A Maggot - John Fowles (46 page)

Q. On.

A. Now one appeared in the door, she in silver we had
seen before. And in her hand she carried a posy of flowers, white as
snow. Smiled she and came brisk down the steps that led from the
maggot and stood before us, but there she did turn her face, for of a
sudden above her did appear another lady, dressed as her, but more
old, her hair grey, tho' she still bore herself straight and upright;
and did also smile upon us, yet more gravely, as might a queen.

Q. How old was she?

A. Forty years, not more; still in her grain.

Q. Proceed, why stop you?

A. I have more to tell, that thee will doubt, but
'tis true, I give thee Heaven's word.

Q. Heaven sits not before me, mistress.

A. Then thee must believe its poor servant. For this
second lady did the like come down the silver steps, and no sooner
was she upon the cavern's floor, than yet another lady appeared in
the doorway, as 'twere in her train, that was old; her hair white,
her body more frail. Stood she and looked upon us the same as the two
first, then came more slowly to the ground beside them. All three
there gazed upon us, with that same kindly look. Then further marvel,
'twas plain they was mother and daughter, and daughter's daughter
again. Thus it seemed the one woman in her three ages, so like were
their features despite their different years.

Q. In what manner were these two other dressed?

A. Most strange, as the first, in silver trowse and
smock. Thee'll think it immodest in she who was aged dame; yet it
seemed not so, for all wore their garments as ones accustomed, not
from mere foolery or the like, but as clothes it pleased them to wear
for their plainness and their ease.

Q. Wore they no jewellery or ornaments?

A. Not one. Unless that the oldest bore a posy of
flowers of darkest purple, near to black; and the youngest as I say,
of purest white; and her mother flowers of red, like blood. Else were
all three as peas in a pod, spite of their ages.

Q. Saw you not toads nor hares, nor black cats about
them? Did not ravens croak outside?

A. No and no. Nor broom sticks and cauldrons neither.
Be warned, thee know'st not who thee mocks.

Q. I wonder, 'tis all thy picture lacks, with thy
flying mawk and its attercop legs, thy scarecrow women.

A. I must yet tell thee worse for thy disbelief,
master. Both young and old that stood beside she in the centre, they
did turn towards tier and made as a step to be the closer. And by
some strange feat, I know not how again, were joined as one with her,
or seemed to melt thus inside of her; disappeared, like to ghosts
that pass a wall, and the one woman, she of the grey hair, the
mother, left to stand where there were three, as plain as I see thee
now. Yet held she no more in her posy her red and none other flowers,
no, she held the three kinds together, the white, the red, the dark
purple; as if still we must believe by this what our eyes must doubt.

Q. Mistress, this would tax the most credulous fool
in Christendom.

A. Then thee must play that part. For I'll not tell
thee any other tale, that is not true, howsoever a better friend to
thy suspicions. Look not angry, I beg thee. Thee art a man of law,
thee must play the hammer and the saw upon my word. I warn thee my
word is of the spirit. Thee may turn its good plank to dust and
chips, and then will be no wiser, in this world.

Q. That we shall see, mistress. On with thy farrago.

A. This lady, the mother I will say, did come to
where we knelt, first to his Lordship, and reached her hands to make
him stand; that he did, and she placed her arms about him, they did
embrace, as mother might son that had been on long travel and she had
not seen nor held this many a year. Then did she speak to him, in no
tongue that I knew, her voice low and most sweet; to which his
Lordship replied, in that same strange tongue.

Q. Not so fast. What tongue was this?

A. Not one I had ever heard before.

Q. What tongues hast heard in thy life?

A. Of Dutch and German, and French besides. A little
also of the Spanish and Italian.

Q. This was none of these?

A. No.

Q. When his Lordship did answer in it, seemed it
well, as one familiar?

'T. As most familiar, and not in his previous self.

Q. In what manner note

A. more of respect and simple gratitude. As I say, so
a son brought to his mother's presence after long absence. And I
forget also what had been strange in him at the beginning, when first
she came to him, that he had cast his sword aside, as 'twere
something he needed to carry no more, its sash and sheath likewise;
so a man that has been abroad in dangerous places and comes now at
last beneath his own roof, where he may be at his ease.

Q. You say he cast it aside, mistress - mean you
rather he laid it carefully aside, or tossed it away, as if he cared
not?

A. So he cared never to wear it again, for it fell
ten feet away, behind, and the sheath and belt the same; like to they
had all been disguise or mask till then, their purpose at an end.

Q. Now this - did they greet and speak as persons
that had met before?

A. He showed too little wonder, had they not. Next he
turned to present us, the first Dick, who remained upon his knees,
but the lady reached her hand to him, that he did seize most
fervently and press to his mouth. Then she did make him stand also,
and now 'twas my turn. First I must tell thee his Lordship spoke to
her in their tongue, and tho' I know not what was said, I heard my
name most clear, and that one I was baptized, not Fanny, but Rebecca;
which he had never used before, and I know not how he knew it.

Q. You had never told him of it, nor Dick, nor any
other?

A. Nor none in the bagnio, unless it be Claiborne.

Q. Then he did learn it of her. On.

A. This lady was before me, where I knelt; and smiled
down upon me, as we had been old friends long apart, but new met. And
of a sudden stooped and reached out her hands to take mine and raised
me to my feet; and so we stood close, for she would not loose my
hands when I was risen, and still she smiled and searched my eyes, as
an old friend might, to learn how much I had changed; and then passed
me her posy of the three hues of flower, like it was her private
favour she gave. As 'twere in return, she lifted my crown of may from
off my head, and held it to look at, yet put it not on, for she set
it back upon me, with a smile, and kissed me gentle upon the mouth,
in the old fashion, so to say I was welcome. In all of this I knew
not what to do, yet must curtsey for her flowers and smiled her a
little back, tho' not as she, who did so she knew me well, yea, as a
mother or loving aunt might.

