by Jen Minkman
“We might have provoked him a little bit,” I admit honestly.
Andy’s eyes dart to Mara. “Well, congratulations. Ben finally pulled it off. He’s made his case with Saul – probably been nagging him for so long that our great leader couldn’t stand it anymore. So he arranged your wedding party. Scheduled it for tonight.”
The world stops spinning. Mara gapes at Andy, and I swallow painfully. We were joking about this – we didn’t think Saul would actually do this.
“Yes, you heard me. Saul wants you to marry Ben.” Andy looks at Mara grimly.
“But – he can’t do that,” she cries out in fear. “It’s against the rules.”
“You do realize Saul hasn’t been a big fan of the rules for quite some time,” Andy comments.
Mara turns pale as a sheet and plonks down on the rickety bed in the corner. “What am I supposed to do?” she wails. “I can’t marry Ben. The minute he officially becomes my husband tonight...” She doesn’t finish, but the implication is clear. A blow to the head isn’t going to stop him this time around.
Andy takes her hand. “Escape to Newexter,” he urges her. “Hide there until the situation here has changed. Once we’ve confronted Saul with the things we’ve learned…”
“But where?” Mara asks in a shaky voice. “I can’t rely on the parents. And the villagers of Newexter will send me back instantly when they discover I’m not married, because as long as I’m not, I belong here.”
I suddenly have an idea. “Go to my mother. She won’t send you back. I’m sure of it. She doesn’t agree with the things that are happening here either.”
“But…” Mara starts to object.
I take the necklace from my pants pocket. Grandmother’s note is tucked away in the cracked walnut once more. “Give her this and tell her to read the note. I’m telling you, she won’t hesitate to take you in after that. You can even tell her…” I stop for a second. “That we need the parents’ help over here,” I finish softly.
“Where’s The Book?” Andy asks.
I pull it out of my underpants and hand it to him.
“You should go right now,” I tell Mara. “Once you’re at the gate, start running and keep running until you reach the village. If no one sees you leave, Ben will only find out you’re gone when he’s stood up at the altar tonight.”
“Okay.” She nods and gets up. Her eyes drift to Andy, who pulls her into his arms and kisses her so passionately it makes me blush.
Then she’s gone and I’m alone with Andy.
“Tonight we’re going to strike,” Andy says with a stern look on his face. “I’ll focus all attention on myself and tell everyone what Saul has done.”
“What’s your plan?”
“Colin will help me. He’ll distract Saul’s buddies. They always stand guard on opposite sides of the manor house portico where Saul does his speeches, so no one can get to him. But I want to get Saul away from there and stand on that very spot myself. So I can show The Book to the youngsters. So I can read from it.”
I shiver. “You’re one brave guy. He’s going to kill you.”
Andy’s eyes sparkle with anticipation. “No, he won’t. If I do well, they’ll kill him when I’ve had my say on account of all the lies he’s been telling us.”
“I sure hope you’re right.”
Andy nods, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Leia, you’re wonderful. I haven’t had a chance to thank you yet, but you did the bravest thing of all. You stole The Book. Thanks to you, Saul will have to give up his imaginary crown.”
I swell with pride. I may not be the best survivor of the lot, but at least they can leave it in my capable hands to start a rebellion.
“You’re welcome,” I mumble.
“See you later, at the assembly.” Andy takes a step back and leaves the hut to go to his own dwelling.
My heart beats in my throat when I step out of the hut after him. I book it for the kitchen, the two baskets of food piled high in my arms. Already, I’m nervous for tonight, and it isn’t even dark yet. My stomach rumbles, but I’m way too apprehensive to want to eat anything. Every now and then I scan the grounds looking for Colin, but there’s no one here. They’re all probably out hunting, fishing or harvesting. The grain on the fields was already partly ripe yesterday.
