Petrichor by Stuart Hough

credit: Kath Norgrove

They strolled through the brittle stubble of the corn field towards the river. Cropped wheat stalks crunched under their feet, on the dry earth.  The seemingly endless spell of hot weather had dried the grain, well before the harvest. No one could remember such a harvest. There would be bread for everyone in the coming year and probably beyond.

‘Who needs clothes, when you have long braided hair and so many tattoos?’ Uedica thought. She smiled as she watched her friend. ‘Clothes’ would not be an accurate description of what Rhiannon chose to wear. Moreover, she had chosen to adorn her body with a seemingly random and eclectic collection of fabrics and amulets. Uedica had always been fascinated by Rhiannon’s hair. Sand-stone tresses hung front and back, to her waist. They partially covered her. Her hair along with her calf-length boots, were her bodies main covering.

“Are you just here to watch?” Rhiannon asked sarcastically.

“I thought you were doing really well on your own, but now that you’ve asked...” Uedica replied as she kicked off her small leather shoes and paddled into the river with the other water skin.

The brilliantly clear skies of days gone had given way to the massive clouds that towered above them. Mountains tipped with brilliant white and dark bases, floated serenely in the brilliant blue skies had given way to a more sombre sky.

The cows, goats and sheep were unusually quiet. An expectant hush pervaded the humid air. The air smelt different and the animals knew it.  Under it’s new leaden surface, the skies billowed with boiling activity. The air smouldered with the expectation and closeness of a first kiss. A low rumble of thunder seemed to awaken something primitive within her. The sound grew louder to create a new, clean and sharp scent.

As if on cue, the surface of the river erupted into a life of its own, as large rain drops began to fall. The two women smiled ironically to each other as they stood in the shallows of the river. They scurried to retire under the relative shelter of an old willow.

The earth seemed to sigh with pleasure as the rain fell on its arid soil

They stood in silence as the warm rain fell upon their skin. It was a moment for their souls to connect to the sky. Rhiannon felt a deep joy and a sense of the sacred, as if the Gods themselves were reaching out to touch her. The deluge cleansed the air of the dusty laziness of previous days. It brought a new vitality, warm, sensual and embracing.

“The rain is leaving gems upon your skin. It brings your beauty into clearer detail”. She smiled to Uedica, touching her bare arm.

“It’s also making me wet.” Uedica smiled back. “Let’s go back.”

“Not yet. We won’t melt.” Rhiannon smiled. “Look at this.” Rhiannon traced her finger upon Uedica’s arm. “Each drop is like a tiny kiss upon your skin. Each one unique. A tear-drop of a treasured memory.”

*

They had dodged through the showers, laughing as they ran to the shelter of Uedica’s house. With their clothes hung in the rafters of the house to dry, they had both resolved to spend a lazy, rainy day by a warm fire and with the warm body of the other. They lay together on thick woollen blankets and listened to the steady patter of the rain upon the thatch of the roof.

‘Let the rain come.” Uedica whispered. “Let it come and sing to us. I’m happy to listen.” From their cosy place they watched the rain fall through the open door. They watched it enrich the sweet brown soil and make the leaves and grass shine with light. The rain brought a bright, new life-affirming richness to each hue in the scene outside the door.

The browns deepened in a way that soothed the heart and brought a calmness to their souls. The grass had become glossy as it reflecting the light. They breathed in the pure freshness that the rain brought with each drop. It was as if the land had opened up its veins and they were breathing the very essence of life itself. An was an ancient, seductive fragrance, made of primaeval elements that no one could truly understand.

 Between the showers bright sunshine was the gift for new creation. They had celebrated the rain in their own way. Uedica tilted her face towards Rhiannon. She was greeted with a new smile, a new touch and a new embrace.