“Sorry to interrupt you boys. Elder Lehman is here to see you, and she has a guest.”
Mason braced himself for his fate as he stepped into the living room. If they thought he’d killed Meade, he’d undoubtedly be executed. And since Meade was already an elder, the punishment would be fierce and inescapable. Regret left a bitter taste in his mouth. He should have stayed on the small island and ignored the call of the box.
Finally, Alkoff spoke. “Elder Lehman, thank you for bringing Mr. Hawkins to us. Where did you find him?”
“In his home.”
“Of course. Where else would he have been?” Alkoff said with a smirk. “You’re free to go, Elder Lehman. I assume you have a few more doors to knock on? Oh, and I’ll thank you for your discretion on this matter, not only with the islanders, but with the other elders as well.”
“Of course.” Lehman nodded and left Mason alone in the living room, facing his possible executioners.
After a few moments of tense silence, Mattli spoke. “You’re alone?” The disappointment in his voice was thick and obvious.
“Yes,” Mason said without budging from the doorway, too afraid of what was inside to go closer, but too afraid of what was outside to run away. Trapped, he thought.
Alkoff gestured toward the chair closest to Mason. “Why don’t you have a seat and tell us what happened?”
He remained rooted to his spot. “Why do you think I killed Elder Meade?”
“We don’t think you killed Elder Meade. In fact, I’m quite sure you didn’t,” Elder Alkoff answered.
“Okay, let me rephrase. Why do Elders Branneth and Mueller think I killed Elder Meade? I overheard them while they were walking in the streets.”
Mattli rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. “Because they are dimwitted twits, that’s why.”
Alkoff cleared his throat. “What Elder Mattli means is that Elder Meade’s death was rather sudden. There was some disagreement among the elders in regards to your amnesty, and some speculated that you could be responsible for Meade’s death. Elder Mattli didn’t mean to imply that the people who are entrusted to lead this island are incapable.”
Mattli looked like he’d been slapped on the wrist with a wooden ruler. He stared at his feet. “No, certainly that’s not what I intended.”
Alkoff nodded. “Be that as it may, you are not in danger here, Mason. We know you’re innocent. Please, have a seat and tell us of your travels.”
Relief washed over Mason as he sank into the chair.
Saraphina popped her head into the room. “Excuse me, dear, Elder Mattli, but we should leave now, if we’re to be on time for the ceremony.”
Alkoff nodded. “Of course, my love. Go on ahead, and we’ll meet you there soon, I promise.” She smiled and headed to Meade’s funeral on her own.
“Perhaps an abridged version until we have time to go into more detail?” Alkoff said.
Mason thought for a moment. “What can I tell you? We made it to the mainland. It’s still there by the way, but it isn’t remotely habitable. That’s the meat of it, I suppose.” And Ashley was eaten by the death fog, and we found a strange mystery box made of indestructible metal. He chose to keep those tidbits to himself, for the moment at least. Information was the only form of leverage he had.
Alkoff sighed. “That is unfortunate.” He looked at Mattli with tired eyes, and a moment of understanding must have passed between the two of them because he nodded before turning back to Mason. “Why don’t you get some rest? Help yourself to any food you’d like. We need to send Elder Meade on his way. When we return, there will be much to discuss.”
The elders rose to leave, and Mason rose too, out of respect.
“Thank you,” he said. He didn’t know why they were being so kind to him, but he’d take what he could get.
Alkoff walked on ahead, but Mattli stayed behind for a moment. “Mason, I don’t think I need to tell you to wait here for us. It’s not safe for you to travel around town on your own. At least, not yet.”
Mason nodded reluctantly, and Mattli followed the head elder out of the door. Once he was alone, Mason went to the window and watched as the sun turned the sky a telltale pink. He shook his head, resigned to his fate. Going back to the island had been a mistake, but he’d have to make the best of it and try not to get himself killed in the process.
The two elders walked toward the funeral pyre side by side, hands folded inside their robes to keep out the cool morning air.
“An interesting development, don’t you think?” Alkoff asked.
“Mmm,” was the only response Mattli could form. If Mason had returned alone, and the mainland was ‘uninhabitable,’ it could only mean that Ashley was—
Alkoff cut his thoughts short. “What should we do?”
“You’re asking me?”
“I’d like to know your thoughts.”
Then it hit him. He nearly tripped—the idea was so perfectly brilliant. “There’s an opening among the elders.”
A smile made its way across one side of Alkoff’s face. “Yes. Yes, there is.”
The offer of food was too tempting for Mason to ignore. He happily raided Alkoff’s stores and was tempted to fill his pack, but he resisted the urge. Being an elder, Alkoff had many options Mason wouldn’t have had even in the summer months when food was plentiful. Things like dried meats, fresh bread, cookies, and other baked treats lined the shelves. Mason wanted to take one of each, but he opted for healthier options, given the recent state of his diet. The last thing he needed was to overindulge and make himself sick.
He grabbed a package of dried meat and some bread, and then went to the kitchen to get himself a cup of water. As he pumped the water into his cup, he chewed the meat. It was salty and divine on his tongue. He tried to savor it, but his empty stomach cried out for sustenance.
