Weathering Storms

by Taborri Walker

  “I’m angry, Shni says I’m having a mild reaction to the poison Hosea rubbed on my back, I’m hungry and how the Kreelan’s Hell you wear all this material all the time,” Sesha grumbled, “is beyond me!”

  Minutes later Sesha was back in the tub; when Florence saw Hosea leave the second time she’d had the tub filled and heated. Happy to have her meal and the warmth, Sesha told Beulah and Florence inside; Darren and Nicodemus were outside working on the walls and storm shutters as the rainy season was coming soon. While the tub was along the walls and unseen, Sesha’s head was by the window, which was open.

  “So… this tiny bit of a machine can hear all that is said by the Reverend and you hear it too?” Darren knocked the pins out of the shutter and Nicodemus lowered it to the ground where both men knelt to repair the loose pieces and strengthen it.

  “An’ it has the appearance of an insect?” Nick’s voice still broke up when talking about this oh-so-odd occurrence here, especially since his wife died after learning about it. He knew none of it was to blame but still, each mention, each new thing hurt so very much.

  “That way it’s not thought to be something out of the ordinary,” Sesha yawned. “My suit… the one Shni told you of has a compliment of devices I can use when needed, and this is the perfect way to get inside information unattainable by any one not in the Reverend’s trusted group.”

  “An’ has it told you anything yet?” Florence asked as she helped Sesha sit forward so the back could be scrubbed.

  “So far how pleased Peter is about how the ‘healing’ session went. Then he sent Japheth and Amos away on a chore and they started talking about the ship being finished by the time the stormy weather is over. Thaddeus spoke about drying extra fruits and vegetables for the journey to prevent… scurvy… do I have it right?”

  “Thou dost,” the shutter went back up and the next one down. “Sailors suffer bleeding gums, losing teeth and weakness from malnutrition. Limes are an important cargo to prevent this. The last two years have been full of hunting down all form of game, rearing as many animals as possible all the time. There be many areas in the forest where the beasts are penned and raised.”

  “Many of the mid-age children work at harvest and preparation of fruits and drying them as jerky like strips. But they still spoil too soon if the slightest bit of damp comes in.” Beulah held up the large towel accepting Sesha into it and walking her to the bed where she was laid over the pillows so her back could be treated.

  “Some of the older members who came were persuaded in a variety of ways as I and Grace were,” Nicodemus was up on a ladder fixing the upper latch to make sure the shutters would be tight in the worst storms. “He brought those skilled in making things and all sorts of supplies. We do can food in glass and tin; the dried fruits and vegetables in cans, many other foods in glass. We oft open what was first preserved shortly after arriving and it is still good.”

  “So he’s planning this journey, taking me to find my ‘country’ and convert them. But… there’s not enough room on the ship for everyone in the city, is there?”

  “Appears to be two answers to that,” the men had moved to the front shutters but came ‘back’ for dropped tools, “either many of us stay, whether to keep the city going or abandoning it, or… we shall be packed in the hold as slaves are. Talk is when there be no wind, or wrong way that people shall row or pedal the waterwheels on each side.” Darren peeked in as Sesha was settled for a nap. “The base was taken on a short journey; speed is mickle increased as the flaps fall forward just before striking the water to give greater push, falling back in on the rise up. But sleep a bit, daughter. The evening meal comes in two hours and thine eyes be drooping.” Sesha couldn’t help it; she did as he said, tired out.

  Halfway through supper she woke up to Shni’s encouragement; something else was happening, so Sesha laid still and listened, pretending to be just waking up.

  “The list said Miriam Langley has weaned her child two months ago; she was purified after her camp visit 12 days ago.” Monitor Gideon was the one who handled women’s times.

  “Where be she and her husband?”

  “Feeding the children and slaughtering fowl,” was the abrupt answer.

  “Have Seth ride an’ fetch him; have Titus take Ruth to finish with the children and escort Miriam to their house to be given seed.”

  “The houses be under storm repair, Reverend,” that was Isaac. “All windows, all doors are removed today.”