Q. Nothing was spoke?

A. Not one word.

Q. Moved she with ease and grace, as a lady?

A. With great simplicity, like her daughter, as one
who did not care for the airs of this world, nor knew of them.

Q. Yet came of high estate?

A. Yes. Most high.

Q. What of these flowers she gave?

A. They were of the three colours, of the same kind,
somewhat in look as they that grows upon the Cheddar rocks, that they
bring to Bristol at midsummer, and call them June pinks. Yet not so,
these were more large, and far richer scent; too soon in season,
besides.

Q. You had seen none like before?

A. No, never. Tho' hope to see and smell again.

Q. How, see again?

A. Thee shalt hear. Next did the lady take my hand
anew and would lead me to the maggot. I feared not her, yet I feared
to enter, and looked to his Lordship that stood behind, over my
shoulder, to ask what I must do. At which he raised a finger to his
lips, to say I must not speak, and nodded also to she the mother who
had greeted us, that I must give her my attention. And when I looked
to her, she seemed to understand what I would ask, and did raise her
hands before her breast, as her daughter had done, and did smile
also, plain as plain to still my fear. So I passed on with her as she
wished and mounted the silver steps and was conducted inside her
coach, her parlour, I know not how to say, 'twas none such, but a
place of great wonders, a chamber walled all of those gleaming stones
I had seen through the doorway.

Q. His Lordship and Dick came also?

A. They did.

Q. The lady gave thee the precedence?

A. Yes.

Q. Didst not stand at a wonder to be treated so -
thou, a whore?

A. What should I be else? I was as one struck dumb.

Q. Tell more of this chamber. How were these precious
stones?

A. Some shone more bright than others, and of many
colours, cut both square and round, and all the walls and even a part
of the roof or ceiling above was of them. And upon many were signs or
marks, so to say each had some magic or secret purpose, tho' not that
I could read. And many also had small clocks or pocket-watches beside
them, yet the hands moved not, they were not wound.

Q. Were not the hours marked?

A. There were marks, but not as those of our world.

Q. How large was this chamber?

A. Not broad more than ten or twelve feet; more long,
it may be twenty foot; and tall as broad.

Q. How was it lit?

A. By two panels upon the ceiling that gave a hidden
light, tho' less strong than from that light outside, the maggot's
eye.

Q. How, panels?

A. They seemed of clouded glass, milk-glass as I say;
yet hid all behind, and whence came this light.

Q. Were there no hangings, no furniture?

A. None when we came. Yet when we were entered the
lady touched her finger upon a precious stone beside her, and that
door through which we had come closed of itself, as it had opened,
upon some secret design; and the silver steps likewise folded back of
their own will. And then she touched another stone, or the same; and
there fell from both walls as 'twere a bench or sitting-places. I
know not how, unless also by some spring, upon a hinge, like secret
drawers in a chest. And there she invited us to sit, his Lordship and
Dick on one side, I on the other. And mine I sat upon seemed covered
with a white skin, finest shagreen, yet was soft as a down bed to my
nether parts. Then went she to the far end of the chamber and touched
another stone, which bared a cupboard, in which stood many flasks and
bottles in a cloudy glass, like unto a 'pothecary's shop, and some it
seemed held powders, others of liquid, I know not. One of these
flasks she took, it seemed to hold such as Canary wine, for it was
golden, and poured of it into three small crystal glasses, not cut,
tho' marvellous light to hold, they were so thin; and to each of us
brought one, so a serving-maid might. First I would not drink,
fearing some potion, for all I saw his Lordship did not fear to
swallow,, nor Dick neither. Until she came back to where I sat and
smiled again down at me, where by taking my glass and drinking a
little of it, she made proof I need fear for nothing; and gave me the
glass back, and so I drank. 'Twas not as it seemed, of wine, but more
of some fruit, it had of the taste of fresh apricocks, or
jargonelles, yet more sweet and subtle, and soothed my throat, that
was dry.

Q. It tasted not of spiritous liquor? Of brandy or
gin?

A. Of juice from pressed fruit.

Q. Next.

A. Next came she and sat beside me close; and reached
above my head and touched a blue stone upon the wall. Of a sudden all
was dark, there was no light inside the chamber, yet some outside
that passed through those small windows I spake of at the first, that
were as eyes - and I have forgot, from this inside seemed not as from
out, not of green glass, no, clear as any, not flaw nor bubble. And I
should have been mortal afraid again, had not her arm fallen about my
shoulder to comfort, and her other hand found mine in the darkness
and pressed it, to comfort also. 'Twas as if she would assure she
neither meant nor would bring harm, but held me as she might her
child, to calm all these my alarms at what did pass my understanding.

Q. She held you close?

A. In friendship or sisterhood. So we might sometimes
at the

bagnio, when we had leisure, or waited.

Q. And next?

A. There came a greater prodigy than all, for where
was the chamber's end, that stood before the maggot's head, was of a
sudden a window upon a great city we glid above, as a

bird.

Q. What is this?

A. It was so, I tell thee.

Q. And I tell thee not, 'tis too much.

A. I swear by Jesus, it happened so, or so seemed.

Q. This fine chamber of precious stones flew out of
the cavern in an instant and above a great city? I am not your green
gosling, mistress, by the heavens am I not.

A. 'Tis in my telling I deceive thee. In naught else.
I tell thee what I saw, tho' how I saw it I know not.