CHAPTER
THE SIXTY-SECOND
"It
so happened that our master had gone to Capua to attend
to some odds and ends of business and I seized the opportunity,
and persuaded a guest of the house to accompany me as
far as the fifth mile-stone. He was a soldier, and as
brave as the very devil. We set out about cock-crow,
the moon was shining as bright as midday, and came to
where the tombstones are. My man stepped aside amongst
them, but I sat down, singing, and commenced to count
them up. When I looked around for my companion, he had
stripped himself and piled his clothes by the side of
the road. My heart was in my mouth, and I sat there
while he pissed a ring around them and was suddenly
turned into a wolf! Now don't think I'm joking, I wouldn't
lie for any amount of money, but as I was saying, he
commenced to howl after he was turned into a wolf, and
ran away into the forest. I didn't know where I was
for a minute or two, then I went to his clothes, to
pick them up, and damned if they hadn't turned to stone!
Was ever anyone nearer dead from fright than me? Then
I whipped out my sword and cut every shadow along the
road to bits, till I came to the house of my mistress.
I looked like a ghost when I went in, and I nearly slipped
my wind. The sweat was pouring down my crotch, my eyes
were staring, and I could hardly be brought around.
My Melissa wondered why I was out so late. "Oh,
if you'd only come sooner," she said, "you
could have helped us: a wolf broke into the folds and
attacked the sheep, bleeding them like a butcher. But
he didn't get the laugh on me, even if he did get away,
for one of the slaves ran his neck through with a spear!"
I couldn't keep my eyes shut any longer when I heard
that, and as soon as it grew light, I rushed back to
our Gaius' house like an innkeeper beaten out of his
bill, and when I came to the place where the clothes
had been turned into stone, there was nothing but a
pool of blood! And moreover, when I got home, my soldier
was lying in bed, like an ox, and a doctor was dressing
his neck! I knew then that he was a werewolf, and after
that, I couldn't have eaten a crumb of bread with him,
no, not if you had killed me. Others can think what
they please about this, but as for me, I hope your geniuses
will all get after me if I lie." |