  “Then the back room of the Infirmary.”

  “What if she makes noise, Most Holy Lord Reverend?”

  “Hmm, yes. We still wrestle with this issue. I know… have her blindfolded as usual but gag her, too. Bind her hands and feet to the bedposts so she cannot refuse the gift. Too many of the women lately have been trying to refuse God’s First Blessing.”

  “As you wish, Peter.” The man left, Sesha knew, by the footsteps she heard.

  Sesha had been eating; a girl named Jemimah had been coaxing her to eat what she’d brought. While listening, she and Shni guessed that ‘God’s Blessing’ was similar to the ‘gift’ she’d received upon barely recovering just over three months ago.

  I have to do something!

  Put on your act, dear… send for one of the two women you trust completely, then we’ll see from there.

  Sesha rolled off the bed, alarming Jemimah and crawled out of the room to the draught room, gagging and heaving all the way. The girl scooped her under her arms and helped; they reached the holed plank just in time but from there Sesha begged for Beulah or Florence in between tossing.

  Beulah arrived right behind Miriam who looked afraid, as four Monitors were escorting her, two holding her arms tightly. The five disappeared into the very back room with a slam on the door and Beulah curved to the other side to assist Sesha.

  In between losing stomach contents, Sesha managed to gasp some questions.

  “Monitor Gideon tells Allway when women might be able to get pregnant? How does he know that?”

  “Sadly, we taught him that before leaving. Aunt Florence ran a hospital and we saw many pregnant women. Gideon professed to be interested in medicine; he attended the college for a while as well as helping with the sick. But he paid the most attention to women’s issues. I believe now Peter was already planning what goes on regularly here.” She half-carried Sesha to the sink area, washing her hot face and helped her rinse her mouth.

  “Is a blindfold and gag normally used on a woman during sex? Or tied up hand and foot, legs spread?”

  “Blindfold and the arms tied, yes. Gagging and binding the legs open is new.” Beulah’s eyes opened wide in shock. “Peter preaches that making noise is sinful, meaning the sex is being enjoyed whereas it’s for procreation only. He does not believe there is anywhere in the Scripture telling people to enjoy it.”

  Sesha started a coughing binge as the Monitors passed back by, their chore of tying the woman down finished. They gave her only a glance, then Sesha whispered “And your husband takes the place of hers? Giving the women ‘God’s First Blessing?’ ”

  Beulah’s back stiffened, her eyes widened, then shut. “Of course, he calls it ‘praying’ over the woman so that God will grant the request for a child. Since he raped you, why shouldn’t he have been raping others, even before you came? He wants an heir… why not a whole campful?.” Tears ran suddenly from her eyes but she dashed them away and set her face hard.

  “Are you sure you’re the infertile one, Beulah?” Sesha asked. “Are you his first wife?”

  “No… he did have another, very young. She and the child died in birth, the child badly formed. He blamed his wife, of course. An’ all the times kept track that we’ve…” she sighed, unable to speak words, “I don’t think I’ve ever missed more than a couple times.”

  “If he is, perhaps it’s to prove his manhood? If other women have his child, then I will. Well, I’m going to fix tonight’s play.” Taking a chance, Sesha enlarged the computer pad.
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  “Child?” Beulah whispered, startled.

  “I need a piece of cloth, quick,” she hissed, “and my medical device, hurry!”

  Beulah ripped a piece from her petticoat and turned to go.

  “Is the woman alone?”

  “Until… he comes, yes.”

  “Good. Hurry, get my device, I’ll meet you back here.” While Beulah dashed on quiet feet, Sesha slipped into the room, scuttling low across the floor. She didn’t want the woman to realize what was going on except for what she would feel, but not understanding.

  In and out doing what she had to as fast as possible, Sesha was in the room moments before Beulah arrived with her medical unit. Sesha scanned the damp on the cloth, changed a setting and ran the light over it again.

