by Green, Jeri
He has taken her sins. They black his soul. He will leave now, burdened with another’s trespasses. It is his call in life. His duty.
His only friends are the unclean spirits who are as unholy as he.
We will not look into his eyes. We do not call his name. He is the leper. The outcast. The unclean.
He may walk among the strangers who live in town. They do not know what he is. They do not care. Non-believers look him in the eye, but he casts his down.
The shadow follows him wherever he goes.
He keeps to himself.
How did he get this way? Why was he chosen?
Did his father take the sins of all upon him to stave off starvation?
The sins of his father are passed down to him.
He wears the iniquity that scars us all.
The sin-eater.
* * *
It was another essay sent to Anna by the same anonymous author. She knew because there was that image at the end. What was it? Anna wondered. There was nothing to do but print it out and study it.
“Hadley,” Anna said, “I can’t believe my luck. I was just wondering if you were busy.”
“I’m returning these books I checked out a couple of weeks ago,” Hadley said. “I want to stay on the head librarian’s good side when it comes to late fees.”
Both women laughed.
“What’s going on down in book land?” Hadley asked.
“Nothing much,” said Anna. “Same old same old. But I got another one of those strange essays. It was sent yesterday. I only got around to opening up the emails this morning. Here take a look.”
“Another one of those strange flowers at the end,” Hadley said. “It’s like a signature.”
“I don’t know what to make of it,” said Anna.
“Can I have this copy?” said Hadley. “I have some stuff to do, but later, I can give it my undivided attention. It’s haunting, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Anna. “I wonder who is sending me these. I feel like there’s almost some kind of message or something.”
Crash!
It was the sound of metal meeting metal, just outside the library’s door.
Hadley and Anna rushed to see what was going on.
“Oh my lord,” Anna said. “It’s a wreck.”
“Is anybody hurt?” Hadley asked.
No one was hurt. It was just a fender bender.
“That light was green!” Beul Fifield said.
“It was red,” said Orvis Noonemacher.
“Yes, it sure was on your side!” Beul said.
Bill was quickly on the scene.
“Let’s let the sheriff sort that out,” Anna said.
“Your right, Anna,” Hadley said. “We didn’t see it happen. And I think that the only thing we’d be in is in the way.”
Anna and Hadley started to step back inside the library.
Hadley turned around. She couldn’t believe her eyes. It was one of the Elanor twins driving Button Dudley’s truck.
“Anna,” Hadley said, “look.”
Anna turned and looked over Hadley shoulder.
“Did you see that?” Hadley asked.
“What, Hadley?” Anna said.
“All I see is Beul and Orvis giving Bill one heck of a time.”
“Strange,” muttered Hadley. “Very strange.”
Chapter Forty-Six
That was close. Chandra was running late. She never should have driven Button’s truck into town, but she wasn’t going to walk all those miles on foot. Estill was threatening to cave into Floyd Carlisle’s suit. It was rubbish. The document was legal, but Floyd’s antics were breaking her small piggy bank.
Chandra was at Estill’s when a car drove up. It was one of Floyd’s henchmen. Estill talked with the man for a while. When she came back inside the workshed, she was obviously upset.
“He’s offering me a lot of money,” Estill said. “It’s only a fraction of what that tract is worth, but it’s still a fortune to me.”
“What are you going to do?” Chandra asked.
“I don’t know,” said Estill. “Floyd’s got me over a barrel. It’s not the land itself, it’s the waterfall portal. If I sell out, Floyd will develop Button’s land, and that place will be lost forever.”
“You can’t sell out,” Chandra said.
“I may not have a choice,” Estill said. “Floyd’s got the fortune behind him. If I don’t accept this offer, he’ll bleed me dry. I’ll lose not only the waterfall but my land and home, too. I’ll have nothing. Floyd Carlisle will get both Button’s property and mine thrown in as a bonus.”
“But it’s so unfair,” said Chandra.
“I know,” said Estill. “My magic worked on Button. But I can’t seem to make headway with Floyd. I think he’s protected, somehow. Maybe by Margaret-Dean Angeline.”
“Margaret-Dean is one of the frumpiest housewives in the valley,” said Chandra.
“Don’t let looks fool you,” said Estill.
“Margaret-Dean’s smart. And she’s strong. She was always ugly,” Estill said. “How do you think she landed Floyd? Floyd’s a nice lookin’ man. Always has been. When we were young, I wanted to be Mrs. Carlisle. Didn’t happen. Margaret-Dean saw to that.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Margaret-Dean Angeline was a witch!
Incredible!
Chandra had a lot to think about. She didn’t tell Estill, but she knew exactly what she was implying. Some of Chandra’s spells had not gone as planned.
Botched is the word she’d use.
What to do now?
Floyd Carlisle could not get his hands on Button’s land. If he did, it would be catastrophic. The portal would be discovered. Most people would not be able to decipher the ancient language carved into the rocks, and the portal would remain forever closed or destroyed. But Margaret-Dean Angeline might be able to.
Estill had encouraged Chandra to get close to Berth. She’d wanted the girl to infiltrate the Carlisle camp, spy on them, but Chandra had been able to turn up nothing of value to help Estill.
