Page 28 of Hansel and Gerhardt
Such strange words that neither knew what to make of them, even if they were in fierce agreement, but they were out there now.
Embarrassed by his admission, Gerhardt sang a mocking, “Hansel wants to kiss a wolf…”
“I do not!” Hansel cried, shoving Gerhardt hard in the arm.
“Hansel’s going to marry a wolf,” he continued singing, louder now.
“Am not!” And he shoved Gerhardt all the way over, watching him dissolve into giggles like a schoolboy. “Idiot,” Hansel muttered.
“Sorry,” said Gerhardt, but his shoulders were still shaking. “You’re right. It was a very handsome wolf. If anyone’s going to marry him, it’s me.”
Hansel regarded him a moment, somewhat playfully, then surprised him with, “It wasn’tyourthighs he was after.” This he delivered with a suggestive eye and a challenging cock of his head.
Gerhardt had no word for flirting, but the tone and the sex in Hansel’s voice flipped his stomach. It was the first time it had ever occurred to Gerhardt that perhaps Hansel knew a thing or two he wasn’t letting on—that perhaps there were desires, unspoken and untried, hiding somewhere in that big, broad chest. And he searched that chest now, a tuft of auburn hairpoking through the drawstring of his shirt. Why didn’t he have it done up tight? One pull of that string…
Then Hansel said, “Didn’t you say you’d like a taste?”
Gerhardt swallowed his meat down hard, eyes locked with Hansel. “Yes.” Night air stretched so tight one false move might have brought the heavens down on them. “If-if I was a wolf.”
“If you were a wolf?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm.” Such a short sound that provoked him so. Something strangely self-assured, like Hansel knew something Gerhardt didn’t.
Had he given something away?
Did Hansel know?
And did he… not mind?
What Happens in the Forest...
In their search for a safe place to sleep, Hansel and Gerhardt had found a rocky outcrop, not far from the abandoned fire pit, at the top of a steep hill. Aware there was every chance the person who started the fire was still nearby, they decided to set up camp on the edge of the cliff, away, they hoped, from people and animals. They took their carcass, they gathered sticks, and they settled down for the night under a billion sparkling stars. They watched them for a time, making shapes with them, Gerhardt musing about how the vastness of the ocean would be just the same, or so he’d heard once.
Hansel didn’t tease him. He was beautiful like that. Softly spoken, glowing in the firelight, his cheeks pink with warmth and more food than either of them had eaten in one go for many winters. Relaxed, his arm long and languid, he pointed out his pictures in the sky.
Hansel was the same in Gerhardt’s eyes. His shoulders rested easy against the stone, no longer drawn up tight. No longer was he always listening for the sound of their father, always alert fortrouble. Even in this dangerous place, he was so much calmer. So much more human than either of them had ever been in that awful place.
“I’ll take the first shift,” Gerhardt eventually said, when Hansel’s eyes began to droop.
“No. No, you fell asleep last time.”
“I did not!”
“Yes, you did too! I awoke this morning to find you sound. Thank goodness another gnome didn’t stumble across us.”
“I was—” But he cut off. He hadn’t fallen asleep,thoughhe had pretendedhe was, because those noises Hansel was making…
He didn’t want to embarrass him by mentioningit.After all, what could he say? That he’d become so enamoured withHansel’sbreaths and moans that he’dhad to turn away? That he could have died for shame at what those innocent noises did to his body? “You’re right. I’d forgotten I fell sound asleep. But it was after dawn by then,sono harm done. I promise, this time, if I get too drowsy, I’ll wake you.”
Hansel didn’t look sure, but he did look tired. His handsome head barely raised in an attempt to protest. Gerhardt stretched a hand out, and sinking his fingers at the hairline, he pushed it back down. “Just for a short time. Lay there.”
Hansel smiled. He watched Gerhardt a few beats longer, such warmth in his eyes, then he pulled his arms upbehind his headas a pillow and,warmed by their crackling fire,let his eyelids shut on the night.
Lonely hours passed, and Gerhardt made himself stay wide awake. It wasn’t hard. The night was cold, and the forest was scary now his one companion had drifted away to some dream world. They were up high, with a view over a vast expanse of black. There were howls, scratchings, the creak and groan of wood, then a distinct crack.
It seemed to have come from below. Not too far from their fire, but far too close for his liking, over the ledge, on the other side of Hansel’s sleeping frame.
