Colin followed him into another room where more papers were stacked on tables. Hansel sat at one and ran his fingers over the brail writing. “This all sounds like gibberish to me.”
“Father!” Bye said in a firm tone. “I have advised you to destroy that book. It may be a conjure, a call to Satan.”
“I have read it many times and Satan has never appeared,” Hansel said then returned his attention to the book and read slowly and hesitantly. “La tarde equivocada, se vistio de frío. Detras de los cristales, turbios, todos los ninos, ven convertirse en pajaros un arbol amarillo.”
Colin chuckled. “’Through misty windows the children, confined indoors due to the cold, watch the wind play with the yellow leaves of a friendly tree.’ It sounds like poetry.”
Bye’s face tightened. “You know of this gibberish?” he said. “You know of this conjure?”
“It’s just a different language,” Colin said. “It’s Spanish, spoken by a number of groups. Do you also have poetry in English?”
“We have volumes,” Bye snapped, seemingly irritated by the question. “Our town has a resident poet.”
“That book is the same, just a different language.”
“But it may contain the words of Satan,” Bye said. “A different language means a different philosophy. Maybe one that has gone down the wrong path such as what we’ve heard of the short people.”
“Short people?” Colin said.
Hansel laughed. “The stories mention that they were quite peaceful and not aggressive.”
“But their ideas are straight from hell,” Bye said. “They believe the earth is round. How could that be? The Bible doesn’t say so. It’s flat.”
“What else do they believe?” Colin said.
“They think we come from some place above us, and at one time we could fly like birds. Have you heard of such evil notions?”
“Uh…” Colin said. “Some people have different legends and myths.”
“Some people are bound for hell,” Bye stated flatly.
“You never know, son,” Hansel said. “There may be references to it in the parts of the Bible we have that are missing.”
“Father, there’s nothing missing from our Bible.”
“We’ve been over this before,” Hansel said. “There are more than a few places that end mid-story and mid-sentence.”
Colin glanced back through the door to the main room and looked up at the dust caked stacks of paper on top of the bookshelf. He smiled to himself and thought it better to keep his mouth shut.
“It was written that way,” Bye said. “It was to promote our divine inspiration as to what it would have said.”
“How long has your family lived in this house?” Colin said.
“I am the eighth generation and my son is the ninth,” Hansel said.
“Were all your family ministers of religion?”
“Yes,” Bye said in surprise. “The ministry goes from father to son. Isn’t that the way with your people? You said your family was military.”
“Sometimes yes, sometimes no,” Colin said.
“What if a man was the son of a minister and taught to read the Holy Scriptures, and then before his training was complete, he decided to be a soldier like you. Would they allow that?”
“Of course. It happens all the time.”
“That’s dangerous!” Bye shouted. “A soldier who has read the Bible?”
“Why? Many of our people have read it.”
“Only a minister or one preparing for the ministry should read it. It takes a fully trained person to interpret it to others. Someone who doesn’t fully understand could contaminate all around them. Your people need to correct themselves or go down the road to hell.”
“I don’t think it’s that serious, son,” Hansel said. “A person like that would still have guidance from his father.”
Colin turned to Hansel and attempted to change the subject. “Where are the short people you spoke of?”
“Not too far,” Hansel said. “They live on the other side of the great wall to the sun end.”
“The mountain range… uh… are there mountains in the direction of sun end?”
“Yes,” Bye said. “There’s a passage through the mountains, but many sun highs ago in the time of my great-great-grandfather we lost it.”
“The short people speak a different language but they also speak English,” Hansel said. “Few of our people have visited them, but they spoke highly of their industriousness. Our people mentioned good products, finely woven from grass and a strange shaped long knife they used to harvest fruit. We’d like to trade if only we could find the passage again.”
“What did your people have that they wanted?”
“Mostly goods made out of leather.”
“We’ll try to find the pass,” Colin said. “We’ve been trained for half our lives to find our way through the dark.”
“Take care on that,” Bye said. “There’s evil among them. The short people spoke of witches in their midst. The witches are called ‘city jaws’. They accept these creatures as normal.”
“What do the witches do?” Colin said.
“They’re beautiful,” Hansel said with a chuckle. “They cast spells on people turning them into slaves. They also cast spells and divine the future, but I think it’s just a myth.”
“Myth?” Bye said. “Our people didn’t think so.”
Colin smiled. “Interesting.”
Bye frowned. “You seem amused. If you do cross the wall I hope you’re not thinking of playing with such evil. The witches will turn you from the paths of righteousness.”
“I can assure you Pastor, I never play with witches.”
“That and the satanic notion that men could fly. If you do make it there, just negotiate trade, nothing more, and tell them they’re not welcome on this side of the wall. God in his infinite wisdom put the mountains there to protect us from them.”
“We have to find the pass first before we think of how we can protect ourselves,” Colin said.
* * *
Ida walked a narrow street that lead to the main square. Ahead she heard the sounds of an argument and she strained her ears to hear the words. It appeared to be a difference of opinion over the price of a purchase. She couldn’t stop to listen more because she was late for the meeting.
