When a Dragon Is

The dragon was old. Very old. So old there was rust on its scales. So long had it been there, the forest had grown up around it. So long had it been since it rained that on everything, leaves, scales and even the great softly smouldering eyes of the creature, a fine film of dust clung.

Little Mac sat and waited, so close he could have reached and touched the dragon on the nostril, since it lay with its head on the ground.

"I had forgotten how to speak," the dragon said at last. "In truth, I doubt if I should try. One cough and I could start a fire in this drought-addled region that would rage unchecked. And the dust does tickle my throat. But you have asked, young friend, and I will not deny you. The answer to your question is, alas, another. One that only you can answer.

"When is a dragon?"

Little Mac closed his eyes and contemplated. When he opened them again, the dragon had become a car.

He was alone, there in the shadow-striped woods, in yet another foreign country, in a graveyard of antique cars.

***

The two women held onto the side and chatted and exercised their legs, kicking and splashing, while the robotic pool cleaner went back and forth along the bottom behind them, dragging its hose with it.

"Swimming in the sunroom," said Big Bertha. "California is a different world for sure."

"I miss Nova Scotia. Sometimes. Is your wine close enough?" said her cousin Minnie. "Here." She lunged forward and slid Bertha's glass over the tiles toward the edge. "Please enjoy what I've got. I wish I could enjoy what you've got."

"He's a dear heart, my Mac. Still, your man left you a lot."

"Everything but fond memories. I'm glad I have something to share, anyway. You were like a big sister. Always steered me right."

"I hope I am steering Mac right. The woman seemed more like a faith healer than a doctor. But there are those as swears by her."

"'Out of what he knows to get him back to what he knows.' More like a fortune teller, I'd say. Ask for an outcome and they give you a riddle."

"But Cuba was good. And he did start to walk on his own again."

"You just wish he'd say your name."

"I most certainly do. That's when I'll know he has his eyes back on the prize."

"And if he don't?"

"If he don't," Bertha said, interrupting herself to down the rest of her glass at a gulp, "if he don't, Minnie, pretty soon I'll know he's gone. Gone and not coming back."

***

The narrow canyon was in shadow at an early hour and the shadows had deepened and Minnie had recommended more than once that they go look for Little Mac when finally he appeared, minus the four-wheeler Minnie had lent him, toiling on foot up the slope through the long golden grass toward the hilltop where the two women sat in the bench swing behind the house.

When he was close, and because he was short of breath from the climb, instead of hailing them he held up like a banner the severed head of a rattlesnake. The snake's jaw moved as if it were trying to speak.

The two cousins made room on the swing between them. Mac sat down panting.

"I put my finger up its throat, Bertie," he said when he could. He demonstrated. "That's how I made its jaw move. Jeez didn't you two jump!"

"Sweetheart," said Big Bertha. "You're all covered in grass burrs and you've cut your chin. And lost a shoe. Not to mention Minnie's four-wheeler. And you got a snake's head and its blood all down your arm. What on earth happened?"

"Well, I found them old cars. And it was like you said, Min. A real spectacle. As if a whole town had got together and driven up in them woods and got out and walked off. Leavin' even the fire truck. Cars made round when I was born, right round World War Two. And I found one, I swear to goodness Bertie, was the spittin' image of the one we had our first date in. Stopped me in my tracks. I sat right down and ... and stayed a while. And it was like a light got switched back on. Like I had dived and found a house there at the bottom of a lake and gone inside and presto all the lights came on just like they should. That's when I went and left Min's little jeep. I had to come and tell you, Bertie. And I had to do it on my own two feet.

"I couldn't figure out the trails. Left the map in the jeep. But I could see this here hill so I come straight across. Lord, that was a passel o' gulches. I fell down amongst some rocks. That's where I lost my shoe and where the snake and me hooked up.

"You used your knife."

"I did."

"I thought you never would again."

"It's like every bit of me is back. Like everything I ever was, I am again. Made my cut quick as ever I did in the service. And didn't feel qualm one."

"Honey?"

"Yes, Bertie?"

"You can put the snake's head down now."

***

On the bus headed south to San Francisco and the airport, Big Bertha kept her diary open and her pen poised but made no entry. Going over Golden Gate Bridge, Little Mac, whom she thought was asleep, said, "Lord it lifts my heart to see the ocean open out like that again. I can't wait to scramble eggs in our iron skillet. I won't mind seeing a snow plow again, even. And soon there will be bumblebees on the wild roses. Ain't it grand, Bertie, to be goin' home?"

He put an arm through hers and she put the pen in its loop and shut the diary.

"It's grand already, little darlin'," she said, "just to hear you call my name. But tell me one more time about that car. I got a feeling you left something out. I know you, Maclyn McMullen. I've been hiding my misgivings in that diary, but it can't go on. If you are everything you were again, you've got to share just like you used to do. No matter what."

"Well, Bertie, I left out the dream. I thought you would think I was crazy. I took a nap there at that car and had a dream about a dragon. The dragon said I had asked it a question it felt bound to answer. Only its answer was another question. One it said I had to answer for myself 'cause no one else could do it for me."

"Go on. What were the questions then, yours and the dragon's?"

"Oh, I don't know. It never was too clear to me what I had asked. I kinda sorta knew, while I was in the dream, but then it went away."

"What was the dragon's question then, that was your answer?"

"Well, it didn't make much sense. It asked me, 'When is a dragon?' Not what but when. And that ain't logical. So it was probably just a crazy dream."

"You don't think so. I can tell. It wasn't just that car and you remembering our first date. You came up with an answer, and somehow that made the difference. All right, maybe you can't tell me. Maybe you're afraid you'll lose what you got back. Okay, I'll let you have your secret. Just this once. Okay?"

The bus went through the bridge exchange and then into San Francisco traffic. Little Mac had taken Bertha's hand and was squeezing it. She could feel his palm get sweaty.

"No, I got to tell you, Bertie," Mac said at the red light at 19th and Geary. "'Cause the answer is a dragon is now. I don't know how I know, or what it means exactly, but when I woke up I knew it. And I was back to myself. And so you got to know too. And if it means that I'm crazy then I'll still make the deal. 'Cause a dragon is now and my sweetheart is you, Bertie. There. There you have it. That's all that there is to it."

"That's enough," Bertha said. "Say, did you know this Wednesday is Valentine's Day?"

"I did not," Mac replied resolutely.

"We'll be home," Bertha said. "I'll need a valentine. Will you be mine, Dragon Boy?"

Mac said of course he would. And they continued holding hands until they reached the airport. Even though for the very first time in their life, his grip was strong enough to hurt.

10 February 2018
Texas Jim
California en route to Nova Scotia
www.granitecoast.ca