A Maggot - John Fowles (27 page)

Q. As sweet as pitch. What next?

A, it stood so for a little while, sir. At the last I
heard some stones tumble, and there was Dick upon the far side of the
stream, back down whence he came, across from where his Lordship was,
and made a sign, and one that boded ill, sir, for 'twas the Devil's
horns.

Q. Show.

A. Like this, sir.

Q. Write, with little and fore finger cocked, and the
two between bended back by the thumb. You had never seen this sign
made before?

A. They say 'tis how witches greet, sir. So we
believed when I was a young lad. Though we used it among ourselves in
scorn and jest, to say, to the Devil with you. Dick made no jest, as
I must tell.

Q. Then?

A. His Lordship came to where Louise sat and she
rose, and they spoke briefly, but I could not hear. Next went she
with him to where Dick stood, who leapt in the stream and carried her
in his arms across, that she wetted not her shoes. And his Lordship
crossed after, and they made their way up the hill, where Dick had
already been.

Q. Seemed his Lordship pleased when Dick returned?

A. I could not see, sir. For his face was barred by a
branch. He made no sign. But when he came to fetch Louise, and spoke
with her, I thought him more brisk.

Q. He showed some eagerness?

A. Yes, sir. The like he would hearten her to what
was doing. And I marked, lifted her cloak from the stone and would
hold it for her to put on, tho' she would not have it, whereat he
carried it over his arm, as a servant might. Which I found strange.
But so 'twas.

Q. Did she wear her May crown?

A. Not then, sir. But carried it in her hand.

Q. On.

A. Well, sir, once more I knew not what to do, for I
knew they must return, since the horses was left, and they could not
be gone far, and my own horse below, and not well enough hid, which
they might see in passing back, and would know, and guess all.

Q. Yes, yes. You followed?

A. I did, sir. Two hundred paces it was steep and
rude, more clitter than path, but then smoother, though still rude.

Q. Too steep for a horse?

A. One of our Welsh ponies might, sir, not your full
horse. Then came I to where I had seen Dick stand before, though I
stood not myself for fear of being seen, and found I looked upon that
other part of the cwm I spoke of, that lay to one side.

Q. In which direction?

A. Why, to west'd or north-west, sir. Left-ward as I
went. And I saw there was now no further of trees, be it not for some
few poor twisted thorns, but sward and bracken above, rough leaze,
that ran to somewhat of a basin, as so, like a Billingsgate
fish-basket, sir, flat-bottomed to its sides, which were much of bare
rock on the northern part, nigh to clift.

Q. And those you followed?

A. Plain enough to see, sir, they were above, some
three or four hundred paces off, near upon this basin I speak of, so
be it I could not see its bottom nor water from where I lay. But
there, sir, I have not told the most. I marked they were alone no
more.

Q. How not alone?

A. Why, I thought at first they had met with she we
knew of, that his Lordship was covetous to marry. For a woman stood
somewhat above them, that now they knelt before.

Q. Knelt, do you say?

A. Yes, sir, 'tis sure. They did kneel all, his
Lordship foremost, hat in hand, and Dick and Louise a pace or two
behind, as before a queen.

Q. How appeared she, this woman?

A. Your worship, it was far and I could but peep, for
she did look to where I lay, I cannot be exact, save she was most
strange dressed, as it seemed in silver, and more as man than

woman, for she wore breeches and a blouse, no more;
no cloak, no coat nor mantee, nor cap nor hat neither.

Q. Saw you no horse, no attendant?

A. No, sir. She alone.

Q. In what manner stood she?

A. As one who waits, sir.

Q. She did not speak?

A. Not that I spied.

Q. How far apart were they?

A. It might be thirty, forty paces, sir.

Q. Was she fair in appearance?

A. I could not tell, sir. 'Twas a good four hundred
paces from where I watched. Of middle height and figure, and a dark
hair that hung loose, it seemed not dressed nor curled, above a white
face.

Q. Seemed it as an expectant mistress might greet her
long awaited lover?

A. No, sir, not one smatch, and 'twas mightily
strange they made no movement.

Q. Could you make out her expression? Did she smile,
look joyous, I know not?

A. 'Twas too far, your worship.

Q. You are sure she was woman?

A. Yes, sir, and did then suppose her dressed as she
was for some disguise of escape from where she lived, and the more
easy mayhap to ride a horse, though I could see none. Yet

as I say these clothes were not as a country clown or
stable boy might wear, but shining silver, as finest paduasoy or
silk.

Q. I would know this. Shall you tell me more of this
lady that you later discovered?

A. I shall, sir, and that she had best worn darkest
night than what she did.

Q. Very well, in right time, as you did find upon
that day. What next?

A. I could not go closer forward, sir. There was no
covert. If any had turned, I must be seen. I minded if I went back a
little, I might find some way to the cwm's top, and there come unseen
to some place above where they stood by the basin. So that I did,
sir, though I tore my hands and clothes in the first part, and took
longer than I wanted. 'Twas more place for your squirrel, see you,
than mortal being. But I came over it in the end, and found it led
out upon the open mountain, as I did hope. Where I began to run, with
the cwm below me, though out of their sight. And when I came to where
I judged they were, I first tore a piece of herbage to shield my face
where I should watch. Then crouched and crawled upon my belly, sir,
and found a good place among the whortles upon the brink, where I lay
as in the gallery of Drury Lane, with all spread below me, like crow
in gutter, or mouse in malt-heap.

Q. Why do you stop?

A. To pray you will give credit, sir, to what I have
now to tell. Well I might speak of a theatre, nay, no piece was ever
played more fantastickal, no, not half as much.

