Moonbow

by Sheila Hollinghead

  She pushed off and swam down to the bottom of the cave, methodically searching for the tunnel. Her eyes were of no use to her. She had to rely on touch. All she had to do was find the tunnel. She'd take it one step at a time. After only a few minutes, she found it, removed her tank and pushed it through, keeping the mouthpiece in. At least she didn't have the bags to slow her down. Step one complete. Now for step two. She pulled herself into the tunnel. She shoved the tank forward, seeing nothing in the dark. Her shirt caught on a rock. She yanked it, and it came loose. But then something, in this inky blackness, touched her arm. She recoiled, and her breathing quickened. No! She could not afford to panic. Whatever it was wouldn't hurt her. She just had to keep moving forward. She dug her fingers into the rocky surface and pulled along.

  She made it through, groped for the tank, and hoisted it back in place. Little light reached into this water-filled cavern. All she had to do was swim across the cavern and then she would be in water where the light streamed through. Just swim straight across. As large as the entrance was, it would be easy to find. She started across but shadowy animals, fish or lampreys she didn't know, forced her down, toward the bottom. Her swimming stirred up the silt, and she lost her bearings. She kept swimming but could make out nothing—she had no idea in which direction the entrance lay.

  She took a breath, and her lungs did not expand. The tank was empty. Calmness descended when she accepted her fate. She dropped the tank, knowing she would die from surfacing too quickly—if she could hold her breath long enough to even find the surface. Maybe she could tell someone what she had done before she died.

  Her eyes unseeing, surrounded by water, all alone, she had failed. Not only would she die but Azariah also. Her lungs began screaming for her to breathe. How much longer could she hold out? She blinked. Was that a light? Yes, the thin beam of a flashlight. She had no time to wonder who the diver was. She was starving for air and swam toward the light.

  * * *

  Rayden

  Rayden's heart caught in his throat when he saw Gisa swimming towards him. He met her and grabbed her arm. Her eyes widened at his touch, and she pulled back as if frightened. But when he offered the mouthpiece, she took it eagerly. He kept his hold on her, made the way to the entrance, and went through. She offered the mouthpiece back to him, and he took a quick puff. Only then did he catch her gaze. Her eyes widened, and she smiled. Rayden held her close as they made their way to the surface.

  RAYDEN HELPED GISA to dry land where the Pierces and Prometheus waited. The man whose scuba gear he had borrowed was nowhere to be seen. And a good thing. He threw the tank down, heedless of where it landed, in his eagerness to get to Gisa. Her legs had collapsed. Mr. Pierce was at her side, helping her stand. She struggled away from him. Rayden caught her, but he, too, was pushed away.

  "We have to hurry," she cried, before she stumbled a step and fell to the ground.

  Rayden extended his hand, and she allowed herself to be pulled up but again pushed against him.

  “I have to find my baby,” Gisa gasped.

  Mrs. Pierce, her brown eyes worried, had reached them. "Where's the baby?"

  "In the cave. Please help me." Tears stood in Gisa's eyes.

  It finally dawned on Rayden that Gisa should be nine months pregnant. Rayden looked at her, dumbfounded. "In the cave? You had the baby in the cave?" She had been alone...for how long? And had given birth?

  She nodded, her eyes wild. "We've got to get him out."

  "How? How are we going to get him out?"

  Gisa pointed up the slope on the back side of the spring. "Take me over there. I shot an arrow." Tears ran down her face.

  An arrow? She wasn't making sense. He glanced at the Pierces, and they looked as confused as he did.

  "Please help me." She took another stumbling step and fell to her knees.

  Rayden grasped her elbow and wrapped an arm around her waist. He steadied her. Gisa shook and her teeth chattered. Mr. Pierce pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. Gisa didn't acknowledge the gesture but tried to take another step. Mr. Pierce took her other arm, and they made their way to the area where she had pointed. Mrs. Pierce and Prometheus following behind.

  "Find the arrow!” She clawed at Rayden's arm.

  He didn't know what to do. Had she lost it? Was she confused? Did she have decompression sickness? Mrs. Pierce gave Rayden a gentle push. "Do what she says. Look for the arrow. Go." She made a shooing motion.

