SNOW, GLASS, APPLES

by NEIL GAIMAN
[first published by DreamHae! "##$s, Mar%h &''()
I d# !#t $!#* *hat ma!!er #f thi!+ she is, N#!e #f us d#, She $illed her m#ther i! the birthi!+, but
that-s !eer e!#u+h t# a%%#u!t f#r it,
.hey %all me *ise, but I am far fr#m *ise, f#r all that I f#resa* fra+me!ts #f it, fr#/e! m#me!ts %au+ht
i! p##ls #f *ater #r i! the %#ld +lass #f my mirr#r, If I *ere *ise I *#uld !#t hae tried t# %ha!+e *hat I
sa*, If I *ere *ise I *#uld hae $illed myself bef#re eer I e!%#u!tered her, bef#re eer I %au+ht him,
Wise, a!d a *it%h, #r s# they said, a!d I-d see! his fa%e i! my dreams a!d i! refle%ti#!s f#r all my life0
si1tee! years #f dreami!+ #f him bef#re he rei!ed his h#rse by the brid+e that day, a!d as$ed my !ame, He
helped me #!t# his hi+h h#rse a!d *e r#de t#+ether t# my little %#tta+e, my fa%e buried i! the +#ld #f his
hair, He as$ed f#r the best #f *hat I had2 a $i!+-s ri+ht, it *as,
His beard *as red3br#!/e i! the m#r!i!+ li+ht, a!d I $!e* him, !#t as a $i!+, f#r I $!e* !#thi!+ #f
$i!+s the!, but as my l#e, He t##$ all he *a!ted fr#m me, the ri+ht #f $i!+s, but he retur!ed t# me #! the
f#ll#*i!+ day, a!d #! the !i+ht after that0 his beard s# red, his hair s# +#ld, his eyes the blue #f a summer
s$y, his s$i! ta!!ed the +e!tle br#*! #f ripe *heat,
His dau+hter *as #!ly a %hild0 !# m#re tha! fie years #f a+e *he! I %ame t# the pala%e, A p#rtrait #f
her dead m#ther hu!+ i! the pri!%ess-s t#*er r##m2 a tall *#ma!, hair the %#l#ur #f dar$ *##d, eyes !ut3
br#*!, She *as #f a differe!t bl##d t# her pale dau+hter,
.he +irl *#uld !#t eat *ith us,
I d# !#t $!#* *here i! the pala%e she ate,
I had my #*! %hambers, My husba!d the $i!+, he had his #*! r##ms als#, Whe! he *a!ted me he
*#uld se!d f#r me, a!d I *#uld +# t# him, a!d pleasure him, a!d ta$e my pleasure *ith him,
O!e !i+ht, seeral m#!ths after I *as br#u+ht t# the pala%e, she %ame t# my r##ms, She *as si1, I *as
embr#ideri!+ by lampli+ht, s4ui!ti!+ my eyes a+ai!st the lamp-s sm#$e a!d fitful illumi!ati#!, Whe! I
l##$ed up, she *as there,
5Pri!%ess65
She said !#thi!+, Her eyes *ere bla%$ as %#al, bla%$ as her hair2 her lips *ere redder tha! bl##d, She
l##$ed up at me a!d smiled, Her teeth seemed sharp, ee! the!, i! the lampli+ht,
5What are y#u d#i!+ a*ay fr#m y#ur r##m65
5I-m hu!+ry,5 she said, li$e a!y %hild,
It *as *i!ter, *he! fresh f##d is a dream #f *armth a!d su!li+ht2 but I had stri!+s #f *h#le apples,
%#red a!d dried, ha!+i!+ fr#m the beams #f my %hamber, a!d I pulled a! apple d#*! f#r her,
5Here,5
Autum! is the time #f dryi!+, #f preseri!+, a time #f pi%$i!+ apples, #f re!deri!+ the +##se3fat, Wi!ter
is the time #f hu!+er, #f s!#*, a!d #f death2 a!d it is the time #f the mid*i!ter feast, *he! *e rub the
+##se3fat i!t# the s$i! #f a *h#le pi+, stuffed *ith that autum!-s apples2 the! *e r#ast it #r spit it, a!d *e
prepare t# feast up#! the %ra%$li!+,
She t##$ the dried apple fr#m me a!d be+a! t# %he* it *ith her sharp yell#* teeth,
5Is it +##d65
She !#dded, I had al*ays bee! s%ared #f the little pri!%ess, but at that m#me!t I *armed t# her a!d,
*ith my fi!+ers, +e!tly, I str#$ed her %hee$, She l##$ed at me a!d smiled 3 she smiled but rarely 3 the! she
sa!$ her teeth i!t# the base #f my thumb, the M#u!d #f 7e!us, a!d she dre* bl##d,
I be+a! t# shrie$, fr#m pai! a!d fr#m surprise2 but she l##$ed at me a!d I fell sile!t,
