une fille

another story from one of Hervé's magnificent drawings....

Excerpts of found diary from Unknown, penciled in shaky hand.

June 3rd.

Fourth day since abandoned by escorts. Bastards. Food low. Black berry-like ‘fruit’ found yesterday edible with night sweats. No hallucinations, except one. Golden creature in tree?

June 4th.

Awoke propped on elbow with snake at eye level. Backed away slowly from my berry bad breath? Deeply lost. Backtracked north through shaded path most of day. Creature real. A girl! Saw her from clearing looking up into tree shading eyes with both hands. Only one so far. Girl I mean. Lovely as a dream. Vanished when I reached thick of dead trees with live marching vine. Will continue north in morning..to river? Unobstructed rogue meteor shower startling in the silence of the night. So much to live for yet. Must keep on. Must. I love you forever, my beloved Emma.


June 7th.
[stronger, written in expert draftsman hand] Cat and mouse for couple of days since the first yellow dawn. I am the mouse. She, a stealth cat in tree tops. Should not have violated her territory. Her territory apparently in triangle of two trees and shallow blue pond. What kind of territory is that? Vicious, but beautiful as a princess. She caught me not so playfully, slashing, and I blacked out. Woke up on pristine beach where she dragged me. Tracks like those of kids sledding from top of a hill. Last of gauze held with vine. Told her it was too tight, but she just looked at me with tilted head. Offered princess last tin of beef from pack. She just looked away expressionless as though recalling a lost memory. When I rose and released the shutter with failing flash she angrily pulled knife and gestured to sand, so I dropped. (Definitely no lineage to Paris Hilton).

Removed a gold band from her left arm and wrapped it on my right while knife at throat. The untrust in her eyes hurt more than any open wound. What is this band? Protection from angry tribe or Gods? Or..a marriage ceremony? "I do." Returned at dusk and watching me write as she squats near fire devouring rabbit. She gave me most of the meat. The tight gold band is making my hand fall asleep. Trying to remove it. Pointing knife at me and smiling now.