"Maria Ana?" Mamá says.
She looks so old, Maria thinks. Both her parents do. This has been harder on them than it has been on her.
She steps toward her mother, arms outstretched. Mamá clutches both her hands. She pulls Maria in close and begins to weep. Papá puts a tentative hand on her shoulder, as though he's assuring himself that his returned daughter is flesh and blood, not a ghost. Then he holds both her and Mamá in a tight embrace.
The silence is the room is so profound that Maria can hear the pulse of her own blood.
Mamá pulls away, but still holds on with one hand. She wipes her tears with the other.
"Sis?" Pablo says. "How—how is this possible?"
"I don't know," she tells him. "I remember dying, but then I was back, standing in the same place I fell. It was like I'd never been hurt. I didn't even know what had happened until an old woman told me about the funeral."
"The things I have heard," Mamá says. She shakes her head. "They think you're a part of that gang—the one that robs all the rich people."
"Los Murrietas," Maria says.
Mamá nods. "Such nonsense. I have told the reporters a thousand times that you have nothing to do with them."
Maria's gaze goes to Luz, who gives a small shake of her head. But Maria knows why she was allowed to come back.
"That's not true," she says. "I was their leader."
Her mother sways and has to lean on Papá. She makes the sign of the cross. The crowd in the community center presses closer to hear.
"This is loco," Mamá says.
Maria shakes her head. "No, it's about justice. Here in the barrio we are stuck between the banks and the bandas, and there is nothing left over for the rest of us. If no one will help us, we have to help each other."
Mamá is shaking her head the whole time Maria is talking.
"No, no," she says. "You will come to harm. You have already come to harm."
"I know it's dangerous," Maria says. "But I came back, didn't I?"
She looks to her father and brother, but she can't tell what they're thinking. Before she can ask, a gunshot booms in the parking lot outside the building and the quiet murmur of conversation that had been building up in the community center is cut off again.
"Where's my little Maria?" a familiar voice calls from outside. "Or better yet, where's my money?"
Luz clutches Maria's arm.
"Is that who I think it is?" she says.
Maria nods. "La Mano Grande."
"What's he doing here? Didn't you say he gave you twenty-four hours?"
"I guess he lied."
The guests in the community center all move away from the door. They gather on the sides of the room, leaving only the two girls and Maria's family in the open space in front of the door. A buzz of whispered conversation starts up again, with many worried looks to the entrance.
Maria kisses her mother, then her father and brother.
"What are you doing?" Mamá says as Maria turns to walk to the door.
"Maria, this isn't your fight anymore," Luz says.
Connie grabs Maria's arm.
"Yeah, don't be crazy here," Veronica says.
But Maria pulls gently away. She knows what she must do. This is why she was allowed to come back. The bandas were always going to come after their money. Somehow, she will stop this from getting any worse than it already is. She will gladly die again if it means the violence will spare her family and friends.
Mamá puts her hand on her shoulder, but Maria lifts it and kisses it before letting it drop.
"Don't be sad, Mamá," Maria says. "This was just my chance to say a proper goodbye. Think of it as a gift from the saints."
Kissing her cheek again, Maria walks to the door. Papá puts his arm around Mamá. Maria's brother and her girls stand by the pair, watching Maria go.
"Stay with my family," she says when Luz falls in step beside her.
"Like hell I will," Luz tells her.
Maria doesn't try to talk her out of it. Nobody ever won an argument with Luz.
La Mano Grande gives them a big grin when they step outside. A revolver dangles from his hand, pointed at the ground. Behind him, ranged across the parking lot, are almost two dozen men all wearing the colours of the 66 Bandas.
"There you are, my little bandita," he says. "Now where's my money?"
"You said I had twenty-four hours."
Pena shrugs. "I'm an impatient man."
"No," a voice says from the side of the building. "You are a dishonourable man."
Maria has a moment of hope as she hears Jack speak, but when she turns in his direction she sees he stands there alone in his green hoodie, with nothing more than a longbow in his hands. He has an arrow notched and the string is slack. It will take him just a moment to draw and shoot. But it's only an arrow. Pena's men are many and they're armed with guns.
"Who the hell are you?" Pena demands.
"A man who keeps his word," Jack says. "And I promise you this: threaten my friend again, and you and all your men will die here today."
Pena laughs. "Do you hear this?" he asks his men. "He's going to shoot us all with one arrow."
The bandas laugh. Pena starts to lift his gun.
"I wouldn't do that," Jack says.
"Why not?" Pena asks. "You think you can shoot faster?"
His men are still laughing, but they are lifting their weapons as well. When Pena almost has his gun raised, Jack draws the bowstring back and shoots so fast that Maria doesn't even see him do it. The arrow drives straight through Pena's left kneecap and he falls to the ground, his gun tumbling from his hand onto the dirt.
