The Black Band (A Story from The Hermit’s Cave)

In The Black Band, a man shares the strangest story he has ever heard. It has been passed down in his family, from father to son. The story is about a distant relative named Jan van Dirk. When he was a young man, Jan left Holland and went to Paris to attend the University. The French Revolution was in full swing at the time and the streets of the city were often filled with howling crowds and the bloody executions were very distressing for a sensitive man like Jan.

One night, Jan had been studying at the library. It was late when he left and a storm was raging outside. It was time for the library to close, there was no waiting it out, so Jan was forced to walk home in the rain.

To reach his lodgings in the old part of the city, Jan had to cross the square where the executions had taken place, earlier in the day. As the thunder rattled through the narrow streets a flash of lighting illuminated the square and lit up the guillotine. Below the instrument of death, a young girl was sitting on the steps and crying. Her name was Marie and Jan recognised her at once. She was the girl of his dreams so, despite the circumstances, it was love at first sight. Within just a few hours they were married. However, this is not the end of the story because the angel of death was never far from Marie’s side.

The Hermit’s Cave: The Black Band

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