The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares by Joyce Carol Oates Page B

interior. Glove compartment. What the hell, he had nothing to hide. Were they looking for drugs? A concealed weapon? He saw the way in which they were staring at two paperback books he’d tossed onto the rear window ledge weeks ago, Roth’s The Dying Animal and Ovid’s The Art of Love. On the cover of the first was a sensuously reclining Modligliani nude in rich flesh tones, with prominent pink-nippled breasts. On the cover of the other was a classical nude, marmoreal white female with a full, shapely body and blank, blind eyes.
    T ABOO
    It was Taboo to utter aloud the Corn Maiden’s name.
    It was Taboo to touch the Corn Maiden except as Jude guided.
    For Jude was the Priest of the Sacrifice. No one else.
    What does Taboo mean, it means death. If you disobey.
    Jude took Polaroid pictures of the Corn Maiden sleeping on her bier. Arms crossed on her flat narrow chest, cornsilk hair spread like pale flames around her head. Some pictures, Jude was beside the Corn Maiden. We took pictures of her smiling, and her eyes shiny and dilated.
    For posterity, Jude said. For the record.
    It was Taboo to utter the Corn Maiden’s actual name aloud and yet: everywhere in Skatskill that name was being spoken! And everywhere in Skatskill her face was posted!
    Missing Girl. Abduction Feared. State of Emergency.
    It is so easy, Jude said. To make the truth your own.
    But Jude was surprised too, we thought. That it was so real, what had only been for so long Jude O’s idea.
    Ju dith!
    Mrs. Trahern called in her whiny old-woman voice, we had to troop into her smelly bedroom where she was propped up in some big old antique brass bed like a nutty queen watching TV where footage of the missing Skatskill Day girl was being shown.Chiding, You girls! Look what has happened to one of your little classmates! Did you know this poor child?
    Jude mumbled no Grandma.
    Well. You would not be in a class with a retarded child, I suppose.
    Jude mumbled no Grandma.
    Well. See that you never speak with strangers, Judith! Report anyone who behaves strangely with you, or is seen lurking around the neighborhood. Promise me!
    Jude mumbled okay Grandma, I promise.
    Denise and Anita mumbled Me, too, Mrs. Trahern. For it seemed to be expected.
    Next, Mrs. Trahern made Jude come to her bed, to take Jude’s hands in her clawy old-woman hands. I have not always been a good grandma, I know. As the judge’s widow there are so many demands on my time. But I am your grandma, Judith. I am your only blood kin who cares for you, dear. You know that, I hope?
    Jude mumbled Yes Grandma, I know.
    T HE W ORLD AS W E H AVE K NOWN I T
    Has vanished.
    We are among the few known survivors.
    . . . terrorist attack. Nuclear war. Fires.
    New York City is a gaping hole. The George Washington Bridge is crashed into the river. Washington, D.C., is gone.
    So the Corn Maiden was told. So the Corn Maiden believed in her Rapture.
    Many times we said these words Jude had made us memorize. The world as we have known it has vanished. There is no TV now. No newspapers. No electricity. We are among the few known survivors. We must be brave, everyone else is gone. All the adults are gone. All our mothers.
    The Corn Maiden opened her mouth to shriek but she had not the strength. Her eyes welled with tears, lapsing out of focus.
    All our mothers. So exciting!
    Only candles to be lighted, solemnly. To keep away the night.
    The Corn Maiden was informed that we had to ration our food supplies. For there were no stores now, all of Skatskill was gone. The Food Mart was gone. Main Street was gone. The Mall.
    Jude knew, to maintain the Rapture the Corn Maiden must be fed very little. For Jude did not wish to bind her wrists and ankles, that were so fragile-seeming. Jude did not wish to gagher, to terrify her. For then the Corn Maiden would fear us and not trust and adore us as her protectors.
    The Corn Maiden must be treated with reverence, respect, kindness, and firmness. She must never guess the fate that