Chapter 27
Hattie
Giggling, laughing, Hattie and the other young women of the village were helping each other get dressed. Not just putting on clothes but dressing up.
“There is going to be a feast,” Belmira explained as she braided beads into Hattie’s hair. “We get too much when there’s a feast.”
“To celebrate you returning?” Hattie asked, stroking the flower Belmira was having her hold as she played with her hair.
“And to thank you.”
“You mean, Tuvo. He did everything. I owe you more than you owe me.” Hattie chuckled, then beamed when one of the other girls brought her a pot of red lip paint. One of the girls already had a red finger and offered it to her.
Hattie nodded and tilted her head as much as she could without disturbing Belmira so the other girl could pat it against her lips.
Not everyone in the village spoke English.
Only those who frequented the city bothered to learn – which was a minority.
But those who could speak English combined with non-verbal communication and they were understanding each other just fine.
Hattie had been given a simple dress – a body sheath that wrapped around her and was kept in place with a brass pin.
The other girls had traded their jeans and shirts for similar dresses, or skirts and tube tops.
The dresses themselves were plain, but they were accented with beaded jewelry and belts and headbands and sandals.
Hattie had her own pretty sandals and necklaces and bracelets given to her by the others. Belmira took the flower and braided it into the end of her hair as one of the other girls came back in. She made an announcement that made the other girls break out into excited titters.
“What did she say?”
Belmira laughed as she came to sit beside her, flicking her face with the end of her braid. “The men have returned from washing.”
“They’ve still been washing?” Hattie snickered. They had finished a long time ago.
“Tuvo is huge, and he was very dirty. And apparently very well endowed.”
More giggles broke out as Hattie grinned. She could only grin as she accepted the various congratulations and remarks from the others. That was her male, big and glorious. She couldn’t help but be proud.
“We’ll have a place ready for you to sleep before it’s time for bed,” Belmira promised with a knowing look that made Hattie grin.
They were freshly cleaned and safe. She was dressed up and felt so pretty. If it was going to happen, she wanted it to happen tonight.
All the girls, looking pretty in their beads and flowers, left the building they had gathered in. Hattie was pretty sure it was a public building just based on how impersonal it was – and made their way to the center of the village.
Immediately, she was on the lookout for Tuvo.
Everyone had gathered. The young women were the only ones who went off to dress up. The guys had dressed up at the stream – though not nearly so elaborately. They were still puffing out their chests and approaching the women as they dissolved into the crowd.
Belmira kept hold of Hattie’s arm and tugged her forward like she knew exactly where she wanted to be.
The crowd parted and, suddenly, Tuvo was there. Seated on a rug on the ground, leaning back on one hand, legs crossed. Wearing what appeared to be a dress, similar to hers, but bound around his waist like a towel. It was probably the only thing that fit him.
He was beside Inacio who was explaining something to him with his hands. Tuvo appeared to be paying close attention, trying to decipher what he was saying without a translator.
Right until he saw her out of the corner of his vision. Immediately, all three eyes snapped onto her as his entire body tensed. She couldn’t help but smile, rocking her hips with each step, as she approached and slid onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He smiled at her.
“You’re extra pretty tonight,” he said by way of greeting, squeezing her hip appreciatively.
She grinned. “You as well. Love your kilt.”
“I think it looks rather handsome,” he said, no shame at all, making her laugh.
“Very handsome,” she agreed, nuzzling her nose along his. “What were you and Inacio talking about?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
Hattie looked at Belmira’s father. She knew just from walking into the village that he spoke English, but Belmira’s mother did not. His accent was thicker than Belmira’s, but she could still understand him.
“What were you trying to tell Tuvo?” She asked as Belmira took a seat beside him. She had managed to find one of the young men and brought him back with her. They were holding hands and Belmira was leaning into his side with the most peaceful expression Hattie had ever seen her wear.
“I was asking him to tell us what happened,” Inacio said. “I wanted to hear the story. He does not speak English well.”
“Yeah. He’s still learning,” Hattie smiled at him, running her fingers through Tuvo’s hair at the nape of his neck. “I can tell you what happened, if you like.”
Inacio nodded and gestured for her to do so.
After a moment’s hesitation, she started with Rodger flying them here instead of back to America. How he had crashed the plane, but his escape attempt had been thwarted by Keith.
