Marital Law Page 6

  “You are really making me want to remain here and stab my people in the back!” I said sarcastically. “Can you at least undo my restraints? It's a little hard to rest with these on,” I asked, holding up my bound wrists.

  “Let's see how tomorrow goes. Maybe we can remove them, so you can sleep then.” Colin replied.

  “Don't trust me, Colin? Afraid I might sneak out of here on you in the middle of the night?”

  “Not afraid, just careful. There are over seventy-five kids in our camp, and I care for every one of them. I would never forgive myself if something happened to a single one of them,” Colin said passionately.

  A beat. It took me some time to gather my thoughts. Colin's compassion had stopped me in my tracks. He had once again surprised me, in a good way. My mood lightened, my desire to capture one of the Manumissionists and return home, started to fade. I knew this wasn't healthy, that I should've been on my way back home, but I was being held captive, their prisoner. Yeah, you are. Keep telling yourself that, Sidnie.

  As I lay on top of a makeshift bed of tree limbs covered with numerous deer pelts, I peered into the small living area at Colin. He was sitting up, his back leaning against the wall of the home. He was reading something under the pale glow of the lantern. The light intensified his features, making him more than a little attractive. I...you need to go to sleep, Sidnie, before you get yourself in trouble.

  After I dozed off, I slept a hard, restful night inside that small home with Colin in the front room. This was surprising since my wrists were still bound. They ached a bit, but otherwise, I felt really good.

  The smell of food wafting in through the open hole that I assumed was meant to serve as a window, on the right side of the door forced me onto my feet. I could hear Colin stirring in the front room, but he was out of eyesight.

  “Are you ready to face the day?” Colin poked his head inside the doorway and asked.

  “Something sure smells good outside.”

  “It's our community meal gathering. We spend most of our time here planting and gathering food, so we can commune together for breakfast and dinner. We do lunch on our own, normally just a piece or two of fruit. That’s why it's important to get your fill during these times.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for? Point me in the direction of this food you speak of,” I said, completely forgetting where I was and why I'd come to this place. Colin had this effect on me, and I wasn't even aware. Or if I was, I certainly wasn't stopping him.

  As I stepped out of the small home, I was taken aback at the sight of so many children. They were everywhere, running and playing like a bunch of wild and crazy spider monkeys. They tumbled, flipped, and twirled about without a care in the world. It was a sight, something I was not accustomed to.

  Playing and laughing with the kids was foreign to me, since our parents frowned upon such things in Providence. We were bred to train, to protect, and provide.

  I could see the grown-ups all gathered around large, wooden tables, grinning from ear to ear, and I envisioned my mother and father sitting right there alongside them. You know better, Sidnie. Sonia Rashellus rarely sat, and do you even remember the last time you actually saw her smile?

  Chapter 8

  Stepping into their midst, the children stopped almost immediately and rushed towards me, enmasse. Initially, I was worried they were going to attack me, string me up for even coming into their camp. But as soon as I saw their smiling faces, their eagerness to engage me, I knew I was wrong.

  To the children I was something new and exciting in their world, and they wanted to know everything about me. I fielded so many questions, my jaws grew tired of speaking and laughing.

  These little munchkins were amazing. Before I knew it, I was laughing right along with them. I couldn’t remember a time when I'd felt so free, so, so happy and uninhibited. I didn't have to be on guard or worried about one of the monitor's showing up at my door. Everyone was engaging the kids, getting in on their infectious behavior.

  Eventually, I felt Colin's hand wrap around my arm as he whisked me away from the gathering. “We need to get moving. We have a busy day ahead. First, we'll grab breakfast, and then there's something I have to show you.”

  “Why so vague? What can you possibly reveal that could make me turn my back on my upbringing, my family and my life in Providence?” I replied, but in all honesty, I think I was already doing just that.

  “There’s a group of people that I want you to meet,” Colin said mysteriously.

  After many hugs from the children, I followed Colin's lead. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a tinge of disappointment at having to leave them. They played and laughed in a way that children in Providence never could—we were too busy worrying about the coming-of-age tasks we would soon face.

  Inconspicuously, I glanced back over my shoulder at one little girl in particular. She'd taken a shine to me, and the feeling was mutual. She had dark blue eyes, black hair and the pimples on her face were similar to the indentations rain made as it drizzled onto sand. She looked to be thirteen, fourteen, at most.

  I'd seen boys and girls alike with pockmarked faces, and their self-esteem lay somewhere along the bottom of the deepest ocean. But not this girl; she seemed oblivious to her pox-like marks. She appeared happy, healthy, and not to care what others thought. I found myself envious of her.

  As we neared the edge of their little camp, I spied a group of women gathered in a circle, their eyes closed as if in prayer. Colin reached out and took my hand and used his other to shush me. He led me towards the group and directed me to sit on one of the open tree logs, as he took a seat next to me.

  The women said something about the Creator watching over them and their lost loved ones. Then they spent the next few minutes praising what I took to be their God, thanking him for his protection and love. When they finished this part of their little ritual, I listened intently as each lady called out the name of a lost loved one and gave thanks to the Creator for calling them away from this world and into the heavenly realm. This part of the ritual went on for a good thirty minutes, and the sheer number of names left me sad for the women and their loss. It also made me wonder what had happened to them, how they had died.

