by Socha, Walt
“Yes, Larry mentioned this morning that he planned to take food to them.”
“Helping an enemy is strange to us.”
“I believe that all people are alike inside. And most want to do what is right. Their mistake was to follow a bad leader.” Joe leaned on the tower’s railing. “But it’s hard sometimes to know what is right.”
“Usually disputes are over hunting and gathering lands.” Alita moved to his side, staring at Larry as he disappeared around Bird Island. “But Tork’s warriors traveled far outside their lands.”
“Perhaps we can find out what his motives were from Samatu or one of his warriors. People don’t always know the best way to act. Especially in new situations. And some are forced to act in bad ways by bad leaders. But people can change when given a new situation.” Joe looked toward Haven, to the former tack hut. “Samatu is an example. I hope to find out his story.” Joe took a deep breath. “If he survives.”
Alita turned to Joe. “I am afraid. I helped Kristi with Samatu and the three warriors this morning. They are very sick. Their skin is very ugly.” She chewed her lip, lowering her head.
Joe paused, trying to find words. “We have Kristi. And each other.” He reached out to give her shoulders a squeeze, managed a smile, but failed to control a shiver. She looked up at him, her wide eyes boring into his. After several heartbeats, Alita shifted under his hands and Joe stepped back, dropping his hands.
“What of you, Joe?” Her voice deepened suddenly, in a way that made his heart start pounding. “You are in unfamiliar lands among unfamiliar people. Do you know how to act?”
Joe couldn’t tear his eyes Alita’s stare. He forced himself to breathe. “I…was not sure.” But he was, now.
After…
Alita broke her gaze. “Do not burn yourself with Brent’s stew.” He caught a glimpse of a small smile as she turned away and climbed down the ladder.
Chapter 65. Day 227 - October 19
The face appeared out of the mist and nodded, a small smile softening the deep wrinkles. “The path has changed. You have changed it. We chose wisely.” The face receded as the mist dissipated.
Path? What path? Light and shadow solidified around him. He was on the ground, a blanket twisted around his torso. In Kristi’s hospital tent.
Alita?
Joe pushed himself up from his blanket on the floor, fighting a wave of nausea and a pounding headache. Pain was good. Pain meant he was alive. On his knees and leaning on Alita’s cot, he reached with a hand covered with small sores and felt her forehead. Still burning. He dipped a stained cloth in a basin of water and bathed her sweating skin. Water. He had to get more water into her. He reached for the water bottle. Unscrewed the cap, and held it over her mouth. Tilted the bottle until a few drops fell on her lips. They opened slightly. “How is she?”
Kristi’s voice jarred his concentration. Water splashed down Alita’s cheek. She didn’t respond. “Still feverish.” A voice spoke and it sounded weak and far away. After a few heartbeats, Joe realized it was his own.
“Let me watch.”Kristi knelt beside him. “I have some cooled broth for her. And Brent has breakfast for you.”
Joe continued dripping water into Alita’s mouth. “Go. I’ll call you if there’s any change.”
He capped the bottle. “Okay.” He felt a flicker of a smile. “I’m about ready to piss myself anyway.” Dizziness flooded him as he tried to rise. “Need to get some more moss. She’s soiled herself.”
“That’s good. Means she’s hydrated.” Kristi helped him stand.
“How are the rest?”
“I’m worried about Sura.” The weariness in Kristi’s voice cut through Joe. “Larry will be going down to Two Valleys later to check on Marisa and Niminu. Samatu is still very ill; I’m going to move him in here. The three warriors are dead. Not sure about those on the other side of the river.”
“The rest of the kids?” Joe forced his eyes to focus on Kristi as he swayed.
“I’m very hopeful. Most are still feverish. But not nearly as bad...” Kristi’s voice trailed off.
Chapter 66. Day 230 - October 22
Kristi stumbled with weariness as she entered her tent, reaching for the chair at the entrance for support. She leaned on it as she let her eyes adjust to the dim interior, which was barely lit by the early morning light. It should all be over in another week.
She maneuvered around Samatu’s pallet, reaching down to brush her hand across his forehead. Not as hot as yesterday.
