Something Down There

by Nancy Widrew

  “There is something else you should know—the most important reason of all.” Rocking on the balls of his feet, he looked from one member to the next. “It has,” he said, “been ordained.”

  Oh crap, thought Mary, immediately decoding his ploy. Fighting back, she fashioned a sealed-tight mental wall, preventing his passion from polluting her mind. The others, however, were not as strong, and Rahm’s persuasive force proved as fierce as a chokehold.

  Helene gasped at his words. “What do you mean ‘ordained’? By whom? Tloc?”

  Rahm bowed his head and after a protracted pause, looked upward, face luminous. “Yes,” he said. “Tloc spoke to me. Assured me we are on the right track.”

  The simultaneous intake of air within the group, told Mary that Rahm’s strategy proved a success. There goes the ballgame, she said to herself. He’s won, at least for the time being.

  Although she both loved and admired Rahm’s ingenuity, she resented his increasing hold over the members’ minds. How stupid they all are. How weak. Following a person just by the force of his personality. Fertility god, my eye. I was born a Christian, not an idiot.

  The voting took place and as predicted, Mary’s side and, consequently, Karen and Jeremy’s lost; in fact, the count was now down to three in their favor and six against. “Only three miserable votes,” she mumbled. Despite the loss, Mary thrust her jaw forward, squaring it with determination.

  Later that evening, she filled the captives in on the tally. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Rahm pulled a gorilla out of a hat.”

  While neither Karen nor Jeremy was surprised, they both took it hard, especially Jeremy. “Is there any alcohol in the pantry?” he asked.

  “No,” said Mary, alarm registering in the deepening lines beside the corners of her mouth. “Some of our members had drinking problems before coming here. Drug problems too. Bear with me, Jeremy,” she said, resting her hand on his thigh for a protracted moment. “I have more tricks to play. It just gets more complicated now.”

  #

  Having trouble sleeping, Karen rose early and made herself a cup of tea. She nibbled on bread and jam, then set some aside for Jeremy, knowing he would soon be up. Today she swore to make it her business to gather information on the group’s members, looking for weaknesses in character to use to her and Jeremy’s advantage.

  One by one, the members filed into the dining room with Brian last, his face a smiling, full moon. “Guess what?” he said, waving his arms. “I just checked my calculations, and while I don’t mean to brag, I’m right again.”

  Everyone looked up except David who’d been out of sorts for the past few weeks. He fixed his downturned features on his plate, his food left uneaten. “Right about what? What’s the big news?”

  “It’s Thanksgiving,” said Brian. “You know, turkey day. How about that?”

  David flapped his elbows, mocking the other’s enthusiasm. “Well, gobble, gobble, gobble.”

  Helene reached over and gave him a cuff on the wrist. He, in turn, glowered at her.

  Refusing to be intimidated, she said, “What’s your problem, David? Everything bothers you lately.”

  “Nothing’s bothering me. On the contrary, everything’s fine. Just fine.” Jumping up, he rattled the table, knocking over Karen’s teacup. Fortunately the cup was empty.

  Karen stared, openmouthed, as David sauntered away. “Maybe someone should check on him,” she suggested.

  Helene waved her hand as if she were shooing a fly. “No. Not necessary. David just likes an audience and everyone’s used to his antics by now.”

  Lily, taking a sip of coffee from a chipped mug, cast a doubtful look. “I don’t know, Helene. He is acting strangely … out of sorts, even for him. Maybe you should go and check. I’ll do it if you want.”

  “David always acts strangely,” said Helene. “Or should I say queerly?” She began to laugh, her nose turning red and runny. She wiped it with a napkin. “Take my word for it, Lil. Just ignore him.”

  “Well, I guess you know best.”

  “Me? ‘Best’? No, that would be Norman.”

  Karen shifted her attention to Norman, the conversation piquing her curiosity more and more.

  “That’s over now,” he said, gripping the table. He addressed the group, but fixed his eyes on Lily, the one person whose thoughts on this tangled relationship mattered. He sighed when Lily merely shrugged her shoulders.

