Eden's Root (26 page)

“Welcome,” Fi said. “Welcome to our Family’s Home.” She stood up and approached them. “First you must rest and eat a bit. Then we will get to the next steps.”

Sarge protested, “Oh no, Ma’am, we can’t take your food, we have some traveling rations of our own.” At this, John spoke up.

“Fi, that makes sense. Why give him our rations when he has some?” he asked. Fi glared at him in disbelief. Jesus that was cold. What right did he have to be stingy when she was the one risking her butt to get that food?

“Don’t worry about it, John,” she chastised him in annoyance. “What we’ll be giving them won’t be much anyway, so they should just take it. Besides, if they pass the Consideration, then they will be Family.” She moved her attention to Lydia. “Now you will need some privacy for Charlie’s feeding, I assume?” Lydia’s eyes shone, moved by Fi’s kindness.

“Yes, that would be wonderful, thank you!” Fi walked her over to a corner of the room where she had set up a blanket on the floor behind a pile of cardboard boxes.

“Will this do?” she asked with genuine concern.

“Of course!” Lydia said and settled behind the boxes to tend to Charlie. Fi asked John to get them both some venison jerky and a small portion of canned peas. This time he obeyed her without question. Fi knew he felt embarrassed for wanting to deny the newcomers food. He approached the spot where Sarge was seated, gripping the food with a chagrined face.

“I’m sorry for before,” he said brusquely. “The times have made animals of us all.” He shook his head and handed Sarge the jerky and the cup of peas. “We have plenty of water if you’re thirsty,” he added and walked toward the staircase that led to the upstairs part of the house. “Unless you need me Fi, I’m going to head upstairs for some rest.” He gestured to Lucy and Zoe. “C’mon girls,” he said. “Let’s go get some sleep with your sister.”

Over the next hour, the other Members of the Family who had been in the little cellar also left to go upstairs, with the exception of Fi and Sean. Fi gathered up some blankets and pillows and set up bedding for them both.

“I’m sorry we can’t invite you upstairs, but only Family Members may go upstairs. The fire will keep it warm down here and Sean and I will be staying with you.”

Fi knew that Sarge realized that she and Sean were staying to guard them. But if he was truly a former soldier, he knew that her caution was warranted, she thought. Regardless of what he thought of her, when Sarge’s head hit the pillow he went right to sleep. Lydia was the same way. Fi smiled as she watched them drift away to dreamland. She knew that they probably hadn’t had a safe night’s sleep in a very long time. Though she often longed for a decent night’s sleep herself, it was nice to be able to provide it to someone else in need. Having said goodnight to his family upstairs, Sean tiptoed back down to join her by the dying firepit. She smiled as he approached.

“Sleeping like babies,” she murmured. He grinned and nodded.

“Of course, one of them actually is a baby,” he chuckled and she joined him. Her laugh turned into a yawn. It was going to be a long night.

----------- Fi -----------

The next morning Sarge opened his eyes sat straight up, obviously disoriented by his surroundings. He turned and saw Lydia snoring on the blankets beside him, her corn silk blonde hair spread across the pillow. In her arms, Charlie slept in a tight pink bundle.

“Good morning sleepyhead. Did you sleep well?” Fi called from bench behind him, where she sat watching them. She widened her eyes, teasing him with feigned ignorance.

“You know darned right well I did,” he grinned. “Since you no doubt sat up and watched us like hawks for half the night.” Reaching his hands upward, Sarge luxuriated in a long stretch and sighed. Lydia was beginning to stir.

“Only half the night Sarge,” Fi corrected him with a smile. “Sean took the other half. Take your time getting up,” she said. “There will be a little more venison available for a morning meal, but not much else by our current rationing rules.” She started back up the stairs. “Today is going to be a big day. Today you meet the whole Family and we will make our Consideration together.” Fi began to disappear up the staircase.

“Wait,” Sarge called to her. “What does that mean exactly?” She bent down and peered below the railing at him. “It means that you will Consider if you want to be Family Members, once you know who we are and what we have to offer you, and we will do the same. We all discuss the expectations and rules and then we decide together.”

“But what if we decide we want to be Members and the Family says ‘No’?” he asked her anxiously. Fi tilted her head. Her gaze was level, with no animosity in it as she spoke.

“Then the answer is No.”

