Sophia grinned around her dissolving baby cookie, Dante's large gray eyes beaming in her chubby, crumb wet face. Martha smiled back at the new listener propped in the high chair by the kitchen table. A fresh spring breeze wafted through the open windows, mingling the strong scents of hyacinths and dewberries with the warm smell of baking cookies. Somewhere under the porch, a stone toad wheezed and spluttered. Lizards chirped and croaked. Winter melt dripped and gurgled across the muddy yard as it carved away the shrunken black remains of the snow.
"You will be presented at the temple in Botany, yes you will,"declared Martha. "We're free. We can go where we please." She paused, then her face set in determination. "And if Madam says we can't come back, we won't. I've money I've saved and your Daddy's gold coins. We'll search the world ‘til we find him, new barmaid or no. Somebody knows where Baba Yaga lives."
"You're not being realistic," remarked William, having overheard as he came in the back door, young John following. He stomped his muddy boots on the mat and bent to pull them off. "You've never left home, not even for one night. The farthest you've gone is a walk to that tiny shop and three rundown houses that pretends to be the village of Endor."
"Then I know where the bus stops, don't I?" snipped Martha.
William sighed. "You know Madam's right. None of us can spare the time to travel a day and a night to Botany. It would be a week's journey there and back with the presentation and all. Even going so far as Mary Delight, we'll have to stay overnight. You should be thankful Madam allows that instead of a small ceremony here at the house."
"Madam allows only what's convenient for Madam," thought Martha sarcastically as she pulled the cookies from the oven. All these years. How could she have followed without question everything Madam said? Madam had seen the choir of seraphim and knew what it meant, yet she acted as if everything remained the same.
The scales had fallen from Martha's eyes. Barely up and around after the birth, Madam had expected her to perform her regular duties along with caring for Sophia. With the work needing finishing while the baby slept, a siesta remained out of the question. Martha had spent the first month in a fog of exhaustion; cooking, cleaning, washing diapers and tiny outfits, feeding and changing Sophia. She went days without more than a quick wash, her hair pulled back limp and greasy into its bun.
Sophia hit a growth spurt and the breast milk couldn't keep up. The baby ate and cried, ate and cried. Martha found herself collapsed in her chair at three in the morning, staring in the wakefulness of exhaustion, a cranky baby at her breast. A sudden horrible desire overwhelmed. She wanted to throw her precious Sophia across the room. Martha had burst into tears. She tended The Beloved. How could she want to hurt her the child she loved more than life itself? In that instant, Martha had realized that to care for her baby, she had to look after herself. No one would help her.
She decided she deserved an afternoon nap for the baby's sake. Reba had moaned when her supper came late, Madam had dropped hints. Martha stood firm. Next, Sophia's diapers joined the clinics in visiting Matthew and Sons' Laundry.
"I look after The Beloved," remarked Martha when Reba had chided her for handing the dirties bucket to Jeff. "And if you tell Madam, I'll say the same."
Martha tightened her mouth. The seraphim had said to present Sophia at the Grand Temple in Botany. Sophia would be presented at the Grand Temple in Botany. Her suitcase lay open on the bed and not even Dad would sway her.
"I serve Gaia now," said Martha. " I listen to her messenger. I have a sacred trust. We're going to Botany."
William sighed, defeated by this new, stubborn daughter. He wandered over to Sophia and stroked her soft black hair. The baby bestowed a beam."How's my Sophie girl?" he chuckled. The baby dropped her cookie over the side of her chair then gave him an expectant look.
"You've lost it now. It's all dirty," said William picking up the cookie. He handed her a soft rubber ball instead. Sophia gummed it to the right cookie smeared consistency and dropped it. William picked it up, she plopped it over the side again. William grinned at Martha and picked up the ball again. Sophia dropped it, staring after it with solemn concentration.
"She'll have you doing that all day, if you let her," said Martha. William laughed and headed off to wash up. John sneaked a fresh cookie and she turned to him. "Those are for when I'm away." The boy looked only slightly chastened. "You go wash up, then set the table for your crime."
"Madam wishes to speak to you," said Reba as she arrived to pick up Elizabeth's tea.
"I'll take her tray to her, then," said Martha.
John returned from the bathroom, opened a drawer, pulled out some cutlery and began to set the table. He stalled at Sophia's chair, picking up the ball, bouncing it across her tray and blowing her a raspberry. She blew bubbles back at him. He scrunched up his face and quacked like Pepito, the cartoon duck. Sophia blessed him with a rich laugh. Through Martha's mind flashed the memory of an emaciated Wordless sitting head bowed and silent at his first meal, his hands folded on his lap as he waited for someone to hit him over an offer of a piece of bread. Tears sprang into her eyes. She blinked them away as she set out the servant's platter of sandwiches and cakes, picked up Madam's tray and headed off down the hall to the study.
Elizabeth glanced up without a smile as Martha placed the tray on her desk and poured her a cup of tea. "Please sit down," she murmured. A wave of nervousness washed over Martha as she put down the pot and sat once again on the hard chair facing the desk. She pushed the butterflies away and straightened with resolve.
