by Lowe, Sheila
The girl nodded again. “This is where I was born.”
“Have you ever left the Ark? Gone outside?”
Esther’s eyes grew large. “Left the Ark? No! There’s too much evil outside. The Lord told the elders to build the Ark to protect us. As long as we stay inside the Ark, we’ll be safe.”
She’s learned the party line well, Claudia thought.
Kelly stopped walking. “Shoot.” She had been punching a number into her iPhone.
“What’s wrong?”
“No cell signal. Must be the hills around here. I wanted to check my voicemail.”
Claudia checked her own phone and got the same results, zero reception bars. “We’ll have to use a phone in the office.”
Esther said, “You have to get permission from Sister Ryder.” Just then, a cluster of buildings came into view that had not been visible from the office: a series of long, low-slung structures of weathered stucco, adobe, and concrete that looked as though they had risen from the earth like mushrooms and squatted there for a long time. Claudia remembered that Harold Stedman had mentioned that this group had been in existence for more than fifty years. Might the buildings originally have been Cold War bunkers? She asked Esther what they were used for.
“That one’s the bookbindery.” The girl pointed at a square concrete building on the far side of a patch of gravel. “That’s where they make all the books and pamphlets that we send out. And that smaller one over there is our school. The nursery and the infirmary are behind it. The sewing rooms are over there. The farm is farther back over there beyond the trees. The chapel is even farther. That one is the store, and that one, the biggest one, is the dining hall where we’re going right now. There are two seatings. I already had lunch at the first seating.”
She swung her arms to encompass an area beyond a stand of tall trees. A group of about twenty to twenty-five small adobe houses and a wood-frame four-story structure made up a small village. “Over there, that’s where we live. Each of the houses has a name. Ours—my family’s—is Sinai.”
“Sinai?” Kelly echoed. “You mean, like the desert?”
Esther turned puzzled brown eyes toward her. “Like Mount Sinai in the Bible,” she said, as if she didn’t understand why Kelly didn’t know that.
“How many people live at the Ark?” Claudia asked.
Esther thought for a moment. “I think there’s around two hundred here.”
Claudia was struck by the complexity of the compound. Until now, she had not imagined it would be the size of a small village. “I didn’t realize there were so many members,” she said.
“There are the satellite branches, too. Those are like smaller Arks in other states.”
Claudia was ready with the next question. “What about children? Are there many little ones?”
“Little ones?” Esther stopped on the path, cocking her head to the side as she thought about it. “Hmmm, let’s see. Sister Abigail had a baby a couple of weeks ago, and we have some toddlers.” She started counting on her fingers as they walked on. “Aaron and Deborah are twins. They’re five. Cassia is three; Michael and Paul are around four or five, I don’t remember which. Kylie is almost . . .” A shadow flitted across her face and she started walking again. “Well, Kylie doesn’t really count. She’s gone.”
“What happened to Kylie?” Kelly asked quickly.
“She went away with her parents, Brother and Sister Powers. They took her to the mountains for two months to pray and meditate. Then she’ll be entering into Jephthah’s Daughters.”
Claudia asked, “What does that mean, to enter into Jephthah’s Daughters?”
“It means you go away and serve the Lord God in a special place.”
“For how long?”
Esther looked puzzled. “How long? Forever, I guess. How can you ever stop serving the Lord?”
“Don’t the Jephthah’s Daughters ever come back to the Ark?”
They had reached the building that housed the dining hall. Esther stopped, her hand on the door, and looked back at Claudia with a frown. “I don’t think so. Only girls who are specially favored get to go, and it only happens once in a while. They’re not all from here. Some of them live in the satellite Arks. They just come here for their consecration.”
“Does that mean you don’t know them?”
“Well, we all get to go to the consecration ceremony, so I’ve seen them. But the last time there was a ceremony I was only nine.” Esther’s lips curved into a reminiscent smile. “She looked like a baby angel, all dressed in white, with pretty flowers in her hair.” She laughed. “I remember she didn’t want to lie down on the altar—you know how little kids get all fidgety. She was too little to know what was going on, and she kept squirming around.”
Icy fingers sent chills up Claudia’s spine. Even if it were a symbolic gesture, she could not fathom putting a child on an altar. Kelly must have had the same thought, as she gripped Claudia’s arm tight enough to leave imprints from her fingernails.
“Why did she have to lie on an altar?” Claudia asked, making an effort to keep her voice level.
“The governing board elders were saying prayers over her.”
“What happened after that?”
“We all went to the dining room and had a party with carrot cake and ice cream. The grown-ups had wine. I tried to sneak some, but I got caught red-handed and had to go to Brother Stedman’s office.” She grinned like any twelve-year-old might. “He was really pretty nice about it and just told me there would be time for wine when I got older. Anyway, some of the sisters from Jephthah’s Daughters took the little girl with them. She started crying because she wanted to stay with her mommy. Her mommy was crying, too, but my mother said it’s because she was happy to give her child to God.”
Happy to give away her three-year-old?
Aloud, Claudia said, “And now, there’s going to be another ceremony?”
