Heron Fleet

by Paul Beatty

  As Francesca came in to the Gathering Hall she was given a beaker of water. She looked at it solemnly and then carried it over to her roundhouse table at which Jeremy and Caleb were sitting. She sat down and set the beaker in front of her.

  ‘Hallo stranger,’ said Jeremy. ‘We thought we’d see you down on the beach earlier today.’

  ‘I had a lot to think about,’ she replied.

  Caleb put his arm round her and gave her a hug round the shoulders. ‘This can’t be easy for you. You must feel pulled in two.’

  ‘Something like that,’ she said.

  Rebecca came up with her beaker and sat next to her. She had left off her Crèche Nurse scarf and robe and was now indistinguishable from any other of the older Apprentices. Generally she looked younger, but at that moment she too was deep in her own thoughts.

  Jeremy decided it was down to him to try to make conversation. ‘Have the Council decided if you’re a Gatherer or an Apprentice yet?’ he said to Rebecca.

  ‘Oh Jerry, don’t be so tactless,’ said Caleb. But fortunately Rebecca was so deep in her own thoughts she didn’t seem to notice the question’s inappropriateness.

  ‘No, not yet. I was chosen so early for the Nurses I would still be expecting to do another year or so before becoming a Gatherer but I have so much experience and have seen so much, it seems a bit silly not to make me a Gatherer right away. The problem is what can I do. Perhaps I’ll know a bit more by the end of this evening, who knows.’

  Susan and Christine joined them. ‘Have you decided?’ said Jeremy as soon as they had sat down.

  The girls shot a glance at Francesca. ‘Yes Jeremy, but now’s not the time to talk about it. Everyone will know soon enough.’

  The Hall was nearly full but three places were left to fill round their table. Then Francesca saw Anya, Jonathan and Tobias come in. They walked through the Hall, Anya carrying David, Jonathan carrying his and Anya’s beakers. Quietly they sat in the last three places at the table.

  The Council door opened and the oldest gatekeeper came in. He walked down the length of the Hall to where the rope for the calling bell, the one rung each evening to announce that the evening meal, hung in the middle of the window ready for use, not pulled aside as it would be at any other evening meal. He grasped it and pulled. The calling bell mounted on the Hall roof rang. He rang it slowly, much more slowly than the calling ring. At the same time the council door opened and the Council filed in. Each Council member carried their own beaker except Sylvia. When they were in position at table the ringing stopped. Everyone in the Hall stood and Sylvia spoke.

  ‘This is Mayday. We have again come through a winter and there is no need of the fire at the centre of this Hall that we lit at Harvest to keep this hall warm. We will light it again at Harvest this year but now we will extinguish it as a mark of our hope in the coming season.’

  As she finished, the children came forward to the fire with the Crèche Mothers. Those that could threw the water from their beakers on the fire. It spat and hissed, and some steam went up to the roof, but the fire was still alight. Then starting with the tables nearest the Council people filed past the fire making their contribution to extinguishing both the fire and the winter. As they did so the cloud of steam in the rafters grew as the fire faded. But when all the Community other than the Council had done their part, it was still alight.

  ‘How do they know that there’ll still be some fire for the Head of the Council to put out? That’s the bit I can never work out,’ said Christine.

  ‘Sometimes there isn’t and the fire goes out before it gets that far. So they light a torch at the start which is still alight at the end so that there’s always some flame to extinguish,’ said Caleb.

  ‘On the other hand, if the fire’s still alight at the end of that the Gatekeepers have to cover up by racking out the flames after the Head of Council has had a go,’ said Susan.

  ‘But if they get it right so it really is the Head of Council who puts it out then those years are reckoned to be the best years, the lucky years,’ added Tobias.

  ‘So for the sake of us and the new community, I hope everyone gets it right this year,’ said Anya.