.he little pri!%ess faste!ed her m#uth t# my ha!d a!d li%$ed a!d su%$ed a!d dra!$, Whe! she *as fi!3
ished, she left my %hamber, "e!eath my +a/e the %ut that she had made be+a! t# %l#se, t# s%ab, a!d t# heal,
.he !e1t day it *as a! #ld s%ar0 I mi+ht hae %ut my ha!d *ith a p#%$et$!ife i! my %hildh##d,
I had bee! fr#/e! by her, #*!ed a!d d#mi!ated,
.hat s%ared me, m#re tha! the bl##d she had fed #!, After that !i+ht I l#%$ed my %hamber d##r at dus$,
barri!+ it *ith a! #a$e! p#le, a!d I had the smith f#r+e ir#! bars, *hi%h he pla%ed a%r#ss my *i!d#*s,
My husba!d, my l#e, my $i!+, se!t f#r me less a!d less, a!d *he! I %ame t# him he *as di//y, listless,
%#!fused, He %#uld !# l#!+er ma$e l#e as a ma! ma$es l#e2 a!d he *#uld !#t permit me t# pleasure him
*ith my m#uth0 the #!e time I tried, he started, i#le!tly, a!d be+a! t# *eep, I pulled my m#uth a*ay a!d
held him ti+htly, u!til the s#bbi!+ had st#pped, a!d he slept, li$e a %hild,
I ra! my fi!+ers a%r#ss his s$i! as he slept, It *as %#ered i! a multitude #f a!%ie!t s%ars, "ut I %#uld
re%all !# s%ars fr#m the days #f #ur %#urtship, sae #!e, #! his side, *here a b#ar had +#red him *he! he
*as a y#uth,
S##! he *as a shad#* #f the ma! I had met a!d l#ed by the brid+e, His b#!es sh#*ed, blue a!d *hite,
be!eath his s$i!, I *as *ith him at the last0 his ha!ds *ere %#ld as st#!e, his eyes mil$y3blue, his hair a!d
beard faded a!d lusterless a!d limp, He died u!shrie!, his s$i! !ipped a!d p#%$ed fr#m head t# t#e *ith
ti!y, #ld s%ars,
He *ei+hed !ear t# !#thi!+, .he +r#u!d *as fr#/e! hard, a!d *e %#uld di+ !# +rae f#r him, s# *e
made a %air! #f r#%$s a!d st#!es ab#e his b#dy, as a mem#rial #!ly, f#r there *as little e!#u+h #f him left
t# pr#te%t fr#m the hu!+er #f the beasts a!d the birds,
S# I *as 4uee!,
A!d I *as f##lish, a!d y#u!+ 3 ei+htee! summers had %#me a!d +#!e si!%e first I sa* dayli+ht 3 a!d I
did !#t d# *hat I *#uld d#, !#*,
If it *ere t#day, I *#uld hae her heart %ut #ut, true, "ut the! I *#uld hae her head a!d arms a!d le+s
%ut #ff, I *#uld hae them disemb#*el her, A!d the! I *#uld *at%h, i! the t#*! s4uare, as the ha!+ma!
heated the fire t# *hite3heat *ith bell#*s, *at%h u!bli!$i!+ as he %#!si+!ed ea%h part #f her t# the fire, I
*#uld hae ar%hers ar#u!d the s4uare, *h# *#uld sh##t a!y bird #r a!imal *h# %ame %l#se t# the flames,
a!y rae! #r d#+ #r ha*$ #r rat, A!d I *#uld !#t %l#se my eyes u!til the pri!%ess *as ash, a!d a +e!tle
*i!d %#uld s%atter her li$e s!#*,
I did !#t d# this thi!+, a!d *e pay f#r #ur mista$es,
.hey say I *as f##led2 that it *as !#t her heart, .hat it *as the heart #f a! a!imal 3 a sta+, perhaps, #r a
b#ar, .hey say that, a!d they are *r#!+,
A!d s#me say 8but it is her lie, !#t mi!e9 that I *as +ie! the heart, a!d that I ate it, Lies a!d half3truths
fall li$e s!#*, %#eri!+ the thi!+s that I remember, the thi!+s I sa*, A la!ds%ape, u!re%#+!i/able after a
s!#*fall0 that is *hat she has made #f my life,
.here *ere s%ars #! my l#e, her father-s thi+hs, a!d #! his ball#%$3p#u%h, a!d #! his male member,
*he! he died,
I did !#t +# *ith them, .hey t##$ her i! the day, *hile she slept, a!d *as at her *ea$est, .hey t##$ her
t# the heart #f the f#rest, a!d there they #pe!ed her bl#use, a!d they %ut #ut her heart, a!d they left her
dead, i! a +ully, f#r the f#rest t# s*all#*,
.he f#rest is a dar$ pla%e, the b#rder t# ma!y $i!+d#ms2 !# #!e *#uld be f##lish e!#u+h t# %laim
