Dissolution Day, Part 2 of 6 (Rough Draft)

Part Two

It was early dawn of Dissolution Day. The early November air felt brisk and the scent of fallen leaves was sharp. Luke Comstock moved into position behind a natural deer blind formed by a clump of young pine trees set back at least thirty yards from a deer trail. Early dawn was the perfect time to catch a deer moving along a trail like this. He had scouted out this location over the past few weeks with Old Man Zynder. Zyner showed him how to notice the deer trails that lead from a deer's favored bedding lays to steams where they drink. The small pines were downwind of the direction the morning wind would likely blow, if there was any wind at all, but Luke could not count on that to carry his scent away from the trail. Good hunting mornings like this were usually completely calm, so Luke's blind was far enough away from the trail that it would be a challenging shot. But it had clear lines of sight to several points along the trail. Luke had practiced his archery enough that he was confident he could hit the target that presented itself. As an extra precaution, he used the steam of a sweat lodge last night to clean and purify his skin and reduce his human scent.

Luke positioned his bow and arrow quiver where he could quickly and quietly grab them. Then he sat down and pulled out from his pack some pieces of rabbit fur that where partially sewn together. He began stitching them again where he had left off, working slowly and methodically without making any noise. Working like this focused his eyes and hands on something engaging, but freed his ears to listen intently to the surroundings. The woods were quiet, with only only a few insects and the morning dew dripping here and there audible. The song birds had not yet started their morning calls. He started to think about his plans for the handiwork he was stitching, but realized the future was now a distraction he needed to set aside and resumed his careful listening for the arrival of a deer while he stitched.

Several minutes later the background sounds changed. Insect sounds diminished from one direction and a bird made a startled call. Luke very slowly put down the stitch-work and doubled the intensity of his listening. Yes, he heard something moving on the trail, probably more than one deer. Luke silently repeated the request he learned at church, Creator God, giver of life and all you make, show me the gift I am to take. As quietly as possible, Luke moved from his sitting position to a low crouch, and moved to grab his bow. He slowly looked around one of the pine trees. He could see a nice buck leading two does. They were maybe fifty yards away. Luke reached into the quiver to draw out an arrow. He nocked it without taking his eye off the buck, which was slowly coming closer along the path. A few intervening trees began to block his view, so Luke shifted sideways to look through his blind along a different angle. Just a little closer and the buck would be in the second good sight-line. Yes. Almost, Luke thought. He raised the bow up slowly and drew the arrow back in a fluid motion. The buck froze except for an ear that twitched around, seeking the source of some disturbance Luke could not hear. The shot would be farther than he preferred, but the gift of the deer was offered now and could be taken away if Luke did not act. He let the arrow fly toward the buck. It struck home behind the buck's shoulder. The buck and the two does bounded off in a direction perpendicular to their trail. He heard the deer quickly scramble off. He also thought he heard a more human sound, a distant "Boo-Yah!" Another Dissolution Day Challenge competitor?

No matter, Luke needed to focus on tracking his injured prey. He immediately went to the point on the narrow trail his arrow struck the buck. The earth was scraped down to bare dirt where the buck bounded away when the arrow hit. Luke looked ahead in the direction he saw it jump and estimated where a strong buck might land. He saw an area of leaf litter on the forest floor obviously disturbed with an accompanying set of deep deer prints. He saw no blood here, which concerned him. Did the arrow penetrate deeply enough? He looked on ahead in the expected direction and found a drip of blood. He thought he could see more subtle disturbances in the leaf litter on ahead. He found another blood drip. The tracks and soil disturbances grew fainter and less distinct, implying that the buck was slowing down. Fortunately for Luke, blood drips were found more frequently and in a less linear pattern, which raised his hopes that the buck was staggering and would soon fall. About two hundred yards from his blind, Luke found the buck laying on the ground, the arrow still stuck in its side. It was a fairly young but healthy four-point buck.

Luke approached cautiously and respectfully. Old Man Zynder said an injured buck may leap up in a last vain effort to escape, but this buck remained motionless. Luke softly said a prayer of thankfulness, "Creator God, I thank you for this gift of a living creature and humbly accept it for the benefit of my community and myself. May I honor its sacrifice through my right conduct and never forget that the source of all gifts is indeed You, my Lord. Amen and All's-well." After ensuring the buck was now truly dead, Luck hefted it onto his shoulders for the trek back to Oaktown's Dissolution Day festival grounds.

***

Magnus's plan for the Dissolution Day deer hunt was fairly simple. His friend Stone had discovered a huge older buck that bedded down frequently in a certain meadow. There was a smooth footpath that lead down to the meadow from a moderate hill. If he could spot the old buck with some binoculars, he could then coast down the path on his bicycle, get fairly close without making much sound, then try to sneak up on the buck in his lay before it got up, or at least before it got too far, and shoot it with his bow at short range. After scanning the meadow several minutes through the binoculars, thought he saw the old buck through some tall grasses and low shrubs. It seemed that it was time to try his plan! He stowed the borrowed binoculars then got a bow and arrow ready in one hand and rested it on the bicycle handlebar. He fully gripped the handlebar with is other hand. He was all ready to try the bicycle ambush!

He pushed off the ground and started coasting the bicycle downhill. He leaned over far more than normal to make it harder for the buck to see him coasting down on the bicycle. He quickly reached a point on the path that was perpendicular to the place the thought he saw the buck lay. He smoothly jumped off. He crouched as he ran over to where the buck should still be laying. Abruptly, a big buck stood up among the meadow grasses and looked at Magnus. As he continued to close in, he raised his bow with the nocked arrow. He was so close now, maybe just a dozen yards! Magnus yanked back on the bowstring and let the arrow fly. It streaked across the short gap to the buck and buried itself deeply in its chest. The buck reared up as if to try to fight the hunter with its paws, but then staggered and fell down. Magnus let a loud "Boo-Yah!" fly from his mouth. The fallen buck quivered another moment or two, then relaxed and lay limply on the ground. Magnus laughed out loud, then exclaimed, "I'm so awesome! A ten-point buck! Beat that, losers!" as he gazed over his prey. No way he could carry this back on his bike, or even on foot by himself. He started to look back to his bicycle so he could get some help hauling the buck back to the Dissolution Day festival grounds when he realized he hadn't used the privy earlier and needed to badly.

