Copyright 2011 by Michael A. Losh. All rights reserved. Please contact me for permission to republish.
Part 3
Sarah and her sister were nearly done washing the dishes after a supper of venison stew with potatoes and carrots and savory herbs. The remaining stew was put in a small ceramic crock and set in the "cold box" set into the wall. It was located on the north side of their home where it was always in shade. Sarah adjusted a set of flaps to vary the mix of outdoor and indoor air inside the cold box to keep it cool without freezing; colder temperatures had settled into the area. She wondered if Megan remembered the years before the cold box when Sarah had to make many trips back and forth to the root cellar the Holdings shared with two other families.
Tomorrow was Christmas, which the Holdings celebrated as did nearly all citizens in Oaktown. Tomorrow, the Holdings would have a little family feast. A wild goose had been purchased from a hunter and plucked by Sarah's father before supper and hung outside in a cloth wrapping, as it was too big for the cold box. Sarah's mother was preparing pumpkin pie filling and a cranberry-walnut dish. The pie would be completed and baked tomorrow morning, while the goose would be roasted in the afternoon. Sarah and Megan had already cooked a variety of oatmeal cookies earlier that day, some with raisins, some with dried cherries, and some with apple bits. Added to the maple sugar candy they had, their holiday feast would be delicious. If only Sarah's boyfriend would be here, she might enjoy it.
Sarah touched the simple gold necklace that Magnus had given her after he won the Challenge Games on Dissolution Day and remembered the wild stallion ride that day had been About a week later, Magnus had come to Sarah's home and apologized for getting drunk and acting so badly. He tried to be his old charming self, but Sarah had developed a new level of doubt about him, and was reserved as he spoke to her. He said he would win over her parents, and the town's Committee of Selectmen, and her again. Then he left and was not seen again. That was almost six weeks ago. Where was he? Didn't he miss her? How was he going to restore the Committee's confidence in him? She missed him, or at least missed the feelings and hopes she had before the Dissolution Day Challenge when she thought he would be selected as a new citizen and her place in Oaktown, the only community she had ever known, was ensured. If he wanted to be a part of her life, and she a part of his, why didn't do something to show it? Now she didn't know what to think.
Someone knocked at their front door. Sarah's father got up from the knives he was sharpening and answered it. He called into the kitchen, "Sarah, Luke Comstock is here to see you. He says he has gifts."
Megan's eyes lit up and she covered her mouth to not shriek. Sarah frowned at her and made a shushing gesture. "Coming, Father."
Luke stepped into the house and wiped his feet on the rag rug inside the front door, then closed it to shut out the light snow that was blowing outside. Sarah's father made his way back to the kitchen. Luke was holding three bundles, a larger one and two small ones, each wrapped in simple cloth and tied with a colored twine. Sarah asked, "Hello Luke, what are these for?"
"For you. And your mother and Megan, too. Get everyone here."
"Okay. Megan! Mother! Luke, give me your coat and let's sit over there. It's nice and warm." Sarah motioned to the bench that was seamlessly integrated with a plastered wood stove structure. A bright fire could be seen burning through a small window in the firebox door. Luke set the bundles on a wooden chair by the front door, then handed Sarah the coat. He took the bundles over to the wood stove bench. He hadn't even sat down yet and could tell that it was warm indeed. Somehow, the flue pipe must be routed through this bench seat, since he couldn't see the flue and the bench radiated warmth.
Sarah's sister and mother came in the front room. Luke offered a small bundle to each of the daughters. They looked at each other in confusion then smiled back at Luke. Megan asked, "Should we open them now?"
"Yes, yes. Go ahead. You and Sarah should open them at the same time."
Sarah and her younger sister untied the colored twine and opened the cloth wrapping. The sisters each had a finely-crafted pair of mittens. The mittens were fashioned from rabbit pelts, with the soft fur lining the inside of each mitt and an extra layer, fur side out, covering the back of the mittens. They looked at each one in wonder.
"These are too nice. How did you get them?" Sarah asked.
"I made them. Just finished yesterday. Try them on!" Luke urged.
"Are you joking? You can make stuff like this?" Megan asked as she started pulling the mittens over her hands.
