Still Waters

It’s looks a nice little town nestled just below the brow of a great hill but what at first look seems prosperous and pleasant is in fact a town consuming itself struggling to break away from the darkness of it’s past. The town itself as it is, sits just below the brow of a steep hill hidden from sight of the bay that surrounds it. Building’s now top the hill and spill over but long ago the town’s most inviting feature was that it could not be seen from the bay. The main street swept upwards so that when standing at the foot of the hill you had to crane your neck to see the top, the climb from the bottom to the top gave the children of the town nightmares on their daily trudge. The hill was not the only thing in the town which gave the children nightmares especially the young girls. The town was built such that some or all of the town was always cast in shadow. Though not by design this was reflective of the darkness that was ingrained here, because in some shadowy corner and there always was a shadowy corner a dark deed is being done. This was a smugglers town desperately trying to forget a past that was ingrained in its nature and the nature of is residents. House’s lined the narrow street side by side with public houses, taverns, drapers and general stores. Everything ran into each other, shops and stalls were stuck on to the side of the next building and the next and the next combining with the looming shadow to give the place an oppressive and stifling air. Fights and killings, thievery and besting were the life blood of the town even still. Screaming wives and wailing children with husbands roaring were staple sounds and were a common sight. Screams rang out unheard and unheeded through day and night.

At the bottom of the hill and as imposing as the hill itself was the church. Large and looming it was a grand structure that was out of place in comparison with the decrepit nature of the rest of the town. It’s whitewashed walls, slate roof, beautiful stain glass windows depicting scenes of Christ’s march to crucifixion were displays of the church’s decadence and power. The church tried to hold dominion over the town and beside it sat the priests house whose tenant tried to hold that dominion in a tight grip of fear of damnation. He hid his need for that power in an outward appearance that mirrored his house. With flowers blooming, splashing purples and yellows on dark winter’s day’s and with neatly cut grass it presented an air of lightness and happiness that reflected it resident’s outward shell. For some of those leaving that house and looking up the hill, its dark dominance and that of the church only served as a reminder of the shadow they felt over them.

In this town two girls sat talking in their room. They faced each other each sitting on their own small bed waiting. The call came up the stairs that both dreaded. Sisters and best friends they looked at each other and rose reluctantly. Their parents were not affected by the town. They lived by the rule of their church and when the church called they answered. Their father remained a gentleman and ran the drapers for honest men and women while their mother tended their home with love and compassion. The church had called and they must go despite the dread they felt. It was Kathleen that was wanted for Louise would never be wanted again. The church was letting the darkness of the town into their family. “Father Murphy wants you to call down to the house Kathleen” came the shout.

The two girls walked to their door, they looked at each other and held hands tightly before walking down the stairs and straight out the door grabbing their hooded cloaks as they left. They didn’t say goodbye to their mother because they didn’t want to have to lie to her. Louise turned away from her sister put her hood up and pulled it tight before facing into the wind gusting down from the top of the hill. Kathleen pulled her hood tight and continued down the dark road. She glanced back at her sister but she had disappeared in the dark shadows. To Kathleen the road seemed so long and winding and evil, like a much darker version of the woods from snow white she had just seen in the town picture house. She shivered but continued. At the bottom of the hill light shone through the stain glass of the church and beyond warm golden light promised warmth from the priest’s house. She shivered and a tear ran down her cheek. There would be no warmth in there for her tonight. She had just told her sister why the priest wanted her, Lousie had just stared at her. Kathleen told her everything and told her why she had to keep going to the house. Told her what the priest said about Louise and their parents. She told her what he made her do. Louise listened and held her but she didn't say a word. When the call came Lousie did not let her go and Kathleen had to break the embrace.

