Water Saga Read online

  When they stepped outside the clouds had thickened, but had not released their possessions as of yet. The aroma from the spit penetrated the air, making their stomachs growl in excitement for the feast to come.

  Mabel had never considered herself a beauty, but today she felt feminine and pretty in her mother’s dress. As she looked around at the village center, she felt a sense of pride. She looked upon the little square that was being used as the stage. All the tables and chairs were sitting on wooden and plastic flooring which she had played a part in collecting during her previous scavenger hunts.

  The band played a combination of makeshift instruments: homemade drums of animal hide stretched over cans and barrels, washboards, and a cherished guitar. There was a fiddle and a plastic recorder that were greatly cared for, but extremely worn from the heavy use over the years.

  Mabel noticed a long table set up on the porch with food spread along its entire length. She could not recall seeing so much food at once, not since the night before the last exploring party. That was the last time she had seen her mother. She remembered her mother holding her face, and looking into her eyes, and promising she would be back.

  They all said that, and it had been close to two years now. It would not be long before another party would be sent, and for what? To search for a myth, a dream.

  Mabel took Tess’s hand, as she knew that her sister was also feeling the same pain and sorrow of missing their mother. She looked at her and gave her an encouraging smile as they continued down the path. They were careful to stay on the planks, as neither of them was wearing their mudders for this special event.

  After filling their plates, everyone gathered around as Mayor Olson stepped up onto the stage in preparation for the story of their past and their future.

  This was a time when silence was absolute. If one listened hard enough, you could almost hear your neighbor’s thoughts. The quiet ensured that not a word of hope would be missed. These were a people who lived on hopes and dreams of finding the city over the horizon.

  “Hello, friends and fellow villagers,” Mayor Olson began. ”I hope everyone is enjoying this rare and special day,” she said with a smile. “I want to give a special thanks to the men and women of the kitchen. I recognize all the hard work that went into preparing us this magnificent feast on such short notice. Let’s all give them a round of applause.”

  “I know it’s not often enough that I get to take the time to thank everyone for making the village run smoothly. So thank you for all of your efforts that have not gone unnoticed by me or the elders.” She looked to the elders and then to her people as they gave applause for their appreciation.

  “It takes each and every one of us to make the gardens grow, keep the drainage maintained, the animals fed, and to look for the precious items that are found and retrieved. We work together as one, all equal, and as long as we continue to think of ourselves as a team, we shall always be,” she said with a proud voice and a huge grin, beaming with pride as she looked upon her citizens.

  When everyone quieted down, she took that as her cue to begin the tale of both the old and the new. No one wanted to forget either the ones who were lost, or the hope for those who would be found.

  “No one knows exactly when the rains began, but the elders have passed down to us over the generations the knowledge from their ancestors. The knowledge of the before, of when land stretched as far as the eye could see. One could walk for days and still be on dry land. Animals and game were in great abundance. The gardens were bursting with a variety of fruits and vegetables. The land had the greenest grass and meadows one has ever seen. These were very different from the green of our pines and vines, a green so vivid that it made you want to gaze upon it with inspiring awe.” The mayor stretched out her arms to show the vastness of these things and the crowd listened intently to every word.

  “There was the most stunning sky, a sky so blue that one could only imagine. It stretched forever across the land along with the glowing sun. It was as bright as a glowing fire and provided a warmth and sustenance the likes of which we have never known.”

  She paused for effect and let the people ponder these thoughts so that they too could imagine this land. She wanted them to have hope so that they would be inspired to work together and be willing to take up the task of finding this world for themselves.

  “This place still exists out there. Somewhere beyond the hills and the small flats, there is an end to where the water meets the horizon, and where dry land begins. This is the place our explorers seek. These brave souls forgo the comforts of home and take it upon themselves to go out on this journey so that we all may one day join them in this land of plenty.” She paused to let this set in.

