The Purlieu Experiment, Book 1

by Linda L Rigsbee

  “Are you feeling any better?” He asked.

  Kenyon was watching her in a strange way. The worst thing she could imagine at the moment was that they felt sorry for her. She didn’t want that.

  “I am feeling better. I was tired.”

  “And disappointed?” Kenyon added.

  She shook her head. “Only in myself.” At Donte’s startled look, she smiled and added: “All that beautiful country to look at and I fall asleep.”

  Donte smiled. “There will be plenty of time to enjoy the scenery later. We should be there soon.”

  When they reached their final destination the tram hummed to a gentle stop. They were held in their area until the other passengers had left the tram. The officer opened the door for them and they emerged into a well lit area where another officer waited for them. The first officer bade them goodbye and disappeared back inside the tram.

  They were led down a ramp and into a large room where several people waited. A girl with beautiful blue eyes was practically jumping up and down, repeating Donte’s name over and over again, as if she couldn’t believe he was actually there. Donte hugged her close and spoke to her in their language.

  Kenyon looked uncomfortable. He probably felt left out. A tall man with black hair and soft brown eyes stepped forward. He shook Kenyon’s hand and said his name as if he, too, could not believe his eyes. Finally he pulled Kenyon into a fatherly hug. Kenyon was stiff at first, but finally returned the affection.

  Donte turned from the girl and folded the man in his arms. Kenyon stood to the side, watching. With all the hugs and greetings completed, they all turned to the guests. Donte began the introductions.

  “Dad, this is Akira and Chait, from Lochfowk. Akira, Chait, this is my father, Quade, President of Libertad.”

  Chait grinned and stuck out his hand, palm up, for the mascot handshake that he had refused Donte. Quade accommodated him.

  “It is nice to meet you,” Quade said in perfect Lochfowk. He turned to Akira, offering a hand, palm up. “Akira, that is a beautiful name.”

  She placed her arm on his warm palm and gripped his forearm. He shook her arm and slid his hand back to hers. Lifting her hand to his lips, he bowed slightly over it before releasing it. “I am at your service.”

  He turned. “You have met my sons, Donte and Kenyon. This is my youngest daughter, Donica. She and Donte are twins.”

  Donica’s head bobbed and she smiled. “It is such a pleasure to meet all of you!”

  Her Lochfowk was flawless. Akira’s anxiety disappeared. She had two more people to talk to, and one of them was a female. She glanced up at Quade to find him watching her.

  His neck turned red. “Excuse me for staring, but you have the most beautiful hair I have ever seen, and your eyes are such a lovely shade of green.”

  Kenyon was still staring at Donica and Donte. “I didn’t know… I heard of Donte, but…” He held his arms out to Donica and she rushed into them.

  “I have heard so much about you. Daddy loves you so much…” She hugged him. “Welcome home!”

  Quade offered an elbow to Akira. “Of course, you are all exhausted. We have rooms ready for all of you.”

  Akira glanced at Donte. She had no idea what was expected.

  Quade took her hand and tucked it into the inside of his elbow, giving it a reassuring pat. “Sometimes I forget that we are the ones who do things differently.”

  She smiled up at him. “It is a very nice difference.”

  At the carriage, Quade grasped Akira by the waist and lifted her to the seat. She scooted over, making room for Donica. Kenyon lifted Donica into the carriage the same way. They stepped aside, allowing Chait to climb into the carriage without assistance.

  Quade addressed them all. “I trust Donica to keep you entertained until we get to my house. My sons and I will ride in the other carriage.”

  Donica smiled at them. “We were so delighted when we got Donte’s message. This is simply too good to be true! I cannot tell you how upset we were when we received Donte’s letter that he was to be executed the next morning. I should have known that they could not bring themselves to kill him. And Kenyon - what a surprise after all these years! Daddy is beside himself with joy.” She paused long enough to take a breath. “All that was exciting enough, but to bring two emissaries from Lochfowk… She stopped, looking embarrassed. “Please excuse me for dominating the conversation.”

  Akira smiled. “We are excited to be here as well.”

  They arrived at a large white house with arched doorways and windows. Soft light came from the downstairs windows. Chait leaped out of the carriage and stood staring at the building. They had nothing in Lochfowk that even approached the elegance of the building.

  Kenyon lifted his arms to Donica and she smiled sweetly as he lifted her down. He hugged her again. “Thank you for such a nice welcome home.”

  Quade offered his hands to Akira and she stood, leaning toward him so that he could reach her waist. He smiled as he grasped her waist and helped her down. Again he offered his elbow and this time she accepted without hesitation. This was going to be a pleasant visit. Her stomach twisted…until they found out why Kenyon had been gone so long.