“Ho Ida, Tanni.”
Ida turned to see Tanni approach at a quick walk. “Ah… Ho Tanni. How did you know it was me?”
“I saw where you passed and followed your trail.”
“Ah… yes… ah… how are you today?”
“I’m fine, but there’re things I wish to discus with you.”
“Ok, would you like a lemonade?”
“That’d be nice.”
The two started off in the direction of Rodan’s lemonade shop.
“I don’t have any money,” Ida said.
“That’s fine. With what I will say, I believe it’s my time to pay.”
They entered the lemonade shop which was busier than the first time they were there. “Vacant table?” Tanni asked the crowd.
“Taken,” said a man at the closest table.
“Taken,” said a woman at a table further away.
Ida saw a vacant one at the rear of the shop but kept her mouth shut.
“At the back,” Rodan said. “I think there’s one to the right.” He walked to the table with a pitcher in hand. “Here, it’s vacant.”
Ida and Tanni made their way in the direction of Rodan’s voice. Ida let Tanni lead for fear of making a mistake and giving her abilities away.
They sat and Rodan poured them a drink.
Ida took a sip. “So, what is it you want to talk about?”
Tanni paused and appeared to think. “Ah…” she said eventually. “I don’t know how to put this, I don’t know if your customs are exactly the same as ours.”
Ida laughed. “I’ve been in a number of places where customs are different. I’ll understand.”
>
“I just don’t want to offend you.”
“I’m not easily offended.”
“In that case I think I’ll tell you my thoughts directly. Do you have any objections to sharing your husband?”
“Ken?”
“Yes, he is your husband isn’t he?”
“Ah…. Yes, but I don’t exactly know what you mean.”
“I want your permission to court him.”
“Why?” Ida replied in disbelief.
“Oh, I’m sorry if I insulted you.”
Ida shrugged. “No, no, I’m just confused. Why are you interested in him?”
“He’s good looking and very brave to cross the dark. He also has a pleasant voice; I think he would be a good provider.”
“Yes, but he does have his faults.”
Tanni frowned. “He’s lazy?”
“No, but he does tell the stupidest jokes and he goes drinking with his friends often.”
“All men do. Is he good at sex?”
“Ah… yes… he’s quite proficient.”
“Does he have a big penis?”
Ida burst out laughing. “Well, he is a black guy.”
Tanni’s face dropped. “Oh, he beats you.”
Ida stopped laughing. “No, he doesn’t. Why do you think that?”
“You said he was black.”
“No, no, that means something different to us.”
“What does it mean with your people?”
“He… uh… has a big penis?”
“In your village do wives share a single bed with their husband or does each wife have a separate bed and the husband goes to each in turn?”
“Uh…. Well…. Uh… it varies depending on their wished.”
“I prefer a single bed. That way the wives can collaborate in pleasuring their husband.”
“That… uh… sounds interesting.”
Tanni brightened. “So, would you mind if I did court him?”
“I’d have to think about it.”
“You do that and remember, I’m a very good cook and I’m willing to learn your customs.”
Ida finished her lemonade and stood. “I’ll think about it.”
* * *
Ida caught up with the three men as they walked toward their house.
“Hey Ida,” Yuri said. “We sold everything, including the handcart.”
“Where’ve you been,” Colin said, “we were supposed to meet twenty minutes ago?”
“We really needed you,” Ken said. “You weren’t there to protect us from the women. They just about mobbed us.”
“Talking with Tanni over a lemonade.”
“Getting more information?” Colin said.
“Sort of. Ken, how big’s your dong?”
“What?” Ken exclaimed. “You’ve seen me naked.”
“Yes but it has never been erect when I’ve seen you.”
* * *
Ken sat at the table in their house. “Col, what else did you get out of Bye other than the short people and witches?”
“Satan, Satan, Satan, road to hell, evil and sin, sin, sin.”
Ken laughed. “Those words appear in every second sentence that comes out of the man.” He turned to Ida. “Thank you for not telling my secrets,” he sighed.
“Well, it seems that in this society, if you’re married, you’re supposed to tell other women about it,” Ida said.
“Why?” Yuri said. “This is one weird place. People talk about sex openly but they don’t want you to do it.”
Colin chuckled. “Yeah, the women talk about your dong and when you try to use it they cut it off.”
“It might be some sort of test.” Ida said.
“Test of what?” Yuri said.
“Self-control,” Ida said. “They get you interested by talk and you have to control yourself and not do it.”
“Let’s figure this out,” Colin said. “We have a society that’s blind, which is a very difficult situation. Let’s go from there.”
“I have it,” Ida said. “No sex if you’re not married. They have no birth control. Being a single parent would be a disaster. It’d take more than one blind person to look after a child.”
Yuri broke into a broad smile. “Yeah, yeah. They also have a serious infant mortality rate so they need more births. By keeping young people horny and unsatisfied they’re quicker to jump into marriage. Col, that’s why you’re getting marriage proposals from a fifteen year old. Short life expectancy. They have to reproduce early in order to survive.”