:urisdi%ti#! #er it, Outla*s lie i! the f#rest, ;#bbers lie i! the f#rest, a!d s# d# *#les, <#u %a! ride
thr#u+h the f#rest f#r a d#/e! days a!d !eer see a s#ul2 but there are eyes up#! y#u the e!tire time,
.hey br#u+ht me her heart, I $!#* it *as hers 3 !# s#*-s heart #r d#e-s *#uld hae %#!ti!ued t# beat
a!d pulse after it had bee! %ut #ut, as that #!e did,
I t##$ it t# my %hamber,
I did !#t eat it0 I hu!+ it fr#m the beams ab#e my bed, pla%ed it #! a le!+th #f t*i!e that I stru!+ *ith
r#*a! berries, #ra!+e3red as a r#bi!-s breast, a!d *ith bulbs #f +arli%,
Outside, the s!#* fell, %#eri!+ the f##tpri!ts #f my hu!tsme!, %#eri!+ her ti!y b#dy i! the f#rest
*here it lay,
I had the smith rem#e the ir#! bars fr#m my *i!d#*s, a!d I *#uld spe!d s#me time i! my r##m ea%h
after!##! thr#u+h the sh#rt *i!ter days, +a/i!+ #ut #er the f#rest, u!til dar$!ess fell,
.here *ere, as I hae already stated, pe#ple i! the f#rest, .hey *#uld %#me #ut, s#me #f them, f#r the
Spri!+ =air0 a +reedy, feral, da!+er#us pe#ple2 s#me *ere stu!ted3d*arfs a!d mid+ets a!d hu!%hba%$s2
#thers had the hu+e teeth a!d a%a!t +a/es #f idi#ts2 s#me had fi!+ers li$e flippers #r %rab3%la*s, .hey
*#uld %reep #ut #f the f#rest ea%h year f#r the Spri!+ =air, held *he! the s!#*s had melted,
As a y#u!+ lass I had *#r$ed at the fair, a!d they had s%ared me the!, the f#rest f#l$, I t#ld f#rtu!es f#r
the fair+#ers, s%ryi!+ i! a p##l #f still *ater2 a!d, later, *he! I *as #lder, i! a dis$ #f p#lished +lass, its
ba%$ all silered 3 a +ift fr#m a mer%ha!t *h#se strayi!+ h#rse I had see! i! a p##l #f i!$,
.he stall3h#lders at the fair *ere afraid #f the f#rest f#l$2 they *#uld !ail their *ares t# the bare b#ards
#f their stalls 3 slabs #f +i!+erbread #r leather belts *ere !ailed *ith +reat ir#! !ails t# the *##d, If their
*ares *ere !#t !ailed, they said, the f#rest f#l$ *#uld ta$e them, a!d ru! a*ay, %he*i!+ #! the st#le!
+i!+erbread, flaili!+ ab#ut them *ith the belts,
.he f#rest f#l$ had m#!ey, th#u+h0 a %#i! here, a!#ther there, s#metimes stai!ed +ree! by time #r the
earth, the fa%e #! the %#i! u!$!#*! t# ee! the #ldest #f us, Als# they had thi!+s t# trade, a!d thus the fair
%#!ti!ued, seri!+ the #ut%asts a!d the d*arfs, seri!+ the r#bbers 8if they *ere %ir%umspe%t9 *h# preyed
#! the rare traelers fr#m la!ds bey#!d the f#rest, #r #! +ypsies, #r #! the deer, 8.his *as r#bbery i! the
eyes #f the la*, .he deer *ere the 4uee!-s,9
.he years passed by sl#*ly, a!d my pe#ple %laimed that I ruled them *ith *isd#m, .he heart still hu!+
ab#e my bed, pulsi!+ +e!tly i! the !i+ht, If there *ere a!y *h# m#ur!ed the %hild, I sa* !# eide!%e0 she
*as a thi!+ #f terr#r, ba%$ the!, a!d they belieed themseles *ell rid #f her,
Spri!+ =air f#ll#*ed Spri!+ =air0 fie #f them, ea%h sadder, p##rer, sh#ddier tha! the #!e bef#re, =e*er
#f the f#rest f#l$ %ame #ut #f the f#rest t# buy, .h#se *h# did seemed subdued a!d listless, .he stall3
h#lders st#pped !aili!+ their *ares t# the b#ards #f their stalls, A!d by the fifth year but a ha!dful #f f#l$
%ame fr#m the f#rest 3 a fearful huddle #f little hairy me!, a!d !# #!e else,
.he L#rd #f the =air, a!d his pa+e, %ame t# me *he! the fair *as d#!e, I had $!#*! him sli+htly, bef#re
I *as 4uee!,
5I d# !#t %#me t# y#u as my 4uee!,5 he said,
I said !#thi!+, I liste!ed,
5I %#me t# y#u be%ause y#u are *ise,5 he %#!ti!ued, 5Whe! y#u *ere a %hild y#u f#u!d a strayed f#al
