THE FISHERMAN'S PRIZE - PART 12

 

LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC

THE FISHERMAN’S PRIZE

(SECTION 12)

 

   It was now nearing the end of the monotonously laborious third week, dreary without the companionship of Zianko, when Kaimu was suddenly awakened in dead of night with an urgent need to relieve himself. His eyelids leaden with sleep, he’d gone about doing his business as usual at the outdoor latrine, when suddenly his keen hearing (ears) picked up a faint, shuffling sound emanating from the direction of the storage shed. By now the storage shed had been turned into a makeshift barn, to provide adequate security and shelter for the highly prized commodity, the horse. 

Kaimu again cocked his ears and listened more intently, hoping it would be the wind but pegging it to be some intruder, men or a beast!  In all this time Zianko had been strangely absent. As one could never be sure of his activities or his cohorts! …Hmm! No mistaking it! “Blast... the horse…the money!” Kaimu growled.

He had flatly rejected the presumed ill-gotten sum. But Yoansu going behind his back had surreptitiously offered the money to Ensa and upon his insistence- with his coaching she’d hid it in the shed for future emergency. Of course, little or nothing escaped Kaimu’s scrutiny; nevertheless, weighing the alternative, he’d turned a blind eye to this deception.

“The scent of cash always draws the waywardly thieves!” Kaimu grumbled under his breath, as he for a moment or two considered fetching his son. But that might allow the culprit or culprits, time to finish the job, or worse, to escape with the booty! He therefore quickly armed himself with a staff, then made his swift, silent, bold advance towards it (the shed) in that pitch darkness, determined to confront this impending danger head on. With his adrenaline pumping he was prepared for the worst scenario.

As he neared the door, he noted that the shuffling noise had suddenly ceased, giving way now to panting, gasping sound.

“Crap!” No doubt about it, the money was being dug up!

 Kaimu’s hand poised to strike with a raised staff, he soundlessly (entered) glided into the shed. The place was shrouded in darkness except for the feint light at the far corner, behind towering pile of logs.  Owing to this scant lighting he could discern that the carefully laid out trap, in front, was not sprung. Nor were the ingeniously placed juxtaposed stacks of dried rations and other such supplies, in any way disturbed. The horse was uneasy but otherwise untouched! Hmm! Perhaps only after the procurement of the booty, the thief meant to make his get away with the beast all loaded up. But how did the culprit so skillfully evade all the pitfalls; furthermore, know just where to dig?

I’ll show him to mess with me!  When Kaimu with his adrenaline pumping veered the corner, the appalling scene that greeted his eyes simply took his breath away.

He was prepared for anything but this!

There before him stood not a ruffian intruder holding a shovel, but his own worthless son, naked to the waist, after his apparent groping, now about to totally disrobe and molest the unconscious, frail body of Jiense.

What happened after that was all but a blur to incensed Kaimu!

He’d seen red, and with the fierceness of a tiger, he’d pounced on Yoansu! There was a brief, but violent scuffle. Unfortunately, Yoansu was in far better shape and so owing to his youth, he easily bested Kaimu. Enraged as he was, Yoansu uncharacteristically, nevertheless, had constrained himself from dealing his father a death- blow. But this had not been an easy feat; for it had taken all his willpower and might, to curb his unbridle fury.

When Kaimu regained consciousness, he found himself tightly bound and gagged. His son squatted on the floor with his downcast gaze, head cupped between his hands, in deep remorseful ponder.

Kaimu’s first concern had been with Jiense. Despite his restraints, he managed a slight shift of his body to catch a glimpse of her. Thankfully, she lay there, as before, seemingly untouched, in the same shape and way when he’d interrupted Yoansu’s aim.

“Good, you’re conscious! Hope I didn’t rough you up too much, any broken bones?” Yoansu’s phony concern infuriated Kaimu. He struggled to free himself from his bonds, but without much success.

“Before I let you go, I want to talk to you.” Yoansu snorted dispassionately, wiping the wry grin from his face.