Now things looked bleak. Just shy of hopeless.
She’d gone through the portal and spent all night gathering herbs and plants for Estill. Later that day, she’d driven into Hope Rock County to see if there was anything she could do to help Estill’s cause. Turns out there wasn’t. And she’d been spotted by some gray-haired crone standing outside the library who visited Granny Dilce once in a while.
Nobody else had noticed her. She’d let the time slip away. Her spell was only supposed to last for an hour, but Chandra had gone past that by several minutes. The fender bender she’d caused had provided sufficient diversion. Everyone’s attention was on the wreck on Main Street.
Stop lights were easy to control.
But that nosy old lady who visited Granny had spotted her.
Hadley Pell.
That was her name.
Chandra changed gears and sped around the corner. She took the dirt road that led deep into the mountains.
Granny’s friend, Chandra brooded.
Probably under both the old lady’s protection and Dara’s.
Yes, indeed, Chandra thought, there is an awful lot to think about.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Aurora walked up the mountainside on the way to her old cabin in the glen. The climb was arduous for an old woman of her years. Onward she trudged, wondering if there was any place she might be able to find shelter and rest for a spell. As Aurora put one tired foot in front of the other, she felt the presence of someone near. She raised her weary head and looked to see the glowing form of Alswyth McClanahan slowly appearing in the path in front of her.
“Hey,” Alswyth said, “they call you Aurora, don’t they?
Aurora shook her head ‘yes.’
“I felt you coming up the hill,” Alswyth said. “I know you are special. You have the gift.”
Aurora waited.
“I want you to tell my mama I l
ove her and thank her for taking care of my two girls for me. Her name is Dilcie. I want you to find her and tell her that everything’s gonna be all right.
“I know I’m askin’ a lot from you. I know you don’t tell what you see and hear, but my mama will understand. She is special, too, healing and helping. She’s done that her whole life.
“Mama’s a root doctor. She cures people. I didn’t put much stock in what she done when I was livin’ at home. Now I know she does mighty important work. Tell her to be careful and watch for the darkness.”
Aurora saw Alswyth begin to fade. Before totally disappearing, Alswyth placed directions in Aurora’s mind. Aurora would know exactly how to find the old cabin where Dilcie lived.
Aurora sighed, straightening her back and staring straight ahead.
The way to the cabin shown brightly in her mind’s eye. There was no mistaking it. Wearily, she began the journey, one foot placed gingerly in front of the other.
The day ended. Aurora was surrounded in total darkness. Only the night watchers were out foraging for food. Aurora trudged on.
The moon passed by her on its nightly journey to the western horizon. Aurora never noticed. She willed her exhausted body on.
After hours of steady progress, she smelled the faint whisper of smoke. The fuzzy light of dawn had just begun to creep over the eastern edge of the skyline when she saw the faint wisp of chimney smoke.
Standing at the edge of the wood, Aurora saw a wizened, old woman open the cabin door and step out onto the hardpan. The old woman turned and looked directly in Aurora’s direction.
“You must be the one they call Aurora,” said Dilcie. “Welcome.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
“I want to thank you, Aurora,” Dilcie said. “I knowed that was not a easy thing fer you to do. But it does ease my heart to knowed Alswyth loves me. Love is a strange thing, ain’t it.”
Aurora got up to leave.
“You must stay,” Dilcie said. “I saw it in the leaves. The tea leaves never lied to me, Aurora. And Alswyth’s words to take care and watch for the darkness don’t bode well. I been knowing somethin’ bad’s on the horizon for a long time now. And whatever’s out there is pow’ful. Maybe, mo’ pow’ful than we know.
“I learnt Dara, but she’s still young. A small green sprout don’t have the strength of a old oak tree.
“I might be a oak tree, but I ain’t as young as I used to be. I gotta sinkin’ feelin’ I may need your he’p. Whatever storm cloud is building, it is gonna be a blaster.
“The Good Book says ’at two is better than one. If one falls, t’other can he’p ’em up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend theyselves.”
“I know that passage well,” said Aurora. “I will stay.”
“You can have my bed,” Dilcie said. “I’ll make a pallet on t’other side of the hearth.”
“I will sleep by the hearth,” said Aurora. “The ashes are like a crystal for me. They foretell of what’s to come.”
“Very well,” said Dilcie. “Very well.”
Chapter Fifty
Nobody had come from the hills to eat Button Dudley’s sins. Nobody.
The old man had lived for so long and had pawned his soul for so many others that no mortal would risk his own soul’s damnation by pardoning Button and assuming the guilt of so many transgressions. Button’s soul was too black, the list of offences too great.
Dara often thought of the midnight service. She’d never been to any quite like Button’s.
And no one came to eat his sins.
No one.
It was sad. No one would even agree to speak a few words over the dead man. Certainly, no preacher worth his salt. Everyone in the far backcountry knew what Button did. Everyone was afraid the stain would somehow fall on them. Only Granny Dilcie was brave enough to tell the small group of elders that she would agree to say something over his sin-filled corpse.