"I understand that you're almost packed and ready to leave," said Madam.
"The bus is at 2:00 tomorrow," said Martha.
"Have you a place to stay in Mary Delight, then Botany?"
"I have the money for a room."
"But not the experience to know what to choose."
"I'll manage."
"No you won't,"snapped Madam. "You know nothing of the outside world. Taking that child to the big city to be presented is madness. If she is The Beloved, much better she grows up safe here in the backwater. Think girl. The insanity that's going on over babies not properly registered. How will you explain her? Or yourself?"
"Gaia and the angels will look after us,"stated Martha.
"I appreciate your faith, but surely you know the expression, Gaia looks after those who look after themselves. How many of the saints survived to an old age? And to trust the fay seraphim,"Elizabeth sighed. "You're so simple. They're aliens, not angels. Think about the fay part of their name. Blessed Kore named them that for a reason. We barely understand what kind of creature they are, let alone their designs and desires." Madam set her face. "Martha, I forbid you to go on this fool hardy journey."
A thousand silent angry retorts buzzed through Martha's mind. "Will you correct me, then? You can't. I'm free now, " she thought. She crossed her arms and stared at the floor. " I'm going,"she muttered. "You can't stop me."
"Then you'll be needing these," sighed Elizabeth. She opened her desk drawer, pulled out an official looking package and placed it on the desk in front of Martha. "These are papers and a disk saying that you belong to the House of Endor. They say you are my granddaughter and that Sophia is my great-grand daughter. There's papers saying you're married to an officer in the army, and a bioengineering report I made up for the baby. They should get you to Botany and back."
Martha took the package from the desk and peeked inside. She pulled out her birth certificate. The paper looked aged. Madam's dead son, Andrew, was listed as her father. Ann, the name of her own mother, was written beside it. She glanced up in bewilderment.
"Isn't it a marvelous forgery? I could see that no one was going to sway you," hurried Madam. Her eyes moistened.Madam. Her eyes moistened."I want you back, safe and sound. Here's a letter of introduction to the Bishop of the Grand Temple, so you can stay in the chapter house. I've reserved a place for you. I studied with them, more years ago than I care to think." Elizabeth pursed her lips. "I can't come to see you off at the bus. A very sick baby is coming in. But Reba and I will take a few moments to wave good-bye when you leave. Here. Put this round your waist to keep your money and papers safe."
She handed Martha a cloth money belt. Two large guinea notes were tucked inside.
"I don't know what to say," said Martha.
"You could say you're not going."
"I'm going."
"I know." Madam rose and stepped to the door, a sign the interview had ended. Martha folded her package into the belt as she moved up beside her. Martha realized with a start that she was taller than Elizabeth. Suddenly Madam looked thin and old and vulnerable. On an impulse, Martha hugged her, whispering, "Thank you."
"You be very careful. No taking food or drink from strangers. Don't go anywhere with strange men. Keep your money a secret," said Madam, her voice husky. "And get them to take a video of the presentation, there's more than enough money for that. We'll have a little party when you come back."
"I will. And I've made lots of soup and cookies. Annie knows what to do. Don't worry," said Martha.
"That's not what I worry about," said Madam.
The truck drove away from the ranch in a cloud of dust. Martha waved Sophia's tiny hand, then her own hand, until the trees hid Madam and Reba. All of Elizabeth's repeated warnings rattled in her head, her stomach fluttered with excitement.
"Don't take any food or drink from strangers," warned William. "Think of how Dante became Wordless."
"I won't," said Martha.
"Make sure you enjoy yourself, though," he continued. "See the sights. It's safe enough in the day. Clean streets, no beggars. I enjoyed it when I went with the old Master, helping him with the racing dogs." He smiled to himself. "We won a few ribbons and cups. Old Midas's the last left of the line. Always thought he could have run a good race. Wonderful stores and restaurants in Botany and," William sent her a glance. "perhaps I shouldn't say to you, good bars and entertainment. There's a whole city underground as well as above. You make sure you take the subway. It'll thrill you, the way it rushes in all wind and hissing, like a green metal dragon. And don't forget to go to the top of the pyramid. You can see right out to the lighthouse of Colossus on a clear day." He sighed. "I wish I could show it all to you."
"Maybe one day, Dad," said Martha. "I'll bring you back some postcards of everything I see."
The truck hovered up to the crossroads of Endor, shuddering to a stop outside the store. William glanced at his watch.
"A little while yet. Let's get a coffee while we wait," he decided.
They hopped out of the truck and entered the small, jumbled shop. Nails, pails, fusty bait, wire, bullets, and small tools vied for attention with rows of cheap celebrity papers, chapbooks, candy, snacks and tobacco. Behind the dark wood counter sat shelves of herbal remedies, animal salves and shampoos. Martha picked up a religious romance for the trip, excited that she could buy such a thing rather than waiting for the one packed in her annual Yule box from Madam.
William poured two cups of coffee from the machine. They waited while the proprietress served two children buying penny candy. Just as William placed his shilling on the counter and Martha set down her novel, a young noble pushed by with his tobacco. The owner ignored them, bantering with the youth, then spending a little time with a country woman looking for a certain knitting pattern. The customers left, the store descended into dusty silence as the owner straightened the patterns.
