by Joyce, Anne
“How do you know this will work? We’ve never done anything like this before.” Skylar sat next to Paola in front of the fire. Julio held the cast iron pot while Joshua and Blane turned the vulture upside down and poured the blood into it.
“We don’t know if it’ll work. There’s only one way to find out,” Julio replied.
“Cooking with blood isn’t a radical idea. A lot of third world countries make soups with animal blood.” Blane positioned the pot over the fire.
“That sounds kind of gross.” Paola crinkled her face.
“Different cultures have different ways of cooking. What’s normal to one part of the world might be weird to another. Blood is used as a thickening agent in certain French cuisines. In other places it’s used to make sausages. Some countries also have limited resources, so they make use of whatever they have. That’s what we’re doing,” Blane explained.
“If it helps Maria, that’s all that matters,” Skylar said.
“I think it will.” Blane added a chunk of snake meat to the pot. “If she’s anemic like Xiomara said, this will definitely raise her iron levels. It’s impressive you were able to lure this thing here to catch it. Buzzards often skip meals.”
“He probably went days without food. Every creature in this hellhole is wasting away,” Julio replied.
“Is it going to take much longer?” Joshua tapped his feet.
“Patience is a virtue,” Blane replied.
“I’m not trying to rush you, but it worries me that she wants to sleep so much. I don’t want her slipping into a coma,” Joshua said.
“You also don’t want her contracting a disease. Let the man do his thing,” Julio chimed in.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Joshua sat down beside Paola.
“It’s all right, Josh. One of you can go get me a cup. I need to pour this into something when I’m done. It’ll be ready shortly.”
Paola jumped up and ran to Joshua’s hut.
“Special delivery.” Julio knocked on Xiomara’s door and stepped inside with Joshua.
“Is she sleeping?” Joshua said.
“Yes, what is that?” Xiomara said.
“Freshly squeezed vulture juice with a side of snake meat.” Julio grinned. “Actually, it looks more like vulture jelly now.” He stared into the cup.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” she gasped.
“Chill out. We cooked it,” Julio said.
“Hey, wake up. We’ve got something for you. “Joshua gently shook her arm. Maria didn’t move. “Come on, now. Get up.” He patted her face. He turned to Xiomara with a look of panic. Xiomara rushed over and felt for a pulse.
“Is she alive?” asked Julio.
Xiomara nodded. “She’s still breathing.” She leaned over and checked her vital signs.
“Why won’t she wake up?” Joshua cried.
“I don’t know.”
“Does she normally sleep this soundly?” asked Julio.
“Not like this,” Xiomara said. “Maria!” She shook the bed.
Julio grabbed Maria’s water can and splashed the remaining water in her face. She came up like a bolt of lightning, eyes wide and gasping for air. “What the hell?” she choked.
“It’s about time,” Julio said.
“Some of that went up my nose. Why did you do that?” she gasped.
“You wouldn’t get your ass up,” Julio replied.
“I was dreaming of that damned roller coaster. It was even more horrible in my dream because it was plunging me into a lake of fire.” She rubbed her forehead.
“Well, it’s over now. Try some of this.” Joshua handed her the cup.
“What is it?” She leaned back on her pillow.
“Your delectable meal this evening consists of buzzard jam with fresh snake.” Julio winked.
“You guys killed a buzzard for me?”
“Josh would do anything for you. Don’t you know that by now?” Julio grinned. Joshua felt his cheeks turning a hot shade of pink.
“I’ve never tried animal blood before, but we’ve ingested worse things out here.” She sniffed at the contents of the cup and took a bite. “Is Blane going to cook that bird?”
“That’s a good question. I hadn’t even thought about it.” Joshua glanced at Julio.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s a bad sign that nothing will eat a vulture, not even other vultures,” Julio replied. “It probably needs to be cooked a certain way and I doubt even Blane knows how to do that. I’m sure buzzard wasn’t on the menu at his old restaurants.”
“If we’re not eating it, should I be consuming its blood? We don’t turn down food very often.”
“We did the best we could to sterilize the blood, but it’s up to you. I wouldn’t suggest this if I thought it would hurt you,” Joshua replied.
“I know you wouldn’t. I trust you.” Maria devoured the contents of the cup and wiped her mouth. “It doesn’t even taste that bad.”
“We hope it makes you feel like a new woman,” Julio said.
“I’d settle for my old self again.” Maria set the cup on the table. “Thanks, guys.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Joshua said.
“Julio, your arms are scratched badly. You need to let me put something on them.” Xiomara rifled through her cabinets.
“I’ll be okay.” Julio stared at the bloody claw marks.
“No, I insist. You could get an infection.” She pulled out a bottle and a cloth and dabbed some of its contents on him.
“What is this stuff? Oh, holy shit! It burns,” he cried.
“She got you with the iodine,” Maria laughed.
“It’s not funny.” He waved his arms like he was trying to put out a fire.
“Well, it’s a little funny. She’s gotten me with that stuff before. It’ll sear the germs right out of you.”
“I believe you! This stuff must’ve been made in the depths of hell.” Julio winced.
“Looks like the tough guy has a weakness after all.” She yawned and her eyelids began to droop.