At the side of Alita’s cot, Joe lay on Alita’s bearskin, curled up in a fetal position. Kristi sighed and leaned over the accidental barrier to feel Alita’s forehead. Slightly warm to her cold hand but no longer hot. Kristi closed her eyes in relief for several heartbeats.
“Wake up.” She nudged the body at her feet.
Joe jerked awake, hand flailing. He froze, blinking. “Alita?” Reaching for Alita’s cot, he struggled to get up. “Her fever’s broken.” Kristi smiled through her exhaustion.
Joe teetered to his knees and stared at Alita. Her face was relaxed in sleep, her chest quietly rising and falling. He rubbed his face with his hands. Then lowered his head next to Alita’s shoulder, his breaths choked with sobs. “But Sura died an hour ago.” Weariness surged through Kristi once more. With luck, Sura would be the only one. Kristi turned to glance out the tent opening toward the river. Other than Marissa and Niminu, who were already lying under fresh soil at the top of the burial mound.
Chapter 67. Day 237 - October 29
Joe sat on one of the camp chairs in the late autumn sun, enjoying a few minutes of rest from tending the remaining sick. Haven buzzed around him. A few of the children were strong enough to work the harvest, slicing the native pumpkins and squash or puzzling over the unfamiliar tomatoes and peppers with Brent at the drying racks. They had yet to start digging a root cellar to store the onions and potatoes.
Barely visible at the mouth of Haven’s little valley, the golden tips of the remaining cornstalks swayed in a gentle breeze. Tanuhu promised the fall fish runs were only days away. Winter promised to be fat.
He smiled as one of the children rode up bareback. Sometimes it was hard to tell where the child ended and the horse began. Their normal enthusiasm over the horses was now at a fevered pitch as several mares showed swollen bellies.
“Nikaku instructed me to tell you that Larry is returning from across the river.” Daru’s voice cracked with excitement. “He has three people in his canoe.”
“Thanks. Please find Brent and tell him.” Joe rose, and then paused at the sound of Kristi’s voice. He turned. Outside of her tent, Kristi stood in the sunlight, her face pinched. At her side, Alita stared at the ground.
“It’s great to see you outside,” Joe said, feeling as if his wide smile would split his face.
Alita just stood there.
Joe looked from her to Kristi, who lifted her index finger to her face.
He walked to Alita and took her face in his hands. Lifted her head. A dozen small pox scars marred her smooth skin.
“I looked in Kristi’s mirror,” Alita said, locking her eyes on his. “You deserve a beautiful woman.”
Images flooded Joe’s thoughts as he stared back. The young girl fleeing a warrior. The young woman nursing Kristi. The terrified but brave woman who had stopped Tork’s treachery and saved his life.
But everyone he loved died.
He drew a long, slow, breath. He had already almost lost her. And…he loved her. But that didn’t frighten him anymore. “Look at me.” Joe lowered his head a few inches, so that his eyes were level with hers.
Alita gazed back at him as a tear formed at the corner of her eye.
“Alita, you are beautiful.” Joe felt his pulse beating in his ears. His own words sounded far away, the noise of the surrounding village even farther. “Will you be my wife?”
Her eyes widened.
Joe stopped breathing and closed his eyes. Was he too late?
&n
bsp; A body crashed into his. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground as the weight of Alita knocked the wind out of him.
As he managed a breath, he heard distant hoots and cheers.
><><
Joe resisted the urge to shake his head as Alita moved the camp chair to the open area between the fire circle and the fort. She insisted that he be sitting when Larry brought the survivors into Haven. She pointed to the chair. He sat.
Alita then scurried around rearranging chairs and benches, conscripting several of the children and an amused Nikaku to help. Once she was satisfied, she returned to stand next to Joe.
He took her hand. Holding it felt natural.
The village congregated as Larry approached with two men and a woman. Children shrieked and chatted. Brent emerged from the hospital tent carrying one child followed by Samatu, Zoey prancing at their feet. Kristi helped a second child to one of the camp chairs. The remaining Elders trickled in, taking seats among the children on the rearranged benches. In minutes, all of Haven sat or stood in a two half circles, with Joe and Alita at one end, Larry and his charges standing at the other. Alita moved to stand behind Joe and rested her hands on his shoulders.