"Yes. See this part? That's a flap you can slip your fingertips out to work on something for a few moments, then slip them back in."
Luke reached out to show Sarah the flap. Sarah held up the hand with the mitten to Luke. He took her hand and pulled the mitten back off slightly, then with his other hand, opened the flap slightly so she could wiggle her fingers out. Sarah giggled at the sight, but it was not actually so strange if she considered gloves she had seen that had missing finger tips.
"I thought it would be useful, if you were collecting herbs in winter, or even if you needed to chores around the house or stable or somethings."
"Those are exquisite, Luke. Where did you ever learn to make things like that?" Joyce asked.
"I stared to apprentice with a cobbler in East Holly. Then he got scared with the situation there and cleared out and went up north. Tawas, I think he said. I know he said he had relatives where he was going. He asked if I wanted to go with him, but at the time, I wasn't ready to leave, although it was getting pretty bad."
"I think they are beautiful. And useful. Thank you so much. I don't know what we ever did to deserve these," Sarah said.
"Yes, thanks! It's like I'm petting a bunny the whole time I'm wearing these," Megan observed. Sarah rolled her eyes. At twelve years of age, she still often focused on the surface of things and didn't see the deeper implications. Luke had put a lot of effort into impressing her family. And she was impressed! But what what was his motivation?
"Oh, don't mention it. Here, Mrs. Holdings. This bundle is for you," Luke said as he lifted and extended the largest bundle to Joyce. Joyce took it and untied the twine and opened the cloth wrapping. She revealed a pair of leather boots, lined with sheep's fleece. They were a rich brown color and buffed to a shine.
"Oh my, you really shouldn't have. You didn't just make these." The last part was a statement of fact, not really a question. She lifted them up high so her husband could see, who was watching silently from the opening to the kitchen. He nodded in recognition of the quality with which the boots were made.
"No. That was my last project with my Master, more than a year ago. Not quite a masterpiece, but the last I could do under his supervision and instruction. I think they should fit you. I compared them to a footprint you made."
Joyce seemed a bit put off by that last comment, then shook her head and stated, "I don't deserve this either. If I can ask, why are you giving the three of us these things?"
Luke looked at Sarah. Their eyes locked for a second or two. Luke seemed like he was going to say something, then reconsidered. Finally he said, "Well, I hope you don't take this the wrong way. My situation is this. You probably know that my father and I came to Oaktown this past summer. My father seems content to remain an associate of Oaktown, not a full citizen. Although I think he could enter and place well in the Dissolution Day Challenge Games, he doesn't seem to want to try at his age. I, however, do want citizenship, and I know Sarah at least saw me compete in the games. Obviously, I was not selected for citizenship this time. I would like to know why, although I have my guesses. But I want to make sure I would be selectable next year."
James Holdings fully entered the room. He motioned for Luke and the women to sit down. Joyce sat in a wooden chair next to the one James sat in. Sarah sat down next to Luke, while Megan sat on a wool rug next to the bench. James said, "And you think we can tell you that, maybe coach you for next year?"
"Yes and no. I mean, yes I'd like to hear anything that you know from the Committee about how they assess the contestants, maybe what they thought of me specifically, if you can say anything. You used to be a Selectman, Mr. Holdings, and have decided such things before, correct?"
"Yes, and let me say the Committee was impressed overall in your strong and quietly confident performance in the events," ...unlike Magnus, Sara silently added. "The new citizens were chosen not only for finishing well in the events, but because they had demonstrated consistently that they want to be a lasting contributor to the community in roles the community needs right now. Just placing well does not guarantee anything if you don't have a trade to enter or a role to fill." That last bit also jabbed at Sarah. Magnus didn't seem to want to settle into anything. When he wasn't showing off with his bicycle or down at the lake, he hung around with the people in the community that sold or fixed old machinery, never focused in any one area but always doing odd jobs. He would disappear for many hours at a time and then reappear with some component someone needed to fix a bicycle or a radio device or who knows what. Useful? Maybe, but not exactly a reliable profession. But Sarah did not know how Luke was trying to fit in either.