  Tears flowed freely from their faces, but praise came from their lips. It was an odd occurrence. One I failed to understand.

  When the last woman had her say, they gave one final thanks and opened their eyes. And then they looked directly at me. The one nearest me asked, “Would you like to pray for anyone you might've lost in this world, Sidnie?”

  Pray, no. Run, yes. I didn't like all those women focusing in on me, and it felt sacrilegious to pray to another god. All I’d ever known was Mother Earth, the giver of the sun and the rain, which in turn provided all of Providence with sustenance. I slowly shook my head, hoping they wouldn't press.

  “Come on, dear. I'm sure you've lost someone, maybe even a distant relative,” the women persisted.

  “I...well, my cousin was taken by the monitors, but I highly doubt she's dead,” I said, unconvincingly.

  The lady nodded politely and said, “What's her name? We will pray for her.”

  Hesitantly, I gave them Ellen's name and listened as they lifted her up before their God. It was foreign to me, being in the middle of their little session. I didn't believe like they believed, but their passion left me questioning my own beliefs, my own faith. And their joy, well, that was something I feared I might never understand.

  The women had tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces. This too was vexing. Happiness and sadness didn't normally visit at the same time, but then again, it had been known to rain with the sun still in its high position in the sky.

  After the group dismissed for the day, the lady who'd prayed for Ellen took me by the hand and said, “We all had children taken and killed by Marcella Munford, or the savages at the edge of the forest. We meet here every morning, to offer praise to our God for taking them from this place, for giving
them a new, better life.”

  “I, I don't understand,” was all I could get out.

  “You only know what you've been told to believe in your whole life, Sidnie. There is no Mother Earth, only the one true God, the Father and Creator. He created the heavens and the earth and only He can bring the sun, the rain, and the winds. He can also heal us of our ailments, Sidnie, if we call on his name and truly and simply ask,” the woman said.

  The part about healing ailments, the woman had said with a knowing look, but I wasn’t sure where she was going with it. “You know what we believe in Providence South?” I asked surprised.

  “Almost all of us used to live in Providence at one point or another, Sidnie. Only the younger ones were actually born here. We used to follow MOMs ways, listen to her lies. During one of our raids for food, we found this,” the woman said, holding up a tattered black book about the size of a small paperback novel.

  “What is it?” I asked, reaching out to take the proffered book.

  “It is called the Book of Knowledge of Good and Evil. It has been around since the beginning of time. Not even the Great War could destroy it. It tells us how the Earth and mankind were created, how the latter was kicked out of the garden, and how the Christ came and brought redemption for our sins.”

  “Whoa! Slow down. I think I caught how the Earth was created but none of the rest.” I said, trying not to appear too ignorant of their ways.

  A fire lit in the woman's eyes and for the next hour, she inundated me with all things creation, whether I cared to know them or not. I listened, still not fully understanding everything. In the end, I managed to catch the gist of what she was saying, what they believed. It was another hard pill to swallow, given that their God and their Christ were both male, and females ruled in my world.

  The woman talked of forgiveness and love the way we spoke of honor and protecting what was ours, at all costs. Still, I found it hard to completely dismiss the things she shared, her passion evident in every word.

  When the woman finished, she led me to a small clearing where hundreds of rocks were lined up neatly in rows of tens. I gazed down at them, noticing the different names etched into each one. Beneath the persons appellation was their age. I was horrified as I read through them. None were older than fifteen. I couldn't believe so many of these young people—children really, in this land—had been taken. By your own people, Sidnie.

  Standing there, staring out at all those markers, I couldn't help but re-evaluate everything I'd learned, all I'd been led to believe over the course of my life. Sadness crept into my heart like black oil covering a river bed.

  I was a lover of people. I cared for others, even the animals. I killed only for food. I'd never released my spear for the simple thrill of it. Food and survival were at the base of every hunt. I had battled with many of the other girls my age, as part of my training, but none had I killed. I believed I could easily do so, but there was still that question mark. Could I really?

  ****

  Leaving the women, Colin pointed to the edge of the forest and said, “Out there is where most of our people are taken. Sometimes the savages lure them there, and they never return.”

  “How? From what you've shown me, I would think your people would know better than to leave the mountain,” I asked.

  “Food. We have teams out at all hours of the day scouring the forest for wild beasts, to bring to the table. We have over 75 hunters and councilmen to feed, as well as the 250 men, women, and children here. As you've already seen, we like to eat, and we do it heartily.

  “Our survival requires us to be able to fight and run over long distances, neither of which can be done on an empty stomach. Sometimes, the savages attack our hunters, sometimes your people try to take them. Either way, we are constantly on the lookout, vulnerable to attack from all sides.”

  A dark shape suddenly appeared off in the distance. “Do you see that?” I asked pointing.

  A worried look came over Colin’s face. “It's one of the savages. They've been traveling in groups of three to four lately, so I'd imagine there are more in the area as well,” Colin replied.

