Evalene's Number: The Number Series

by Bethany Atazadeh

  He’d brought her to a building full of books.

  A more perfect job had never crossed her mind. Jeremiah smiled at the expression on her face. Eyes wide, she took in the walls upon walls of books, the different couches and chairs lining the walls and dotted across the room, and the curved staircase in the center of the building that led to the garden on top. Elated, Evalene raced ahead of Jeremiah up the stairs into the building. Though it took twice as long, she insisted on filling out the application herself. It needed to be just right. She asked Jeremiah to check it for errors not just once, but twice.

  When Jeremiah pulled the front door of the library open afterward, the bright sun hit Evalene’s eyes, making her blink out of her daze. She must have looked overwhelmed because he took her hand and squeezed once before letting go, causing her heart to beat a new and different panic rhythm. And this time, when Jeremiah let go, Evalene wished he hadn’t. The warmth of his palm in hers was a comforting distraction.

  Without needing to talk about it, they made their way out of the city, knowing this was the last application. Nothing else came close. He made sure to point out the nearby landmarks and roads once again so that she’d have no trouble finding her way back to the huge building.

  Evalene felt as if she were walking two feet taller on the way back. Finally something she was good at. Not just something any person could be good at, but specifically her. As they travelled out of the city and its suburbs, reaching the orange gravel path back to camp, she got up the nerve to speak. “Thank you. For all your help.”

  “No problem.” Jeremiah brushed it off with the wave of his hand. “Make sure to go back a few times with Olive to get familiar with the city before you explore it alone. It’s easy to get lost. And make sure Olive shows you some boarding houses too. You can stay in the camp as long as it’s open,” he added for the second time that day. “The tents will stay up at least another month after we’re gone. But it’s good to be prepared.”

  Evalene nodded. Her chest felt tight and heavy, as if something heavier than Jeremiah’s submarine sat on it.

  “Don’t worry, Hiccups.” He smiled reassuringly, as if reading her mind. “Deep breaths, remember?” Evalene felt the nickname almost as much as she heard it, like a warm blanket wrapped around her snugly, comforting.

  Neither of them said a word until they reached the camp. As they crested the last hill and the tents came into sight, Evalene frowned. “Hey, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Jeremiah said, bumping her arm lightly as he stepped towards the camp. But then he stopped, shook his head, and half turned toward her. “Well, I mean, I am going somewhere…”

  She knew she was supposed to laugh at the bad joke. But she pictured the hangings from the Bloom Rebellion, and she couldn’t.

  They stopped where tent paths crossed, Evalene standing on the one that led to her tent, and Jeremiah at the beginning of the path towards the council tent. “We may not run into each other again before I go,” he said. “But if you change your mind about joining us, let me know, okay?”

  Evalene nodded. “Thank you again.” What else could she say? Don’t go?

  “No problem, Hiccups.” He grinned at her, turned, and strode away. Evalene stood in the middle of the path, not moving, staring at the man she hadn’t even known a week ago as he disappeared around a corner. Why did the idea of never seeing him again make her so miserable?

  27

  Day Two: The Dream

  A FTER JEREMIAH WAS OUT of sight, Evalene wandered aimlessly for a while, watching the training squares out of curiosity. She saw a few women fighting. The desire to learn how to fight and take control of her life was overwhelming. But the thought of the library also beckoned her. She stopped at the cook tent and passed through the lunch line on her own, not sure if Olive was back yet, and afterwards she made her way back to her tent. Only when she stepped inside and set down her bag with the old clothes and boots did it occur to her that she’d never paid Jeremiah back for her new clothing.

  Outside the tent, Olive’s voice yelled, growing louder as she drew up to it. “Evie! Evie guess what? Grandma Mae’s here!” A second later, the flap busted open with a loud slap. “Evie, guess what?”

  Evalene laughed. “I heard you. Your grandma is here in camp?”

  Olive spun around, flipping the tent door open. “C’mon, I want you to meet her!” Olive disappeared from the tent as quickly as she’d entered.

