What happened to the women who were kidnapped and why they were taken remained a mystery. Slavery was mentioned from time to time, but if that was all they wanted, why women? Men were killed, women were taken. Hunters knew the reasons, but they kept silence. Nevertheless, the idea of the Meros monsters’ touch kept young women’s minds in the forest more often.
In recent years, men outnumbered women, and sometimes there was no one to marry. Men might even leave for another community just to find a wife, or, like Tane, they might devote their lives to the Unified cause, rather than Unified strength.
If Tane had something as valuable as a womb, he would never risk his life for such a foolish reason.
Papa’s eyes darkened. "Despite our admonishments, it is clear Tane continues to leave the forest. He claims to honor our ancestors’ goal, to honor his people, to honor peace, but he disregards wise counsel.
"I am too poetic from my time as a hunter in the outside world, but, as I see it, a Unified man must be a sturdy tree with many healthy branches, boasting protective leaves and roots that dig deep into the earth.” He scooped near the rooty ground with fingers spread out and curved. "In a sturdy tree we build lofts, and in lofts, we build safety to have a family, and in a family”—pointing upward, he shook his fist—"we unify ourselves so that we may be free from Meros oppression. Free to roam in the open. Free from hate.”
As if to embrace freedom, Papa’s arms opened wide. "One day, we will be so many, they will not be able to push us back or intimidate us! It gives me joy to think on it.” His hands fell to his lap. "Though, I fear I will not see it in my lifetime.”
Things would change soon, and the Unified would be released from oppression. Any day. Maybe even now? Sometime this afternoon or tomorrow, they would receive news that the Meros had given up their hateful policies. What a wonderful thing that would be.
The beautiful trees gave Hesper peace and kept her safe. Strong, rough trunks. Gentle, fluttering leaves. Faithful, useful, and fruitful, the way humans should be. She did not want to live anywhere else, but the privilege of leaving without fear? What a gift.
Mama scooped a fresh batch of meat from the cooking pan and onto her serving plate. "Tane claims he wants to join the Earth People to build families in the outside world with other brave Unified,” she said. "But he does not understand peace or love, so how can he do it?”
Papa’s countenance wilted with disgust. "I fear I have done this. I let him be a boy for too long and encouraged his hatred toward the Meros.”
The scraping of Mama’s spoon was followed by a child’s playful shout in the distance. Slices of cooked meat waited to be served from her plate. She squatted beside the cooking pan and dropped in several small slabs of raw elk. Tossed on top of the meat, wild onions sent up a cloud of fragrant steam with a loud sizzle.
"We are not the only influences in his life, Avriam. His hatred is fueled by others. He is eighteen and able to choose his course. We have taught him love, but he hates the Meros more than he loves anyone. Do not blame yourself.”
"It is never a child’s fault when the flaw of the parent comes alive in them,” Papa said.
"This exemplifies the danger in Unified leaving the forest to become the Earth People.” Adahy stretched his legs out in front of him. “They claim they want to blend in, build families, slowly integrate the Unified into the Meros world.” He leaned forward, his voice growing urgent. "However, I have seen them in action. It’s a rebellion that encourages behavior like Tane’s.
"Young people leave the forests and follow the leadership of the Earth People to act out violent crimes the leaders themselves will not commit. Vain defiance resulting in the imprisonment and death of many Unified people, including women and children.”
"Truly?” Papa grunted and chewed on his food awhile, his eyes adrift on an unsettling current of thought. "I imagined the birth of an uprising by means of this peaceful movement in time, but it is too soon to allow anger to foment. The war will be premature, and the Meros will destroy us. Again.”
Shaking his head, he tossed his hand in the air to shoo away an invisible pest. "Enough of politics! Afton!” He reached for the man passing by. "We have betrothed Hesper and Adahy at last! Have meat!”
* * *
The feast of elk and wild onions spread to most of the community before Papa finished his boasting of the match. However, by midday, the joy faded, and he glanced to the west more often.