  I gasped when I saw a small child appear a few yards from the creature. It was a girl, her long hair blowing in the night’s gentle breeze. Even from the distance, I could see her body shaking. The fear pouring from her like steam from a hot cup of coffee.

  Everything within me wanted to scream at the child to run, but at this distance, I knew she wouldn't hear me. I was surprised we were able to see them so clearly.

  “Don't just stand there! We have to help her!” I said frustrated at Colin’s inaction.

  “I'm afraid there's nothing we can do from up here, but we have hunters out in the area. We can only pray they get to her in time,” Colin said with an air of futility.

  I could see a mixture of fear and worry in Colin’s eyes, and my heart ached for him, as well as for the little girl. Something happened in that instance, something that surprised me: I began to see my people, my entire world as bad. The savages might've been the ones doing the killing, but

  Providence was behind it all.

  Anger flared up inside me, and confusion followed. What would I do? I couldn't very well betray my own people. Where would I go? You can stay here. But my parents, Adeline. I couldn't leave them, couldn't have them thinking me a traitor, or even worse, dead.

  Colin must've sensed the war waging inside my head, because he said, “This is hard, Sidnie, but you know what's going on here now. If you can live with yourself, after watching innocent people being kidnapped and murdered, then Providence may very well be where you belong. But, if not, there are many like you who have forsaken everything and moved here with us. We would gladly welcome you into our fold.”

  Before Colin could pull me away from our vantage point, I heard the little girl scream, saw the things—three others had joined the one—reach out and take her. Just like that she was gone, and the forest was silent once again. But my heart wasn't, and never would be again.

  I felt tears stream down my face and absently reached up and wiped them away. I looked down at my hand, dumbfounded. This was something I hadn't seen in many years, and barely even remembered the feel of them.

  “Sidnie, remember I told you that Jeremiah had seen the savages, had battled with them? I told you that I had seen one of them as well. Actually, it was more than that. I had a little run in with one of them a few years back.”

  My eyes widened, my heart pounded. “You are lucky you are still alive. What happened?” I obviously wasn’t able to hide my excitement. I’d been wondering about Colin’s encounter ever since he broached the subject the day prior.

  “One of the children sneaked out of camp, late at night, and I went in search. Unfortunately, as you just witnessed, you can’t tame a child’s wandering soul. Anyhow, Brian made it back safely, but I ended up with a broken arm from the exchange.”

  “I’m glad it didn’t kill you, Colin.” I said, and I genuinely felt it.

  “I recognized the thing, Sidnie. It, he was taken from our village when he was just seven years old. He had a birthmark on his neck in the shape of a crescent moon, and I will never forget it. If I hadn’t remembered and called out the boy/creature’s name, it probably would’ve killed me. When I did, it looked confused and took off. Well, not until it tossed me through the air like I was a mere chipmunk.”

  Seeing the fear in Colin’s eyes at recounting the story, I gently squeezed his arm. “Glad you made it, chip.”

  A smile broke up Colin’s serious face, and he said, “Real funny. Really funny, indeed. You certainly know how to break through the heavy stuff, Sidnie.”

  Smiling back, I thought, I don’t even know who I am anymore around this boy.

  My heart still ached for that little girl, as well as the others that had been taken and killed.

  Those things almost got Colin too, Sidnie. This brought me back down to reality, took me out of my silly flirting.

  A
s I walked away, I looked back over my shoulder at the rows of perfectly lined rocks and fought back more tears. My mind kept thinking, what if it was Adeline out there? What would you do if one of those creatures came into Providence and took Adeline, or worse, killed her? I couldn't fathom life without her. She made me a better person, because I knew everything I did, she would soon follow. I wanted to set the right example for her, to be the hero she made me out to be.

  I remember when Adeline first began her own training, at the age of eight. She'd ask me so many questions, it felt like I was dodging a million mosquitoes. As soon as I'd knock one down, another would come flying in for the kill. I loved her more than my own mother and father, more than my own life.

  That evening, Colin led me back out of the tent for the dinner feast. I had no appetite, no desire to even place one foot in front of the other, for that matter. My mind was shutting down, the choice before me too much for my years.

  Either I betrayed all of Providence, or I went back and pretended ignorance while more innocent people died at the hands of MOM’s evil. It was about as easy as, should I shoot the big toe on my left foot, or the one on my right? Actually, that would be an easier dilemma. At least my heart wouldn't die in the process.

  Back inside the tent, I tossed and turned for hours on the small bed. Sleep hated me. Maybe Mother Nature hated me as well. Why else would she force me to make such a decision? I began to wonder if she was angry at me for listening to the woman in the dwellers’ camp talking to me about their Creator.

  Angrily, I reached up and ripped the necklace Lucius had given me from my neck and tossed it into the corner of the room.

  “You okay back there?” Colin looked in and asked.

  A beat. “I honestly think I might be losing my mind. This is an impossible decision, Colin. I hate what we are doing to your people, your innocent children. But how can I go against everything I know, against those I love most in this world?”