by stari!+ i!t# a p##l #f i!$2 *he! y#u *ere a maide! y#u f#u!d a l#st i!fa!t *h# had *a!dered far fr#m
her m#ther, by stari!+ i!t# that mirr#r #f y#urs, <#u $!#* se%rets a!d y#u %a! see$ #ut thi!+s hidde!, My
4uee!,5 he as$ed, 5*hat is ta$i!+ the f#rest f#l$6 Ne1t year there *ill be !# Spri!+ =air, .he traelers fr#m
#ther $i!+d#ms hae +r#*! s%ar%e a!d fe*, the f#l$ #f the f#rest are alm#st +#!e, A!#ther year li$e the
last, a!d *e shall all stare,5
I %#mma!ded my maidsera!t t# bri!+ me my l##$i!+ +lass, It *as a simple thi!+, a siler3ba%$ed +lass
dis$, *hi%h I $ept *rapped i! a d#es$i!, i! a %hest, i! my %hamber,
.hey br#u+ht it t# me, the!, a!d I +a/ed i!t# it0
She *as t*ele a!d she *as !# l#!+er a little %hild, Her s$i! *as still pale, her eyes a!d hair %#al3bla%$,
her lips bl##d3red, She *#re the %l#thes she had *#r! *he! she left the %astle f#r the last time 3 the bl#use,
the s$irt 3 alth#u+h they *ere mu%h let3#ut, mu%h me!ded, Oer them she *#re a leather %l#a$, a!d i!stead
#f b##ts she had leather ba+s, tied *ith th#!+s, #er her ti!y feet,
She *as sta!di!+ i! the f#rest, beside a tree,
As I *at%hed, i! the eye #f my mi!d, I sa* her ed+e a!d step a!d flitter a!d pad fr#m tree t# tree, li$e a!
a!imal0 a bat #r a *#lf, She *as f#ll#*i!+ s#me#!e,
He *as a m#!$, He *#re sa%$%l#th, a!d his feet *ere bare, a!d s%abbed a!d hard, His beard a!d t#!sure
*ere #f a le!+th, #er+r#*!, u!shae!,
She *at%hed him fr#m behi!d the trees, Ee!tually he paused f#r the !i+ht, a!d be+a! t# ma$e a fire,
layi!+ t*i+s d#*!, brea$i!+ up a r#bi!-s !est as $i!dli!+, He had a ti!derb#1 i! his r#be, a!d he $!#%$ed
the fli!t a+ai!st the steel u!til the spar$s %au+ht the ti!der a!d the fire flamed, .here had bee! t*# e++s i!
the !est he had f#u!d, a!d these he ate, ra*, .hey %a!!#t hae bee! mu%h #f a meal f#r s# bi+ a ma!,
He sat there i! the fireli+ht, a!d she %ame #ut fr#m her hidi!+ pla%e, She %r#u%hed d#*! #! the #ther
side #f the fire, a!d stared at him, He +ri!!ed, as if it *ere a l#!+ time si!%e he had see! a!#ther huma!,
a!d be%$#!ed her #er t# him,
She st##d up a!d *al$ed ar#u!d the fire, a!d *aited, a! arm-s le!+th a*ay, He pulled i! his r#be u!til
he f#u!d a %#i! 3 a ti!y, %#pper pe!!y 3 a!d t#ssed it t# her, She %au+ht it, a!d !#dded, a!d *e!t t# him, He
pulled at the r#be ar#u!d his *aist, a!d his r#be s*u!+ #pe!, His b#dy *as as hairy as a bear-s, She pushed
him ba%$ #!t# the m#ss, O!e ha!d %rept, spider3li$e, thr#u+h the ta!+le #f hair, u!til it %l#sed #! his
ma!h##d2 the #ther ha!d tra%ed a %ir%le #! his left !ipple, He %l#sed his eyes, a!d fumbled #!e hu+e ha!d
u!der her s$irt, She l#*ered her m#uth t# the !ipple she had bee! teasi!+, her sm##th s$i! *hite #! the
furry br#*! b#dy #f him,
She sa!$ her teeth deep i!t# his breast, His eyes #pe!ed, the! they %l#sed a+ai!, a!d she dra!$,
She straddled him, a!d she fed, As she did s# a thi! bla%$ish li4uid be+a! t# dribble fr#m bet*ee! her
le+s, , , ,
5D# y#u $!#* *hat is $eepi!+ the traelers fr#m #ur t#*!6 What is happe!i!+ t# the f#rest pe#ple65
as$ed the Head #f the =air,
I %#ered the mirr#r i! d#es$i!, a!d t#ld him that I *#uld pers#!ally ta$e it up#! myself t# ma$e the
f#rest safe #!%e m#re,
I had t#, alth#u+h she terrified me, I *as the 4uee!,
A f##lish *#ma! *#uld hae +#!e the! i!t# the f#rest a!d tried t# %apture the %reature2 but I had bee!
