Michael grimaced. “I asked if any of them had family in Meroe, and I said did. Did any of you have family in Meroe.”
John gasped. “Michael!”
Michael cringed.
“Fwah! What’s wrong with you?”
“I wished I hadn’t said it the moment I did. It’s hard to think of something every time you walk into the church. It was on my mind and it just… came out.”
“Fwah!”
John frowned at Michael and shook his head. The younger man endured much harrumphing and headshaking before the older one finally settled down. John was quiet for a while. Then he whistled and scratched. “You know, I failed that crucible twice. Both times to the same man and the same question.”
Michael said, “I know,” and smiled because the story was coming anyway.
“It was David. Oh, he enjoyed tormenting the resolved. My first time, he’d a smoked turkey leg with him. He said, ‘Want some?’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir!’ like an idiot. I even saluted him. I was only thirteen. To me, David was a hero! It was even more embarrassing because it took me so long to realize what I’d done. The next year, here he comes with a pork chop, cheerful as the sun. Want some? I believe I groaned or something.”
“He failed you for a groan?”
“David was ruthless. I’ve seen that pork chop in my nightmares.”
“This was Edward’s third time to fail. He’s sixteen.”
“Oh, you’re right. That boy hates you.”
“I know.”
“Can’t keep his mouth shut, can he?” John burst into hearty laughter. “Do you remember when Gabriel failed tolerance?” Michael laughed too and John gripped his shoulder. “Oh, I enjoyed teaching you. I’m looking forward to teaching Daniel. It’s a very special thing to share with someone, the way.”
Michael’s smile faded into worry. “John, what do you think Abraham is going to do?”
“Oh, you’ll have Antioch. He hates it here. He told me once he would have aged better somewhere else. Or, no, I believe he said anywhere else.”
“No, I meant, what do you think he’ll do about the rest of us.”
“Ah. Without evidence or a confession? Nothing. I’m sure he suspects what we intend to do, but intentions aren’t broken vows. Some crusade to find out for sure would only compromise his assignment. No, Abraham has taken your advice. He’ll keep his word to death. The Circle is going to die with him.”
Michael nodded. “Those are my thoughts as well. I felt that, in his own way, he accommodated us.”
“It’s possible, but still, be careful with him before he leaves. You can trust him, but don’t bet your life on him trusting you. I’ve never seen him so upset. And I wouldn’t go anywhere near Salem for at least, oh, what do you think, a decade?”
Michael agreed.
They reached the Cauldron and John looked up in dismay when he tried the door. “It’s locked! They never lock the door. Hmm, I suppose I did advise them to…” He banged on it. “Fergus! Help! I’m hungry!”
The latch clicked, the bell rang and Daniel stood in the doorway, a scowl on his face and a towel on his shoulder. “We aren’t open until… Uncle John!” Daniel flung himself at John and embraced him. John’s face melted. Daniel said, “I didn’t think you were ever coming back!”
John wanted to hug his grandson for longer than he did. “We were making important plans, son. I couldn’t get away until now.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “Daniel, this is Michael.”
Daniel had heard many stories about Michael by then, first from John, then at the Cauldron, from Fergus’ family and guests, and finally from Andalynn. The tales had turned Michael into a hero. “Pleased to meet you, sir!”
Michael smiled and held out his hand. “I am honored.”
Daniel took it and his arm flopped around in the handshake. He was star-struck.
John laughed. “Daniel, feed us!”
“Huh? Oh! Yes, sir!” He took off.
John added, “Oh, and, if you haven’t eaten, please join us as well.”
“Yes, sir!” The boy disappeared into the kitchen.
Michael said, “Look at him go. Breahg’s first acolyte.” John nodded, considering that. The Circle had a joke about Breahg acolytes. In the privacy of the library it was said: Before Breahg, woman - meaning neither.
Margot came out to greet them, hugged Michael and touched his scar. “Ooh, Michael, what’s happened to you?” He blushed and shied away.
John sat at the table. “Some sailors shot him in the face.”
Her mouth fell open. “Why’d they do that?”
Michael took a seat as well. “I was rather dirty at the time.”