  “Sure,” Evalene said to the empty tent, “I’ll meet your grandmother.”

  They strolled towards the front of the camp where Evalene had first entered it by the docks. Or rather, Evalene strolled, despite Olive’s urging, while Olive skipped ahead and back again like Jeremiah’s dog, chattering excitedly. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. The sound would forever remind her of freedom. Evalene could’ve watched the birds soar and dip through the sky for hours.

  Olive took her to an enormous tent, almost as large as the cook tent. A sign post out front read Council Chambers. They reached it just as people began flowing out the tent flaps, signaling the end of a meeting. The council members travelled around the girls where they stood in the middle of the packed dirt between the tents until a white-haired lady appeared and made her way towards them, holding her arms out towards Olive.

  “Hello, lovey,” the elderly woman said, hugging Olive affectionately. Her voice was warm. “Who’s your friend?” The wrinkles around her eyes deepened as she smiled kindly at Evalene. Her neck was bare of any decoration or scarf, and her snowy white hair swept over her shoulders and all the way down her back, revealing bare skin on the left side of her neck, completely whole and unscarred by any tattoo, just like Olive’s.

  Olive stepped back cheerfully, swinging around to wave an arm towards Evalene. “This is my friend, Evie. She came over on this last mission. Evie, this is my Grandma Mae who I’ve been telling you about!”

  Evalene lowered her eyes in respect and murmured, “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

  But Mae reached out her hands to take Evalene’s, holding them between her own. Her brown eyes were sharp and intelligent, and her strong gaze held Evalene’s as she said, “Evie. Wonderful to meet you.” Warming to the older woman, Evalene managed to squeeze back slightly before she pulled her hands away.

  Olive tugged on both her grandmother’s and Evalene’s arms. “C’mon, let’s go to the beach!” She let go and took off ahead of them towards the ocean.

  Evalene was surprised that Mae tolerated Olive’s behavior, but the older woman just smiled over at Evalene as they followed. “Olive’s always been quick to make friends,” Mae told her, “but she’s really taken to you. I’m glad.”

  Though Evalene smiled her thanks, she doubted that. Olive barely knew her. They walked in silence down the packed sand that led to the beach. As they went the sand softened, making it harder to continue the swift pace, until Evalene was breathing hard to keep up with the elderly woman. Out of the corner of her eye, Evalene studied Mae’s muscled arms and deeply tanned skin from spending her days working in the sun. That, plus her dark brown eyes, only made her long, white hair stand out more. She didn’t look like the people in town with the BioGrading that Jeremiah talked about, but neither did she seem slowed by age.

  Olive sat on a log on the beach right next to the water, each wave that came in licking her toes before receding back again. Her long blonde hair blew in the wind, wild and free. Evalene felt her own hair waving as well, though it felt far less majestic, whipping across her face and eyes.

  Mae settled onto the log next to Olive, and Evalene stood to the side, feeling a bit like she was intruding.

  “Grandma,” Olive was frowning at the water, “where are mom and dad? Did something happen?”

  “No, love,” Mae said, leaning on a thick branch sticking up near her end of the log. Her hair was so long, the wind lifted only the last few inches. “Your parents went to New Haven for supplies. They’re fine. Everyone is fine.”

  Olive
breathed out and visibly relaxed. But a moment later her forehead wrinkled in a frown again. “Well then, why are you here? You never come to camp unless you need help – are you here to make me come home?” Her words turned into a whine at the end of her question. “Please don’t make me come home.”

  But Mae shook her head. “Not just yet, love. Don’t worry. I came with a message for Jeremiah and the council.”

  At that, Evalene perked up where she’d stood staring out at the ocean pretending not to eavesdrop on a family conversation. Olive’s eyes widened as well and she grinned. “What kind of message?”

  “It’s a secret until the council makes their decision,” Mae said, and her calm demeanor changed into a frown for the first time.

  “Oh please tell us, Grandma Mae,” Olive begged, “Please? We won’t tell anyone, will we, Evie?”

