The Thousand Steps

by Helen Brain

  “Theia was by then half mad with grief, and Bellzeta was insistent, nagging her mother until at last she agreed. They returned to Celestia. Without the necklace and its powers, Theia could never enter Earth again.

  “When the woodcutter came home that day, Theia and Bellzeta were gone. He took Bellzeta’s baby to the mayor’s house and handed him to a servant. ‘Your master’s bastard,’ he said.”

  “I don’t understand,” I say as Aunty Figgy pushes the pan to the back burner and cracks eggs into a skillet. “You told me I’m a descendant of the Goddess. You mean Bellzeta’s my ancestor?” I’m hoping it’s not true.

  “Never!” she exclaims. “Not a drop of Prospiroh’s blood runs in your veins. No, the little girl, Laleuca, had been discovered half dead in the ravine by an old woman searching for herbs. She took her to her cottage, and when Laleuca told her that Bellzeta had pushed her off the cliff, the old woman decided to keep Laleuca hidden for the long months it took for her broken bones to heal. She was afraid that Bellzeta would try again to harm the child. Then she heard that Theia and Bellzeta had disappeared. Laleuca was well again, so she brought the little girl home to her father. He was overjoyed.”

  “Oh,” I say. “What happened next? Where do I come in?”

  “When Laleuca grew up she married a man called Adam den Eeden. She always wore the amulet necklace, and it stayed in the Den Eeden family, but one by one, over the centuries, three of the amulets were lost. All except the one you’re wearing now.”

  “Wait – so I actually have the Goddess’s blood in my veins? I’m one tiny part deity?”

  Aunty Figgy laughs. “That’s right.”

  “And my amulet is part of a sacred necklace created by the gods and goddesses themselves?”

  “That’s right. That’s why the High Priest wants it so much. If he can gain access to Celestia, he and his children will be able to live there forever as immortals.”

  My mouth drops open, and I have a million questions to ask, but she brushes them aside.

  “Shorty and Victor will be coming in any minute. Let me finish my story. Each time an amulet was lost, Prospiroh gained more power over Earth. Finally, when only one amulet remained, the Goddess’s power was weakened enough for Prospiroh’s followers to cause the Calamity that almost destroyed the world.”

  “Why did the High Priest elevate me? He could have just sacrificed me and taken the necklace for himself.”

  “He doesn’t want one amulet. He wants all four of them, united on the chain, and only you can locate them.”

  “But how am I supposed to find them if they’ve been lost for centuries?”

  “Your ancestors will help you.” She grips my hand. “You must be careful. The High Priest thinks they’ll make him immortal. He’ll do anything to get the amulets, but he’s got to do it without spilling your blood, or their dark powers are released.”

  “Dark powers? Like what?” I’m caught up in her story, and the thought of dark powers makes me shudder.

  She pinches her lips together. “I don’t know. And I hope we never find out.” She turns away, clashes the lid onto the skillet and begins to slice the bread. “The thing is,” she says, after a pause, “the High Priest can’t find the amulets on his own. Only the girl with the birthmark has the power to enter the world of her ancestors and retrieve the amulets. That’s you, Ebba. And when you have them all, united on their chain, the gateway to Celestia will open, and Theia will be able to heal the Earth.”

  This is getting seriously weird. Goddess blood, sacred tasks, dark powers and now entering the world of the ancestors?

  “What happens if I refuse the task?”

  “There will be another Calamity. The world will collapse in on itself and implode into a ball of dust.”

  “No pressure then,” I say ruefully. “And let me guess – the High Priest is a descendant of Bellzeta’s baby? The one the woodcutter left at the mayor’s house?”

  “Exactly!”

  She’s not joking.

  Then Shorty and Victor come in for breakfast. “Poor Jasmine isn’t feeling well,” Aunty Figgy lies as she places a plate of mushrooms and sausages in front of them. “I hope Leonid and Mike are feeling alright. They’ve gone to deliver the gift hamper to the High Priest.”

  Shorty’s already got his mouth full. “Shame,” he mumbles, spewing bits of sausage. “Hope she gets better. You’re not eating, Miss Ebba?”