Seething in rage, Kaimu glared back at Yoansu. But unfortunately, his despicable son who towered over him with his strong physique was no longer a meek offspring.  He could no longer be made to yield to his will. When Yoansu in a single swift stroke cut the restraining gag across his mouth; hence, allowing him the chance to speak- “villainous scoundrel!” Kaimu barked. “What have you done to her?” He then growled, as he, same time indicated the unconscious Jiense with his chin.

“Nothing much, thanks to you!” Yoansu smirked. “Oh, you mean, how come she’s still unconscious, knocked out cold!” He then realizing the rest of his loaded question grimaced wryly. “I’ve just slipped in a potion (potent sleeping drug) to the pot of tea. That’s why all the womenfolk are dead to the world. Don’t worry, aside from a slight headache, a hangover, it’s deemed a relatively harmless one.”

“And I was unaffected, because I chose wine.” Kaimu grumbled, finishing Yoansu’s explanative.

“You are usually a sound sleeper, especially after consuming all that wine.” Yoansu shrugged. “Had you not interrupted, she would have been tugged back into her bed, never knowing the difference.”

“This the first attempt?” Kaimu had to ask.

“Yes, if you must know, her virtue is intact, for now that is!” Throwing his head back Yoansu laughed uproariously. It was a chilling, cynical laugh that reverberated in that icy air and sent shivers down Kaimu’s spine.

“What a vile, loathsome creature you are- how can you be of my flesh?” Kaimu spit at the floor, cursing the day of Yoansu’s birth. “Had he known, he would have…”

As if surmising this, Yoansu’s face just then became taut, “Now let there be no misunderstandings here.” With a voice full of venom, he barked at his father. “I don’t care piss all what you think of me anymore! And know this, I want her, and I mean to have her with or without your consent. Have I made myself clear?”

A dark shadow suddenly descending over his murderous countenance, he then added, “And don’t think I’m above killing you. For mother’s sake however, I am willing to spare your life. For her sake I am willing to negotiate the following terms. If, and that’s a big if, you keep your trap shut… If you give me your word, I shall not manhandle her (Jiense), and when the time is ripe, I’ll take her and make her legally, rightfully my spouse.”

“What about your present wife Tufan, cursed wretch?” Kaimu hissed.

“She’s not your problem. Besides, she’ll soon outlive her usefulness. And spare me your phony concern about her welfare. I know you despise her as much as I do.” Yoansu curtly responded.

“You are way over your head; Ckarban is not one to be trifled with!” Kaimu shook his head. Then with a downcast gaze he seriously pondered, but only for a spell, whether to reveal the dark secret he’d withheld from him all these years.

“Do we have a deal or not? Answer me now; or all bets are off!”

You deserve all you’ll get! Kaimu inwardly shirked any responsibility to this brazen son. Besides, the brute was unscrupulous and quite capable of fending for himself. Nevertheless, Kaimu knew that once his anger had subsided (passed), he might relent, and still do the right thing by telling him. As he was pressed to give response, seeing no way out, Kaimu, for the time being at least pretended to assent to Yoansu’s demand- this, if only for the sake of buying time.

In equitable exchange, Yoansu gave his, albeit reluctant word, to temporarily lay off Jiense.

Was he to be trusted? Would Yoansu honor his word? Not likely!

Hence, from that night forth, Kaimu prepared to sleep lightly, with one eye open, ears (pricked,) poised to detect any abnormal, deviant noise. And while on the outset he would seemingly be a willing co-conspirator to Yoansu’s sinister aim, inwardly still, Kaimu had already devised a plausible counter offensive of his own, to thwart Yoansu’s despicable goal.

 

                                                                                    ~

 

Rising at first light, Kaimu braved the excruciating pain and quickly donned his long-sleeved garb in effort to conceal his bruised body from the prying eyes of his wife. Facial lacerations and swollen lips, black or dark purple bruises on both Kaimu’s and Yoansu’s faces nevertheless still raised few eyebrows and drew some unwarranted criticism and questions from the womenfolk. No satisfactory explanation was ever given on that day or the next however, as both remained tightlipped about their apparent serious altercation (row,) sometime during the night, as the rest had soundly slept. But from hence, the adversarial stance, the infrequent cool exchange between father and son persisted, making Ensa’s heart and mind beset with worry. She hoped and prayed for the stubborn two’s relationship to mend.

