by Jen Minkman
“Get the hell out of there,” Tony replies. “Right now. Switch on the radio every three hours and stay in touch so I can let you know where we are. We’ll take another ship and sail your way. You don’t have to wait for us in Penzance.”
He clicks off.
“Was the Explorer still docked in the harbor?” Walt whispers.
“Yes, I asked the captain to wait for us until we had some news. I was hoping we’d be able to take the two of you with us to Penzance. Besides, I had no idea how to get you back to Tresco if the Explorer left without us. But now that we have a second ship, that’s no longer an issue. And the president is obviously not open to letting you go.” He heaves a deep sigh of frustration. “I cannot believe what he’s capable of. His rules are strict, we all know that, but neighborly love should be number one with him.”
“Don’t forget self-sacrifice,” I say bitterly. “I’m sure that’s in his personal top three somewhere.”
At that moment, someone above our heads knocks on the wooden panel separating the cab from the loading area, signaling for us to be quiet. We’ve arrived at the first gate.
The drive that seemed to fly by on our way here is now sheer torture. All my limbs hurt and I have the feeling I will never properly breathe again. Shouldn’t we be at the border by now?
In the dark, Walt reaches for my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. “We’re almost there,” he comforts me. “Just a little while longer.”
When the van finally slows down, I manage to relax a bit. It doesn’t take long for us to come to a complete stop. Within a few second, someone opens the back doors to crawl into the loading compartment and open our hatch.
“Welcome to Woolwell,” Aldin says.
I blink against the morning light flooding our hideout. With stiff arms and legs I edge out of the hollow space under the seats and then breathe in the fresh morning air. We are parked beside a road looking out over a ruined city. Behind me, the others emerge from the van as well. We made it – Woolwell is clearly not a part of Dartmoor County. Everything here is contaminated and cankered. Dead.
“If any of you need to heed nature’s call, there’s a little patch of trees over there,” Aldin says, indicating a measly piece of woodland. “Let’s not linger here.”
I avert my eyes when my three male companions make their way to the unappealing trees alongside Aldin’s assistant. Plymouth isn’t that far away anymore, so I’ll hold it up. My eyes scan the landscape – the same kind of view we had while driving from Penzance to Dartmoor. Scorched earth, sickly brown, barren, and deserted. In a way, I can almost imagine why people would be willing to lock us up and use us as test subjects. If they could really find a cure for the disease, all this land could potentially be rebuilt. Everything would come back to life, blossom, and prosper under a new sun. A new earth and a new heaven, where God would live among us.
New Dartmoor can’t be the place that Gideon’s book spoke of. I know that now. They must have adapted the ancient scripture to put their own spin on things. A city filled with fear can’t harbor love and mercy. A city where God resides doesn’t need holes in the fence to secretly let people out.
I can’t wait to return to Tresco. Walt and I are part of a new generation, and equipped with our newly-acquired knowledge we’ll be able to build a society built on respect and willingness to learn from each other, east and west.
The sun is already quite high in the sky by the time we board the large, metallic vessel that’s waiting for us in Plymouth Harbor. About twenty people are on board, busy getting the machines below deck ready for the journey. Their faces are caked with grime, but I’m sure it has to do with the engines, not with their washing habits. Tony tells me this engine doesn’t run on solar power – it needs coal, a very scarce type of fuel. It makes it even more special that Aldin and his helpers were willing to make their ship available to us.
“The Crusader is ready to leave, Bishop Aldin,” the captain informs him. “Where should we set sail to?”
All heads turn toward Tony, who takes a hesitant step forward. “I think the best thing to do is sail along the coast westward first,” he says. “From Penzance I’ll have an easier time finding my way. The sea map Henry and I were using was lost in the shipwreck, and it’s a lot more complicated to navigate from Plymouth.”
“So Penzance it is,” Aldin agrees. “Tony, can you contact the Explorer?”
“Will do.” He switches on the radio and joins the captain on his way to the prow.