Now they'll kill us all, Maria thinks.
But at the same time that Jack shoots, a rain of arrows falls upon the bandas. Maria looks up and sees that every rooftop facing the parking lot has almost a dozen archers on it, all of them dressed in green.
"You piece of shit!" Pena yells.
He crawls for his gun and Jack shoots him again, this time shattering the elbow of the arm reaching for the weapon. Maria hears the bones splinter.
"Now, what was it you said you'd do to Maria?" Jack asks.
He walks toward the fallen gang leader, drawing another arrow from the quiver hanging from his shoulder.
"Oh, yes," he says. "I remember what she told me."
He fires again, piercing Pena's other knee.
"You were going to shoot out her knees and elbows."
"You're a dead man, puto."
"Look around you," Jack says. "It's your men who are dead."
His voice is conversational, but Maria shivers at the steel in it. She's uncomfortable with Jack's casual cruelty until she thinks of what the bandas would have done to her family and friends. What they have already done to the people of this neighbourhood. They're like the bankers, always walking around like kings. The only difference is, the bankers would never come to this neighbourhood in the first place. And the bandas aren't remotely subtle in how they treat other people like dirt.
Pena manages to push himself upright on one arm to look around the parking lot. All his men are down. Most are dead. Those who aren't are too incapacitated to be of any help. Archers line the rooftops with drawn bows—more than he can count. More men in green hoods come down every side street.
"Where the hell did he get all those guys?" Luz says.
But Maria knows. She only has to look at them to smell the deep forest they carry inside them. There's a piece of it inside her, as well.
"They're the foxes," she says. "The ones from the green wood."
Luz's mouth shapes a soundless "O."
"This is nothing," Pena says turning back to Jack. "You think you've got balls? My bosses are going to level this place when they find out what you've done. They'll hunt you down and stake you out in the desert."
"You're kidding, right?" Jack says. "The cartels are businessmen. There's no percentage in avenging a bunch of losers. They'll just find some other gang to work f
or them."
For a long moment Pena glares at him. Then he spits in the dirt.
"Go ahead," he says. "Kill me. I'm not afraid to die."
Jack shakes his head. "I only said I'd kill you if you threatened my friend again."
He draws his bow and shoots again. This arrow rips through Pena's other elbow. Pena collapses, head banging on the packed dirt.
"Now, if you're lucky," Jack says, "one of the good people here in the neighbourhood will call you an ambulance. I mean, they've got to have some love and respect for you, right?"
He turns away to face Maria. She watches the hardness leave his features. The eyes that promised her everything when their gazes first met are filled with sorrow.
"I can't stay," he says. "By calling my men here I've forfeited my right to remain."
"You're going back to the green wood," Maria says.
He nods.
"Then I'm coming with you," she tells him.
"No," he says. "You have a second chance at life here."
"I don't want a second chance here. I want to be with you." She pauses, then adds, "Unless you don't want to be with me."
He answers by taking her in his arms and giving her a long kiss.
"Jeez, get a room, people," Luz says.
They step apart, still holding hands.
"You're going right now?" Luz asks.
Maria looks to Jack. He nods.
"Are you going to say goodbye to your parents?"
Maria shakes her head. "They already said their goodbyes to me in the church and cemetery. It's better if they think they only saw a ghost today."
Luz sighs. "I wish I could go with you."
Maria shakes her head. "You can't. You still have work to do. A life to live."
"What if I open the cigarette tin again? Maybe I'll be able to come to visit."
"Maybe."
Maria smiles, but she presses closer to Jack—so close there is no separation between their bodies.
"But don't try it for at least a few days," she says with a wink.
A wind picks up out of nowhere, swirling dust around the parking lot. When it clears, Maria and the men in their green hoods are all gone. Only the bandas are there now, the wounded and the dead.
People from the neighbourhood venture out into the parking lot. Some of them stand around La Mano Grande. He offers them money—anything they want—if they will phone for help before he bleeds out. No one takes him up on his offer.
Luz puts a hand in her pocket and wraps her fingers around the small cigarette tin. It's all she has left of Maria.
Once upon a time, they were best friends.
###
About the Author
Charles de Lint is a full-time writer and musician who makes his home in Ottawa, Canada. His many awards include the World Fantasy Award, the Canadian SF/Fantasy Aurora Award, and the White Pine Award, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll (voted on by readers) put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100. With 37 novels and 18 collections of short fiction published to date, de Lint writes for adults, teens and children. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (Tor, 2009), is a fantastical ghost story and a heart-wrenching tale of love, passion and faith. His newest young adult novel is Under My Skin (Triskell Press, 2012); his latest collection of short fiction is The Very Best of Charles de Lint (Tachyon Publications, 2010). For more information, visit his web site at http://www.charlesdelint.com.