Unknown to Magnus, Old Man Zynder also had a pair of binoculars and was using them to monitor several of the Dissolution Day competitors. He watched Magnus's complete attack approach and marveled at the athletic skill and capability displayed. Then Zynder recoiled twice, first as he heard Magnus exclaim boastfully, then a second time as he saw Magnus drop his trousers and squat in the tall grasses, not ten yards from where the buck fell. Is this the young man's idea of respect? Is this any way to honor the sacred link between a hunter and his prey? Disgusting. Zynder wondered if the Selectmen of the Committee would even believe him if he recounted Magnus's behavior to them.

***

The late morning sun had warmed up the festival grounds and the crowds were enjoying themselves. Sarah was strolling with a friend named Brienna and Sarah's younger sister Megan through the open-air mall. Sarah had been the Maid of Honor at Brienna's wedding earlier that year in the springtime.

Craftspeople and merchants from both inside and outside of Oaktown had set up little stalls in rows alongside the competition field. While the Church of Oaktown required tithes of goods from the craftspeople and merchants that were added the Community Store, and used to pay the officials and servants of the community, merchants could profit from the sale or barter of their remaining production as they saw fit. There were only a few big festivals each year where they could present their goods to a large crowd. Those with unique or very good quality items could often fetch good prices when word about them spread rapidly through the shoppers. There were basket-weavers, cobblers, weavers and tailors, tool sharpeners, blacksmiths, potters, candle-makers, coopers, and soap-makers. There were makers of fishing rods and tackle, traps for small game, bows and arrows, knives, horse tack, and much more. There were vendors of old salvaged goods like hand tools, cookware, folding knives, reading glasses, binoculars, jewelry, books, bicycle parts, unused paper, small solar panels, LED lights, rechargeable batteries, wind-up radios, even a few old guns and hand-made ammunition, although the Oaktown Warden kept a close eye on the potential customers of those. There were vendors of nuts, dried berries, spices, food and beverage herbs, medicinal herbs, mushrooms, apples, apple cider, pears, paw-paws, potatoes, carrots, dried fish, meat jerky, salt, vinegar, pickles, cheeses of many kinds, and numerous other foods. Even after working in the Community Store, Sarah noticed items here that surprised or stumped her.

Megan had gone on a little ahead, looking at spices. Brienna looked at the dazzling assortment of foods and said, "This is starting to make me feel hungry, but earlier today I felt like I drank a full bucket of swamp water."

"You don't think you are, you know... expecting something?" Sarah replied discreetly, so Megan could not hear.

Brienna raised both eyebrows, and a wide smile broke through her expression. "Yes!" she whispered back.

Sarah squeezed Brienna's hands. "Brienna, I'm so happy for you. May creator bless you with a healthy child."

Beyond the merchant stalls, stood the very large banquet tent. The deer harvested in the earlier competitive hunt where hanging within it with one wall rolled up to allow the crowd to view each contestant's catch. Spots for three deer were empty, as the contestants had still not returned yet with a deer. If they returned empty-handed, they would loose valuable points in the competition, but even more, they would loose respect of the Oaktown Committee of Selectmen. Each serious candidate for selection into citizenship was expected to be a competent archer and hunter, both to provide food and to be able to help defend their town in the event of attacks by organized marauding bands or skirmishes with aggressive neighboring communities. However, if a Dissolution Day Challenge contentstant did not return from the deer hunt in time for the later events, he would forfeit them and also loose points. It was indeed a tremendous challenge for the unskilled and unlucky.

The deer that Magnus shot was clearly the largest so far. Sarah found Magnus by his catch, beaming with pride, answering the repetitive questions from those passing by. Yes, he did kill it in one shot. No, it didn't get far after the arrow hit. No, he has never seen such a big buck. Yes, he used his bicycle to ambush it. That last answer raised a lot of eyebrows. When the girls got close enough, Megan tugged on Sarah's sleeve and said to her privately, "Magnus has the best deer! He's the front-runner. Look at the attention he's getting!" Megan was right, but perhaps at twelve years old she did not fully comprehend the implications of that attention. Among the variety of people who stopped to admire Magnus's deer or chat a bit, there were two young and unfamiliar associate women fawning over Magnus, holding onto his arms. Magnus didn't seem to mind the extra attention. But then he saw Sarah, shook himself loose from the other girls and walked over.

"Hi Darling. What do you think?" Magnus asked as he pointed over his shoulder at his deer.

"Impressive. You're doing great so far!" Sarah tried to seem chipper and not show any annoyance about the way the other girls were carrying on.

"Yeah, I think so."

Brienna asked, "Hey Magnus, who are your little friends there?"

"Oh them? Admirers. Dee and Bea, or is it Lea? Something like that. They're probably just hungry for a venison roast."

"Well, I hope you aren't distracted. The day is far from over," Sarah reminded him.

"Don't worry, Darling. The next event is my best!" he assured her. Just then a bugle call was heard to summon the competitors to the next challenge. "That's for me! I got to go. Kiss me luck?"

Sarah extended up and kissed his cheek. Magnus gave her a big hug, kissed her on the lips, then spun around and jogged off to the competition field. Sarah looked back at the "admirers" and noticed them scowling and start to whisper at each other. The other competitors also began moving toward the field. Sarah caught Luke looking at her as he moved through the crowd. He instantly looked away. Then he looked back again and half-smiled at Sarah. She waved back. But then the crowd grew too thick between them and she didn't see him again until he appeared at the start line of the rope race event with the other competitors.

There were nine competitors at the start line. Across the field about 100 yards away stood two simple log structures formed by two tall vertical logs each with a heavy cross-piece that held dangling climbing ropes, six on each structure. At a second bugle call, two large citizens lifted a staring rope to waist height along the starting line. The nine competitors took up positions behind the rope, with Magnus near the center. The head Challenge official gave final instructions to the contestants and told them to get set. Then he blew whistle and the staring rope was released and fell. The rope race was underway! "Go Magnus!" screamed Sarah, Brienna, and Megan simultaneously, but their sound was lost in the tremendous cheering that arose from the gathered crowd.

