Shamans and Kushtakas by Mary Giraudo Beck

Author:Mary Giraudo Beck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Graphic Arts Books

DEAD MAN’S BRIDE

A young girl who was just out of seclusion was walking along the beach with one of her aunts. She was still pale and tired easily from her recent lack of sunshine and exercise. Like all young girls coming into maturity, she had been secluded behind a screen in the house and for months had seen no one but her mother, aunt, and a female servant. Their conversations concerned only her instruction and her daily routine. She had no idea of what was going on in the family or the community.

Now that she had come out of seclusion, she was being kept away from men while her aunt and uncle arranged a marriage for her. She had observed her ritual faithfully. It had been months since she had even talked with her friends, many of whom were in seclusion too. She was eager to see her favorite cousin, who was also due to come out soon. They had grown up together and had had their ear-piercing ceremony at the same party. The cousin was as spirited and unpredictable as the chief’s daughter was sedate and docile. The aunt had hoped the chief’s daughter would be a good influence on her less manageable cousin.

“Have any suitors come to see my mother and uncle?” she asked her aunt as they sat on a log to rest.

“Oh, there have been a few,” her aunt teased with a sideward glance. As the daughter of the chief of the village, this girl was actually sought after by many high-caste men as a bride for one of their nephews.

“Did his uncle come?” she asked, alluding to the son of one of the other chief’s. Her companion’s face dropped.

“Oh child, of course you didn’t hear! It happened while you were in seclusion. He and his brother did not return from a fishing trip.”

“You mean they drowned?” cried the girl.

“Their boat was found overturned in the water, but they were never found.” The girl, sad to hear this news, wept quietly. She had hoped their families would arrange her marriage with this particular young man. Although a high-born girl did not talk to young men before marriage, these two had glanced at each other appreciatively on occasion, before her seclusion.

“Don’t cry, child. There are many fine young men who would like you for their bride,” her aunt assured her. But the joy had gone out of the sunny day for the girl.

“Let’s go back now,” she said. As they got close to the house, she tripped on something underfoot and bent to pick it up. Realizing it was a human skull, she drew back quickly.

“Who on earth has been putting skulls in front of our house?” she asked and shoved it into the brush with her foot.

“Don’t touch it!” said her aunt. “Someone could be putting a curse on you.” They became frightened and hurried indoors.

That night, after she had been asleep for some time, the young woman saw two young men coming toward her. “I must be dreaming,” she thought.

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