When I enter the house, I hear voices down the hall. Saul and Ben are just stepping out of the old dining room in the manor. The long table in there accommodates up to twenty people. When Colin and I were still allowed into all rooms of the house, we’d often fantasize about our forefathers having dinner parties there, all sitting together. Nephews, nieces, children and grandchildren – all who have given life to the island. Swords are on the wall above the fireplace, and although they don’t emit light like the ones Luke and Leia are holding on the front cover of The Book, I’m sure those weapons belonged to them.
I wonder what Ben and Saul were doing there. Nobody goes into that room anymore nowadays.
“Hey, butch,” Ben yells at me across the hall. “Where’s your lovely girlfriend?”
I clench my jaw. Oh, how I would love to kick that piece of shit in the shins and throw all the roots in these baskets at his miserable head, but I shouldn’t. He’ll get his just deserts tonight.
“She went fishing with Andy,” I reply, avoiding his eyes.
“Hmm,” Saul says. “Well, when she gets back, you tell her she should come see my brother. He has a surprise for her.” His smile is dripping with malicious pleasure.
I can’t help but gloat when I think of the blow Ben’s ego will suffer once he discovers Mara’s gone. It’s going to hurt even more than that nasty punch to his hooked nose. I smile at him sweetly. “Of course, Saul. I will.”
I dodge around him and push the kitchen door open. My hands tremble when I put the baskets on the table, and they only stop shaking when I walk over to the well to haul up some water to wash the vegetables. Soon, this whole nightmare will be over. I’ve lasted all these years – surely I can tough it out for a few more hours.
***
When evening falls, I help the others when they bring out the candles to light up the portico. Saul barks orders at us to put candles on either side of the stairs, alongside the white flowers a few other girls have gathered.
“What the heck is he planning?” whispers Padma next to me, decorating a big candle with some bindweed. “Is he finally tying the knot? This looks like a wedding venue.”
I say nothing and catch Ami’s eye while she’s fussing around with some wild daisies. She knows what’s going to happen tonight. I talked to her and Colin right after I was done in the kitchen.
“Who knows,” Ami shrugs.
“Well, who’s the lucky lady?”
“No idea. Not me, that’s for sure. Let’s just wait and see.”
“Whoever she is, I’m eternally grateful,” Padma sighs. “Saul is a total grinch. It’s about time he left for Newexter.”
If only.
When the sun dips below the skyline, we light the candles. It’s perfectly still. There’s not a breath of wind, and even the crickets seem to have stopped chirping waiting for something. The world awaits the big shift that will take place this evening, under these stars.
At the edge of the manor grounds, behind a storage tent, Colin is waiting. He and Pete have made torches, which they will use to set fire to a part of the field. Pete sprinkled oil on the already dry grass earlier today so it will light up in no time. Once the flames erupt, they’ll suddenly appear, call Saul a liar and a fraud, and insist he has to step down. Hopefully, this will cause enough of a kerfuffle to distract Saul’s bodyguards, so Andy can sneak up from behind, knock Saul unconscious and read from The Book to our group without censorship. With a little luck, Saul’s chums won’t dare to silence him with everyone present.
In the silence, we all wait for something to happen. Then, the door swings open and Saul steps onto the portico, followed by his burly friends. Ben positions himself on Saul’s right side, next to a
column, a sly smile on his face. Still, he looks somewhat restless – of course he hasn’t seen his blushing bride yet. Mara hasn’t taken an interest in his ‘surprise’ whatsoever.
“Dear attendees,” Saul breaks the silence. “Tonight is a special occasion. Two people will be joined in matrimony, witnessed by all of you. The Force be in them.”
Of course, Saul can’t whip out his Book to read from, so he must be glad with this distraction. No one wonders why he’s not carrying it. They’re all far too curious about who’s getting married.
From the corner of my eye, I can see Colin and Pete approach. The torches flare up in the dark.
“But first, we have another item on the program,” Saul continues.
The main door opens, and Max and Cal appear in the doorway, dragging a handcuffed Henry outside. Cal gives the man a big push so he stumbles forward and lands on his knees in front of Saul.
Oh no. What is this?