The nine men ran across the low grasses of the competition field to the hanging ropes. Magnus was at least a hand taller than any of the other competitors and ran ahead of the pack quickly. He reached one of the two best-positioned ropes first; favored because it was an outside rope for one of the structures, so Magnus would only have a competitor on one side of him. Slower runners would need to take an interior rope and face twice the possible interference from other climbers. At the rope, Magnus leaped up and grabbed it with his amazingly long arms. He hoisted his lean body up easily, pinched the rope with his feet, re-gripped his hands and pulled himself another few feet higher. The other competitors were just now reaching the ropes. On Magnus's third pull, the rope gave way in his hands, causing him to fall eight feet down to the ground. A loud gasp was heard as the spectators watching the race sucked in their breath in synchronized shock. Megan clutched Sarah other desperately and they screamed "No!" as Magnus landed on his feet and squashed down into a low squat. The thirty feet of falling rope piled on top of him, but then Magnus stood back up and flung the heap of rope off his body. He reached over to a free rope and started climbing all over again. A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd. Some of climbers swung and crashed into one another and they worked up the rope, but Magnus had an uncharacteristically intense look on his face as he ratcheted himself up the rope higher and higher with incredible speed. Although a few other competitors were reaching the top first, Magnus was quickly gaining on them.

Magnus reached the top of the rope within seconds of the lead competitor and grabbed the little proof flag attached to the wood cross-piece. After this, Magnus wrapped his legs and one elbow around the rope and slid back down quickly. As Magnus touched down, Sarah took a quick look at the other racers, and noticed two of them already starting to run back and Luke working his way back down the rope, moving more cautiously than Magnus and falling back into fourth place. Over the cheering, Sarah asked Brienna, "Do you know them? Aren't those guys lumberjacks?" as she pointed to the two men taking the lead.

Brienna replied in Sarah's ear, "Yes, Valmir and Prek. Cousins. In good with the lumber foreman." She meant that these men, Valmir and Prek, were planning to marry the lumber foreman's daughters. Brienna's father was a senior teamster, and her husband a teamster as well, both of whom often drove a lumber wagon for the foreman. As the cheering grew louder, Brienna shouted to Sarah, "Oh look, Magnus is catching up. I think he's going to win this part too!" Megan screamed and screamed excitedly.

Magnus gained on the the other men and passed them in an all-out sprint back to the race official, who was still at the start line. Magnus clearly reached the official first and handed him the proof flag, panting hard. Valmir and Prek arrived a few seconds later. The official raised Magnus's arm to signify the winner. Luke and the other competitors finished out the race and an assistant race official recorded the exact order of their finish.

Some of the crowd rushed around Magnus to congratulate him. For a few moments he raised both arms and pumped his fists into the air. Sarah tried to squeeze through the crowd. As she got close, Magnus saw her, reached over the heads of several other people, grabbed Sarah's hand and pulled her the rest of the way through the throng. The many people were shouting a variety of things: congratulations, questions about whether he was injured, whether he knew what happened to the first rope, whether he thought someone was trying to sabotage him. He ignored them and looked at Sarah, who motioned him to lean over. Sarah cupped her hands around her mouth and spoke loudly to Magnus, "Wow! That was great! Are you okay?"

"Never better! I told you this was my best event. But I might be a little sore later."

Sarah hugged him and held on. How thrilling it was to be at the center of this whirlwind of attention! Magnus tried to answer the crowd's questions, including some about Sarah, but eventually waved them off so he rest before the next event. Sarah sent Megan off to fetch cool canteen of water for Magnus.

Within twenty minutes, the bugle call sounded to recall the Dissolution Day Challenge contestants back to the competition field. By this time, the three contestants who missed the rope race were present. Two of them had finally brought in a deer from their hunt; one had not. But now it was time for a challenge of mental strategy and luck known as "Rock, Skin, Knife." Sarah's father told her that in the old days, children played a version of this game called "Rock, Paper, Scissors," but since paper and scissors were becoming scarce, someone altered the game so players "throw" gestures for things that were more familiar. The idea struck a chord and spread far and wide ever since For the Dissolution Day Challenge, the game was played tournament-style in three stages: a round-robin of duals within three-person groups, then duals between group winners and runners-up, then an exciting four-way simultaneous match of the finalists.

After the drawing for initial stage grouping, Magnus and Luke were placed into a group with Kilpatrick, a contestant who was a probate citizen. Sarah's father had explained to her that he had been charged with not tithing to the church and lying about it. The Dissolution Day Challenge was offered as a chance for redemption. If he placed well in the overall competition he would be allowed to continue living in the Oaktown community during the remainder of the probationary period and monitored closely. Otherwise his citizenship would be revoked and he would be expelled.

All three men could see the intensity in each others eyes, but at least Magnus and Kilpatrick tried to appear cheerful. Luke appeared more reserved. Like the other three groups, they had a referee and an official score keeper who used a staff with top piece with two wires and beads, like a cut-down abacus. A crowd of spectators gathered around each of the four groups of contestants. At the sound of a whistle, two players in every group started their first match. In their group, the first match was Kilpatrick against Luke. Luke got an early lead, but then Kilpatrick made steady progress, winning about three throws out of every five and took the match. Then Kilpatrick dueled Magnus, whose face grew more and more red as he lost twenty-one throws while only winning eight. Kilpatrick was their group's winner, so the group's final match would determine a runner-up. Calm down, Magnus. Keep you cool! Sarah thought as the last match in the round started against Luke. Luke focused on Magnus's hands and threw quick, unwavering gestures through the game-play, while Magnus often looked up to the referee, the score beads, Sarah, and his friends among the spectators between the throws. The gestures thrown by Magnus appeared unsteady, indecisive. A few early throws by Magnus were disqualified for changing after the throw set point. Magnus and Luke mostly traded wins in the first twenty throws, then Luke started winning much more consistently. When the score reached twenty to thirteen in Luke's favor, Magnus had another disqualified throw. They reset and threw another time, and since Magnus's throw was disqualified a second time in a row, the referee awarded the last throw to Luke, making Luke winner of the match and the group's runner-up. Magnus stared down the referee for several seconds, then shoved the scoring staff and began pushing himself through the spectators.

"Wait! Mags? Mags!" Sarah called after him.

Magnus did not respond and continued to stomp away from the competition field. Where the crowd was a little thinner, Sarah was able to jog to catch up to him. She said, "Hey, Magnus, don't be upset. You still in good shape."

"Upset? Why should I be upset about a stupid kid's game that is just stupid luck and a stupid referee who couldn't see when my hands were in the right stupid place?"

