The Chosen
Chapter Five
THE STORY SO FAR: Rainera tells her little brother, Bilt, the Story of the Eagles and how they helped pull the People out of the Dark Times; meanwhile, she is making a plan – to break all the rules and see the Eagles herself!
When her father asked, “What’s for dinner?” Rainera suddenly became aware of a delicious aroma. She’d been so involved in her plans, in the Story, and in thinking about the Eagles, that she hadn’t noticed. Now her stomach rumbled in anticipation of dinner.
Father went to the stove. But instead of lifting the lid of the pot to sneak a taste as usual, he put his big hands on Mother’s shoulders and folded her in a hug. “He’s almost as big as an Eagle,” Rainera thought proudly. “Of course, Wilt Green is taller. But Wilt’s so skinny, it doesn’t count. Father is plain big and makes Mother, who is tall herself, look almost small.”
“It’s decided?” asked their mother, looking up at her husband.
“Yes. The day after tomorrow,” Rainera’s father answered offhandedly. But Rainera felt that his words masked something else – excitement, clearly, but also worry. Her father gave her mother another hug, turned to the stove, and dipped a spoon into the pot. “Mmmm, that’s good!” he exclaimed. “Potato leek?”
“He’s acting,” Rainera thought, “putting on a kind of show!”
“Who’s been selected?” her mother asked anxiously.
“Phil.”
“Of course,” said Mother. “He’s mayor. And who else?”
“Jenson, the hunter.” He put down the spoon. “Remember when old Franton broke his leg in the storm? Jenson carried him all the way back. He’s tough and reliable.”
“But isn’t he opposed to contact?” began their mother.
“Yes,” agreed their father. “And once he gets his mind set …” He shrugged. “Phil’s no fool. He knows there are others like Jenson who want to get their guns and send the Eagles packing. ‘Earth for People’ is their slogan. ‘No subservience!’ Politics!” He snorted. “Anyway, he’s coming along as a representative of that faction. They’re growing in numbers and can’t be ignored.”
“Anyone else?”
“Oh. Well, me,” he answered. “The doctor, of course. In case of … accidents.”
“Of course,” said his wife. “You.” It was the resigned and unhappy way she said it that sent shivers up Rainera’s spine. Rainera saw her mother’s shoulders sag. She saw her bite her lip and turn away. Something splashed and sizzled on the stovetop. Her mother picked up a cloth and began busily wiping.
“They’re both acting,” Rainera thought, “so that Bilt and I don’t worry.”
Rainera understood why Mother was upset. In part it had to do with the story Mother hadn’t wanted to go into earlier. When the Eagles first came, a group of people had gone up the mountain with weapons. They had been scared, but determined to drive off the giant alien “invaders.” The Eagles covered the mountain with clouds, and the attackers, confused, began stumbling blindly over boulders and roots. Some began running, and fell from the cliff and died. The Eagles stayed away for a long time after that.
“Maybe that’s why the Eagles only meet with Elders,” Rainera thought. “To keep all that from happening again. Hmmm. And maybe they use clouds to keep us from being able to attack them.”
And now, the day after tomorrow, Father was going up the mountain to meet the Eagles. But Going Up the Mountain also meant to die. No wonder Mother was worried!
Well, Rainera wasn’t going to let fear stop her, or make her change her mind. All that worried her was that there wasn’t much time to put her plan into action. She’d have to begin working on Dalton first thing in the morning if she really meant to go. “I’m an adult,” she told herself, “and adults get to make up their own minds. And we – Dalton and I – won’t be meeting them face-to-face, anyway. We’ll just hide and watch.”
“I’m hungry,” Bilt complained loudly. “Can’t we eat already?”
Father laughed. Even Mother seemed to relax. Bilt’s ordinary request helped relieve the tension.
“Of course,” said Mother. “What a good idea! Bilt, would you get some cheese from the storeroom? It’ll go well with our soup. Oh, and get a loaf of yesterday’s bread, too.”
Bilt ran. Clearly he was hungry. He usually dawdled when asked to do anything. Rainera was impressed. Bilt wanted food, so Eagles or no Eagles, food he would get. As for her, she knew what she wanted, and nothing would stop her, either. If she couldn’t convince Dalton, she’d find some other way. She would think of something. “Just stay focused,” she told herself. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“Rain?” repeated Mother.
“Uh, yes? What?” she answered.
“I asked if you would set the table. Didn’t you hear?”
“Sorry,” she answered. “I’ll do it.”
“And I’ll get the good dishes down for you,” said her mother. “Let’s make it a special evening.”
“And I,” said Dr. Sawyer, “am going to put on some dry clothes. Mine are soaked from tramping through the snow. Don’t start without me.”
Suddenly everything seemed cozy and normal again, almost as it had been back before Dalton first burst into the ceremony and everyone got upset. As it had been back before the Eagles came.
“Yes,” thought Rainera, “it looks like it’s going to be a good evening after all, Eagles or no.”
A bolt of lightning flashed from up on the mountain, and a growl of thunder came rolling down. The glass in the windows rattled. Crash! Rainera turned. Mother stood staring at a favorite serving dish, which lay shattered on the floor. Then Mother put her hands to her face and began to cry.
The truth was, it wasn’t an ordinary evening, and no amount of playacting was going to make it one.
Father had been chosen to go up the mountain, where the Eagles were waiting.
• NEXT WEEK: A Plea for Help