  Evalene nodded agreement, coming to sit on the log on the other side of Olive. But Mae’s mind was made up. “You will have to wait and hear like everyone else.”

  “When will the council decide?” Olive asked after a moment of silence.

  Mae raised a brow at her granddaughter, and Olive surprised Evalene by dropping it. But after a moment, Mae answered her question. “They’ll need to make their decision by tomorrow at the latest, so I’m sure you’ll hear then. Jeremiah called for the council to take a break when I left. It’s likely they’re meeting again now.”

  With curiosity swimming in her head, Evalene went to dinner with Olive and her grandmother. They sat outside, able to find a few seats open on a bench with a simple wooden table.

  “Olive, why don’t you come with me to the farm tomorrow instead of waiting until they leave on Sunday?” The older woman dipped her spoon into the hot soup and took a bite.

  “But Grandma, I was hoping to stay here for...” she glanced over where Luc sat at another table nearby, “For Evie, and… others…” she trailed off.

  Grandma Mae shook her head firmly. “You’ve been gone long enough. There is too much to do for one old woman, especially with your parents gone for a few days. Chores are falling behind. We’ll sleep here tonight and leave in the morning.”

  Olive bowed her head, uncharacteristically silent. Evalene was impressed. This woman demanded respect.

  As dusk settled over the camp, Mae left to speak with the council. Olive brought Evalene to a bonfire near the council tent that was surrounded by a large group of people. Only an hour or two later, Luc and Jeremiah wandered in to sit on the other side of the fire, deep in conversation, and Evalene understood why they’d been waiting there. Olive, like a magnet, found her way to Luc’s side not long afterward. While she attempted banter with Luc, Jeremiah was approached by one refugee after another, in constant dialogue with someone.

  Comfortable in her silence, Evalene enjoyed staring into the flames. The darkness fell quickly, cooling the air around them until the breeze was chilly and everyone scooted closer to the fire. The twinkling flames rose high as logs were added. The fiery orange blaze showed hints of blue.

  From their vantage point on top of a hill, Evalene saw the light of similar bonfires throughout the camp. She could get used to nights spent like this. Eavesdropping on bits and pieces of conversations around her, Evalene smiled behind her hands as Olive bothered Luc into leaving. When he stood to go, Olive stood as well, asking him to walk her to her tent. That made him stretch and sit back down, deciding to “stay a while longer.” But Olive was nothing if not persistent, and eventually Luc gave in.

  The clusters of people around the fire grew smaller. Sometime past midnight, Evalene found she was the only one left on her side. Jeremiah said his goodbyes to the man he’d been talking to, coming around the fire to sit on the log next to her. They were the only ones still out. It must be late. But Evalene was wide awake.

  “Hey, Hiccups.” The nickname endeared him to her. She smiled and nodded hello.

  The fire flickered, casting a warm reddish-orange glow across his face. He looked tired. Distracted. Not wanting to interrupt his thoughts, she sat with him in quiet support.

  He finally spoke. “I saw you and Olive with Magnolia – Grandma Mae – earlier. Did she tell you about her dream?”

  Mae had mentioned a message for the council, but no dream. Evalene shook her head.

  “What do you think would happen if I sent every frightened person home?”

  Evalene was confused. “Didn’t you already do that when you gave people the option to join you or stay on the island?”

  Jeremiah nodded. “Yes, but God spoke to Magnolia in a dream that if we went into battle with the men and women we have now, we would lose. But if we told every person who was afraid and having second thoughts about the fight to stay behind, we would win.”

  Evalene laughed a little. “But… it’s just a dream?” she said, turning it into a question at the end when she realized he was serious.

  “Not in Magnolia’s case.” Jeremiah shook his head. “Over the years, God has spoken to her through her dreams more times than we can count.” There was that idea again, that God could speak to someone other than the priests or the Number One. Evalene felt the urge to look around, to make sure no one was listening. But maybe it wasn’t heresy on the island?