A small comfort, well into the next week, the estrangement between Yoansu and Kaimu seemed to have eased off a little. Then one rainy night Kaimu though in recumbent position, desisting sleep had waited patiently for everyone to retire and to succumb to deep slumber. When not a sound stirred about the house, he nudged his wife awake and whispered to her, his supposed concerns.  “Ensa, this has been praying on my mind for quite a while. Please listen without interruption, for I have something to tell you regarding Jiense’s future.”

“This did not bode well! So that’s what’d been at the root of their discord (tiff).” With certain trepidation, Ensa nodded her assent. Then after rubbing her eyes propped up her pillow behind her back and sat upright. But Kaimu was too agitated to stay put; he abruptly threw the covers aside and rising, set at the edge of the bed. Carrying an authoritative tone now, he began his long tirade with a warning.

“Wife, I want no arguments from you!” Turning to face his wife, he tried to look affectionate. “I know that, during these past few months, you have grown quite fond of Jiense and being soft-hearted as you are, took her to your bosom as your very own daughter.  This would have suited me fine, except that; things did not turn out the way we’ve expected.  We are not wealthy folk, and admittedly I cannot support so many people.  I have decided hence, to remedy this problem well before Yoansu’s departure, the advent of autumn or the subsequent winter months. I’m not diminishing your importance by any means, but morally and officially I am the head of this household and therefore bear the sole responsibility for everyone’s welfare. Ultimately, it’s up to me to decide what’s best for this whole family. In all fairness, I’m giving you an advance notice of what’s to come. Naturally, as the sensible, good wife you are, I expect your full cooperation on this matter. Anything less would create discord and rock the harmonious stability of this household.” After an irritating moment’s silence, which he’d paced to and for, making sure his well-rehearsed words had sunk in deep, he sat down again and continued. “It is made clear to me that, Jiense cannot stay here indefinitely. Also, it would not do for us to keep for long one as young and beautiful as Jiense to tempt our son.  Better extinguish the kindling before it ignites into a huge bonfire and incinerates the whole house. Yoansu is hot-blooded young man and admittedly quite attractive to opposite sex. In their youthful fancy, he or she might one-day fall into temptation. You don’t want that on your conscience. Besides,” he then added quickly, holding out his hand to halt Ensa’s contrary arguments, “two young women under one roof always spell trouble. Sooner or later, if it has not already, it will create an unwarranted friction, turbulence between them. You want to be responsible for this kind of a marital discord?”  Then, pinning his face before his wife’s, with a firm conviction in his voice he added. “So, adopting her as a daughter is out of the question.  Besides, what kind of life or future can we give her? Our lot is worse than any of our neighbors.” He cleared his throat at this point. “Speaking of neighbors; that’s what I mean to do.”

Up until then Ensa with a lowered head, with certain resignation, had listened to what Kaimu had to say.  Some of what her husband had said, the points he’d made could not be refuted. How could Ensa in good conscience detain this precious jewel for her selfish reasons only? Jiense deserved to have a befitting husband and a good home of her own. But, when Kaimu made mention of a neighbor, even though he had momentarily withheld his name, her heart had skipped a beat and hairs on the back of her neck had stood on end. She held her breath in dire trepidation, hoping against hope that she’d be wrong, that it would not be the case.

“Since I have supported her all this time, affording her my protection, food and care- to simply let her go without exacting some form of compensation would not only be impractical but downright foolish. I am therefore within my right, to oblige her to do the right, proper thing!” Kaimu had said this with such forceful resolution… so adamantly, that she quaked in fear to hear the rest!  “And I don’t buy that story he fed me about Souko. I believe he contrived to have her all along… This way, it will be out in the open and he must do the right, honorable thing by her. So as to not have any more misunderstandings, I shall now say it plainly. Yes, I have decided on giving Jiense in lawful matrimony to our neighbor Zianko! He should, in return, bound by law, pay me a very generous dowry.”  He rubbed his hands in happy anticipation.

