by C. R. Daems
"Nothing to worry about, Anna," Adela said as she took my free hand. "Skimmers are very safe. Your new home is many kilometers away, and it would take all day by car. It will only take an hour this way, and you can see the world as a bird sees it."
I began to breathe normally as she pointed out various towns, lakes, and other interesting sites and talked about each. I had so many questions I forgot about falling to the ground.
* * *
The house, a white three-story brick building, had a circular driveway that led to the red front door. In the middle of the circle stood a large fountain with four statues of chubby children with wings. The grounds were grassy up to the trees, which blocked further view. Mommy and Daddy's house had been made of wood in a town surrounded by wheat fields and houses within easy walking distance of each other.
This house looked to be alone in the middle of a forest. At the front door, a tall man with a bushy beard and shoulder-length hair answered. He gave Adela a broad smile.
"Hi, Adela. It's been a while. I heard you got a promotion." His voice rumbled low in his chest.
"Yes. Mr. Veles had health problems, and the doctor said he should do something with less stress, so I got it." She choked out a laugh. "Jarek, this is Anna. I called Mira yesterday to let her know Anna was coming."
"Hi, Anna. I'm Jarek. Welcome to Koria Hall." He stepped back so we could enter.
Just then an elderly lady wearing glasses came striding down the long hallway. She looked at me and then Adela.
"Hi, Adela. I assume this is Anna." Her smile was pleasant as she held out her hand. I took it carefully. "Welcome, Anna. I'm Mira. Come, Jarek will bring some milk and cookies while we get acquainted. Afterward, I'll introduce you to the others and show you around."
She led us down a hallway to a large room with a wooden desk, four padded chairs of different colors surrounding a round table, and a lot of pictures of children on the walls. In back of the desk was a large curved window that looked out across a green lawn that ended at a thick line of trees. It looked dark and scary.
"Adela, I'm a little troubled by the snake ... a poisonous one. If it bit one of the children or the help ..." Mira scanned me up and down looking for Red.
"The krait never leaves her. Their relationship is symbiotic. In addition, the krait is lazy and isn't inclined to bite unless teased. In the unlikely event someone is bitten, I will leave this anti-venin and syringe. Fill it to the mark, which is at 0.5 cc."
"Can I see it, Anna?" Mira asked. I reached inside my blouse, and Red wrapped himself around my wrist. I pulled him out and held him up for her to see but kept him close to my chest.
"What does it eat?" she asked, leaning a bit closer while pushing up her glasses.
"My blood," I said, and she jerked back in her chair. "When he bites, he puts something in me that keeps the virus from killing me. He never leaves me ... even when I shower." Thinking about it, I couldn't help giggling. Red seemed to love the water and even the soap.
Mira looked at Adela for a long moment. "All right, Adela. We'll try. I trust you wouldn't allow Anna here if it was dangerous."
"Anna and her krait aren't dangerous; however, the other children need to be warned her snake isn't a pet and is poisonous."
When Adela left, I was given a tour of the building. In addition to Mira's office, there was a big kitchen with two cooks, a narrow dining room with a long wooden table, two classrooms, an oversized living room with communication and entertainment devices, and a study room. Upstairs had two large bedrooms with bathrooms, one for the girls and one for the boys, and rooms for the live-in staff: one cook, Jarek, another woman, and Mira. When she finished the tour, she had the children assembled in the living room.
"Children," Mira began when everyone was seated. "This is Anna. She is joining us as a full-time resident. Anna caught the Coaca Virus—"
"Why isn't she dead?" one of the taller boys asked.
"She was lucky." Mira paused, looking at me. I didn't agree. I was alone without my mommy and daddy. I would prefer to be with them. "A snake saved her. Anna, show the children the snake."
I reached into my blouse and grabbed Red and pulled him halfway out.