“Why don’t we let her get back to sleep?” Xiomara ushered Joshua and Julio out of the hut. “You can come see her later.”
“Just don’t sleep like the dead again,” Julio called as they walked outside.
“Do you think this is going to help her?” Joshua asked Xiomara when they took a seat on the ground.
“I don’t know much about blood consumption, but it’s possible. It was worth a shot.”
“I thought you’d be mortified and disgusted by what we did.” Julio raised an eyebrow.
“Not at all. Her health is fading fast. She needed something.”
“I just hope it’s enough,” Joshua said.
“We’ve done all we can possibly do. It’s out of our hands at this point,” Xiomara said.
“Try to be like the kid and find a distraction.” Julio pointed to Paola dancing in front of Skylar and Blane’s hut. They watched as she held her arms above her head and twirled around, stirring up dirt. Skylar sat on a cinder block beside the hut, grinning.
“What are you doing?” Skylar laughed.
“I’m practicing.”
“Practicing for what?”
“I want to be a ballerina when I grow up.” She spun faster, stumbled, and almost fell over. “I got a little dizzy.” She shook her head.
“That’s because you’re going too fast. In ballet, your movements must be graceful and delicate. Watch me.” Skylar got up, stretched, and began a ballet dance solo with extraordinary form and elegance. Her execution was that of a flawless artist as she twirled and glided in front of her broken-down shack. Paola, Josh, Julio, and Xiomara stared in awe and clapped when she finished. She smiled and took a bow, her face reminiscent of a happier time.
“Where did you learn to do that?” asked Paola.
“I was in ballet from grade school until I graduated high school.”
“How do you dance so well without music?”
&
nbsp; “The music from every performance is still in my head and it plays louder than any sound system ever could. Your mind is a powerful thing.”
“Will you teach me?”
“I will, but it’s not going to be easy.”
“That’s okay. Mom says anything good is worth the hard work.” She smiled.
“She’s right,” Skylar agreed.
Joshua sat back and observed Skylar’s lesson in posture and form. Her pale skin glistened in the setting sun and she looked even more beautiful. Paola paid close attention and tried to mimic her. She fumbled, corrected herself, and tried again. Her movements became more fluid with each attempt. He couldn’t help but feel a little sad. Paola had dreams like any normal child, but they would never come to fruition. She possessed the drive and intelligence to go far in life, but all she’d ever get to do was live like a stray animal. She deserved much better.
“How does Paola even know what a ballerina is?” Julio said.
“She probably saw one on TV when she was a toddler. I’m sure she has a few memories of her old life,” Xiomara replied.
“Why the long face?” Julio turned to Joshua.
“I’m just thinking about what Paola could’ve brought to this world. She has so much to give and no one will ever realize what she’s worth.”
“She’s too good for this crappy world. Her gifts and her kindness would be undervalued and taken advantage of. As warped as it sounds, she’s probably better off in the wastelands with us than behind the city walls,” Julio said.
“I wish we could’ve been born in a different time, maybe in the 1950s or 60s. I think life was simpler and everything wasn’t so screwed up,” Joshua said.
“I don’t understand why we were born in the first place. Our existence is nothing but struggle and there’s no real reward, no light at the end of the tunnel. We’re destined to live a short, cruel life no matter what we do.” Julio tossed a pebble on the ground.
“What we do for each other matters. A moment is all we are in the grand scheme of things, but how we treat one another is what counts the most,” Xiomara replied.
“That’s a good philosophy to have, but it makes me wonder why the water barons continue to prosper. No one is punishing them for how they treat people,” Julio said.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Xiomara said.
“Well, I’d love to know the reason for this, Senora Guzman.” Julio threw up his hands. “I have a hard time believing that there’s a divine being watching over us. I think He or She has forgotten us or just doesn’t care.”
“We’ve survived this long by the graces of someone or something.” Xiomara leaned forward.
“We survived because we looked out for each other and we all have a different set of skills.”
“Don’t you believe in anything, Julio?”
“I believe in this group.” He gestured around the camp. “You might be right about God watching over us, but it sure doesn’t seem like it. We aren’t receiving any blessings, especially as of late. All we get is dumped on.”
“She is a blessing.” Joshua stared at Paola. She continued to watch Skylar and practice her form, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. “Sometimes she’s the only joy we’ve got in this grim place.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Julio replied.
“I think she’s starting to get the hang of it,” Xiomara said.
“I’m glad she’s discovered something she enjoys,” Joshua said.
“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Blane walked over and stood beside Xiomara. He held an empty container in one hand and a small garden shovel in the other. His hair was matted with sweat.
“Your wife is teaching Paola the art of ballet,” Xiomara replied.
“She’s quite the ballerina. She came so close to making a career of it. She was supposed to star in this huge televised production of The Nutcracker, but she twisted her ankle halfway through filming. By the time she recovered, they’d given her role to someone else. She was so devastated, she barely left her room for weeks.”
“That’s a shame.” Xiomara gave him a look of concern. She knew he tended to babble when he was nervous or worried.
“I don’t think it’s going to cool down any time soon. We’ve got a hot, nasty night in store.” Blane gazed at the yellow and orange sky.
