Chapter 19

As they finished their meal, the Constable joined them. He sat down, placing his hat on the chair next to him and put a notebook on the table in front of him.

“Now, Mr. Channing, I’d be most appreciative if you would give me the details on what happened on the road.”

Their new friends nearby stopped talking and Samantha knew that every ear in the place was now turned their way. John pretended not to notice but the Constable said, “If you’d prefer to do it in private, we can borrow Nate’s office.”

John looked around and then to the Constable he said, “No, it’s all right. They have an honest interest in hearing it and I’ve nothing to hide.”

With that, he told about their intention of visiting their Aunt and the events that transpired when they first saw the green men until they arrived at the village. When he finished, no one spoke while the Constable finished writing down the details.

“Constable,” Samantha said, “what will happen to him?”

“Ought to be hanged,” Perry grumbled. “Steal the shoes off a dead man, that ‘un would.”

“Now, Perry,” the constable interrupted, “hanging is usually reserved for more serious crimes that. . .”

“NO! You hear me, Smoot,” he said loudly, “this vermin is killing us! They take our tools, they steal our crops, our seed, our animals, and anything else they can get their sticky hands on. Some of the families who’ve been their victims can hardly make a living as it is. They need them tools to work the small plot of ground they live on. No, hanging is too good for ‘em but by doing so, dozens of children will get a good meal and maybe a chance at better things.”

The Constable sighed and sat back in his chair. “He’ll stay in lock up until the judge comes by. He comes by about once every three months. He was just here two weeks ago so it will be awhile. Once the judge hears the case, he could get more time in lock up or he could be released.”

There was a disgruntled mutter around the group. Samantha understood their frustration. Stealing was a serious crime in the provinces. You would be banished to the Outland and forbidden to ever come back. Obviously, that punishment had no impact on the offenders if they continued their evil deeds in the Outland.

“Will I need to come back for that?” John asked.

“Yes, I’m afraid so. If you don’t show up he’ll just be released. I’ll get a message to you as to the date.”

Samantha asked, “What happens if he is found guilty?”

“We have a small prison up on Starlight Peak. It isn’t much but he could be sent there for more than a year. Gives them time to think. There is not much we can do after that except banish folks from the Outland. They can’t go to the Provinces and they can’t come back here. The only alternative is to set them adrift. That is a slow, horrible death by starvation and exposure.”

“So, you really hang people?” she said.

The Constable studied her in silence for a moment and then said, “Yes, Miss, we do. When someone becomes a predator, preying on our people for sport or greed, yes, we hang people. Fortunately, it is an extremely rare event. And one I hope you shall never have to witness within our borders.”

John rose and held his hand out to Samantha. “Gentlemen, I appreciate your hospitality to me and my sister but we have to be going. We still have a long ride ahead of us. And this is really a problem for which we are ill equipped to aid you. I hope we may have the opportunity to stop by on our way back.”

Everyone rose and surrounded them, shaking their hands and saying, “Do come back, Channing. Yes, we’d love to talk with you again.”

Perry interrupted and stuck his hand out to John, “You be telling Isabel that ole Perry still dreams of her.”

Samantha and John could only stare, open mouthed while the rest of them all laughed.

The Constable ushered them out and accompanied them to their wagon, where Sergeant had been left to stand guard. He was overjoyed to see them but was distracted by the scraps the innkeeper had shoved in Sam’s hands as they left. She opened the paper they were wrapped in and Sergeant devoured them.

John helped her into the wagon and the Constable tipped his hat to her. “Miss, you be careful and stick close to your brother until you are home again. The Outland is rough on the women folk and there’s many a rogue wandering around out there.” He waved toward the darkening wood. “You, Mr. Channing, watch your back. You’ve made some folks mad, not decent folks mind, but the worst the Outland has produced.”

He and John shook hands and John joined her on the wagon seat. Their last leg of the journey began as he slapped the reins against the horses’ flanks. Samantha waved to the people watching and smiled in surprise when, this time, they waved back.

They rode past the houses and store and once again, into the green twilight of the forest. The sounds flight, of birds chirping, and animals chattering and scampering in the brush surrounded them again as they left the village. Nature’s symphony, Samantha thought. Only now, the wheels of the wagon lent a harsh note as they crunched along the road.