Daniel came in then with bread and cider, speaking rapidly in his excitement as he laid them out. He said they had a sailor staying with them and that she was bringing her friends to dinner that night. He took a giant bite of bread and his muffled words came out with crumbs. “One of them has pictures on his skin!”
Michael said, “Ah, that’s Ditch. So, the woman staying here is Andalynn?”
Daniel said, “Uh huh,” then he frowned. “She’s still asleep.” He’d been raised to believe that sleeping past sunup was a sin. He didn’t know how difficult it was for a person to go without sleep for three days, or that John had done that for him.
Michael said, “That’s interesting. She’s an important member of their crew, you know. Something of a commander.”
Margot said, “No, I didn’t know that. She never said a word.”
Michael said, “Fierce woman.” Then he cringed. “Especially that smell…” Margot chided him.
Fergus came in with bowls of stew and pointed at Michael like he’d been thinking the same thing. “Yes!” He lowered his voice. “She smells like sour milk!”
Michael said, “They all do! They think rubbing themselves with milk protects them from these devils. Honestly, I thought it would be rude to ask, so I had to wait quite a while before one of them explained it to me.” John, Fergus and Margot all agreed that it was a bad smell and a touchy matter to investigate.
Daniel said, “Davies called it her dairy air,” and narrowed his eyes. “Because he’s a milkman.”
Margot raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “And just what did my son-in-law have to say about Andalynn’s derrière?”
Daniel tried to share his hatred of Davies with the table. “That she’d need to get it off her chair before she could get him another drink!” But instead of agreeing with him, they laughed.
Fergus said, “I think he meant her backside, boy! I couldn’t believe him last night! Hoo-hoo, he was in prime condition.” Daniel frowned, not understanding how anyone could tolerate Davies, much less enjoy his company.
Looking at Daniel, John said, “You know, I don’t care for that Davies. He rubs me the wrong way.” The boy nodded, validated.
Michael said, “He’s playing with fire, Fergus. He wouldn’t be so saucy if he knew some of what that woman’s done.”
Fergus laughed. “I seriously doubt anything could put a cork in Davies’ sauce!”
Everyone, other than Daniel, laughed again. Michael untied a drawstring pouch from his belt and placed it on the table next to his meal. Fergus deflated at the sight of it.
John said to Michael, “You don’t need that anymore, do you?”
Michael stopped, thinking about all that was changing, and then smiled. “No, perhaps I don’t.”
Fergus raised his hands, proclaiming, “Hallelujah!”
Michael laughed. “Oh Fergus, I’m sorry, I really am. I know it’s been hard for you to watch us with our wretched pouches at your good table for all these years.”
Fergus said, “It has been!” not mentioning that John never brought one to the table.
Michael weighed the pouch in his hand. “We’re supposed to do it in secret, to avoid offending our hosts, but that’s worse than the truth among friends.”
Fergus smiled. “I understand. Oh, this is exciting! I want to see your first unadulterate
d bite.” He rubbed his hands together vigorously.
Daniel was baffled. “What’s in the pouch?”
The others allowed Michael the opportunity to explain. He said, “Ashes from the hearth of the church. We’re sworn to put them in our food, to prevent us from enjoying it too much. Pleasure corrupts.” The words were bitter in his mouth.
Daniel frowned. “You don’t do that, Uncle John.”
John’s eyes shifted. “Ahem, shh, this is a solemn moment for Michael. Don’t ruin it.”
Michael put his hand over his face and laughed. “John!” Everyone laughed, except Daniel. Michael took a decisive bite of the stew. “Mmff, so good, Fergus.” His jaw popped in the bullet-scar as he chewed. Pain shot up into his ear. It was still better than the ashes.
Fergus beamed. “It’s at its best too! It’s the second day. The flavors have had a night for a how-do-you-do-oh-fine-how-are-you. There’s never enough of it left over to serve twice and that’s really too bad, well, for the guests. It’s good for our breakfast!” Everyone ate then, enjoying each other’s company.
Daniel said, “Uncle John, Fergus told me you think the most important thing in the kitchen is salt.”