  The Council had nearly finished filing past and there was only a small patch of flame left in the hearth. Sylvia came forward and gave her ash staff to the oldest Gatekeeper. In return she was handed something nearer to a jug of water than a beaker. Another Gatekeeper stepped forward with the torch. Sylvia nodded and he placed the torch in the extant patch of flame. Then she poured her water out and the final flames of last Harvest’s fire, the fire that Anya had lighted, was extinguished.

  The Community sat and Sylvia made her way back to her place at the centre of the table where the evening’s hardbread was ready for the first blessing of the growing season. But before she blessed and broke it she paused.

  ‘So another growing season begins. But this evening is also the beginning of a unique venture for Heron Fleet. Come forward, Tobias.’

  A nervous-looking Tobias got up and went and stood in front of Sylvia.

  ‘Master Tobias, at the end of the Testing of Jonathan and Anya you challenged those that were willing to join you and them, in starting a new community, a scion of Heron Fleet. Do you hold to that challenge?’

  ‘I do. I will take as many as will come. We will make our own Rule as the Founders made Heron Fleet’s Rule. And while how we behave inside the new community will be different from Heron Fleet, we will still take the best of Heron Fleet with us as our example.’

  ‘The Council has set no bar on people joining you in this endeavour. However, we have decided that each who do go with you will be banished from Heron Fleet, as has been the custom in the past.’

  The community gasped. This was unexpected, considering the practical support Sylvia had offered to Tobias in stores and repairs to his boat.

  She raised her hand. ‘This is not vindictive on our part. The banishment will be qualified and people may return for a limited time to Heron Fleet for trade or help and those from Heron Fleet will be allowed to go to the new community for limited periods without their membership of Heron Fleet being called into question. We decree it to ensure that those who follow Tobias are truly committed. Do you accept this condition on those who will stand with you?’

  ‘I do. But I hope in time that it will be a ruling we will not need to remember,’ replied Tobias.

  ‘Only time will see if that is the case and neither I nor you are likely to see if that part of what you wish comes to pass. Formally then, will all those who are determined to stand with Master Tobias come forward to signify their commitment.’

  Anya and Jonathan immediately stood up and joined Tobias. Then there was a pause.

  ‘Who will be the first?’ murmured Jeremy. He did not have long to wait. There was a stirring in the tables of the Crèches and Elizabeth moved forward. She had not gone far when a little boy and girl intercepted her. Both carried small bunches of flowers. Francesca wondered where they had managed to find them so early in the season. Elizabeth stooped to talk to them, and having stroked their hair and kissed them, they ran back to their tables and she made her way down the Hall. Anya gave David to Jonathan and embraced her old Crèche Mother as she honoured the promise made long before David was born.

  Francesca felt Rebecca turn towards her. ‘Thank you for your kindness. You had more reason than most to hate me but you have stood by me. This new community will have need of my skills. I will go with them.’ She stood and went forward.

  ‘Wow!’ It was Christine who saw her first. ‘What on earth does she think she’s doing?’ Ruth was moving towards the group. ‘After all she’s done to try to destroy Anya – the cheek!’

  ‘But she has no place here so why not?’ said Caleb.

  Two couples were next. ‘Look at that,’ said Jeremy. The first were Hermione and another Herder who Francesca thought was called Richard. The second couple were two Apprentice Smiths, Jean and Charles. Both couples were
hand in hand.

  ‘So someone has taken Tobias’s commitment to a new Rule seriously,’ said Caleb. ‘Good for them.’

  ‘Is that Simon and his partner?’ noticed Susan.

  ‘Yes,’ said a surprised Francesca. ‘How will Sylvia manage without him? Why would he take the risk?’

  ‘It seems to me it’s the young looking for adventure and older ones looking for a new challenge who are most likely to go,’ observed Caleb.

  ‘It looks as if one member of the Council is going to confirm that idea.’ Thomas had stood up, shaken hands with Sylvia and started to move forward.

  ‘Well, Master Tobias, did you think you would get out so easily of discussing those books of yours with me?’ Francesca heard him say.

  ‘You’re doubly welcome for all that,’ said Tobias as he laughed and clapped the Council man on the back and Anya kissed him.

