by Celie Wells
“My family thinks that we are children with a wild idea to marry. But I know him. He's just like me. We don't have God's and commandments to fear we have rules and rights. At the end of seven days, he will use his considerable military influence to firebomb the entire seabed for as far and wide as he ordinance.
“And once those bombs are spent, he will have more weapons assembled, so he will do it again and again until all that remains is an oily charred pile of rock. Send me home.” I could feel the tears run down my face. If this was my last opportunity to beg for my return, I would leave nothing unsaid.
The faces of the council members were heavy with thought. They moved to the farthest corner of the tent and began to deliberate. I sat back on my chair and stared at Noah. I could picture pulling a hidden knife from my bedsheets and slitting his throat while he slept. I would have to make him trust me before I could exact the justice he deserved. The thought made my stomach sour, and I had to turn away from him.
“Everything's going to be okay,” Zeke ran his hand back and forth across my back. A warm ripple of contentment melted down my spine. I enjoy his touch much more than I should.
“I suppose your right, one way or another, it will all be over soon. I don't want you harmed, Zeke. Help me get back where I belong.”
“You would keep me safe, but you won't stay with me?” Zeke chuckled and moved his hand to my shoulder.
“Might not be fair for me to say it, but it's the truth. How's this, I won't stay, and then you'll all be safe.”
“The walk back is long and dangerous. You won't make it back by yourself.” He stated as if it were fact.
I shook my head in disagreement. “I'll make it back.”
“How can you be so sure?” Zeke scoffed.
“Because you will make sure I have everything I need.” It had been a long day. I could see in Zeke's eyes just how invested he had become in me choosing him. I felt such pity and guilt. If I could split myself in two and leave one half with Zeke and send the other home to my family, I would, but I can't.
A small woman burst into the tent and walked quickly over to the group deciding my fate. She spoke briefly and then produced a small piece of white paper from her pocket. One by one, the people in the Council of four nodded their heads to their spokesperson.
An older man stepped forward. “By unanimous vote, it is declared that Karine shall be given to Ezekiel Prowe and the family Prowe to satisfy the cultural bond of unity within our clans.” He walked to the back of the group and coaxed the next speaker forward.
“It is further declared that this woman shall be allowed to return to her place of origin at sundown tomorrow. If she chooses to leave, she may not return without the consent of the Prowe family elder. If she chooses to stay, she will conform to all rules and clan customs immediately.” The woman looked at me with hard eyes and rigid posture. This was a onetime offer.
Zeke took my hand in his and led me out of the Council tent. I lowered my head as I passed the crowd of onlookers. Under other circumstances, I may have accepted their offer of family and purpose, but I don't have that luxury. We walked until we stood out in the night air alone.
“I feel like I've known you for years, but it's only been a few days, a few hours of conversation. I don't understand how someone who was a stranger a few days ago can be so familiar to me today?” Zeke looked at me as if he was looking at me for the first time. “Karine, say something.”
“Some people have a connection right away. I think that's all that happened to us. This situation was so violent and strange. I needed a friend, and maybe you were a little bored before I showed up.”
“No, I was content and too busy to think about what I didn't have.” Zeke was animated as he spoke. The realization that he wasn’t going to get his way showed like pain in his eyes. “I want you to stay with me. I want you to survive and have a good life here with me, as my wife. You don’t need to go home. We’re leaving this area tomorrow. Come with me.” His raw honesty brought tears to my eyes.
“I stay, and no one has a life. You understand that fact, don't you? I'm not lying or exaggerating the threat. My government will authorize genocide on your people if I don't go home.” Zeke grabbed my hand and held it to his face. “There must be another way. You can’t just vanish back into the city.”
IT WILL BE FIRE
Through the fire, you shall travel. Think only of your love for me, and I shall meet you in the fresh morning air with my arms wide and all my burdens removed. This old poem is chiseled on the wall of our town's celebration hall.
I never realized how dark the meaning was until I watched my grandparent's say goodbye to everyone at their end of life celebration. My grandmother chose to travel through the fire to meet my grandfather on the other side, not knowing what she would find.
My temporary family brought me to their home. Zeke and I were officially betrothed in the presence of all the clan and household members. I was given the ring of the first wife, a thick band of gold wrapped tightly with a ribbon of white silk.
Tradition states that once the silk falls away from the ring, wedding preparations would begin. This Is a new tradition to me, but the ceremony of giving the ring seemed to mean a great deal to the Prowe family. I accepted the ring with a smile and shared a real kiss with Zeke in full view of everyone watching.
After a moment of his lips on mine, it felt like we were completely alone in the room. It was the strangest thing to lose my grip on reality that completely. The onlookers clapped and cheered as Zeke hugged me tightly to his chest. A tingling warmth poured over my skin and calmed my mind.
The days had been a constant emotional battle. It was such a relief to have closure for my situation. I could stop fighting now—they were going to send me home. Blue Bell was busy working a video message to send with me for her family. Her new fiancé was busy putting together my survival gear. I could breathe freely again.