“How come you are at odds with President Jacob, Bishop?” I inquire curiously, finally wanting to hear why this man is so different when it comes to religion. Was he also part of a resistance movement like Victor had been?
Aldin smiles. “I have something Jacob doesn’t have,” he says. “An Old Testament. A union of old and new. A book with far more chapters than Gideon’s, it contains important stories which should be a part of our religion too.”
I gape at him. “Where did you get that?”
“From the cathedral the two of you have visited as well. A pilgrim gave it to me five years ago, and I immediately recognized the significance of it. It was too important to keep it safe and hidden in the palace, like Jacob’s predecessors have done to Gideon’s original book. But my book and my church will give people something different. More freedom and justice. More humanness.”
So his plan is really to start anew. And one of his first steps toward that goal is to do away with Jacob’s delusion of self-sacrifice and give us back our freedom.
“We’ve arranged quarters for you on the aft side,” the bishop continues animatedly. “On the highest deck. The lower decks are off-limits, because that’s where the sailors work and make sure the machinery runs smoothly. We have some sensitive equipment on board. It’s the first time we’re taking her out, you know. This is the Crusader’s maiden voyage.”
Aldin shows us to our cabins – two large rooms with adjacent bathrooms. “Don’t shower for too long,” he warns us. “We don’t have a lot of sweet water reserves, and we might not get any rain soon.”
Only now do I feel how filthy I am. Too bad I can’t properly freshen up. My bag of clothes was still in Tony’s bus when I was abducted by those creeps, so it’s probably on its way to Tresco on board the Explorer by now – if anybody thought of bringing it, that is.
“Who takes which cabin?” I ask, inspecting the double beds in both rooms.
Walt clears his throat and gives his father a meaningful look.
“Okay, fine, I’ll bunk up with Tony,” William grants Walt’s silent request. “You two have my blessing.” He briefly puts his hand on my shoulder. “Welcome to our family.”
“T-thank you,” I stutter, touched by his words. Nobody in Newexter is ever welcomed into a family by parents. They have nothing to do with the whole matter. Knowing Walt’s father accepts me as his son’s partner makes me feel a bit warmer inside, though.
We enter the cabin we will share on our trip. A round porthole looks out over the harbor, slowly but surely disappearing out of view. Then, the ship turns and we suddenly look out on a calm sea, as well as a part of the Devon coastline we haven’t seen before. My heart leaps up at the thought of going home. Not a moment too soon.
“Hey,” Walt says gently, circling me with his arms. “How are you holding up?”
“I can’t believe we managed to escape,” I whisper. “And we’re going back to Tresco. You think Jacob will leave us alone now?”
“What choice does he have? He doesn’t have any ships and he doesn’t know where exactly our island is. That one accurate sea map Tony found in the port building was destroyed. I don’t know what else they have, though.”
“Well, I hope he stays on his side of the water.” I turn around in the circle of his arms and look up at him. “I’m going to wash up. I feel as dirty as the blackened hills around Dartmoor.”
“Have fun,” he smirks. “I’m going on deck to see what Tony and the captain are doing. And I’ll a
sk around for some clean clothes for you, okay?”
“Can you read people’s minds?” I laugh incredulously.
“Just yours.” He winks. “It’s my way of making sure you keep finding me irresistible.”
On the third day of our journey, we finally catch up with the Explorer. The captain spotted an object on the radar – a kind of radio emitting signals that bounce off other ships so they are visible on screen – about one hour ago.
“It’s good to see you all again!” Captain Tom’s cheerful voice crackles through Tony’s portable radio. We can see him in the distance, a black dot standing at the ship’s wheel. “What a colossus of a thing you’re sailing on, by the way. How does she stay afloat?”
“Long story,” Tony replies. “I’m not even sure I understand it myself. Technology from the old world. Fortunately these men knew how to get things working properly.”