 

Up until then Ensa had held her tongue, remaining perfectly composed, with a compliant, lowered head. Now she sprung to her feet, her face flushed beet-red with fury. With contempt in her eyes, she bit her lower lip to stifle her scream, and then added mournfully. “Husband, I have lived with you all these years, more than half of my life span, sharing life's joys and sorrows with you, and still (up until) to this moment did not know what a heartless monster you were!  How could you even consider such a vile thing?  He is close to your age; he is old enough to be her father and his cruelty and coarseness is very well known!  The man is a beast!  A man that would kill his own wife, or have you forgotten Tizan, that lovely, spirited boy?  From the day he was forced to live with that brute, that poor boy had suffered horribly at Zianko's hand, all those beatings! How can you contemplate on giving this frail child to that fiend? How can you have the conscience to condemn Jiense, this poor fledgling to a lifetime of misery?  Better to kill me and take her yourself as a wife.  It would still be a preferable option, instead of that wicked monster you call friend!” She shook her head in utter dismay; however, being adamant in her opposition, desisted shedding any tears. She won't show any weakness, nor will she ever cave in to his unreasonable demand! Not now, not ever! In her staunch stance she’d resembled a lioness, one fiercely protecting her cup.

Kaimu was momentarily taken back by the degree of her defiant outburst. He’d broken the news to her as gently as he could. Besides, he was expecting a tearful, gentle protest, not this! He was so stunned that his mouth agape, for a spell he’d remained lost for words.  When eventually the shock wore off, he sprung back with an angry retort. “Woman, have you no lick of sense!  Have you no fear of death?  I’ve been both patient and indulgent of your unreasonable requirements thus far but if you continue to press me like this, one of these days, I would not be held responsible for my adverse actions.  What a way is that for a wife to behave?  And to suggest I wed her- a child I’ve come to consider and beholden to my heart as my daughter! Have you lost all sense, morality, and all shame?  How dare you so blatantly, so brazenly tarnish my good name, my honor, worst still, undermine me?  Is this any way for a filial wife to behave?” Then turning away, he aired his grievances to the religious idle in the room. “See what I must put up with? Why don’t you drill some good sense into her stubborn head? Instead of being malleable and easier to get along with, she is becoming instead more difficult, more antagonistic and quite unreasonable. Acting like a madwoman, imagine her getting such wild ideas into her head!” Sharply turning then to face her, “Shame, shame on you woman!” he barked and shook an accusatory finger at her.

 Incensed, he feared the loss of self-restraint in the face of her further defiant response. Abruptly veering, with curses on his lips, he ejected loudly. “But no, it's my fault. Lately I’ve been too indulgent, too considerate of your feelings. I should have just gone and done what I’d planned to do and then told you. This is what I get for my solicitude, my thoughtfulness!”

 

But Ensa’s rage had turned her heart to a stone, and she remained recalcitrant in her stance. She could not be persuaded or moved, no matter what!

Kaimu's anger now mounting, he grabbed her by the shoulders and violently shook her. “Why are you deliberately goading me to violence?”

 

 “Hush up; you want to wake up the whole house?” She snapped back.

 

“God, how you drive me mad!”  Rived with rage, as he held on, he sunk his fingernails into her flesh. Faced with more of her defiant words on his face, Kaimu was brought to the brink of insanity with seething ire. Being at his wit's end, he feared his frenzied, wrathful response.  “Enough!” he violently let go of her and turning, marched towards the door. But then he relented when he heard the muffled sobs of Ensa, and stayed there in front of the door, rooted to the spot for some time with his back to his wife.