"I understand, Mr. Holdings. When I first came to the Oaktown area, I tried to find another cobbler who would take an apprentice, but I found the little guild here was already fully populated. They wouldn't have me since there are enough cobblers right now, to be plain about it. And I don't want to be always a lumber scout like my father or a lumberjack like the Leka cousins, although I expect I'll need to keep working with them for awhile, since I don't have any other way to earn portions. But then I thought of something."
"What?" asked Megan.
"I noticed that there did not seem to be a maker of the leather tack and accessories for working with horses. All of the tack I've seen around town looks fairly old and worn out. I thought I could start with items that need repair, and start making some new items."
"Luke, that sounds smart!" Sarah offered. "I know several people at the stables that have been getting by with worn-out bridles, reins, and stuff like that. I know you could repair that stuff better than the lashed-up ways they have tried."
"So, you will help me, Sarah, meet some of those people?"
"Yes, I can do that." Sarah turned to her father, "You probably know more people outside of town, working in the shared fields, don't you Father?"
"Yes, a tack-maker could be useful to many people, both in and out of town. We've had to barter at a heavy loss to get even a few more meager bridle and harness sets."
"I'm glad you think my idea might be worthwhile, and I thank you most deeply to help me find a good way to fit in here at Oaktown. So, I hope you see this isn't some kind of bribe. I wanted to advertise my skills. You seemed like a nice family." He looked directly at Sarah. "A family I should get to know, because you are respected both in and out of town and you can help me understand how things work around here, so hopefully, I will be selected and can make a good life here in Oaktown." He smiled at all of them, "Well, I don't mean to ramble and keep you on a holiday. I'm going to the Christmas vigil service, so I should head out." Luke said, then looked back at Sarah, "Are you going?"
"Yes, in fact we are, Luke," James answered for his family, while Sarah looked back at Luke. Then James said, "Joyce, Megan, let's get ourselves ready. Sarah can see our generous and talented visitor to the door. All's-well, Luke." He stood and reached a hand down to Megan to help her stand up. Then he scooted them toward the narrow staircase that lead to an upper story in the house.
After the rest of her family went upstairs, Sarah said, "Wait, before you go, I would like to give you something that I made. Well, with Megan." Sarah jumped up and glided into the kitchen. She came back with a plate with cookies on it. "Here, take three or four. Maybe your father will want some."
Luke took one of each type of cookie and put them in a pocket, then grabbed one more with cherries and took a bite. "Mmm. Delicious. I might keep coming back for these! Okay, I better go." He stood up and went to the door and started grabbing his coat from the hook. Sarah dashed over and helped him get into his coat. He turned to face her and smiled, clearly so different now than the serious, solemn young man she met in August. "I'm glad I came tonight."
"I am too." Sarah smiled back, and reached out her hands. He squeezed them gently in his. There was an awkward silence, then, "See you at the service."
"Yes," she said simply, then started to open the front door. He opened it further and started to head out into the blowing light snow. He paused, turned to face her one more time and said, "Merry Christmas and New Solstice. All's-well, Sarah."
"Merry Christmas! All's-well, Luke," Sarah replied.
He smiled at that and then departed Sarah's home. Later that night, when Sarah saw Luke across the congregation, she waved at him wearing the new mittens. He beamed back at her. Then Sarah remembered she was also wearing the necklace Magnus had given her. The contradiction suddenly hit her hard. What was she doing? Was she falling for a guy that just wanted to use her family to get some advantage in the town? Was she a horrible girlfriend to Magnus for accepting Luke's gift? Would Magnus even come back to her? Did she still want him to? The feelings and questions swirled around in her head and could not decide if she wanted to disappear or go sit next to Luke.
Sarah tried to focus on the Pastor, who recounted the story of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, their Holy Teacher. He emphasized the way in which Mary, Mother of Jesus, accepted the gift of his birth and graciously accepted the role that God wanted for her. Sarah silently prayed for help to recognize and accept the gifts and role given to her. When she opened her eyes, she saw her mitten-covered hands pressed together.
