Heather wiped at her face with the back of her hand, clearing an itinerant tear from her cheek and then shook her head vigorously, answering with a nasally, “No, I haven’t.”
Caleb began to wonder about the two older women and decided to track them down after his meal and check on their wellbeing. He was still duty bound to Christina and more than likely, Louisse would become his responsibility too now.
*~*~*~*
Filled with grief and a badly aching conscience, Louisse stared up at the solid rock roof of her chamber from her bed and mulled over her situation.
First listening to the convincing arguments of the black voice in her head, telling her she was being conned by Jehovah and colluded by Hakham; then the persuasiveness of the white voice had its turn, pointing her to honour and putting right the untruths she had levelled against the community that cared, fed and protected her.
The joyous celebrations rippling throughout the sanctuary usually meant another resistance member had been rescued and delivered safely into the family’s care. But this time, Louisse was indifferent and unusually deaf to the black, complaining voice rattling her misguided ire and enticing her to mingle among the gathering, sowing the seeds of discord and dampening the family’s generous spirit when a new member arrived.
She couldn’t even work up the enthusiasm to leave her bed, let alone throw the soaking black blanket of discouragement over the familiar crowd.
All through the wearisome night and keeping her from her sleep, images of Finn and Christina working feverishly and parading dementedly like some sideshow clown, respectfully responding to each one of her orders as she had barked them. Continually tossing and turning, she tried to convince herself she was worthy of the respect she demanded, but the gentle words of Jehovah kept replaying over and over in her mind and shot down any attempt to bolster her nonsense.
You are forgiven; now be worthy of your son’s sacrifice.
The harder she tried to keep the words from her conscious mind, the louder they became and the deeper the guilty pangs resonated.
Finally, she had had enough and conceded defeat. Glancing to the ceiling she disdainfully whispered, “You win! What do you want me to do?”
Raising herself drowsily from her divan, she glanced around the room, disoriented and tried to guess at the time. The reverberating voices of the family as their celebrations drifted across the passageways had been silent for some time now and the usual echo of family life had fallen still, also. Either it was late at night again and she had managed some form of fitful sleep or the family had gathered together without her, for some strange reason.
The fact that it may have been a mealtime completely eluded her wisdom and a strong feeling of being left out and isolated from the others crept across her mind. Although it was warranted, she didn’t like the thought of being excluded from family life and the warmth and acceptance that pervaded the gathering.
Panicking at the lack of activity around the passageways, her mind was working overtime and she wondered whether the gathering had assembled before the altar and was devising a plan to evict her from their presence.
Louisse crept along the familiar tunnel, listening for known voices. Pressing a hand against the wall for guidance in the semi-dark, she stopped at the door to the Lake of Purity and peered in, but the family were not there. In a halfhearted attempt, she nodded her head at the altar before entering the sanctuary, but then a rasped whisper startled her and she stifled a scream.
“I apologise, Louisse, for frightening you,” the simple, but earnest words of the old man were powerful, laced with the calming presence of Jehovah and drawing the guilty woman with kindness.
Settling from her start, the overwhelming love emanating from the old man tore at Louisse’s heart, but fighting desperately to resist, she dropped to her knees before the elder, trembling.
Moments later, the pent up dam of deceit and lies overflowed its walls and gouged the woman to the depths of her heart, leaving no desperate soil untouched or unwashed by the flood of confession.
*~*~*~*
The late session of the evening meal had been a time of sombre prayer and petition to Jehovah as each table took turns praying for Finn. One table would pray as the rest quietly consumed the meal and agreed with an exuberant amen at the conclusion. The next table would then fill the airwaves with their petition, until all those present had added their pleas to the feet of Jehovah.
Many loving arms embraced Heather as she quietly sobbed and pleaded for Finn’s safe return, but the family listened with compassion as Heather found Jehovah’s wisdom and repeated Caleb’s words to her, only moments ago.
“I don’t know what Jehovah is doing with Finn and the family, but we have to believe He knows best and He will bring out the best for all of us. Finn was like a brother to many of us and we have to trust Jehovah with the details, even if it means pain.”
Caleb smiled at Heather’s resolve to heed his words and again, gave her a big brother’s hug of encouragement.
The tables soon began to empty of their occupants, while those family members rostered to clean up after the meal worked feverishly toward the goal and looked forward to other family activities as the evening continued to wind down and night settled comfortably over the little settlement.
Caleb wandered along the passageways quietly, deep in thought and feeling the need for some time before the altar ahead of attempting to track down Louisse and Christina.
Just as he approached the doorway, he could hear the unmistakable sounds of deep distress accompanied by blubbering speech, begging Hakham not to evict the voice’s owner from the family. Caleb was about to turn from the disturbing scene and leave the deeply troubling situation in the revered elder’s hands, when he heard Hakham’s gentle rasp.
“Your folly wasn’t in selling out your family, but in selling out yourself. Jehovah has taught you a painful lesson, Louisse, and you have learned it well. No one is going to evict you from the family because of your confession, and I will gladly stand by you and call you daughter.”