Larry grinned at Joe as he walked forward to the middle of the assembly. “Well, I’m glad that finally got settled.”
Joe tried to scowl at his friend’s beaming face, but couldn’t erase his blushing smile.
Larry turned and gestured the two men forward. They moved in a shuffling gait, the first helping the second. Thickly clustered pox marks scarred their features. These men had felt the full impact of the disease.
“I present Slatuk and Trebun.” Larry turned to the two men. “This is our leader, Joe Kuruk. He will decide your fate.”
Joe kept his face expressionless as Larry spoke. Well, he was the leader. It struck him like a bolt from the sky. He had accepted it—back when he had ordered everyone to accept vaccination. He lifted his head. As a leader should. “Speak.”
“These men are originally from the coastal region at the end of the Susquehanna. What we know as Chesapeake Bay.” Larry nodded to the first one.
“I am Slatuk. I will speak for Trebun. He does not know your language.” He met Joe’s gaze. “We were taken by the warlord Tork. Our families were required to live in Tork’s main village as hostages.” He paused, glanced at Larry. “We offer our loyalty to you in exchange for our lives.” He knelt. Trebun collapsed to his knees next to him. Joe stood, immediately missing Alita’s touch as her hands slipped from his shoulders. He glanced around the village. Everyone’s eyes were on him. This leader thing needed to be handled with care. Precedence was a powerful force.
He kept his tone flat. “Why did Tork capture children?” Slatuk glanced at Trebun before looking down. “We were told that if we did not obey Tork, he would sacrifice our children in the burial mound to honor his mother.” Joe closed his eyes as he processed their words. Burial goods. The children had been taken as damned burial goods. Hatimu had hinted at such. But he hadn’t known for sure. He opened his eyes and stared at the two men, whose families’ lives had been dependent on their loyalty to a psychopath. “Look at me.”
After several breaths, they met his gaze. “Stand.”
As they struggled to their feet, Joe turned to Kristi. “What say the Mistress of Healers?”
Kristi’s expression was stony. “They killed. They must offer restitution.”
Joe turned to Canisa and Gusama. “What say the Grandmothers?” They sat on either side of Kristi in the camp chairs.
The elder women winced at the title. They were now only two. Gusama spoke, “Make them slaves.”
Joe shifted his gaze back to the two warriors. Sweat beaded their faces, but both managed to stand tall. What would he have done in their place? “No, there will be no slaves in Haven.” He faced Gusama then at Canisa. “There are other ways of making restitution.”
“I agree.” Kristi stretched out her arms to lay a hand on each of the women. They hesitated, and then nodded. “What says the Sun Elder?” Joe met Tanuhu’s sad eyes. That title fell to him as the only remaining male elder. He only shook his head, declining to answer. “Keeper of the Horses?” Joe faced Brent. “They must make amends for their actions.”
Joe turned back to Larry. “What are the thoughts of the Master of Iron?”
“They must make restitution.” Larry took a quick breath. “Before you decide their fate, please hear my request.”
Joe raised one eyebrow.
“I seek permission to travel to Tork’s main village.” Larry glanced to the side where several of the children sat watching. “Some of the kids there may have survived. Winter’s coming.”
“You don’t need my permission.” Joe frowned; he should have considered the survivors downriver. But it was no surprise that the big man had thought about them. “My absence may affect Haven.”The edges of Larry’s mouth twitched.
Joe let his gaze wonder around the gathering. All stared back. Larry would be missed, for his skills as well as for his sword arm. It could take weeks to journey downriver and back, and it would be a dangerous trip. They all expected Tork’s empire to be broken by smallpox but there still could be violent survivors. His eyes moved to the two men.
“I accept your pledge of loyalty.” Joe stared at the two men. “To atone for your past actions, you will accompany Larry to the mouth of the Long River, what we call the Susquehanna River.” Joe nodded at Larry. “You will guard his life with your own. You will obey Larry; he will speak for me during this journey.”
