Chapter 55
Fifty-Five
Callah
I'd told Felicity about fighting back with the words our God had given us. She'd mentioned it to others. That had led to a meeting in the laundry, and somehow, I'd ended up being the one to tell them how this should work. Even more surprising? The women had embraced the idea.
It had started small. Little comments mumbled under a wife's breath when her husband was out of line. Then they'd stopped mumbling. Within two days, those rebuttals were no longer saved for their husbands, but rather handed out at every injustice we saw.
And we saw far too many.
The youngest wives were the first to speak up, or so it seemed.
Puah, the girl who'd been slapped to the ground on my wedding day?
She recited book and verse far better than I ever could've.
Zuriah, the one who had spent the night in my suite instead of her own?
When she quoted a Bible verse, it always sounded like an epiphany instead of a correction.
By the second day, Ms. Lawton began using those same tactics against the children she was responsible for. Once, I heard her chide the boys that way, reminding them we were the Righteous, and to deserve that name, we needed to follow the word of God above all else!
Then there was Felicity.
As a widow, she had no husband to answer to.
With her marriage date quickly approaching, she was becoming desperate.
And so she'd let it "slip" that she and Sylis had made a mistake.
Wisely, she'd gone to Mrs. Myers for advice and absolution, saying she'd tried to hold him off, but as a hunter, he was too strong.
I knew about this only because Mr. Myers had asked Tobias about it.
Tobias had claimed ignorance, but he'd admitted Sylis joked often about how the benefit of marrying a widow was that waiting wasn't necessary, so he believed it was possible.
Then he'd told me all about how that conversation had gone.
Sylis wouldn't care, he'd assured me. The lie was no worse than the ones hunters told the rest of the Righteous, like hiding what our meat was. More importantly, if it could spare Felicity - or get her banished to the surface - then even better.
He was right. I knew he was, but Felicity was growing frantic. Sadly, I couldn't tell her he was alive. I didn't know her well enough, or trust her that much. If Tobias's ruse got out, he'd be the one punished, and likely with a bullet. That was simply not a risk I was willing to take.
But I did tell her not to fear banishment. I promised her she'd be happier up there. The smile that had put on her face? It was the sort Ayla had worn right before she did something stupid - like refuse her intended with a knee to his genitals.
But on the fourth day, Felicity took it too far. Mr. Saunders pushed into the line for our lunch, forcing her back. Tobias and I were ahead of him, but when Felicity gasped in surprise, quite a few people looked over.
"Deliver from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless, or the widow," she said.
Not mumbled. Not grumbled. She didn't even whisper it. Felicity said those words boldly, and loudly enough to make it clear she was chiding him.
Mr. Saunders slowly rounded on her. "What was that, Mrs. Baldwin?"
"That was Jeremiah 22:3," she replied smugly. "I have been reading lately, Mr. Saunders. I hear it is a good hobby for a widow."
He grunted. "And pray tell, how exactly are you oppressed? What have you been robbed of?"
"The mourning period for my husband, to start." And she lifted her chin, all but taunting this man. "My meals, my dignity, and even the respect I am due as a mother of Righteous children. What else does a woman have?"
"You have the privilege of being allowed another husband to care for you. Is it not enough that the men in this compound supply your every need? Now you have the audacity to complain because I, as an elder, am busy enough I cannot afford to wait in line for my meals?"
"Maybe you should have a wife to help you with that," she sneered.
"My wife was an abomination!" he snapped. "I am blessed that God delivered me from that woman's evil, and I am giving my marriage, as brief as it was, the respect the institution deserves!"
"And how I wish I could do the same," Felicity said. "Sadly, my oppressors have taken that decision from me."
"You are not Righteous!" he growled, stepping into her. "You, Mrs. Baldwin, do not honor your marriage by lusting after another. You do not grieve your husband as a jezebel!"
"And yet I have no say in those matters either!" she hissed.
"Watch your tone," he warned.
"I shall not!" she proclaimed. "The Lord examines the Righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. Psalm 11:5!"
Mr. Saunders didn't even try to deny it. No, the man simply swung, using the back of his hand to crack her across the face.
Felicity fell, completely unprepared for the public punishment, but Mr. Saunders wasn't ready to stop. He bent, grabbing her by both arms, and shook her.
"You are not a God-fearing woman!" he roared. "You are a heathen. You are a disgrace!"
"Then cast me out!" she yelled.
"God has demanded that you be fruitful! You will marry, woman. You will bear sons and daughters. That's all you are good for!"
I turned, wanting to do something to stop the shaking he was giving her, but Tobias caught my arm. When I glanced back, he twisted his head, making it clear that would not help. I knew he was right. I did, but in that moment, I finally understood Ayla.
It was easier to take the risks myself than to watch someone else suffer because of my idea. I was the one who'd started this. I'd told them to use the words of God as our shield, and now Felicity was paying for my arrogance.