  Mrs. Pierce led Gisa to a rock and helped her to sit. Mrs. Pierce sat down beside her, holding both her hands. Rayden and Mr. Pierce stared at them. Mrs. Pierce raised her hand and waved them away. "You two look, and I'll tend to Gisa."

  Mr. Pierce cut his eyes at Rayden. "We'd best do what she says."

  Rayden's eyes swept the ground that was covered with leaves. He moved to a mound, fell to his knees, and raked an area clear of leaves with a sweep of his arm.

  "Gisa says to be careful. It's just the tip of the arrow," Mrs. Pierce called to them.

  Ah. That made a little more sense. Prometheus joined him, nosing the ground.

  Rayden had an idea. "Find it, boy."

  It was the only encouragement the dog needed. He ran in a zigzag pattern, sniffing the ground. Mr. Pierce and Rayden continued sweeping leaves and debris away. The dog suddenly stopped and began clawing at the ground.

  "I think he's found something," Mr. Pierce said.

  Rayden scrambled to his feet and moved to where Prometheus dug in the ground. He pulled back the leaves and metal glinted in the rays of the sun. "We've found it," he called to Gisa.

  But she had seen and was already on her feet, coming to him, Mrs. Pierce beside her. Gisa's legs seemed stronger, and she seemed calmer, although her eyes were still wide with fear.

  She took a deep breath. "We have to dig a hole large enough to pull the baby through."

  "To pull the baby?" Mr. Pierce asked.

  Gisa made an impatient gesture. "He's in a bag. Fishing line. Hurry. Please."

  Mr. Pierce still looked confused, but Rayden understood immediately. She had shot an arrow with fishing line and had attached the fishing line to the bag. They were going to go fishing for a baby.

  He took charge. "We're going to need some tools. Pliers, shovels, hammers." He found a stick and stuck it in the ground by the arrow.

  "Mrs. Pierce, will you stay here with Gisa?" He hated to leave Gisa, even for a second, but he had to.

  Mrs. Pierce nodded, and Gisa's eyes met his. She mouthed, "Thank you."

  And then Rayden was running, shivering in the nippy autumn air, having forgotten that he was drenched.

  * * *

  Gisa

  Gisa watched anxiously as the men worked. Rayden had attached pliers to the tip of the arrowhead and a man she didn't know held the pliers. Rayden kept glancing at a red-faced man, cautioning him not to let go. The man seemed fearful of Rayden. Or, perhaps he was fearful of the task at hand. Gisa's own heart beat erratically. She held her breath as if that could help.

  The ground was rocky and the men made slow progress, using only shovels and hammers and a small chisel. Gisa had lost track of time when Rayden stopped the work, took the pliers from the other man, and pulled the arrow free. He wrapped a length of fishing line around his gloved hand. There was a shout of triumph, but they weren't through yet. This small victory spurred them on. In a matter of minutes, the hole had been enlarged, and Rayden was pulling up the line, slowly and carefully, bent over, looking in the opening as another man shone a flashlight. The sounds of a baby crying echoed below.

  Her heart constricted. What if the line broke? What if she hadn't zipped the bag enough, and he fell out and was killed? She didn't want to watch but could not stop from watching. Mrs. Pierce and Gisa moved closer, and Gisa leaned over the opening, watching as Rayden pulled the bag up. And then the bag was out, and Rayden set it on the ground and unzipped it. He pulled the baby out and handed him to Gisa.

  Tears streamed d
own her face. She pulled Azariah close, under the jacket. Everyone faded away except her child.

  Rayden helped her to her feet and steadied her with a hand at her elbow. They began to walk. Gisa shivered and her teeth chattered. She was barely aware of her surroundings until she looked up, and they were at the Pierces' RV.

  RAYDEN CLENCHED HIS teeth in frustration. Mrs. Pierce blocked his path, shooing him back. Mr. Pierce stood behind her, his face twitching as if trying to keep from laughing.

  "I just want to talk to her, make sure she is okay." Rayden tried to dodge around, but Mrs. Pierce moved faster than he could have imagined by her frail appearance.

