by Jordan Rivet
“It’s good to see you up and moving around,” Betsy said, coming over to sit beside Esther.
Betsy wore a skirt even though she had been working in the field, and it billowed out around her in a near-perfect circle as she sat.
“Thanks,” Esther said. “I’m still a little shaky on my feet.”
“You gave us quite a scare,” Betsy said. “I was afraid you were going to die, but the Lord brought you through. It must have been a Lake Day blessing.”
“The Shepherds took good care of me.”
“It’s fun having visitors.” Betsy smiled and combed her fingers through the ends of her long hair so she could retie her braid. “Are ya’ll really thinking about staying here and joining the community?”
“Maybe . . .”
“Johnny and Jemima Jones did it. They were wandering around in the wilderness before. It’s much better here by the lake.”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“Good. Well, we better get back to work. We’ve got a whole field to finish.”
“Sure.” Esther followed Betsy back into the field and settled in to pull weeds beside her. “Hey, Betsy?”
“Yeah?”
“Why are there only women from the town working in the field?” She nodded toward Thompson and Jones and the other men watching from the shade of the smokehouse.
“Those men are here to protect us, of course.” Betsy chuckled like Esther was a child. “Besides keeping us safe, the men do all the hunting and fishing, and we women cultivate the land and care for the livestock. How do you do it at sea?”
“Uh . . . we don’t really have different roles for men and women on our ship. There are women on the fishing crew, and one of our main leaders is a woman.”
“Like a Shepherd?”
“She’s more like an Elder, I think, or even the Dentist. She doesn’t have anything to do with religion at all.” Esther wondered how Judith was holding up. She hoped the Catalina was still staying aloof from other ships until they were sure where Boris was headed. She had nearly forgotten about him with everything that had happened since they left the Catalina behind.
“Fascinating,” Betsy said.
“I guess.”
“But who keeps you safe?” Betsy asked.
“We keep each other safe,” Esther said. She remembered fighting side by side with Zoe and Dirk to defend the Catalina when it was attacked at the Amsterdam Coalition that summer. It hadn’t occurred to her to stay back while the men protected them. “Who are you afraid of anyway?” she asked. “The lake doesn’t seem like it’s in danger of being attacked.”
“You don’t know what it has been like, Esther.” Betsy sat back on her heels for a moment, clutching a weed in her palm. “I was on my own for a while. When men find women alone on the road . . . Well, I think it’s better this way. I thank God every day that the Dentist found me. He knows what’s best for us.”
“I’m sure he does,” Esther said. She studied Betsy out of the corner of her eye. She seemed content with town life, like Yvonne, but she had obviously been through some hard times. There was a reason this place was a sanctuary for so many. Most of the women here appeared happy. They weren’t afraid, despite living under a strict code that demanded their silence and controlled their behavior—right down to who could share their beds—under the threat of death.
She wished she knew what Naomi’s betrayal had been. Something still didn’t add up about her punishment.
Esther had a feeling they would need all the allies they could get, though. Betsy seemed devoted to the Dentist, but she had likely also been friends with Naomi. She had almost mentioned her name the day Esther arrived. Would she be willing to help? Esther needed some way to find out how Betsy felt about the rules—and rule breakers.
“Have you seen David?” she asked. He was as good a topic as any if she was going to hint at Codebreaking.
“The blond? He and a few of your people went fishing.”
“Really? I wish I could have gone with him.”
“Esther, women don’t fish here.”
“I’ve done it before,” Esther said. She grabbed hold of a particularly tough weed and tried to yank it out of the earth.
“We each have our roles. It’s God’s will.”
“If you say so. Anyway, I miss being with David.” She did her best to sound lovesick. It helped to think about how Neal used to talk about Marianna. “He’s really wonderful. And the way he makes me feel . . .” She gave a huge sigh. “Do you have anyone like that, Betsy?”
Betsy looked up, a pink cast to her face. “Actually, there is someone I’ve had my eye on. He’s an Elder. I’d love to marry an Elder.”