Sarah reached out and took both of Magnus's hands into hers and in a soothing voice said, "Sorry. I know you just want to win." She paused a few moments and tried to look at his eyes. He stared off to the side for several seconds. Then when he finally looked at her, she said, "But you are going to get your heart back into this aren't you? We still want the same thing for each other, right?"

For several seconds, he looked at her without speaking. Then he scanned the crowd. Finally, Magnus looked at her again while some of the tension relaxed in his arms and he said, "Yes, we do. I'm still in this. I'm no lumberjack, but I can finish pretty high in the last round. Then we can be together."

"That sounds good. Can I do anything else to help you?"

"No, Darling. Just let me get some air for while. All's-well." Magnus reversed the grip and squeezed Sarah's hands. Then he smiled a bit, released her hands, and started walking away. Sarah noticed he limped slightly as walked toward the shoreline of Big Seven Lake.

Sarah returned to the crowd around the "Rock, Skin, Knife" tournament. She found Brienna, who asked, "Is Magnus coming back? That didn't look to good to the officials. I think one of them even said something to your Father."

"I know how it looks, but he's okay. He's coming back."

"While you were gone, that guy that beat Magnus just won his semifinal match. See, he's getting ready for the final."

Luke and Kilpatrick were on a wooden stage with two competitors that Sarah didn't know and only looked vaguely familiar. "Do you know those two guys?" Sarah asked Brienna. Brienna shook her head. The finalists were standing in a shallow semicircle shape so they could see each other. The four referees and four scorekeepers were sitting in roped-off chairs directly in front of the stage. The head official began the rounds. The players had to hold the gesture of their throw for a longer period so all the officials could review the results and designate the winning throw. Sarah did not want Kilpatrick to win. She thought he was still dishonest and not likely to ever fully rehabilitate. So even though Luke beat Magnus in the initial round, Sarah found herself rooting for him.

In the first throws of the finals, no one seemed to have an advantage. Then Sarah noticed that the two unfamiliar men never seemed to throw the same gesture at the same time. It was not unusual for contestants to collude and try to gang up on the other finalists, but using a set sequence pattern was risky, since an observant player could detect it and try to exploit it. After several more throws, it was becoming clear to her at least that this was happening. Perhaps Luke anticipated the pattern too, since he started winning a larger share of the throws. Kilpatrick fell behind and wore a perplexed expression. As Luke's score reached the upper teens with a solid lead, it seemed the unfamiliar men broke their alliance and started throwing gestures randomly. Luke maintained a calm, determined expression, and perhaps even smiled slightly from time to time. Finally, Luke's total reached twenty-one and he was declared the winner. The crowd applauded, but seemed to lack the enthusiasm they had earlier for Magnus's come-from-behind win in the rope race. Perhaps Luke's character was still questioned among the spectators? Or was this just a less dramatic outcome and therefore less entertaining for the crowd? The head official came onto the stage and raised Luke's arm. Luke bowed politely to the crowd, then jumped down from the stage. He shook hands with the officials and several Committee Selectmen and some other Oaktown officials, including Sarah's own father. As Sarah had edged toward her Father, Luke noticed her. For some reason she did not understand, she smiled at him and he started to smile back. Then a man that looked like an older version of Luke himself came up and shook his hand. They didn't exchange any words, and after after the handshake, the older man left. Luke seemed somber after that. He picked up a backpack and started heading off in another direction.

Sarah's father came over and said, "Where's Magnus? He didn't do himself any favors just now. You know I don't have a vote any more." The Committee of Selectmen nominate eligible men for the Dissolution Day Challenge, then after witnessing the competition and the conduct of the competitors and doing a round of interviews with a short-list, grant citizenship to those they deem most likely to be good citizens that fit the pattern that they have established. The short-list selection and final citizenship awards usually followed the competition results closely, but it was not a requirement. Sarah's father had been a Selectman on the Committee before, as one of the four rotating positions elected by the Oaktown full citizens. There were five permanent lifetime members: Thomas Clark, the Mayor and Chief Selectman; Jonas Clark, Pastor of the Oaktown Church and brother of Thomas; William Weston, the town's primary medic and uncle of Sarah on her mother's side of the family; Daniel Greggor, Sergeant at Arms and head of security; and Skip Jones, head builder and one of the men who drove the earth-movers to build the Oaktown wall. This year, the Committee determined that they could only award citizenship to three competitors.

"I know. But I think they would listen to you. Magnus is coming back. He said he is still in it."

"For his sake and yours I hope so."

Soon, the bugle called the contestants and crowds back to the competition field for the wood-cutting event. Each competitor had an axe and a log one foot thick and nine feet long supported off the ground at each end. As befitting the town's name, the logs were sturdy oak, and not easy to chop through. At a whistle blast, the twelve men began chopping. Most of them, especially Kilpatrick, started very vigorously. Vilmer and Prek, the actual lumberjacks in the competition, swung their axes with solid, steady confidence, seemingly slower than the other contestants. Magnus made large, fast, and graceful swings with the axe that bit the log hard. The rest of the men, including Luke, worked hard but did not seem to be very efficient. Kilpatric started sweating profusely and panting hard. His axe swings became less and less frequent. Vilmer and Prek kept a steady pace, working in an alternating rhythm. Magnus kept swinging fast. His notch in the log seemed to be growing at about the same speed as Vilmer and Prek's. The crowd cheered them on. Several minutes later, Vilmer's log cracked and fell in two pieces. A few chops later, Magnus's log did the same. With one more chop, Prek broke through his log. The crowd applauded. Overall points were to be awarded though sixth place, so the other men kept chopping too. Luke and several others appeared poised to place. One of the men unfamiliar to Sarah finished next. Luke finished fifth and another unfamiliar man finished sixth. The events were over. Was Magnus's second place finish in this event enough to win the overall Dissolution Day Challenge?

The bugle call was used again to call the contestants up onto the wooden stage. Thomas Clark, town Mayor and Chairman of the Committee of Selectmen, gave some opening remarks in which he complemented the contestants for their spirited performances and stressed the importance of demonstrating commitment to the town and respect for the privilege of citizenship. Pastor Jonas Clark lead a prayer thanking God for the bounty of creation and their harvest, the opportunity to gather in community, and the example of the competitors; and asked God that each person there would humbly receive and respect the gifts God offered to them.