f##lish #!%e a!d had !# *ish t# be s# a se%#!d time,
I spe!t time *ith #ld b##$s, I spe!t time *ith the +ypsy *#me! 8*h# passed thr#u+h #ur %#u!try a%r#ss
the m#u!tai!s t# the s#uth, rather tha! %r#ss the f#rest t# the !#rth a!d the *est9,
I prepared myself, a!d #btai!ed th#se thi!+s I *#uld !eed, a!d *he! the first s!#*s be+a! t# fall, I *as
ready,
Na$ed, I *as, a!d al#!e i! the hi+hest t#*er #f the pala%e, a pla%e #pe! t# the s$y, .he *i!ds %hilled my
b#dy2 +##se pimples %rept a%r#ss my arms a!d thi+hs a!d breasts, I %arried a siler basi!, a!d a bas$et i!
*hi%h I had pla%ed a siler $!ife, a siler pi!, s#me t#!+s, a +rey r#be, a!d three +ree! apples,
I put them d#*! a!d st##d there, u!%l#thed, #! the t#*er, humble bef#re the !i+ht s$y a!d the *i!d,
Had a!y ma! see! me sta!di!+ there, I *#uld hae had his eyes2 but there *as !# #!e t# spy, >l#uds
s%udded a%r#ss the s$y, hidi!+ a!d u!%#eri!+ the *a!i!+ m##!,
I t##$ the siler $!ife a!d slashed my left arm 3 #!%e, t*i%e, three times, .he bl##d dripped i!t# the
basi!, s%arlet seemi!+ bla%$ i! the m##!li+ht,
I added the p#*der fr#m the ial that hu!+ ar#u!d my !e%$, It *as a br#*! dust, made #f dried herbs
a!d the s$i! #f a parti%ular t#ad, a!d fr#m %ertai! #ther thi!+s, It thi%$e!ed the bl##d, *hile pree!ti!+ it
fr#m %l#tti!+,
I t##$ the three apples, #!e by #!e, a!d pri%$ed their s$i!s +e!tly *ith my siler pi!, .he! I pla%ed the
apples i! the siler b#*l, a!d let them sit there *hile the first ti!y fla$es #f s!#* #f the year fell sl#*ly
#!t# my s$i!, a!d #!t# the apples, a!d #!t# the bl##d,
Whe! da*! be+a! t# bri+hte! the s$y I %#ered myself *ith the +rey %l#a$, a!d t##$ the red apples
fr#m the siler b#*l, #!e by #!e, lifti!+ ea%h i!t# my bas$et *ith siler t#!+s, ta$i!+ %are !#t t# t#u%h it,
.here *as !#thi!+ left #f my bl##d #r #f the br#*! p#*der i! the siler b#*l, !#thi!+ sae a bla%$ residue,
li$e a erdi+ris, #! the i!side,
I buried the b#*l i! the earth, .he! I %ast a +lam#ur #! the apples 8as #!%e, years bef#re, by a brid+e, I
had %ast a +lam#ur #! myself9, that they *ere, bey#!d a!y d#ubt, the m#st *#!derful apples i! the *#rld,
a!d the %rims#! blush #f their s$i!s *as the *arm %#l#ur #f fresh bl##d,
I pulled the h##d #f my %l#a$ l#* #er my fa%e, a!d I t##$ ribb#!s a!d pretty hair #r!ame!ts *ith me,
pla%ed them ab#e the apples i! the reed bas$et, a!d I *al$ed al#!e i!t# the f#rest, u!til I %ame t# her
d*elli!+0 a hi+h, sa!dst#!e %liff, la%ed *ith deep %aes +#i!+ ba%$ a *ay i!t# the r#%$ *all,
.here *ere trees a!d b#ulders ar#u!d the %liff3fa%e, a!d I *al$ed 4uietly a!d +e!tly fr#m tree t# tree,
*ith#ut disturbi!+ a t*i+ #r a falle! leaf, Ee!tually I f#u!d my pla%e t# hide, a!d I *aited, a!d I *at%hed,
After s#me h#urs a %lut%h #f d*arfs %ra*led #ut #f the h#le i! the %ae3fr#!t 3 u+ly, misshape!, hairy
little me!, the #ld i!habita!ts #f this %#u!try, <#u sa* them seld#m !#*,
.hey a!ished i!t# the *##d, a!d !#!e #f them espied me, th#u+h #!e #f them st#pped t# piss a+ai!st