  She shook a finger in his face. "That young lady has been through an ordeal. She needs her rest. And let me tell you something else, young man. It's not proper for an unmarried man to be in a lady's bedroom. You told us yourself that she was married to..."

  "David." The name left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  "As long as she's under our roof, there will be no shenanigans. You understand me?"

  He ground his teeth together. "But don't you understand? He duped her and faked his death."

  "That makes no never mind. Marriage is holy—Let no man put asunder what God has joined together. A lot of marriages start out not being what they quite should be." She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Phtt. I'd say all marriages start out with one or the other, usually both, being duped. We never quite know what we're getting...not sure if we ever do know. And even if David were not part of the picture, you're not married to her, are you? You have no right to be in that bedroom."

  Mr. Pierce raised his brows at this but wisely didn't open his mouth. Rayden should have taken a cue.

  "Don't you understand? She needs me."

  "What she needs is a little peace and quiet. You need to get out, go for a walk, leave her be. You're a Christian, aren't you?" She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head as if she didn't quite believe it.

  He dropped his gaze. "Yes, ma'am."

  "Start acting like one. She's married to this man, David. I'm not sure what she can do...but I do know what scripture says. Adultery is the only reason for divorce. Do you know that he has been unfaithful to her?"

  Rayden shook his head. If that had been David in the motel hallway, and he was almost certain it had been, he had been with some girl. But that didn't prove adultery, did it? Perhaps it had only been a show put on for him.

  Mrs. Pierce was probably right, as much as he hated to admit it. After all the Pierces had done for them, and he stood here arguing, being disrespectful. He reluctantly moved away and went into the living area. But Mrs. Pierce was having none of it.

  "Do not sit down. Out. Go for a walk. And don't come back for a couple of hours. Shoo!"

  Rayden grunted his frustration but obeyed.

  Prometheus had been lying in the shade of an oak tree and ran up to greet Rayden. Rayden patted his head absentmindedly as he looked around at the trees beginning to lose their leaves. He had no idea what he was supposed to do now. Not just at this moment but tomorrow and the next day. Where were they going to go?

  They? Would Gisa even go with him now that she knew David was alive? Would she think, like Mrs. Pierce, that it would be "improper" for a married woman to be with him? But how was he supposed to find out what Gisa thought when Mrs. Pierce wouldn't even let her talk to him?

  And David and his men would be back soon. He should have killed him when he had the chance. No. He grimaced. Christians did not murder people. And he had said he was a Christian. But was he? He had lost his way, cursing God when he was thwarted in his plans. And yet, things had worked out, as if there had been a master plan. Gisa, Rayden, and the Pierces had come together at this place, at just the right time.

  And he had still lied to the man about being a certified diver. What kind of Christian was he?

  God had proven himself over and over, hadn't he? Yet, Rayden had pounded David—perhaps would have killed him if Mr. Pierce had not intervened. He was unworthy of God's love. Could he blame God if he turned his back on him now?

  And it seemed God had. God was silent, and Rayden saw no way to get going. He had nothing now, not even his backpack—no money, no food, nothing. He had already taken so much from people and given so little in return.

  And now he had Gisa and a baby to keep safe. And what could he provide for them? He had nothing to give the child—no baby clothes, no diapers, nothing. How could he take care of Gisa and a child? She would fare better without him, probably would have been better off without him from the beginning. Rayden propped his elbows on the table, laced his fingers, and laid his head on his hands.

  And he remained that way for a very long time.

  * * *

  Gisa

  Gisa had heard the commotion outside the door, but was nursing Azariah. She had to smile at Mrs. Pierce's defense of her honor, but it pained her to be denied Rayden's company.

  When they had first returned to the RV, Mrs. Pierce had helped her bathe Azariah, and they had swaddled him in a soft towel.

  Gisa had gotten her first good look at the child. His eyes were blue, common for newborns, but had an intensity, a brightness, unusual in one so young. He had been very alert and even raised his head when they had laid him on his tummy. Rayden had been sitting on the couch, silent, following their movements but not speaking. She barely recognized him with his dark hair shaved and his face swollen and black and blue. She would find out what had happened to him later. At that time, all her thoughts were concentrated on the child. Mrs. Pierce had taken her into the bedroom for her to nurse the baby. Rayden had tried to follow them, but Mrs. Pierce had pressed a hand to his chest before firmly closing the door in his face.