The head official began to call the results. "In sixth place, and receiving a fifty-portion prize, is Marcus Troyer." One of the "Rock, Skin, Knife" finalists. One "portion" was the unit of currency used by the town. It was the value of a one-day ration of provisions for an average man, redeemable in the Community Store and and accepted by many other vendors and shopkeepers inside the town proper and in the wider area including the many small villages around Lake Fenton. The crowd clapped as another official placed a simple medal around the man's neck and handed him a bag with portion coins. "In fifth place, and receiving a seventy-portion prize, is Luke Comstock." Luke accepted the medal and prize politely and stood up straight. Sarah seemed to notice mixed emotions behind his eyes. The official worked up through the places. Fourth to another man, Chip Ableson, that she did not recognize. Third to Prek. The applause and tension in the crowd grew. Would Magnus win the Challenge? "Second place and overall runner-up, receiving a one hundred fifty-portion prize is... Vilmer Leka! Your Dissolution Day Challenge Winner is Magnus Corver!" The crowd cheered loudly as the final two medals and prizes were awarded. The two Clarks and the head official shook each of their hands. Magnus raised his arms in triumph. He sought out Sarah in the crowd and blew her a kiss. In past years, the Clarks and officials would often stay on stage a long time congratulating the winner, but today they disappeared quickly.

Sara pushed through the crowd. When she reached the stage, Magnus reached down and lifted her up to the stage. She smiled widely and said to him, "This is amazing! I'm so proud of you!"

"Me too!"

Sarah feigned exasperation then said, "Well you should be. You won it the first time you tried!"

"Shall we celebrate?" he asked, giving her a wink.

"Um, yes... back in the banquet tent. You need to be there if the Committee calls you for the interview."

"Oh okay. Let's go"

Sarah jumped off the stage. Magnus used a hand as he stepped down more gingerly. She questioned, "Are you hurt? My mother could give you willow or something."

"No, I'm fine. We are going to celebrate big!"

They walked toward the large banquet tent. The sun had just set and a breeze was starting to blow in the deepening dusk. On the way, they saw Sarah's mother. She motioned them over. "Congratulations Magnus. Do you mind if I talk to my daughter?"

"No problem. Sarah, I'm going to buy us something special for the banquet. See you at the tent." Magnus headed off to the vendor mall, limping slightly.

Joyce turned to her daughter and said, "I hope Magnus is all right. I spoke with your father. I know he cautioned you about the selection..." Joyce paused, wearing a serious expression.

"Well?" asked Sarah impatiently.

"It does not seem the Committe will put Magnus on the short-list."

"What? Why? He won the whole thing!"

"I know, I know. But there are questions about the rope race. Some in the committee think he rigged the rope himself to make himself look stronger and more sympathetic."

"No, I can't believe that. That doesn't make any sense!" but Sarah could partly see why someone might try that. But it made more sense that one of the other competitors, or an accomplice, would do it to make Magnus fail.

"That's not all. He didn't handle losing in the 'Rock, Skin, Knife' tournament well. Someone on the Committee thinks Magnus can't handle his temper. They could use that against him if they want someone else selected. You know there is a lot of personal politics in the selections. There is even a rumor that he did not hunt honorably this morning."

"I don't want to hear this! He won and he earned it and I want to help him celebrate."

"I'm sorry to say these things and upset you. I just want what is best for you. Maybe you need to pray and ask Spirit to tell you if Magnus is Creator's gift to you, or whether there is another."

"I don't want to talk about this! He can compete next year if he has to and win over the Committee. He said he would do anything for me! Why can't you be happy for us?" Tears came to Sarah's eyes. "He loves me."

Tears also came to Joyce's eyes. "Perhaps he does. But the life our Creator gives us is not always easy. We must talk to Spirit to find our true gifts and place in life."

Sarah tried to compose herself. "I'm going to the banquet. The Committee has to select him. He's the best."

Joyce responded by nodding her head and saying, "All's-well, Sarah." Sarah started to reply automatically, but cut herself off, shook her head, and started walking again to the banquet tent.

Sarah did not head straight to the banquet. Instead she went back into town and headed toward the stables. She passed her empty house. At the Community Store, she saw one of the regular security guards posted out front. He stepped out a bit from the building and squinted through the twilight, then said, "'Evening, Miss Holdings."

"Oh, hello, Sergeant Aimes." She quietly cleared her through and tried to sound as normal as possible. "Did you go to the festival today?"

"Before my shift started. It was a beautiful day, wasn't it? I probably shouldn't have eaten three apple tarts, though. But the Festival tarts are always the best." He patted his stomach. While he was not fat, he was a little paunchier than most citizens. "I haven't heard yet... who won the Challenge?"

Sarah looked at Sergeant Aimes' near constant companion, a grizzled attack dog named Kunstler, who was tied to a rail and seemed to be chewing on an old chestnut. She bent down and scratched the old dog between the ears. Then she looked back up to the Sergeant and said, "Actually, it was Magnus."

"That's wonderful. You both must be very happy."

"I'm not sure everyone in town thinks it's wonderful," Sarah replied.

Sergeant Aimes twisted his mouth around a bit before admitting, "Well, most people don't know what to make of that boy. Not sure where his head is at."

"I guess not. Hey, I'm just going to check on our horses. Then I'm going back to the Challenger's banquet."

"Well, enjoy yourself. But not too much!" He chuckled surprisingly loud, then said, "All's-well."

"All's-well, Sergeant."

Sarah soon reached the community stable where her family's horses were kept, one of several stables inside the town. The horses had already been cleaned and fed, but Sarah took out the soft body brush and brushed them again. Berry seemed to be moving a little more comfortably after several weeks of Sarah's herbal treatments, but she knew he could pass on at any time. Her sister Megan would need to find a younger horse soon. Her mother and father's usual horses, Rodale and Bartholomew, were both older as well, but still sturdy and dependable. Finally, she brushed Logsdon. She spoke to Logsdon out loud, "Magnus is the Challenge champion. He should be should selected for citizenship, right?" Logsdon snorted. "What, you too? Why is everyone against him?" Logsdon started fidgeting, looking around wildly with his eyes, and pushing on the stall's gate with his head. "Okay, okay. Settle down. Are you trying to go somewhere?" Logsdon did settle down, looked at her for a few seconds, then twitched his head slightly. "Well then. I need to be getting back to Magnus." Logsdon moved to block her path to the stall gate, so Sarah said, "No really. It's okay, Logsdon. I'll figure things out." She stroked the horse's neck, hung up the brush, closed the gate, said "All's-well, Logsdon," and departed.

