tonal contrast
“…she was meant for this sorta place. The memory I have of her — arms flailing, voice wailing, heart open for heaven’s embrace — tells me that she was meant for this place. But I’d bet a pound out of my sack that she’s not here to see none of it.”
“How’d you figure? She might be somewhere out there. If she was meant for this sorta life, don’t you think the Lord would give her a chance to see it?”
“I’ve come to thinking the Lord allowed for the coming of this world to make men like us more like her. Those like her… He took their kind in His arms. What shall I say of us? We were weak and He wanted us meek.”
“You talk too much, Ham. Babble that don’t make damn sense to nobody. Shouldn’t be making much sense to you, either.”
“You’re right, Charles,” I chuckled. “It shouldn’t be making much sense. And better if it doesn’t. All this thinking won’t get us fed, will it?”
Charles lifted the bloodied sack over his shoulder. The weight slammed against the back of his leg bringing him down to his knees. “Goddamn,” he let out before getting right back to his feet. “We’re getting fed tonight. With this bounty they’d better treat us like kings. Kings, Ham. Kings. They gonna make a banquet for you and me, I bet,” Charles said excitedly. If there was a God, he smiled down on us that day.
“We’ve got to draw straws — said we would if we got ourselves something to take back.”
“I don’t understand the point of all this. Why not just talk to them? Jack isn’t everywhere all at once, is he?”
“You know that’s not how things work,” I retorted. “we draw straws and come to a conclusion on the matter lest Jack’ll have the final say again — and that means we don’t get no taste of paradise. Can’t put up with his smirk one more day. If I get to see it again I might do something that’ll have them put my head on a block.”
A trail of blood was made behind where Charles and I had walked.
“Do you think we’ll invite problems with this trail of blood, Charles?”
“From who? No other groups for miles. The blood ain’t no issue. So long as we get to camp before anyone finds it, we’re fine.” He dropped the sack and picked two twigs from the ground. “Well, then. Here you go. We’re gonna close our eyes and pick. Settle this before the feast.”
He closed his eyes as I squinted just enough before reaching my hand out.
“I’ve made my choice. Made yours?” he asked.
“Sure have. Go on, then. Open your eyes and see what you’ve got.”
“Goddammit! You lucky bastard! Seems like you get a party and an after-party then.” He took the twig into his mouth and gently bit into it.
“Guess I do then. Would you look at that. What do you think Jack’s gonna do about it?”
“Not a goddamn thing. We’ve got the kill. If he makes a fuss… We’re gonna have to… Hmmm! What do you think you’re flailing angel would’ve done about it?” Charles said with the sack back over his shoulder.
“Don’t think she’d have said a thing about nothing. Maybe sing a song. Sing a little song as she slit his throat,” I did a little jig while slicing and dicing the cold air. Charles gave a cheeky grin as he watched.
“A flailing angel. When we get to camp, you’re gonna have to be ready to do that dance of yours,” Charles turned to me. “Jack won’t give up his bounty all that easy.”
I spat onto the earth. My filthy hands wiped across my mouth leaving a foul taste that brought nothing but doubts over the contents of the sack.
“If he wants what’s here in my sack, he’s gonna have to surrender what he’s got,” I snarled proudly.
“And what of his boot lickers? What d’you intend to do about Tom and Jim and all them other boys that kiss his ass real good? If Jack commands they take what we’ve got, then that’s that,” he paused looking right at me. “Come to think of it, why are we going back to them anyways? Why not just…”
“Stop right there, Charles. You know why we’re going back.”
“No. No, I don’t know why. Come on, Ham. You with your big brain. Your fancy words. Why don’t you go on and tell me why we’ve got to go back cause a brute like me sure don’t get it,” he dropped the sack to the ground and sat atop it.
The cold wind beat against my cheeks. I despised having to be there. Somewhere beyond the hills, I imagined, was a room with a fire waiting for me.
“How about we don’t want to have to fight all them fights alone. We can’t do it, Charles. You know we can’t be fighting against men too blinded by hunger without Jack and his boys. So what if we’ve got to be their gofers every now and then. Much better than…”
Charles picked a stone from the ground and hurled it in my direction. I ducked right on time.
“You… WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!”
“Wanted to make sure you still had your head on straight cause you’re talking like you’ve lost it. Gofers?! Is that what they call what we’re doing? For a minute there I thought we were risking our lives so everyone could eat. And why don’t you just come out and say it, Ham. Why don’t you just say it’s his harem you want a swing at? I know it. You’ve damn well been talking about it ever since we met him. He ain’t never gonna share his girls… Goddamn straws. Drawing straws?! I’m as retarded as you are, Ham.”
He tossed his straw to the ground.
I spat and watched the spit fall right onto a puddle of blood. I dropped to my knees and let the sack fall off my back.
“What you’ve got to say about that, Ham? Got any more fancy words for me?”
Clouds started to gather above us.
“Going to get dark soon. Don’t think it’ll be smart of us to stay here much longer.”
“Well,” Charles started, “best get back to Jack’s band fast as we can.”
I picked up my sack and flung it over my shoulder. “We’re not gonna make it to camp before nightfall. Might as well find a place somewhere there,” I pointed to a place between the trees, “and rest for the night.”
“Set up a fire and burn some meat. What say you, Ham?”
“This is for everyone. Not just us, Charles,” I responded.
“For everyone but Jack the most, am I right?”
“For everyone, Charles.”
“But Jack the most.”