Shadows in the Yard --------)

(---Matthew Nagowski

The wind was starting to pick up and the clouds were moving in to hide the eerie moonlight as I slowly crept past the residence of Father Julius and entered into the churchyard. Along the side of the yard, adjacent to the rushing creek, rose the large expanse of wooded land that loomed over the gravestones with a shadowy disposition. I eyed the forest carefully, knowing that it could save my life. The graveyard, as always, had an aura of gloominess about it that seemed to exhilarate me and create that odd tickling sensation in my throat. I made one final, comprehensive examination of the foreboding premises before entering the main section of the yard in front of me.

Above, the cloud finally overtook the moon, casting the graveyard into perpetual blackness. I doubt I could have seen a ghost even if it was standing right in front of me. I shivered.

I apprehensively made my way towards the section of the yard where the ground was left disturbed by the congregation of darkly clad mourners yesterday morning, and preceded to check the gravestone. Freshly chiseled into the fine marble I barely made out the inscription:

As expected, this name verified with the name that had been given to me the day before yesterday when I had visited my employer. Master Vesalius was particularly eager for this delivery, as he has not yet been able to study a subject still within a subject. For a while, Vesalius has been using me to retrieve specimens and he sleeps soundly knowing that his cadavers always come in the finest quality. I have never failed him in delivering the requested merchandise and I never plan on doing so.

Once again, I took another quick survey of the shadowy graveyard to ensure that not a soul was to be found. Then, I called for my son, Albrecht, who was hiding behind the tree, probably scared for his life, with the two shovels and the burlap bag.

“Papa,” he exclaimed breathlessly, “Are you sure we aren’t going to get into trouble?”

At that point an owl could be distinctively heard in the direction of the forest. Albrecht shuddered with fright.

“Yes Albrecht,” I am stated soothingly, “I am certain that we are completely safe.” I then added in a more severe tone, “But let’s get to work so we don’t get caught.”

“But what if Father Julius find out?”

“Albrecht! That’s enough!” I spat out a bit to loud. I hate it when he questions me like that.

“Yes Papa,” Albrecht uttered timidly. Apparently my explosion of anger had worked.

I then instructed him to start digging up the upper level of the soil ever so carefully, so that it would hardly look like the ground was disturbed when we put the topsoil back on top. I watched his deliberate actions carefully, taking mental note of everything he did wrong. He would have to be instructed better later.

It was the first time that I had ever taken him out on one of my outings. As he was 14 and almost an adult I figured that he would have to get some dirt on his hands and learn the family’s side business. After all, if it weren’t for my capitalizing nature, my family would have a lot less to eat on the table, as the mill still refuses to pay us a decent wage.Plus, I was working towards my daughter’s future, as a large dowry will help her move up in this paltry world. Thanks to the generosity of Vesalius, my family can live in relative comfort and have a chicken boiling over the fire every Sunday.

At first, I had a hard time telling my son why I was out late on some nights. He would sometimes ask me why I was dressed in black and I always hated to lie to the devil, but I had no other choice. The puny little kid would probably open up his mouth and tell some of his friends about the secret life of his father. God only knows that he never shuts his mouth. But, finally, I decided to impart my knowledge on him - now considering him old enough to handle the responsibility that comes with such a grave issue.

And then there was the problem with my wife. Women are always a problem in the lives of men. Of course she did not approve of it, almost no wife would, but at least she understood why I did it and tolerated my dealings. Yet. I constantly had to deal with her and her schemes to make me stop my practice.

A large crack soon took me for surprise. Interrupted in my thoughts, I noticed that Albrecht had taken a step back and cracked a rather large tree branch into two. Nervously, I glanced back at the church house to see if our disturbance had been heard.

My real concern has always been for being caught by somebody who would not be able to understand any of the motives behind my actions. Adding more danger to my business is the fact that my excavations are so closely associated to the Church that one false move could lead me and everybody connected to me to the Inquisition. In the face of the Church, I have virtually no concern for the other authorities.

That is why I was so prudent in my actions to share my secret with Albrecht, as I had to be sure that he would be mature enough to understand the seriousness of the situation. One false move by him and one of his friends’ fathers could have turned me over to the Church at a moments notice. Yet, it was a risk I was willing to take, and Vesalius more than compensated me handsomely.

I never did understand what all the fuss over my business was anyways. It’s not like they’re alive. Besides, according to Church doctrine, their soul has already left the premises, leaving no company behind for Albrecht and I in this desolate graveyard. Well, maybe except the worms infesting the rotting corpses. But they had every right to be here that I did. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, what are the differences between dead bodies and dirt? People are never condemned for stealing dirt. The clergymen always think that they are so righteous in all of their actions, but they are simply living in their own dream world, unable to come to grasps with the realities and sufferings of the real world. I am not afraid of Father Julius or any of them. If they only knew what I have been doing all this while. In their corruption, they would probably be jealous of all the money that I am making. Little do they realize that a gold mine lies in every churchyard.

As the wind picked up and blew shivers down our spines, I started to walk Albrecht through the steps of preparing for the transfer, and showed him how to use the shovels in the proper way so that the ground would not look more disturbed then it was this morning. I then proceeded to demonstrate to him how to align the heavy burlap bags for the easiest method of packaging. Last but not least, I issued him the most important direction, telling him that secrecy and silence go at all costs in this business. I would probably tell Albrecht this lesson hundreds of times before his training was over. Albrecht looked anxiously on as he darted his eyes over to the relative cover of the woods.

Under the pale moonlight, which had reappeared from behind the clouds, we commenced the digging, while the owl hooted in the woods behind.

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