“How much farther, John?”

“The turning is about a mile ahead and then, we travel about three hours toward the coast. We have to go around the foot of the mountains.”

Samantha couldn’t remember seeing a mountain in her life. The cliffs at White Beach were the highest things she’d ever seen. She looked around and saw nothing but trees. Her father had told them about trips he’s made to the interior where mountains rose tall and majestic. But those were surely, miles away, in the deepest part of the island.

They found the turn and for the next hour and a half they traveled in silence. There was nothing special about the road they turned onto except it seemed narrower to Samantha. It was no less light than the other but it was much more claustrophobic. She felt as if the forest was closing in on her. The trees hugged the edge of the road and the undergrowth looked thicker and wilder. If they met another vehicle there was no apparent place for either to pull off and allow one to pass.

The sun, if one could see the sun, was just past midday and would have been hot under an open sky. Beneath the thick green canopy of vegetation, it was a steam bath. Heat surrounded them like a blanket and Samantha found she was sweating. Sergeant had stretched out in the wagon bed, panting and even the horses had a sheen to their coats. None of them were used to this kind of heat.

“John, we have to stop and water the animals,” she said.

He nodded. “There’s a stream that runs across the road about half a mile further on. It’s not very deep so there is no bridge. We can water them there and cool off a bit.”

When they reached the stream, Samantha, John, and Sergeant jumped to the ground. Sergeant went straight to the stream and began to lap up the cool water, gradually wading in until it grazed his belly. John led the horses farther in and they buried their noses and then came up blowing before drinking in the cool water.

Samantha walked to the edge and watched the sparkling water as it flowed by. A dozen yards up stream she saw a small waterfall, flowing over a rocky area. The chuckling sound of the water, blended with the sounds of the forest was like a melody played all around her. Here and there a leaf or small twig danced along on a current, swirling past to some unknown destination. She pulled off her shoes and stepped carefully into the water and gasped with shock. She was surprised ice wasn’t floating in it.

After she caught her breath, she continued to walk toward the opposite bank, keeping to the road where it passed through the creek, until she reached the center of the stream. There the water came to her knees. She bent over and cupped her hands, scooping up the water, splashing it on her face over and over until it tingled. Then she scooped up some to drink. It was colder and sweeter that the well water on the farm.

With her thirst satisfied she looked around for John. He was sitting on the bank, leaned against a tree and watching the fall of water upstream. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” she said.

He didn’t speak, just nodded and tossed a pebble into the moving water and watched the ripples quickly erased by the current.

“How long do you want to stop here, John?”

“Half an hour should be enough.” He tossed another pebble. “Samantha?”

“Yes?”

A silence was followed by a long sigh but he didn’t look at her. “How does it feel?”

“How does what feel?”

“Knowing. . . knowing when someone is coming through the mist.”

This time she uttered the long sigh. How could she explain breathing or seeing or hearing? So many times in the past she had tried to explain to her parents. Samantha waded to the bank and found a grassy spot next to him and put her shoes back on. Then she stared at the gently moving water and wished she was that green oak leaf that softly floated away.

“I am afraid,” she answered softly.

He turned and stared at her in surprise.

She smiled. “Really. I’m terrified every single time.”

“Then why do it?”

The intensity of his tone irritated her and it was echoed in her voice. “It isn’t like flipping a switch, John. I don’t have a choice. The dreams come whether I am awake or asleep. Most of the time I see images that I don’t understand, that make no sense to me. But on those nights, nights when people come through, I clearly see travelers from strange cities that speak strange languages, and wear strange clothing. I see them in the mist, frightened and confused. I feel their fear. I wake up, in the middle of the night, to discover that sounds are buried beneath a wet blanket. Mist surrounds the house and presses against the windows like gelatin. My heart pounds so hard I feel as if it is coming through my chest at any moment and I can’t catch my breath. I become cold and hollow, as if a wind is blowing through my soul. And I become aware that no one, anywhere, understands what I am feeling and there is no place to hide.”

She watched horror blossom in his eyes and he took her hand between both of his. “My God, Sammie. How. . . how can you live with all that?”