  “Shove this bit of cloth as far up her as you can, Beulah, hurry back and we’ll go back, then I’ll explain.” Sesha almost pushed the woman out the door; Beulah was just back in the water chamber when they heard the heavy footsteps of her husband, so they swung the door most of the way shut. Beulah grabbed a towel, shoved it under Sesha’s face who began the motions of dry-heaving again just before he passed by the door. They heard him pause and look in.

  “Wife?” he shook his head as he took in the sick girl and his ministering wife “What be wrong now?”

  “I believe the meat at supper be too much for her stomach,” Beulah looked up just for a moment, then back as Sesha heaved again and food did come out. “She had severe pain that awoke her and began regurgitating immediately. When she is able to stop, I will slowly dose her with some chamomile tea to calm her.”

  “Do so then, wife, and be in prayer for continued healing. Our Lord wishes her in good health.” He moved on, beginning a preaching mode even as he opened the door.

  When the door to Deborah’s temporary room closed, Sesha pulled away the towel, washed and rinsed again. The voluble flow was muffled but Sesha recognized several of the things he was saying and pulled Beulah back to her room.

  “What did you have me do?” Beulah asked.

  “While you got my equipment, I collected some of her vaginal secretions. I used the medical program on my computer to make it a spermicidal ointment geared only for Miriam. In other words, your husband’s seed will all die right away. None of them will impregnate the woman, and neither will her husband’s. She won’t get pregnant this time.”

  Beulah sighed in relief, tucked her patient into bed and asked the night attendant, Ruth, this time, to rub her back with ointment and give her cool chamomile tea with beet sugar in it. Then she kissed Sesha goodnight, “I am expected with Peter tonight… but if I am needed, Ruth, have someone throw a pebble on the window and I will come.” And that night in her husband’s bed she lay awake and wondered how this tiny bit of a non-human female was going to stop this heavy-weight madman and all his henchmen.

  21

  Saturday brought other issues to Sesha’s attention, two of them very serious.

  She learned completely that this day people were most relaxed for Allway and his Monitors were rarely in sight, but sequestered with the Reverend as they planned the upcoming week.

  Being awakened by a kiss was very nice, Sesha realized as she opened her eyes to Beulah’s face just over hers, then another kiss on her forehead woke her the rest of the way.

  “Hi,” she managed as the cobwebs fled her mind.

  “I helped Peter dress this morning; he wanted to change his shirt for yesterday did sweat more but I had hung it in the sewing room by an open window to air out, an’ it was fine. The tiny bit is in place still.”

  “Shni hasn’t turned it on, so there isn’t anything very important going on yet.”

  Florence bustled in. “Dinah has returned… same issue, same labor. Whilst I would say now might be better to let her deliver an’ th’ babe die… is anything there you can do again?”

  Sesha just nodded; she slipped the medical device inside her sleeve and let Beulah help her up. While Beulah and Florence kept the girl’s mind and eyes distracted on them, Sesha spritzed a mist that made her slip into a doze then reran the procedure, Shni again walking her through it. “The baby will back up again, her labor’s stopped. I can’t guarantee it will work a third time though. She really needs to be under the care of my ship’s doctor or she and the baby both may die.”

  “All we ask is you tried an’ you have,” Florence kissed Sesha too. “Anything else can be done?”

  “Keep her on her left side or on the back with legs elevated. She needs to be off her feet the rest of the time she carries, not even up for natural functions. Push fluids; water, juice, herbal teas and soft foods, the medical program says. Rub her feet and hands everyday too. The short of it is that it will help some. Who’s her husband?”

  “His name is Timothy… scant 16 years of age himself. The boy doth work with the ship builders, he is in training to work the crow’s nest twelve hours a day.” Florence turned Sesha and undid the nightgown as Beulah got into the chifforobe, getting out clothes for Sesha to wear.

  “He does love to work people as hard as he can, eh? He and his cronies are talking about work in the crops, hunting and fishing parties… the stocks in the pens are dwindling?”

  “Yes,” Beulah brushed Sesha’s hair out; ever since they’d finally gotten it washed and kept it so, the woman loved to keep it beautiful. Today she braided the locks and left the long tail hanging. “So much of the meat is being dried for the Missionary journey that there is not enough for the people here. Of course, men have first portion; only because of your mystery, child, do you get of the first portion too.”