I stand at the railing, smiling widely as my eyes take in the beautiful sight of our Tresco ship. Walt and his father have joined me. A lot of people have come on deck on the Explorer, and we shout and wave at each other enthusiastically. They must have been worried about us, even more so because they had to rush headlong out of Penzance Harbor after the president’s cars had shown up there.
“Can we get close enough to change ships?” I ask Aldin.
He shakes his head. “That’s too dangerous. Besides, the two lifeboats we have on board haven’t been tested yet. You’ll be reunited with your friends once we get to your island.”
“But…” I moan with disappointment. “I think Padma may have my clothes. I’d really like to get my hands on them.” I’ve been parading around in an old T-shirt, which was generously donated to me by one of the sailors, but this shirt is starting to look kind of ratty as well. Everything on board the Crusader seems to emit dirt and grime.
“If they lower a sloop they might be able to row over to us,” Walt suggests. “The Explorer has three smaller boats.”
“But how will they get on board here?” the captain objects, sidling up to us. “We do have a ladder, but it doesn’t extend all the way to the water line. We should probably wait.”
I stalk away in frustration. Of course I know I’m throwing a tantrum over nothing. In all likelihood, we will get to Tresco tomorrow, so by that time I can chat with Padma all I want and put on new clothes every other hour, but I’ve had it with this ship. The only places we’re allowed to go are on deck and one level below deck where our cabins are. Everywhere else is too risky, according to Aldin.
Walt comes after me. “Hey, I just heard Tony say that we might be able to lower a rope,” he says. “If we tie that to the railing, I can carefully lower myself into one of the sloops.”
I smile. “And leave me behind? You disloyal man.”
“No, of course not.” He rolls his eyes. “If you ask Padma to send over some stuff, I can pick it up from the sloop. What do you say?”
“Sounds good!” I look around searchingly. “But where can we find a rope?”
Walt frowns. “Maybe in one of the other cabins on our level? Or one level lower?”
“We’re not supposed to go there, remember?” I observe.
“Well, Aldin said to stay away from sensitive equipment. If all we do is pick up a length of rope, what could possibly go wrong? Come on, let’s go below deck.”
We take the stairs down to the corridor leading to our cabin and open the other doors, which lead to storage rooms containing blankets, sheets, and cleaning materials.
“Let’s try one lower,” Walt suggest, pulling me back to the staircase and leading the way to the lower decks. When we enter a dark, stuffy corridor on the left, a strange smell penetrates my nose immediately. It must be what coals smell like – reminiscent of the scent of burning wood, aromatic and smoky. There’s no one in sight, but the main door at the end of the corridor is ajar, and it seems to lead to the engine room.
“Over here,” I say, gesturing at a long row of doors that look just like the entrance to our private cabin. “Maybe we should try these?”
I push open the first door, only to find piles of bits and pieces inside. There’s canned food – something I got to know during our stay in Dartmoor – that looks to be enough to last us for months if need be, as well as things I don’t recognize at all. But again, no rope. Walt is trying the next door in the meantime.
“Leia,” he hisses softly.
Something in his voice alarms me, stopping my heart for a moment. “What?” I whisper.
“There’s … weapons in here. Guns.”
I shove my door closed and dart over to Walt. “What do you mean?” My voice trails off when my gaze lands on the shelves, filled to the brim with weapons. The kind of guns the guards in Dartmoor were wearing, as well as a big pile of needles. Dozens of them. What the blazes are they doing on a ship belonging to a bishop?
Just then, Aldin’s voice echoes down the corridor, making us both freeze.
“You weren’t exactly meant to see that,” he slowly says.
23 – Leia
I am sitting in our quarters together with Walt, my face tear-stained. Aldin has locked us up here. It doesn’t take long for Tony and William to be forcefully marched down the corridor as well. They’ll probably be locked up in their own cabin.
“What is Aldin trying to pull?” I mumble, still in shock.
Walt closes his eyes. “What, with a ship full of weapons and lackeys? Looks like he wants to attack Tresco.”