"That snake feeds off Anna, and in the process it injects her with a poison that keeps the virus in check. That snake is not a pet. It's poisonous, and it bites. If for whatever reason you get bitten, you must come get me or send someone to get me. I'll have to give you an injection that will prevent you from dying … but you'll be very sick for several days. So believe me, you want to leave that snake alone. It never leaves Anna, so you don't have to worry about it being loose, and it is unlikely to bite you unless you upset it." She then introduced the six girls and seven boys.
* * *
The first couple of weeks were the hardest. They all wanted to see my krait. I let them see it, but I had to keep telling them not to reach for it or bang into me. The boys were the worst, wanting to see it moving or wanting to hold it or other dumb things. When they couldn't get their way, they became nasty, so by the end of the month no one wanted to talk to me or play with me. It hurt a little, but Koria Hall had its own school and library, and most of the time, I was happy to be off in a corner reading or studying. Besides, I had my krait for company.
At first I found learning to read and do math hard. Then something strange happened. I was reading when Red wound himself into my hair and laid his head on my forehead, looking down at the book like he was interested. Since he was my only real friend, I began reading aloud softly while pointing to each word. It was kind of fun, and Red felt like a real friend. Over the months the subjects got easier, and I found I could remember more with less effort. By the end of the year I was the best student in the class, which didn't endear me to anyone.
My solitude made me an outsider subject to taunts, ridicule, and jokes. It hurt, but I knew if I let it show, it would get worse. Fortunately, by the second year the game had become tiring and mostly stopped. By then I enjoyed being left alone. During the third year the trouble began again. We were all three years older. I was going on for nine and the older boys were now twelve and thirteen and full of mischief. They had been giving the older girls a lot of grief but had left me alone except for remarks intended for me to hear. Two or three boys would be huddled together, and when I passed, they would raise their voices enough for me to hear.
"Let’s steal her precious snake. I'll bet she'd do anything for us to get it back."
"That damn snake is dangerous. We should kill it before it hurts someone."
"Let’s steal that snake and throw it in Mira's room. I'll say I saw her do it. Get that stuck-up bitch expelled." And so it went on for months. I didn't know how much they really meant, but I was smart enough to know eventually one or more of them would do something dumb, so I went out of my way to be in rooms with other people. Months later, while curled up in a corner of the living room studying and quietly reading to Red, the room suddenly became empty. I thought that funny, as there was always someone watching the tapes, or a broadcast, or playing games until late into the night. I stood just as three of the oldest boys entered the room, smiling.
They surrounded me, blocking the way to the door. The oldest, Donar, blocked my way, a sneer on his bulldog face as Mannus and Sher each grabbed one of my arms.
"Well, snake-bitch, it's time we taught you your place. You don't belong here with real children." He nodded to Mannus. "Let go of her arm." He looked at me. "Vermin," he spat out.
I tried to jerk away at the evil look he gave me, but Sher still gripped my other arm.
"Reach in and get your pet, or I'll have Sher break your arm. Or maybe I'll rip your clothes off you."
I couldn't fight them; they were bigger and stronger. Besides, I hated even the thought of fighting, but I wouldn't help them hurt Red.
Donar drew back his fist and punched me. My face exploded in pain as my head snapped back. Coppery tasting blood ran down my lips. Donar held up his bloody fist. "Get
that snake out or I'll break more than your nose." Before I could say anything, he punched me in the stomach.
I doubled over, spitting blood into his face as my breath exploded out of me.
He jumped back and swiped the blood out of his eyes. "Bitch! Sher, break her arm."
"We can't claim she attacked us if she looks beat up. We'll get in trouble," Sher whined.
"What can they do to us? Besides, it's her word against ours. Break it, damn it! Mannus, get her other arm."
I writhed as Mannus took hold of my arm and was shoved into Sher. Donar grabbed me by my throat but let go suddenly, jerkinh back to nurse his hand against his chest. "Damn you!"
Sher clutched me closer and Red struck.
"Ouch," Sher shouted.
Red slid toward Mannus who let go and hurriedly backed up. Everyone now stood several steps away from me.
Donar clutched his hand with the other as it swelled, already twice its size. He collapsed to his knees, bent over, and puked. Sher moaned as his face puffed out and began turning colors: red and maroon and purple. He bent over,gagging on his vomit.