You can also connect with him at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charles-de-Lint/218001537221
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cdelint
Jack in the Green
Is an original Triskell Press publication and appears here for the first time.
Cover design by MaryAnn Harris.
eISBN 978-0-920623-17-6
For information:
Triskell Press
P.O. Box 9480
Ottawa ON K1G 3V2
Canada
http://www.triskellpress.com
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
Also available:
The Butter Spirit's Tithe
http://www.amazon.com/The-Butter-Spirits-Tithe
Companions to the Moon
http://www.amazon.com/Companions-to-the-Moon
Crow Roads
http://www.amazon.com/Crow-Roads
Dharma
http://www.amazon.com/Dharma
Dog Boys
http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Boys
That Was Radio Clash
http://www.amazon.com/That-Was-Radio-Clash
Wildlings I: Under My Skin
http://www.amazon.com/Under-My-Skin
Discover other titles by Charles de Lint at Smashwords and Amazon.com.
Other Books by Charles de Lint
UNDER MY SKIN (young adult novel, Penguin Canada, 2012; Triskell Press, 2012)
EYES LIKE LEAVES (early work, 1980 novel, Tachyon Publications, 2012 )
THE PAINTED BOY (young adult novel, Viking, 2010)
MUSE AND REVERIE (collection, Tor, 2009)
THE MYSTERY OF GRACE (novel, Tor, March 2009)
WOODS & WATERS WILD (collection, Subterranean Press, 2008)
WHAT THE MOUSE FOUND (children's collection, Subterranean Press, 2008)
DINGO (young adult novella, Viking, 2008)
PROMISES TO KEEP (novel, Subterranean Press, 2007)
LITTLE (GRRL) LOST (young adult novel, Viking, 2007)
TRISKELL TALES: 2 (collection, Subterranean Press, 2006)
WIDDERSHINS (novel, Tor, 2006)
THE HOUR BEFORE DAWN (collection, Subterranean Press, 2005)
QUICKSILVER & SHADOW (collection, Subterranean Press, 2005)
THE BLUE GIRL (young adult novel, Viking, 2004)
MEDICINE ROAD (novel, Subterranean Press, 2003)
SPIRITS IN THE WIRES (novel, Tor, 2003)
A HANDFUL OF COPPERS (collection, Subterranean Press, 2003)
TAPPING THE DREAM TREE ("Newford" collection, Tor, 2002)
WAIFS AND STRAYS (young adult collection, Viking, 2002)
SEVEN WILD SISTERS (novel, Subterranean Press, 2002)
THE ONION GIRL (novel, Tor, 2001)
THE ROAD TO LISDOONVARNA (mystery novel, Subterranean Press, 2001)
TRISKELL TALES: 22 YEARS OF CHAPBOOKS (collection, Subterranean Press, 2000)
FORESTS OF THE HEART (novel, Tor, 2000)
THE NEWFORD STORIES (collection, Science Fiction Book Club, 1999)
MOONLIGHT AND VINES (collection, Tor, 1999)
SOMEPLACE TO BE FLYING (novel, Tor, 1998)
TRADER (novel, Tor, 1996)
JACK OF KINROWAN (omnibus, Orb, 1995)
THE IVORY AND THE HORN (collection, Tor, 1995)
MEMORY AND DREAM (novel, Tor, 1994)
THE WILD WOOD (novel, Bantam, 1994)
INTO THE GREEN (novel, Tor, 1993)
DREAMS UNDERFOOT (collection, Tor, 1993)
SPIRITWALK (collection, Tor, 1992)
HEDGEWORK AND GUESSERY (collection, Pulphouse, 1991)
THE LITTLE COUNTRY (novel, Morrow, 1991)
THE DREAMING PLACE (novel, Atheneum, 1990)
ANGEL OF DARKNESS (novel, as Samuel M. Key; Jove, 1990)
GHOSTWOOD (novel, Axolotl Press,1990)
DRINK DOWN THE MOON (novel, Ace, 1990)
SVAHA (novel, Ace, 1989)
WOLF MOON (novel, NAL, 1988)
GREENMANTLE (novel, Ace, 1988)
JACK, THE GIANT-KILLER (novel, Ace, 1987)
YARROW (novel, Ace, l986)
MULENGRO (novel, Ace, l985)
THE HARP OF THE GREY ROSE (novel, Starblaze, l985)
MOONHEART (novel, Ace, l984)
THE RIDDLE OF THE WREN (novel, Ace, l984)
###
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