ernestina has taught the village to speak English, we will teach you to speak Spanish! Maybe, if you are lucky, some 'Indian' words as well we locals use.'
'Wonderful! Muy bien.' Em had long wished to improve her Spanish. Her immediate knowledge was muy poco at best.
'Ok!'Esperanza helped her up once more.' Feel up to a little mosey then?' Em nodded. 'We will meet our closest neighbor, Carlos...I heard his guitar earlier. He's not far.'
As they strolled around the hills, Em noted a chicken run beside Esperanza's and hens pecking therein. A sleepy burro stood by a water trough and she noted a narrow creek which ran around the bottom of the hillside, a tributary of the larger creek she could hear beyond the cottonwood trees. Goats in a pen stared at Em with their otherworldly eyes and bleated, Ummm, goat cheese, thought Em, characteristically. She seemed to be getting her appetite back.
Em noted grape vines terraced along the hills. Large century plants, agave,aloe, prickly pear cactus and others, and fruit and nut trees lined the base of the hollow wherein rested the village's immediate environs. Wild rose and berry vines snaked throughout the brush.
They walked over a short wooden bridge spanning the small creek and rounded a hill to find another adobe and rock dwelling built into the hillside. Large agave and cactus grew along the walls, the plants themselves much bigger than Esperanza's. Maybe this place had been here longer...down the path Em espied a small cornfield with vinegar plants lining the field's outer edges, but unlike most fields, this one was not squared off but more oval in shape. That was wise, Em thought, that way all the plants would get pollinated.
'No use hiding, Carlos, we heard your guitar already!' Esperanza called.
A man who looked to be about Esperanza's age emerged from behind the blanket covering the doorway and smiled, 'I was not hiding! Not yet. Well, well, look what the storm brought!' He regarded Emmeline.
'Carlos, this is Emmeline. She is my new apprentice.'
'Very good! Pleased to meet you, Emmeline. I am your neighbor and
resident songwriter and storyteller. In short, I weave the threads of life and spin tales to make myth and magic.' Carlos gave her an intense look behind his smile.
'Pleased to meet you, Carlos. Your village is very beautiful.'
'Magic is not all he weaves.' Esperanza gestured proudly at the beautiful woven sash she wore about her waist. 'This is Carlos's work.'
'Ohhhh...'Em was truly impressed. 'The colors are so rich and the pattern...very intricate! You are a master, don Carlos!'
'Just Carlos, please...I am not such an old don yet or I do not wish to believe so anyway. '
'He is.' Esperanza teased her friend. Em could tell they were close friends...perhaps more? she wondered. 'He also makes wonderful instruments for his beautiful music making...'
'Ah, truly? I love music, Carlos! It is the one constant in my life...'Emmeline had that far-away look that some women have when thinking of lovers or children. Carlos recognized this.
'Come. Something I will show you.' And he turned and headed around the side of his house, Em and Esperanza following, and the older woman gave her a sidelong hint of a wink.
Another adobe and rock structure seemed to grow out of the hill which wound around the backside of Carlos's house. Again, more cactus and agave ranged about the walls. This doorway had a wooden door however and Carlos touched it in several mysterious places and in a seeming pattern and the door opened slightly. He stood aside and ushered the women in.
Inside the adobe building it seemed cooler, and smelled of fresh wood. Em noted with amazement the different instruments both finished and in progress...what looked to her like guitars of many sizes, some with as many as 12 strings!--and some exceedingly large, nearly like a bass fiddle. Something she at first took to be a casket was on closer inspection a sort of harp with strings rising up from the top of the 'lid'. A violin or two here as well.
He eyes rested upon what looked like a sort of lute. It had some fine workmanship and inlays decorating the borders.
'Ah...you like?' Carlos took up the instrument and strummed a chord or two. Then began a series of arpeggios.
'Oh, Carlos! This is heaven!' Em gazed about her, enraptured.
'I think you have found a kindred spirit!' Esperanza exclaimed, approvingly.
'Try it!' Carlos surprised Em by handing the lute her way.
'Oh! No, I have never played a stringed instrument. Only piano.
But...I have always wished to learn!'
'Muy bein.' Carlos nodded. 'We start now. Let us go outside,
there are chairs and a table out back...'
'I'll leave you two to get acquainted.' Esperanza declared. 'I need to gather some herbs before it gets too hot. Do not tire her out, old man!'She looked about her.'... And where is my dog?'Putting her fingers to her mouth, she blew a shrill sharp whistle and bounding down the hillside came two large dogs which seemed to be part wolf.
'Looks like wolves!' Em exclaimed.
'They are, in part! But, they are good dogs now, aren't you?' Esperanza bent to pet her furry friends. 'This female is Carlos's dog, Habanera. This crazy guy is mine,'she said, firmly patting the dust from his coat as the dog stood tongue lolling as he panted in the heat. 'He's a good boy and he is called Lobo.'
'Mucho gusto!' Emmeline felt intros were in order. To her surprise, both dogs snapped their tongues smartly into their mouths and blinked at her, as if in acknowledgment of her introduction. They then sniffed her and began happily panting again.
'OK, we're off, then. You will help me make a nice stew when I return with herbs and rabbit. We will dine together, Carlos?' He nodded. 'Yes. But Carlos, my apprentice needs to lie down inside and rest soon. She is still mending, si?'
'I see. No problema, off with you and your wolves, scary woman!
'Vamanos!' Esperanza grabbed a nearby staff and calling to her poco wolf pack they headed up the hillside.