"Theia, let us take the rest of the meat to Maddex and Lana.”
Packing the last of the meat in a small wooden box to take to Tangi’s family, Mama said, "We will leave you two alone to enjoy your good day.” She kissed Hesper’s forehead as they left.
Others from the community sat beneath their lofts, eating meals at their own fires, chatting and laughing over their work. The fragrant wood smoke and scent of meat drifted through the air, weaving itself into the comfortable, quiet sound of peace and family in the forest.
Hesper chanced a direct look at Adahy, which he met with unabashed admiration. This would not do. She could not bear it. The betrothal token would be a good distraction.
"This says ‘In God’—I have never heard this word. Is that right?”
"In God we trust. You have it right. It is currency from the Unified ancestors. The number there”—he pointed—"is the number of a year as they once measured them. This is from one of the years your ancestor was in office. The man who ruled the country during the war.”
"Is it really? How did you get this? What is God?”
A spark of zeal energized his movements as he shifted his body to face her and crossed his legs. "God is a great spirit who made the world, including people,” he whispered. "In the past, the Unified and Meros alike called on God to honor It and plead for help.”
"Spirit?” She grimaced. "I have read about spirits. It is difficult for me to accept the reality of something I cannot see. The Unified ancestors were too intelligent to believe such a myth.”
He laughed. "They did, though. In time, the Unified ancestors realized they could not prove the existence of God through scientific methods, so they rejected It. In the outside world, they say this is why the Meros rose up and won their war against the Unified. God favored Its believers.”
The being, who supposedly created the world, granted favors in war? Aided one group of Its creation against another? That sounded too human and foolish for something wise enough to make a beautiful and complex world.
"If this is true, it helps me to understand a few things that go unexplained about our history,” she said.
"How so?”
"I have never understood why the war happened at all. If a spirit is involved, anyone might speak for It and make all manner of claims. Perhaps that is what the Meros did. People seem most passionate about things they believe, rather than the things they see. Passionate to start a war, perhaps.” Hesper frowned, brushing a fleck of something off her foot. "Like Deirdre. Without any evidence, she believes you are a stig. No facts, no proof, but all the certainty.”
Adahy pondered that. "It defies logic. People will gather to the voice of an invisible authority in a man’s mouth—or their own mind.”
A breeze redirected the applewood smoke westward. Wood shifted and sent a spray of sparkling ash into the air. The sparks faded to black, rendered harmless. Hesper rose to gather cordwood from beside the tree. "Do you believe there is a god?”
"Yes.”
Interesting. "You are intelligent,” she said, feeding the fire. "If you believe It, I will give it consideration.”
The statement awoke a warm, loving expression in Adahy, so beautiful that Hesper longed to search the lines of his jaw and brow with her hands. To trace every facet of the dear, smiling face as she would the winding paths of the green metal beetle in an ash tree’s sapwood.
Too silly and poetic.
"For you, the coin is a betrothal token,” he said. "I suggest you not explain ‘God’ if anyone asks. Many do not know of
It, and often those who do are hostile toward the idea.”
“I understand.”
"Good.” He nodded. “Listen, my friend. There’s something I want to ask you that is unrelated to God.” His eyes dimmed with his mood.
Hesper dusted off her hands and sat with her back turned to the fire so she could look at his face. He was so uncomfortable, glancing away, then turning back.
Finally, he said, "I need to know. You and I are friends, and we have shared our minds before. Please, be honest with me without fear. Do you want marriage? You have feelings for me and you care about me—I know all of that—but marriage is something else entirely.
"If Avriam is pushing you into this, I’ll have nothing to do with it and will handle things honorably without causing trouble for you.” He leaned toward her, nodding. The intensity insisted she believe his words. "I will be your friend forever, and I will wait if you are not ready. I would never force you into my loft or bed.” Raking his hand over the ground, he snagged a twig and spun it around with his long fingers as he studied her face. "Do you truly?”
"Oh, yes,” she answered. Nothing in the world sounded better.
