THE JILKAN by alastair macleod (no david read aloud TXT) 📕

The Jilkan

      “Are you bothered by vampires again?" Said Soumia in disbelief, sitting down beside her friend.
      “Yes,” said Lu, hanging her head. She was pale, listless.

 “They’re just takers,” said Soumia. “I think sometimes you like it.”
      “What!" Said Lu.
      “The attention that they give you.”

Lu looked at Soumia in disbelief.
      “How can you say that? "They suck me dry.”
      “There is another way.” Said Soumia
      “And what’s that?" Said Lu.
      “You need a Jilkan.”
      “A Jilkan, what’s a Jilkan?"
      “It is old Berber magic, from the desert. It is to do with Djinns.”
      “Djinns?"
      “Yes, spirits. Djinns are spirits. They are good or ill. You’re attracting the ill sort.”
      “So a Jilkan is what, exactly?" Said Lu, fingering her bangle.
      “A Jilkan is powerful, he fills you.”
      “He?" Said Lu.
      “Yes, he. Jilkans are male.”
      “And you say he fills you?"

Soumia had her attention now. Anything to do with sex got Lu interested.
     “Vampires are parasites, they just take; suck your blood, your life force.
     Jilkans multiply it.”

 Lu looked at her quizzically.
     “Multiply, increase,” said Soumia, “and they can induce ecstasy.”

Lu had felt something with vampires; the thrill of losing, of going down, disappearing, of being the willing victim, like a hunted deer at the kill by a tiger, being devoured, lost in that last act.

      “A Jilkan will fill you so full with ecstasy your energy and power will spread, you will become powerful. The  Jilkan is an awakener, you will be lost in him.” Lu listened.

 “There are many Vampires,” Soumia continued, “Money vampires, energy vampires, character vampires, moisture vampires."

      “And a Jilkan?"
      “A Jilkan is one that makes the milk flow, makes the honey flow, the rain fall, the baby grow.”

   Lu seemed mesmerised.

      The she shook herself.
      “And where can I find a Jilkan.”
      “Here is one coming through the door,” said Soumia.

     A fit young man, well built, handsome, entered. On his chin was a dark stubble of beard, his hair was taught and wavy. He gave off energy as he moved towards them.
He sat down opposite Lu.
      “I am your Jilkan,” he said, as he touched her arm by her bangle.
      A jolt of energy flowed up her arm and down to her thighs. The feeling spread out across her stomach and up her back, flickered across her breast.
She found herself softly murmuring under panting breath,

“Jilkan Jilkan.”

Text: alastair macleod
Images: alastair macleod ;"man of the desert" purchased from dreamstime royalty free photos
Editing: alastair macleod
Translation: Title typeset in amienne
Publication Date: 01-10-2013

All Rights Reserved