the r#%$ I hid behi!d,
I *aited, N# m#re %ame #ut,
I *e!t t# the %ae e!tra!%e a!d hall##ed i!t# it, i! a %ra%$ed #ld #i%e,
.he s%ar #! my M#u!d #f 7e!us thr#bbed a!d pulsed as she %ame t#*ard me, #ut #f the dar$!ess, !a$ed
a!d al#!e,
She *as thirtee! years #f a+e, my stepdau+hter,
a!d !#thi!+ marred the perfe%t *hite!ess #f her s$i! sae f#r the liid s%ar #! her left breast, *here her
heart had bee! %ut fr#m her l#!+ si!%e,
.he i!sides #f her thi+hs *ere stai!ed *ith *et bla%$ filth,
She peered at me, hidde!, as I *as, i! my %l#a$, She l##$ed at me hu!+rily, 5;ibb#!s, +##d*ife,5 I
%r#a$ed, 5Pretty ribb#!s f#r y#ur hair , , ,5
She smiled a!d be%$#!ed t# me, A tu+2 the s%ar #! my ha!d *as pulli!+ me t#*ard her, I did *hat I had
pla!!ed t# d#, but I did it m#re readily tha! I had pla!!ed0 I dr#pped my bas$et, a!d s%ree%hed li$e the
bl##dless #ld peddler *#ma! I *as prete!di!+ t# be, a!d I ra!,
My +rey %l#a$ *as the %#l#ur #f the f#rest, a!d I *as fast2 she did !#t %at%h me,
I made my *ay ba%$ t# the pala%e,
I did !#t see it, Let us ima+i!e th#u+h, the +irl retur!i!+, frustrated a!d hu!+ry, t# her %ae, a!d fi!di!+
my falle! bas$et #! the +r#u!d,
What did she d#6
I li$e t# thi!$ she played first *ith the ribb#!s, t*i!ed them i!t# her rae! hair, l##ped them ar#u!d her
pale !e%$ #r her ti!y *aist,
A!d the!, %uri#us, she m#ed the %l#th t# see *hat else *as i! the bas$et2 a!d she sa* the red, red
apples,
.hey smelled li$e fresh apples, #f %#urse2 a!d they als# smelled #f bl##d, A!d she *as hu!+ry, I
ima+i!e her pi%$i!+ up a! apple, pressi!+ it a+ai!st her %hee$, feeli!+ the %#ld sm##th!ess #f it a+ai!st her
s$i!,
A!d she #pe!ed her m#uth a!d bit deep i!t# it,,,,
"y the time I rea%hed my %hambers, the heart that hu!+ fr#m the r##f3beam, *ith the apples a!d hams
a!d the dried sausa+es, had %eased t# beat, It hu!+ there, 4uietly, *ith#ut m#ti#! #r life, a!d I felt safe #!%e
m#re,
.hat *i!ter the s!#*s *ere hi+h a!d deep, a!d *ere late melti!+, We *ere all hu!+ry %#me the spri!+,
.he Spri!+ =air *as sli+htly impr#ed that year, .he f#rest f#l$ *ere fe*, but they *ere there, a!d there
*ere traelers fr#m the la!ds bey#!d the f#rest,
I sa* the little hairy me! #f the f#rest3%ae buyi!+ a!d bar+ai!i!+ f#r pie%es #f +lass, a!d lumps #f %rys3
tal a!d #f 4uart/3r#%$, .hey paid f#r the +lass *ith siler %#i!s 3 the sp#ils #f my stepdau+hter-s depre3
dati#!s, I had !# d#ubt, Whe! it +#t ab#ut *hat they *ere buyi!+, t#*!sf#l$ rushed ba%$ t# their h#mes,
%ame ba%$ *ith their lu%$y %rystals, a!d, i! a fe* %ases, *ith *h#le sheets #f +lass,
I th#u+ht, briefly, ab#ut hai!+ the little me! $illed, but I did !#t, As l#!+ as the heart hu!+, sile!t a!d
imm#bile a!d %#ld, fr#m the beam #f my %hamber, I *as safe, a!d s# *ere the f#l$ #f the f#rest, a!d, thus,
ee!tually, the f#l$ #f the t#*!,
My t*e!ty3fifth year %ame, a!d my stepdau+hter had eate! the p#is#!ed fruit t*# *i!ters ba%$, *he!