“Oh yeah?” Esther leaned closer. “Have you ever gotten him alone and—?”
A long shadow was suddenly cast over their work. Thompson loomed above them, his shotgun barrel sticking out behind his shoulder. He wore the same cap pulled low over his eyes.
“You can go fishing tomorrow if you want,” he growled.
Esther blinked. Exactly how long had he been listening in?
“Are you sure?”
“You’re a guest, aren’t you?” Thompson said, adjusting his cap. His bushy beard hid his expression. “I say if a girl wants to fish, she can fish.”
“Thank you,” Esther said.
“Meet me at the dock after lunch.”
“Okay.”
Betsy gaped at Thompson as he stalked back over the field, not bothering to weave among the tomato plants. She looked a little panicked.
“I don’t think you should be friends with Thompson, Esther,” she said.
“I’m not sure I’d call that being friends,” Esther said. “What’s wrong with Thompson?”
He was now hovering over Cally and Dax, watching them work. Dax glanced up and gave a little jump.
“He’s . . .” Betsy looked around again. “He’s trouble. He speaks against the Dentist sometimes. That’s wrong, Esther. I’ve seen him breaking curfew when he wasn’t on duty too.”
“Yeah?”
“I told the Dentist about it, obviously.” She lowered her voice. “And I hear he even talks to the Mexicans when he comes across them on patrol.”
“And that’s bad?”
“Of course. It’s only a rumor, though. Maybe I should tell the Dentist Thompson’s taking you fishing.”
Betsy started to stand, but Esther shot out a hand and gripped her wrist. She smiled through gritted teeth.
“Don’t do that, Betsy. I’m sure he doesn’t mean anything against the Dentist. He’s just being nice.”
“Under the Code we’re supposed to tell the Dentist if anyone is doing something he wouldn’t like, even if what they’re doing isn’t specifically forbidden. You’ll need to learn that if you stay here.”
“It’s just a fishing trip,” Esther said. “I miss being out on a boat. It can’t hurt.”
“Okay . . . Just watch out for Thompson, Esther. He’s not a very good Code follower.”
“I will. And thank you for the warning.”
Esther sent up a silent prayer of thanks to Thompson. She had been a little too close to asking Betsy about Codebreaking. The woman couldn’t be trusted. Not even a little bit. Thompson on the other hand . . . He was a puzzle.
Chapter 28—The Lodge
WHEN THE WORKDAY WAS done, the crew made their way to the bathhouses to clean up for dinner. The hot water felt great after the hard day’s work. Cally and Anita were more comfortable with the whole communal bathing situation than Esther had been. Cally couldn’t stop giggling from the moment her toes hit the water to when she climbed back out again and wrapped herself in a towel, her hair dripping like red kelp.
Yvonne met them outside. “We’re having a dinner for your crew in the Lodge,” she said. “It won’t be as fancy as Lake Day, but we want to give the newcomers a proper lake welcome. It’ll be a double celebration because you’re better!”
She hugged Esther suddenly and release
d her almost as quickly, as if she was afraid it wouldn’t be okay with her.
Esther patted her lightly on the back. “Sounds good,” she said. “And thanks.”
Esther introduced Yvonne to the others, and they walked toward the Lodge together.
“Will the whole town be at the feast again?” Esther asked.
“Goodness, no!” Yvonne said. “Everyone prepares their own food at home and eats with their families. This will just be a few Elders and their wives, the Shepherds, and a couple of us single folk. We often eat together anyway.”
“What about the Dentist?”
“He’ll be there. I’m sure he wants to meet all of you”—she glanced back at Cally and Anita, who had fallen behind to pet a domesticated dog that had trotted across their path—“in case you decide to stay at the Lake.”
Lights glowed from the cabins like the warm lights of a faraway ship. There was something safe and homey about it. Esther imagined living in a town like this, where the people of the Catalina could spread out over the land but still be close enough to occasionally eat together. They could help each other grow things. They could fish. They could have pets. Parts of the life here didn’t seem so bad.
