Death Lingers in the Morning Air--3

    They surrounded her like a flock of vultures about to descend.  Their hard eyes seemed to pierce right through her soul.  At least the Master was not here.  For that she was thankful.  He, even more than the others, had evil surrounding him.  She had never before latched a word onto what she felt when near them.  Now that she had it sent tremors down her spine.

    The one Teacher had immediately dragged her through the village until they reached the prison.  She sat in the middle of a cell on a stool that threatened to break any second.  They had asked her question after question concerning where and when she had found it. 

    “The Master is here.”  The Teachers turned as one to bow to the man entering the cell.

    His cloak billowed around him as he entered.  “I would like to talk to her alone.”

    The Teachers bowed again then left.

   Without hesitation, the Master threw back his hood revealing a strong, broad face.  His hair and beard were both black and neatly trimmed.  His eyes were dark as well, yet they carried a hint of gentleness.

    Never before had he revealed his face when Cassie was present.  She rather liked it. 

    He smiled at her.  All her fears washed away.  How had she ever thought of this man as evil? 

    “My child, what have you done?”  His tone was not condescending or even sorrowful.  It was filled with gentleness.  “Tell me how you found this book.”

    Eager to please Cassie hurriedly poured out the story trying to make her innocence clear.  She did, however, skirted around the talk she had with mother feeling ashamed of what she had said.

    As she talked he watched her quietly, nodding every now and then.  When she finished he smiled again.  “Never fear.  You have done no wrong.  Anyone could have been charmed by the words of that book, pack of lies that they are.  They are well constructed and are mixed with just enough truth to make them sound real.”

    The relief at hearing those words brought a huge sigh out of her. 

    “Since you have found the book, I think it right that you have the honor of getting rid of it.  Tonight we will have meeting in the Penance Field.  Your story on how you found it and your quick realization of how deceiving it was will be told.  Then you, yourself, will put the book in the fire.  Perhaps this incident will even move your living quarters closer to the meeting house.”

    Amazement poured through her.  The blanket of shame that she and her mother carried would be removed.  People would honor them.  Burning that book of lies would be a pleasure.  As her eyes landed on it the story she had read this morning rushed through her head.  A tinge of sadness filled her.  If only the god they worshiped was like the one described in the book.  If only there really was a man named Jesus who had died for sins. 

    “I wish that there really had been a man named Jesus.” 

    The second she spoke that name the man shuddered and barked, “Don’t you ever mention that name again!”

    She jerked in shock and fell off the stool.  His face had twisted from the kind, loving look to a look of hate and anger.  He looked evil.  He looked bigger than before.  And when she looked into his eyes . . .  It was like looking to into deep pools of death. 

    She blinked once and he was gone.  The Bible was gone as well.  She began to shake.  An unmistakable darkness had poured into her soul.

v    

    It was time.  The crowd had gathered.  The fire was dancing wildly.  She slowly walked forwards, her eyes on the ground.  The Master walked in front of her parting the crowd of people.  Her breathing became ragged as she approached the fire.  The Master turned and faced the people and began to tell them about the finding of the book. 

    Cassie forcefully shut his voice out of her mind.  Her eyes glued themselves to a patch of grass on the otherwise dirt packed ground.

    “And now, to show her true devotion, she herself will cast this book into the fire!”

    She jerked to attention and accepted the book and then slowly turned to face the fire.  The flames began to leap up higher and higher.  But they were no longer flames.  They were faces with black holes for eyes.  They writhed and screamed for her to throw the book to them as they reached out their hands towards her.  Their whispers and groans filled her ears as they pleaded to be fed. 

    “No!” she lept back.  The flames followed her screaming for the book. 

    The Master appeared beside her, except it was no longer him that was inside that robe.  The black cloak was covering up another person.  Another thing.  It hissed, “Put it in.”  Red eyes glowed beneath the hood.   

    Terror swallowed all reason within her.  She screamed and ran.  An angry yell rose up from the Teachers.  “Catch her!”

    Yet their yell was only a whisper compared to the shrieks of the flames whose voices carried deep into the woods.  Her heart beat wildly.  She didn’t feel the branches and thorns that tore at her skin.  She was no longer Cassie.  She was someone else.  An evil someone else. 

