The New World: A Step Backward (20 page)

Saturday
~
October 5, 2075
~
6:55 pm

Chest heaving, Thoruk tried to catch his breath.  A myriad of thoughts invaded his mind as adrenaline surged through his body.  He stared into Mercivil's eyes while she unbuttoned his shirt.

"MERCY!  STOP!"  Miss Gracivil screamed.  "You can't!"

The forceful words fractured the air like a bolt of lightning.  Thoruk jerked upward while gently pushing Mercivil away.  Mouth wide open, he pulled his shirt together.  He looked at Mercivil.  Struggling for air, she peered into his eyes for a split second, then turned to her mother. "Mom!  Please!"

Miss Gracivil blinked, lowered her gaze, and started crying.  "You can't, Mercy."  She bawled, falling to her knees.

Mercivil ran to her mother, dropped to her side, and hugged her.  "What's wrong?  We didn't mean anything by it.  We were just kissing."

Quivering, her mom wailed louder.  "The two of you can't."  She glanced up, face pinched, and sighed.  "He's your brother."  She doubled over.

Mouth agape, Mercivil jumped to her feet and shot a scathing glimpse at her mother.  She whirled and glared at Thoruk, staring back with his arms extended outward.  Frozen in time, his heart turned to ice.

Fluf snarled as she lumbered down the hallway, disturbed by the commotion.

Thoruk closed his eyes and bit his lip till it hurt. 
How can this be?  It's not possible!

Tugging her mom's elbow, Mercivil lowered her mouth to her mother's ear.  "Mom, what do you mean?"  Her voice boomed deeper.  "Get up!  What are you saying?"

The broken lady barely lifted her head, eyes red and swollen.  She reached for her daughter.  Mercivil pulled away.  "Mom, I need to know!  What do you mean?"

Thoruk hurried to his angry friend and placed his arm around her shoulder, carefully coaxing her from Miss Gracivil.  She shook him off and glared.  "Leave me alone."  The scowl turned to her tormented mother.  "Mom!  Tell me now!"

Trembling, her mother looked up.  Her voice cracked as she tried to explain.  "Your father," she sniffled, trying to gain her composure, "was Odinuk."

Mercivil spun toward Thoruk, who stood motionless while she burst into tears.

Eyes flooding, his heart burned as he ground his teeth. 
Why didn't Father tell me?  I hate him — and Miss Gracivil!
  He snapped a daggered glimpse at Mercivil's mother.  "How could you?"

Mercy stomped out the door into the cold night's air without a coat or a word.  Thoruk rushed after her, softly clutching her arm.  She yanked away, refusing to face him.  "Mercy, it's me.  I'm still your friend — your brother!"

Brushing soaked strands of hair from her eyes, she blinked.  "I don't care right now.  I've always loved you!  I hate my mom for what she's done!  I'll never forgive her!  All these years, I didn't say a word.  I knew you had so much on your mind with Ukkiville — since your father's death."  She glanced at him.  "I mean our father."  She fell to her knees, weeping so hard her breath hitched.

Thoruk steadied her shoulders and helped her up.  "Calm down — take a deep breath.  You shouldn't stay out here, it's freezing.  Let's move inside."

"I'm not going in there — with her.  It will never be the same!  I can't live with her anymore!"

He hugged her.  "You don't mean that.  She's still your mother."

She stared at him.  "Yes, I do.  I'm packing tonight, and I'll be heading south in the morning — with Intellulka to meet Amelia and Howard's family in Texas."

"No, don't go, and not just because of your mom — because I want you to stay.  I love you too!  I'm not sure what I'd do without you."  A single tear rolled down his face.

Mercivil put her arm around him.  "I will always love you, Thoruk — but I've got to go.  I'm leaving first thing tomorrow."

He peered into her puffy, red eyes.  "I'll go with you."

Cupping his cheeks, she wiped his tears with her thumbs.  "You can't, dear brother.  Ukkiville needs you."

Two Hours Later

Per her request, Thoruk took Mercivil to Intellulka's cabin in her wagon.  Along the way he sat silent, emotionally spent from the earlier ordeal.  It didn't help matters that he had to convince a very unhappy Stormulka to watch Miss Gracivil overnight at Mercivil's place.

All Thoruk remembered was his buddy repeating, "I can't believe your timing — today of all days.  I'm never going to find a woman!"
  He must have said it at least 10 times.  He'll get over it eventually.

He pulled Midnight's reins to the right, guiding the buckboard around the bend before the entrance to Ukkiville.  "Lower the bridge, it's Thoruk."  The chains of the drawbridge clanked as the solid oak platform slowly jerked downward across Dream Creek, landing with a thud.