  Jeremiah’s eyes were steady and sincere as they gazed into her own. “Magnolia was the one who advised the people on Hofyn that we were coming a whole year before Welder and I even arrived on our scouting mission.” He laughed, shaking his head in wonder. “I’ll never forget stepping onto the island and being greeted by a welcoming committee who brought us to the tents, already set up to hold thousands. Not everyone in Hofyn believes in God, but those who do saved for an entire year to buy this land where we sit and the tents we sleep and work in so that we could have a place to stay and prepare for the revolution.”

  Evalene tried to picture that. “How did Mae convince them?” It was hard to fathom anyone listening to a dream like that before there was even a hint that the refugees were coming. But it was equally hard to declare it a coincidence.

  “You should ask her sometime to tell you some of her stories. I think the one that caused people to start listening was about twenty years ago, before Olive was born. Olive’s parents were barren, just like most people on the island, though they tried for almost fifteen years to have children. They had given up, and were in line for some of the BioGrading surgeries, which would’ve lowered their chances of conception to less than one in a million. But Mae had a dream that they would have a daughter. So they withdrew their names from the operations, and they waited. It was three long years before Olive was born. She is one of the island’s rare miracle babies.”

  “Wow.” Evalene didn’t know what to say. She found herself wanting to believe it was true. Had Mae seen the future somehow? Was it possible God really spoke to people?

  Jeremiah shifted to face her again. “It’s okay if you don’t believe in it.”

  Unable to help herself, Evalene met his gaze. “But you do?”

  Instead of immediately answering yes or no, Jeremiah closed his eyes, frowning in concentration. After a moment he opened them, and his brown eyes were clear and focused. “I do.” He smiled to himself, staring into the fire. Turning to her, his eyes were sincere. “Thank you. You’ve helped more than you know.” Staring into the fire, he said, “I talked to Luc and the council all day, and we didn’t get anywhere. But you just reminded me how simple it is.”

  Evalene opened her mouth, struggling to form the right words. “What are you going to do?”

  He turned his focus back to her. “I’m going to obey.” And he smiled confidently, as if he expected to have ten thousand more men instead of the opposite.

  How could he have more conviction in this one moment than Evalene had ever had in her entire life? She found herself wanting to believe that he could do it. That maybe God really did promise them a victory. It just made her wish even more that she was brave enough to join them.

  Was this how her mother had fel
t? Evalene wanted to be more like Pearl, but instead, she favored her father and his inability to act or stand up for himself. She regretted judging him so harshly.

  Jeremiah took a deep breath, pulling her out of her musings. “I need to go talk to the council immediately. We have to make a decision tonight.” Always so direct. He stood.

  Clearing her throat, Evalene wished she had time to talk to him more. She had so many questions. “Aren’t you afraid?”

  Jeremiah took her question seriously, not answering right away. He stared into the fire, shifting his feet as he did. Though it brought him closer to Evalene, she still felt safe. Somewhere in the last few days, she’d decided to trust him.

  “If you think about it,” he finally answered, “I would only be afraid if I didn’t believe that God was with us.”

  “But you do.”

  She heard a hint of a smile in his voice as Jeremiah agreed. “Yes.”

  “How?”

  Again, he took her seriously, not just throwing out a nice-sounding answer, but considering her question. “You know how back home all the priests talk about how faith is a feeling?”

  Evalene thought of the way Numbers came to priests as impressions, a feeling from God that they could sense. “Mmmhmm.”

  “That never made sense to me. Especially when my parents died. If faith was a feeling, then it would disappear whenever bad things – whenever life – happened. Whenever you needed it most.” His voice was low, full of emotion. “It wasn’t until I met a wise woman a few years ago that I realized faith is the exact opposite.”

  “What do you mean?” Evalene frowned in confusion, distracted by the mention of a woman. Did he mean Mae? He would’ve said her name if he’d meant her. Maybe he had a girlfriend back in Eden? Was that the reason he chose to fight?

  Jeremiah sat back down, angling to face her. “Well, who gave you your Number?”