***
Sarah and her father were riding their horses, Logsdon and Bartholomew, back toward Oaktown's North Gate. The breeze in the late-morning April air was strong today and slightly cool. Patchy clouds cruised overhead, creating shifting patterns of light and darkness on the dirt road leading toward the Oaktown fortification wall. Sarah and her father were returning from circuit through numerous villages and small compounds in the extended region around Oaktown to recruit field workers to help with spring planting in the "shared fields" just outside Oaktown.
As in prior years, Sarah did not enjoy this task today; many of the under-employed young women they met on the circuit looked at Sarah with envy, or even contempt, while the able-bodied young men they tried to recruit looked at her longingly, and often started acting brash and foolish in an attempt to impress her. Pathetic, she thought as one particularly obnoxious man from earlier today came to mind. Of course, attracting attention was probably the reason James took Sarah along, but at least he accepted no vulgarity or crude remarks about his daughter. When they found associates willing to work in the fields, James noted their names and Associate Numbers with the very old "smartphone" device he carried. If a recruit was not yet an associate, James gave him or her an oath of allegiance to Oaktown; attached a brown-colored numbered band around his or her wrist; then recorded their name, number, and a picture of his or her face with the smartphone.
Sarah knew the smartphone had electricity inside it, but could not fathom how it could form such perfect pictures of people, or words, or anything else. The few lights that used electricity inside the town could not make pictures like this. When they were within a few hundred yards of Oaktown, James used the smartphone to speak with the field managers about the recruits. How strange it was to be next to someone speaking to a person she could not see and knew to be far away, maybe even a mile or more! After speaking, James taped the smartphone. Sarah could just barely see the words that appeared on the glass window of the device. Then the words disappeared and were replaced by other words. Years ago, curiosity prompted her to ask, "Father, how can you talk with someone back and forth using the 'smartphone' but you can't with the people we hear on regular radios?"
James had laughed at the question. "Well, it is like these have an ear that hears me and changes my voice to radio signals that fly through the air. Regular radios don't have ears like these do, they are for many people to listen to the same thing at the same time. They all can't talk back to the source of the sound. Does that make sense?"
"Kind of. Not really," Sarah had said in exasperation. There wasn't anything that looked like an ear or either type of gadget, and she couldn't see why in one case many people could hear the sound the same way at the same time, but with 'smartphone' only one person could. Much more recently, Magnus seemed interested in this kind of stuff, and tried to explain it again to Sarah. Around Oaktown were electrical devices that would help pass the special two-way signals back and forth. It was called "why-fire," or something like that. It was still so confusing! Invisible signals and electricity, moving around in seemingly arbitrary ways and changing back and forth into light or sound or whatever. Sarah much preferred the more physical world of animals and herbs: at least you could see those!
Soon they reached the gate. The guards there waved them in without checking for the brown wristbands of associates or the green wristbands or oak leaf-shaped medallions of citizens. Other people were coming and going through the gate. Most of the people walked on foot, some pushing handcarts loaded with farm produce or firewood or other raw materials. The cart in front of Sarah and appeared to be loaded with urns of milk. Just inside the gate, two town officials unloaded a "tithe" of two milk urns. Tithe collections would be recorded and distributed to several institutions within the town, including the schools for children of citizens; the militia corps and guard posts; the hospital; the Church; the city hall; and Sisterhood of Oaktown which provided a home for widows and some unmarried daughters of citizens, and whose members provided much of the labor needed for various civic services. Whatever tithe collections that were not distributed directly were transferred to the Community Store, where people with portion-coins could buy it. The system made sure that the basic needs were met for the town's civil servents and officials as well as trusted non-citizen associates employed by them, but also made sure there was some surpluses to help promote and stabilize general commerce in and around the town. The two tithe collection officials saluted James, and he saluted back as he rode past them.
Within the gate was an open marketplace of stalls and a variety small shops along the inner roadway for about one hundred yards. This was one of Oaktown's main commercial hubs. The open market area was not fully utilized today as there was not much produce available since the growing season was just beginning. The only fresh crops available today were ones that were raised in greenhouses or cold frames such as hearty greens and bean sprouts. There were several stalls offering seeds, cold frame-raised seedlings, and seed potatoes. The shops included both vendors of goods produced, gathered, or scavenged outside of Oaktown, as well as little workshops where craftspeople made goods in the back and sold them in the front. One of these was Jack Smith's bicycle shop, where Sarah could see Magnus and Jack's son Tread out front, adjusting something on their personal bicycles. Jack had become something of a foster parent to Magnus, taking him in when he arrived in Oaktown the previous summer. Sarah and her father halted their horses when they reached the bicycle shop.