"Has the Devil taken you?" Mr. Saunders was screaming. "Are you possessed, woman?"
"No!" she screamed, but I couldn't tell if she was trying to make him stop or denying the accusation.
Mr. Saunders raised his head. "Mr. Myers! Mr. White! She needs to be confined until we can be sure of her!"
And while everyone in the dining hall watched, Felicity was hauled to her feet by a group of men and forced out of the area. I hoped they were taking her to her room, but I just didn't know. Desperately, I turned, searching for faces I knew, and found far too many of them looking right at me.
It was Ms. Lawton who stepped forward. "Mr. Saunders?" she asked calmly. "Is she to be denied meals, or should I have one of the boys take food to her room?"
"Not today," Mr. Saunders snapped. "She needs to learn to appreciate what God provides."
"Mr. Saunders," Ms. Lawton said, "Felicity Baldwin is not a child. She is a wife and mother. She has been on rations long enough that a day without might be too much."
"That," Mr. Saunders said, "is for God to decide. Her fate is in His hands now."
But it wasn't. He was the one who'd made this decision. He was the man with the power over her life - and death. I'd also realized his rage had appeared when the incident with Ayla had been brought up. That was what had angered him enough to lash out.
"Pride goeth before the fall," I said softly.
"Don't count on it," Tobias warned before turning me back to the food counter. "My wife will be eating plants today. I'll have her portion of fungus, extra plants."
The child working on the other side dipped her head and began portioning that out. Once it was handed to us, my husband led me to a chair and began shoveling his meal into his face. I didn't want to eat, not after seeing that sort of violence, but my stomach needed something in it.
I had to force the first spoonful into my mouth.
The second was easier, but as we ate, not a word was said.
Twice, Tobias gestured for me to hurry up, acting as if he was impatient with me.
A sliver of worry began to grow, wondering if I'd finally shamed him more than he could tolerate, and that helped me eat a little faster.
When we finished, I took his plate and mine to the washer. He was already standing when I returned, and hurried me out of the room much faster than normal. Yet when we made the first turn, he paused to glance around.
"Go," he said. "Callah, do not get caught, but we both know the women will be gathering. Go lead them."
"So you're not mad?" I asked.
"Oh, I'm livid," he promised, "but never at you. I'm enraged that Felicity did nothing wrong, but still paid the price. If that is not proof of evil, then I can't imagine what more any of us need." Then he caught my hand, squeezed once, and turned for our own suite.
It was a struggle not to run. Instead, I simply stretched my legs, walking like a woman on a mission. No one tried to stop me, and when I stepped into the wives' laundry, the room was packed and voices were already buzzing.
"She's going to need to eat!" someone was insisting.
"Not today," another woman said. "If we're caught taking a meal to her, can you imagine how that would go? We'll be the ones receiving punishment next!"
"I'll do it," I said.
The voices stilled and everyone turned to me. "What?" Juness asked.
"I will take her food," I said, moving into the center of the room. "My husband will not punish me. My husband can be trusted. I have learned he's not the only one, but those of us with good men should use it to help others."
"They are only good until their patience is pushed," one of the older wives pointed out. I was sure she had to be at least thirty.
"But I am good," I said. "I don't care about the evil of others. I cannot control that, but Felicity stood up for us, so the least I can do is make sure she does not suffer any more than she already has."
"What if Mr. Saunders finds out?" Zuriah asked, proving she was here. "Will Mr. Warren be punished?"
Ducking my head, I pulled in a deep breath.
"The surface is green," I told them. "The world above is not burning with the fires of Hell.
It is green, and that means we've been lied to.
" I turned, making sure everyone was listening.
"We're not supposed to know that, but I do.
I know there is a life better than this.
I know that God intended it for us. I also know that while the meek will inherit the earth, God commanded that we speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. "
"I'll get a meal for her," Puah offered. "You can deliver it."
I waved her down. "No, I will be fine, but this? This is proof we have more power here than we've realized. Mere words angered Mr. Saunders. Why? Is it because they were right?"
"Because they know their power is based on a lie," Juness mumbled.
I nodded. "And as long as we obey without question, stay meek and subservient, they can keep that power.
" I turned to survey the room again. "But they need us.
Without us, there will be no more Righteous.
Without us, there will be no more meals, or clothes, or clean dishes. Without us, the men are helpless."
"But without them, we are too!" someone wailed.
"And yet the world is green," I said. "I know we're all scared.
I know we have all been punished far too much, but this is not all there is.
So each one of you needs to think about that.
Do we continue to avoid the pain now and suffer silently for all eternity?
Or do we dare to believe the words we're supposed to live by and actually take a chance to do what is right? "
I didn't wait for their answer. None of these women would have one yet. They needed to think about it, to debate the risk I was asking them to take, because it was a big risk. That punishment could end our lives.
But to me, this was not a life worth living, not with real freedom so close - and waiting.