She shifted, pulling her hand free and leaned against his tree, tilting her head back and closing her eyes so he couldn’t see what was there. Her insides were shaking and she placed her tightly clasped hands in her lap. “John, I will gladly give you the farm if you can tell me how I can stop living with it.”

He didn’t reply. Instead the sounds of the birds and the waterfall spread around them. She thought that it would be nice to just stay here and not think about anything but the sound of the water giggling over the rocks, the birds squawking, chirping and flying in the trees and the insects buzzing each flower. How easy life would be focusing on the one sunbeam that fell on her ankle and warmed it.

The barking woke her and for several minutes she didn’t know where she was or how she got there. Then, she remember and looked to where Sergeant had been moment ago. Had it been a moment? She looked at her ankle. The sunbeam had moved to the grass. So, she’d slept more than a minute.

“Sergeant!” John commanded and the barking stopped but a low rumbling growl still emanated from his chest.

She turned and saw two men on horseback, in the road. One was younger than she and the other must have been his father. There was a strong resemblance between them but too large an age span to be siblings. They wore brown trousers and white cambric shirts. The older man wore a slouch hat, pulled low over his eyes.

“Sorry, sir. We stopped to water our animals and rest. I’d have moved the wagon off the road but there doesn’t seem to be room to do that anywhere.”

The older man looked at the wagon and then let his eyes wander to where Samantha sat. He stared at her several seconds more than she thought necessary. She thought she could feel his eyes, like two hot pokers pressing into her, looking for something. It was her imagination, of course, but she didn’t like the feeling. She pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them. The boy remained silent and looked straight ahead.

“Never mind,” he said, his voice was like large gravel in a barrel. “We can go around. Come on boy.” They crossed the stream and went around the wagon. He tossed a final comment across his shoulder. “Best reach Isabel’s before dark. You don’t want to be in the Outland at night, especially when the mist rolls in.”

Samantha gaped and looked at John who seemed equally surprised. He said nothing however, and Samantha thought for the millionth time how frustrating John could be with these ominous silences. She’d much prefer a bald statement to these dark looks.

“Sam, we need to go,” he called. “Sergeant, in the wagon.”

Samantha got up and brushed her clothes off and joined Sergeant. John led the horses across the stream and then got up beside her and slapped the reins. “Git up, Belle.”

“Who was that and where did he come from? I didn’t hear a thing.” She said.

“Neither did I. I don’t know who they are nor where they came from.”

“Were you asleep?”

“No, giving the horses a rub down. The dog started barking and I turned around. They were there, just sitting watching me. I guess I wasn’t paying much attention.”

A chill swept through Samantha and she glanced around at the forest. It hugged the road closely and was so dense she couldn’t see how anyone could move around in there, much less hide out. “Sergeant would have noticed them, John. Why didn’t he alert you sooner?”

John studied Sergeant then, shrugged and went back to driving. “Maybe he’s wasn’t paying attention either.”

It was not a satisfactory argument. Their father had trained Sergeant with John’s help. This was one area of training that would not have been lax. She didn’t like that she had not heard the approach but it bothered her more that Sergeant had not heard. Sergeant missed nothing.

“You know John, if we meet one more strange person,” she began.

“What Sam?” he snapped and shot her a sharp look, “You think I planned this? You’re a fine one to think people strange, don’t you think?”

“I’m sorry,” she replied and fell silent.

The rode another ten minutes before he responded. “No, I am. Look, this whole thing is strange. Think about it. You see things no one else can see. So, we set off to talk to an aunt neither of us really know but who also has this questionable gift. Then, we are attacked by green men. Next, we meet gruff men who seem to know who we are but who we’ve never laid eyes on. AND who seem to know about your gift that no one is supposed to know about but the two of us! You’ll have to forgive me if I seem a little stressed.”

She threw her head back and laughed out loud. Then she slipped her arm through his and hugged it. “Trust you, John to put everything into perspective. I couldn’t manage without you.”

“Pssssst! We never should have come on this wild goose chase.”

“I’ve not seen a single goose,” she teased.

“Yes, well, the day isn’t over.” With that he slapped the reins and shouted for Belle and Buddy to hurry up. They obliged and Samantha clutched the seat to steady herself. No, the day wasn’t over.