    Screech after screech tour from her throat.  Whatever had a grip on her was going to force her to run until she no longer had strength in her legs. 

    “Jesus!”  Cassie collapsed, weak and shivering, on the ground.  The word had torn something out of her body.  “Oh, Jesus, help me.  Save me.”  A gentle wind whispered through the trees and caressed her cheeks.  The terror was gone.  Only peace remained.  The same peace that had been on Mark’s face right before he died.  Cassie lay limp on the ground with relief.  Whatever he had she now had as well. 

    “Oh thank you!” Joy filled her heart.  She clasped the Bible tightly between her hands.  “Oh thank you, thank you.”  Her head lowered until it touched her fingertips. 

    “There she is!”

    As if in a fog figures appeared.  Hands yanked her to her feet.  The Bible dropped to the ground.  Yet, the joy did not leave her.  She knew death awaited her, but she was ready.

    The Master stood there, waiting, trembling in anger.  “Burn her!”

    A single cry rose up from the crowd.  Her mother.  Several of the women gathered around Helen trying to comfort her.  For a moment, sorrow pierced Cassie’s heart.  She would not be able to tell her mother about the joy she had found.

    Rough ropes secured her hands behind her back.  More wood was thrown into the fire.

    At a nod from the Master two Teachers threw Cassie into the fire.

    Pain exploded through her body.  Above her she could see flames moving about in a victory dance.  I’m ready, Jesus.  The mere acceptance of her fate brought relief.

    “My child.”

    Someone was with her in the fire.  Tender hands pulled Cassie to her feet.  The ropes fell from her hands.  The fire no longer burned her skin.  The coals no longer felt like branding irons. 

    A man looked at her with gentle eyes.  “I’m proud of you Cassie.” 

    Tears welled up in her eyes.  Never had she felt such love, such peace. 

    “Go to the hills.  There you will find peace.”  He placed something in her hands:  the Bible she had dropped in the woods.

    Cassie blinked and he was gone.  She walked out of the fire, tightly clutching the book, and faced the crowd.  They stared at her, mouths open, eyes wide.  The Teachers and the Master stood frozen.  Deep inside she knew they would not try and stop her.  She left.

v    

   Never before would she have guessed that there were hills beyond the woods.  Excitement coursed through her veins as she paused at the edge of the forest.  The air felt fresh and alive.  The blue sky had never looked so blue and clear.  The grass!  She gasped and threw herself down on the living carpet.  It was green and soft unlike the brown rigid grass that grew around her old home.  She sprang to her feet and dashed towards the hills that rose like gentle waves.

    The next hour was spent cresting the first few rises.  Every now and then she would pause and look back upon the forest where she had come, awed by how dark and dangerous they looked.  Flowers of every color surrounded her defying the dimness of the woods.  She placed a few in her hair and continued her upward climb.

    “Hi!”

    Cassie whirled around.  A blond headed girl stood there, her blue eyes twinkling.

    The girl tucked a few flowers into the braid that hung down her back.  “What’s your name?  I don’t think I have met you.”

    A feeling of oneness rushed over Cassie and she moved closer gathering more flowers.  “I’m Cassie.”

    “I’m Amanda.  Where are you-“ her eyes came to rest on the book Cassie carried.  “Y-you are from the woods!” her eyes lit up and she grabbed Cassie’s hands and danced a circle around her.  “How wonderful!  Come, follow me!  I will take you to other believers!  They will be so happy to see another has escaped!”  Without another word she bounded away up the slope pulling Cassie behind her.

    When they crested the top, Cassie could see a small village below.  Amanda tugged on her hand and they hurried down towards it. 

    “I can’t wait for you to meet my mother!” they had almost reached the village.

    Suddenly nervous, Cassie pulled back.  “Why don’t I come in a moment…”

    Amanda smiled a knowing smile and with a soft voice replied, “Certainly.”  She skipped on ahead leaving Cassie standing alone in the folds of the wind. 

    “Is this it?”  Cassie took a step forwards.  “Is this where I am supposed to be?”  The words were barely more than whisper.

    “Yes, it is.”

    A man stood near her.  The man from the fire.  “It is your temporary home, my child, until you go to your true home.”  He gently pushed her forwards.

    Cassie threw back her shoulders and walked towards the village.  I’m home.

    The End