A Maggot - John Fowles (45 page)

A, No, I am sure not.

Q. It is not heard of, that any woman whatsoever, far
less a lady, and one of foreign birth, should be alone in such a
place. Much is not heard of, that is. Thee must judge when all is
said.

Q. Then say it

A. His Lordship came to where I sat beside the pool
and said, The time is come, Fanny. The keepers await. Now I must tell
thee, as we waited, my heart had of a sudden sore misgiven me of what
we did. I liked not that black cavern's mouth across the grass, that
seemed more fit for a gateway to Hell than to curing waters. And when
his Lordship spoke, I answered that I began to fear. To which he
replied, It is too late now to fear. I would have him to assure me I
should come to no harm in what we did. To which he said, I should
come to more harm now if I disobeyed. I would know more of the
keepers, but he grew impatient, and said, No more of this, and took
my arm, so I must go with him to where Dick stood, by the stone; and
must as well put on my crown of may. When Dick seized my hand, and I
was straightway made to walk by him toward the cavern, while his
Lordship came a two paces behind, like it were to attend us, in my
fears I thought the better to prevent me, should I try to escape. And
now did I sink under great alarm that God forgive me I was fallen
into the hands of two devils, who wore the mask of ordinary men; and
these waters they that are said to boil eternal for sinners in the
deeps of hell, and their keeper must be the Devil, who I was now to
meet. And all this swept upon me with such force, I fell on my knees
as we walked and begged his Lordship to tell me the truth. I knew I
had sinned, but no more than many others, and begged to be spared, I
know not what. To which he told me quick I was a fool and said, did I
not suppose if they took me to Hell, the last thing I should meet was
punishment, on the contrary I should be welcomed with open arms, I
had done their service so well. He said, had I not been the Devil's
good servant? Should I not fear Heaven's anger far more? And then was
I pulled to my feet again, and must move on.

Q. Did not his Lordship threaten you with his sword?

A. No, tho' he was drawn, and held it in his hand. He
spake not in a rage, more as one impatient I should mistake their
purpose so.

Q. I return a moment. Saw you, before his Lordship
fetched you to this, a sign from the cavern that the time was come.
The woman in silver beckoned not, nor servant?

A. I cannot tell. I looked not towards the cavern, I
was too lost in my fears and thoughts.

Q. Did you not mark a burnt place beside the cavern's
mouth?

A. Yes. I had forgot to tell.

Q. What did you observe of it?

A. It seemed new-burnt, yet was there no pile of
ashes. It lay in a circle, as of a great fire.

Q. Very well. On.

A. First my eyes were weak after the brightness of
the sun, and I saw only shadows, and knew not where I went save by
Dick's guidance. Until of a sudden he made me turn upon my left hand.

Q. Why stop you?

A. The maggot.

Q. What maggot?

A. That floated in the inner cavern, like a great
swollen maggot, white as snow upon the air.

Q. What is this?

A. Yes, like a maggot, tho' not. Its great eye shone
down upon us, my blood did curdle in my veins; and I must perforce
call out in my fear, ignorant that I was. Now his Lordship came
beside me and took my other arm, and forward towards it, and then to
kneel.

Q. You alone, or all?

A. All, as at the temple, and upon the path.

Q. I'll know more of this maggot. What appearance had
it?

A. Of white, yet not of flesh, as it were wood
japanned, or fresh-tinned metal, large as three coaches end to end,
or more, its head with the eye larger still; and I did see other eyes
along its sides that shone also, tho' less, through a greenish glass.
And at its end there was four great funnels black as pitch, so it
might vent its belly forth there.

Q. Had it jaws and teeth?

A. No, none, nor legs neither at that first, but six
black holes or mouths beneath.

Q. It lay not on the ground? It was suspended - there
were ropes, timber, could you not see?

A. No, none.

Q. How high in the air?

A. At twice a man's height, it may be more. I thought
not then of measure.

Q. Why say you maggot?

A. So I first believed it to be. For it had a seeming
head, and a tail, and was fat, and like in colour.

Q. Did it move?

A. Not when first we stood before it, it hung in the
air like to a kite, yet no string. Or a windhover, yet beat no wings,
as they do.

Q. Of what girth or circumference?

A. More than a man in height. Two men.

Q. Ten to twelve feet?

A. Yes.

Q. And you say, as three coaches long or more? Why,
this is fancy entire. Thou mak'st it up, 'tis not to be believed. How
came this thing within a cavern whose mouth would not admit it, nor
the passage to its inner chamber neither?

A. I know not, save that it was there. And if thee
won't have it there, then I say no more. I will not lie. I am dammed
as a stream is dammed, and must spill to waste.

Q. I may sooner believe thy three witches that was
told to Jones, and the Devil at thy tail, than this.

A. That is, thee art man. Thee'd. make me mirror of
thy sex. Dost know what a harlot is, master Ayscough? What all men
would have all women be, that they may the easier think the worst of
them. I would I had a guinea for every man that hath told me he
wished I were his wife, or his wife like me.

Q. Enough of thy licentious tongue. I'll not yet dam
thy tale, mistress, but I'll see thee damned for a liar yet. This
most preposterous maggot - bore it no marks other?

A. Upon its side was a wheel with figures thereafter,
in a line; and yet another, upon its belly, the same.

Q. How a wheel?

A. As 'twas painted upon its white skin, in a blue as
of summer sea, or sky; and that bore many spokes about its hub.

Q. And the figures?

A. I knew them not. They were in a line, as letters
or numbers, that might be read by those who knew. One was in the
likeness of a bird, it might be a swallow flying; and another, of a
flower, as daubed upon a piece of china pot, not strict to the life,
tho' all of equal size. And yet another was as a circle, divided in
two halves by crescent line; its one half black, the other left
white, so the moon in middle wane.

