The Pumpkin Patch

[Ojisama]

Let me tell you a story.

Many years ago, so many that I forget just how long, a poor farmer was desperately trying to protect his meagre crop from the ravages of the birds, rats and other pests that ranged freely over his land. He built scarecrows. Bought dogs. Raised cats, and even encouraged Kestrels and Falcons to nest in the trees. All to no avail.

Eventually, with his family on the verge of starvation, his wife offered him a plan.

Unbeknownst to him, she came from a long line of Witches. She proposed that they use her knowledge of the "Wild Ways" to protect the fields.

Reluctantly, he agreed.

Over the course of 5 days and 4 nights, she gathered together the materials that she needed. She walked the woods plucking flowers and herbs, and collecting wood. She scoured the hillsides looking for minerals. She wandered around the village and visited the homes of mourning families. On the 4th night and 5th day she laboured to complete her work.

Flowers and herbs were crushed, and mixed with the minerals. Using her own blood, she made a potion that was painted onto the wood, and the clothes she had "borrowed" from newly deceased villagers. Words were spoken. Runes were cast, and at last the work was completed, and she showed it to her husband.

A scarecrow.

The farmer was indignant.

"Foolish woman! Is this how you have spent your time? Haven't I already made many scarecrows? How will this one differ from all those that I have already made?"

"You will see," she said, placing the scarecrow in the middle of their pumpkin patch, "but don't come out here during the night."

The following morning, the farmer was amazed to see that none of his pumpkins had been eaten during night. The next day, the ground next to patch was untouched by vermin, and so it went on. Day after day, an ever-increasing area of his fields became unaffected by the birds, rats, wild pigs, deer and other animals that had made so free with his crops. Eventually, all of his crops were flourishing, untouched by beasts or disease.

The farm prospered, and the farmer grew very wealthy. As all men come to do, he forgot the work done by his wife, and believed it was his own cleverness that produced this success. When his wife tried to remind him, he berated her, insulted her and, when he had had to much to drink, even beat her.

One evening, in the harvest time, his wife came to him with a glass of wine, and invited him to come and see the sunset whilst they drank. She took him by the hand and drew him toward the pumpkin patch, and they walked together between the massive, plump vegetables (fruit). 

"Look how magnificent my farm has become," boasted the farmer. "My pumpkins are the best in the county, if not all the land, and it is the same for all my crops. What a wonderful farmer I am."

Eventually, they came upon a scarecrow, standing upright in the middle of the patch.

"Tell me wife. Do you make a new scarecrow every year?"

"No, my husband. Why do you ask?"

"It is still standing after all these years?"

"Yes. It is still as firm and clean as the day I stood it here," she replied.

"Do you take me for a fool," he shouted. "How can that be?" He raised his hand to strike her face.

"Because I am the Crow Eater, and because my Mistress commands it," came a voice from behind him, and he felt a touch upon his neck.

"All life shall become my food, and my vines shall keep the land safe until my Mistresses words are undone," the voice continued.

The farmer felt more touches on his legs and arms. Looking down, he saw the pumpkin vines entwining his body, pulling him down to the ground. He could feel the soil shifting under his body, and he began to sink downwards. No matter how he struggled. No matter how many vines he broke, slowly and inexorably, he was drawn beneath the ground.

"I warned you not to come here during the night," said his wife. "Now your fat body will nourish the soil, and you will become one with the land you exploited. Farewell, my foolish husband."

(To be continued?)