  “I don’t feel well either.” I take some toast and butter it slowly but I can barely think to eat it. I’m so worried about Micah and Jasmine hiding in the mountain, trying to outwit my mortal enemy. Will they come home alive?

  CHAPTER 10

  It’s been over a day since they left, and I can’t sit still. I walk right to the end of the new lands, but I hardly notice the newly furrowed rows or the seedlings that are coming up. I can’t stop thinking about Micah. Right now, if everything’s gone well, they should be hiding in the produce sacks on a wagon, jolting along the road to the warehouse at the harbour. Some members of the resistance will break in and get them onto the boats.

  As I get back to the house I see Hal tying the reins of his horse to the railing. I stop behind a tree and try to compose myself. He mustn’t see me looking stressed. He mustn’t be allowed to see how much I hate him and his family. I have to play the part of the repentant, foolish young girl, who can’t behave properly unless I have a man to tell me what to do.

  He watches me sternly as I come down the driveway. I keep my eyes on the ground.

  “I got your note and your gift,” he says when I join him.

  I’m watching an ant running across the paving and I don’t look up. “I hope you liked them,” I say meekly. “I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am.”

  “Come inside,” he says, starting up the stairs like it’s his house. He leads me into the sitting room, points to the sofa and perches on the arm of the chair opposite. I hope he’ll just shout at me and go home. But he says nothing. He just looks disappointed.

  I swallow. I can’t stand it when people are disappointed in me. It makes me anxious. And when I’m anxious I babble. I mustn’t babble. I’ve got to hold it together. I straighten my back and look up at him.

  “My workers are all sick,” I say. “They’ve been vomiting for days.”

  “I thought I saw whatshisname in the orchard.”

  Is he testing me?

  “Mike? Can’t be. He’s got it the worst.”

  “Not Mike. The cheeky one – Leonid.”

  “Oh, he’s over it. He got it first.”

  “I’m going to come straight out and say this,” he says, sitting forward. “I don’t like that boy.”

  “Boy?”

  “The new one. Mike. He doesn’t know his place. You know what those people are like – they’re animals. They’re not like us. They can’t control their urges. You can’t risk swimming, er, naked when they’re on the premises. One of them will attack you. And you know, they always kill the woman afterwards so they don’t get reported to the shrine command.”

  I force myself to stay calm. “I’ve got Isi to protect me,” I say. “She won’t let anyone come near me, I promise. The thing is, Mike’s a good worker. You know how hard they are to find.”

  My words seem to appease him. He crosses over and sits next to me on the sofa, his eyes sad. “Do you care for me at all?” he asks, taking my hand. “You don’t want to come and live in the compound, and that makes me doubt you. I thought when I saw you there that perhaps you were waiting for someone else to join you in the pool.”

  “Waiting for someone!” I try to look aghast. “What do you think of me, Hal? That I spend my days swimming naked with my workers in the river?” I squeeze his hand. “You have to believe me when I say care about you,” I say, stroking his fingers. “But sometimes I wonder what you see in me. You could have your pick of any girl on Table Island. Pamza’s crazy about you. She’s so pretty. And I’m just a red-haired, ugly, awkward girl from the
colony.”

  “You’ve got so much potential to be pretty,” he says. “You looked so much better when your hair was brown. You must come around so Pietro can dye it again.”

  I’m not sure how to take that. But I have to convince him that I love him. “Sometimes this new life is so overwhelming,” I tell him, taking his hand. “I know I behaved badly, and I disappointed your father and the council, and I’m so sorry. Do you think he will forgive me?”

  “I’m sure of it,” he says, his voice warmer. “He’s a very forgiving man. He’s got eighteen children – he knows what teenage girls are like.”

  I lean my head on his shoulder. “It’s hard, trying to get it right. I wasn’t raised for this life, you know.”

  “I know, my darling. Mistakes are to be expected. What matters is that you’re willing to learn. And I’ll teach you everything I know, I promise. All I ask is that you keep away from the servants. You probably feel more comfortable with them because of your background, but just remember, they’re not our sort of people.”

  “Yes, Haldus,” I say meekly.

  Suddenly I hear horses’ hooves on the driveway and my heart nearly stops. Is it the shrine guard? Oh, Goddess, help me. Have they been caught?