John chuckled. “The old debate! That’s right, son, salt. Humble, yet powerful, it improves every dish and leaves an empty space when forgotten. Don’t let Fergus’ fancy tricks confuse you. Butter is a lie!”
Daniel’s mouth was full again. “Fergus says it’s bacon.”
John paused. “You mean butter.”
Daniel turned to Fergus. “No, he said bacon, just like Pa.”
Fergus looked caught in a trap. “Daniel, I… I said that to be kind, but… it’s butter. It really is. It’s always been butter! Hoo, I feel better getting that off my chest.” Fergus fanned himself as though he’d overcome a great obstacle. Daniel frowned at him.
John took a sly bite of the stew. “Oh? Did you put butter in this?” He knew.
Fergus said, “No, that is beside the point, and come to think of it I sweat the onions in butter, so there.”
Margot raised her tankard and said, “It’s apples!” as though they all should have known that. John laughed, clanked tankards with her and drank.
Daniel asked Michael, “What do you think it is, sir?”
Michael sat back, chewing and thinking. Then he said, “Hunger.”
John and Fergus shared a look.
Fergus said, “Fwah.”
John said, “You’ve always some queer thing to say.” Michael laughed and went back to enjoying his meal. Daniel thought Michael’s answer was the smartest thing he’d ever heard.
Fergus grinned at John and said, “I thought he’d say coffee…” Then they both watched Michael for a reaction.
Michael knew he was being baited. A frown snuck onto his face anyway. Coffee.
Fergus laughed, “You’re a good sport, Michael. You know I’d never serve the evil stuff in here. So, no more pouch! What’s brought that on?”
Michael put down his spoon, wiped his mouth and shared a look with John. Then he said, “Andalynn’s told you what’s happened?”
Margot said, “Ooh, it’s dreadful. I didn’t even know anyone from Meroe. To find out there’ve been people oversea this whole time and that now they’re all… well I don’t know how to feel about it.”
Michael said, “I think dreadful is the right word.”
Margot smiled at him and at John. “I’m so glad nothing like that could ever happen here.”
Michael wasn’t as sure as she was. “I’ve forgotten what day it is. Service is tomorrow, isn’t it?”
Fergus raised an eyebrow. “Yes...” He looked over at John.
John said, “Michael’s found religion.”
Michael said, “God’s mercy, John. Listen, service will be a good time to discuss what needs to be done here in Antioch. We’ll be able to get the word out to almost everyone at once that way. Ask Andalynn to get the other sailors to attend, especially the one named Biggs. Also, tell everyone that I will be there.” Michael paused for a moment and then came out with it. “The church is separating. Gabriel and Samuel left this morning.”
Fergus said, “What? I don’t like the sound of that!” He turned to John. “What about you?” Daniel looked at John too, ready to hear the worst.
John said, “Well, I have a busy day today. I’ve got to dig some metal out of Michael…” Michael answered their looks with a nod and a shrug. John continued, “And I have to get to bed early. None of us slept last night… Fergus, I’ll need your help and your generosity in packing. Daniel and I leave tomorrow and we have a long way.” He turned a sad smile on the boy.
Fergus was sorry to hear it, but ready to assure John of anything he needed. “Oh, of course…”
Daniel said, “We do? When are we coming back? Fergus was going to show me how to make a cheese.”
John said, “It won’t be for a long time.” Michael questioned him with a glance, but John didn’t want to use a word like never right then.
Daniel said, “But, I thought we were going to stay here. Do you want me to stay until you get back?”
“No. I’ll be gone for a long time. You have to come with me.”
Daniel’s head fell a little. “Huh, it’s just that… I thought we were going to stay.” The night before, his worst fear was that John would leave, and he’d accepted it. He hadn’t considered leaving the Cauldron. Fergus and Margot had made it a home for him.
Fergus patted Daniel on the back. “You just keep him safe, John. We’ve got big plans for this boy.” Margot hugged Daniel and kissed the top of his head.
12 In the Settling Smoke
On the steps outside of Betheford’s inn, Biggs sat, wearing the fellowship’s brown, wool trousers and white, linen shirt. He was watching an old laundress at work across the way. She sometimes peeked out from behind her fluttering sheets to frown at him. People walked by, greeting each other and gossiping at the shops.