I can't travel through the unknown fire for Zeke. He is beautiful, and his noble plans to save everyone in his camp make him even more appealing to me, but I don't love him. Not in the way I have seen real love in practice. Maybe if I stayed, I would grow to love him, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome losing my family and my life with Jason.
Jason is good and devious, selfish and charitable, proud, and childish, all at the same time. I know him like I know my reflection, and I would follow him through the unknown just to tell him how stupid I thought he was for going through first.
The dark night sky of late evening fell over the tents. The outside meeting area was empty and the family gathering appeared as if it would continue without me for some time. I was tired and excused myself from the group. Zeke showed me to the bedroom his two sisters occupied but made a point to walk me past the hallway that led to his tent.
A young dark-haired child snored softly in a bed at the far end of the room. The other pre-teen girl was still out helping with the family celebration. The girls decorated a cot for me with a soft bedroll of pink blankets and white sheets. The colors reminded me of the butterflies and roses bedroom decorations I had in my room as a little girl.
Zeke pulled me to the edge of the doorway and brushed a few stray hairs from my cheek. “All I needed was for you to trust me, Karine. Tonight, would have been so easy if you picked me like I asked you to.”
“Zeke, I don't trust, least of all what I don't understand,” I explained quietly.
He nodded his head and cupped his hands over mine.
“Follow me to my room, stay with me tonight, as my betrothed.” Zeke ran his hand down my arm and rested his fingers on the sash tied around my waist.
I slowly shook my head, no. I could feel the pit of stomach flutter, and my cheeks flush as a hum of blood rushed under my skin.
“You don't have to be afraid, Karine.” Zeke slid his arm around my waist. We swayed to the rhythm of a song playing far off in the distance.
“I'm not afraid.” I lowered my eyes so he couldn't see me lie
. “I leave tomorrow at the low light mark. I can't stay here with you.”
Zeke nodded his head as a smile filled his face. “You can't blame me for trying to keep you here.” He twirled me around and stopped us in the faint light. “Even if you make it back home, I won't know if you escape the destruction in time.”
“I will make it home, and I'll be kept safe from whatever is hurling its way at us this time.” I slid my hand under Zeek's warm palm and lifted it off my gown, he pulled his hand away from mine and tucked it in his pocket.
I took a few steps back into the darkness of the bedroom. Zeke didn't move. I don't know how long he stayed outside the doorway. Once I lay down, my heart was pounding too hard for me to hear anything else.
Fear was the only reason I didn't follow Zeke to his room. I could have stayed with him for one night. But how hard would it be to look Jason in the eyes if I had? Fear was a good thing for me to have today.
My grandmother had a theory. She claimed it was better to have all your life experiences with one person. She loved only my grandfather and claimed this was the best way to live. To have your heart love one person was peaceful. She never mentioned the complications of introducing your heart to someone new.
I hope the pain and suffering I endure on my trek back in the open sun will clean away my ridiculous thoughts of life as Zeke's dutiful wife. Honestly, I hope I don't burn my skin too severely as the salt from the old continental shelf reflects the sun's rays up at my flesh. My earth science classes, and my cursory survival training began to fight for dominance in my clouded mind. My long hair is probably going to singe right off.
Cover, conceal, or cremate, a pretty simple set of instructions for survival in the sun. I would need to follow them for the hours it will take me to walk back home. If I am to die from something tomorrow—it will be fire.
NORTH EAST
The new day began with a pink sugar cookie on my nightstand resting on top of a hand-drawn picture of a princess in a purple dress with wild red hair. My long auburn hair must have looked red and wild in the firelight of last night's gathering—quite a sight for little girls to process.
I didn't know what to expect from the day. I couldn't see my future beyond walking out of the settlement that evening. My future was going to unfold one footstep at a time.
Violet came to get me for breakfast. She brought me a lacy t-shirt and a pair of reclaimed jeans. Zeke was nowhere to be found, and I didn't ask about him. I ate a substantial breakfast of sausage and pastries before heading out into the main gathering room. Blue arrived shortly after with a cart full of gear and her new fiancé, Chip. He gave me a crash course on all the hiking gear he managed to salvage for my trip home.
“You will be traveling east for most of your trip home, northeast once you hit mile three. This compass will help right your course if you get turned around.” Chip was a big, tall deliberate man. You could tell he controlled the volume of his voice and his movements like a giant in a teapot factory.
At some point in Chip's explanation of the canteen system, Blue grabbed my hand and began to pat me on the shoulder. “This bottle will remove some salt and solids from groundwater, but I wouldn't drink anything you find past the five-mile mark. Those water reserves are likely tainted.
You will have a dozen small water pouches distributed across your suit and bag. As you drink, your pack weight will decrease, but so will your exposure time and life expectancy.” A scar ran down Chip's face from his eye to his collar bone as if someone had tried to cut his face off. It was all I could do not to ask him how he got it.
“Blue, when your parents ask your husband's name, what should I tell them?”
“Crackstone is our last name. Everyone here calls me Chip. My first name is John, but my father's first name is also John. Hey, it's better than Crack and less ominous than Stone. Little John really doesn't fit me, so I'm stuck with Chip.”