  “You’re so jumpy,” Hal says, peering out of the window. “It’s only Mr Frye.”

  “Good morning, Ebba,” Mr Frye calls, walking straight in without knocking. “I’ve come to see how you’re getting along. I haven’t been keeping a close enough eye on you. Let’s start in the kitchen. Can you call all the staff together, please? There are going to be some changes around here.”

  I follow him through the hall, thinking desperately of what to do next. Hal’s on my heels. I’ve got to create a distraction.

  Luckily Victor is sitting at the table, looking wan, clutching a cup of peppermint tea. He tries to get up when Mr Frye enters.

  “Good morning, sir,” he says, swaying and grabbing the back of the chair. “Don’t come any closer,” he mutters. “I’ve been ill. The others are still knocked out. Vomiting and diarrhoea. Haven’t felt so ill in a long time.”

  Mr Frye looks alarmed. He takes out his handkerchief and covers his mouth. “Hal, we’d better get you out of here,” he says. “Your father will not appreciate you bringing home an illness like this.”

  I take a chance. “But, Mr Frye,” I say, pulling out a chair and gesturing towards it, “can’t you stay a while and help me with my planting schedule? And I wanted to ask you about the staffing issues. And we are going to need money to repair the barn …”

  “Another time, Ebba,” he says through the handkerchief. “Come along, Hal.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Micah and Jasmine don’t come back. We wait all that day, and the next.

  By the evening I’m frantic. What have I done, letting them go alone into the colony?

  Leonid is in a filthy mood. He’s lashing out at me even more than usual. I know he thinks I should just have given the High Priest the amulet. Then the twins would be safely on Greenhaven, and Jasmine would be at home in his arms. He’s got it easy, I think bitterly as we eat our evening meal in silence. There’s nothing standing in the way of their love. They can get married and have babies and be together forever. But Micah and I will always have to hide our love.

  “It’s Shrine Day tomorrow,” Aunty Figgy says as we finish eating. “You’ll have to go.”

  “Shrine! I can’t.”

  “You have to. You have to play the part, remember. You have to go there and act like you’re in love with Hal and are filled with respect for the High Priest and his council.”

  I shake my head. “How on earth can I carry that off? One look at me and they’ll know I hate them.”

  “Ebba,” she says, gripping my shoulders and looking me in the eye, “you can’t let them see you’re upset. You have to pretend everything is going perfectly. Jasmine, Micah, the twins – their lives may depend on it. Your life too. You’re only safe from harm on the grounds of Greenhaven while you have the amulet.”

  I know she’s right, but …

  “And make sure everyone sees that you’re in love with Hal.” Leonid says as he goes out the door.

  “But I’m not,” I wail. “How can I pretend to love him when Micah is in a dungeon somewhere … or even dead.” I burst into tears.

  Aunty Figgy holds me for a while, rocking me. Then she gently pushes me away from her chest, and wipes my eyes with her apron. “You have to be strong. You are the chosen one, Ebba, the one written about in the Book of the Goddess. You wouldn’t have been chosen if you weren’t equal to the task. Now I’m going to make you some chamomile tea and you’re going to sleep soundly until the morning, and then you’re going to go to the shrine and find a way to save your friends.”

  I don’t want to be brave. I want to throw myself on my bed and cry forever. But I don’t. I drink her tea, brush my teeth and go dutifully to bed.

  She comes in to kiss me goodnight. “Your mother would be proud of you,” she says, tucking the blankets around my shoulders. “Stay true to your heart. You won’t be alone. The Goddess will go with you.”

  Isi seems to know how upset I am. She crawls closer to me, and rests her head on my chest, her amber eyes gazing at me adoringly. I stroke her ears and she gives a big sigh and goes to sleep.

  JUST BEFORE TEN the next morning Leonid steers the buggy up the steep hill to the shrine. “See what you can find out,” he says. “Best scenario, they reached the harbour. The twins are safe on Silvermine Island. Maybe Jasmine and Micah are just struggling to get back into the settlement.”

  I look up at the shrine shining in the sun, the crowds of citizens pouring in through the tall metal doors. My courage fails. “Let’s just go home.”