"Mannus, run for Mira. Tell her to bring the antivenin. They’ll die if you don't hurry," I shouted, and pointed to the door.
He hesitated, open mouthed, before running off.
I kissed Red and held him to my cheek and felt his tongue licking ... me or my blood, I wondered? I laughed and felt my nose throbbing with waves of pain. Mira and Mannus ran in several minutes later.
"I knew you'd be trouble," she said, looking down at Donar and Sher.
I said nothing. Over the years, I had gotten used to being blamed as the cause of most conflicts, although it wasn't in my nature to cause trouble. I watched as she filled the syringe and injected first Donar, then Sher. Then she called the police.
"I want you gone," she shouted, her face twisted in anger. I sat quietly stroking Red under my shirt. He probably didn't care, but it made me feel better. The police arrived an hour later. I listened as the boys claimed I attacked them with my snake. After recording their versions of the incident, the officer walked over to me and stared at me for a minute before speaking.
"Give me that snake, young lady."
"No. If you take my snake, I'll die, and you'll be a murderer. I held out my hand with the medical bracelet they had given me at the Mercy Hospital.
"Take it off," he said, eyeing me like I was a krait.
"Can't. It doesn't have a release, so I can't lose it. My life depends on it." I stretched my arm out and turned sideways to make him feel safer. He turned it slowly as he read, his eyes darting up frequently to check on the krait. Then he dialed the number on the bracelet.
"This is Sergeant Pilate. I have an Anna Paulus in custody. Her snake bit two boys. She will be charged with murder if they die." He listened and then turned to me. "All right. A senior Advocate will be here within the hour. You sit. No more trouble, or I'll shoot you and that snake," he said loudly while pointing at me. Nothing had changed. No one wanted my side of the incident. I was assumed guilty because ... actually I wasn't sure why. I sat wishing Red would end it for me. I was tired, my arms and stomach ached, and my face was on fire. Advocate Adela arrived an eternity later. She took one look at me and shouted.
"Look at that child. She's got a broken nose which is still bleeding and her arms are black and blue. I'll bet you haven't even heard her side of the incident." She held up her hand before anyone could reply. "There will be an inquiry into this incident, but for now, I'm taking her to the hospital. I'll be responsible for having her available for the inquiry." She reached out her hand. When I took it, she helped me up and supported me to her shuttle. I think I fell asleep, because the ride seemed to take only minutes. We were met at the door by Doctor Renata, a nurse, and a security guard.
"I've been told to keep Anna under guard," he said to Adela, who shrugged. I was taken to a private room and undressed. Then Renata went over every inch of my body as I held Red in one hand then the other.
"Anna, I know you're tired and in pain, but would you tell me what happened, just a brief synopsis."
"Three of the older boys attacked me and wanted me to give them Red. When I wouldn't help grab Red, they started hitting me. When one grabbed my throat, Red bit him and the other boy when he tried to break my arm." Adela was right, I was tired and just giving that short explanation exhausted me.
"That's consistent with her condition," Renata said. Adela nodded.
"I'm going to call you to testify, Renata. The police have her tried and convicted without even asking her what happened. I'm afraid she's got a tough life ahead of her."
* * *
Two days later, I was summoned to the police headquarters, accompanied by Doctor Renata and Adela. In the room, there were several rows of chairs separated into a left and right side by a path from the door to a desk. The three boys sat in the first row on the right side, while Mira and the policeman who came that night sat just behind them. I sat in the first row on the left side, while Adela and Renata took the row behind me. Another older policeman sat by himself toward the back of the room. A woman in a black robe sat behind the desk surveying the room. She looked to be older than Adela. After a sip of the water on a tray next to her, she spoke.