She turned and climbed the rest of the stairs, leaving them alone. Fi urged the Family through the morning chores quickly and then returned to the cellar. She felt flushed and excited. They had not held a Consideration since they’d added the Coopers to their group.

“Ok, well the Family has finished the day’s activities so that we can get to the important part of the day.” She paused. “Are you both ready to meet the whole Family and discuss with us?”

Sarge spoke first, “Yes, we are. Whatever it is, bring it on. After last night’s sleep, nothing bad could possibly happen,” he said with an upbeat tone. He glanced at Fi a bit from the corner of his eye and said, “Besides, we have one important vote, don’t we?” Fi’s chest tightened at the expression on his face. Though she wished she could save every nice person in the world, the reality was that she couldn’t. It made her grateful that the system they had created made it a group decision. Fi narrowed her eyes.

“Sarge,” she explained. “You should know that I’m not decided until all is discussed, and you should know that my vote isn’t more important than the others. It’s important that you be as genuine with them as you’ve been with me.” With that, they heard the creak of many footsteps overhead. Pairs of feet came striding down the stairs, one after another. The Family was coming. It was time for Consideration.

The Family Members assembled themselves into a circle around Sarge, Lydia, and Charlie.

“Don’t be alarmed,” Fi said, seeing Sarge’s expression. “This is just how we do it, so we can all see each other and be heard. Please everyone have a seat.” All of the Family sat. Fi stood in the center beside the seated Sarge and Lydia. “Family,” she said, “this is Mitchell Barnes, known as Sarge to his friends, and his granddaughter Lydia and great-grandson Charlie. I’d like you to Consider them for addition to our Family.” She walked to the circle’s edge and sat down with the rest of them. “Aliyah?”

“Family, do we agree to this Consideration?” Aliyah intoned. From around the circle came a chorus of “Ayes”.

She turned to Sarge and Lydia. “Newcomers, do you agree to this Consideration, knowing that our judgment is final?” Sarge seemed startled by the formality of the proceeding but he composed himself.

“Aye,” he responded.

Aliyah turned to Lydia. “All adults must answer for themselves in the Family.”

“Aye,” Lydia responded in her sweet little voice.

“Then let’s begin. Newcomers, tell us about yourselves. What skills or vocation can you bring to our Family?” Aliyah requested.

“I’ll start,” Sarge said. “As I told your Leader, Fi,” he gestured toward her. “I’m called Sarge because I was a Sergeant in the Army.

“First Sargent!” Lydia interrupted. Sarge looked chagrined, but the Members in the circle appeared amused at her correction. “It’s true Grandpa,” she nodded, her blonde ponytail bobbing and her green eyes wide. “You were in charge of a lot of men!” The pride in her voice was unmistakable.

He grunted in acknowledgement. “It’s true that I finished with a rank of First Sargent, a career military-man like my father before me. I am 72 years old, which I’m aware is not of benefit to your Family. It frankly makes me a burden, but I’m versed in combat including hand-to-hand and street combat. I can teach fighting techniques, if desired. I also am familiar and comfortable with weaponry and am a pretty good shot, if I do say so myself. Those are my main ‘claims to fame’ if you will.” He cleared his throat. “I also do bring two new weapons and quite a bit of ammunition to the table.”

At this, the Family murmured. Everyone knew that ammunition was getting very scarce these days. Fi smiled. What Sarge didn’t know that she did was that his rifle was a .22. It meant that they could actually share ammunition, making his rifle
very
valuable to the Family.

“Good,” Aliyah said. “Thank you for that Mitchell.” She turned, “Lydia?” Lydia bounced Charlie on her lap.

“Umm, well I’m twenty-six years old and I used to be a third grade teacher before, well before all this.” Her words came in a rushed tumble. “I’m not a fighter or a hunter, but I will do whatever I can to contribute. Fi said that you might be interested in setting up a school for the children here,” she nodded toward the children in the circle. “That would be a joyful job for me, if you found it worthwhile.” She dropped her head as her lovely voice softened. “And of course there is Charlie.” She held him up a bit, no doubt hoping that his beauty would impact those gathered in the circle. Obligingly, he gurgled and cooed. “He’s three months old and not weaned yet. I know that this makes us a burden as well, but he’s healthy and can contribute as he grows.”

“Very good,” Aliyah said. “Let’s have our first deliberation then. Family,” she addressed the circle. “Think about what has been shared. If you believe the newcomers’ skills to be of value to the Family, please say ‘Aye’”, she instructed. Sarge held his breath while each member of the circle said, “Aye,” even the children.