***

As Sarah approached the banquet tent, she saw Magnus near one of the openings, paying a teamster in a wagon. Walking up further, Sarah could see several barrel kegs, a crate of bottles, and a few baskets of fancy breads and rolls all sitting on the ground next to the wagon. Magnus looked up and Sarah and smiled proudly. "Look at this, Sarah."

"What is this Magnus? There's already food and drink in the tent."

"Not like this. Look, real beer! Enough for all my friends and then some."

"But there is mead and wine in the tent!"

"And this wine is the really good stuff. Shouldn't a champion celebrate like a champion?"

"How much did it cost?"

"No worry, I still have plenty. And I have this for you," he added and pulled out a necklace that gleamed in the flickering light of nearby torches. He held it up and out to her.

"Magnus, you shouldn't spend money on stuff like this," Sarah protested, but took it from his hands and looked at it. It was so pretty. "It must be very old to be made this finely. It's... lovely."

"For my lovely girl. Here, let me put it on you." He took it back and fumbled a little to open the small clasp with his raw-looking hands, but he successfully secured it around her neck. "Nice. Very nice," he said after stepping back to look at her. The necklace draped over her skin and across the hint of cleavage her dress revealed. "Just right. Now, let's head in. Here, you take these baskets, I'll take the wine and then get the guys to grab the rest." The collected the luxuries and went in.

The interior of the banquet tent was lit with a combination of old strings of small electric LED lights and large candles on each table. There were also a few cooking fires slow-roasting geese, turkeys, and pigs on spits, which added a warm glow but also a slight smokiness to the air. A delicious combination of smells filled the test, including the roasting meat, simmering sausage, cheeses of different kinds, spiced cider in open half-barrels, baked fruit tarts and cornbread, roast potatoes, and much more. The cooking fires and tables with the prepared foods were at one end of the tent, with a few head cooks and catering directors that were citizens and several more associate helpers, all bustling around to finish the food preparations. The opposite end of the tent included a small wooden stage. The stage was now filled with music performers, including a drummer, fiddlers, a base violin picker, a banjo player, and Reed playing his guitar and singing lead with June and two other women singing accompaniment. The music was lively and there were a dozen people or so dancing in front of them. Sarah waved to June and Reed and they nodded back without breaking from their song.

Magnus lead Sarah to his group's table. On the way, they passed the table reserved for the Challenge officials and representatives of the Committee of Selectmen. The officials were present and sipping cider and mead, but she did not see any Selectmen yet. Sarah knew the Committee was probably conferring right now on whom to place on the short-list for the citizenship interviews. Each of the twelve contestants had a table where their families and friends could gather to celebrate or commiserate about the events of the day, so the middle part of the tent was a mass of many people boisterously talking and moving about.

After working their way to their table, Magnus asked Tread and few more of his friends to fetch the beer kegs. They eagerly accepted the request. Magnus asked his friend Tread's father to help him pass out the wine to the official's table and the other contestant's tables. Magnus and Tread's father left the table and started handing out a bottle to each table, surprising the guests with the extravagance.

Magnus had lived with Tread's family since coming to the Oaktown area. His own father was missing, probably lost to the depths of Lake Michigan several years ago. Magnus's father was a captain on a cargo sailing vessel that crisscrossed Lake Michigan for trade between the communities surrounding it, including what was left of Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay, and numerous smaller ones. The family had moved to the port community of Benton Harbor, after Clarkston deteriorated so far the Corver's chose to abandon their business interests there and focus on merchant sailing. After the disappearance, Magnus and his mother continued living in Benton Harbor. They struggled greatly, scrounging for odd jobs and bits of salvaged equipment to fix, clean, and resell or trade for food. Eventually she became ill from pneumonia and died about eighteen months ago. Much earlier, Magnus's parents had told him about their old hometown of Clarkston, and how some of the powerful families from Clarkston established a fortified new town called "Oaktown." After his mother's death, Magnus thought Oaktown sounded like a much better place to live. So he packed a few special items, including his mother's old ID card, and headed to Oaktown. The story of his journey across the Michigan lower peninsula was riveting, and enthralled Sarah each time she heard parts of it. That story and the proof of his membership in the once-wealthy and powerful Corver family gained him temporary sponsorship in the community. Since he had some experience with salvage and machinery repair, Tread's family took him in, as they maintained some of the town's old electrical and mechanical equipment, such as the main windmill.

Sarah looked around the group collected around Magnus's table, and said, "Hi everyone. Pretty amazing day, right?"

"I'd say, but my heart nearly stopped when his rope came down," admitted Tread's mother.

"Me too," agreed Sarah.

The rest of the group was not very familiar to Sarah. This was fundamentally because she was a "horse person" and most of these were "bicycle people." Magnus's friend Stone was in the middle: he was an apprentice in the building trade and he had a bicycle to get around, but also liked to hunt and fish and spend a lot of time outdoors. However, Tread was clearly in the bicycle camp; his parents were citizens that maintained equipment and ran a little bicycle repair business, even naming their son after a cycling term. Several others here were young associate salvagers, a rough-looking band of people who sought out items from pre-Dissolution times and tried to repair and reuse them, or strip them for useful components, or recycle their materials. Horse people like Sarah and her parents wanted to live closer to nature, use materials in or as close to their natural state as possible, and rely on animal power. The dichotomy had been useful as Oaktown developed, making it more robust to the many hardships the community faced. Sarah had tried to get to know some of these people better, but now the differences in the subcultures made her feel out of place, and she still had trouble understanding many of the things the people were discussing. She was grateful when Magnus had made his way back to their table. He brought back a few extra bottles of wine that were not passed out.

Tread and the others brought in the beer barrel kegs. A spout was attached and Tread started pouring beer for everyone his table and some people from other tables. After everyone who wanted one had received a tankard of beer, Tread's Father raised his and said to the table, "Here's to the Dissolution Day Challenge champion, Magnus, who I'm sure will be best new citizens of Oaktown. Cheers!"