  “A place where it does not rain for days, but for hours, and the rain is welcomed instead of scorned.”

  At these words the chatter became a roar and the excitement was growing at a feverish pace. She looked out upon a sea of smiles. She could feel the growing dreams and hopes that they all shared.

  “This brings me to the next phase of this special gathering we have here today. I am sure everyone knows that it has been almost two years since the last explorers set out on their journey. So once again it is time for the new crew to assemble their boats and prepare for their own journey to find this land. We are sure there will be a banner crew of volunteers this year. We look forward to meeting each and every one of you. Remember, you must be at least fifteen years of age to enter. The elders are not permitted, as they must protect the knowledge of our past so that we can protect our future.”

  Everyone applauded as the band set up to play.

  Mabel looked over at Tess. “Can you believe it’s already time for a new party to set out again? Have you heard any rumors of who might be volunteering? I’ve heard that Tom was talking of going. He hasn’t been the same since his son Seth left with the last party.”

  Tess pondered this as she thought of her own sadness at missing her mother. “I haven’t heard much else. It seems that everyone is either being secretive, or didn’t realize it was coming so soon.” Tess looked down at her plate and continued eating, trying to ignore any more questions on the subject.

  “I wanted to apologize for how I treated you earlier today. I want to say that even though I may not have shown it, I do realize that you have grown. I appreciate all that you do to help keep us afloat. I know I should treat you with more respect. I just don’t want anything to happen to you, Tess.”

  “I know this,” Tess said. “I deserved it. That was really stupid of me.”

  “Let’s just drop it for now, and enjoy the rest of the evening,” Mabel said.

  The band played on and couples began to dance as laughter filled the air. They ate till they were stuffed. Then they laughed the night away, even having themselves a dance or two.

  Chapter 3

  Tess woke while it was still dark and quietly slipped out so as not to wake Mabel. She felt a dull ache deep inside of her, one she knew would be hard to shake. She did not like keeping secrets from her sister, but was nowhere near ready to explain herself. She was trying to buy as much time as possible.

  The rain had returned and the morning was cool as she made her way to the skiff. She made sure to put on her mudders as she would be travelling alone, and was careful to avoid the mud as much as possible.

  She climbed into the skiff, secured the rain tarp, and raised the yellow flag. She bailed out what rain had collected overnight and quickly checked her sack to make sure she had the items she needed for trade. She had quietly gathered the items over the last couple of weeks. Her sack was nearly half full of the plastic sandals that she had found when she was out on the waters with Mabel. They never matched, and came in all colors and sizes, but these were her favorite finds. She also had the birds she had dressed and cleaned from the day before, and the sassafras she had spent her mornings gathering. Tess silently slipped off into the water, and headed towards East Hill to prepare for her ta
sk ahead.

  Her thoughts drifted to Mabel, at home warm in her bed. Tess knew she would never understand. Mabel was perfectly happy here; she had her life out on the water. She had accepted the fate of their mother. Tess was no longer content. She could not sit and let time continue going by day after day, night after night, without any answers.

  She wanted to know for herself if anything else was out there, if there was any truth to the elders’ tales. She wanted to know what had happened to everyone who had gone in search of it. Even if it was all just a lie, a fairy tale to be told over and over again, she wanted to know. No! She needed to know, so she could move on with her life, no matter how pathetic it was.

  Tess steadied the skiff as she neared the dock. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves as she tied the skiff to the post and began her climb up to the village. It was a lonely climb filled with much anxiety, both over the excitement of her plans and the secret as well. But her decision was steadfast, and nothing was going to change her mind.

  The village was eerily quiet this time of the morning, except for the shopkeepers preparing their stalls at the market. She hoped she could slip in and out without much notice from anyone from her village. She knew the other volunteers would also be out in the hills to trade items for their journey and hoped that she would not be spotted.