Esther nodded. “My mother says Kylie Powers is an extra special child. She told me that when Kylie was born, Brother Stedman said she would be the next chosen one, and now she’s turning three, she’s the right age.”
Kelly finally relaxed her grip on Claudia’s arm. “That sounds pretty young to leave your parents.”
“I think her daddy will be really sad,” Esther said. “He takes care of her all the time.”
“What about her mother?”
“She works in the kitchen a lot. Kylie mostly stays with Brother Powers in his office because the kitchen is too dangerous for a little kid.”
Esther pushed open the dining hall door and they entered a room with long tables and benches arranged in rows, and a head table at the far end. As in the office, ceiling fans chugged above them, churning the air, but they had little effect on the heat, which was intensified by the activity in the kitchen. A wide pass-through at one end of the room was all that separated the diners from three kitchen helpers in long aprons who were busy at massive cooking pots.
Dozens of eyes turned to look as Claudia and her companions entered. At the head table, Harold Stedman, who was already standing, beamed at them and spread his arms wide in welcome. Even without a microphone, his deep voice boomed along the dining hall. “Welcome to the Ark! Bring them over here, Esther. Brothers and sisters, I’m delighted to introduce you to our guests.”
Esther delivered them to his table and scurried away. Although several other diners sat at his table, an empty place had already been set on either side of him. Stedman brushed off their apologies for being tardy as Kelly and Claudia slipped into their seats. He addressed the congregation. “Sister Kelly and Sister Claudia are going to be visiting with us for a few days. They’re eager to learn the way to salvation, so I know you’ll all welcome them and help them understand our ways and our beliefs.”
In dutiful unison, the group chanted, “Welcome, sisters,” and Claudia felt as if she were attending a twelve-step meeting. What would they do if I said, Hi, my name is Claudia, and I’m here to spy on you?
Then everyone returned to their meal and she might as well have thrown a rock into a pool: the ripples vanished, leaving the surface undisturbed.
Moments later, Esther returned with a large tray on which two plates were heaped with steamed broccoli, cauliflower and rice, grilled chicken, and a slab of buttered cornbread. They might get overheated, but they would not starve during their stay at the Ark.
Stedman said, “We eat plain, but nutritious. We rise early, work hard, and retire early. Especially in the summer when it’s so warm, we try to get most of our work done in the cooler hours.”
Kelly dabbed her forehead with her napkin. “I guess you don’t use air-conditioning.”
Stedman smiled. “That would run counter to our beliefs, don’t you think, Sister Kelly? Admittedly, we do use electricity, but we want to contribute as little as possible to the coming cataclysm. There are swamp coolers in some of the buildings.”
Kelly shifted her body closer to him, her chin tilted toward his face with an earnestness that made Claudia cringe.
“Brother Stedman, I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to learning about the Temple of Brighter Light. It feels like I’ve been wandering in the desert, spiritually starving for ever and ever. But since hearing your sermon at the rally last night, I believe that it’s possible I’ve found God’s manna at last.”
Claudia silently telegraphed a message: You’re overdoing it.
Stedman returned her gaze with a long, searching one of his own. “That’s just fine, Sister Brennan. I’ve already asked Brother Norquist to spend the afternoon with you and introduce you to our teachings.” He nodded in the direction of a frail-looking man seated at the end of the table, nodding over his plate. Claudia guessed he must be ninety if he was a day. “Brother Norquist is one of the founding members of the Temple of Brighter Light, so he’s the best equipped of all to answer your questions.”
Kelly’s face fell, but she quickly recovered. “That sounds great, but I’d love to just wander around the grounds for a while and chat with some of the members.”
“When I told him how interested you were to learn, brother got very excited. We wouldn’t want to deprive him, would we, sister?”
“I guess not, but . . .”
Stedman turned to Claudia. “You and I will go over to the office, Sister Rose. I’ll show you what I’m looking for in regard to what we discussed last night, and then you can get to work. We’ve got you set up in our purchasing agent’s room. Brother Powers is away from the Ark for an extended period, and I know he wouldn’t be averse to your using his office while he’s gone.”
Claudia’s interest quickened, hearing that she would be assigned to Rodney Powers’ office. The more they knew about Jephthah’s Daughters, the easier it should be to discover something about Rodney’s plans to have his daughter inducted. She said, “Esther was telling us about a family named Powers. She said they’d gone away to the mountains. Is that who you’re talking about?”
“Yes, the family has been away for a while. In fact, they’re due back in a few days.”
“Esther told us their little girl is going into a special program.”
“That’s right. Kylie has been enrolled since her birth. It’s a great privilege to be chosen.”
“How does one get chosen for the program?” Kelly managed to sound casual as she asked.
Stedman’s eyes lit up with the fire of messianic zeal. “The Lord God spoke to me in a vision. When Kylie Powers was born, the Lord showed me a golden halo around her perfect little head. It was immediately clear to me that she was destined for something great. Her parents were serving in missionary work at one of our satellite offices at the time, but after that vision, I knew I had to send for them to return to the Ark right away, so that Kylie could be in the proper environment from the very beginning.”
