Historical setting: 561 C.E., Gaul
Ezra continues his story.“I was moving all the things of a bride and a dream from my wife’s father’s home in the area of Tours down to my cottage in the Liger valley, and the journey took me right by the garden of the hag.
It were a dreary day, brightened with a thought to stop and dig out some of the herb-starts to put into our own garden in the place where Eve and I were once children. I thought my sister would take notice of it the next time she brought flowers and she would realize I had been the one to plant the garden because of the plantings I was choosing. Then she would come seeking me as I have been seeking her.”
“That must have worked as there is also a garden now.”
“Oh that it were so simple.”
“That morning was a blustery day and add foreboding weather to the rumors I’d been trying to un-imagine of trolls and goblins haunting the earth, or worse yet, the spirits of evil seeking revenge for all the healing that had happened in this pagan place. I had to muster my courage. I know those stories are just superstitious threats spun to garner holy obedience but they were hanging in the air that day. I started to sing what Eve and I would sing in the scary times. ‘Though I walk through the valley of shadows…’”
“You remembered that song?”
“Of course, Papa. I was singing it loud and slow and suddenly I was not singing alone. Eve’s beautiful voice was singing like a bird above my song. I was completely washed of my fears, headlong into joy as I turned to see the woman standing, singing next to me. Then from deep in my gut I let loose a most horrific howl! There where Eve’s beautiful face would be framed in black hair was the face of a true ogre. I was shivering with fright. She took my hand in hers, and turned her face from my sight and said, ‘Lazarus, I have been so alone.’ And all I could do was to tell her I was called Ezra now.”
“It must have been devastating for her.”
“I wasn’t even thinking of her, only myself. But then she told me not to call her Eve, but call her Enola – alone, backwards and forwards and always alone.”
“It must have been a great hurt for her.”
(Story continues next Tuesday, November 26)
Lazarus Ink 