James addressed the young men, "Hello Young Mr. Smith, Young Mr. Corver. We could still use a few sturdy men to help with lentil and oats planting in the west fields starting tomorrow. The pay would be decent. Might round out your work-history in a good way."
"Good morning, Mr. Holdings. It's a pleasure to see you," he said then turned to look directly at Sarah. "And it's a pleasure to see you, too, Sarah. We appreciate the offer."
"Then we can count on you for the field team tomorrow?" James asked.
"Well sir, no, I'm afraid we cannot. Tread and I are setting off at dawn tomorrow on a trade venture."
"Is that so? Might I ask, where?" pressed James.
"Monroe, sir. Thompson wants to get one of those 'packet' radios the Monroe broadcasts keep talking about. Then Oaktown can join the 'Packet Net Alliance.' Thompson said we have the blessing of Mayor Clark to travel there and make the trade. He's helping the Mayor draft a letter for us to take there."
"Monroe? That's clear past Detroit! Just you two, on bikes?" Sarah asked, astonishment and concern stressing her voice.
"No problem!" Tread replied. "Ol' Mags here can out-pedal almost anyone, even most horses."
James scowled. He said, "I hope you boys aren't over confident. I know, Magnus, you cycled clear across Michigan recently and had to out-maneuver bandits and deal with road-blocks and desperate communities, but I think Monroe, if you get there, is going to be a whole different situation. They don't say so in the radio broadcasts, but I think the 'Monroe Miracle' is just Sino-Capitalist expansion of New Canton. Do you understand what New Canton is about? I've heard broadcasts tout the wonderful work opportunities of far-off places you probably can't even point out on a map, like Vancouver, or San Francisco and Nappa, or the San Joquin Valley. I don't believe them or the altruistic messages they keep broadcasting. I think the packet radio will be a bad thing. I don't even allow a normal radio in my home. I don't want my family exposed to false hopes like the 'Monroe Miracle.'"
A confused expression came over Tread's face. Magnus appeared unruffled. "We'll be careful. If the packet radio causes problems, we can turn it off. Nothing much to loose and we could use it to get trade deals worked out with other communities in the area, share information on crops and controlling pests, even look up questions in the nearly infinite electronic library. Might be useful, right?"
James pinched his mouth for a few seconds, then said, "If I were still on the Committee, I'd advice against the packet radio and against the trade venture. If you go, you will face dangers for sure, but maybe in ways you don't yet understand. If you cannot be convinced to abandon this plan, then I wish you luck. All's-well, Mr. Corver and Mr. Smith. Let's get home for lunch, Sarah."
"Please go on, Father. I'll be along in a few minutes. I want a few more words with Magnus."
James nodded and began trotting away. Sarah turned to Magnus and Tread and said, "Magnus, what do you think? Doesn't going there sound like a bad idea?"
"Yeah, what's that 'Sino-Capitalist' stuff about?" Tread asked.
"Well, I don't know exactly where New Canton is, but my father saw their ships in Lake Michigan sometimes. The locals only had sailing ships by then. The Sino-Capitalists had powered ships. My father said there were rumors that their ships had atomic energy; little lumps of metal that can make so much heat they can power a whole ship! And that's what I think the 'Monroe Miracle' is. Maybe they got atomic energy working there too, giving them the power to run factories making all the stuff they talk about on the radio. So what if it's New Canton people behind it? Don't you want to trade and ally yourselves with the best, the strongest?"
"Magnus, I don't know what I would do if you don't come back. Why can't you find a good job here?"
"Sarah, whoever brings back the packet radio will be a hero! This is something that Thompson and even Mayor Clark himself want. But actually, I have another plan."
"What?" said Sarah, growing even more concerned.