Dazed, he stared ahead while the wagon rumbled over the planks.  The clickety-clack of the hooves echoed in the silence outside the perimeter.

Once inside the walls, a distant tapping filled the air, but he remained oblivious to its source as the stallion trudged along the road to Intellulka's place.  The soft knock ascended to a louder rap, piercing the night with greater emphasis as he neared the slate-stone school building cloaked in ivy.

Thoruk's head slowly turned toward the activity in the schoolyard, barely noticing a boy holding a bright torch beside a man working feverishly. 
I should check it out, but I don't care right now — I want to be with Mercy.
  He snapped the reins.  "Let's go."  Midnight picked up the pace.

A little further, Thoruk tugged on the leather straps.  "Whoa."  He yanked the brake lever and stepped down, extending his hand to his new-found sister.  She carefully backed off the buckboard while Thoruk held her waist, guiding her landing.  She faced him.  "Thank you."

He nodded, then pivoted, walking up the steps to the door.  He knocked.  A few seconds later a light flickered from within.

Intellulka's voice followed.  "Who's there at this hour?"  He sounded none too happy.

"It's me, Thoruk — and Mercivil."

The handle turned, and the door swung open.  The old professor, with his hair snarled in a white nest, stood in a blue robe, clasped shut by his trembling hands.  Squinting, he leaned forward.  "What's wrong?  Why are you here so late?"

"It's a long story.  Let us in — I'll explain."  Thoruk gently ushered his heartbroken sister into the cabin.

Saturday
~
October 5, 2075
~
9:50 pm

Continuing his work from the prior day, Wolfuk feverishly toiled throughout the night to complete a special tribute to Ukkiville's fallen heroes. 
There's still much to do before the funeral procession tomorrow.

He struck the handle of a chisel with a small hammer and sternly whispered to his nephew, a fluffy-haired lad standing next to him.  "I need more light.  Hold the torch closer."

Voices neared from a distance.  A teenage girl with short, strawberry-blond curls walked up to the young helper.  "What are you doing?"

The boy turned a bit.  "He's carving a sculpture to honor those who died."

"That's a great idea!"

Wolfuk vigorously waved his hand toward himself.  "Hey, the light.  I can't see."

Flushed red, the lad swung the flame next to a massive, oak log standing on end while Wolfuk shaped it.  "Sorry, is this good?"

"It'll do, but keep focused.  There's a lot to be done."

The new bystander bent over for a better look.  "Can we help?"

Another girl stepped out of the shadows.  The whites of her eyes and long, caramel hair glowed from the flickering fire.  "We're hard workers."

Wolfuk snatched the torch and swung it in front of the willing assistants.  "Ah, I remember both of you.  Protuk gave you carving lessons a few months back."  He smiled.  "I could use some experienced hands right now."  He extended two chisels and mallets, explaining his creation.

They glanced at each other and nodded.  "We'll start over here."

The young boy grabbed a second cloth-wrapped stick and lit it with the flame of the first.  Lifting his arms high, he provided light for all three laborers.  A huge grin stretched across his cheeks as his gaze darted between Wolfuk and the attractive, young ladies.  Every time one of the girls looked up, the curious admirer jerked his head away, pretending not to notice.

As Wolfuk continued to chip a splinter of wood away from the eyes of his creation, he turned his head and cried for a brief moment. 
I can't believe you're gone, little brother.
  Though his heart burned, he fought through the pain and continued his efforts through the tears.

Less than 15 minutes passed when another group of people stopped by the schoolyard.  "We heard pounding and wondered what was going on at this hour.  Need help?"

Wolfuk wiped the sweat from his brow.  "Are any of you good at sculpting?"

Two arms shot skyward.

He motioned toward his carpenter's box.  "Grab some tools and begin down here on the base."  He described his vision of the lower section.  "The rest of you can provide light and maybe water later.  Also, we need more chisels and hammers."

Additional townspeople arrived and the commotion created greater noise, attracting further attention.  Young kids and teenagers showed up, offering their gifts as part of the memorial.

With a heavy heart, Wolfuk and the throng of neighbors labored diligently through the morning's wee hours until they completed the tribute ahead of dawn's awakening.  He moved back for a final look.  Though he took several glances earlier, a tear crept to the corner of his eye with each glimpse. 
I miss you so much already.

After he and three villagers carefully covered the sculpture with a large, white sheet, he slowly turned.  "I'd like everybody to keep this secret until the unveiling before the procession later today."  They all nodded.