Q. No credit before warranty. Speak on.

A. I should have thought myself still abed dreaming,
sir, had not the sun been hot on my back and my breath expiring from
my running.

Q. Devil take thy expiring. Get on with it, man.

A. Well, sir, I must do my best. Upon the far side of
the basin, there was a scarp of stone, as high as a house, that fell
to the plain. While at its foot, which I could not see from my first
vantage, there was a black-mouthed cavern. I judged it used by
shepherds, sir, for a broken hurdle lay on the ground to one side and
I saw a place where they had lit a great fire before the entrance,
the turf burnt dark. And closer to me there stood a little pool of
water, made of a tricklet scooped out and barred across with an
earthen bank, by human hand. Which at its brim had a tall stone, not
so tall as they at Stonage, yet high as a man, set on end, as if to
mark the place.

Q. There were no sheep?

A. No, sir, I doubt not it is as in my homeland, such
pasture not fit till May is done, besides that they will not risk
their flocks thus far till the lambs are strong.

Q. Saw you his Lordship?

A. I must, sir, and Dick as well. They stood beside
the stone, with their backs to me, and stared at the cavern, which
stood a hundred paces off, so they thought to see someone come forth.

Q. How far from where you spied?

A. Two hundred paces, sir. A good musket-shot.

Q. And the maid?

A. Knelt at the pool, sir, upon her cloak at the
brink, and washed her face, then dried it upon an edge of the cloak.
So rested there upon her knees and stared mope-eyed into the water,
with her may-crown beside her.

Q. And this fourth particular, she that you saw from
below, that was dressed as a man?

A. I saw her not, sir. She was gone. I supposed
entered inside the cavern, to change her costume, I knew not what.
His Lordship turned and walked a few paces, and then did take his
watch from his fob and opened its case, and I thought, the powder has
failed the match. Something is amiss, he grows impatient. Yet he
began pacing on, it seemed in thought. The turf was close, sir, and
flat enough there for a bowling-green. And so for near another
quarter-hour, with Dick still staring where the cavern was, and
Louise sat upon the grass, like three who had never met nor spoken
before, and all with different purposes.

Q. To the events.

A. At the end once more his Lordship looks to his
fob-watch. Then 'tis as if the hour he waited is come, for he goes to
Dick and lays a hand on his shoulder, so to say, as I say, the hour
has come.

Q. Which was, by your computation?

A. Perhaps a half past ten of the clock, sir, I think
not more. And now his Lordship goes to Louise where she sits apart
and speaks to her and she bows her head, so she would not do what his
Lordship wished. I could not hear, sir, or only their voices, not
what was said, they spake low. 'Twas plain she had no heart for what
he wanted, for shortly he took her arm, such as he had no patience
with her hanging back, and made her walk to where Dick stood. And she
would take her cloak, yet he snatched it from her hand and threw it
down at the foot of the stone when they stood there; then found they
had left the may-crown on the grass and made a sign to Dick to fetch
it, which he did, and set it on her head when he came back. Whereupon
Dick takes her hand, and makes her face the cavern, like as they are
man and bride before the church rails on their wedding day. And they
begin to walk across the turf to the cavern, sir, hand in hand, with
his Lordship behind, such a strange procession as you never saw,
there in the sun, with no reason for it. Then from strange it grew
ill, sir. For all of a sudden she half falls, turns, and is on her
knees looking up at his Lordship, as if she beseeches his mercy. And
I thought she wept, sir, 'twas too far, I cannot be sure. But he
would not hear, and quick as a trice draws his sword and points it
down at the poor girl's breast, so to say, your life is lost if you
fail me now.

Q. You wretch, this is some cock-and-bull. You
concoct it as you go.

A. God's honour 'twas so, sir. Would I venture what I
know you would not believe?

Q. He drew his sword upon her, you assert that? A. On
my oath.

Q. Did he speak?

A. Not that I heard, sir. Dick made her stand again,
and they went on, with his Lordship behind, still sword in hand,
though he did drop the point; after a few paces, put it up again, so
he feared no more she would disobey. Then come they upon the
threshold of the cavern's mouth, and the strangest yet, sir. For just
before they enter his Lordship raises his hand and sets his hat down
against his breast, so they entered some great person's presence,
before whom his Lordship must uncover. Sir, I am sorry, you would
have me tell all. And I must.

Q. You are sure, as if he would show reverence?

A. As sure as I see you now, sir.

Q. And then?

A. They passed inside, sir. I saw them no more. Until
it might be the time to count twenty, when I heard a stifled sound, a
woman's scream, from within. 'Twas stifled, yet I heard it.

Q. It was the wench?

A. Yes, sir. And it went to my marrow, for I thought
murder was being done. Though I know now it was not.

Q. How large was this cavern?

A. It ran low on one side. To the other, large. A
great laden wain might have entered, sir, and space withal.

Q. You could see within?

A. None, sir, beyond where the sunbeams smote. 'Twas
black as midnight.

Q. You saw no one there, no figure or motion?

A. No, sir. You may be sure I looked hard. Nor in all
the long hours I waited. All lay in the silence, what I saw had never
been. But yet knew I it had, for the cloak was there by the stone.

Q. Did you not go down, to look closer?

A. I dared not, sir, I was too much frighted. I saw
some wickedness in his Lordship, some searching after evil knowledge,
begging your pardon. For not a half-hour after they had gone in there
came two great black crows, that they call ravens, with their young,
and sat on the pentice slope above the cliff where the cavern lay,
and made a great noise, as of joy or mockery, I know not which. I
know most they betide death, and naught else good besides, and are
wise beyond other birds. Or so it passes in my homeland, your
worship.