  Tess entered the stalls in search of the shoemaker. Although her mudders were still in good condition, she had no idea how long she would be travelling, and she knew a spare pair would certainly be prudent. Also, Tess knew the shoemaker traded in the plastic sandals that she carried. She felt hopeful that she would be able to make a trade as this was the only place where anyone could come close to finding a matching pair.

  She found him sitting behind his counter sipping a cup of sassafras tea. He was busy at work, expertly cutting the tires down to size. He carefully aligned each slit, and perfectly placed a strap in each slot that could be adjusted to the wearer’s foot.

  She noticed with no surprise that his stock was low, as he was a master of his craft. Everyone trusted his mudders to both do their job at holding them up on the mud, and to last. They were expensive to replace and no one was happy if they lost a shoe in the mud, or broke a strap. They could be repaired, but it was a risk they just did not want to take.

  “Hello there, young lady. What can I do for you?” the shoemaker said with a smile as he looked up from his work.

  “I’m in the market for a new pair of mudders. I need a good strong pair that doesn’t cost too much.” She dumped her items on the counter for the shoemaker to look over. “I have some items I can trade,” Tess said, suddenly worried over her goods. “The birds I cleaned just last night.” She silently hoped that there would be something there that he would want or need.

  “Let’s see what you’ve got here,” he said as he scanned through the objects. “You got a specific plan for these shoes?” the old man asked.

  Tess lowered her head for a brief moment, and then decided she could not tell him the truth. If word got out to Mabel before she was ready to tell her, it would ruin her plans, and there would be hell to pay.

  “No, just looking for a spare,” she replied.

  “Well, then. I see several things of interest here, but I can’t give you my best tires, as they’re extremely hard to come by. So I’d best just hold on to them until a better offer comes along.” He rubbed his chin and gave her a wink. “Seeing these are just for a spare and all, I can let you have these for a fair trade.”

  He held up a pair that were much thinner in tread than the ones she had her eyes on, but they were better than the pair she currently owned. She knew that they were still finely crafted, and as she didn’t have anything else to offer she gladly accepted. In a hurry she continued her way down the stalls.

  The market was steadily getting busier, so Tess knew it was time she should get on her way. She quickly finished her trades so she could get back home before she was missed. As she headed down the heavily worn path to the dock, she saw Tom approaching. She pulled the hood from her poncho further over her head. Keeping her head down, she hoped he would not notice her, or stop to ask questions. Much to her relief, he just gave her a small nod and went on his way.

  Tess rubbed her hands together to warm them from the morning chill and began to make her row back home. She decided that she would take the less traveled route, which circled the hill near the cave. She knew it would be longer and meant more rowing, but she thought that it would be best to keep a low profile. It was still early and the waters were quiet, but that would soon change as the scavs showed up to look for their finds. She noticed that the wind had picked up, and the water had become choppy. She knew she didn’t have much time. Once the waters became stirred, more items came to the surface and the scavs would be out in droves, eager to claim them.

  Tess took advantage of the quiet to think about her journey ahead. She mentally went over her gear and the preparations that she had made thus far, worrying that she might have forgotten something. She knew that the time was drawing near for her to make her decision known. She would soon have to seek out the others who would be making the journey with her so that they could make their plans and finish their last-minute preparations together.

  As she rounded the hill she noticed that there were lights up near the cave. This caught her by surprise, as most people would not attempt to climb its treacherous slopes in the dark. Even Mabel waited till daylight, knowing it was far too risky with its deep mud. Besides, coal was plentiful in the villages. If you were running short, it was easier to just borrow some and replace it later.

  She reached in her bag and pulled out her magnifiers, but they were little use against the dark. Tess rowed closer to the hill so she could get a better look. Then she heard someone shout behind her.

  “Hey, there! What are you looking at?”

  Startled, she turned around. “Um, nothing! Just wondering who was up there this time of day, that’s all.”

  “Why don’t you come along with us and find out for yourself?” one of them said as the skiff pulled up beside her. A rope was being thrown over, and they were beginning to tow her before she knew what was happening.