Wolfuk waved at the two archers who had joined the crowd.  "I have to help Bartuk and Tradulka this morning after church.  Would you stand guard by the memorial while I'm gone?  Don't let anybody see it."

The taller of the men cocked his head.  "Not anybody?  What about Thoruk?"

"No one — including Thoruk.  I want this to be a surprise."

Later That Morning
~
5:30 am

Thoruk fidgeted, trying to grasp a sliver of sleep in the uncomfortable confines of a rocker on Intellulka's porch. 
Blazes, I don't think I slept 10 minutes, if that.
  Ears tuned for any sounds, he glanced at the window now and then for a light or sign of movement in the cabin.

The previous schoolyard noise tugged at his curiosity; but he ignored it, hoping to sneak a wink or two before the professor and Mercivil awoke to travel to Texas with Howard and Amelia's belongings. 
Who am I kidding?  I'm not going to get any rest.  I'll be dead tired when I meet those delegations.

At dawn's cusp, chirps of the surrounding birds broke his daze.  He squirmed in the chair; his ribs and back ached from the awkward positions through the night.

Voices in the cabin floated outside.  He knocked and slowly opened the door.  "Hello, anybody up?"

Intellulka poked his head around the kitchen corner.  "Yes, we're awake.  I didn't sleep much — not a great way to start off a long trip.  What on earth was that thumping?  Were you doing that?"

"No, it came from the schoolyard.  I didn't have the energy to check it out."

Mercivil trudged down the hall from the bedroom.  Red, swollen eyes betrayed her bouts of crying.

Attempting to suppress the clash of feelings, Thoruk stood silent. 
What should I do?  I don't want to upset her
.  He remained quiet and offered a thin smile, hoping to receive one in return.  Instead, she lowered her gaze and brushed past him. 
Why is she mad at me?

Mercivil turned to face him and softly grumbled.  "Can you help load my stuff?"

She pivoted before Thoruk had a chance to respond.  "Yes, I'll get the wagon and horses from the stable."  He dashed out the door, intending to load things quickly so he could talk with her prior to their departure.

Taking the luggage from her buckboard, he stacked it alongside Intellulka's supplies in the larger wagon, readied the previous day.  After hooking up Midnight next to Angelina to tow the wagon, he drove it to the front of the cabin and hopped off.  Mercivil and Intellulka stepped onto the porch.

Thoruk met them and peered into Mercivil's eyes, bluer than he ever remembered but bloodshot around the edges.  "I hate that you're leaving.  Ukkiville — my life — they won't be the same."  He grabbed her hand.  "Don't go.  I'm sure there are others who'd like to help the professor and visit Texas."

She turned away as tears dripped down her cheeks.  "I have no choice.  I can't be around Mom right now.  And, given the circumstances, it's hard being near you."  Her breath hitched twice as she blinked uncontrollably, "It just — hurts too much."

She sighed and stood tall.  Head held high, she marched to the wagon.  When Thoruk caught up, she whirled, pecked him on the cheek, then squeezed him tight.  "I do love you and, I'm going to miss you terribly."  She turned, and he helped her aboard.

With a lurch in his gut, Thoruk closed his eyes, wishing to escape the horrible nightmare.  He pivoted to Intellulka and hugged him.  "I'm going to miss you, Old Man.  Take care of Mercy and make sure she returns home."  Tears blurred his vision.

Intellulka smiled.  "Come on, stop all this sadness.  You've got so much to be grateful for.  Peace will reign over Ukkiville for awhile.  You made that happen.  There are a lot of people who love you and are thankful you're their leader.  I'll take care of Mercy — don't worry.  Tell Pastor we're sorry we'll miss his service this morning."

Pausing, Intellulka squinted.  "By the way, I meant to tell you this earlier, but with everything that's been going on I forgot.  Inquisivil will be handling everything here in my absence.  He'll help you just as I did.  You haven't seen much of him because he's always fixing the windmills, solar panels, pumps, and all my other stuff.  But after all the time I've spent with him, he knows as much as I do — and he's probably smarter.  Trust him."

"If you say so, but nobody can replace you."

The wry professor grinned.  "One last thing.  Don't forget to ask your maid to clean up my place while I'm gone."  He chuckled and patted the back of Thoruk's head.

While the two of them rode off, Thoruk focused on his sister. 
Come on, Mercy, turn — look at me — just once.
   As he watched intently, her blurred figure vanished into the dark.  His heart plummeted to the same cold, hopeless prison, where it had sunk the night his father was killed four years earlier.