“Ever’body deserves a decent burial,” Dilcie had said.
The elders had vetoed the idea of Button being buried on his land. Such an act would curse the mountain forever. Someone said they were kin to Harvey. They agreed to contact the cemetery man. Harvey would let them have a spot for Button dirt cheap, the man said.
So, it was agreed that Button Dudley’s body would be brought down in its hand-hewn wooden coffin and interred in Memorial Gardens down in Hope Rock County. That would be all right. Those city folk did not believe as they. Let the curse be on that small plot there. They would bury him at midnight.
Dara had wanted Chandra to attend the service with her.
“But. Chan,” Dara said, “you gotta go. I’m gonna be the only one there my age. It’s spooky. I don’t want to go there alone.”
Chandra would have none of it.
“You go if you want to, Dara,” Chandra said, “but count me out. I don’t want nothing to do with that circus. You and Granny can have it. I got a date with Berth.”
Chandra was lying. Berth was out of town with his daddy. Floyd was having some kind of medical tests. But Dara wouldn’t know that.
Chandra would have the house to herself. If it got too lonely, she might head over to Estill’s. Dougal might pitch a fit, but not a very big one. For some time now, it seemed the Estill had finally managed tame him. Chandra wondered what spell Estill had used.
Chapter Fifty-One
What was the Elanor twin doing riding around in Button Dudley’s truck? Had Estill given her the vehicle?
Hadley had the copy of the essay in her front seat. As she drove the short distance home, these questions kept eating at her.
What had caused Button to run down the street like a mad man?
Why was he buried under the cover of night with only a handful of the Ancients standing by?
Where was the preacher?
Why hadn’t he been buried on his land as was the custom of so many of the old-timers?
Was it any of her business?
She parked the car and got out.
“Shoot,” she said, opening the door to retrieve the essay.
What was it about these two papers that intrigued her?
She fired up her computer. While she waited, she brewed herself a pot of strong coffee. Both were ready about the same time.
Onus was somewhere in the back part of the house. Sometimes, when he wanted to make himself scarce, it was like living alone. The house was too quiet. Hadley brushed off the uneasy feelings that were nipping at the edges of her nerves.
She poured herself a huge mug of steaming goodness. Googling the name Chandra, Hadley learned what it meant.
“I wonder what Dara means?” Hadley muttered, typing in the name. “Umm. Well, let see what Elanor means.”
Hadley typed in the letters.
Hadley got a pencil and piece of paper. She wrote the following:
Chandra = shining moon Elanor = star sun
Dara = star Elanor = star sun
Alswyth had given her twins beautiful names, Hadley decided. She printed out the first essay and compared it to the second.
What was it? She wondered.
There was something there.
After an hour of coming up with nothing, Hadley decided to call it a night. She left the door to her bedroom open because she was sure Onus would find his way to her bed to snuggle up before morning.
Chapter Fifty-Two
“Hey, Bean!” Hadley said. “What you got going on today?”
“Nuthin’ much,” Beanie said. “I thought about goin’ ’simmon huntin’.”
“You don’t think the possums and raccoons and squirrels and turkeys have gotten the best ones by now?”
“I don’t know, Hadley,” Beanie said. “I wait till now to try to find some. I’ve found ’em plum up to Christmas. Them thangs can put a awful pucker to the insides of your mouth if they ain’t ripe. I plum puckered mine inside out more than once. I can tell you, it wadn’t purty. But boy, howdy! If you can find a few this time a year, they like eatin�
�� honey sweets.”
“They are,” said Hadley.
“You ’n’ Maury ever have a ’simmon war?” Beanie asked.
“No, Bean. I think Maury would have murdered me if I’d pelted her with those ripe, slimy balls.”
“Oh,” said Beanie. “Guess you ain’t never fought no manure wars, like me ’n’ my brother, Dixie Nardell.”
“You ’n’ Dixie threw paddies at each other?”
“Oh, yeah. We had some mighty fine fights, me ’n’ Dixie did. We’d take them biscuits ’n’ toss ’em like rocks at each other. Horse apples hurt like heck if you take a direct hit in the face. Don’t taste too bad, though.”
“Weren’t you and Dixie afraid of diseases or something?”
“Well, if it’ud kill ya’, me ’n’ Dixie wouldn’t be here today. Cow buns is the worst.”
“Beanie!”
“Whut?”
“That’s enough. I’m knee deep in poop stories, and my waders are at home. Put your bucket in the back seat. We’ll head up into the country and see if we can’t spy us some ripe ’simmons.”
“Okay,” Beanie said.
They drove for a while in silence.
“Hadley,” Beanie said.
“Umm.”
“It looks like we’re goin’ to Granny’s,” Beanie said.
“We are,” said Hadley.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Hadley had spent a restless night. Maybe it was the coffee. Maybe it was the fact that Onus decided to ignore her threats and fumings and make her pillow his own.
Well, more like the top of her head his pillow.
She’d tossed the cat down off the bed at least a hundred times. There was no use closing the door. Onus only sat outside it and meowed like he’d lost his best friend.