Once his belly was full, he returned to the living room and lay down on the couch. He slept like the dead, and that was how they found him.
Lehman was the first to walk in for the meeting Alkoff had requested, followed closely by Burton. Branneth had stayed behind with a few of the others to help disassemble the pyre while Alkoff and Mattli took care of Meade’s body. Even Lehman didn’t know what those duties entailed. Only the head elder and second in command were burdened with that task. And as far as Lehman was concerned, they could have it.
Lehman groaned inwardly when she saw Mason asleep on the couch. She’d hoped they would have stowed him somewhere slightly more private in advance of their arrival. Even a bedroom would’ve been better than the couch in front of Ashby and everyone. Lehman stopped walking when she entered the room, and Burton nearly collided with her.
“What the hell is your problem?” he demanded, sidestepping Lehman.
He followed Lehman’s gaze to the couch and burst out laughing. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” He sat in the chair next to the couch, a wide smile stretching across his face.
Mason sat up quickly. Burton was the last elder he wanted anywhere near him, regardless of whether or not the man believed the rumors about Meade’s death. If public suspicion of Mason benefited Burton at all, he’d fan that fire as much as he could.
Lehman crossed the room quickly and sat down on the couch next to Mason, providing a buffer between the two men.
Mason eyed the elder next to him, not sure where her allegiances were. He moved down the couch, as far from the two elders as he could get.
“So, Mason. Tell us about your journey,” Burton said through his Cheshire Cat smile.
“I’d rather wait until all the elders are here, particularly Elder Alkoff. No need to tell it twice.”
The smile faded, and he reached out to strike Mason, but Lehman caught his arm. The action threw Burton off balance enough to stop him. “Elder Burton! Are you all right? What’s come over you? You nearly fell out of your chair.”
“I did nothing of the sort.”
“I see. I assumed something had befallen you, since I
know you wouldn’t dream of striking a man who’s been granted amnesty by you and your colleagues.”
Burton rounded on Lehman, who stood to meet him, their faces mere inches from each other. “Choose which side you’re on carefully, Lehman. I’d hate to see you follow in poor Meade’s footsteps.”
Lehman didn’t back down. “Are you threatening me?”
Mason watched the exchange silently, learning more about the two elders in front of him in that moment, than he’d learned from a lifetime of living on the island with them. He was studying them so closely that he didn’t even see Mattli come into the room.
“No need to rise on my account. Perhaps you both should take a seat before the other elders return and they’re all gone.”
Lehman cleared her throat, but she didn’t back down. Burton hesitated for a moment, and then returned to his seat across from Mason. Lehman followed in kind, sitting back down on the couch.
“I see you’ve greeted our guest,” Mattli said, moving further into the room, but not sitting down just yet.
Neither of the elders responded, so he turned to Mason. “I trust you found something to eat?”
The tension in the room choked any words from Mason’s mouth, so he simply nodded.
“Good. Elder Alkoff and the others will be along shortly. There is much to discuss.”
Mattli kept his tone strong and confident, but he hoped Alkoff wasn’t too far behind him. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep the volatile group under control.
Thankfully, Alkoff and the others didn’t keep them waiting long. Alkoff was the next to come in, followed closely by the rest.
Branneth was deep in conversation with Mueller when she glanced up and spotted Mason on the couch. “There’s the murderer!” she shouted. “Wandered right into the lion’s den! Seize him!”
All eyes turned to Mason, whose own eyes were wide with fear.
“No one is seizing anyone,” Alkoff said calmly.
“What? But he killed Elder Meade,” Branneth insisted.
“No, he didn’t.”
Branneth turned to Mattli, who shook his head, confirming Alkoff’s assertion. Their denials heated her rage to the boiling point.
“This is an outrage!” she shouted. “Mason is a convicted killer. We all know what he’s capable of… and besides, he has motive.”
Mason glared at Branneth. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
Alkoff held up his hand. “Now, now. There’s no need to get upset. Mr. Hawkins is innocent of crimes against Elder Meade. I know this to be true. He has only just now returned from his journey, after Meade’s untimely death. He has fulfilled his end of the bargain, so we shall uphold ours.” He paused, letting that sink in.
Silence descended upon the room like a shroud. Alkoff continued once he was certain he had everyone’s attention. “Now, we’re left to figure out what Mason’s role on the island should be moving forward. Elder Mattli and I have come up with a good solution. Unfortunately, this decision is not negotiable.”
The elders muttered among themselves, trying to guess what Alkoff’s decision would be.
Burton smiled to himself, knowing wherever Mason was placed, the islanders would most likely kill him. He could easily spread the rumor that Mason was responsible for Meade’s death. The islanders would believe it. Perhaps the power of rumors could also be put to use in taking down his remaining enemies…
Alkoff cleared his throat, regaining the attention of the room. “As there is an opening among us, and the next boy in line is a bit young as of yet, Mr. Hawkins will take Meade’s place as an elder.”
An outcry rose among the elders, and Mason’s head spun with shock and confusion. An elder? It was too much for him. He should have stayed behind on the island, where he wouldn’t have anyone to deal with but himself.
