December 1988
Anome Sinned
She came bleeding like a bovine and Carlos quickly caught the blood with a tissue. And put it in a test tube. A gust of wind blew into the lodge. And made the windows rattle. Outside, the cows lowed to the sounds of the evening. The lodge provided shelter for misfits from the nearby areas. Everyone could find shelter there. But not everyone was able to stay there. Rumors spread that the lodge was cursed and ghosts haunted it. The gardeners who worked on the farm surrounding the lodge during the day did very strange things at night. And especially underground.
“Beneath the lodge where shadows creep,
The gardeners wake the eartlings from sleep”
was a well-known quote in the vernacular of the townspeople. You didn’t just go to the lodge, only if you really had no other option…
Carlos: so…this one goes to the lab, dear Miranda
Miranda: I want a girl… is that possible?
Carlos: the gardeners can arrange that for us, don’t worry
Miranda: is there enough material in the tube now as requested?
Carlos shook the test tube and looked affirmative
Miranda: take it to the lab… quickly, sweetheart!
The lab was behind the pig stables so you had to walk a bit to get to it. Carlos put on his boots and walked the stretch between the flower fields and the corn. He looked behind him and saw the sign referring to the name of their inn section : Anome Sinned, the letters had faded considerably over time and he noticed that they needed a new lick of paint. But that was for later. He hoped he had collected enough fluid for the experiment. When they arrived at the lab, the gardeners were busy dissecting a body. A previous resident of another inn who had passed away. His corpse had been shaved and smeared with honey. For the presentation for the analysis, he heard from the gardeners. Some limbs were then put in strong water in a display case for the exhibition. In the meantime, they received the tube. Lord Marco had the overview and knew that the new residents did not ask so many questions and quickly adapted to the rules of the inn. They wanted shelter and did not interfere with what the gardeners did.
Lord Marco: Do you have a preference for a certain gender type?
Carlos: Female… if possible
Lord Marco: We can arrange that
The contents of the tube were emptied into a large saucepan. The other gardeners joined in and cast a spell. A magical scene followed. Carlos wasn’t allowed to get too close. one of the gardeners stirred the mixture in the pan with a soup spoon and tasted it a bit. It was just the right taste!
an applause followed and the lid went on the pan that was gently simmering. After a while, a little of the mixture was poured into a jerry can.
Lord Marco: drink a little of this every day for a week, only after it has cooled down
Carlos: drink it?
Lord Marco: yes, both you and your wive and then the child will develop and eventually become a very beautiful adorable girl
Carlos: eh, thank you very much Lord Marco!
Lord Marco: will you come and celebrate in the pub tonight, there are some fun performances planned in honor of the celebration
Carlos: I’m honored, I’ll be there!
When he returned with the jerry can, Carlos crawled into Miranda’s bed of straw. They saw from their window how some of the dissected corpses were thrown outside on the field and served as food for the pigs. They enjoyed watching the corpse being torn apart and eaten. Every evening someone died on the farm from one of the logdes throughout the farm. Based on the corpses they could know exactly which lodge was now free and where there was room for a number of newcomers.
Miranda: what if no one dies on the farm, where do they get the bodies from?
Carlos: They steal them from the city’s hospital mortuary or they run over refugees and immigrants standing along the highway.
Miranda: how original!
Carlos: yes, well, the gardeners are very resourceful and creative, And o I am invited to the pub tonight
Miranda: I’ll stay here, You drink too much there
Carlos: it’ll be fine dear, it’s all part of it, just participate, remember, we live here for free and we’re still alive
Miranda: yes, that’s true
The next morning the briefing was given to everyone from the farm, which took place in a large room where you could also read books. Every inhabitant from the lodges were present The briefing was mandatory. If you could not make your name heard when it was called, you had to leave the farm or else you would be killed. A simple choice that was clear to everyone. There were times when someone was late, then there was another punishment and that was walking naked on the farm all day. That was terrible and everyone preferred to arrive on time. The rules of the gardeners were disciplined and strict.
Through a back room you came to a courtyard that turned into a large field. The large garden, an immense area with bulbous plants, colourful flowers and amazing trees, where fruit and vegetables were provided every day. Potatoes, endive, radish, carrots and exotic fruits. The apple trees and pear trees together with the orange trees and lemon trees were also neatly maintained by the gardeners.
Fish were caught in the canals that flowed through the gardens and for meat the cows and pigs and chickens were sacrificed. Strangely enough, there were no sheep or goats.
That was forbidden on this farm.
Because of the milk , the gardeners couldn’t cope very well. They get sick of it. Diseases of the city it was called by the gardeners. Carlos didn’t really care, at least he had shelter, food and water. Miranda thought the same way as Carlos. After all, she was pretty much done with the townsfolk. Here on the farm it was real life. And they were no strangers to pork. In Mexico before they fled the country it was on the menu almost every day. While Carlos filled his basket with food and drinks for the day, he walked to the covered tent further in the large garden. Crops were also grown here.
Plants and herbs with a medicinal effect. Against restlessness, or to sleep well. Lord Herby was the designated gardener here. On request you would sometimes receive a plant for tea or to smoke. Carlos took a big bunch with him and went back to his lodge..
Miranda: What name should we give her?
Carlos: who?
Miranda: our baby of course, is the tea already working yet or something?
Carlos: new cultivation from the large garden, sorry my thoughts were elsewhere for a moment, what did you say again?
Miranda: our baby, what do we call her?
Carlos: I was thinking of a Dutch name that could also be Latin
Miranda: it is a gift we have received, will you take that into consideration?
Carlos: I think we should thank our lord for that
Miranda: I want to give her a bibical name
Every lodge on the farm had a Bible as standard. This was mandatory reading because on Sunday they sang in church and people gathered. Miranda had been reading since she got here. There was no TV or radio on the farm. That was also forbidden. Newspapers and other influences from the city were banned. The Bible was the only thing one was allowed to read for relaxation.
Carlos: puta madre! I know!
Miranda: what then?
Carlos: I know what we will name our daughter
Miranda: and??
Carlos: We’ll call her…
Miranda: Amen! that fits exactly
Carlos: that means ”gift from God”
Miranda: what a good idea from you Carlos, you are so original!
Miranda: our daughter will take over this farm later,believe me it will happen one day..
Carlos: don’t say it out loud, the gardeners won’t like it
Miranda: well nobody knows yet
The wind was blowing hard outside and the clouds were getting darker. Carlos and Miranda peeked out from their window. A fancy scarecrow was set up as a defense against the cocky behavior of the crows. It was the corpse of the previous resident who asked too many questions and was then murdered, dissected and then placed near the corn.
It had an effect because the birds stayed away. And none of the residents even thought of entering the field at night.
Miranda: there’s something about that scarecrow
Carlos: Too bad he couldn’t keep his mouth shut then
Miranda: oh yes, one man’s death is another man’s bread
Carlos: Very good, conjo!
Mianda: I can already feel the baby growing a little bit in my belly, just look and feel
Carlos placed his hands on her stomach and a tear fell from his cheeks. This is what he had always dreamed of, to become a father. As night fell and they lay asleep on their straw bed, the sounds became audible from beneath the farmhouse. Miranda snuggled close to Carlos and held him tight. Even though they knew it would go away after a while, it was something that made Miranda curious. “Not our problem”, Carlos whispered softly to her and stroked her sweat-wet hair from her face. He gave her a kiss. Together they dreamt about Amanda..
𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖀𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉 𝕿𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖘 𝕱𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝕰𝖉𝖊𝖓 