“This Fool,” a red-faced Saul shouts, pointing an accusatory finger at Henry, “has crossed the Wall. He has invaded our community to spread lies. He claims our Book is mere fantasy. He says Luke and Leia have never really existed!” He drops his voice dramatically. “He even stubbornly maintains he comes from across the sea.”
His words send a shock through the crowd – myself included. Fantasy? Is this man from the World across the Waters trying to tell us that our ancestors are not real?
I stand there petrified, watching the scene unfold. Saul kicks Henry in the side, beckoning Cal and Max over to join him.
They’re carrying swords. The swords from the dining room.
“He wants to destroy our world,” Saul yells, his face heated and his eyes glittering restlessly. “Question my leadership. He wants to make doubters of us all with his Foolish talk. But I won’t let that happen.”
Cal takes a step forward. Sweat is dripping from Henry’s forehead. My heart speeds up and my throat goes dry. All of a sudden, it hits me – this whole situation is getting way out of hand.
Speechlessly I watch Max move over to Henry’s other side. He’s lifting the sword into the air. I’m as dumbfounded as the rest of the youngsters surrounding me. No one steps forward. No one says a word, but their fear is palpable.
When Saul steps aside to make room for his henchmen, I finally regain the power of speech and storm forward. “No, wait!” I cry out. “You don’t understand!”
But it’s too late. With a sickening thud, Henry’s body slumps down on the front steps when Cal and Max viciously stab him with their swords. Blood trickles down the stairs. Henry’s eyelids droop and his head hits the marble.
I look around in a panic. Where the blazes is Colin?
My brother finally kicks into action. He and Pete rush forward and throw their torches onto the lawn in front of the manor house. Fire blazes instantly. “Liar!” they shout at Saul. “You’ve kept things from us!”
For a split second, Saul seems unhinged, but then he smirks at them. His guards don’t attempt to protect him – they’re too busy dragging Henry’s body away.
“Me, a liar?” he says angrily.
“You’ve been lying to us,” Colin splutters, but it’s not convincing anyone. This is not working.
Saul laughs scornfully. “Hold on. Do you actually believe what this man was telling us?” he challenges Colin in a threatening voice. “How about we give you the same treatment as him?”
Our whole plan goes up in flames. Literally. I can hear the muttering of the onlookers around me, see the awkward glances they steal at Colin and Pete. Like they are the liars.
Colin pales, helplessly looking over at Andy who’s still waiting at the other side of the portico. He hasn’t moved. And then, Colin’s eyes rest on me.
Saul follows Colin’s gaze and seems to suddenly remember I was the only one who objected to Henry’s summary execution. His eyes narrow almost imperceptibly. His calm tone chills me to the bone when he tells his soldiers: “Seize her.”
For just a moment, time seems to slow down. I gape at Saul, unable to move.
“Run!” Colin hollers. “Leia, now!”
That shakes me out of my stupor. I turn around and run like the wind. I don’t even stop to think where the blazes I’m supposed to go or how I can be so selfish as to leave Colin behind to fend for himself. He’s right in telling me to run. If Saul catches me, he will most likely kill me too. He’s gone insane. I have to get off the grounds and disappear into the blackness of the night as fast as possible.
Branches hit my face when I plunge into the dark of the forest. The moon is only a small sliver in the night sky and does little to improve my sight. Then again, it also means my pursuers won’t be able to see me.
It’s only when I reach the Wall that I realize where I was headed all this time. This is the place where I encountered Walt for the first time. Saul’s friends can’t be far off, so I have to be quick. I grope my way up the tree next to the Wall like a squirrel and don’t hesitate when I lower myself and drop down on the other side of the barrier.
Blindly, I run on. I’m in uncharted territory, in an unknown world where Saul fears to tread. He won’t follow me here.
I’m in Fool’s Land.
-11-
WHEN I finally see the first houses of Hope Harbor looming in the distance, I’m no longer running. Rather, I’m stumbling on. My feet are bleeding from hitting stones on the path in my frantic flight. Tears are running down my face. Even though I didn’t really believe Saul would follow me across the Wall, I still wouldn’t slow down.
