Read Online Breath (9781439132227) by Donna Jo Napoli - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donna Jo Napoli
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behind her back. And theyâre all looking at me.
GroÃmutterâs been doing everything all along. Sheâs the one who knows, the one in charge. And when my brothers were talking in the kitchen before, they spoke of GroÃmutter s coven. They didnât mention me. No one ever acknowledges that Iâm a member too.
But Iâm standing here in the shallow hole with GroÃmutter, Iâm the only one. The hole feels special. No matter what Bertram said before, this spot of earth has become sacred.
Is this practice designated as safe or dangerous on the list? I poke the incense sticks into the pile of linen, making a circle of their points.
Father hands GroÃmutter a bit of kindling burning at one end. She, in turn, hands it to me.
Iâm giddy at being so central to this event, this event I donât even understand. I set fire to the linen.
The flames shoot up quickly. Father and my brothers stand on one side and fan the smoke toward the cow barn. But they neednât, really, for thereâs a steady, soft wind.
When every last bit of linen has turned to ash,Father closes the barn doors so the cows will have nothing to breathe but smoke. Iâm sitting far off to the side. Thin air is hard enough for me to breatheâthereâs no way I could manage that smoke in my lungs.
âMelis,â says GroÃmutter, âcome with me to gather blackberries.â
âTake Salz,â he says. âSalz is well enough to light fires. Father needs me.â He walks over and stands by Father.
Then they leave.
I canât possibly pick blackberries. Iâm not even sure I can get to my feet now. But Iâm glad Melis stood up for himself.
When Father and the boys are out of sight, GroÃmutter goes back to the house. She returns with our biggest burlap sack, not the usual berry basket. âRest in the sunlight,â she says. And sheâs gone toward the thickets at the edge of the woods.
I lie on the ground, my knees bent to the sun. Kuh rolls on his back beside me and wiggles, scratching an itch. I smile and close my eyes. The hog lung is making its way through my system. My belly gurgles so loudly Kuh jumps. Iâm getting well, I know it. I sleep.
In my dream GroÃmutter dies. For no reason.
My own scream wakes me. I sit up and breathe the stink of the smoke. I rub my eyes with the heels of my hands.
GroÃmutter pulls on my arm. âWe have to drive the cows to Hameln,â she says.
I get to my feet, but I dont look at her. I dont want her to see the fear in my eyes at dreaming her dead.
The barn doors are open and a few cows stray out, slow and confused. The smoke put them in a stupor.
âYou canât walk, can you?â She harrumphs. âAll right, Iâll get the blanket.â
Soon Iâm riding on a cowâs back. My blanket is rolled between my legs, cushioning me from the bony backbone. A burlap sack rests on the cowâs shoulders, and Kuh perches on top of it, his claws gripping tight. Iâm glad heâs not holding on to me. Here and there blue black juice seeps through the sack. Why, there must be enough berries in this sack to feed ten families for a week.
GroÃmutter drives the herd to the east bridge of Hameln town. âWatch them,â she says to me. Then she crosses the bridge and goes through the gate.
I slide to the ground and walk among the cows. They shift from hoof to hoof. They donât likestanding on the pounded earth of the road that leads to town. They look around for something to graze on. I have to keep circling them, or theyâll wander away. Iâm so tired. Coughs come. And I can feel the fever returning stronger.
âWhat are you doing here?â Itâs Hugo.
I used to play with Hugo, years ago, until Gertrude died and the word got around that she was salty, and then people found out I was too. Hugoâs mother stopped coming by to visit with mine after that. And when Mother
GroÃmutterâs been doing everything all along. Sheâs the one who knows, the one in charge. And when my brothers were talking in the kitchen before, they spoke of GroÃmutter s coven. They didnât mention me. No one ever acknowledges that Iâm a member too.
But Iâm standing here in the shallow hole with GroÃmutter, Iâm the only one. The hole feels special. No matter what Bertram said before, this spot of earth has become sacred.
Is this practice designated as safe or dangerous on the list? I poke the incense sticks into the pile of linen, making a circle of their points.
Father hands GroÃmutter a bit of kindling burning at one end. She, in turn, hands it to me.
Iâm giddy at being so central to this event, this event I donât even understand. I set fire to the linen.
The flames shoot up quickly. Father and my brothers stand on one side and fan the smoke toward the cow barn. But they neednât, really, for thereâs a steady, soft wind.
When every last bit of linen has turned to ash,Father closes the barn doors so the cows will have nothing to breathe but smoke. Iâm sitting far off to the side. Thin air is hard enough for me to breatheâthereâs no way I could manage that smoke in my lungs.
âMelis,â says GroÃmutter, âcome with me to gather blackberries.â
âTake Salz,â he says. âSalz is well enough to light fires. Father needs me.â He walks over and stands by Father.
Then they leave.
I canât possibly pick blackberries. Iâm not even sure I can get to my feet now. But Iâm glad Melis stood up for himself.
When Father and the boys are out of sight, GroÃmutter goes back to the house. She returns with our biggest burlap sack, not the usual berry basket. âRest in the sunlight,â she says. And sheâs gone toward the thickets at the edge of the woods.
I lie on the ground, my knees bent to the sun. Kuh rolls on his back beside me and wiggles, scratching an itch. I smile and close my eyes. The hog lung is making its way through my system. My belly gurgles so loudly Kuh jumps. Iâm getting well, I know it. I sleep.
In my dream GroÃmutter dies. For no reason.
My own scream wakes me. I sit up and breathe the stink of the smoke. I rub my eyes with the heels of my hands.
GroÃmutter pulls on my arm. âWe have to drive the cows to Hameln,â she says.
I get to my feet, but I dont look at her. I dont want her to see the fear in my eyes at dreaming her dead.
The barn doors are open and a few cows stray out, slow and confused. The smoke put them in a stupor.
âYou canât walk, can you?â She harrumphs. âAll right, Iâll get the blanket.â
Soon Iâm riding on a cowâs back. My blanket is rolled between my legs, cushioning me from the bony backbone. A burlap sack rests on the cowâs shoulders, and Kuh perches on top of it, his claws gripping tight. Iâm glad heâs not holding on to me. Here and there blue black juice seeps through the sack. Why, there must be enough berries in this sack to feed ten families for a week.
GroÃmutter drives the herd to the east bridge of Hameln town. âWatch them,â she says to me. Then she crosses the bridge and goes through the gate.
I slide to the ground and walk among the cows. They shift from hoof to hoof. They donât likestanding on the pounded earth of the road that leads to town. They look around for something to graze on. I have to keep circling them, or theyâll wander away. Iâm so tired. Coughs come. And I can feel the fever returning stronger.
âWhat are you doing here?â Itâs Hugo.
I used to play with Hugo, years ago, until Gertrude died and the word got around that she was salty, and then people found out I was too. Hugoâs mother stopped coming by to visit with mine after that. And when Mother
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