Everyone they had met so far looked and sounded eminently normal, the surroundings were beautifully maintained, but Claudia found Harold Stedman’s tale of visions deeply disturbing. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in miracles, just not this one.
The sound of a gong interrupted the question Claudia was about to form: What exactly might a three-year-old be trained for? Everyone rose together as an elderly woman wearing a purple shift slid onto the bench of an old upright piano and played a few opening bars. The room became filled with voices raised in a hymn Claudia didn’t recognize. They finished with another prayer and the dining hall emptied within a few minutes.
Claudia and Harold Stedman returned to the office, leaving Kelly to charm Brother Norquist. “What is it that makes you think you’ve been infiltrated, Mr. Stedman?” Claudia asked, hoping Kelly could get some helpful information from the old man.
Stedman walked a little faster, his sandals kicking up dust on the gravel. “The government is always digging around. They’ve sent health inspectors here, openly harassing us. There’s nothing for them to find, but I know they continue to look.”
“You think the government has someone inside?”
“Who else?”
Claudia suppressed a smile. Just because you’re paranoid it doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. She didn’t pretend to have much faith in government, but she couldn’t imagine why they would send someone undercover in the Temple of Brighter Light. Unless, perhaps, they had reason to believe the group had a cache of weapons or something of that magnitude. It wouldn’t be the first time a fringe group had been investigated, especially since 9-11.
Stedman seemed disinclined to talk further and they walked on in silence. The vegetable garden was empty now, and Claudia felt glad for the women who had been working there. If there was any justice at the Ark, they were home, relaxing in a cool bath.
Rita the office assistant was there to meet them. Harold Stedman spoke kindly to her. “Rita, Sister Claudia and I will be in Brother Powers’s office. We’re not to be disturbed, please.” He took Claudia along a short hall and into Rodney Powers’s office, which was only slightly larger than an elevator car; scarcely enough room to walk around the desk that filled it. As he shut the door behind them Claudia felt the walls close in. She had a hard time picturing a two-year-old playing in here while her father tried to work.
A four-drawer metal filing cabinet rose behind the desk, and a head-high shelf that held a set of oversized three-ring binders made it feel even more cramped. On the wall to the left of the desk was a large framed photograph of sand and surf, with a poem Claudia had seen before: “Footprints in the Sand.” To the right was a wall calendar. The date of Kylie’s third birthday had been circled in red.
“I’ve got everything ready for you,” Stedman said. “I’ve always been fascinated by the written word. Earlier in my life I spent many a day in museums, studying ancient texts. I’ve even collected some antique writings. Perhaps while you’re here, I’ll show you a couple of items that might be of interest to you.”
“I’m certainly interested in ancient writings.”
Stedman looked pleased at her response. “We’ll see what can be arranged. But for now, to the business at hand.” He maneuvered behind the desk and opened a drawer, took out a thick manila envelope, and unsealed it. “We ask our applicants to write an essay about why they want to join the Temple of Brighter Light. What I would like you to do is review a few of these essays and tell me whether you believe they’re telling the truth or not. I’ll have more for you later.”
Claudia took the sheaf of papers he handed her. “I’ll do what I can, Mr. Stedman, but I want to make sure you understand something: if the person didn’t experience guilt over what he or she wrote, it might not show up in their handwriting as a lie.”
“I do understand.” The piercing blue eyes met her gaze. “But if you find anything, anything at all, you will let me know, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
“I have reason to believe there is some murmuring going on—dissent among some of the members, which is bad for the entire body. There are certain ones whose loyalty
concerns me and I need to know whether I can trust them.”
“Murmuring? I suppose you mean someone making negative comments about TBL teachings.”
“We must be a unified body, and that means rooting out those who disrupt the peace of the organization.”
“What will happen to them if you find out that you’re right?”
“They’ll be excommunicated.”
“Meaning?”
Stedman slapped the envelope against his hand and his expression grew stern. “The first step is for the judicial commission to offer loving counsel. If they are found to be unrepentant evildoers who, by their actions or behavior, discredit the good that the Temple is doing, they will be cast out. No longer will we welcome them in our midst, nor will we say a greeting to them. If we see them on the street, we will cross to the other side. If they attempt to approach one of us, we will turn away.”
“But if they’ve given up everything to live at the Ark, or to be a TBL member . . .”
“It is sad, sister, but the Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. Betrayal of the Lord God is deserving of spiritual death.”
Laying the envelope on the desk, he edged his way around Claudia, apologizing as he brushed against her, and opened the door. “I’ll be working upstairs in my office all this afternoon. Sister Rita can show you where I am if you need me for anything. I’d like you to return the handwriting samples to me before dinner this afternoon, whether you are finished with the work or not. If you aren’t finished, you can get them back from me tomorrow morning.”
After he left, closing the door behind him, Claudia contemplated what he’d said about excommunicating recalcitrant members. She imagined that for someone who had been thoroughly indoctrinated in TBL teachings, it might be a living hell to be cast out of the Ark. She already had an inkling that members were cut off from their former friends and family upon joining, which made their only support system the one within the confines of the Temple of Brighter Light. It seemed to her a cruel punishment.