“Where the hell have you been anyway, and why are you so sweaty? We thought you were home sleeping,” Julio said.
“I was checking the water cans in the ground. I thought they might’ve retained some water after the last rainfall, but they’re just full of sludge. Nothing drinkable,” he sighed.
“What possessed you to do that now in this heat?” Joshua said.
“I needed to do it. Skylar doesn’t know it yet, but our water rations are gone.”
“What else can go wrong?” Julio groaned.
Chapter Five
“Josh, wake up. Wake up now!” Paola shook his arm hard, jarring him awake.
“Paola, knock it off. We’ll go see your mother tonight,” he grumbled.
“They’re here!” She pointed to the window.
“Who’s here?” Joshua threw off his blanket and walked to the window. He was sure he was dreaming. The tarp over the back of the approaching vehicle was unmistakable. It was a Purifier supply truck.
“They’re bringing us food and water!” Paola danced around the room.
“Be quiet,” Joshua hissed. He knew all too well how nasty and unpredictable Purifiers could be. “I want you to stay inside until they’re gone.”
“But— “
“Don’t argue. Purifiers are not our friends. You wait in the house until I find out why they’re here,” he ordered.
Joshua walked outside and watched the Purifiers step out of their vehicle with their guns at their sides. Their black and gray uniforms were pressed, starched, and buttoned to the collar as usual, their faces stiff and expressionless. They reminded Joshua of soldiers from the Holocaust videos he’d seen in history class. He felt the tension in his jaw. There was a young man Josh didn’t recognize with the three men who always delivered supplies and took him to the turbine sites. Skylar, Blane, Julio, and Xiomara were already outside.
“I’m sure you vultures are eager to see what we brought you,” Sanders, the lean and muscular squad leader, said. He puffed out his chest like an angry bird. “Go get their stuff.” The short, chubby man, the giant, and the new guy lifted the tarp on the back of the truck. They pulled out several containers of water, canned goods, toilet paper, and a package of soap which they dropped on the ground in front of them.
“You’re going back to the turbines tomorrow so be ready. And take a damn bath,” Sanders said. “I can smell you from all the way over here.” He crinkled his nose at Joshua.
“Could you bring some medicine? Please? Maria’s been stung by a scorpion and she’s not well,” Xiomara pleaded.
“Who the hell is Maria?” Sanders said.
“I think she’s the other Mexican woman,” the chubby Purifier replied.
“Oh. Why should I care about her? The turbine guy is the only one of you that’s worth anything.” Sanders crossed his arms.
Joshua saw the rage in Xiomara’s eyes. He recalled their many campfire chats and he knew why she felt the way she did. She became a nurse because taking care of others was second nature to her. As one of six siblings she spent most of her childhood caring for her younger brothers and sister. Her parents worked long hours and she seldom saw them. The family was poor and food and clothing were sometimes scarce. She was often made fun of in school for the way she dressed. Even the adults in their community seemed to look down on her family. The ones who knew nothing of true struggle and hardship seemed to be the quickest to judge. The Purifiers reminded her of those people.
“I got stung, too,” Joshua said.
“Well, why didn’t you say something in the first place? Write down what you need, and I’ll see to it that you get some medicine.” Sanders threw a
notepad on the ground.
“Have Xiomara write it down. She’s the nurse,” Josh said. Xiomara didn’t dare smile at him as she wrote down the medicine Maria would need and set the notepad on the ground for a Purifier to pick up.
“I have good news for one of you. This here is my nephew, Brad, the newest member of the Purifiers.” Sanders clapped the skinny, awkward boy’s shoulder. “He’s earned his right of passage, so today he’ll be choosing a blushing bride.”
Joshua’s jaw dropped, and his stomach turned when he realized what Sanders was saying.
Brad looked like a child choosing a Christmas toy. He grinned as his eyes shifted from Xiomara to Skylar. “That one!” He pointed at Skylar.
“What? You can’t be fucking serious! I’m already married,” Skylar cried.
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” Sanders stared at her.
“You should be grateful that we’re rescuing you from this place….and your lousy marriage,” the giant said.
Blane wrapped her in his arms and squeezed her tight. “I’m not letting go!” he shouted. Sanders and his cohorts stepped closer and surrounded them.
“Don’t be stupid, boy. He’s made his choice.” Sanders raised and cocked his gun.
“This is my wife and you’re not taking her anywhere!” Blane stepped in front of her.
“Move out of the way before I split your head open.” Sanders pressed the end of his rifle against Blane’s forehead.
“Somebody’s got a death wish.” Chubby spat on the ground.
“Come on, man. Let her go,” Julio urged.
“No! Don’t shoot him. I’ll go,” Skylar said. She grabbed Blane and latched onto him.
“I can’t let them take you,” Blane sobbed.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.” Skylar buried her face in his shoulder.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you too.”
“All right, you’ve said your goodbyes, now let’s go.” Sanders grabbed Skylar’s arm and yanked her away. “Your life has just been upgraded, sweetheart.”
Brad helped her into the truck. She took one last sad glance out the back window before the truck drove away.