She stopped for a full minute at the gate that opened onto the path to the front door. The wind picked up and drove the rain against her back but she didn’t care. He always insisted that she come to the back door but this was her little fight against him. She rang the bell and he answered the door with a false smile” welcome child you are so good to give your time to help” in case anyone was passing but when she was inside he turned ” I left the back door open for you girl” he said angrily, “will you ever learn”. He changed again his mood shifting from anger to feigned politeness and courteousness, “come I have had dinner prepared, sit with me”. She never said a word and had not spoken to him since he first started doing what he was going to do. Tonight, he was even more insipid, eager to get her to talk to him, he smiled at her breathlessly and brushed of her as he ushered her into the dining room. They would be alone and he would get her to serve his dinner. He would offer her none. He started by patting her hand with his small puffy dry soft skinned feminine hands as she served him. His breathing laboured during the meal as he talked with his mouth full dripping soup, sauce, meat and vegetables down his massive jowly chins, protruding stomach and breasts that even a loose robe could not hide. He continued the one-sided conversation which she never engaged in. She could see his anticipation growing. She sat silently dreading what he was going to do to her. Till now he only made her use her hand on him and fondled her breasts but his talk during the act suggested he wanted much more and she was afraid tonight was the night. He blamed her for tormenting and teasing him, like your sister teasing me but she was a demon whore from hell. “you’re a good girl Kathleen, you know how to keep the church looking after your family”. He finished his dinner and led her through the sitting room where he lay on his couch. She would not move to do anything, taking away some of his satisfaction, he was quick to anger and threatened her mother and her father and her family but she stood firm. He rose in anger but he had to roll himself forward to get to his feet. She smiled at this sight and he flew into a rage grabbing her and shoving her face roughly onto the couch where he began to try and fondle her breasts. His massive stomach got in his way and his short fat arms could not reach far enough forward which angered him more. He lifted her skirt and started to grind his small hard erection against her trying to pull his robes aside. His breathing grew more laboured and rapid and then it stopped suddenly after a large inhalation. She turned to see if had he finished though she had felt nothing. He was standing straight, his robe was pulled off to one side exposing his massive stomach and pale ugly legs. He was all spots and blemish’s. His small rodent eyes were wide open as if in shock as his fat arms tried to reach around to his back. His massive body slid to the floor. She stepped lightly and easily to the side as he reached for her. She didn’t see Louise until know but she watched in shock as her sister pulled the knife out of his back. He was a mass of cloth and fat as he writhed on the ground. He tried to move to look at them but only his shoulders moved. The rest of him stayed immobile. He reached out to grab Kathleen but with that movement something snapped audibly and he died instantly in front of them. One large exhale and it was over. Kathleen wanted to go but Louise had other ideas. She searched the house and found incense and candles and placed them around his body. She took the kitchen knife and lifted up the back of his robe exposing his backside. She reached in and held his stomach out of the way and stabbed him in the crotch. She cut the carpet and carved in big letters one word “Rapist”. She wanted to cut it in his body but Kathleen wanted to go. Louise was angry with herself for letting him near her sister. Louise had refused him by kicking him in his crotch leaving him bent over but she wondered what she would have done if she knew he would abuse Kathleen in her stead. Kathleen was nervous and fidgety. She was muttering to herself and all colour had gone from her face. She bent over then and vomited on the carpet. Louise looked at her in pity and felt ashamed that she never considered her sister, she was just so intent on her revenge. She told her sister to sit and wiped up the vomit with his robe. When she was finished they tidied the dinner away turned off all the lights and snuck away unseen. Hopefully they will believe this happened late at night. Kathleen would have to say he was alive when she left if she was ever questioned. It may not come to that as no-one saw either of them enter or leave the priests house. Only their mother would know she was called to attend him that night and Louise had her own plan to save her sister. They snuck back into the house with Louise sticking her head round the family room door to say goodnight. She helped Kathleen up the stairs and settled her in her bed and watched as she lay awake staring into space and shivering. When Kathleen drifted off she went to her parents. She told them what the priest had done to Kathleen and what he had tried to do to her. Her mother did not believe her but her father placed a hand on her mother’s arms and said there was always something wrong about him. I believe my girls. He was angry at himself for not trusting his insticts and he went rise out of his bed but Louise told him to stop for a minute. She was the apple of his eye, strong, beautiful resourceful and highly intelligent. Kathleen was beautiful and had a beautiful soul, she was so kind but she was her mother’s daughter, she did not have the ruthless streak Louise had. Her father would protect Kathleen more keenly after what she had been through. Louise held both her parent’s hands and looked them in the eye as they all sat on their parent’s bed. “I killed him tonight. He will not touch any young girls of this village anymore.” Her father squeezed her hand but her mother covered her mouth in shock. Louise continued “There is a steamer departing for America tomorrow, it leaves from Derry and I should be on it”. Her mother had not said a word, Louise hugged her tight and stood “We need to leave now dad.” He looked at her shocked unable to say anything but he nodded. Tears rolled down his cheek as he embraced her. She whispered into his ear “if they come knocking at our door you know what to say”. He nodded and held her even tighter. He rose from his bed to get dressed. Her mother looked at her for a long time then reached over and hugged her again as tightly as she ever did in her whole life but this time it was because she didn’t want to let her go. She whispered into her ear “I am so sorry my darling, I sent you both to him." Hold her daughter ans staring into her face started to talk more in hope thank anything "We can work this out, they won’t suspect you, leaving only makes you look guilty.” Louise hugged her tightly back “You didn’t know mam, I know you didn’t know but I have to go. Kathleen …Kathleen she can’t live….with”. Louise broke down sobbing. “I don’t want to go mam but I have to go. If I go they won’t suspect Kathleen. Don’t let anyone near her.” Her mother nodded and rose with her father to prepare sandwiches and flasks of tea. They had one of the few cars in town but it would still take till daylight to get to Derry.

When the door shut behind them their mother let out a deep mournful breadth, all energy had drained from her but she put one foot in front of the other and walked slowly up the stairs consumed with sadness and guilt. Kathleen met her at the top of the stairs. “She is gone isn’t’ she”, her mother just nodded her head as tears rolled down both cheeks. Kathleen spoke again” she did this for me” her mother shook her head and embraced Kathleen “she whispered into her only remaining daughters ear “She did it for us all”. Kathleen slept in her mother’s arms that night for the first time since she was a child as Louise and her father made the slow journey to the port. When he returned the following evening the town was in chaos. There was talk of the devil and his minions but those who knew or suspected the priest for what he was shook their head knowingly believing he may just have got what he deserved but they couldn’t voice those opinions against a man of God. Actions spoke louder than words and there were very few from the town who attended his funeral in the cathedral not twenty miles away.