  “You have to go in, Ebba.” He stops the buggy near the steps. “Come on, do it for Micah.”

  The mention of Micah nearly makes me start crying again. But I pull down my robe and make sure my turban is tight. Aunty Figgy has hidden the amulet inside my bun, secured with six hairpins, and she’s wound a turban around my hair to make it doubly safe. She’s found another necklace in my great-aunt’s jewellery box. This one is an old silver coin with an eagle on the front. From a distance it could pass as the amulet, especially if I keep it under my robe. “Good luck,” he says as he closes the buggy door behind me.

  I plaster a smile on my face and walk as regally as I can to the entrance of the shrine. Hal is waiting for me at the door, dressed in a golden robe and is beaming from ear to ear.

  “You look so handsome,” I tell him, kissing his cheek. The feel of his skin makes my flesh crawl.

  He takes my hands in his. “And you are beautiful, my darling.”

  The bells are ringing, and we have to hurry to our seats. Pamza and Cassie are sitting next to us, dressed in vibrant robes of reds and purples. “What’s the occasion?” I whisper.

  “Shhhhhhh,” Cassie hisses. She winks at Pamza.

  The band starts to play, and the High Priest is brought in on his golden throne. From the podium, the worship leaders beam over the congregation. Everyone is singing and dancing and clapping hands, and I join in, pretending I worship Prospiroh. The huge brass incense burners puff out clouds of fragrant smoke, and the drums beat faster. Now that I’m feeling apart from it all, I can see how the drums are used to work up the congregation. The incense, the music – they’re devices to hypnotise us, to keep us compliant.

  Finally the High Priest is at his place in the centre of the stage. He rises, walks forward with arms outstretched, and booms, “My dearest children in Prospiroh, welcome, welcome to this joyous occasion.” Then he turns to where I’m standing next to Hal. “I’m going to ask two fine young people to come onto the stage. Haldus and Ebba, please come and join me.”

  Me? And Hal? Why?

  Everyone is beaming, except Pamza, who looks like she might cry, and Righteous Lucas, who is looking worried as usual, seated behind the High Priest on the podium.

  �
��Go on,” Cassie whispers, giving me a shove.

  Hal holds my hand tight. “Come on, my love,” he murmurs, and we walk up the stairs and onto the stage. The High Priest greets us with kisses on each cheek and then takes our hands. We stand in a row, the three of us, and I look out over the congregation of happy citizens, and wonder what on earth is going on. All this for a gift basket? They must really believe I’m repentant.

  “There is no occasion as joyous as the joining of two healthy young people,” the High Priest booms. “I’m happy to announce the marriage of Miss Ebba den Eeden of the farm Greenhaven, to my son, Haldus Poladion.”

  I’m going to vomit. Black spots shoot across my eyes. I almost fall, but Lucas jumps forward and catches me.

  “Be brave,” he whispers in my ear.

  He can’t have said that. I’m obviously hallucinating from the incense.

  Hal turns to me with a delighted grin. “Isn’t this a wonderful surprise? Are you okay? You’re so pale.”

  “I … I’m shocked …” Sweat breaks out on my forehead. I remember I have to be the good girl. “I’m delighted, but … it’s so unexpected …” I force myself to smile, as widely as I can, and I move into his arms, although every part of me is screaming Run! Run!

  We kiss. The congregation go crazy.

  “Come, my dear.” Hal’s mother, Evelyn, has come onto the stage. “Time to get you ready.”

  “Ready? For what?”

  “The wedding, of course. Your clothes are waiting in the sanctuary. Pamza and Cassie are your bridesmaids.”

  “We’re getting married now?”

  “Of course! Come along, we have lots to do. Pietro is ready to do your make-up and hair, and just wait till you see your robe. It’s wonderful.”

  Hal is beaming. “Hurry, Ebba, I can’t wait!”

  I look around the crowded shrine. What am I going to do? There’s not a single person I can turn to. I’m in this alone. Pietro’s going to take my hair down and find the amulet. He’ll take it to the High Priest and then it will be gone. When we’re married, I’ll have to do exactly what Hal says. I’ll have to live here at the compound. He may never let me go home again.