by Jordan Rivet
The Dentist put the tips of his fingers together and tapped them against his chin. “I don’t know about that,” he said. “I can’t have outsiders traipsing through my town at whim. I think it’s best if you move along.” He waved a hand to dismiss them.
“Sir,” Simon said, stepping forward. “It’s only a matter of time before the human race recovers enough that we can’t remain in isolated pockets. The outside world will find you eventually. Don’t you want to have greater numbers when that happens? Your community is small still. We could add to it, if our people agree. It could be a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“Simon, is it?” The Dentist frowned, looking him up and down. If Esther wasn’t imagining things, he spent an extra second on the bright scarf Simon had received from Emilio’s people. “What do you propose?”
“Let us stay with you,” Simon said. “Not for long, but if you could offer your hospitality to our small crew for a week or two, we’d be most grateful. You could assess whether or not we would be a good fit for your community during that time.”
The Dentist considered this. He studied David and Simon in turn, not bothering to look at Esther and Cody standing behind them. Finally, he leaned forward, unblinking.
“Well, which one is it? One week or two?”
“Ten days,” David said immediately. “Will you allow us to stay ten days?”
“This isn’t a charity, and I didn’t invite you here,” the Dentist said. “If you stay and use up our resources, I’ll expect compensation.”
“Of course,” David said. “We’ll work for our keep.”
“I’m afraid that’s not enough.”
“We also have a smaller team making an overland expedition,” Simon said. “They’ll report back to us—and to you—on their findings. They could warn you of potential threats beyond your borders.”
“Hmm . . . Promises are cheap,” the Dentist said, but he had perked up at the offer of information. He looked between the two men. “What else can you give me?”
David glanced over at Esther. “We can offer expert assistance with the biofuel generator tech. You received the plans through the satellite network, correct? The system is truly revolutionary, and it allows unprecedented mobility.”
“Mobility.” The Dentist frowned, and his golden eyes cut sideways toward the shadows where Alderflower had disappeared.
“Yes, sir,” David said. “Esther here is the inventor, and she’d be happy to get your system up and running in exchange for your hospitality. She could even modify your vehicles to make use of the biofuel if needed.”
The Dentist pursed his lips and looked at Esther for the first time. She met his gaze. She hoped the Dentist would believe she really could do it. Some mechanics were skeptical of her abilities because of how young she looked. She tried to stand a little taller. The Dentist’s eyes cut toward the shadows again.
“I don’t trust this supposed miracle generator,” he said after a while. “We live simple lives, powered by the Lake. Our divine mandate is to rely on the Lake for everything, including energy. We are God-fearing folk here. We don’t need false idols.”
Esther blinked. She wasn’t sure how her generator constituted an idol. David looked surprised too, but he recovered quickly.
“We’d like to learn more about this divine mandate and your way of life. Will you allow us to work beside you and share our overland team’s findings in exchange for a place to stay for a few days?”
“If I allow you to stay, I’m going to establish some rules.” The Dentist folded his arms over his broad chest, tapping his foot on the dais. “I won’t entertain the idea of you staying if you won’t adhere to them. Is that clear?”
“Of course,” David said. “We don’t want to be disruptive.”
The Dentist didn’t return David’s placating smile.
“First of all,” he said, “I am the divinely appointed guardian of this town. I commune directly with the Lord. It’s my duty to protect my people, and I will not tolerate troublemakers. If I say it’s time for you to go, I will brook no argument.”
“Understood,” David said.
“Second,” the Dentist continued, “we abide by a strict moral code. I expect your people to follow the laws of the town. I will hold you to the same high standard as my own people.”
“How will we know what the laws are?” Esther asked.
The Dentist looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. “One rule is that women are not permitted to speak in public meetings unless they are ordained in the faith. You’d do well to remember that.”
“Why aren’t—?”
“Women are to be protected and sheltered,” the Dentist interrupted, “so they can fulfill their divine roles.”
Esther coughed so hard her father had to pat her on the back. It had never occurred to her that someone would make rules that differentiated between men and women. It made no sense.
“My daughter raises a good point,” Simon said. “Will we have someone to instruct us in the ways of your people?”
“I’ll assign you an Elder. He will tell you everything you need to know about our Code. The third and final rule is that I will not have you enticing my people away. If you try to seduce my followers with outsiders’ ways and cause them to doubt the Lord’s instructions for their lives, I’ll expel you from the town faster than you can say Aguamilpa. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” David said. “We look forward to learning from the Elder and working alongside your people. May we use your radio or satellite phone to invite our crew up from the river?”
The Dentist shook his head and stood, looming above them once again.
“We have an important feast tonight,” he said, “and we’re not prepared for a large group of visitors. You four may stay, but your people will have to come over in the morning.”
“Fair enough,” David said.
“And one more thing. Do not mention the satellite network again.”
“Why—?” Esther began.
“My people don’t need to speak with the outside world. Let’s not tempt them.”
“It’ll be our little secret,” David said.
The Dentist narrowed his golden eyes, as if he wasn’t sure whether or not David was mocking him. Then he clapped his hands sharply.