Zoe smiled at Lydia and said, “I’d like you to be my teacher” and then turned her head into Lucy’s lap in sudden shyness. Sarge and Lydia breathed out in temporary relief. Aliyah spoke again.

“Newcomers, the next item is critical and you must answer honestly. Does any one of you have the Sickness?” Sarge sucked in through his teeth, but nodded.

“I can answer for all of us,” he said. “To the best of our knowledge, none of us has the Sickness. Lydia lost her husband to it just weeks after Charlie was born, so we know what it’s like. I feel healthy and strong, as does Lydia. She’s been weathering having a newborn, losing her husband, and dealing with all this,” he gestured around them, “like a good soldier. The baby also seems to be healthy. We can’t guarantee that one of us won’t become Sick, but for now, the answer is ‘No’.”

“Family?” Aliyah intoned. “If you believe the Newcomer to be telling the truth, please say ‘Aye ,’” she said. Sarge closed his eyes as he heard the chorus of “Ayes” around him once again. They had passed the second test. His eyes flew open and Aliyah was staring back at him.

“What now?” he murmured.

“Now,” she said, “you both decide if you want to be with us. We have some strict rules about conduct, food rations, and contributions. We also feel we must introduce ourselves to you so that you can feel you know the Family you will be joining.”

“You want us to judge you all? Would anyone say No?” he asked, only half-joking.

“We value full disclosure,” she responded with a chuckle. “Family, please make your introductions.”

One by one each one of the people in the circle introduced themselves in the same way that Sarge and Lydia had done, starting, of course with Fi. She began by making it clear that she was the Leader and that what she said goes, period. Any adult joining the Family had to understand this from the start. Fi smiled at Sarge.

“You should know that I’m fourteen years old,” she began and Sarge almost choked. Fi ignored him. “And that this woman,” she gestured, “is my mother, Maggie. As you can see she has the Sickness.” This was said as a matter-of-fact. Fi gave her mother a loving smile. “She was grandfathered in,” Fi chuckled and the others laughed, startling Sarge. This was not a surprise to Fi, the Family’s comfort level with discussing death was higher than the average group, she supposed.

She continued, “And the little carbon copy of my mother is my sister Kiara who is six. We lost my father Michael just before the Famine began. We lost our little brother, Luke years ago, when he was two. Both died of variations of the Sickness.” Fi saw Sarge close his eyes slowly in understanding.

Fi finished and the introductions moved on to Maggie. What she made clear to Sarge and Lydia was that she followed the Family Food Laws. Fi smiled at the pride in her mother’s voice, though it pained her as well. Sarge and Lydia both appeared concerned, but they had to know the truth, Fi thought. We have Rules and we follow them. The Family commitment to the collective good was very serious.

John explained that he was a veterinarian in his former life and Lucy that she was a marketing executive. John joked that Doc Ron had taken his job because he was a ‘stupid legitimate doctor’. Everyone chuckled at that and Sarge again appeared confused. Probably wasn’t used to laughter, Fi thought with a frown. One by one, they continued their introductions. They were up front about Maggie and Rachel’s Sickness, though there was no concealing the truth anyway. All of them listed their skills: hunting, gathering, standing sentry, cooking, medicine, fighting, raiding. They were clear on what was needed to survive and all laid claim to some usefulness.

“Alright,” Aliyah said when they all finished. “So that is who we are. Now you have to understand the Rules by which we agree to live. Aldy, would you like to read the Rules to our Newcomer friends?”

“Oh yes!” he nodded with enthusiasm. Aliyah handed him a paper that he unfolded carefully. Clearing his throat, he began. “Rule One – The Family Food Laws must be obeyed. Only through deliberation and a “yes” vote by all Family Members may an exception be made.” His face was serious.

“Rule Two,” he continued. “We fight to the death for the Family. If a Family Member is threatened by others, it’s our duty to protect one another, no matter what.” He read faster as he grew more comfortable. The entire Family had these Rules memorized anyway. “Rule Three – We all contribute. No matter how small, you must do something to contribute to the Family each day, completing chores and meeting expectations. Laziness is never acceptable. Rule Four,” he raised his voice slightly, emphasizing the importance of this rule. “No Family Member may hurt another Family Member. Under no circumstances may violence or harm be perp, be perp…” he stopped.