He eventually took in a deep, patient breath and turning, went back to sit quietly by her side at the edge of the bed.  Using a placating tone, he tried once more to reason with her. “Wife, I thought we’re way past this type of discord. I’m sorry you can’t see my reasons, for they are plain as day. I wish you could believe me when I say I would never, ever do anything to hurt Jiense. All I’m trying to do is what’s best for everyone concerned. When I shared his company last, he complained to me bitterly how lonely he’d been and how terribly he missed the company of his late wife.  He sorely regrets his past ways. Lamenting heart-wrenchingly on another occasion, he wowed that if he’d ever got the chance, he would treat the next wife with due reverences. He swore an oath to Heaven, right before my eyes, asking the Gods to strike him dead and condemn him to eternal damnation should he fail to keep his promise. If anyone needed a spouse, it would be him! His place looks so unkempt and disorderly that it’s pathetic. And don’t forget how I owed him my life. This way I would repay my debt to him as well. Do you want me to remain under obligation forever? Besides, in this way she’ll continue to live nearby, and you can keep an eye on things. Now that he has learned his lesson, he would not repeat his past mistakes. I’ll make sure of that. She’ll be well cared for. You should be thanking me for taking your feelings into consideration. How unreasonable you are, wanting to keep her here and denying the girl, perhaps her only chance, of ever having a home of her own!”

“You cannot justify this heartless decision on pretext (under the guise) of concern, duty or rational opine. Spare me the rhetoric. It is what it is; your glib tongue cannot vilify your selfish cogitation, your greed!” Ensa snorted, remaining undeterred. 

Kaimu’s frustration again mounting, with a fury he slammed his fist over the night table, setting the clay jug filled with water tumbling down from the table and crashing onto the floor into countless pieces.

“Look what you’ve made me do! It’s hopeless trying to reason with you. You are beyond reproach. Why am I wasting my breath?” He sprang to his feet and with a huff, stormed out of the room. He craved the outside cool air to alleviate his blistering, tumultuous ire.

Ensa continued to curse her husband in his absence.  Grinding her teeth she then mused, how dare he be so callous as to collude with Zianko? Had Kaimu lost all sense? No, something else, something entirely more sinister had to be at stake here. But despite all her mental prodding, she failed to come up with even a single strand of clue. Nil, zip, there was nothing at all that she could latch onto for answers. When her mind reverted to the impending marriage of Jiense, she shivered involuntarily and bit her lower lip in utter despair. Oh, my poor, precious Jiense, she’ll not last a day in the hands of that vulgar, churlish, savage ruffian!  A beautiful girl such as her will be in the mercy of that tyrant: why, it will be nothing short of tragedy!  She shuddered anew at the thought (notion) of Jiense being molested night after night by that vile villain. Overcome with grief, angry tears in defiance to her will now began cascading down her cheeks.

Jiense’s sleeping quarters being near Ensa and Kaimu’s room, she’d been rudely awakened from her sound sleep sometime during the night by the unsettling row between (her benefactors) husband and wife. Since she had heard her name being mentioned alternatively, in anger then in appeal, she’d easily deduced at being at the heart of the problem. Her heart fluttered wildly with fright and concern when the muffled fighting intensified.  After she’d heard Kaimu storming angrily out of the cabin, Jiense rose from her bed, quietly crept into their room and seated herself beside Ensa.    

Ensa’s heart ached when she gazed at the angelic face of Jiense and looked into her tearful crystal blue eyes. “My poor Jiense.” she could not help but utter to herself amid sighs, “If you knew of the terrible fate that awaited you, you would leave this place this very night, run away and never ever look back!” Suddenly Ensa’s face became taut; she absently nodded, having right then and there made up her mind as to the only possible recourse.

When Yoansu’s inquisitive face appeared through the crack in the doorway, Ensa quickly (curtly) sent her son back to his room offering some lame excuse for the night’s disturbance. She’d been tempted for a spell to enlist his invaluable help; but quickly resolved instead, to bearing the sole responsibility for the daunting task.

She would not after all, not if she can help it, involve her beloved son in this sordid mess!

                                                                               

(END OF SECTION 12)

 

(STAY TUNED FOR AN APT RESOLUTION, TO THIS DREADFUL TROUBLE, WILL UNFOLD  IN THE NEXT FISHERMAN'S PRIZE POST - SECTION 13)