32. The feast
1054 Words
Looking at the potion, Mrs. Peterson was worried, “That’s enough for only one of you. It means that one will have to stay behind and only one can carry on.”
Francina had a decision to make. In truth, it was already made. “I’m staying.”
“What? No! God, no!” Mrs. Peterson could not accept it. “I cannot have you stay here and suffer like this. Is this the life you want for yourself? Always terrified that we might get caught by these villagers—whom I have wronged terribly?”
“I am not terrified. I love the life of thrill.”
“No…”
“Yes. Besides, we’re not really sure if I’m even gonna make it. I don’t even know what the totem looks like. I have no idea what ‘things of value’ look like, so there is no chance that I might know it when I see the totem.” She was trying to convince her mother, “So, if I am to get stuck for eternity, wouldn’t you want me to be here with you?”
Mrs. Peterson was touched. The daughter had been distant since they met. She could’ve been fooled that her daughter did not care for her. But now, she was suggesting to be stuck with her. This was both great and terribly bad news for Mrs. Peterson. “Well, that would be lovely. But I actually trust that you are more capable than that kid. I mean, if your father didn’t make it, is it realistic to think that your friend can? He doesn’t seem very physical to me.”
“I also have my doubts from time to time, but I’ve realized that he is a true survivor. We’ve lost a lot of great men and women. Very strong and capable, but unlike them, he is still here. He made it all the way here.” The final words to convince her mother, “He is very capable.”
I wonder what they are talking about…
Kali was sitting at a distance with the captured man. The man was telling Kali the details pertaining to the game. Kali was listening but at the same time, he could not get his mind away from Mrs. Peterson and Francina’s conversation. He wished he could at least hear a few words to make sense of their whole conversation.
Why would they speak in such low tones and at such a distance, above all? Couldn’t they sit here and talk? Are they planning to keep me out of their plans? Is Francina thinking of leaving me behind? Is she planning on stabbing me in the back?
Oh… I don’t think so anymore. I think I have gained her trust at this point. I also feel that I trust her more now. She wasn’t the horrible person I always thought she was. It turns out, no-one really dies around here. It either you go into hibernation or you are consumed into a different life like Jim back in that delusional hole and like her mother here.
……….
It was time for the big feast. Mrs. Peterson and her two youngsters were already at the feast. It was being hosted on an open field. A big cooking fire was burning and the meat almost ready. They sat in their circles, had drinks and chattered along. “Gosh, I am so glad you’re here!” said the rebel woman with her face all over Mrs. Peterson. “By the look on your face, I could’ve sworn you really didn’t want to come.”
“Well, you kept pushing,” sighed Francina, who was having a hard time hiding her disapproval of being there. This got her attention from the rebel woman, “Hey, is that your sister? She looks a lot like you.”
“My sister? No, that's my child—”
“Yes, yes. I am her younger sister,” prompted Francina. She was surprised at her mother’s slow thinking on the matter. But then again, maybe her mother only wanted to get to call Francina her daughter. They clearly did not look far apart in their age appearance. And so, it would be very strange to name Francina as her daughter.
“Well, that’s nice. The last time we met, you were very lonely. You walked around with no-one. So, is she coming from the same village you came from?”
“Yes. And her boyfriend too. I think my daughter has got good taste in men, wouldn’t you say?”
Kali was only there blushing and avoiding eye-contact. He saw Francina get up and walk away. He followed her.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I’m trying to get some meat. They should be done roasting by now.”
When they each got their own plates of meals, they went and found themselves an isolated spot to sit. “We’ll sit here until they start singing. That should destruct and we can go get my mother and get out of here.”
The man they had captured was also at the feast. He agreed to help Mrs. Peterson, and because of that, they had no reason to keep an eye on him. He freely roamed around, and he would move when they moved.
“So,” Kali asked. “How is it?” He held eye-contact with Francina. That way he could pick up her emotions as she spoke back. “How is it having a mother?”
“Ow, I just remembered that you have no mother. Well, it’s awkward. But because she’s fun, I can ignore that it’s awkward.” Francina was also curious, “Tell me about your mother, where is she?”
“There’s not much to tell. She died long ago when I was a child.”
The topic changed…
“Tell me about what you and your mother were talking about earlier.”
“Um… Uh…”
I don’t know where to start. I don’t think he’ll be happy hearing that I am sending him out to finish the game alone.
“Is it something I should know?”
“It’s… I have decided—”
“Boy, girl!” the man cried, “we have to get going. Your mother’s waiting.”
- Writer
