FRAGMENT FROM THE HILL JOURNALS

fabres-insects

FRAGMENT FROM THE HILL JOURNALS

The clouds were dark that evening.

Seen from the window they could

Have been thinking, brooding, but

Eventually the stars climbed to their

Places and waited once again for

The cool flame of the crescent moon

To remind everything its light touched

That it was the most powerful beacon

For this time, that anything the night

Might lack could be had in her light.

The table was already set when we came in.

The walk from the villages had seemed

 Inordinately long.

Water had found its way inside my boots

Making a squishing sound as I walked 

To the bench in front of the fire, removed

Them and began drying my feet with a soft blue cloth.

‘I am never coming that way again.

It looks too much like earth

With its meanness and killing.

I was struck with flying things more

Than a few times.   The houses were

Hovels and one of them, near the 

Cliff edge looked to be in a state

Of constant flame but never

Seemed to burn.  Flames out

The door.  Those horrible people

Gathered round, all talking and

Gesticulating.  I hate the way they

Talk.  It isn’t language and

That horrible stench. God.’

Ramon poked at the fire.

‘You’ll feel better after you have

Had something to eat.  This is 

A safe place.  no one has even

Ever heard of these white caves.’

I knew it was true, that if we

Had to be anywhere, this was the

Best of places to be.

‘I did manage to bring two of the horses

And there is enough food for a 

Couple of weeks in the packs.’

‘We will send someone else

Next time.’

I rose, walked across the room

And sat heavily on the bed.

The next thing I knew, i was

Waking.  She was kissing my lips

And making a little morning song to me.

‘You worry an awful lot too’, she said

‘You tossed and turned all night.’

‘These wars will be over soon.’

I said, barely believing myself.

‘I don’t think so.,’ she said.

‘It has been like this as long as

We have been here.  We keep moving

Higher and higher up these cliffs.’

‘Come here.’, I said  'I will show

You a very special dance.'  I rose

And bowed and began to move.

The smile on her face was better than

The dawn all that week, had been.