'Let us sit in the shade. I will show you some simple chords and scales, then you go back home and rest, no?' Carlos steered Em to a table underneath a bushy shade tree and they sat on benches whilst the old music master and weaver wrapped his knotted fingers about the neck and made magic upon the strings...it sounded a little like a mandolin and indeed, had 8 strings. Em was relieved it was not 12. She managed afew finger positions and the strumming techniques Carlos showed her and was pleased to be able to hear some sweet sounds coming from the instrument that she chorded herself. She liked the high, wild notes. She handed the lute back to Carlos, smiling.
'Not bad! Not bad for a first time, eh? But you will need to practice!' He shook a gnarley finger at her and handed back the lute. 'Keep it near and practice. Then come around and show me how it goes, si?'
'Oh, Carlos...I couldn't! It's much too fine...' Em protested.
'It is just an instrument.' Carlos waved to the building full of guitars, etc. 'I can always make more.' He smiled. 'I can't seem to stop. I insist. It's a good one to start out on. You go rest now, nina.'
And so Em began another of her new apprenticeships.
. . . . .
The night was deep and dark out in the Sierra. If a bear was hovering about the edge of darkness, he'd be invisible. But neither dogs or horses showed any hint of alarm, so the men felt reasonably sure that Mr. Bear had indeed ambled off down the valley elsewhere.Still...
'Think you better stay on here tonight, Jack,'Homer was saying between pipe puffs. 'Don't want to worry about you and Trotsky becomming bear grub on your way home. Can head back come daylight.'
'Think I'll just do that, thank you boys kindly...' Jack allowed that he was feeling the jack now, having administered dose after dose to kill some of the pain of remembering Emmeline so intently.
Loved him, eh? Frankly, that was a thought that Jack had never so much as remotely entertained. Novel idea, though.
Jethro strummed a final chord, finished with 'Shave and a Haircut, 2 Bits' and handed the mandolin to Jack. 'Here. Work on it awhile, Jack. I think you have a real feel for mandolins.'
'Really?' Jack looked at him, head a little woozy now. 'I like 'em, so I do...nice sound, this one. Did you make it?'
'Naw, I can't do woodwork so fine. Actually a friend of Marcos makes them, way back yonder over the border. Just wonderful work,well worth the wait to get one from old Carlos! --makes instruments of all kinds. Could put in an order for you Jack!'
Jack accepted Jethro's Amanda. 'I'll treat her right Dirk Gently, Jethro, thanks. Wouldn't mind a little practice whilst I'm here.'
'I'll show you afew tricks, Jack. Right now, we're off for bed. You can have the spare room next to mine whenever you're ready...see you come mornin' then!'
'Hasta manana, Jack,'Homer followed suit and ambled after Jethro, taking his guitars with him.
'Hasta luego, muchachos!' Jack smiled to himself and leaned back in the porch chair and noodled about on the mandolin in the infinite darkness, hearing soft snores of the hound dogs out under the trees. Little did he know that both he and Emmeline were united in their mandolin apprenticeships at nearly the same time and with instruments both conjured by the master musician and magician, don Carlos.
The night was full of mystery indeed.
. . . . .
'I cannot locate Emmeline anywhere, anytime...' Yeats stood before Thelene, seeming somewhat less sure of himself than usual at the moment.
Thelene, for her part, sat back eating grapes. She regarded Yeats with half-lidded eyes. 'Indeed?'
Yeats rather came to himself then, looking more directly at his beloved, straightening to his full not insubstantial height. 'Thelene...toy with me not. It has been frustrating.' Not to mention exhausting, thought he.
Thelene sighed, leaning forward. 'Do have a seat and stop hovering, Shane!'
He sat.
She slowly swiveled his way. 'And here you are, poor lad, off heroically chasing shadows! If it isn't Yeats to the rescue, 'tis no one a'tall!'
Yeats held his tongue, sat back, cap in hand, twirling it now, and gave Thelene his own half-lidded stare.
She regarded him and nodded, 'You cannot find her, because she is out of space and time, as you know it.'
'You know where she is.' It was a statement. Yeats held her gaze.
'Of course. Why would we not?' Thelene and Anara...thought Yeats.
Anara was Emmeline's future self. She knew. She was ever aware.
And, Anara would inform her sensei.
'She is between. In another dimension;an alternate reality if you prefer. She is there at the behest and under the protection of others of our clan. Marta knew you and Jack were time walkers, you know.' Thelene allowed herself a small smile.'She knew when you called forth the ancestors through the Blue Flame. How could she not?'
Yeats hung his head to his chest. 'How not, indeed?' Ah, he was getting too old for this chasing about. Off his own center, and he had no call to berate Jack for same. Naturally he should have known and consulted with the High Council, Thelene at least...truly though...he'd not been in his beloved's good graces of late. Wanted to handle it on his own. And Jack certainly hadn't helped things much.
'You're becoming more like Jack every day,' Thelene shook her head. She was still smiling, however. Hmmm. Yeats didn't trust that, somehow.
'I stand duly chastised and enlightened. Enlighten me further, pray do...' He leaned her way, tired, but still feeling rogueish enough.
'You go haring off...'she began...
'...like an anserine rookie!' he interrupted and finished for her, knowing he aped his own words of criticism to Jack.
'Exactly.' Thelene knew he knew. Besides, it would bother him no end to think of the time he wasted. Price enough and time was short.
She had missed him...
He had the same thought, seemingly. 'Thelene...' he reached out and took her hand. '...you know me so well...my errors are only good intentions gone...slightly sideways, temporarily...' He kissed her hand.
Thelene stood, and raised her tired knight and old lion up with her. Yeats smiled and put her arm through his as they strode to the balcony overlooking the vast dark sea.
'Let us watch the sunsest...' She turned to him and said.
. . . .
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