“But why?” I fly into a rage. “We didn’t do anything to him. Okay, so we secretly went to Exeter, but why wouldn’t he want us to go inside that cathedral if terminal patients are allowed in too?”
“I don’t know.” He hugs me gently. “I wish we had never gone to Cornwall.”
Deep misery washes over me. “No, I wish we had never run into certain people,” I whisper.
Our ship steadily plows through the waves toward the island. Outside it’s getting dark. The full moon illuminates the scene visible from our porthole – the Explorer is still faithfully sailing along. Poor Captain Tom doesn’t have any idea that he’s accompanying a warship to Tresco, and nobody is about to clue him in. I’m pretty sure Aldin took Tony’s radio away.
After a fretful night, we end up in a heavy downpour in the morning. Walt anxiously looks outside to keep an eye on the Explorer. The ship he and his dad built doesn’t have an engine like ours, and it’s doing everything it can not to capsize in the strong winds taunting the hull. They’ve had to douse the sails and turn directly into the wind to avoid any damage. It’s rolling and heaving in the towering waves, the Crusader mimicking its movements.
When the storm subsides and somebody finally shows up to bring us some food, Walt addresses the deckhand carrying our breakfast tray. “What’s going on? Why has Aldin locked us up in here?”
The sailor smirks condescendingly. “For a future leader, you’re shockingly dim-witted.”
His remark makes my skin crawl. Why would this simple deckhand know something like that about Walt? We haven’t really brought it up during our time here.
After the sailor has left, I hear Tony and William knocking on the wood paneling between our two rooms. They probably want to let us know they’re still alive. I flop despondently down on the bed and munch on a crust of stale bread, but Walt suddenly sits up a bit straighter and pricks up his ears. “Tony’s telling me something,” he says.
“What do you…” I start out, but Walt raises his hand to shush me and I fall silent, puzzled by his sudden focus on the rhythmic ticking and knocking coming through the wall. To my amazement, he leans over to the wall and starts to tick back. It’s almost like a secret language.
“Tony is asking whether we’re all right,” he says. “I’m asking him now if he knows what’s going on. I learned this from a book in my uncle’s library. They call it Morse code.”
Mouth agape, I observe how Walt and Tony exchange information through this strange form of communication. The longer
Tony’s knocking persists, the paler Walt gets.
“What’s up?” I hiss at last, not able to keep quiet any longer.
He turns around to face me. “Aldin has taken us hostage. Once we get to Tresco, he intends to trade us for fifty young, healthy men the Bookkeeper should select. They will work for the Protester Church across the Waters.”
I am utterly blown. “But why doesn’t he just ask his own people to work for him?” I want to know.
Walt laughs bitterly. “Because he needs workers who can ransack old churches and cathedrals along the coastline in order to gather treasure for his new church, and he needs them to be able to carry out more than one mission. There’s no point assembling a work team if they drop dead right after the first church they enter. And he’s convinced the men and women of Tresco are all immune to the disease.”
“He – he wants to turn them into slaves?”
“Yes. And he needed the Explorer to find our island. He needed people who know the way. Tony says we’re almost there.”
“That – that fucking bastard!” I explode. My hands clench into fists and I storm toward the door, pummeling it with my hands. “Release us! Let us go!” Walt tries to calm me down, but I don’t listen. I keep banging on the door until my skin is raw and my voice is hoarse, but no one bothers to come and listen to me.
This is one giant death-trap with no way out.
When the storm is over, we sail onward. On our way to the end of Tresco as we know it. Now that Aldin and his crew know the route, nothing will stop him from coming here more often to forcibly take people and make them work for him. All in service of his misguided plan. I thought he said his Book would give the people more freedom, justice and humanness. If this is the result, I’m not impressed.
I stand at the porthole and stare outside. My breath hitches when I see land looming up ahead. “We’re here,” I whisper, barely audible. “Walt. We’re home.”