Q. There were no alphabet letters, nor numbers?

A. No.

Q. You marked no emblem of Christianity?

A. No.

Q. Made it no sound?

A. There was as a humming, tho' low, as of a closed
furnace that flames, as oven before baking. Like also to a cat that
purrs. And soon did I smell of that sweet smell I knew at the temple,
and guessed it to be the same light that had floated above us there;
and my heart had relief, for I knew this must bring no evil, for all
its seeming.

Q. How, you see a vile prodigy that denies all
Nature's laws, and deem it not evil?

A. No, I knew it not evil, by this smell; that it was
the lion's carcase, and held honey within. And as I shall tell.

Q: What, you may tell good and evil by smell?

A. By this smell, yes. For it was of innocence and
blessedness.

Q. Very fine. Now tell how innocent blessedness doth
smell.

A. I could not say in words; though I smell it yet.

Q. As I thy self-weening piety, which stinketh over
this thy manner of answering. I command you to describe this smell,
as it might come to nostrils less blest.

A. All that was good in what does smell.

Q. But sweet, or more harsh? Of musk, bergamot,
attar, myrrh? Of flowers or fruit, or made waters, such as they of
Hungary or Cologne? Of what must be burnt or of what smells of its
natural essence? Why answer you not?

A. Of life eternal.

Q. Mistress, had I asked another question of you,
such as in what your belief or hope may lie, you may answer so. But
not in this. You say that still you smell this smell. Very well. I'll
not be foisted by this havering.

A. Then most it smells of the white canker that grows
in June in the hedge, which we did call the virgin rose when I was
small, and a bride must carry in her posy, if she is wed within its
season; that lasts but one day or two, and smells most pure when
first it opens and is golden of its heart.

Q. The white briar, you would say?

A. She the rose that is weak, and falls if she is not
supported, and less sweet of her perfume than they that grow in
gardens. Yea, like to her, but yet stronger, as she were 'stilled.
And yet this is no more than to say a man's soul by his outward face.

Q. Did there not burn upon the cavern's floor a great
fire, as you told Jones?

A. No, yet a place as one had been, like that
outside; but old, of darkened ashes only, long burnt away.

Q. It burnt not still?

A. 'Twas dead. No spark nor smoulder.

Q. You are certain? Was there no smell of burning
also?

A. I am certain. There was no smell.

Q. Saw you not, now you were close, by what powers
this great light shone?

A. No, for it was covered as by milk-glass, or thick
muslin, that showed nothing behind. Yet more bright than any lamp or
sconce I've seen in this world.

Q. How large was its expanse?

A. A foot.

Q. No more?

A. 'Twas so. But brighter than the sun. 'Twas not to
be beheld direct.

Q. How close kneeled you while it hovered above?

A. Passing close. As to that far wall here.

Q. Do you maintain that this was some engine come
from the temple to this place; that might mount into the heavens, as
a bird?

A. Yes, and far besides.

Q. Though it had no wheels, nor wings, nor horses?

A. Thee must hear more, master Ayscough. I do not
blame thee. Thee would have me out of my wits, and the fool of
apparitions. Thee would have me put wheels and wings to God's breath.
Thee can see I am a poor woman, and not well lettered; and a plain
one besides, in my natural. I tell thee this came not in a dream, by
apparitions, but more like to those prodigies I have seen on show in
London. Thee may say they are false, done by deceit and trickery; but
not that they were not there to be seen.

Q. Now in all this, marked you his Lordship's
behaviour? Seemed he alarmed, in fear of this monstrous prodigy?

A. The rather, in expectation. He had removed his hat
once more, and carried it by his side.

Q. As one who knew he entered the presence of a
greater?

A. Yes.

Q. And Dick the same? He appeared not frightened?

A. More in awe, his eyes cast down.

Q. On.

A. We were knelt, as I say, his Lordship with his
sword before him, point to the ground, and his hands upon its hilt,
so a gentleman of old before his king. Then came there a sigh

from the floating maggot, and it did begin to fall,
most slowly, like a feather; and came so until its belly rested nigh
upon the ground; and from that belly now there stuck forth thin legs
that had great dark paws, on the which it rested. No I sooner that
than of a sudden there appeared upon its side toward us an open door.

Q. How, a door?

A. I saw none, while it floated; yet as it came to
ground, such a door was opened unto us, in its central part; and tho'
I saw not how, nor any person, there fell upon a cunning hinge a set
of stairs like for a coach that led to the ground from this door. Of
three steps or four, and all of silver latticed.

Q. What saw you inside?

A. Why, not of heart or bowels, but so it seemed a
wall of precious stones, whose colours shone, of topaz and emerald,
ruby and sapphyr, coral and peridot, I know not what, yet more
clouded in their water than clear, it seemed lit with candles behind,
tho' I could see none. As of a coloured window in a steeple-house,
yet the pieces smaller. I would be clear. I repeat, this was no true
maggot nor living creature, but something of artifice, a machine or
engine? Yes. And this sweet balm stronger upon us, also, it issued
from therein. Now his Lordship bowed his head, so to say, he that he
called the keepers of the waters must now appear.

Q. These legs - whence came they?

A. From out its body, from those black mouths I spoke
of; and seemed too thin to bear such weight, yet did.

Q. What thickness had they? Had they thighs, calves?

A. No, all of one thickness, a flail or such, a
constable's staff; that looked as a spinner's legs, with such bulk
above.