Colin took a seat at the table. “I guess we’ve just got to play along so they don’t reject us.”
“What,” Ken said, “I have got to marry a second wife before I have a first one?”
“No, no, we accept their lifestyle and come up with something that’s logical and acceptable to them to keep us out of trouble.”
“So, how do I dump her if she proposes marriage?”
Colin laughed then recited a couple of lines from an Old Earth army marching song. “The wedding was, a formal one. The father had, a white shotgun.”
“Oh, you’re a great help,” Ken said.
“Don’t worry,” Ida said. “She needs my permission to marry you and I’ll keep telling her I’m thinking about it.”
The call: “Ho Tanni,” was followed by a knock at the door.
“Ho Tanni, Colin,” Colin returned.
“Don’t open the door yet,” Ken said. He jumped toward the back door. “Tell her I’m on the can or something.”
“What if she stays a while,” Ida said.
“Tell her I have a case of Regis revenge,” Ken said followed by the sound of a slamming rear door.
Colin opened the front door and grunted. “Tanni, it’s nice to see you.”
Tanni pushed Malia into the room. “Guess who I found at your door. I think there’s more than one of you that has gained an interest here. Where’s the table?” Yuri tapped on the table and Tanni placed a wooden bowl on it that’s contents smelled of chicken. “Ken, did you like the last one I brought?”
“He’s out the back doing privates,” Ida said.
“Oh. Ida, have you thought more on what we talked about?”
“I’ll have to think further. There are family things we have to consider. We have very complex families where we come from, and a lot of customs we have to conform to.”
Tanni’s face dropped. “I understand. I’ll not press the matter.” She turned and quickly exited the door.
“Hell,” Colin said. “I hope that didn’t upset her.”
“I’ll tell Ken she’s gone,” Yuri said and walked to the back door.
“It didn’t,” Malia said. “You’re supposed to keep her waiting. It’s the way it’s done.”
“Thank heavens,” Colin said.
Ken entered the room. “She’s gone?” he said.
The Rangers nodded.
Colin turned to Malia. “You do know what Tanni wants don’t you.”
“Oh yes, everyone does.”
Yuri chuckled. “The wedding was, a formal one. The father had, a white shotgun.”
“Oh, shut up,” Ken said.
“Malia,” Colin said, “will it upset Tanni if Ida doesn’t allow her to court Ken?”
“Yes it will, very much.”
“Damn!” Colin said
“Is there anything we can do?” Ida said.
“You are his wife. You have to agree or give her a present.”
“Good!” Colin said, slapping his side. “A way out.”
Tears appeared on Malia’s face. “Are you going to give me a present too when you say we won’t be betrothed?”
“I… ah…. I… I…”
“Malia,” Ida said. “We have different customs. You can’t get betrothed and married for a long time.”
“I am ugly? You didn’t say the truth when you said I was beautiful?”
“No you’re not ugly, you are beautiful. That’s not it. It’s your age. We don’t get marrie
d until we are at least…” Ida did some quick mental arithmetic, “thirty two sun highs.”
“That’s ten sun highs from now. I can’t wait that long. I want a husband that will take me away. I want to be with people who’ll not punish me if they knew I have the visions.”
“Come here,” Colin said, extending his arms, “give me a hug.” Colin put his arms around her. “I promise you that we’ll take you with us if your people don’t accept your visions.”
“Good Col,” Ida said. “You’d have a mutiny on your hands if we didn’t.”
“And we’ll be betrothed?” Malia said. “I heard that you’re a soldier. I’d be a good wife of a soldier. If you make war, I would prepare your weapons and wait for your return. I have heard the stories about the times past when they did make war.”
“You’re going to be too busy to think of marriage,” Colin said. “You’ll be in school for some time catching up.”
“They had wars here?” Yuri said. “An interesting concept. Two blind armies charging each other.”
“Not much different to the way we do it,” Colin chuckled.
Chapter 11
An evening breeze descended from the mountain range that centered Doris Island. It was a relief from the summer heat. The planet Casia was still adjusting thirty years after the first attempts by the automated system of the colony ship to terraform the planet. The island would still remain tropical even after another hundred years, but it wouldn’t have the summer heat waves it did at present.
Jim’s dog Ralph was particularly affected outside of the air conditioned environment of the palatial house complex. He walked beside Jim, panting as he went. He was thirteen years old. Even though the life expectancy for humans had doubled since Jim’s origins in the twenty first century, life expectancy for dogs had only increased by fifty percent. Ralf wasn’t earth old, here he was early middle aged, but his modernization hadn’t done as well as it did on his human time traveling companions.
“Hey Jim,” Chris said as he approached.
“Welcome,” Jim said. “So, what’s the big issue that you have to discuss immediately? Another government regulation that jams up one of my shipments?”
“Sorry, there’s nothing overt going on right now, just same old shit. I needed an excuse to get away from the house. Hope you don’t mind.”
Victim of Circumstance (The Time Stone Trilogy Book 3) Page 14