"I want you to come with us. We can leave before dawn. We all three go to Monroe, get the radio, make sure Tread here can get it back here safely. But on the way back, we look for a place we go off to be together. We can get married and be together and settle somewhere without worrying about being a citizen or all of the stupid rules this town has. We would be so happy together! I would not want to do this with anyone else. Just say yes."
Logdon, Sarah's horse, whom she was still sitting on snorted and swished his lowered head back and forth. Sarah patted him to settle him. "Magnus, I don't know what to say. How can I leave my home, my family? Am I supposed to steal Logsdon here? You know he still belongs to my parents. The whole town will come after us."
"We'll leave a few hours before dawn, before they know you are gone. We could be around Hartland by then. They won't be able to catch up. If you want to leave Logdson, we can get you a bike, right Tread?"
"Right," Tread answered.
"Come on. We will be a good team, and we can be happy together forever. I love you. Don't you love me? We should be together someplace new. Tell me you will join me."
"I..." Sarah stammered. "I can't... I want to... " She closed her eyes. Logsdon started to walk off, but Sarah pulled the reins to halt him. "You know how I feel, but this is so fast. Let me think."
"We need you to be back here at least two hours before dawn. Promise me?"
"I can't yet. I need to think. Come here." Sarah opened her arms. Magnus walked up to the side of Logsdon. Sarah did not need to bend down far to hug Magnus, since he was so tall. As they hugged, Sarah wondered if this was goodbye, maybe goodbye forever? Logsdon started pulling Sarah away, but she reined him in. After several more seconds, Sarah released her embrace then said as she wiped a tear from her eye, "I want to be with you, but I don't know if I can leave my home yet. If I don't meet you before dawn, I want you to promise to stay safe and come back. Okay?"
Magnus smiled and winked back. "All's-well."
"All's-well Magnus."
Sarah rode to the stable and put Logsdon away with fresh water and feed. She got home and found the rest of her family just about ready to sit down to lunch, a potato and bacon soup. Her father was unusually quiet during the meal. Her mother seemed to notice and avoided direct conversation with either Sarah or James. Instead she made small talk with Megan about the chores that needed to be done. Later that afternoon, Sarah helped with the chores but found herself absentmindedly leaving things in the wrong place. That night, before going to bed, she actually packed a small backpack with a few extra pieces of clothing and some other necessities. After going to bed, she lay awake all night, hoping the right feelings and justifications would fall in place and convince her to go with Magnus, but her feelings and thoughts were just a jumbled-up mess. Before she knew it, she heard roosters starting to crow and looked out her window. Dawn was almost here: she had missed her chance to go with him. She got dressed and left the backpack hidden in her room, then hustled out the door and across town on foot. She found a small gathering of people around the Smith's bike shop. Both of Tread's parents where there, and Mark Thompson, who maintained the equipment that made the smartphones work, Magnus's friend Stone, several of the neighboring shopkeepers that Sarah recognized, and several associate salvagers that Sarah knew who worked with Magnus on odd jobs. Sarah pushed through the little crowd as she heard them offer their advice, and well-wishes, and even requests to obtain this or that item they heard described on the radio broadcasts from Monroe. Sarah caught Magnus's eye as he was fastening the cargo pouches that had been added to his bicycle. He didn't say anything directly to her. He stood up, turned and hugged several of the people standing there, ending with Tread's mother and father. He and Tread mounted their bicycles.
"Goodbye everyone. I will miss you! All's-well," Tread told the well-wishers.
"Goodbye! We will see you soon again. All's-well," Magnus added.
As the other people added their all's-wells, Magnus and Tread started to pedal away. Some other people started to pedal with them. Where they going along all the way to Monroe? Probably not, maybe just a little ways for the thrill of it. Before getting too far, Magnus looked back at Sarah and smiled briefly. Sarah tried to wave, but Magnus had turned to face forward already. Soon he and Tread and the others had pedaled out the gate and could no longer be seen. Sarah wiped her eyes and whispered, "Goodbye." Tread's mother came over and gave her a hug, then went back into the shop. Sarah continued to gaze at the gate, more tears welling up, as the little crowd dispersed. After a few solitary minutes, she turned and walked slowly home.