He squinted a suspicious eye and ended his scrutiny satisfied.
"I could tell you didn’t know the box was salt. How did you not know?” He held a small invisible box to his ear and shook it. "If you had shaken it, instead of sniffing! You are always sniffing at things!”
"It was not in a bag! And sniffing is a useful skill. As a hunter, you should know.” The air smelled of Meros spices as Adahy uncrossed his legs and stretched them out in front of him. He must have been to the market earlier. "Either way,” Hesper said. "Let us be fair. You gave no indication of an interest in marriage before this.”
Genuinely shocked, he cried, "No indication! Is that so? It wasn’t obvious?”
She shook her head.
"Without touch, how could I have done things differently?”
"Words.” Surely, he did not need to ask. Such a simple answer.
"Is that how it’s done? Words? So straightforward. I should not be surprised, considering the source.”
"What else is there? Words and deeds.” She grabbed the pitcher of honey-golden clover tea and filled a tin cup. "Would you like some?”
"Yes.” He accepted the cup in her hand. "As for me, I knew how you felt without your saying a single word. You blushed like a sunset whenever I talked to you.” He flashed a cocky smile at her. "You usually calm down quickly. I figured I was doing a good job if you were twitterpated and easy to soothe at once.”
"If you are so skilled at hiding that the powerful survival instinct of the deer and elk cannot stand against you and recognize your silent intentions, I do not know how I could be expected to.”
"Yes, but I don’t bring flowers to an elk! I’ve left salt for deer, though.”
"Stig!”
Adahy clicked his tongue and clutched his chest. "I’m wounded! What happened to the brave woman who stood up for me to Deirdre the Fierce yesterday? Now you accuse me of adultery with deer?”
Hesper laughed and held her cheeks.
Adahy’s open smile drifted into something more serious. "Let me try my hand at words, then.” He passed his eyes over her face several times, then cleared his throat and said, "I never considered accepting your affection, because I am often away. My life is complicated. But one day, I looked at you, and I realized that if you were to marry someone else, I’d have to leave because I could not bear the loss.” He scooched closer, his face inches from hers. Speaking low, he continued, "You inspired me to open my heart. Until I met you, it had been unyielding to anything that tried to affect it.
"You were only a girl when we met. The affection I felt for you was different from what it is now, of course, but you did something to me, and you may never know just how far-reaching the effect of your love is.”
The fire was making Hesper’s back too warm. Adahy was making her face too warm. Trapped between two fires of different types.
People did not speak that way here. Too many fine words for one person might make them proud. Maybe they spoke that way among the Meros, and he had picked up on their manners.
Nevertheless, he meant what he said, but what did he mean?
To open his heart. Strange, violent metaphor.
Opening the heart meant death.
However, he spoke of a change in himself, and change would come from the mind.
She did something that changed his mind and made him more open to new thoughts?
Openness to new thoughts. That was what an open heart must be.
His words made sense now.
Maybe.
Whether they did or did not, the experience awakened her mind in a way, she was sure, his hands never would. Though, the meaning did not move her half as much as the fact that he was close enough to be smelled when he spoke.
How long had she been lost in thought, fiddling with the moss between them? She started and laid her hand on her lap. "You always smell good,” she said, laughing at herself. "Like spices.”
"The market.” He chuckled. "The Meros love their spices, you know. They keep their clothes and bedding in drawers with cinnamon sticks, anise stars, and cloved apples. Sometimes pine. As a matter of fact, I often trade pine to the spice man to get spice for other communities who don’t all have these lofts to take care of with nails and practical things—the tree house choice is far costlier. If we would live on the ground, we could afford wonderful things like clocks to tell the time and pre-jarred honey. Anyway, I handle the spices a lot.” He drew up a knee and extended his arm over it. "And you, my friend, smell of wild, rooted goodness, healing and nutritive. Always a faint smell of ginger and mint about you. Holding your strong healing hands will be the most sensational experience of my life.”