He didn’t want to get tangled up with the likes of the elders. He much preferred the company of metal pipes than the manipulative lot that surrounded him.
He held up his hands, and the room fell quiet. “While I appreciate the gesture, Elder Alkoff, I’m afraid I’d like to pass. Surely, there’s a better place for me than among your ranks. My family is not important, I’m no better educated than the average islander, and I’ve got a terribly foul temper. I have no business being an elder.”
“There, he said it himself,” Branneth piped up. “He has no business being an elder. And he’s right. He hasn’t had the first bit of training, and knows nothing about the work it takes to hold such a high position.” She puffed up her chest and looked down her nose at Mason as she said it.
“Thank you for your opinion on the matter, Elder Branneth. Next time, I will ask for it if I’m interested,” Alkoff said with raised eyebrows.
Branneth’s expression turned sour.
“Mr. Hawkins, or shall I say Elder Hawkins, unfortunately, even you do not have a say in this decision. We feel that you will be safest among the elders. Particularly given the knowledge you’ve acquired on your journey.”
The meeting had been so stressful and surprising that Mason had nearly forgotten the mainland and everything that had happened there.
Ashley.
Mueller spoke up. “So, what did you learn on your journey? How far did you get before you dealt with our little problem?”
Boiling with rage, Mason leaped up and moved toward Mueller, but Alkoff’s deep voice rang out before it could go very far. “Elder Hawkins will debrief with Elder Mattli and I once this meeting is adjourned.”
So, there are secrets even among the elders, Mason thought.
He scanned the room. No one approved of this new development, and he wasn’t entirely sure how he would survive among such a discordant, perplexing group. Despite the fact that his friend had infected him with the desire to know more… to be more, he was a simple man at heart. Still, he trusted Alkoff. He wondered what Ashley would’ve said about it all. Probably would’ve knocked him down a peg or two before his head could get too puffed up about his suddenly elevated status.
One of the last to speak, Lehman took her turn to voice her opinion. “Elder Alkoff, I can see your reasoning behind this decision, but certainly you can see the dissention it’s causing among the elders. If the elders start a civil war among themselves over your choice, how can our circle be the safest place for Mason?”
Alkoff’s voice turned stone cold. “We are the ninth generation of elders and island dwellers. As such, it is our responsibility now, as ever, to maintain our way of life.
“There will not be a civil war over this. If any of you feel that strongly about my decision, I release you from your duties. I waive the usual penalties for leaving the elders. You will not be held accountable, nor will you face punishment. In fact, I will be happy to find you a quieter post on the island.”
Burton snorted as Alkoff’s eyes scanned the room, taking particular time to scrutinize Branneth and Mueller. “Would anyone care to take me up on my generous offer?”
It was so quiet that the men could hear the sounds of their breathing.
“Fine. I will not have fighting among my elders. As head elder, my will is yours. No questions asked. Up until now, I’ve tried to be generous and flexible with you all, taking your own wishes into account while providing the islanders with fair and just governing. Know that the decisions I make are always in the best interest of the island.” He looked straight at Burton. “As islanders and elders of the island, that should be your priority as well.” He paused for a moment, giving them time to absorb his words.
“This meeting is adjourned,” he said, but none of the elders moved. They were all too stunned.
Sensing the need for someone to move things along, Mattli stepped in to intervene. “Elder Branneth, would you mind checking on the fishermen? I’m afraid they might be having difficulties without Ashley’s services.”
Branneth frowned, nodded, and departed, followed closely by the other elders.
They filed out one by one until Mattli, Alkoff,
and Mason were left alone once again.
“That went well,” Mattli said.
“All right, Elder Hawkins, now’s your chance. Tell us about the mainland.”
18.
The head elders held their breath as they waited for Mason’s story.
He looked at their faces and couldn’t understand why they seemed so excited to hear what he had to say. Didn’t they know what it was like out there? If they did know of the horrors out there, it would explain why they kept their secrets so closely. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat on the couch.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning? How long did it take to get to the mainland?” Elder Mattli asked. “I assume you allowed Ashley to make it there?”
Mason hesitated, wondering how much of the truth he should tell them. “Ashley and I made it to the mainland, yes.” He paused, thinking of Ashley and her unabashed joy at being right. “She was right all along, and you knew it, didn’t you?”
Their expressions didn’t change.
He sighed, feeling defeated in more ways than one. “You sent me to make sure Ashley didn’t come back. Turns out the mainland rendered me useless.”
Mattli’s face fell. “The mainland isn’t habitable.” He echoed Mason’s earlier words back quietly, letting them hang in the air between them.
“There is something out there. Something far worse than the monsters that walk among you elders.”
“So, we have lost the last of the descendants,” Mattli whispered.
“I’m sorry?” Mason asked.
Mattli didn’t look into Mason’s dark eyes. He stared straight ahead, not seeing the room or the people inside. “Ashley was the last of Bennett Ashby’s line. Do you remember how her father’s name was Ashley, and his mother before him? Ashley was a name used only for Ashby’s descendants. He chose it specifically, as a last connection to his daughter.”
The Dead Room Trilogy Page 13