Mentioning him suddenly brought her ex back to the forefront of Hattie’s mind. She found him bragging to a bunch of the guys, posing for some of the women. None of whom seemed to care overly much for his grandiosity.
Turning away, she continued the story of how they had survived the fall, living in the forest, and being ambushed by the Three Rings.
“It sounds like this Rodger had a deal with them of some kind,” Inacio said solemnly, staring out over his people.
“Tres Argolas have been a plague upon my people for many years now. They come through and take our women. They threaten us. Demand money we don’t have.
All we want is to live a peaceful life, but that is an insult to them. ”
“Belmira said they were… human traffickers.”
“Yes,” Inacio’s lip curled in disgust. “Worst type of men. Not men at all. Monsters. When Belmira went missing, it destroyed me. I knew what they did and the thought of my daughter… I cannot repay my debt to you for this.”
“There’s no debt,” Hattie assured him. “Tuvo was happy to help. And she helped me.”
Inacio nodded his head once with a severe expression. “The three of you are welcome to rest and relax here.”
After Hattie translated for Tuvo, he asked, “Can we make it to the city somehow?”
Inacio nodded. “It’s a two-day journey to the city. And it’s on foot. We’ll need some time to prepare. We aren’t ready to go now. But when we are, some of our youth will escort you.”
“Thank you,” Hattie smile. “That means a lot to us.”
“It’s the least we can do. Don’t think about it again tonight. Relax. Enjoy yourself. Feast. We’re happy and honored to have you as our guests.”
As he spoke, Marica was approaching with a huge serving plate in her arms. It was laden with juicy, steaming, freshly cooked meat.
The sight of it made Hattie grimace. She hadn’t told them about Tuvo’s dietary needs.
Marica noticed her expression before she could hide it and asked her husband a question.
“Do you not eat meat?” Inacio translated.
“No, I do. It’s just… Tuvo can’t eat cooked meat. Only raw. Or mushrooms, if you have them.”
Inacio translated for his wife who looked distraught.
“It’s okay!” Hattie hastened to say. “I’m sorry I brought it up. He just can’t-”
She spoke quickly, and Inacio translated, “She says, she’s sorry. She didn’t stop to think that he might need to eat differently than us. Just one moment.”
Marica set down the plate before them and rushed back towards the cooking area.
Meanwhile, Tuvo leaned forward and picked up a piece of the meat. Hattie didn’t know what it was just by sight – though judging by the goats around the village, she had a good idea. The meat had been cooked, then sliced, allowing anyone to take some without needing to cut.
Tuvo took the piece he had picked and brought it to Hattie’s mouth. She smiled, delicately biting it from his fingers. Keeping her eyes on him. Enjoying the way she felt his cock jumping under her hip as she licked the juices away.
He brought her another bite, then another, before Marica turned with a large bowl filled with diced and spiced meat. Not all that dissimilar to what would be found on Turv, actually. She offered it to Hattie who accepted it with gratitude.
Marica beamed before returning again. She came back with a plate of fried veggies, then again with fried mushrooms and boiled roots. She placed them all around their rug before sitting by Inacio who offered her a cup of water and a very soft, subtle smile.
The party was interesting. A strange combination of joyful and mournful.
There was definite excitement and happiness, but it was tinged with relief and sorrow.
Belmira’s return was a good thing, and everyone was eager to shower her in love and welcoming, but surrounding it was also the sadness of everyone knowing what she had gone through.
People kept coming to talk to Tuvo, sometimes requiring two different translators to facilitate the conversation. They asked him questions, curious about him and where he came from. No one was mean or nasty, no one judged her sitting on his lap.
It was ridiculous, but this small village that didn’t even have power was somehow more accepting and understanding than people from big cities.
Tuvo couldn’t understand their words, but he didn’t miss their emotions.
“Is Belmira alright?” He asked at one point after someone had come up with a bright smile, but then just hugged her as they silently cried. They weren’t the first to do so.
“They’re happy she’s back, but sad for what she went through,” Hattie explained softly. “They’re proud she kept herself alive, but they hate how close they came to losing her.”
“She was a prisoner, wasn’t she? They were keeping her alive for a reason, weren’t they?”