Näcken, (c) 1882 Ernst JosephsonToo old to believe in Santa, too old to fear forest shadows, too old to sleep when fiddle music scraped against frost-limned windows, an ancient melody whispering of the thrust of men with women, Tjuven stumbled off-path. He didn't need moonlight; the music was enough.
He hadn't expected the creature, a violin beneath its chin, reclining in the brook. Hungry eyes made his loins warm, uncomfortable.
Cold wind blew against his face, wet with tree-scraped blood that dripped thrice. The creature shivered, waited, but Tjuven was too old to believe in Näcks and too young for baptism to protect him.
Link is here!
ReplyDeleteNäcken are a swedish variant on shape-shifting nixies/water spirits. One comment about Swedish grammar: Näck is swedish and Näcken would translate as The Näck; however, I don't expect readers to understand the finer points of Swedish grammar (or the rules around making plurals) so I used english grammar in the drabble adding 's' to make Näck plural.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one a lot. Eerie and smart.
ReplyDelete(strugglingwriter aka Paul)
This is wonderfully evocative and some really nice language. Chilling!
ReplyDelete@Paul, Thanks, I like my old-worldy ghosts with plenty of eeriness.
ReplyDelete@Simon, Thanks, I enjoy how drabbles can play with language.
I haven't been introduced to Näcken before. Great job, especially with the last line. It nailed it all right in. :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, am new to Näcken. Fascinating as always Aidan. Beautiful shivers.
ReplyDeleteLove the images here. Great story.
ReplyDeleteI like the feel of legend here. And the threat tinged with thrill.
ReplyDelete@Michelle & B, I'm happy to introduce you, just don't follow their playing. ;)
ReplyDelete@Chestertonian, thanks.
@Jason, the best thrills have a little bit of threat around them. I guess that's how we end up getting in trouble.
You've done a superb job in creating a fitting atomsphere.
ReplyDeleteThis was cool :) I'll have to remember the Nacken definition. Loved the verbiage in this.
ReplyDelete.......dhole
i haven't heard of these type of water pixies before either.
ReplyDeletean interesting story here, with strong sensuals, and a touch of sadness at the end...
Now this makes me want to brush up on Swedish mythology. I confess that I'm utterly ignorant about it, but this story makes it sound eerily menacing. Any English-language volumes you'd recommend for me?
ReplyDeleteThis is nice post.All this post is interesting and lovely . I like this all content. Thank,s to the writer for writing this post.
ReplyDeleteNeck lift