They reunited with the rest of the crew on the large porch overlooking the crossroads. The group from the Lucinda had cleaned up, and they looked awed and serene after their day on land. Everyone was in good spirits as they made their way through the two sets of double doors and into the Lodge. In the same big meeting hall where they had first met the Dentist, the chairs and benches had been pushed back to make room for a single long table with places set for about fifty. The Dentist’s massive chair sat at the head, but the Dentist himself hadn’t arrived yet.
Bole waved at Esther when she came through the doors with the other women. He had applied some sort of grease to his black beard so it looked extra shiny. He stood by a smaller table, where a pale-yellow liquid, possibly lemonade, was being served in jars.
“My brother has been talking about you,” Yvonne said. “He’s super excited you’re well again.” She looped an arm through Esther’s and walked with her toward the long table to find seats.
“But I’m with David.”
“Oh, he knows. He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Yvonne said. “He flirts with all the single women. He’s done it too much now, though, so I don’t know if anyone will actually say yes to him when he’s finally ready to court properly.”
“He must be happy about all the newcomers then,” Esther said.
Bole had sauntered over to introduce himself to Anita. She smiled shyly at him, twisting her pale fingers together.
“How about you?” Esther asked Yvonne. “Do you have someone to . . . court?”
“I wish.” Yvonne glanced around and lowered her voice. “I had a crush on Louis when I was younger too, but he only ever had eyes for Na . . . for you know who.”
Esther looked around the hall quickly. She didn’t want to miss a chance to get information if Yvonne was in the mood to talk. Babble filled the room, but no one was too near to them. The Lucindans were finding places at the table amidst the townspeople trickling in to join the feast. Among them Esther recognized some of the women she’d met the day of the feast and a handful of Shepherds and Elders. There was no sign of either Thompson or Jones.
Esther pulled Yvonne into a chair beside her and leaned closer, a neutral expression plastered on her face.
“Louis is the one she was caught with?”
Yvonne nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.
“They’ve always been crazy about each other,” Yvonne whispered. “But the Dentist didn’t approve. He kept demanding that Louis work harder before he’d give them his blessing to marry, but they couldn’t stay away from each other.”
“You need the Dentist’s permission to get married?”
“He’s our leader, Esther. God gives us leaders to guide us.” A woman Esther didn’t know sat down a few seats away on Yvonne’s other side, but she immediately turned to talk to the man on her left. Yvonne leaned even closer, and Esther could feel the breath of her whisper on her cheek. “Louis is a hard worker, though—truly he is. He’s good and kind. I know it’s not a good enough excuse to break the Code, but they really and truly love each other.”
David came into the Lodge then, entering like he was about to give a speech. He was with a few men—Elders, Esther assumed. He stood out—tall, handsome. His white-blond hair was lighter than anyone else’s, but it was his presence, his posture that made him stick out from the crowd. Esther couldn’t imagine how anyone could look at anyone else when he was in the room.
“I think it’s a great excuse,” Esther said.
“I thought the Dentist would make an exception for her,” Yvonne whispered. “He’s looked the other way before, and she’s . . . Something changed, that’s all.”
Yvonne looked around again to make sure no one was listening. A pair of Shepherds glanced over at them from the other side of the table, then resumed their conversation.
Yvonne bit her lip and whispered fiercely, “You have to help me when you get her out, Esther. I’m not brave like Naomi. I can’t stay here as a Codebreaker.”
“It’ll be okay,” Esther said. “What happened to Louis?”
“He’ll be offered to the lake for sure,” Yvonne said, voice quivering.
The Dentist strode into the room. All chatter ceased, and the townspeople stood. Yvonne tugged Esther out of her seat too. The Dentist strolled to the head of the table, taking time to greet people on his way, pressing hands and patting shoulders. He wore his heavily embroidered jacket again, and it made him look even taller and broader than he already was. Esther felt her stomach clench like a fist.