the pri!%e %ame t# my pala%e, He *as tall, ery tall, *ith %#ld +ree! eyes a!d the s*arthy s$i! #f th#se
fr#m bey#!d the m#u!tai!s,
He r#de *ith a small reti!ue0 lar+e e!#u+h t# defe!d him, small e!#u+h that a!#ther m#!ar%h 3 myself,
f#r i!sta!%e 3 *#uld !#t ie* him as a p#te!tial threat,
I *as pra%ti%al0 I th#u+ht #f the allia!%e #f #ur la!ds, th#u+ht #f the $i!+d#m ru!!i!+ fr#m the f#rests
all the *ay s#uth t# the sea2 I th#u+ht #f my +#lde!3haired bearded l#e, dead these ei+ht years2 a!d, i! the
!i+ht, I *e!t t# the pri!%e-s r##m,
I am !# i!!#%e!t, alth#u+h my late husba!d, *h# *as #!%e my $i!+, *as truly my first l#er, !# matter
*hat they say,
At first the pri!%e seemed e1%ited, He bade me rem#e my shift, a!d made me sta!d i! fr#!t #f the
#pe!ed *i!d#*, far fr#m the fire, u!til my s$i! *as %hilled st#!e3%#ld, .he! he as$ed me t# lie up#! my
ba%$, *ith my ha!ds f#lded a%r#ss my breasts, my eyes *ide #pe! 3 but stari!+ #!ly at the beams ab#e,
He t#ld me !#t t# m#e, a!d t# breathe as little as p#ssible, He impl#red me t# say !#thi!+, He spread my
le+s apart,
It *as the! that he e!tered me,
As he be+a! t# thrust i!side me, I felt my hips raise, felt myself be+i! t# mat%h him, +ri!d f#r +ri!d,
push f#r push, I m#a!ed, I %#uld !#t help myself,
His ma!h##d slid #ut #f me, I rea%hed #ut a!d t#u%hed it, a ti!y, slippery thi!+,
5Please,5 he said, s#ftly, 5<#u must !either m#e !#r spea$, ?ust lie there #! the st#!es, s# %#ld a!d s#
fair,5
I tried, but he had l#st *hateer f#r%e it *as that had made him irile2 a!d, s#me sh#rt *hile later, I left
the pri!%e-s r##m, his %urses a!d tears still res#u!di!+ i! my ears,
He left early the !e1t m#r!i!+, *ith all his me!, a!d they r#de #ff i!t# the f#rest,
I ima+i!e his l#i!s, !#*, as he r#de, a $!#t #f frustrati#! at the base #f his ma!h##d, I ima+i!e his pale
lips pressed s# ti+htly t#+ether, .he! I ima+i!e his little tr#upe ridi!+ thr#u+h the f#rest, fi!ally %#mi!+
up#! the +lass3a!d3%rystal %air! #f my stepdau+hter, S# pale, S# %#ld, Na$ed, be!eath the +lass, a!d little
m#re tha! a +irl, a!d dead,
I! my fa!%y, I %a! alm#st feel the sudde! hard!ess #f his ma!h##d i!side his brit%hes, e!isi#! the lust
that t##$ him the!, the prayers he muttered be!eath his breath i! tha!$s f#r his +##d f#rtu!e, I ima+i!e him
!e+#tiati!+ 3 *ith the little hairy me! 3 #fferi!+ them +#ld a!d spi%es f#r the l#ely %#rpse u!der the %rystal
m#u!d,
Did they ta$e his +#ld *illi!+ly6 Or did they l##$ up t# see his me! #! their h#rses, *ith their sharp
s*#rds a!d their spears, a!d reali/e they had !# alter!atie6
I d# !#t $!#*, I *as !#t there2 I *as !#t s%ryi!+, I %a! #!ly ima+i!e,,, ,
Ha!ds, pulli!+ #ff the lumps #f +lass a!d 4uart/ fr#m her %#ld b#dy, Ha!ds, +e!tly %aressi!+ her %#ld
%hee$, m#i!+ her %#ld arm, re:#i%i!+ t# fi!d the %#rpse still fresh a!d pliable,
Did he ta$e her there, i! fr#!t #f them all6 Or did he hae her %arried t# a se%luded !##$ bef#re he
m#u!ted her6
I %a!!#t say,
Did he sha$e the apple fr#m her thr#at6 Or did her eyes sl#*ly #pe! as he p#u!ded i!t# her %#ld b#dy2
did her m#uth #pe!, th#se red lips part, th#se sharp yell#* teeth %l#se #! his s*arthy !e%$, as the bl##d,
*hi%h is the life, tri%$led d#*! her thr#at, *ashi!+ d#*! a!d a*ay the lump #f apple, my #*!, my p#is#!6
I ima+i!e2 I d# !#t $!#*,
