hyacinth

 Hyacinth went to the well to fetch water. The Sun was rising over the trees and making rainbows of the cobwebs and dew on the grass. She saw the lone man coming up the lane, before she could make out who he was. She waited, and when he drew near she waved, then turned and hurried back to the cot with her pail of water sloshing.

"Moon, there is a man coming," she said, dropping the pail on the ground.

"Who is it?" said auntie.

"I do not know him."

"Does look friendly?"

"Maybe…."

"Then run out back and pick a garland of flowers."

She ran out back to the yard. The morning light cast a long, slant shadow of the cot, but beyond it the flowers were glistening wet and golden in the sun. She danced out in the grass, sort of slipping a bit, happily, and fell down when she got in the sunlight. Then she picked some flowers, yellow and orange, and glanced up at the birds singing in the willow. She sang too.

"When I am a older

a woman in the world--"

"Then you will be very beautiful I think," said the stranger, who had passed the path to the cot and was heading briskly for the wood beyond the field.

She turned and smiled automatically.

"You can come in for porridge and berries," she cried.

He paused and tipped his hat to her. Then he glanced back over his shoulder, as if someone might be following. "Well, okay," he said. "And thank you, but I mustn't dally long."

She started to frown; something about his manner confused her; but she remembered her manners, and jumped up and led the way back around to the front.

"Moon!" she called, "we have a visitor for breakfast!"

Her 'auntie' met them and smiled and said, "Do come in and have a seat. There'll be porridge and berries in a moment."

"I thank you so kindly," said the man. "I cannot stay long."

"Where are you going to?" Hyacinth asked, sitting across from him.

"Don't be rude," said 'auntie'.

"No, it's quite right to wonder," said the man. "I will happily tell you, I am coming from Sally Maes Down, and before that from Milly Woe Shaw, and before that from Bender's Wile Creek, and before that from way yonder over the river rill and hills; but the road ends hereabouts, and I am heading into the woods for to leave my old life behind and search out something new. My name is Jack Shaw.'

"My name is Moon, and those woods are nice enough, but if you keep going deep it gets darker and darker, and after that no one knows."

He nodded, staring off out the window.

"You've a very fine place here," he said, looking at a lovebird that had lighted on the sill.

"You're welcome to stay the evening, and carry on in the morn," Moon offered.

He looked worried perhaps for a moment then shook his head. "Thank you, but I am eager to get on. In fact, I'd best share you're breakfast and be on my way." He took off his hat and bowed politely.

"Ok," she Hyacinth. "I will show you the path that goes furthest into the wood."

He nodded and smiled.

Moon set down a bowl of porridge and a dish of red and blue berries for each and joined them, and they ate in silence.

"Well, I must go," said the man abruptly then and stood.

Moon looked at him worriedly, but Hyacinth jumped out her seat and said, "Come on."

He smiled at Moon and tipped his hat once more and followed Hyacinth out the back.

Moon stood and watched them descend the dewy hill with the sun on their backs, and she watched them cross the field, him walking tall and straight, her dancing this way and that and stooping for flowers. She smiled and watched them go into the trees. Then she frowned a bit again and went in to wash the dishes.

Black birds

When Hyacinth came running back it was midmorning and the dew was gone, and the birds flew into the sky from the willow in a way that made her wonder. "Moon!" she cried, but 'auntie' was not in. She hurried through to the front and looked out, and there down the hill, on the lane, her 'auntie' was standing, talking to two tall men in black. Hyacinth felt a chill. Jack Shaw had been very friendly, and she hadn't cared in the least that he had kept his secrets. She watched for a moment. Moon glanced back up and seeing her smiled and waved. She waved back. Moon did not beckon her to join them, and the smile hid something. She was talking to the men again. The sun went behind a cloud then. Moon looked up. One of the men pointed to the field and the woods beyond. Moon shrugged.

Hyacinth remembered that they would be wanting water for midday, and she grabbed the pail and went to the well again, keeping an eye on Moon and the men.