I accost the very first man I encounter. “Walt,” I pant. “Where is… Walt. The Bookkeeper’s nephew.”
“My heavens, girl, what happened to you?” the elderly man asks with a bewildered face, putting his arm around my shoulders. “Why don’t you take a seat first, love? I’ll go and get Walt out of that meeting he’s in.”
I sit down on the wooden bench the man has steered me toward, underneath a street lantern next to one of the houses. My heart hammers in my chest and my hair is sticky with sweat. If I could make one wish now, it’d be for hours of rest, just sitting here and letting the world go by, but I know I can’t. Walt is in some meeting – well, so much the better. He can ask all the people gathered there to help him. To help me. I have to save Colin, Andy and Pete. If they’re still alive, that is.
After what seems like an eternity, my savior comes back with Walt in tow. His eyes widen when he catches sight of me. “Leia, what happened? Are you alone? Where are your friends?”
I start crying desperately, sagging against Walt’s shoulder when he sits down next to me. “He’s dead,” I sniff.
“Who’s dead?”
“Henry. They... Saul killed him.”
Walt stops breathing. Anxious, I look up and see his jaw working. “That does it. We’re going in,” he decides. “Is your friend still there? Is Mara in danger?”
I shake my head. “Mara left earlier this afternoon. Saul had arranged her marriage to his brother, so she ran away. But my brother’s still there. And Andy, and Pete – our friends. They helped me. We wanted to confront Saul with his lies, but everything got out of hand.”
“Do you think he’d...” A tell-tale silence follows.
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” I whisper.
He cries out something – sounding kind of gruff, so I’m assuming he’s using a few choice words in his own dialect – and gets up. “I have to drum up some helpers. Tony will want to come too, I bet.”
“Wait,” I say. “If you want to attack the manor house and capture Saul, I suggest you ask for help in Newexter. Mara has already told my mother about what’s happening at the manor. The… I mean, our parents wanted to come and help us, I think. And they know their way around the house.”
He nods curtly. “We can use all the help we can get. How do we get to your village without being seen?”
I ponder his question for a moment. “We could go by ship. If you sail around the island, you can go ashore
at the eastern beach and reach Newexter quite easily from there. The parents often go fishing on that beach, so there’s a road.”
“A ship? Consider it done.”
“Are we leaving now?”
He smiles reassuringly. “Yes, we are, as soon as possible. But we’ll have to tell one of the captains to prepare a ship that’s capable of carrying a lot of people first. I already have an idea which ship to use.”
“You mean the Explorer?” the elderly man inquires. He is still standing next to us.
Walt nods and grabs my hand, taking me on my way to the salvation he’s promised me. During our walk, I tell him bits and pieces about the situation on our side of the Wall. While I talk, we walk along endless streets lined with houses that look a whole lot sturdier than the houses we build. There are street lights everywhere and almost all roads are paved. And it just goes on and on. Hope Harbor is larger than Newexter… much larger.
“Just how many people live here?” I ask shyly at some point.
“About one thousand,” Walt replies.
“Oh.” All at once, I feel like a bumpkin walking around this city. I come from a village of about two hundred inhabitants, and the group living in the manor only consists of fifty-one youngsters. That’s the biggest crowd I’ve been around in the past six years. Everything here is so overwhelming.
Silently, I plod on next to the boy I pegged for a Fool only two days ago, who turns out to be much more cultivated than me.
“How are you holding up?” Walt interrupts my train of thought. “I’m not going too fast, am I?”
I shake my head. “Can’t go fast enough for me. I’m just thinking,” I reply quietly.
Walt puts his arm around me. “About what?”
“About how different everything is over here. How it’s possible you are with so many, and why we have always lived apart from each other.” I look up at Walt. “I found out I am part Foolish myself, you know. My grandmother was born here.”
“Really.” Walt raises an eyebrow. “No wonder you seem a bit bubbleheaded at times.”
“Look who’s talking,” I throw back.