Death Lingers in the Morning Air--2

      Torches bobbed up and down, casting a bit of light into the darkness, as the villagers slowly made their way to the Penance Field which lay on the outskirts of the town.  Cassie walked solemnly next to her mother, head lowered.  Her bare feet slowly moved to a silent beat that the whole crowd swayed to.  As was the custom, both she and her mother were attired in a black gowns and white sashes. 

    The whole walk to the field was very solemn.  The men with torches placed themselves in a wide ring around a bonfire.  The crowd came up behind them.  All was silent except for the shuffling of the feet of children who didn't know better.  Then a lone voice rang out and then was joined by another and then another.  The Teachers were coming.  The villagers parted like water to let them through.  They went and stood in a group in front of the fire.  Finally, one man lifted his head towards the sky and raised his arms.  With a loud booming voice he prayed in the holy language only the Teachers and Master knew.  After he finished another teacher called out, “Bring forth the offender!”

    Three village men dragged a bound Vilen forward.  Behind them a man approached cloaked in a black cape and hood.  The Master.  He moved slowly, as if in a trance, towards Vilen.  The crowd pressed forwards.  A hand touched Cassie’s shoulder, she whirled.  Mark stood there, anger still plainly written on his face.  She gripped his wrist, trying to comfort him.  He looked at her then began to walk towards the edge of the crowd.  Her fingers stilled locked on his arm, she stumbled after him. 

    Beside one of the torch bearers he stopped.  The muscles in his cheek tightened as he watched the scene unfolding before them.  He suddenly looked much older than his fourteen years.

    “Do you, Vilen, refute your blasphemy?” the firm voice rung through the clearing.

    Vilen raised his head weakly.  The light revealed a bruised and bloody face.  Cassie’s fingers dug into Mark’s wrist.  He had been beaten.  He opened his mouth and the crowd strained to hear his faint words.  “Never.  I will never do so.”  His voice strengthened.  “You are wrong!  Someday the truth will be revealed!” 

    “Then our steps are clear.”  The Teachers bowed to the Master and stepped away from Vilen.  From his robes the Master pulled out a long knife with a black blade.  Mark jerked and surged forwards. 

    “No!” Cassie tried to pull him back into the safety of the crowd.  He shook her lose sending her to the cold ground.

    Her cry drew everyone’s eyes.  “What do you wish, boy?”  The Master’s voice, a deep baritone, was filled with authority. 

    Mark bravely looked into the shrouded face.  “What he says is the truth!  You are-“  A teacher lept forwards and knocked him to the ground cutting off his words. 

    “Refute what you said boy, or you will die as well!” the Master stepped towards him his fingers tightening around the knife.  No one had to see his face to be able to tell he was angry.

    Defiance filled Mark’s voice.  “Never!”

   The Master nodded at one of the Teachers.  Mark was dragged over beside Vilen and was quickly bound.     Cassie lay limply on the ground watching the preceding with unbelieving eyes.  “No Mark!  Don’t!” her voice cracked in fear.  Rough hands dragged her back into the crowd.  “No!” she screamed struggling violently. 

    Her mother’s face appeared in her view.  “Shush child!” she shook her firmly. 

   With tears streaming down her cheeks Cassie stilled her struggles and looked back out into the clearing.  Mark was looking at her with peaceful eyes.  A small smile tinged the corner of his mouth then disappeared as he and Vilen were shoved onto their backs.  The Master moved to stand over Vilen.  He raised the knife, its black tip reflecting the fire’s dancing flames.  “For your crime, you will die!”  He brought the knife down.  Cassie buried her face in her mother’s shoulder.  Around her sobs and groans rose.  Cassie convulsed at the sounds.  Mark would be next.  Her whole being screamed for her not to look but she once again forced her eyes to the clearing.  Vilen lay limp, a bloody spot on his chest.  Blood dripped from the knife onto Mark’s body right before it plunged downwards.  Helen clamped her hand over Cassie’s eyes and yanked her close, shuddering.  Cassie heard Mark groan, then all went still. 

    “May this be a lesson to you all!  Defiance to the truth will not be taken lightly!”  Then in a lower voice, the Master said, “Burn the bodies.”

    That was more than Cassie could take, her legs buckled.  Burning a body was the greatest disrespect that could be done to it.  They had died bravely.  The least they could do was bury them. 

    The crowd was beginning to move.  Cassie weakly raised her head as her mother tried to pull her to her feet. “Come on, Cassie.”  Sadness filled her face.  Cassie forced her feet to move as they made their way back to the village.

v    

     The next few days were filled with misery.  Cassie walked around as if dead.  Everything was wrapped in a blanket of sadness.  At nights she cried.  During the day she cried.  Mark was gone, killed.  Nothing could bring him back. 