  Mrs. Pierce had puttered around, turning back the cover, and fluffing the pillows. It had been heaven to climb into the soft bed after being on the rocky ledge for so long. When Azariah began nursing, Mrs. Pierce had left her. That's when she heard Rayden at the door, arguing. Mrs. Pierce didn't know that her marriage to David was invalid from the beginning—that he had been married to three other women. That made her marriage to him null and void.

  Even now, the thought pained her. David had never been anything but kind to her, supporting her through the terrible time after the death of her parents. She couldn't quite let go of her image of David. One day, perhaps she could. She knew that her imaginary David had never existed; it was just a part David had played. Yet, her heart still held on to that memory. Her affection for Rayen had begun to dull her ache for David, before all of this had happened. And when her heart began to grasp what her head knew, then she knew she'd be able to fully let go.

  But...could Rayden ever care for her when he found out who she truly was, the great granddaughter of Eva Braun, and that her mother and grandmother's spouses had been chosen for them? They had been bred like animals. Would Rayden ever be able to truly see her or would he think of Eva Braun whenever he looked at her way? Would she, herself, ever be able to forget?

  Gisa wanted to go to Rayden and explain about David's other marriages, and tell him what she knew, to see his reaction, to know if he could, perhaps, one day love her. But Azariah still nursed. She'd have time later. All she wanted to do now was forget David, forget who she was, forget who the child might be, and simply rest.

  RAYDEN HAD CHANGED back into his jeans and shirt but had no jacket to protect him from the cold wind. Mr. Pierce came out of the RV with a jacket in his hands and handed it to him without a word. Rayden took it and put it on, slumping over. Mr. Pierce sat in one of the lawn chairs and reclined.

  "Son," Mr. Pierce said. "Gisa and the baby are asleep. When they wake up, I'm sure Gisa will be ready to talk to you."

  Rayden nodded his head miserably.

  "Buck up. Everything will work out in the end. If things haven't worked out, it's not the end."

  Rayden raised his head to glare at him, knowing he was wrong to be so angry but unable to stop himself.

  Mr. Pierce acted as if he di
dn't notice. "What are your plans, Rayden?"

  "I have no plans." His voice was devoid of emotion.

  "Well, it's time you made some." Mr. Pierce's voice was almost jocular.

  "What am I supposed to do? I have no place to go, no way to provide for Gisa and the baby..." His voice broke. When had he last cried? When he was eight and his mother had died? He wasn't going to start now. He choked back the tears.

  "You're not alone, Rayden. God is always with you."

  More empty platitudes. Rayden remained silent.

  "And I know my wife. She's not going to let me drive away and leave Gisa and the baby. Of course, I wouldn't do it anyway." He grinned at Rayden, but Rayden just stared dully back.

  "So, that's settled?" Mr. Pierce asked.

  "Sure, fine." So, Gisa and the baby would be taken care of. Rayden couldn't just let Gisa go...no, he would follow, somehow, and make sure she stayed safe. But she would be better off with the Pierces. Better off without him.

  "I think we'd better get going, don't you?"

  "We?"

  Mr. Pierce smiled. "Of course, I meant you, too. You're coming with us."

  "No, I can't. You've done too much for me already. Take Gisa and the baby."

  "I won't take no for an answer. That girl in there would be miserable if we left you behind. I'm not looking to make my life any more difficult. You understand?"

  "She probably doesn't want me to go with you. As your wife pointed out, she has a husband. I have nothing to offer her, nothing at all."

  "Pshaw. You have yourself and that's all that any of us really has to give. You talk to Gisa, hash this out, and we'll see, okay? But we've got to do it quickly. David and his men will find the way off that mountain soon."

  * * *

  Gisa

  Mrs. Pierce was shaking her awake. Gisa sat up and yawned.

  Mrs. Pierce placed a finger to her lips. "Rayden wants to talk to you," she whispered. "I'll stay with the baby."