13. Good and Bad, Again

"You miserable brute." Jack took a swig from his whiskey flask and placed it on the table. "Soon we'll be joining the ranks of the elite, while you..." he gave a low chuckle, "you get to join your brother and sister!" The Giant's predicament and the pistol in his hand made him very brave, and with each pull at the flask, he became braver still.

Red Riding Hood was uneasy. Why did Jack have to be so mean? Even if the giant was evil... by way of being a giant... why did Jack have to taunt him so?

Seeing the disapproval on her face, Jack explained himself. "He's a monster," he slurred, "And people like you and me have to destroy monsters. Because they're evil." He tried to put it in terms she could understand. "Like witches. And wolves. We don't wait to see if they're good or bad. They're bad. Period. And we get them before they can get us."

"Well, I'm glad you cleared that up so succinctly," mumbled the giant from the well.

"Will you shut up!" screamed Jack, and held his pistol to the giant's head. "Shut up or I'll kill you now, treasure or no treasure..."

"Jack! Jack!" Julima burst into the room, pale and shaking. "Come quick! The pigs are making off with the goods!"

"What!"

"We found the vault, and I told them to wait... but they got greedy, and they said you were a fool to let them go find the treasure by themselves... I tried to stop them...but they grabbed everything they could and took off!"

Without a second thought Jack bolted past Julima towards the staircase, then caught himself.

"Red Riding Hood! Stay here! Take the giant's rifle and keep him in the well! I'll find those wicked little thieves myself, and when I do..." his voice trailed off as he brandished his pistol and raced up the stairs, three steps at a time.

Julima waited until he was well out of sight and hearing range. Then, regaining composure, she made her move. She walked over slowly to the little girl.

"Have you ever fired a gun before?" her voice was low and scornful. Red Riding Hood sensed she was up to no good. She shook her head, and started to back away.

"Do you even know how that thing works? Here, let me take it..." the girl tried to protest, but Julima lunged, and with a sudden violent twist she wrenched the gun out of the small hands. "Get over to that corner. Now." She had the double barrels pointed right at the delicate face, and her tone of voice made clear that she would shoot if necessary. The little girl whimpered and did as she was told.

Julima knew time was of the essence. "You," she said to Cranch, offering her hand for assistance, "Get out of there. You're free. I'm liberating you."

The giant exhaled a deep sigh of relief, but declined her help, knowing she was hardly strong enough to pull him out herself. He hoisted himself up from the well on his own, and once he stood on his feet on the solid kitchen floor he realized he was free. He grinned a little and said, "Thanks. Pardon my appearance, good lady... it's been kind of a rough day."

"We haven't much time," Julima replied, ignoring his wisecrack. "Here... take your rifle back. Once Jack finds out I lied and locked the pigs in the vault..."

"Ah, is that what you did? How very creative of you." Cranch walked over to where Red Riding Hood was still cowering. "And now, my dear, what to do with you? Can I trust you to tell me the truth about all of this? You don't seem like the type to plot a robbery on your own. Who dragged you into it?"

The girl's voice was so faint they could hardly hear her. "I...I... was forced into this whole mess. Please don't hurt me, my grandmother's sick, and I have to get her medicine to her..."

"Her medicine!" Julima shrieked. "You mean the medicine you and your horrible mother stole from the Black Woman, who is about to die without it! How dare you!" Her blood boiled hot and her temples pounded. "You thief! You liar! As if it wasn't enough to lie about wolf attacks, and send your people to kill mine! Now you try to lie to escape punishment once again!"

Cranch noticed Julima's eyes glow orange, and was he mistaken or were her canine teeth a little sharper than before? But there was no time to wonder; the boy would be back soon. He quickly picked up the rifle.

Just then there was a flurry of wings, and the black bird once again appeared at the window.

"Raven!" cried the giant. "You're alive!"

"Yes, indeed, thanks to this lovely... er, lady..." he paused, for Julima had definitely grown a lot more facial hair since he'd last seen her, and her nose was beginning to stretch into a pointed muzzle. A low growl rose from her throat.

Her eyes remained fixed on the girl. "Your 'little lie' killed my people...almost all of them. The males. The females. Even the young pups... all dead because of a lie you told about my husband! My dear mate, who never even knew who you were until that terrible day, was the first to be dragged to pieces by the hounds! And then men came... with their guns, and pitchforks, and torches..."

The little girl was frozen in terror. Cranch, worried, stepped between them.

"Hey...Julima, is it? …Take it easy."

To his horror she began foaming at the mouth, and bared sharp fangs. "Get away," she snarled, "I have my accounts to settle with this girl."