The sanctuary dropped into an intense silence, forcing Caleb to step closer to the door to satisfy his curiosity and find out what was happening. Peering around the door, Louisse was wrapped in the old man’s embrace while her shoulders heaved silently and uncontrollably.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 29
The early morning buzzed with activity around the family gathering. Heather had been up early to tidy their family chamber, careful not to wake her father or her two new sisters, peacefully sleeping. Curious family members stopped by, hoping to get a glimpse of the new arrivals up close and maybe learn of people they knew and friends and family still trapped among the Alama Masu. But disappointedly, they would have to wait for the girls to wake before they could gather news of Baal Malii.
It was almost intolerable speaking to the Raiders of their adventures and the rescues they undertook; mostly the men wouldn’t talk of their heroic deeds and left it to the rescued to fill in the tale.
The latest rescue was no different and although Caleb was approached by many inquisitors, he would only shrug and point them to the girls for details, allowing them to say as much or as little as they chose.
Heather continued to busy herself with the demands of the chamber and when she glanced across at the sleeping figures, a pair of deep blue eyes followed her movements from the warmth of her blanket.
“Good morning, Elly,” Heather whispered.
“Good morning, Heather,” Elly stretched and then yawned, holding her hand over her mouth. “Boy, I slept good!”
Heather placed Elly’s white dress onto the foot of her bed, freshly washed, dried and folded.
“Thanks, Mum!” Elly teased, smiling a cheeky smile directly at Heather. It had been a long time since Elly had been on the receiving end of any selfless female kindness, even if it was from a girl her own age.
Heather laughed a little too loud at Elly’s antics and woke a ver
y sleepy Eliana from her dreams. Elly threw her pillow at Eliana, bouncing off her head and sending dark hair sprawling across her face.
“W..what was that for?!” Eliana struggled to break free of her sleep and put together a lucid statement.
“Guess who isn’t a morning person?” Elly jested, full of energy.
Eliana pulled her pillow over her head and moaned. “A good morning starts about ten o’clock!” a muffled voice complained.
“Hi, Caleb! Lovely morning isn’t it!” Elly taunted, expecting a reaction from Eliana.
Eliana quickly surfaced from under her pillow and brushed her hair wildly with her fingers, tidying her appearance as best she could in anticipation of the much coveted meeting. She suddenly realised Elly and Heather were laughing hard but Caleb was nowhere in sight.
“That’s mean, Elly!” Eliana complained and then threw her pillow back at Elly.
Elly ducked the missile easily. “Well, it got you up in a hurry and now we know, someone has a sweet tooth,” Elly sang.
“Don’t you dare tell him, promise me?!” Eliana implored worriedly.
“Your secret is safe with us, Eliana.”
Elly reached for her pillow again and lobbed it back at Eliana and soon the chamber erupted in a three-way pillow fight, until Heather’s dad broke up the furore, ending with three young women hanging their heads in guilty submission while a chorus of, “Sorry, Dad,” reverberated around the chamber.
Heather’s father smiled to himself at the antics of his daughters and felt a great tinge of pride that they had already started to call him dad.
*~*~*~*
The great cavern of dining fell into a muted hush as the three young women entered. Many mouths hung open at the parade of beauty that elegantly entered the later family breakfast gathering. It was as if a sweet, graceful breeze whispered into the chamber and before they could be diverted to any particular bench, Dad pointed to the family table and all four people took their seats.
Christina’s stare was just as innocent and enquiring as the rest of the family glancing to the nearby table, surrounded instantly by young men, and eagerly awaiting her turn to engage and welcome the new members.
A sudden order from Heather’s dad and the young men dispersed, leaving competitive and fervent glances drifting across from all points of the dining hall.
Being among the latecomers to the second sitting of the family breakfast, Christina recited a prayer of thanksgiving over her meal and then began to eat. With her head down and concentrating on her meal, a shadow flickered across the table, accentuated by the artificial light offered by small flaming torches positioned about the cavern wall.
Christina raised her head to greet the family member, but a pang of fear took the place of greeting and sealed up her speech. She glanced around the room hoping to find Caleb’s presence close by, but her protective son wasn’t anywhere to be found.
“Christina, I need to talk to you,” Louisse’s voice was direct, but soft and her gaze was determined.
Christina wondered whether it was Louisse’s intention to make a scene in the family dining area and particularly in front of the new family members. She steeled herself, whispered a prayer for protection and invited Louisse to sit.
The next half hour unfolded unexpectedly as Louisse filled the stunned air around Christina with the truth of her exploits outside the family sanctuary and the opportune blame she had levelled at Christina’s feet, then the apology that stole her breath away.
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Christina, and hope you can look past my foolishness, but regardless whether you will accept my apology, I intend to publicly declare my sin in front of the family and absolve you of any wrongdoing. I deserve to be expelled from the family and if they decide that’s the course to take, then I will leave!”