Joe met Larry’s gaze for several seconds before turning back toward the two men. “Do you accept this quest?”
The two murmured between themselves, throwing glances at Joe and at Larry. Failing to look somber, their faces cracked with smiles. “We accept,” Slatuk said as they stood tall.
Joe allowed the edges of his mouth to turn up in response to Larry’s wide grin. “Take extra horses and supplies.” Joe glanced toward Brent, who nodded. “And the AR15.”
Larry’s smile widened as he breathed in. It faltered on the exhale.
“And?” Joe asked. His friend was still up to something. “Sesapa has asked to go with me.” Larry turned as Sesapa rose from the watching crowd and joined him. They clasped hands. A murmuring spread through the watchers.
Joe nodded his approval and sat down smiling. No surprise. And if there were children in need, Larry would need her help.
“You will guard both of them with your lives,” Joe said, shifting his attention back to the two standing warriors. They nodded, still smiling.
Larry and Sesapa took several steps to the side, leaving Joe a clear view of the remaining stranger, a young woman from Tork’s camp who stood alone, staring at her feet.
Larry said something in a low voice and she stepped forward. “This is Missama.” He paused, eyes studying the ground briefly before looking up. “Ahh...she was forced to cook for Tork’s warriors.”
Kristi rose and approached the woman, stopping next to her. “I have spoken with her.” Kristi turned, eyes traveling, momentarily pausing at each of the surrounding adults and children. “I will prepare a cleansing with Canisa’s help.”
Canisa rose. “This woman who was Missama will be given a new name after the cleansing. She will be reborn a new woman.” She held out her hand, and Kristi accompanied Missama over to sit with her and Gusama. As Larry and Sesapa stepped back into the crowd,
followed by his two charges, Brent stood. “Now?”
Joe shifted in his seat. He still wasn’t sure how to handle this. “Bring him forward.”
Brent limped to the center of the circle and signaled Samatu to join him. The young man shuffled forward, favoring his re-injured leg, until he stood next to Brent, facing Joe.
Joe studied the young warrior. He had also born the full effects of smallpox and his face was badly scarred. “You have been both an enemy and a friend. How do you explain your actions?”
Samatu took
a step forward and straightened. “I followed my father. I thought his path was correct. Only after returning to Tork’s village did I realize that my father was misled by Tork.”
Joe stood. “Who was your father?” “The warrior named Nist.”
A loud gasp jerked Joe’s head to the right. Kristi held her right hand over her mouth. Her left hand rested on Missama’s shoulder.
Joe turned back to Brent. “What do you say?” “Restitution is complete.”
Kristi rose again. “It is not complete.” Her voice trembled but her expression was resolute. “If you are to remain here, you must make a vow to be a warrior of Haven. To be a protector of women and children. To be an ally to all who befriend the inhabitants of Haven. What do you say?”
For less than a breath, confusion flicked across Samatu’s face, and then a small smile softened his features. “I am honored to accept this vow from the Sky Goddess.” He gave her a small bow. “I will be a warrior of Haven. I will protect Haven’s people with my life.”
Kristi stared at Samatu for several heartbeats before shifting her gaze to Larry and then to Brent. “Train him well.” She turned to Joe. “I accept Samatu and his vow.” Larry didn’t wait to be asked. “I also accept his vow.”
Joe looked toward the Grandmothers who smiled and nodded their agreement.
Joe took in a long breath and relaxed. This had gone better than he had expected. “I welcome Samatu as a warrior of Haven. We will feast this evening.”
He held his hand out to Alita as he shifted his gaze to Larry and Sesapa. Why not? As he felt Alita take his hand, he turned to face Kristi. “Will you perform two marriages before this meal?” He allowed a grin in response to the surprised look on her face. They wanted him to be chief? Okay, he could damn well make up a few rules.
Chapter 68. Day 267 - November 28
Joe watched Samatu running through Haven, his slight limp barely noticeable. “Larry is back!” A weight Joe didn’t know he carried lifted. He signaled to the young man, who changed course and in a few heartbeats stood panting in front of Joe.