On this last Sunday of June 2022, I thought it fitting to publish a piece of my novel The Unicorn, The Mystery (Adelaide Press–NYC/Lisbon) that was included in the issue titled Glorious Defiance and came out in June. As we witness the last gasps of patriarchy attempting to control women, I am reminded that Sinister Wisdom, a multicultural lesbian literary and art journal, has long been an important voice for lesbians–a group of people who have had to live on the margins of patriarchy. I’m publishing part of the story that was published in the Journal and below that is a link to learn more about Sinister Wisdom.
KITTY—A REPRESENTATIVE OF SATAN?
Janet Mason
(In an abbey in the French countryside, circa 1490)
I had wandered way past my destination when I decided to look
for the unicorn. I had seen the unicorn in the abbey before, after
all. Who knew where she might be?
I had been headed to the library in the church. I had gone right
past the church and was almost to the end of the abbey at the
east wall. Perhaps I wandered there intentionally. This was one
of my favorite places. The grounds were more overgrown. Vines
wound around trees. The grass was higher. I could feel it tickling
my toes in my sandals. I looked down and saw the periwinkle face
of a wildflower smiling up at me.
Perhaps the quietness had to do with the fact that the nuns
lived in this area and that they had taken a vow of silence. I stood
still for a moment and listened. I heard the rustle of wind in the
tree branches and the grass. I heard the hum of the insects. I
heard the chirp of a passing bird. I heard another bird responding.
Perhaps they were warning each other about my presence. Then
I heard something that I almost never heard in the abbey. It was
the sound of female voices. Two women whispered. I could hear
their voices distinctly. One had a deeper voice and the other one
was higher. I didn’t want to scare them, so I hid behind the medlar
bush. I felt ashamed of the fact that I was spying on them, but
maybe they would lead me to the unicorn. Maybe the unicorn was
spying on the nuns too. I also felt ashamed of myself because even
as a lowly monk I could still go to the library. In fact, I was expected
to go there—when I wasn’t huffing and puffing bringing the pigs
their slop or praying in the church until my knees were sore. By
comparison, the nuns weren’t allowed in the library unless they
were cleaning it. But, for some reason, I found this part of the
abbey—with its overgrown weeds and the silence of cloistered
nuns—intriguing.
The branches were in front of my eyes so I couldn’t see much,
but I could just make out the white habits of the two nuns. One
was shorter than the other.
“Here, Kitty, Kitty,” said one
I could only see the bottom of her white habit, but she paused.
I had the distinct impression that she was looking around.
“Forget about Kitty for one moment,” said the one with the
higher voice.
“But she might need me,” responded the nun with the lower
voice. “I brought a pail with some water in it. I was going to bring
milk, but I was afraid it would cause suspicion if word got out that
I was taking things from the larder.”
“Stealing,” replied the one with the higher voice. “You would be
stealing from the larder if you brought milk for Kitty, and stealing
is a sin.”
Stealing was a sin and that was serious. But the nun with the
higher voice sounded like she was on the verge of a giggle….
You can read about Sinister Wisdom by clicking here.
Click here to hear me read from another section of The Unicorn, The Mystery about the Goddess Bastet.
To learn more about The Unicorn, The Mystery, click here:
The Unicorn, The Mystery now available from Adelaide Books — #amreading #FaithfullyLGBT
Janet Mason, author 