  “Then I guess David’s all mine again,” said Helene, her voice as sharp as a nail on a wall. “He’s about as useful here as an alarm clock, but I suppose I shouldn’t complain. I’m no treasure either, and he’s better than nothing.” As if reconsidering that, she put a finger to her lips and said, “I wonder?”

  To Karen’s surprise, Helene keeled over, piercing sobs erupting from her mouth. While the others sat stock-still, perhaps afraid to respond and make matters worse, Karen offered a handful of tissues. Finally, Helene caught her breath, saying, “What’s wrong with me? Aren’t I pretty enough?” Then spewing a string of four-lettered obscenities, she ran off in search of David. Despite everything, she loved him.

  Poor Helene, thought Karen, seeing the unfortunate nature of her situation: that the man she loved preferred his meals with link sausages. As for dessert, he was willing to take what he could get.

  In contrast to Karen’s compassion, Brian’s smirk spoke good riddance, and with Helene’s departure, he reopened the issue that had set off the fireworks.

  “It’s Thanksgiving, people,” he said again. “Who wants to party? And while we’re at it, why don’t we throw in Christmas and New Year’s? They’ll both be coming up soon enough. So, whadayasay? Who’s in?”

  “I am,” said Lily. “We could all use some fun.”

  “‘Fun’!” bellowed Karen, saying the word as if it were a contagious disease. “What could possibly be fun in this dungeon?”

  Janet squawked. “The cave’s not a dungeon and we often have fun. Why we could …?” She drummed her fingers on the table, thinking.

  “Quit drumming like that,” said Rachel. “You sound like the shrimp in the lake.”

  “That’s it,” said Janet. “The lake.” Flushed with excitement, her eyelids fluttered like sparrow wings. “Why don’t we go to the lake, swim in the water? We may not have a turkey, but we can still make today special. Fun!”

  “Oh, please, please!” said Randy. “Can we?” He began jumping up and down on his seat while Jon, needing no incentive, joined in by circling the table and hooting at the same time.

  Rahm smiled at the boys. “Seems fine to me.”

  “I’ll make a cake,” said Mary.

  “I’ll help too,” said Rachel, “as long as the men share in the preparation and cleanup. And I like the lake idea. That way we can make a whole day of it. I’m sure we can all use a break.”

  “Then it’s settled,” said Rahm. “So let’s get busy.”

  Assignments were handed out, and everyone went off to their jobs, leaving Karen and Jeremy alone at the table.

  “Want to go?” they said at the same time. While they both snickered at the coincidence, Jeremy immediately followed up with, “Does it matter?”

  Karen answered, mindful to express herself cautiously. “We might as well. At least it will be something different. Besides, I have some clothes to wash.” She emphasized the last sentence, sensing the need for an excuse. Although tit-for-tat accusations and subsequent reprisals had lessened, she took pains not to offend since feelings remained raw and menacing undercurrents still lingered. “Is there something of yours you’d like me to wash?” she asked.

  “I guess I have a few shirts and stuff,” he said, “but I don’t expect you to do them for me. Let’s do everything together.”

  They walked back to their quarters without need for a light, maneuvering automatically on the now familiar path. That trifling matter stung Karen like a busted blister, and she suspected it irked Jeremy, too, but wisely refrained from mentioning it. After gat
hering their laundry, they returned to the dining room to wait for the others.

  Carrying a stack of old newspapers, Rachel plopped them on to the table and began cutting long strips. “They’re for decorations,” she told them. “We could use some help.” She added a “Thanks” before walking off.

  Automatically, Karen reached for the scissors, and following Rachel’s example made the strips into chains by looping and taping the pieces together, the same as she did for her wedding celebration almost one year ago. She remembered how happy she had been, stringing chains and streamers from room to room at her mother’s house. While only a simple task, it had given her immense pleasure, unlike today where it amounted to mindless busy work.

  As the others dashed about, trying to get everything done at the last minute, Karen and Jeremy watched from their solitary outpost. When Rachel announced they were ready, she handed the pair covered platters of food to carry, then stuffed the decorations into a backpack and hoisted it onto her shoulders. Finally, all thirteen started off, staying as close together as possible. For added safety, Randy and Janet carried lanterns while Rachel kept near the newcomers so they wouldn’t trip over baby stalagmites, perhaps only 500 years old, which jutted up along the way.