  “Guess it’s good I can’t eat the four-legged stuff, huh?”

  The two women just shook their heads, suppressing smiles at the feeble attempt at humor. “Women try to ensure the children get enough and eat what is left; we keep chickens constantly laying eggs so that helps with food too but too many men refuse them. There are many ways to cook with them so we do, serving this most of all but still the animals are butchered faster than they can grow to full size.”

  “So what do we do today?” Sesha asked. The camp was swirling around outside and she was itching to go out and do something destructive. At least, to ideas and beliefs.

  “The Reverend and his men spend the day alone,” Beulah hooked her arm in Sesha’s. “They plan for the upcoming week is all we know. So we’ll just show you other things, whist they be busy. Have a care of the soldiers, for many of them are loyal.”

  They visited the school house, actually the young men’s building while they were out working during the day. The Elder’s house was fairly ramshackle and stank; no one occupied it now as the last had passed away – news received when Sesha had been introduced to the harpsichord. They opened the doors and windows to air out the place while talking.

  “The device just told me that Peter wants one of the ‘extra’ rooms in the house converted to a bedroom for me; no more staying in the Infirmary. My ‘sickroom’ was your ‘guest’ room, eh?”

  “It was built as such, yes… of course, what guests, I asked Peter and was told to be silent. So it stood unused until you came, dear.”

  “Well, his plans are to have a better bed made, the women to weave new blankets, curtains and such. I will be spoken to for preferences on decoration,” Sesha folded the linens; even though they were dirty, it was easier to carry them in a neat pile for boiling, then washing. Two girls came in and took the pile, then left while Sesha stayed silent with just her sunny smiles.

  “What will this be used for now that it’s empty?” she asked quietly while sweeping.

  “We’ll shift the school room to here; probably the infants as well. Good rooms to run about in, will keep them out of the way while work is done. And it lets the mid-age children --” Beulah stopped as Sesha held up her hand, head tilted a bit. Her smile had vanished.

  “Come, listen,” the women sat on a bed frame, Beulah’s hand on the bracelet so she could hear too.

  “Now R
everend, you feel Sesha is the answer to your prayers?” This Monitor had a soft drawl.

  “Positively. She is so innocent of our ways. I’m sure that after Beulah dies she will be easily drawn in to becoming my wife in the interests of comforting me.”

  “And when shall this occur? The woman still appears ill often; has she been lately? We have not been able to add to her food or drink.”

  “But I have, some, an’ she reports further night illness. Perhaps a whole berry instead of one-quarter; place it in her food sometime this next week.”

  “Just one may only cause her to quake, Reverend.”

  “Yes, and ill a while after. Whilst being tended for that, a larger amount shall be introduced an’ the Kingdom of Heaven will welcome my wife to its gates.”

  Sesha and Beulah were both pale, listening. To hear Peter and at least 8 other Monitors so casually planning the death of his wife!

  “The bush ahind th’ Elder’s house has a few berries left; had to use three so the house could be cleaned out. Which, Reverend, needs to be tended to.”

  “Send Amos over to see if any work be performed yet; if not, have him set some to make it useable. After, as an excuse, walkabout the building and collect a few. I shall work on my sermon for tomorrow whilst this be tended to.”

  Beulah broke contact and stared in horror at Sesha.

  “Run,” even though no one was around, Sesha whispered, “get to the bush before Amos gets here, strip all but three berries and bring back the rest if you can, Beulah hurry!” the woman leaped up and ran; already Monitor Titus was back.

  “The lad be on the run; dids’t tell him t’was urgent to find out.”

  Sesha leaped up from the bed and rushed downstairs to the back door. “Hurry, Beulah, he’s coming! I’ll stall him at the front while you hide the berries and come out from the room as if finishing something.” With that she whirled, ran to the front room and tipped the two main chairs over. She sat, fluffing her skirts out, mussed her hair and yanked the pillow seat and covers off just as steps came up the stairs and paused in the door.