  “Wait! Stop! What do you think you are doing?” she said with a growing fear that sent a chill down her spine. Not a word was said as they pulled her onto the dock and sent for Merth. She had never seen these men before, and wasn’t sure what this could be about.

  Merth was a tall man, and much older than the others. He appeared to be sizing her up as if she was a prize he was not sure what he was going to do with.

  “So what brings you to our island?”

  “What do you mean your island? It belongs to no one,” she said defiantly.

  “You’re sadly mistaken, ma’am. This is our island, and no one is allowed here, not without pay that is,” he said with conviction. “We are very fortunate that you showed up today like this and all. Hold her, boys. I’m sure someone will come looking for her soon,” he said as he turned his back and headed back up the slope.

  ***

  Mabel stood in the kitchen frying eggs over a few coals in the fireplace. She just wasn’t ready to face the wet yet this morning. She wanted to sit back and savor the remnants of yesterday before accepting that it was gone. She knew that she would all too soon be stuck back in the daily onslaught of rain.

  The house was quiet, just the constant patter on the roof and her thoughts. She pulled back the curtain that divided her room from Tess’s and found it empty. She wondered where Tess could have gone to so early. She opened the door to check the porch. She knew that Tess liked to sit outside with her tea in the mornings, but she was not there. Mabel decided to give her space, and not go after her. She knew that would make her look like she was trying to be a mother figure again, and she did not want to put off that vibe. She promised herself that she was going to let Tess grow up and be the adult she knew she wanted to be.

  Mabel tidied up after she ate her
breakfast. She could hear the winds picking up outside and was in a hurry to get out on the waters. She gathered up her gear and headed out. She knew the other scavs would be jockeying for position and she figured she might as well get in line. She walked to the square first, just in case Tess was there. Mabel checked the kitchen, but no one had seen her, so she resigned herself to the fact that she would be going it alone today.

  As soon as she reached the dock, she saw that her skiff was gone. But who could have taken it? Tess never went out alone. Surely not! Someone else must have taken it. She ran back up to the square to check for her sister again. Storming into the kitchen, she said louder than she intended, “Has anyone seen Tess?” Out of breath, she scanned the room and did not see her anywhere. “Someone has taken my skiff.”

  Sara was washing the dishes from the early morning rush when Mabel stormed in. She placed the towel on the rack as she called to her. “Mabel, come here, girl. Tell me, what’s going on?”

  “It’s Tess! I’ve not seen her since I woke up this morning. The skiff is gone. I know she wouldn’t have taken it, not without asking me first. She’s never gone out on the water alone before. I just can’t see her doing that.”

  Tom was standing nearby and he cleared his throat as he placed his glass down on the counter.

  Sara looked over at him. “You got something to say, just spit it out already.”

  “Well, I’m not sure how much help it will be. I saw her early this morning over at East Hill. She was in a hurry and looked like she didn’t want to be bothered, so I left her alone.”

  “What! Why on earth would Tess go over to East Hill all by herself?” Mabel wondered what could be so important that Tess did not want to wait for her. She ran out the door and back to the dock. Mabel looked for someone she could hitch a ride with. She needed to get to East Hill, and fast, so she could find out what was going on with Tess for herself.

  When she arrived at the dock it was completely deserted. There wasn’t a skiff anywhere in sight. Everyone had already left, eager for the hunt. “No!” she yelled to no one, out of frustration. As she looked out over the water, Mabel saw a skiff coming around the curve. She jumped and waved her hands in the air while she called out, “Stop!” Please let them hear me. “Help!” She continued making a commotion until they looked her way. At first it looked as though they didn’t see her and were going to continue on, but then the skiff turned and started heading towards the dock. As it came closer she could see who it was. For crying out loud, this is just my luck. Mabel knew she needed to bite her tongue as she was desperate and needed his help.