When Once I Was 'a Walkin'

With a jaunt in her step, she sang:

“Oh, when once I was a’ walkin’ down the selfsame road for which I was named, a swampy, cocksure woman came my way, and in her hands a game. The rules she wrote were in a book, black as autumn night. But when I looked (I peeked o’ course), it did not look quite right. The letters swam on waterlogged pages, which she slammed tight in one of her rages.

“She laughed a’ haughtily and chimed, ‘The code o’ course is mine to tell, mine to cherish, and mine to sell. But if you pause a mo’ with me, I can impart the story.’

“She said she’d won a mighty sum. I asked how much and she said that it was tacky to discuss finances, but that it was nineteen thousand, nine hundred, and ninety-nine plus one’.

“And since the day her pockets filled, she knew not what to do with her till. She wanted not for rags and riches, she wished alone for watery ditches, to retreat whence she came. She tried at first to return it to whatever had deemed her worthy, but could not find the party to blame. And then the idea was to gift it, to shift the coins to those who yearned for it— charity, is the name. But who in this charming land, with rolling hills and secret hollows and fairy holes and plenty, would need such gold, or would stoop to take a penny?

“‘But therein lay my answer!’ she kindly spat at me. ‘None and no one, not even a pony, have need burning aflame! And so a plot I did construct, to part me from this burden, this bane:

“‘The very thing is to deserve it— in exchange for money, this game!’

“So on this road, this very path, this water nymph had waited. Between two webbed hands were card and book, dripping with water so far from her bath, where she became the fair amusement for the fated and the baited.

“‘Well tell me then, my sodden friend, how to best this contest! I wonder at your tools of trade, and frankly where you found them. I’d always thought that pulp of trees in water would degrade them.’ I waited not for her answer, and I tempted not her impatience nor her anger. I held out my hand, made myself ready, and bowed before this maiden. ‘For the failures in this land, to atone for those unsteady, I’ll part you from your wearisome treasure. On my heart, I swear this measure: you’ll return to the depths unladen.’

“She smiled at me and deemed me kind, but doubted much my mortal mind. ‘This wealth was meant for only me, and it won’t be transferred quietly. It sings and screams my very name, with no desire to learn another. If you can beat me at this game, only then will yours it druther.’

“The open book she placed upon the ground, therein sat a drawing of Apollo. Under him and all around were runes and a pile of the drowned. She shuffled the cards within her hands, and she taught the steps as follows:

“‘First, we must draw one card each, from top and bottom of the deck. And whichever of us pulls the lesser has won the first of threes checks. We place our cards upon our knees, and continue on with ease.

“‘Secondly, we’ll switch our place, who first pulled bottom now pulls top, and the greater sum’s the win. This card too finds home on a knee, soon the victor we will see.

“‘And third o’ course, and finally, we pull card number three. I’ll spread them out as one large fan and you’ll pick first, feeling each with either hand. When one shouts out to you, or lures you specially, you take it quick and place it facedown on the ground in front of me. I’ll then pull likewise and set it down, this time in front of you. Now comes the end of this here round, the cards to speak their truths.

“‘On count of nine, we’ll reveal their other sides and whichever’s three card total is closest to the time, becomes blushing victory’s bride.

“She bade me sit upon the grass, and held the deck aloft. Neither on road before nor behind, did a single soul pass, but the wind blew by kindly and a sweet scent of sea did it waft.

“We obeyed her every rule. I asked no questions— though I had many— for I thought to make her wait would be too cruel.

“The first check went to mine own hand, and the second mine as well. I could see her growing anxious for a swift return to the place where the watery dwell.

“The sun was almost to noon and so, I knew I must needs get a card that was in number low. She was nowhere near the time, and would need a number with heft. I ran my fingers across their backs and pulled the one fourth from the left. It sent through me a shiver. I placed it before this homesick creature, for this time I was the giver.

“When came her turn, she pulled the card nearest to the center. Her hands did shake and quiver as she placed this one in front of me, now presenter, now the giver.

“On count of nine, we flipped the cards that would declare the winner, that held her fate within their faces, that might have her home by dinner:

“A joking face jeered up at me, and I knew not what it meant. But before the nymph lay a lofty king, and I saw how poorly this game went.

“Above our heads the clouds they did a’ gather. I thought they’d start a’ pouring down, but being brutish and knowing the purpose of this ritual, they sought only for laughter, ruthless. My wandering friend hung her head at them and wished for rain and thunder.

“She screamed and she rattled and begged for a drizzle, but the clouds they parted and the sun shone on. It brought a heat she could not bear, and her drying skin began to fizzle. ‘Let me home, let me home! Let me home, you gods are Fools! Cruel and hateful, how thought you I would be grateful? With all this gold you’ve given me, I am too heavy for the sea!’

“I searched my mind for words of comfort, my hands itched to bring relief, but on remembering I sat before her, she berated me beneath the sunburst and begged me leave her be. She collected her cards and her book as I watched on. For just a moment I remained, as she sat there, as she shook, but I knew her words were not in jest, so before she could raise head from chest, I was gone.”