.his I d# $!#*0 I *as *#$e! i! the !i+ht by her heart pulsi!+ a!d beati!+ #!%e m#re, Salt bl##d dripped
#!t# my fa%e fr#m ab#e, I sat up, My ha!d bur!ed a!d p#u!ded as if I had hit the base #f my thumb *ith a
r#%$,
.here *as a hammeri!+ #! the d##r, I felt afraid, but I am a 4uee!, a!d I *#uld !#t sh#* fear, I #pe!ed
the d##r,
=irst his me! *al$ed i!t# my %hamber a!d st##d ar#u!d me, *ith their sharp s*#rds, a!d their l#!+
spears,
.he! he %ame i!2 a!d he spat i! my fa%e,
=i!ally, she *al$ed i!t# my %hamber, as she had *he! I *as first a 4uee!, a!d she *as a %hild #f si1,
She had !#t %ha!+ed, N#t really,
She pulled d#*! the t*i!e #! *hi%h her heart *as ha!+i!+, She pulled #ff the r#*a! berries, #!e by
#!e2 pulled #ff the +arli% bulb 3 !#* a dried thi!+, after all these years2 the! she t##$ up her #*!, her
pumpi!+ heart 3 a small thi!+, !# lar+er tha! that #f a !a!!y +#at #r a she3bear 3 as it brimmed a!d pumped
its bl##d i!t# her ha!d,
Her fi!+er!ails must hae bee! as sharp as +lass0 she #pe!ed her breast *ith them, ru!!i!+ them #er
the purple s%ar, Her %hest +aped, sudde!ly, #pe! a!d bl##dless, She li%$ed her heart, #!%e, as the bl##d ra!
#er her ha!ds, a!d she pushed the heart deep i!t# her breast,
I sa* her d# it, I sa* her %l#se the flesh #f her breast #!%e m#re, I sa* the purple s%ar be+i! t# fade,
Her pri!%e l##$ed briefly %#!%er!ed, but he put his arm ar#u!d her !#!etheless, a!d they st##d, side by
side, a!d they *aited,
A!d she stayed %#ld, a!d the bl##m #f death remai!ed #! her lips, a!d his lust *as !#t dimi!ished i!
a!y *ay,
.hey t#ld me they *#uld marry, a!d the $i!+d#ms *#uld i!deed be :#i!ed, .hey t#ld me that I *#uld be
*ith them #! their *eddi!+ day,
It is starti!+ t# +et h#t i! here,
.hey hae t#ld the pe#ple bad thi!+s ab#ut me2 a little truth t# add sa#r t# the dish, but mi1ed *ith
ma!y lies,
I *as b#u!d a!d $ept i! a ti!y st#!e %ell be!eath the pala%e, a!d I remai!ed there thr#u+h the autum!,
.#day they fet%hed me #ut #f the %ell2 they stripped the ra+s fr#m me, a!d *ashed the filth fr#m me, a!d
the! they shaed my head a!d my l#i!s, a!d they rubbed my s$i! *ith +##se3+rease,
.he s!#* *as falli!+ as they %arried me 3 t*# me! at ea%h ha!d, t*# me! at ea%h le+ 3 utterly e1p#sed,
a!d spread3ea+led a!d %#ld, thr#u+h the mid*i!ter %r#*ds, a!d br#u+ht me t# this $il!,
My stepdau+hter st##d there *ith her pri!%e, She *at%hed me, i! my i!di+!ity, but she said !#thi!+,
As they thrust me i!side, :eeri!+ a!d %haffi!+ as they did s#, I sa* #!e s!#*fla$e la!d up#! her *hite
%hee$, a!d remai! there *ith#ut melti!+,
.hey %l#sed the $il! d##r behi!d me, It is +etti!+ h#tter i! here, a!d #utside they are si!+i!+ a!d
%heeri!+ a!d ba!+i!+ #! the sides #f the $il!,
She *as !#t lau+hi!+, #r :eeri!+, #r tal$i!+, She did !#t s!eer at me #r tur! a*ay, She l##$ed at me,
th#u+h2 a!d f#r a m#me!t I sa* myself refle%ted i! her eyes,
I *ill !#t s%ream, I *ill !#t +ie them that satisfa%ti#!, .hey *ill hae my b#dy, but my s#ul a!d my
st#ry are my #*!, a!d *ill die *ith me,
.he +##se3+rease be+i!s t# melt a!d +liste! up#! my s$i!, I shall ma$e !# s#u!d at all, I shall thi!$ !#
m#re #! this,
I shall thi!$ i!stead #f the s!#*fla$e #! her %hee$,
I thi!$ #f her hair as bla%$ as %#al, her lips, redder tha! bl##d, her s$i!, s!#*3*hite,