About a certain return

Part 18

– I can see nothing more except shadows, but I know here you are my child. How can I mistake you? I hold you on my knee and feed you when you were little... You were so pretty. Only you've changed somehow. Your aura grew muddy. But you're still handsome...

Mamma Culina, everybody's aunt! She alleged she knew everybody. Though with such a poor sight, the ugly old lady with a hooked nose, nearly touching the hair under her mouth, was also a midwife. She had a moustache, the skin almost black, creased like a crumpled cloth, and thick glasses with big frames were decorating her face and unnaturally enlarging her whitish eyes. She thought they improved her sight. We, the garries had a much poorer sight comparing to the gramons, we needed lighteners to be able to distinguish better while they could perfectly see in the dark.

– Let the old lady tell your fortune by cards!

– Aunty, I asked, is it true that you have this gift... for witchcraft? It's believed so...

– Yes, dear, said she secretively, I have this knack I can forecast everything, I can tell the fortune in grains, I can cast spells, and can do this and that... hee-hee...!

– But can you turn yourself into somebody else?

– Yes, and I can transform you as well.

– How?

– I know the words, she whispered. I know the unspoken words.

– How come, unspoken?

– That is learned from my foremothers only whispered, but never clearly uttered.

– But how did you find them out, aunty? Haven't they been told to you?

– They have been whispered to me on their death beds, mother's charmed. When I received the words, a soul died out... Come on, split the cards!

I didn't believe her. She had a funny face, as she was pooling my leg, though... She never omitted to tell me I was her favorite, which she wouldn't tell to others. My mother told me that she saw me being chosen by the Goddess... I have been separated from my mother the day I attended school. An endearing memory. Me, the one chosen by the Goddess! I knew something about the ritual husband tradition. The poor young man become an offering, she liked only young men, the goddess old as the earth. I still believe that the old witch foreordained me a good future. Was it good?

– Look here, you'll meet your love in the family. But it won't be your family. The queen of hearts. The queens of hearts have green eyes. Yes. And they are a bit chubby from the waist downwards. Hold this and make this sign. Like this: up-here-there...yes. You'll meet somebody while travelling... look! A lot of people, many, but hidden, great quacks, cheaters... The enemy! But don't mind! They cannot subdue you.

– Master Orian used to say: I mind!

– Oh! And who suggested him this madness? Who? Me? I think it has been me. Look here! You're lacking determination, dear. Something is tempting you to a long and winding road... The king of spades. A road that doesn't take anywhere. Blimey, everything is mixed! And you run from a woman. Not quite young... But... Oh, I toppled over the glass. Damn it! And this juice is all over me...! What was it?

– Just water aunty.

– Exactly when I was about to see it all so clear...

Nimble the old lady! Though with such a poor sight she was walking fast. She had a knotty walking stick and kept the dogs away with it. She talked to the dogs... And they seemed to talk back to her. Strange, isn't it? I really liked the old lady.