“Can't argue with that logic,” I snickered. Blue grabbed my hand tightly.
“This drive holds the message for my family. You must understand my mother is going to be awful to you when you see her. This will be a social status attack on her, and she will take the opportunity to play the victim.
“I ask that you to take this to them personally and explain to my father that I found a life where I matter. I would rather live happy for two years and die in the dirt than to return home and marry the ten-year-old son of my mother's business partner.”
“Oh, Blue, I didn't know they had asked that of you?” I hugged her to me.
“Asked? My mother doesn't ask or forgive or praise people. She criticizes and harps and rants. If I stay here, I will be loved and cherished for me. I honestly don't know how to respond to the kindness these people have shown me,” Blue explained.
“Don't worry, Sweetheart. I will teach you how to love yourself.” Chip lifted Blue out of her chair, carried her out of the tent, and kissed her. “We will be back later to help you dress and pack for the trip. Get some rest and be sure to eat well today.”
Visitors from every family in the settlement arrived throughout the afternoon. Violet was a gracious hostess even though I knew she was tired after the past few days of turmoil. She reminded me of my grandmother in that way. Her calmness and grace under pressure were comforting to witness.
Some visitors brought dry fruits and meats, others arrived with skin creams, herbal tonics, and clothing. One man carried a small collection of herb seeds he saved over the years. He heard of my mother's work rebuilding the seed bank. He thanked me for making the trek home so no harm would come to the settlement. Soon after he left, a woman arrived with another collection of fruit pits for my topside family.
One woman brought scavengers bars made with layers of dried apricot topped with chopped almonds, pickled sweet beets, and chopped thick bacon. Each calorie-packed square sat wrapped in a cloth dipped in beeswax and tied with white twine.
Hours went by, and still, there was no sign of Zeke. I took Chip's advice and napped mid-day after having a small steak and pickled red onions for lunch. I showered and dried off well before writing my name in permanent marker across my stomach. It was harder to do than I expected, but there needed to be some way to identify my body if the worst happens.
One of the guests brought me a pair of thin blue cotton pants and a matching long sleeve shirt to wear under the leather day suit Chip was busy modifying for me. I put on the clothes and went to the main tent area to search for socks only to find Blue and Chip waiting in the main tent area.
“Blue, I'm glad you are here. Can you write my citizen number across my shoulders with this pen?”
“What are you doing, Karine?” Blue asked.
“I already have my name on my front. I can't write on my own back.” I lifted my shirt a few inches to show the pair my penmanship. Chip's eyes began to tear, and he abruptly left the room.
Violet walked over to me and held her hand out for the pen. “I can help you with that.”
“Thank you, Violet. My number is 251899.” Blue looked at me very strangely.
“I might not make it home, Blue. I have to mark my corpse so anyone who finds it can alert the township.” Blue looked around the pile of supplies for socks and boots. She located a new looking pair of white socks, and some used brown lace-up boots.
“That is very practical of you, Karine.” Violet smiled and handed me the pen after she finished with my number. Blue handed me the socks and boots and helped me put them on.
“Does Chip think it's time for me to leave?” I asked.
“Not yet, few hours still. He's timing your exit for maximum shade.” Blue put her hand on my arm. “We want to take you to be blessed before your trip,” she whispered apologetically.
“Seriously, everyone already blessed me look around.”
“There is a Pastor and a Priest here. They would like to bless your trip. It can't hurt, and it will let everyone here feel like they have done what they can for you.” Blue explained though I coul
d tell she found it as ridiculous as I did.
“Fine, as long as it's quick.” I conceded.
“I will make sure it is.” Blue led me outside, where Chip was waiting.
“She'll do it.” Blue patted Chip on his muscular arm, his demeanor changed.
“Thank you, Karine. Having you and your journey blessed will mean a great deal to many of us here.”
They looked good together, Blue Bell and Chip. I couldn’t imagine her with anyone else after seeing how he dotes on her. These things change over time according to my classes. The life cycle of a marriage is dependent on factors like compatible life paths and social status, love is found at the tiny top of marriage pyramid. The model might be turned upside down for Red life.
DARKNESS AND LIGHT
“All reports show the west slope access to the seabed removed, but I don't know if I have done the right thing. Do you think they will hurt Kar in retaliation?” Jason struggled to wrap a fresh dressing around his arm. Dredge shoved his view screen across the table and positioned himself to continue rolling the gauze up Jason's arm.
“I don't think so. It is impossible to predict, there are too many moving parts to this standoff, but no. I honestly don't think they will hurt Karine.” Dredge could see how thin Jason was becoming and pushed his plate of tea cookies closer to him.
“With pressure from the local militias to cut off Red access to the city wall, I think the targeted destruction was my only good option.” Jason picked up a sugar-dusted circle and inspected it before tossing it back on the plate.
A tall, thin woman entered the darkly appointed office, turned on the overhead lights, and collected the discarded clothing left on the couches and chairs.
“Will there be anything else tonight, Gentlemen? I can fetch you both some cake from the kitchen, or maybe you would like some bread and cheese.”