“My friends,” the Dentist said when he reached his chair, “welcome to Lake Aguamilpa. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay. Our people will guide you in our ways as they introduce the bounty of the lake to you. It is our hope that you will want to live a life of goodness and truth. When the Lord first called me in a dream, he told me some would doubt us. But he also told me that others would see the blessing and the joy to be found here. I urge you to learn our ways so that you too may find salvation.”
“May the Lord grant it so,” murmured the townspeople.
“Now”—the Dentist clapped his hands together—“let us eat.”
Everyone sat. Esther’s father had taken one seat beside the Dentist, and David took the other. Anita had ended up on Esther’s other side, and Bole sat beside her. He leaned forward to grin at Esther, stroking his sleek beard.
A flurry of women brought out the food on large platters like buffet trays. The people passed them around the table and then placed them in the middle after everyone had taken their portion. There wasn’t quite as much food as they’d had on Lake Day, but it was still an impressive spread: creamy corn, sweet roasted peppers, and fish coated in a rough batter and fried to a golden crisp.
Bole chattered about this and that during the meal, while Anita nodded politely. Esther asked him a few questions, but she kept her attention on the head of the table. David spoke to the Dentist, obviously turning on the charm. He had always been good at getting people in power to listen to him.
Esther ate steadily, hoping David would learn something useful tonight. She wished they’d taken this opportunity to go get Naomi, but he must have a good reason for delaying. He’d be making good use of his diplomacy skills right about now.
Suddenly, however, the Dentist sat back in his chair and narrowed his eyes at David. Esther wished she could hear what they were saying. David offered him a platter of roasted peppers, speaking rapidly, possibly backtracking. The Dentist looked down at the platter suspended in David’s hands but didn’t take it. His golden eyes took on a dangerous glint.
Esther felt for the wrench in her tool belt, wishing Whitefern hadn’t taken her knife. Something was wrong. David had made some sort of misstep, and he knew it.
Then her father put his hand on the Dentis
t’s shoulder and stood.
“May I have everyone’s attention, please?” Simon said.
Faces turned toward him around the table. Esther held her breath. The Dentist didn’t smile.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” Simon said, “to the Dentist and to this fine community. We’ve been around the world since the disaster, but I’ve never encountered so much warmth. It reminds me of being at my grandfather’s farm in Pennsylvania. I want to thank the Dentist and all of you for bringing us back to a simpler time. We can all learn a lot from you. To the Dentist!”
“The Dentist!”
Glasses clinked. After a long moment the Dentist nodded.
David still held the platter, but he recovered his composure and scooped some peppers onto his own plate. Esther released her grip on the wrench. Her father could handle this.
Simon drew the Dentist’s attention for the rest of the meal. The Dentist watched him even when they weren’t speaking. Esther desperately wished she could hear what they were saying. She’d have to steal a minute with her father after the meal.
The Dentist didn’t stay long after everyone had finished eating. The townspeople stood when he left, watching him go with reverence in their eyes. The people really believed he was some sort of prophet. Their devotion, though clearly well meaning, made the situation all the more delicate. Esther remembered how quickly Betsy had been willing to turn Thompson in for suggesting something the Dentist wouldn’t like.
As soon as the Dentist left, the atmosphere became more relaxed and casual.
“Shall we help clear the table for dessert?” Yvonne said.
She, Esther, and Anita gathered up an armload of plates and carried them to a large kitchen located through a side door in the main meeting area. Esther noticed that only the women had helped to clear the table. This must be another one of their divinely assigned roles. The Elders kicked back in their chairs, some taking out pipes. When Dax turned up in the doorway of the kitchen with a fistful of forks and spoons, Betsy chased him out again and told him to relax while she washed up.
The women talked and laughed as they worked. When the dishes were done, they helped carry a platter of sweet fruits and berries drenched in cream back out to the main hall. Everyone helped themselves to the dessert. They ate standing and mingled with the people they hadn’t sat next to.