“I must prepare for the feast. Alderflower will show you out.”
The ethereal old woman reemerged and glided toward them. The Dentist watched, unmoving, as his acolyte herded them back up the aisle.
Soon they were stepping back out onto the wide porch at the front of the lodge.
“Was he serious about women not being allowed to speak in public?” Esther asked, turning to Alderflower. “And what counts as a public meeting?”
“Please wait here,” the old woman said, ignoring Esther’s questions. “Your Elder will be with you shortly.” She closed the door, leaving them alone on the porch.
Esther stared after her. What was wrong with these people?
“It’s interesting that a patriarchal society has developed so quickly here,” Simon said.
“‘Interesting’ isn’t the word I’d use,” Esther said darkly.
“You’ll need to be extra careful, Esther,” Simon said.
“You say that like you expect me to be belligerent toward an authority figure,” Esther said. “When have I ever done that?”
Her father gave her a wry smile, doubtless thinking of her thorny relationship with Judith. “Just try not to attract too much attention.”
“That man has a choke hold on this town,” David said quietly. He brought a finger to his lips and nodded toward Thompson and Jones, waiting at the bottom of the porch steps, shotguns in hand. “You can’t cross him, Esther.”
“Looks like I won’t have a chance.”
Esther wanted to find her sister and get out of here as soon as possible. There had been something creepy about how the Dentist talked about the Lord and his duty. There was no sign of the honest religious
devotion Esther was used to from Penelope Newton. Even the people in Ixcuintla had seemed genuinely fervent. The Dentist was more like David had been when he spoke for the Galaxy captains. He used the words, but she wasn’t sure he believed what he was saying.
Despite his impressive presence and resonant voice, Esther had decided she didn’t like this Dentist one bit.
Chapter 20—Lake Town
THEIR ELDER GUIDE TURNED out to be Bole. He met them at the porch after about ten minutes—during which Thompson and Jones scowled and refused to answer their questions—and told them he’d be taking them on a tour of the town. Thompson gave them one final stony glance and loped off, Jones following close on his heels.
“The Dentist called me back on the radio,” Bole said. “Gave me a stern talking-to about telling you the rules. He must have thought ya’ll are troublemakers.”
“It sounds like his rules are really strict,” Esther said. “Or am I not allowed to talk to you because I’m a woman?”
Bole laughed. “He’s particular about public meetings, but the women run things in the church. Any woman who really wants a say becomes a Shepherd. You can look into it if you decide to stay. I hear I’m giving you the full tour in case you want to join us.”
“We’re exploring our options,” Simon said.
“Let’s get to it then!”
Bole led them down the steps and sauntered into the town, his shotgun still slung across his back. They returned to the crossroads they had passed on their way to meet the Dentist and took the fork leading away from the lake. They walked up a street lined with cabins. Some of the porches were bigger than entire staterooms on the Catalina. There was a healthy bustle in the street as people of all ages went about their business.
“Everyone’ll be hard at work right now,” Bole said. “We farm, fish, and hunt for sustenance. It ain’t a bad life.”
Esther watched for anyone who looked like her sister as they saw more and more townspeople. The sooner they could find her and return to the Lucinda, the better. But Esther had begun to doubt whether she would actually recognize Naomi after all. Every once in a while she’d spot a familiar feature—hair color or skin tone—but none of the faces quite matched up to the image in her mind. She started to feel a bit frantic, like she was trying to hold on to handfuls of water in a dream. What if Naomi was passing her right now and neither of them realized it? These people showed signs of hardship: pinched features, premature wrinkles, scars. There was a good chance Naomi now looked nothing like Esther had imagined she would at twenty-five. As more strangers strode past them, more unknown faces, uncertainty spread tendrils through her mind.
The women wore skirts in earthy tones, as if their clothes were woven from plants or roots in addition to wool. Many had long hair twisted into elaborate plaits. They carried woven baskets full of vegetables or held little children, also wearing handmade clothing. Judging from these garments, the townspeople made most things rather than salvaging and refurbishing as they did at sea. That must be easier on land, where you could actually grow plants and raise animals. The men wore a mixture of the same rough materials and camouflage prints, and nearly all had beards. One had a rifle slung over one shoulder and a dead animal over the other. He slowed to stare at the Lucindans but didn’t approach them.
A few people greeted Bole with waves and smiles, but no one spoke directly to the newcomers.
“Folks are real friendly when you get to know ’em,” Bole said. “I reckon you’ll be best friends by supper time.”
“Do you get many strangers here?” Esther asked.
“Oh, now and then,” Bole said. “The Dentist says we gotta be careful. My thinking is there are enough of us now that no one would bother doing us harm.”
“So the community has grown over time?” David asked.
“Yeah, we get joiners. People hear about our Lake of Plenty, you know? If they commit to serving the Dentist and God’s Lake, we welcome ’em with open arms.”
A woman wearing the same white garb they’d seen on Alderflower glided by without so much as a glance.
