next morning was wet. They awoke to the steady drumming of rain on the roof.
Staci looked outside. “Stair rods,” she pronounced.
“What are stair rods?” Keika asked.
“Bannisters that go up a flight of stairs,” Jim tried to explain, not very successfully.
So Lou tried instead. “Cats and dogs,” she said helpfully. “Torrents. Chucking it down. Couldn’t be wetter if it tried. Lovely weather for ducks.”
Keika looked outside. “Ah, much rain.”
13
January 6 th , midday-ish, day 49, Lou scribbling.
I’m a fool. But you knew that, right? I give my heart in the most stupid places. I mean, I’m just a stupid kid. Why would he want me? Why would either of them…or anyone come to that…want me? And if you notice I’m writing this backwards, that’s because Jim can’t read mirror writing. At least, not without the aid of a mirror. And there isn’t one here.
Which means for now, at least, I can pour out my heart and no one will know. Because I have no one to talk to. I’m alone in a crowd of people, and I always will be. Anyway, the wedding is two days away and Jim is planning on leaving as soon as it’s over. Not that he’s put as much in here, but I know him and the way he keeps looking at the others when everyone’s sleeping. He wants Staci home and safe. And so do I…but I’m not going.
Once we find this base, I’ll write a proper explanation, but for now, that stays between me, myself, and I. OK, back to normal writing now, else Jim will complain too much.
And yes, it’s still raining. Life doesn’t stop though. The hunting and gathering continues as normal, along with the construction of the new home for Mafuso and Tayba. The women meet daily in Kelmac’s home, making wedding garments for Tayba. Each day as the rains fall, the house grows bigger and the wedding dress nears completion.
Jim’s addition. Will deal with Lou and her illegible entries later on.
I sought out Kelmac an hour or so ago. He was sitting in the small chapel they have here. I assume a missionary built it at some point in the past, which is probably where some of them learnt their English from.
“Kelmac?”
The chieftain turned and smiled. “Hello, Jim.”
“I was wondering if I may speak with you.”
“Of course. Please, sit.”
Jim sat beside him. “We have been here some time. Not that we don’t like being with you all, but we should leave. Try and get to the American base and send a message home.”
“I have been there once, many years ago. There is no one there now.”
“I was hoping to find a radio. So someone can come and get us.”
“If there is not, you may return here. You are always welcome to make your home here.”
“Thank you. I shall remember that.” Jim bowed and took his leave. He hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.
Lou had closed herself off completely. She wasn’t eating, and wasn’t letting Mafuso treat her leg anymore. When Jim had tried talking to her, she was the proverbial brick wall and just blanked him. About the only thing he could do was pray.
Pray they’d find the base.
Pray that there was a radio there and they could call for help.
And pray that help would come before it was too late.
~*~
Lou tried to explain the concept of honeymoons to Tayba, Aryna, and Keika as they prepared the midday meal. Marriage was taken very seriously here. One woman bound to one man for life—no exceptions. Literally until death do them part. Like the relationship her parents had had, right up until her father had been killed. Then one was just alone.
Like she was and always would be. But that didn’t mean that Tayba should miss out on what normally happened. At least in the western world.
“It’s a two week holiday immediately after the reception, uh wedding feast. The groom keeps the destination a secret from the bride, but it’s usually somewhere exotic.”
“Exotic?” Tayba asked.
Lou grinned. “Hot and sunny and not in England. It’s their chance to be alone
Staci looked outside. “Stair rods,” she pronounced.
“What are stair rods?” Keika asked.
“Bannisters that go up a flight of stairs,” Jim tried to explain, not very successfully.
So Lou tried instead. “Cats and dogs,” she said helpfully. “Torrents. Chucking it down. Couldn’t be wetter if it tried. Lovely weather for ducks.”
Keika looked outside. “Ah, much rain.”
13
January 6 th , midday-ish, day 49, Lou scribbling.
I’m a fool. But you knew that, right? I give my heart in the most stupid places. I mean, I’m just a stupid kid. Why would he want me? Why would either of them…or anyone come to that…want me? And if you notice I’m writing this backwards, that’s because Jim can’t read mirror writing. At least, not without the aid of a mirror. And there isn’t one here.
Which means for now, at least, I can pour out my heart and no one will know. Because I have no one to talk to. I’m alone in a crowd of people, and I always will be. Anyway, the wedding is two days away and Jim is planning on leaving as soon as it’s over. Not that he’s put as much in here, but I know him and the way he keeps looking at the others when everyone’s sleeping. He wants Staci home and safe. And so do I…but I’m not going.
Once we find this base, I’ll write a proper explanation, but for now, that stays between me, myself, and I. OK, back to normal writing now, else Jim will complain too much.
And yes, it’s still raining. Life doesn’t stop though. The hunting and gathering continues as normal, along with the construction of the new home for Mafuso and Tayba. The women meet daily in Kelmac’s home, making wedding garments for Tayba. Each day as the rains fall, the house grows bigger and the wedding dress nears completion.
Jim’s addition. Will deal with Lou and her illegible entries later on.
I sought out Kelmac an hour or so ago. He was sitting in the small chapel they have here. I assume a missionary built it at some point in the past, which is probably where some of them learnt their English from.
“Kelmac?”
The chieftain turned and smiled. “Hello, Jim.”
“I was wondering if I may speak with you.”
“Of course. Please, sit.”
Jim sat beside him. “We have been here some time. Not that we don’t like being with you all, but we should leave. Try and get to the American base and send a message home.”
“I have been there once, many years ago. There is no one there now.”
“I was hoping to find a radio. So someone can come and get us.”
“If there is not, you may return here. You are always welcome to make your home here.”
“Thank you. I shall remember that.” Jim bowed and took his leave. He hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.
Lou had closed herself off completely. She wasn’t eating, and wasn’t letting Mafuso treat her leg anymore. When Jim had tried talking to her, she was the proverbial brick wall and just blanked him. About the only thing he could do was pray.
Pray they’d find the base.
Pray that there was a radio there and they could call for help.
And pray that help would come before it was too late.
~*~
Lou tried to explain the concept of honeymoons to Tayba, Aryna, and Keika as they prepared the midday meal. Marriage was taken very seriously here. One woman bound to one man for life—no exceptions. Literally until death do them part. Like the relationship her parents had had, right up until her father had been killed. Then one was just alone.
Like she was and always would be. But that didn’t mean that Tayba should miss out on what normally happened. At least in the western world.
“It’s a two week holiday immediately after the reception, uh wedding feast. The groom keeps the destination a secret from the bride, but it’s usually somewhere exotic.”
“Exotic?” Tayba asked.
Lou grinned. “Hot and sunny and not in England. It’s their chance to be alone
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