"Cheers!!" the assembled friends of Magnus shouted and took a sip. Sarah never actually had beer before. The smell was interesting, the initial taste sharp and slightly sweat at the same time, then the fizzy-ness of the carbonation hit her mouth followed by a bitter aftertaste. Why do so many people like this? Even crave it? Beer was more difficult to produce than mead in the Oaktown region, so it was much less common and more expensive. Magnus and his friends seemed to be enjoying it very much, though. They drank down the first tankard in a few minutes, and soon had refills.

"Here's to my beautiful, darling Sarah. Cheers!" said Magnus holding his drink high and looking intensely at Sarah. She held the stare for a second, then began to blush and look down.

"Cheers!!" shouted the group and another deep swig was taken.

Suddenly, the musicians stopped. Some people turned to look toward the stage. The head Challenge official stepped up onto the stage. He pounded a wooden staff on stage floor three times, then said, "Citizens, Contestants, and Associates, may I have your attention. The Committee is now ready for final interviews with contestants nominated for citizenship. After the Benediction by Pastor Clark, please enjoy the bounty provided by the generous tithing of our citizens. Now the Committee calls... " The official paused while he referred to a small device in his hands. It was a near-relic of the earlier age: a "smart phone." It used radio signals, but in a way that could send words and pictures, not just sounds, to another similar device, unlike the regular radios that some ordinary citizens had that emitted music, or lectures, or sermons, or nearly incomprehensible news from one of a very few far-off places. The town's leaders and officials could instead use these smart phones to communicate one-to-one with each other over moderate distances inside and a short way outside the town's walls. Sarah's father was sometimes temporarily granted one to help tally tithes of food and other products. The official looked up at the crowd and named "Marcus Troyer!"

Cheers erupted from part of the tent. Marcus made his way to the stage area. The official lead him out of the tent. Magnus took another big gulp of the beer and said, "I guess they're saving the best for last. Wow, am I hungry! Let's hope this benediction is short." Pastor Clark took the stage and blessed them and the food and asked for God' guidance within the Committee. As soon as he finished, Magnus said to Sarah and the others, "Let's get something to eat!" He picked up his plate and motioned to Sarah to do the same. As the music started up again, they made their way to the food tables, along with many of the other people.

While they were waiting in line, they heard the triple-pound sound of the official's staff, and the announcement, "The Committee calls... Luke Comstock." Sarah had forgotten he would be here. He made his way from a mostly empty table, but Sarah noticed the same man there she saw talking to Luke earlier that day; it must be Luke's father. Although Luke seemed reclusive, Sarah couldn't remember ever seeing this man inside or around Oaktown. Of course, a lumber scout would spend almost all of his time finding good stands of timber to harvest and leading the lumberjacks and wagons to that area, and perhaps provide some security during the lumber harvest, so it was not too surprising Peter didn't come into the town much. Luke's father was talking to some members of the extended and extensive Leka family, who seemed to be spilling into Luke's table, especially children and some young teens.

Magnus and Sarah filled their plates and made it back to their table. Magnus was definitely limping more noticeably now. Sarah said to him, "Are you sure you don't want something for your leg, or ankle? Which is it?"

"I've got my own treatment. I'm soaking it in alcohol." Sarah looked at his clearly dry trousers and looked up at him in confusion. "From the inside, Darling!" he added, then took another deep drink. "The pain should be gone in no time." He passed his tankard to get another refill.

Sarah shook her head a little, passed the vessel to Tread, and then poured herself a little wine. The beer was not quite an experience for which she was ready. The wine, however, was excellent... a mixture of rich yet mellow flavors. Better than her father could typically get for home. Sarah saw Luke return from the interview. He spoke briefly then shrugged when he reached his father. Several of the children huddled around Luke. Then they headed for the food tables.

"The Committee Calls Chip Ableson!" The third interview. The Committee seemed to be working through all of the Challenge place-winners. Sarah was just starting to eat her food when she heard a young woman's voice, "Hey, Mags." Sarah turned around to see the two women she had seen earlier with Magnus and his deer. The one closest to Sarah was leaning over the back of Magnus's chair and resting a hand on his shoulder. The other was leaning around his other side. That one must have been the first one to talk. What gall! Sarah thought.

"Hello, ladies," Magnus replied, drawing out the hello. "Do you prefer the area's best beer or a rare wine when you party?" Magnus stood up to face them.

"Either is great. I'll have what you're having," said the first one.

"I want some too!" the second said. Tread passed down two more tankards of beer. Magnus handed them over in mock formality. They took them happily and raised them.

"To winning!" the first one said and tapped her tankard to Magnus' and the other young woman's. All three of them said "Cheers!" and took a drink. Then the young women raised their tankards again.

"To getting everything you deserve!" the second toasted and they all took another drink. She started to giggle a little then looked up at Magnus tilting her head as she licked her lips.

Sarah could not believe what she was seeing and hearing. These two women could not be bigger flirts. Didn't Magnus see that? Or did he just not care? Was he drunk already? Sarah stood up and forced herself next to Magnus.

"I'm sorry ladies, I don't think we've met. I'm Sarah Holdings."

"A pleasure. I'm Deanne, or Dea. This is my good friend Lea."

"Were are you from?"

"Rolston Village, between Squaw Lake and Loon Lake," Lea answered.

"That's a bit far from here, isn't it, this late at night? I mean, if you don't have horses."

"About five miles. Don't worry, I think we will be taken care of," Dea replied. Lea laughed.

Sarah stood speechless for a moment with raised eyebrows. Magnus said, "Ladies, ladies, let's enjoy ourselves. Hey Tread, Stone. Please take my new friends here up front to dance." Dea and Lea put on mock sad faces but then laughed as Tread and Stone took them up toward the main stage.

Magnus turned back to Sarah. "You shouldn't let other people get you upset. Have another drink. Loosen up. This is our night!" Sarah scowled and sat back down. Magnus poured some more wine into Sarah's cup. "Back in a while. Call of nature. Drinking too fast." She watched him head outside the tent. Were Tread and Stone still occupying the young women? Yes. Okay, don't loose your temper, she told herself, but she was seething under her skin. She picked at her food. How could she enjoy this food, this music, this night if other women were throwing themselves at her love? Can't he read the signs? This was turning out all wrong.

The music interrupted again. "The Committee calls Prek Leka." How many more would they call? Sarah reminded herself to stay positive. The Committee will want an athletic, charismatic, fearless man as a citizen, won't they? Doesn't she? She closed her eyes. Creator God, Spirit God, let my gift come to me, and let me be the gift you would have me be. Amen. She signed deeply.