    Except for chores, Cassie hid out in her room.  Everyone knew she had been good friends with Mark, and they would either look at her with pity or suspicion. 

    From her loft upstairs, Cassie could see the people heading to the meeting house for a lesson from one of the Teachers.  She wrapped her arms stubbornly around her knees.  She wasn't going.  Nothing was going to budge her from this room.

    “Cassie,” her mother’s head popped up over the ladder.  Her eyes were red rimmed like Cassie’s.  “I’m not going to try and make you come.  I know it would be too hard one you.” 

     Love for her mother almost split Cassie’s heart.  “Thanks.”

   Helen smiled then disappeared.  A few moments later the sound of the cottage door closing reached Cassie’s ears.  She leaned back and watched her mother’s form slowly make its way down the path. 

    As Cassie gazed dejectedly around her room, wishing for something to take away her sorrow her eyes lighted upon the rickety bureau that held her clothes.  The book!  Cassie lept to her feet.  She had forgotten all about it during the last few days.  Perhaps it could push away her sadness.

    She dug it out from beneath her dress and went back over to her spot by the window.  Its cover was worn and old.  Unlike the books at school there was no title.  She flipped it open.  The first few paragraphs were a list of names.  Slightly disappointed her eyes skipped down further on the page.  “The birth of Jesus?”  Where had she heard that name, she knew she had.  She continued reading and found herself drawn into the story.  Her heart lept when he called his first disciple.  She cried out in anger when Judas betrayed him.  And when at last he was crucified, tears streamed down her cheeks.  But when her eyes lighted upon the part where he rose again her tears turned joyful. 

    Cassie put the book down and wiped her eyes.  No book had ever pulled her so deep into its story. 

    “I’m home!” 

    Cassie scrambled down the ladder and into the arms of her mother.  “Mother, I read the most wonderful story while you were gone.” 

    Helen smiled at her, joyful that the sadness that had touched her eyes before was gone.  “What did you read?”

    Laughing, she opened it up, “You know what, I didn't look to see what the title was.  Ah, here it is.  It is called the Bible!”

    Her mother’s face became a mask of fear.  Through stiff lips she asked, “What did you say the name was?”

    “The Bible.”

    “Where did you find it?” her voice was filled with panic.

    “In the woods.”

    “Oh, child, it is just a pack of lies, and if the Teachers find out it is here . . .” she buried her face in her hands and shuddered. 

    Cassie stood there stunned.  What was so awful about this book?  What she read of it had been full of excitement, and in some ways, comforting.  “It’s just a book.  What’s so bad about it?”

    “Cassie, many years ago, before they switched completely to the holy language, they told us some of the same things that come from that book.  However, that book twists everything into lies.  You can’t believe any of it.” 

    “So, the God that the Jesus in the book talks about is the same God we worship?”

    Her mother nodded.

   “But he seems so different from what the Teachers say.  “And-“ exited she flipped the book open, “Somewhere in here it says Jesus and God are one.  So that means-“

    “Stop!”

    Cassie jerked.  Her mother’s tone was like a slap in the face. 

    “You will never speak of this book ever again.  And you will either burn it, or return it from where it came from!  Understand?”

    Cassie suddenly felt sick.  “Vilen believed what this book said, didn’t he?  That’s why you are so afraid.”

    Tears were streaming down Helen’s face.  “Yes, that is why.”

    “That is what Mark died for.”  It was all too much for Cassie.  Her friend had died for a pack of lies, nothing more.  She shook her head.  It couldn’t be true.  Mark was smarter than that.  He had never put stock in books or stories.  Why had he believed in this one so much?

     Words popped into her mind, unable to suppress them they lept out of her mouth, “Are the Teachers-is the Master lying to us?  Could this be true and what they are saying not?”

    “Don’t say such things!  I told you, it is all a pack of lies!”

    “I would rather believe a pack of lies then live in a community that is a living death!  Father died here.  Mark died here.  There is an evil in the place.  You know there is!”  The words poured out in a torrent.  Clutching the book Cassie darted towards the doorway.  Slamming into a body, she fell back hard slamming into the table.  The room spun in circles as Cassie tried to get to her feet. 

    “Are you alright my child?”

    Her stomach twisted violently.  In front of her stood a Teacher.

   His eyes narrowed as he spotted the black book on the floor.  He picked it up and flipped it open the pages rustling. 

    Cassie’s heart hammered.  If he realized what it was . . .

    The look in his eyes told everything.  He knew exactly what it was.  With a tongue as smooth as honey he reached out a hand and took her by the shoulder.  “I’m sure the Master would love to know why you have this book of treason in your possession.”