  Arriving at the lake, the members immediately began unloading the supplies. Rahm handed out the assignments. Lily took charge of the decorations by hanging the paper chains among the formations. When she was finished, she stepped back to appraise the effect. She smiled, pleased with the results.

  “Nice job,” said Helene.

  Lily looked to Karen. “The credit goes to her. She did most of the work. I’m just putting them up.”

  Karen’s face turned crimson. With Jeremy at her side, she felt edgy about receiving compliments. Fortunately, Helene spoke up, turning the spotlight back on her.

  “Why don’t we go for a swim?” she yelled for all to hear, eager as ever to flaunt her body. For the sake of the water’s purity, they rarely did, but today was one of those exceptions.

  “Good idea,” seconded Rachel, unfastening the buttons on her shirt and the zipper on her pants. Everyone followed suit; everyone but the two captives who chose to emphasize their separateness by moving farther back.

  Lily, naked from the waist up, approached the couple. Karen paled and stared into space, while Jeremy vainly tried not to gape at the ski-slope mounds with their delicate pink buds.

  “Aren’t you going to join us?” she asked.

  “I’m afraid we didn’t bring our bathing suits,” said Karen, her acerbity a verbal assault. “We had no idea our little adventure would turn into an extended holiday.”

  Lily sniggered, pooh-poohing the innuendo. “There’s no need for bathing suits. None of us have any. After all,” she continued, “there’s nothing to hide. Other than a few minor differences, we’re basically the same, aren’t we?” The last question was directed at Jeremy.

  “But it’s the differences that count,” said Brian, lumbering up to them, completely exposed.

  Karen, after briefly glancing at his fleshy body, looked away in disgust and turned to Lily, who, as if responding to a steamy, bump-and-grind, began to remove the remainder of her clothes. Brian watched with greedy eyes, while Jeremy, to Karen’s horror, licked his lips with unabashed lust.

  Lily opened the barrette tying back her silky blond hair so that it fell in one smooth swoop, covering her back to her waist. Tall and slim, with shapely legs that merged with the soft curve of her hips, she swayed like a long-stemmed wildflower, a perfect reflection of her name. Others tried to imitate her natural grace but wound up looking foolish instead.

  Feeling a ping of jealousy, Karen squirmed, hoping no one noticed, especially Jeremy.

  Actually, all of the tribe’s members, except for Brian and Janet, were in optimal shape due to the hard work necessary for survival. Simple food and physical labor left little room for overindulgence. And even Brian and Janet, despite their widening girth, could bustle about when given reason to rouse themselves from their sedentary inclinations.

  As Jeremy continued his bug-eyed stare, Karen’s jealous ping grew to a smolder and in retaliation she contemplated removing her own clothes. Now that she had lost those five pounds she’d once deemed impossible, she felt an urge to show off. Immediately, she tucked the thought away, amazed she’d even consider such a thing.

  Instead she retreated into the shadows as Jeremy wandered off to the rocks below. Karen, seeing Jeremy among Lily’s slavering throng, stumbled into a berry bush, staining her shirt. “Dammit,” she yelled.

  “You okay?” asked Norman, rushing over.

  “I guess,” said Karen.

  Norman looked back toward the water. “She is lovely, isn’t she?”

  “Who?” said Karen, although the answer was obvious.

  “Lily, of course.”

  Karen shot back a “Pugh,” along with a gust of explosive air.

  “You have to understand,” said Norman, “she can’t help herself. She rarely talks about it, but if you knew her history, you’d understand her unusual needs. Maybe even feel sorry for her.”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Don’t tell her I told you, but she’s not well. Sick even.” He tapped his head to further explain what he meant. “You see, her stepfather abused her, physically and perhaps sexually too. She won’t say for sure, but I can read the signs. Then to top it off her mother threw her out when she turned eighteen. Some birthday present!”

  “So I’m supposed to feel sorry for her? Besides, I thought Helene was the exhibitionist.”