"I'm Magistrate Bellona. This is an official inquiry into the incident two nights ago at Koria Hall to determine what if any charges should be pursued. I caution everyone that these proceedings are being video taped and what is said here can be used as evidence if formal charges result in a trial." She paused to look at a tablet lying in front of her. "Mistress Mira, would you tell me what you know of the events,"
"I was awakened by young Mannus ..." She went on to explain being told two boys had received snakebites and administering the antivenin. Bellona stopped her from repeating the boys’ story as hearsay and not relevant, much to Mira's disappointment.
"Sergeant Soto, I have your recording of the boy’s version of events, but I don't have the girl's," Bellona said, looking from her tablet to the sergeant.
"I didn't take a statement from her—"
"And why not. Don't you like girls?" she asked, but she didn't look amused.
"Well she caused the incident—"
Bellona held up her hand. "Were you there when the incident occurred, Sergeant?"
"No ... Your Honor—" he stuttered, then stopped when she raised a hand again. Bellona looked to the back of the room.
"Chief, I hope your other officers are better trained."
"I thought so, Your Honor, but I see I was wrong. I'll see to correcting the problem."
Bellona checked her tablet and then scanned the front row with the boys. "Now, young Donar, would you give me your version of the fight and how it started?" Bellona said. Donar stood and accused me of threatening them for months and of starting the fight when I found them alone in the living room playing a game. Mannus and Sher followed with exactly the same story.
Bellona nodded, and then looked at me. "Interesting story. Anna, would you like to tell me your version?"
"Yes, Your Honor. I was studying in a corner of the living room when ..." I went on to tell what happened. About half way through my explanation, Donar jumped up and shouted.
"She's a liar—" He stopped when Bellona put a finger to her lips.
"Please continue, Anna." After I finished, she questioned Doctor Renata, who stated my injuries were consistent with my version of the story.
"Given that Anna has a broken nose and bruises on her arms, neck, and stomach, her story does sound more convincing. Donar, would you like to revise your story?"
"No. She's a liar. She tried to kill us. That snake should be killed." Donar's face was flushed red with anger.
"But that would result in her dying," Bellona said. I couldn't tell why she was asking the questions she was, but I had a strong feeling—no a certainty—she was amused. Red was wrapped around my throat with his head on my shoulder, appearing to watch the proceeding.
"She
deserves to die for trying to kill us," he said, and his face twisted in hate as he pointed his finger at me.
"What do you say, Anna. Are you a liar?"
"You already know who's lying," I blurted out before I could stop and covered my mouth a bit too late. She gave a soft laugh.
"How?"
"Because you're a lot smarter than us. We're just kids. If you weren't, you would send us to the machine that can detect whether we're lying." I had read about a machine being developed on old earth a thousand years ago, so they must have one I reasoned. She smiled.
"And you would submit to a lie detector test?"
"Yes, Your Honor, if it helps, I'd be glad to."
"What about you Donar, Mannus, Sher?" she asked to open-mouthed stares from the boys. After a couple of minutes, she continued. "I'll take that for a No. You'll have a written decision in a week, but I will give you my unofficial version now. The boys started the fight and are lucky they got bit by the krait; otherwise, I believe they would have gravely injured Anna Paulus, not realizing the seriousness of what they were doing. I'm placing them on three years’ probation. If any one of them comes before me in that period, there will be an adult punishment. Anna is an innocent victim of Koria Hall. I'm considering placing that institution on probation for permitting an environment that caused this incident. Advocate Adela, Anna needs to be placed in a very special environment. It's obvious that unjustified prejudice against her is widespread: The children shun her, Mira assumed her guilty when she had never caused any trouble, the sergeant—a trained police officer—jumped to the same conclusion. I plan to be involved in the final selection."
"Thank you, Magistrate. I fully agree and welcome your involvement."
CHAPTER THREE
A new beginning
"I've three possible candidates, but I'd prefer the couple with no children, which is the Bordans," Adela said. Magistrate Bellona had requested we meet in her office to look over the selections. I couldn't keep my eyes from the shelves of books on one wall of the room. There looked to be hundreds, and I wished I could explore them. Bellona sat behind a large wooden desk but wasn't wearing the black robe she had on the day of the inquiry. At the moment, she was looking in my direction.
