Jack Simple

Chapter 9

Walking through the empty streets at dusk was like walking through a dream. All of the shops had been closed up in preparation for the holiday, and most if not all of the villagers had gathered in the square for their own celebrations, leaving Brecht as empty as a village of ghosts. Jack made his way to Gøtter Street, hoping that he had not already missed her. Standing beside the wall of the candy shoppe, Jack saw that the window in Eidna's room glowed with warm lamplight. The rest of the cottage was in darkness, and Eidna's father was nowhere to be seen.

Jack leaned against a fence post at the bottom of the hill, waiting. The dark had fallen completely by the time Eidna's silhouette appeared in the door of the cottage, bearing a glowing golden lamp and shouldered with a knapsack. She made her way slowly down the lane. Jack had found her striking before in just her housedress. Now, dressed for the festival, she looked positively exquisite. The white gown draped from her curves like a waterfall. Her golden hair was drawn up in a loose tumble, wound about with fine-gauged wire and Woodruff blossoms that she had reserved from the herb bundles.

She halted the foot of the hill, looking at him. "I should probably tell you to leave...but to be honest I would rather not make this walk alone." The lamplight cast her features in shadow, but Jack could tell that she looked frightened.

"From now until the day we die, I will always walk beside you," Jack promised. "Your beauty is such that I could have mistaken you for Mirahl herself."

"And you look fine as a lord," Eidna said, appraising Jack's clothing. "Will you attend the festivities in town?"

Though "fine as a lord" was perhaps a stretch, Jack had worn his finest set of clothes. He had also trimmed his beard back and shaped his mustache with oil. "I am not dressed for the festival, but for my proposal," Jack said.

Eidna just looked down, offering no response. They set off, making their way toward the Mayor's manor. After a few minutes of walking in silence, their footsteps crunching loudly in the silence of the night, Eidna haltingly spoke. "Where shall I meet you...in the morning? After?"

"There is a small road down the hill from the manor, to the east. The center embankment is overgrown with grass. Do you know it?"

"I think so," Eidna said.

"I will be there," Jack replied.

"...do you promise?" Eidna asked, her voice quavering. "If you are not there...it will destroy me, Jack."

Jack halted and took both of her hands in his. "I will be there, Eidna. I promise." He pulled her into a kiss, a taste that had now grown all too familiar.

"...I will take no pleasure in it, Jack. I swear," Eidna proclaimed. Jack knew she was referring to her encounter with the Mayor now.

He sighed, in dread of what he must ask her now. "Promise me one more thing, Eidna," he requested.

"Anything."

"After it is over you must tell him how wonderful and magical it was. How you have never felt anything so pleasurable and fine, how you are in awe of his manhood and vitality," Jack said. It was difficult to make such a request of her, but necessary for his plan to succeed.

Eidna drew back from him. "Jack...this is perverse. Why are you torturing yourself with these imaginings?"

"Please, Eidna. Do what I request. Lie to him."

"Allow me at least a little dignity, Jack..." Eidna said, looking away.

"Your diginity is yours, no matter what happens. All will become clear in the morning. Now...do you promise?"