  CHAPTER 19

  Donte woke to the sound of a fowl crowing. He was home. Kenyon was still asleep in the bed on the opposite side of his room. Donte slipped out of bed and grabbed the clean clothes that he had been given the night before. He bathed, dressed and headed downstairs. He had something he wanted to do in private. Slipping out the back door, he walked to the family plot. There he found the graves of Liana and Bjorn. Their daughter had been buried in the arms of Liana, and Bjorn was buried next to them. He squatted and put a hand on each of their headstones. He prayed fervently for forgiveness. It was bad enough that he had not been there for them when they needed him, but he had dishonored Liana by having children with another woman. In his own eyes, he could not have sunk lower. He shifted his weight, allowing one knee to touch the earth nearest his son. Lowering his head, he placed his forehead on his forearm. Finally, after six long years, he cried. He cried for the life Liana and his children would never have. He cried because he missed them, and finally he cried because he was ashamed.

  Later, he stood and wiped his eyes on his shirt sleeve. He would gladly trade places with them, but life didn’t afford such negotiations. He couldn’t bring them back and he couldn’t undo his poor choices. All he could do was try to live the rest of his life honorably.

  He left the graves and walked down to the stable. The equines they put in the stock trailer were in the corral, but he was hoping to find a different one. The barn smelled of fresh hay, sorghum, oats and equines. He had missed the equines almost as much as the people. He passed several stalls until he found the equine he was looking for. It was a spotted mare with white tail and mane. She lifted her head and nickered as he approached her.

  “Easy girl,” He said, holding his hand out to her. “Do you remember me, Schilderen?”

  She shied and stepped back. He stopped, giving her time to adjust to the smell of him. She snorted again before stepping forward and reaching her muzzle out to him. Careful not to frighten her, he slowly moved forward, eventually touching her forehead. He stroked her face and moved forward, resting his chest against her forehead as he stroked her neck. From where he stood, he could see the mountains. He wished he were riding in their snow covered passes now. The bliss only lasted a few minutes before he thought of the last mountains he had crossed - cold, hungry and on foot.

  “Son,” a gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.

  Donte turned to find Quade watching him.

  “It is almost time for the morning meal,” Quade said.

  Donte nodded. “I will be there.”

  Quade stepped closer. “I saw you at their graves this morning. The pain will ease now that you are here.”

  Donte shook his head. “I failed everyone, but I failed them most of all.”

  He put a hand o
n Donte’s shoulder. “A father’s love is unconditional, you should know that. We are all fallible. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to forgive ourselves.”

  “I don’t deserve it.”

  “Everyone deserves forgiveness, Donte.”

  Donte turned and looked at him. “Do you forgive me?”

  Quade looked at him, love exposed to the core. “You have done nothing that needs forgiven by me.”

  Donte tried to swallow a lump growing in his throat. “I let them take your grandchildren. I left you with nothing. Worse, I gave what was important to you to the people who took them.”

  Quade was silent a moment, probably considering that information. Finally he spoke. “You brought back what is important to me now. I never blamed you for the loss of your children.” He sighed. “Son, you have suffered so much in the last six years. Give yourself time to heal.”

  “I still feel sick every time I think of what they did to her…how she must have struggled…how she suffered.” Donte rubbed his forehead, the nausea returning. He shook his head, trying to clear it of the familiar image. “I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself.”

  Quade was wrong. Being here only intensified the image. The idea of going back to their farm made him break out in a cold sweat. In Nyumbani there were no reminders. Sometimes he could forget. But here…there were reminders everywhere he looked.

  “Come on, son. Let’s go eat.”

  Donte turned and fell into step with him as they walked back to the house. “There is so much I want to talk to you about, and so little time.”

  Quade frowned. “You are going away again?”

  Donte nodded. “I promised to take Chait and Akira to the airfield, and to see the spaceships.”

  Quade nodded. “That’s a fine idea.” He hesitated. “If you don’t mind, I would like to travel with you.”

  Donte studied his face. “I know you are busy…of course, you are more than welcome to come with us…”

  Quade smiled. “Son, I have not seen you in six years…” He stopped. “Is Kenyon going as well?”

  “I don’t know. He hasn’t said. I suppose he will.”

  Quade tucked his hands in his back pockets, palms out, and stood a moment, looking at the house with a troubled expression. “I don’t know what to say to him. I don’t know why he left, or why he stayed away for so long. He acts uncomfortable around me. If I did something to hurt him, I don’t know what it was.”

  It had never occurred to Donte that Quade might blame himself for Kenyon’s long absence. Apparently Kenyon had not told him about his captivity. Donte had been too busy with his own troubles to notice that his father needed help.

  “I don’t know what caused him to leave, but I can tell you that he didn’t return because he was a captive.”

  Quade stared at him, his expression confused. “What?”

  “He has been a captive of the Lochfowk for nearly thirty years.”

  Quade’s brows drew down. “Why?”

  “I don’t know all the details, but from what I understand, they had a law that said if you enter their territory, you don’t leave - ever.”

  Quade continued to stare at him. He was obviously having trouble either comprehending or believing.

  Donte sighed. “He tried to escape numerous times, but they caught him and brought him back. There were other captives and from what I understand, he tried to take some with him. At one point, one of them was killed. Kenyon needs to tell you about it, because my knowledge about it is limited.”

  Quade shook his head, the muscles in the side of his face working as he clenched his teeth. He stared at the house a long time before responding in a controlled voice.

  “They are here now, and he is back. I assume they are trying to make amends.” He turned to Donte. “What about the other captives, and how do you come into this?”