Andalynn came up the street, waving, her blonde standing out from the native black. She wore local clothes as well, a white blouse and a long, brown skirt, but with goggles on her forehead and revolvers on her hips. She said, “Biggs! Biggs! I am a waitress!”
They shared a laugh, a hug and a kiss and sat down together. He motioned across the street. “Been watchin’ this old girl for half an hour. Can’t stop. Boy ran out a lil’while ago n’ pulled down one a’ them sheets. She hollered at him n’ he took off like a jackrabbit. Didn’t think I’d ever see regular people again, but here they are. Do’n the laundry.”
It was more than that for him. The laundress reminded him of his wife, Marlene, who’d died five years before the Fall, before the bauran came. Their sixtieth anniversary was two months away. Biggs was eighty-three.
With Andalynn looking at her then, the old laundress’ frown deepened. She wondered how many more of these sailors would come out to sit on Betheford’s steps and stare at her. She thought they all looked quite suspicious.
Biggs said, “What’d you get?”
Andalynn said, “They are harmless. I believe Michael and John have described them faithfully.”
“Yup, that’s pretty much what we got too. Good ol’ country folk.”
Andalynn raised an eyebrow at him. “That being said, for a group with their history of persecution, I was appalled by some of the open speech I heard last night. They are racists.”
Biggs chuckled. “Is that right?”
“And completely unashamed of it! They openly ridiculed a group known as the gunders, in the presence of one. I witnessed everything.”
Biggs nodded facetiously. The fellowship’s racism didn’t make a hill a’ beans worth a’ differ’nce to him. “S’pose you can’t have it all.”
“You are very smug because you look like one of them.”
Biggs shook his head just as facetiously. “Nope. Hair’s brown.”
Andalynn intended to have a good-old-fashioned argument with him. “I do not wish to criticize
them too much, because they have taken us in, however, in response to you, I do not see any humor in prejudice.”
“Why not? It’s funny. It’s natural. Shoot, ever’body’s a racist.”
“I disagree. I am not a racist.”
Biggs cocked his jaw to one side. “Aint sayin’ it’s good. Sayin’ it’s natural. Sure it’s dumb, but it’s like somebody fallin’ off his chair. S’alright to laugh at that. Don’t have to hate him for it. Dumb ideas are a lot like fallin’ on your butt, aint they?”
“That is up for debate. This humorous little quirk that you enjoy is a fundamental cause of murder, war and genocide.”
Biggs shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe war’s more about money. What do I know anyhow? Who cares if they’re a bunch a’ bigots? Bet most of ‘em wouldn’t hurt nobody. Be’n mean n’ be’n ignorant’s two differ’nt things.” He turned back to the old woman. “Don’t matter. Prob’ly aint enough folks left in the world to make it matter.”
Andalynn had several lively counterpoints ready for Biggs’ views on racism and the causes of war, but saw he was no longer in the mood. “Are you alright?”
“Nope. Found out sump’n else last night. Only five of ‘em in that church, Lynn. This place can’t handle what’s comin. We got ahead of it some, that’s all. Done come all that way just to watch it happen again.”
They shared a moment of silence. Andalynn could not tell him then it was soon to be only Michael left in the church. She put her hand on his knee. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
“Don’t know, you’re lookin’ for a fight there a second ago…”
“No. I am only interested in enjoying what we have while we have it.”
Biggs chuckled. “You’re funnier’n a racist.”
Andalynn leaned into him. “I was afraid for you in Meroe.”
Biggs put his arm around her. “I know.” They sat quietly for a while longer, watching the laundress work.
Biggs said, “Marlene n’ me, we used to talk about what we’d do, if’n we could do it all over again. Used to say I’d a’ done it all the same, the good n’ the bad. Never thought it’d happen. Not like this, that’s for sure. Truth be told, I was done. Lots a’ times I wished Zeke never found me.”
“The Grace would have been lost without you. It could be that you have a purpose you are not taking into account.”
Biggs had been a deer hunter since childhood. He’d taught the other sailors how to handle their rifles. He chuckled again, in self-criticism that time. “Shoot…”