"Sarah, are you all right?" It was Luke Comstock.

"Huh, oh. Yes, I'm fine. I'm great. I mean, this is overwhelming, isn't it? How are you?"

"Oh, I'm good. Honored to place this well my first year. I'll do better next year."

"You don't think you will be selected?"

"There are only three spots. I need to be realistic."

Sarah nodded. "What's it like in the interview?"

"They ask very hard questions about your intentions, about your goals in life, the place you see for yourself in the community, your commitment and willingness to sacrifice for the community, even die for it, if necessary."

"You probably gave good answers."

"But there's only three spots. Look, here comes Magnus."

Magnus sat down next to Sarah, coming in a bit fast and uncontrolled. The beer was definitely affecting him. "Luke, my good fellow. Come to pay the champion homage? Here, drink with me. Sarah doesn't like beer."

"That's not necessary."

"Oh, I insist. Just don't hit me with a rock, a skin, or a knife, okay?" Magnus held a serious stare for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. Several others at the table started laughing too. Luke chucked uncomfortably. Were they putting Luke down or was Magnus being self-deprecating? Someone slid a beer to Luke.

Sarah saw her father approach within 20 feet, blended within the crowd. Sarah caught his eyes and tried to express uncertainty to him. He shook his head slightly as if to say, "Don't react, let me observe."

Magnus started to rant, "You KNOW. I should have won our match today. I would have if the referee wasn't so eager to disqualify throws. Everyone thinks so. Isn't that right?"

"That's right," said Crystal, who had just come to the table. Sarah hadn't seen her all day.

"Watch out, Crystal. This guy will use a knife to get you to rock some skin. Or maybe he just wants to see more of Sarah."

Sarah said, "Please, Magnus. You're not making any sense," but Magnus drew her in and held on tightly.

Luke returned Magnus's stare, then took a sip of the beer. Finally, he said, "Magnus, I think I will go back to my table now, but thanks for the beer and congratulations and good luck with whatever happens next." Luke stood up and turned to leave.

"So long, loser," Magnus said under his breath, but Sarah heard him.

"Mags, that's enough. Let's dance until you are called."

She pulled him up by the hand. Sarah thought she saw her father leave the tent. Sarah guided Magnus to the dance area, but stayed well clear from Stone, Tread, Dea, and Lea. This was so unlike how she imagined tonight would be! She put her arms around him and her head on his chest, hoping to get back a little of that special feeling they shared by the lake in August. But it was not the same, and he was noticeably unsteady on his feet.

The music stopped again and the head official announced, "The committee calls Vilmer Leka!" Vilmer was remaining place-winner other than Magnus, so they could be calling up Magnus in ten or fifteen minutes. If she could keep him dancing, maybe he would sober up a little before the interview. Snake dung! Dea and Lea noticed Magnus, which is not difficult considering his height. They started working their way over, with Stone and Tread following behind. Sarah stood her ground, but the other young women pressed their way in close to Magnus too. He seemed to like their combined attention and began to dance more enthusiastically.

After two more songs, the music stopped and the head official came up onto the stage again and pounded his staff down three times. He announced, "The Committee has made its selections. Will the following three candidates please step forward for the taking of the Oath of Citizenship..."

Magnus was a bit bleary-eyed and seemed to be anticipating the announcement of his name. Then Sara could see the realization breaking over him that the Committee never called him for an interview. That it seemed that the Committee was leaving him behind. Could they be so confident in him they didn't need an interview? Sarah held her breath.

"Marcus Troyer. Prek Leka. Vilmer Leka. That is all."

A low rumble swept through the crowd and the three selected men came up front. Sarah lowered her head and covered her face with her hands. At the same time, the Committee of Selectmen entered the tent and filed into their positions at the head table. The head official pounded the staff again. Pastor Clark stepped onto the stage. He looked over the audience, then began the oath. "Marcus, Prek, Vilmer. Place your left hand on your heart and raise your right hand. Do you commit, before our fellow citizens; our Selectmen; and our God, who is our Creator, Spirit Guide, and Teacher; to support our fellow citizens, uphold our laws, honor our traditions, defend our integrity, and protect our territory from all threats, even unto death? If so, say 'I do'."

"I do," the three men answered in unison.

"Then by the power granted me by the Committee, I pronounce you full citizens of Oaktown. Congratulations and welcome!"

The Committee shook each of their hands, then filed out of the tent. After that, part of the crowd rushed up front also to congratulate the citizens, while another part tried to leave the tent immediately, feeling uncontrollable disappointment. Jane stepped down from the stage and tried to hug Sarah, but Sarah kept her face burried in her hands, so Jane left with Reed. Sarah began sobbing. Magnus stood there a few moments and then said, "Well, forget me and forsake me. How do you like that?"

"It's not fair! It's wrong. Everything is wrong!" Sara finally blurted out between sobs.

"Well, I forsake them! I still have a keg or two of beer that I'm going to enjoy. Stone, we can go to your place? Yes? Party is moving to Stone's place. Let's go."

Sarah dropped her hands and stared at him.

"Are you kidding?" Sarah screeched.

"No I'm not. Let's go." Magnus said defiantly.

"Sarah, come with me. Magnus, you are drunk. I won't allow Sarah to go with you," stated Sarah's father, who had just recently stepped back into the tent.

"That is just great. First the whole town forsakes me, then my girl's family. Sarah, are you going to listen to him or go with me?"

"I..." Sarah started, but didn't know which way to go.

"Sarah, come with me now. Magnus is not yet fit for our town or for our family. We are going." James took gentle hold of her daughter's arm and began leading her out. Sarah began sobbing harder.

"Sarah, I said I'd do anything for you. But you won't do a simple thing like stay with me? Then forget and forsake you too!" Magnus yelled as he jabbed his index finger in her direction.

"No, don't say that, Magnus! Why? Oh, God..." Sarah barely got the words out before wailing as her father lead her out of the tent.

"Good. Just go back to your stupid town in its stupid wall. The rest of us, party at Stone's."

Sarah took one last look at Magnus over her shoulder as she headed out of the tent. His face was flushed, his mouth clenched closed. The others, including Tread, Stone, Dea, Lea, Crystal, surrounded him. Then the tent flap closed and she could see no more.

Part Three