Christina abruptly peered up at Louisse’s heartfelt confession, shaking her head worriedly. “I don’t want you to be expelled from the family, and I do forgive you. Thank you for having the courage to do the right thing,” Christina sighed as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Louisse reached across the table, offering her hand in a gesture of friendship but was concerned when Christina unexpectedly got up and walked determinedly around the obstruction and wrapped Louisse in a hug.
A deep, shocked silence pervaded the dining cavern and the sight of the two rival women hugging openly in public even diverted adoring eyes away from Eliana and Elly. Christina again took her seat across the table from Louisse and over a shared meal, chattered away together.
*~*~*~*
Having finished their first meal seated among the family, Heather took Elly and Eliana over to meet the kitchen leader who immediately allotted them a place on the dining cavern cleanup roster. Leaving no doubt of their acceptance as family members.
The three girls exited the dining hall, chattering excitedly to each other among an audience of admiring eyes and just as they were about to navigate their return to the family chamber, Heather had an idea.
“There is someone special to me I want you to meet; come this way,” Heather beckoned.
Elly and Eliana glanced at each other, wondering who this person could be and nervously followed Heather’s lead, but reassured if they were special to Heather then they indeed would be special.
The path wound around the dim tunnels until a doorway appeared into another cavern. A lone flaming torch spilled light across a pristine lake and deflected shimmering images onto the grotto roof. Heather motioned with her hand for the two girls to follow her, silently entering the chamber door and bowing her head reverently to a rock curtain. Elly and Eliana followed Heather’s lead and did exactly as she did, bowing their heads reverently to the rock curtain.
A rasping, tired voice startled the girls, but Heather was expecting the confluence. “Hakham, this is Eliana and Elly.”
The sight of an elderly hooded figure sitting on a rock ledge in front of the lake brought a stab of fear to the girls. He looked very much like the beasts they had just escaped from, but they couldn’t hold the gaze of Heather’s esteemed friend.
“Welcome to the family,” Hakham offered, his voice low but calming and allowing his wise charisma to immediately draw the girls and allay their fear.
“Hakham is the family leader and teacher; his name means wise one,” Heather beamed with adoration.
The elder didn’t respond to Heather’s bubbling introduction, but admonished her with a statement of his own. “Take good care of your sisters, Heather, and open your heart to them for they have much to offer and teach you.”
Heather lowered herself to the rock ledge, prompting Elly and Eliana to do the same.
“I will, Hakham; we have had much fun together already.”
Hakham turned his attention to the girls. “Eliana, another dazzling jewel in Jehovah’s crown. He has taught you much about His trustworthiness and character; and with your wisdom and love, you will be a mother figure to many and bring hope among the family of Jehovah.”
Eliana stared at the figure until she had to look away again, but deep within her, her heart burned with compassion and her spirit seemed to agree with Hakham’s words.
Then Hakham’s gaze bored directly into Elly but the stare, although powerful, was laced with love and kindness. “Elly, Jehovah’s precious lost lamb. His Son searches the meadows with a worried gaze, but will He find you? Your legacy is tangled and out of place at the moment, but your influence on the family is and will be profound, even until that day. Heather will be a sign and a delight to you, closer than a sister or a mother or a daughter.”
Elly stared back at the hooded elder, amazed at the puzzling prophecy, but strangely, somewhere down in the depths of her heart it resonated, even if her head didn’t comprehend it now. Elly wanted to question the elder further about the strange revelations, but the aura of authority surrounding him overwhelmed her and she remained respectfully silent.
Then a troubling expres
sion clouded Elly’s piercing blue eyes. Reminded of another riddle, her mind once again returned to Dramble, feeling a dragging weight of concern tugging at her heart.
He was still devotedly searching for her, unaware she was safe and being well looked after. Then she pictured the grey eyes, so full of love and compassion, melting her heart instantly. Dramble desperately wanted to divulge the secrets he knew of her hidden personal life, but he was unable and held accountable to silence by some restraining force. Then absentmindedly, she uttered the riddle as if she were alone with him.
“Out of your heart the tears I keep and when I am no longer, your knowledge is complete.”
She puzzled at Dramble’s words again and then realised the three other people in the chamber were staring at her, snapping her out of the nostalgia. Their gazes indicated they were waiting for an explanation.
“I... It was a riddle a friend gave me just before I was captured, and as far as I know he is still back in that dreadful place, searching for me.”
Elly’s worry dropped like a blanket of grief over Heather and thoughts of the green-eyed Raider stabbed at her heart and her face fell in despair.
Realising her actions had affected Heather, Elly immediately smothered her in a hug. “I’m sorry, Heather, that was so insensitive of me.”
Hakham’s whispered words filled the chamber, acknowledging Elly’s and Heather’s distress. “The Book of Wisdom teaches us a friend loves at all times and a brother or sister is born for adversity and again, at the end of all things everything else passes away, all that remains is faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love.”
*~*~*~*
Chapter 30
The morning shift had changed hands with the evening shift, but they were already well behind time and there was still a lot to do before the quota could be met and the crystals blended precisely, according to the recipe the kafiri slaves had developed over many years.