  But there was another stirring in the ranks of the Council. Since resigning as Head of the Council Peter had taken his seat in the most junior seat at the Council Table, right at the far end. As Francesca watched he shyly got up and came forward and stood in front of Tobias.

  ‘Will you have me, Master Tobias, after all I’ve said and done?’

  ‘Gladly friend, gladly,’ and the former partners hugged each other.

  ‘Sixteen,’ said Susan. ‘It would have been fitting if it had been twenty, as when the Founders set out.’

  ‘In that case we’d better do something about it,’ said Christine and stood up. ‘Are we ready?’

  ‘As we will ever be,’ said Jeremy. The four friends from Francesca’s roundhouse stood together.

  ‘Will you be coming with us, Francesca our leader and our guide?’ asked Caleb.

  With the eyes of the all the community on her Francesca stood and held them to her as each hugged each other.

  Then she stood back and shook her head. ‘No, I will bide here. There are things I need to do.’

  ‘So be it,’ said Sylvia from the Council Table as she raised the hardbread in front of her.

  Reaping and sowing,

  sowing and reaping,

  this is the world we have.

  All we know is the cycle of life.

  Power to the greenwood.

  Power to the field.

  Power to our gathered food.

  Coda

  A deeply grained, smooth ash staff leaned against a table set in front of a chair. The gnarled fingers of a left hand moved up and down the top of the staff, tracing the line of the grain in a way that was thoughtful and absent minded at the same time. The owner’s right hand wrote in a book in front of her.

  A boy of about twelve turned to his Crèche Mother in a worried way. ‘Will she have time to hear my song?’ he said.

  ‘I’m sure she will Nathaniel. When do you ever remember when she did not have time to hear you?’

  ‘Never,’ said the boy, smiling.

  ‘There’s always a first time boy,’ said a sharp voice, as sharp as the speaker’s features, grey hair, hands and fingers. She put down the pen she had been using and shut the inkwell top with a click.

  ‘It’s done,’ she said half to herself, half to the boy and his carer. ‘Now Nathaniel, let’s hear this new song you’ve prepared.’

  The boy sang for her. His voice was fresh and pure; the words about the river and the woods. It reminded her of other times, other voices and the finality of what she was about to do. But the only things she could contribute lay elsewhere and what point in grief, sadness or regret of the past was there when there was still a present to respond to. The boy stopped and all those who had paused to hear him clapped.

  ‘That was very good,’ she said. ‘The best I’ve heard in Heron Fleet for many years.’

  ‘Probably not since one young woman many years ago, so I’ve been told.’ The voice belonged to a man of forty or so years old. Dark haired, short, with powerful shoulders he was dressed in a dark brown tunic and leggings, with an ochre coloured cape.

  ‘I always thought her skill was greatly exaggerated and since I am the only one here who actually heard her, I am the only one who can possibly judge.’

  The man came over and stroked her hair. She pulled his hand down and kissed it. ‘I take it we are ready, David?’

  ‘Yes Aunt. I need to get the outgoing tide if we are to get to her before the end.’

  ‘Is she so bad?’

  ‘She should live for a few more days but I don’t want to take the chance of you being late.’

  ‘I’ll be along right now then. All we have to do is collect my things from the longhouse.’

  ‘I thought you’d say that so I’ve asked the Gatekeepers to take them down to the boat already.’

  The grey lady pulled herself painfully to her feet using her staff. ‘So well organised! If I hadn’t been there I would never take you for your impetuous mother’s son. Where’s your spontaneity, lad? Perhaps I should take you on a little detour to the rope bridge, trip you up with my staff and give you a dipping. There’s precedence in the family you know.’

  She shut the book and called Nathaniel over. ‘Natt I have a reward for your song, a gift, unfortunately it’s the sort of gift that comes with responsibilities.’ She picked up the book and handed it to him. ‘I’ve finished this and it’s time to pass it on to someone. I’ve chosen you.’

  ‘Thank you, ma’am.’ The boy looked stunned.

  ‘Are you sure, ma’am?’ said a rather confused Crèche Mother.