She could not bring herself to look at his face, but the tenderness in his voice made her smile.
"So, are those the kind of words you mean? To tell you I want to marry you?”
Judging by her dry mouth and self-consciousness, yes? Her voice cracked when she said, "Those would have indicated something more than friendship.” She cleared her throat. "Though, I meant words such as, ‘I am interested in marrying you. I will be speaking to your papa soon.’”
He laughed a strong peppermint and lavender laugh.
Only Adahy made her think crazy thoughts about laughs having a scent and feelings a flavor. "You have strange, impractical ideas about life. You make me think of poetry too much.”
"Yes, I know.” He waved his hand with an air of mock flippancy. "My goal is to make you as poetic and silly as I am. On the day we are married, I intend to completely ruin you.”
Hesper gasped. "If my parents knew how stiggishly you talk . . .”
Adahy laughed. "Not to be obsessive about your lovely blushes, but I’m sorry if that embarrassed you. It was not my intention.”
"Not embarrassed. I have strange, poetic thoughts, too.” She rubbed her cheeks and laughed it off. "Shall I share one with you?”
"Yes. Absolutely.”
"When someone has a non-traumatic injury or complaint, such as a lump on the head, I focus all my attention on lumps or headaches, and stroke at them through the air. It draws out the swelling and fluid and alleviates the pain almost every time.”
“Really? I’ve never noticed.”
“All the herbalists and healers do it. People do not usually notice it because it is subtle.”
"Hm!” he bobbled his head, thinking. "The human mind is powerful. I should not be surprised.”
"That is not the strange poetic thought, though,” she said. "I have wondered if I might communicate feelings that way. If the body responds to my focused thoughts, perhaps it will respond to focused feeling?” She drew up her legs and hugged them, rocking a little. "I have never tried it.”
"That’s not strange. It’s a magnificent idea. I like it. Why not? Try it,” he said. "Try it with me.”
What? No. No. No.
Yes.
He closed his eyes. "If I look, I might give us inaccurate results. Let us see what I feel.”
"I feel silly!”
"Well, don’t!”
"Well, fine!” She placed her hands near his head, then forced her lids closed. Breathing out the silly feelings, she smothered a giggle and focused on her care and respect for him, then pressed it through her limbs and out of her hands. The thoughts flowed, a stream of clean water, speckled with sunlight. When she opened her eyes, the thoughts were painted on Adahy’s face. His teeth lay bare in a grin, like a patch of Bishop’s Lace in a sunny clearing. "I felt it,” he whispered.
Heart racing, she said, "Truly?
"A stream of warm water and light”—he opened his eyes—"washed over me. Completely calm.”
"Just the way I felt it!”
"It worked, Hesper. It did. That will be useful to you someday.” He sipped at his tea and set the cup down. "Should I try to give you my feelings now?” Eyebrows raised, he held his hands up, wiggling his fingers. "It might help you.”
What a beautifully terrifying idea! But his impish grin made her too nervous.
"It’s all right,” he laughed. "I can show you in other ways.”
* * *
As the day wore on, Hesper cooked meals and they talked about her work and Adahy’s experience in the outside world.
For a time, they discussed a book about dragon mythology that they had both read despite the Meros trade restriction concerning books for Unified. Adahy tried to find books for them whenever possible. According to him, the Meros wanted the Unified to be illiterate and uninformed. It was risky to be caught with a book in his bag. Nevertheless, he sneaked in several books, including the primer he once used to teach many to read.
The lack of work for the day made Hesper uncomfortable. Surely, they were being lazy, discussing mythical creatures and feeling feelings while other Unified saw to their responsibilities to the community.
Just as she rose to scrape Mama’s dirty iron pan, Adahy reached out, though he did not touch her. "Hesper, I deal with so many cranky, disgruntled people every day. I’m delighted to take time away from work and spend it with someone as pleasant and honest as you are. You’re doing a service for me. Don’t feel guilty.”
Tree of Life Page 3
