Jigsaw

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The following story starts off in a pseudo-literary, self aggrandizing fashion, and stays that way till the end. Somewhere in the middle however, it turns a bit gruesome. So, for those who aren’t comfortable with that, may I suggest you stop reading now. Or read until the part where it gets gruesome. But then, what’s the point?
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Do you like jigsaw puzzles? I personally, don’t have much patience with them. Most people who relish putting these pieces together don’t realize what they are re-enacting.
Not me.
I like to know my facts. But there I go digressing. This isn’t about me. Back to the jigsaw.
Back in the medieval ages, there used to be a wealthy landowner by the name of Bierbaum. A man of some scholarship, he wasn’t the laid-back landowner watching the daffodils grow. No sir - Bierbaum had wealth and he had every intention of growing it manifold, for he believed it was his calling to increase his power and influence as his life progressed. He was thus a shrewd merchant, not averse to taking bold risks when the situation so demanded.
A consummately sensual man, he loved his food, his wine and his women. Especially his women. And there were a lot of them, coming and going like leaves on a seasonal tree. In a world where material wealth was as plentiful as sand on a beach, the company of women was equally plentiful for the master of it all. It was rumored that he kept three dozen women and was used to having dalliances with many more, each year, audaciously defying the church.
But among these women, there was Godiva.
Ah, Godiva. Taken up by Bierbaum when she was barely out of her girlhood, Godiva soon flowered into a beauty far beyond what many a wealthy lady of Bierbaum’s society could hope to become. Her rich, sensual allure was matched only by her fiery temperament - something which Bierbaum saw as the touch of an exotic spice in an otherwise commonplace delicacy. And so it went - Bierbaum showered all material comforts and generous gifts on Godiva, as she in turn showered her god-given beauty on him - her only capital in those dark, unforgiving times.
The, shall we say, arrangement lasted for six years - even the most wizened stable-hand in Bierbaum’s staff was amazed. Some even hinted at their master’s finally gravitating towards - gasp! - monogamy.
I know what you’re thinking by now. You’re saying - “Something’s got to come undone. Something always comes undone in these stories…”. And you’d be dead right.
Reviloc, a young, handsome, earnest stable hand with that most severe genetic defect - poverty, made an entry in this picture-perfect setting. Filling-in for the sick senior stable-keeper that early morning, he laid his unfortunate eyes upon Godiva, as the lady was mounting her favourite mare. Oh! was he smitten by the beauty he thought so ethereal, he could hardly concentrate on the reign he was supposed to be handling.
She, in turn did not seem revolted by his frankly mesmerized stare and, some say, even returned his steady gaze unabashedly.
What started as a casual flirtation, developed into a tryst, then an affair, and finally, a flagrant case of forbidden love that even Bierbaum found hard to deny the existence of.
Blind as love is, the young couple thought it was their true destiny. Godiva professed such notions to Bierbaum, with whom she was now accustomed to taking liberties. When entreaty, reason and threat failed to deter her, Bierbaum knew something had to be done.
If there is one thing you should know about Bierbaum, it is this: Bierbaum was a cruel man. He gave generously to those in need, and yet, exacted only the most exorbitant interest in return. Cursed was the black cat that crossed his path as he was on his way to inspecting his vast lands. Cursed was the poor novice slave, who drew his bath a tad too hot for his liking. And especially accursed were those who dared to stake claim on anything he considered his own.
Was there a dearth of comely women in the adjoining villages? Was punishing the errant Godiva with house arrest or even severe flogging not good enough? No. This was not a stray case of adultery. This was about Bierbaum’s absolute right to possess anything he chose to possess within the bounds of his rather large jurisdiction.
An example must be made.
Like any respectable landowner, Bierbaum had his hatchet men. But for this, he chose his finest. A French mercenary by name of Jacque Pirout. Jacque was an efficient man. And yet, a man with the thoroughness of a scientist as he went about the job he was appointed for - ruthlessly eliminating anyone who stood in his master’s path.
Vested with total impunity in carrying out the task, he threw Godiva and Reviloc into the dungeons and starved them for weeks. He then had them tortured and abused, debased in the most vile ways his master could imagine. But this was not what he had in mind as the final punishment.
For that, he had especially chosen a weapon that would not do the job efficiently. It was, after all, about the deliciously tortuous journey his victims would make towards their final doom, that would set the example.
The piece de resistance finally came. As his cruel master watched, he hacked the still living couple into small pieces using a large, rusty saw - the kind the butcher used in preparation for grand banquets. As he did this, he took care not to mangle any of the pieces so as to deter recognition.
When he was finished, and soon after the last screams had died out, he had the cobblers sew up the pieces together with thick, dark leather cords. In a lovers’ embrace, no less. The bodies were whole again, in a sense, but it was clear to all who beheld it, how they once had been.
He had this macabre work of his evil art put up on the busiest town square, as a clear warning to those who even remotely questioned his master’s complete authority, or dared step on his toes. As shocked townspeople walked past it daily, they clearly knew which dark tool had resulted in this creation.
Jacque’s Saw - corrupted over the years into one mashed phrase - Jigsaw!
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