  ‘Yes Miriam, I am sure. With your help he’ll be a worthy custodian,’ and she kissed the boy.

  ‘Now David, it’s time we went. Though I’m convinced she’ll not go without seeing me, it is time and like you I don’t want to take the risk. There are things to say before we finally part.’

  With staff in hand and once her joints had warmed up, Francesca could move deceptively fast. Since they did not have to go to collect anything from the longhouse, she insisted they went the slightly longer way past her old roundhouse. Further on the eastern doors of the Gathering Hall were open and she paused. The sun was still high in the sky but there was sufficient light to come through the western window and illuminate the stained glass sun above the Council Table.

  They moved on. ‘Have you had time to see the new Greenhouses?’ she asked David.

  ‘Yes, they’re very fine.’

  ‘We’ve doubled the size and more than tripled the productivity.’

  ‘Proud?’

  ‘Perhaps a little,’ she grinned.

  ‘The Gardeners told me an odd story about you. That earlier in the year you were away as an ambassador?’

  ‘Hardly an ambassador. I think the Council sent me because if it went wrong I would be the least loss. It sounds a bit more exciting than it really was.’

  ‘Well it sounds exciting to me. You can tell me all about it as we walk.’

  ‘Oh very well,’ she said tartly. ‘I was with some of the children in the Gathering Hall rehearsing some songs when I heard a great kafuffle outside the eastern doors. There were some raised voices and then in strides a tall man. He’d got striking blond hair, long down his back. He was carrying a long spear, well worked in the haft and with a silversteel tip. He stopped in front of me, bowed slightly and said, “Yen come in peace lady. Yen Dewy clan speaker. Me seek talk with yen leader. I seek the people who gather for the leader of me clan.”’

  ‘He was an Outlander and spoke the patois of the Scavenger Gangs?’

  ‘Yes, and he bore the symbol of the office of a leader or a messenger, the spear. I got up and stood holding my staff as nobly and authoritatively as I could. “If you come in peace you are welcome here, I said. It seems to me you have travelled a long way. I am not any longer this community’s leader, though I once was, but I can tell you that if you seek the people who gather you have found us for good or ill.” He laid the spear on a table and sank down exhausted onto a bench. “Thank yen sky and water.” he said. “At last.”’

  ‘The Ga
rdeners said he’d come from the remnant of a Scavenger Gang that have left their city and are trying to farm.’

  ‘That was right. They had realised that if they did not change their ways they would starve in the cities. They had contact with a few traders who had heard about some of the communities so they decided to try farming. They did reasonably well for a few seasons and they didn’t starve but they knew they needed to improve to flourish. They heard vaguely about us being the greatest growers of food anyone knew of so the clan leader chose four of his best riders and sent them out, each with a ceremonial spear to show their authority to treat with the People Who Gather if they found us and ask for our aid in growing more food.’

  ‘And you ended up going to see for yourself?’

  ‘Yes. There’s no way I could give them advice without seeing their position. So I said I would go if they could get me there given the state of my bones. They built me a carriage to fetch me and sent an armed guard. As fine a group of young men and women as I have seen in many days. You may have seen a couple of the type around the community, young men and girls with blond hair. They are here to learn some of our ways, especially the herding, while we have sent them some of our seed grain to improve their wheat. I also got some jolly good songs and ballads out of my visit and a not unpleasant acquaintance with some excellent beer. Important in company like that to hold your drink, lad. It’s a matter of respect.’

  They passed through the outer ditch. The oldest Gatekeeper was on duty. ‘Looks like it should be a fine evening for a stroll. Travel well this evening if you travel far ma’am.’

  ‘Thank you keeper,’ she replied.

  Around the jetty she could see a large crowd of people.

  ‘David, I told you no fuss!’

  ‘Sorry, but it’s not my doing Aunt.’

  The boat was head-on to the land. Its name, the Tobias, stood out clear and bright as did the figure head of the man himself.

  ‘You never told me what he said when he gave you the boat and you promptly named it after him?’