  “They both are, for different reasons. No, I take that back. It comes down to the same reason: insecurity.”

  “So now you’re a philosopher. At least Helene’s not trying to entice other people’s husbands. But tell me,” she said, shifting her stance to get to the crux. “Where did you two meet? Was it love at first sight? Or lust?” Her voice dripped sarcasm, which she made no effort to conceal. Norman, to his credit, overlooked the inflection and threw back his head, chuckling.

  “We met in the red-light district of New Orleans, and it was love at first sight. Okay, lust too, at least for me. I saw her dancing at a topless bar and found myself hooked. Finally, after two weeks, I mustered the nerve to ask her to dinner. Over drinks she told me she got a kick out of all that X-rated attention. Still craves it as you can see.”

  “Well, just tell her to stay away from my husband. Unlike everyone else here, we believe in the sanctity of marriage.”

  “I’ll be sure to remind her. And speaking of Jeremy, here he comes. Sure you won’t go for a swim?”

  “Positive.”

  As Norman left to rejoin his friends, Jeremy took his place beside his wife. Karen turned away.

  “Don’t be upset,” he said. “I wasn’t trailing Lily. I mean, she’s lovely and all, but what I was really up to was scrutinizing the group. Spying, if you will. I’ve been trying to figure out how nine adults could possible leave everything behind for a life of nothing. And that’s the truth!”

  Placated, Karen said, “That’s exactly what I’ve been doing.”

  Jeremy spread his hands in disgust. “Look at them. It’s inconceivable. All losers!”

  Karen agreed, but the impact of watching them from afar softened her impression as lanterns cast sparkles of confetti on the water’s glistening froth.

  Laughing and smiling, the members looked like regular folks, teenagers even, tossing a ball at the beach. With the exception of Brian, everyone seemed to naturally accept each other’s nakedness, and it was only when bodies touched that eyes flashed and knowing smiles deepened. Even in their innocence, the ancient courting game was played out as it had been over the ages.

  When it became Mary’s turn to throw the ball, her face lit up catching Karen’s attention. From this new vantage point, Mary appeared not only years younger but free from the malignant burden of a husband she hated. Gamboling there below, so relaxed and spirited, she looked almost pre
tty. Karen wondered if Jeremy also noticed. Turning in his direction, she blanched to see how much he had changed.

  Over the past few weeks, she had noticed spidery lines forming along the outside of his eyes, the product of stress, she presumed. Reaching up, she rubbed the back of his neck. He rolled his shoulders and twisted his head from side to side in response.

  “Feels good.”

  “You always did like that,” she said, pleased to render relief. Then offhandedly, she added, “Why don’t you take it easy today? I know you volunteered to help with the washing, but I don’t mind doing it myself. Really.”

  “Thanks, but it’s not fair for you to do all the work.”

  “It helps when I keep busy,” said Karen.

  Jeremy gazed at the cavorting group, and reconsidered. “Well, I never was one for laundry, and I don’t want to join them either.”

  “You don’t have to. There’s a boat nearby. You can take it out on to the lake. There’s also a waterfall, a big one farther off.”

  “Is there? How do you know?”

  “Rachel told me.”

  Jeremy kissed his wife on the cheek. “In that case, maybe it’s not a bad idea. As long as you’re sure it’s okay.”

  “I’m sure. Now go. Just be careful of the falls.” Giving him a push, she sent him on his way, following along to the bottom of the incline where he faded into the gloom. She looked again and he was gone.

  A sudden gust of wind chilled her arms, and she yanked down the sleeves of her pullover, but it had little effect. She began to tremble; what if she’d made a mistake? He could have an accident, get hurt, and there’ll be no one to hear him. He could—no. I won’t think about that. Her obsessive thoughts persisted, culminating in the certainty that she would never see him again. Panicking, she almost screamed come back, but instead stood transfixed, unable to move.

  Pictures spun in her head, ugly and macabre, until sanity returned with a Shut up, Karen. You’re being ridiculous. She went back for their laundry, made her way down to the hollow, where she scrubbed and scrubbed.