  Donte took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It is a long story. Lochfowk president Sima said that Kenyon was a test release. She said that if things went well, they would begin releasing the others in a year. I suspect they will release the others when Chait and Akira return.”

  Quade cocked his head to the side. “How did you get involved in this, and how did you talk them into releasing Kenyon?”

  “I didn’t talk them into it. They decided to release him with me.” He related the council meeting and subsequent decision. “They said they considered me a diplomat.” He shrugged. “Of course, it could be that both of us would have been captive if not for the fact that the Anialwch knew who and where I was. Anialwch knew nothing of Kenyon or the captives. I am certain they would not have let me walk into a trap.”

  Quade stared at him. “The Anialwch?”

  Donte smiled. “I told you it was a long story. Akira was captured by the Nyumbani.”

  Quade nodded. “I heard there was a raid, and a captive.”

  “Yes. Farasi was going to have her executed. He had her kneeling with her head on the post. They were going to cut her head off. I couldn’t let him do that. That was when I killed Farasi.”

  Quade stared at him for a moment, a horrified look on his face. “They were going to execute a woman captive?” He turned and walked toward the house, his mouth a straight line. “If I had known that…” He stopped. “And that was how they were going to execute you? How did you escape?”

  “That’s how they do all their executions. They were going to execute me but they decided to exile us both instead. I was stripped except for my lower torso and my hair was shaved, leaving a roach down the center. They took us to the mountain and released us. We had no food or water - nothing but the clothing we wore. We made it over the snowcapped mountains and half way across Anialwch before some of Farasi’s raiders caught up with us. That was when the Anialwch rescued us. They captured Farasi’s raiders and turned them over to the new Nyumbani government. I promised the Nyumbani that I would take Akira home and explain what happened. I didn’t know that Lochfowk had a law that no one who entered could leave. You know how they are.”

  Quade considered the information for a moment. “She led you into a trap.”

  Donte nodded. “Unintentionally. She thought her sister would make an exception in my case because I rescued her and removed the Nyumbani threat.”

  “But she didn’t.”

  Donte shook his head. “No, actually it was the council - Chait being one of them - who decided to release me - and Kenyon.”

  Quade stared at the ground reflectively. Finally he looked up at Donte. “I will not reward them for doing what they should have done in the beginning. What Sima did is unconscionable. There will be retribution.”

  “But I promised…”

  “Donte, I understand how you feel,” Quade interrupted. “But we cannot allow this kind of thing to go unpunished. It is not only unacceptable to me, but completely incompatible with our founding laws.”

  Donte gave him a level look. “What about the Nyumbani? If we punish Lochfowk, wouldn’t it be fair to punish Nyumbani as well?”

  Quade nodded. “It sounds like you have already done that.”

  “I didn’t do that to punish them. You can’t punish everyone in the colony for what a few do, can you?”

  Quade nodded again. “Yes you can, Donte. When you know something is wrong and you allow it to continue, you must assume some of the blame.”

  Of course he was right. Living in Nyumbani for six years and doing nothing about Farasi in that time certainly left him with part of the blame. The people of Nyumbani were afraid to do anything, but that didn’t make them any less guilty. They were doing something about it now, though, which made them different from Lochfowk.

  He lifted his gaze to Quade. “What are you going to do?”

  Quade heaved a long sigh. “I’m going to start with a conference. I assume all these captives are from different colonies. Speaking as President of Libertad, I will demand the release of all captives immediately, of course.”

  Donte frowned. “Th
ey will say they should not have let us go.”

  Quade closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he looked at Donte. “The message is that they never should have taken captives in the first place. If they do not see that message, something still must be done, don’t you think?”

  When Donte didn’t respond, he continued. “We will see what the others say at the conference, but my stand is that only a strong reprimand has any chance of preventing this from happening again.”

  “What if they kill the captives?”

  Quade frowned. “Do you think they will do that?”

  Donte shrugged. “I don’t know what they will do. I only talked to them briefly one day.”

  Quade began walking toward the house again. “After the morning meal, we will all talk. I would like to hear what Kenyon thinks about all this.” He paused again. “I almost forgot. Pieter has asked that we all come to Bergen tonight for a celebration. Donica is leaving this morning to help with preparations.” He shook his head. “This is not going to go down well with him.”

  Quade said nothing more, but his sullen mood was indication enough that he was stewing on it. Pieter was a fair man, but he had a deep booming voice that could intimidate anyone. Quade was right. This wasn’t going to go down well.

  ****

  When Donte and Quade were late for the morning meal, Akira was certain they had been exposed. She couldn’t blame Donte. In fact, she was surprised that Kenyon had not exposed them already. Once she would have said that was a weakness, as she had told him that staying in the lake country when he could escape was cowardice. She was wrong. Kenyon stayed because it wasn’t in him to leave the other captives, and because, like Donte, he could not break a vow.

  The council wasn’t preventing him from escaping. They were preventing him from going for help. They knew what was on the other side of that border. She didn’t. She had thought a lot about it, though, and if she had to do it all over again, she would make the same choice. She was glad she was in Libertad, and she still didn’t want to go back - even if it meant she would be executed here.