“What are the church’s core beliefs?” Simon asked as the Shepherd made her way toward the lodge with the cross on top.
“The Dentist teaches that the Lord came to him in a dream and told him about the Promised Lake,” Bole said. “The Lord still speaks to him sometimes and gave him the Code a few years back. He says anyone who follows the Code perfectly will be able to hear the Lord’s voice too eventually.”
“The Code?”
“It’s an addition to the Bible, like a Third Testament,” Bole said. “You ever read the Bible?”
“I have,” Simon said. “But it has been many years. Is there any chance I could read a copy of this Third Testament?”
“Sure thing,” Bole said. “We’ve got printouts. We only made a few before the last ink cartridges ran out, though. The Shepherds are making additional copies by hand, but that takes time. You’ll have to go back to the Lodge if you want to read one.”
“I’d like that very much.”
“Oh, this whole row of cabins is new, by the way.” Bole waved at the side of the street, where simple structures smelling of sharp pine dotted the landscape. “The original buildings are closer to the lake.”
The road bent around to the left, meandering among the new cabins. A woman carrying a sleeping baby came out onto one of the newer porches to watch them pass. Her hair was far too light for her to be Naomi. At least, Esther thought so. Who knew how much a person could change in seventeen years?
Esther forced herself to stay calm. Despite Emilio’s warnings, the Dentist had given no indication that he would hurt them. She had time to search amongst the townspeople. She had to be patient and she’d find her sister eventually. And she definitely had to stay out of trouble.
“So, about these rules,” Esther said, striding beside Bole. “Besides no speaking in public for women, what else do we need to know?”
“You said you’re not married, so you can’t stay in the same room as a man,” Bole said. “We’ll find you a place in the single-women’s dormitory. Beyond that, there’s no stealing, lying, saying anything bad about the Dentist and the Shepherds, disobeying an Elder, breaking curfew, dressing immodestly, hoarding resources, or throwing nonorganic trash in the lake. The lake is the only thing more sacred than the Dentist’s word.”
“Most of that stuff sounds reasonable,” Esther said, “but I have to stay with my crew.”
“Sorry, Esther, the Dentist won’t compromise on that one,” Bole said. “Also, if you come in contact with the locals, you shouldn’t speak to them. The Dentist doesn’t like it.”
“The locals?” Simon said.
“Yeah, there were a handful of Mexicans living in these parts when we arrived. This camp was abandoned, so it’s not like we kicked them out, mind, but we’ve had run-ins over the years.”
Esther exchanged glances with Cody, thinking of Emilio, Isadora, and the others.
“What happens if we talk to them?” Cody asked.
“Just don’t. They don’t speak English anyway, and the Dentist says it’s not good for us to intermix.”
“He really doesn’t like outsiders, does he? Unless they want to adopt his ways.”
“Nope.” Bole pulled his ponytail loose from where it had become entangled in his rifle strap again. “But you really shouldn’t say anything against him. It won’t go down well.”
They reached the end of the road. A huge, mostly flat area had been cleared of trees and planted with various crops. People were at work in the fields, baskets overflowing with leafy stalks on their backs.
“These are the main community gardens,” Bole said, “and that’s the smokehouse for anything the hunters bring in that we can’t use right away.” He pointed to a building at one end of the field, just at the tree line. Smoke emanated from beneath the eaves. “They’ve been working double time for the roast tonight. The pig and goat farms are on the other side of town.”
“What’s the occasion?” David asked.
“It’s Lake Day, our biggest festival. We’re celebrating the anniversary of our arrival here. There will be tons of food and a big ’ol bonfire. Always a good time.”
“The Dentist didn’t want us to bring more people in from our ship,” David said. “Do you think he’d reconsider?”
“Not if he said no once,” Bole said. “The Dentist doesn’t change his mind much. There will be plenty of time to show them around. Hey, do you guys want to hit the baths before the feast? No offense, but you two kinda smell like the compost bin.”
Esther looked down at the green film still coating her skin in places. The mud on her trousers had mostly dried, and it was flaking off like fish scales.
“Definitely. Any chance I could borrow a change of clothes too?”
“No problem,” Bole said. “You’re about the same build as my sister, only shorter. I’ll see if she’s got something you can borrow. She lives in the single-women’s dorm, so you’ll meet her eventually anyway. She’ll be at work in the hatchery right now. Follow me.”
They turned down a pathway heading back through the town toward the lake. Smaller paths meandered off the main road, some leading to more cabins and others to patches of cultivated ground. One patch seemed to have nothing but grass planted on it.
“That’s the soccer pitch,” Bole said. “You play?” he asked David.
“It’s been a while.”
“Might have to challenge you to a match.” Bole grinned.
“My siblings and I used to play on the cargo ship,” Cody said. “Whoever let the ball get away from them was in for a cold swim.” He looked wistfully at the soccer pitch.
“I want you on my team then,” Bole said.
They continued along the far edge of the sprawling town. Esther was amazed at how much space there was between all the buildings. It was difficult to tell how many people the town actually supported, because they weren’t stacked on top of each other.