But Cranch didn't budge, trying to calm her. "Come on, she's a sweet little girl, I'm sure she didn't..."

This was too much. Julima had just saved this giant's life and now he literally stood in her way of what she wanted most... revenge. With a terrible howl she became a wolf once more, and leaped at the girl. Cranch grabbed the animal and tried to hold her, but she wriggled free, and in her fury sank her teeth deep into his forearm.

Cranch roared in pain and rage, and flung her off, sending her crashing among the bottles at the bottom of the wine cellar. A piteous cry pierced the air, and then all was silent.

The girl and the Giant stood at the edge of the well, panting. "You... saved me," the girl said slowly, almost in disbelief.

Cranch's his eyes were screwed tight in agony, as he squeezed his arm, trying to staunch the steady flow of blood. "It...was...nothing..." he gasped, beginning to feel faint.

Presently the patter of hurried footsteps drew close, and Jack and the three pigs came barreling into the kitchen, covered in jewels, while gold and silver coins spilled from Jack's pockets. They saw the giant with the rifle tucked under his arm, holding his bloody wound, and stopped dead in their tracks.

Without a moment's hesitation Raven flew straight for Jack's face, his sharp little talons aiming for the eyes.

"Aaaaarrrrghhh!" Jack screamed, and dropped the pistol as his arms flailed.

It was Red Riding Hood who reacted the fastest. She reached down and grabbed the gun, but instead of aiming it, placed it in her basket. "Enough!" she shouted.

Everyone was so surprised to hear her speak in such a forceful tone that they all came to a halt. Raven flew up to a perch near the ceiling. They all waited to hear what she would say next.

"Jack, this giant saved my life. It was Julima who was the villain all along... she tricked us! She was really a wicked wolf who disguised herself as a human in order to follow me here and kill me. But this giant saved me... she was about to attack me when we were alone...but the giant threw her down the well and killed her! Look... see for yourself!"

Jack and the three pigs cautiously made their way to the edge of the well, and gasped at the sight of Graytail lying motionless among the spilled wine and broken bottles below.

"Well, she may have been evil, but she was right about one thing," the little runt admitted, "we didn't really know for sure that the giant was bad. It looks like we may have been wrong all along."

But Cranch was still clutching his forearm and grimacing in pain. Fresh blood pumped from the gash, and part if his bone could even be seen.

Raven was beside himself. "Will somebody help him already! He saved all your miserable lives, now do something, or else he's going to die!"

Nobody moved, until Red Riding Hood remembered. "Wait, I have medicine right here!" she cried, and pulled the elixir from the basket. Approaching Cranch softly, she gently took his arm, and poured a small amount onto the wound. There was a hissing and bubbling, and Cranch gritted his teeth. Within seconds, the skin on his arm had mended itself, and it was as if the bite had never been.

"It works!" Everyone was amazed. The girl was speechless.

"And you didn't even have to use a whole lot of it," One of the pigs remarked.

"Of course not," mumbled Jack. She'd made such a fuss with him about sparing a single drop of her precious medicine, but she'd had no problems sharing it with this... this monster. Who, it seems, was turning out to be the hero of the day, instead of Jack. It just wasn't right... he, who was young, blond, and beautiful… he should have been the one to kill the wolf, vanquish the giant, make off with the treasure, and marry the girl. Now the girl was heaping all of her attention to this brute, while he, Jack, was getting screamed at by a raven. It made him sick to think about it. Indeed, his stomach was starting to turn and his head started spinning.

Cranch spoke. He was completely healed, but still shaken from the whole experience. With much effort, he steadied his voice. "Jack, I'm letting you and the others go free. Not because I like you, but because I feel sorry for this little girl. You forced her into this, I know you did. And you put her life in danger. But now it's time to let her go and do what she has to do, and she needs someone to bring her safely down the mountain and through the woods. So out of pity and concern for her, I'll let you do that. I only hope that you both will be more responsible this time."

He looked around the room. "I hope you've all learned your lesson here today. Please make sure this sweet child gets to her grandmother's house safely, and that the old woman gets her medicine. And then, Jack, I want you to go as far away as possible, and never let me find you around these parts again. You all should consider yourselves lucky that you're getting off this easy."

The little girl was about to say something, but Cranch waved her to be quiet. "I'll escort you all as far as the outside gate. The moon is shining brightly tonight, so you'll have no problem finding your way through the forest. Are you ready? Come, then." He turned to Raven. "Keep an eye on things here," he instructed. "I have to tie up a few loose ends when I return."