"How are you today, William?" she finally asked in a condescending voice. "Buying a treat?"
"Fine," said William, his eyes fastened on the counter.
"And is this Martha with you? Madam Elizabeth kept this baby quiet," The woman chortled. "A little gift from last year's summer picnic?"
Martha stared at the floor with a shy smile. The woman chucked Sophia under the chin as she took the money. The baby rewarded her with a gummy grin.
"Cute little slavey." The stop keeper glanced out the grimy store window. "Where's your silent partner? Normally he's right up here, waiting for his candy."
"Sold away," murmured William with a glance at Martha.
"Didn't work out in the end then," said the owner in a tone that confirmed she had known it all along. "Retards never do. Still I bet Madam Elizabeth made a big profit on him." The woman cackled. "She always does."
"Yes," said William, his eyes on the coffee as he picked it up.
The bell rang in another customer and she turned away as a freeman came up to the counter.
Back in the truck, William handed Martha her coffee. His lips tightened into a thin line.
"My stupid pride. Why do I still feel it, the little humiliations, after all these years," he sighed."You'd think I'd have got used to it by now."
"Her heart's in the right place," said Martha, thinking of the free piece of candy the shop keeper used to give her.
"No it's not. Nobody's is," replied William. "Damn society." They sipped in silence for a few moments. William's face set. "Martha, show me your birth certificate again."
"It's a beautiful forgery, isn't it?" she said as she rearranged her money pouch and handed it to him. William unfolded it and examined the paper seal and deep age creases.
"You're a free woman," he said. "Never lower your eyes to anyone again. Never. Stand straight and tall, look them in the eye. You're a noble woman." He gritted his teeth. "I can't believe Madam handed this to you without telling you the truth." He slammed his hand against the dash board. "I can believe it. Damn witch. Condemning her own granddaughter to slavery. This is your real birth certificate. Dead Andrew must have forced them to print it up. He planned to marry Ann. You and your mother were to be free. She knew. She told me" His face twisted. "Oh Gaia, I was so indulgent over her little fairy tale fantasy. Never believed.
"The laws and their enforcement come and go. Sometimes no one can marry except what's prescribed; sometimes, especially here in the boonies, nobody cares.
"Dad, what are you saying?" asked Martha. "I don't understand."
"Honey, I'm not your real father. I love you as if you were. A replacement, I guess, for the little girl I last saw crying in the courtroom when they took me away in chains. And Wordless, he's my dead son."
Martha held her breath. Her father broke the unwritten rule. Transpos never spoke of the time before transportation. People, even other slaves, thought of their past as one of constant crime, not a life that involved spouses, parents or children.
"Madam's eldest son died in the Hita war,"continued William. "Your mother was pregnant with you when they bought me. Give them that, they didn't force an abortion on her after Andrew died." Martha and William both thought of Reba who had brightened with relief after her pregnancy ended. Different people, a different time, a different situation. "I suspect the idea was that I wouldn't work out and would be sold away to the Hell of Star Mines, you left as my child." William's eyes filled with tears. "But I worked out. Because of her. You're so much like your mother. I know Wordless. He hasn't left you. I'm sure Madam's blocking his calls. She won't let me fix the computers and Reba has that "I never lie" expression on her face whenever you ask about him." William turned to Martha. "Confront Madam when you return. Claim your birth and marriage rights. One day Dante will be the Mage. The seraphim call you the Mother of the Beloved. You're destined to be the Queen and Sophia our Blessed Saint."
William stared at the dirty mark he had put on the dashboard. "And I'm selfish. Madam's not getting any younger. When she dies, young Master Ralph will inherit. He's got his own large place. Everything will be sold. Reba, maybe, or perhaps George'll take her for a lady's maid. John for sure. Me. I'm an old transpo. My back and ribs are full of pain and arthritis. I can't always finish the chores. They'll take Midas and me out to the burial field and shoot us." His hand shook his almost empty coffee cup. "I don't fear it like I do death by the rod. It's quick. I... I don't know why I hate the idea. My pride? Just the thought. Curled and obedient in a last kowtow, waiting to feel their gun barrel at the base of my skull.
"If you apprentice to Madam --and she depends on your magic -- you'll inherit. If Dante comes back. Maybe out of the love of Gaia, you'll keep an old dog and an old slave around."
"Oh Dad. Oh Dad." Martha threw her empty cup onto the dash and hugged him, the baby between them. She cried, William cried, Sophia's little face crumpled in sympathy. "Don't even think such things. You're my Dad. I won't let anything happen to you."
The bus roared up to the store. "Time to go," said William getting out a handkerchief and wiping his face. "Forgive an old man's tears and fancies."
Martha gave him a squeeze. They got out of the truck and William handed the driver Martha's worn suitcase.
"Have a good trip, Madam," he said with a significant look.
"Uh, yes," said Martha. She straightened and looked the driver in the eye. "I'm traveling to Botany."
"You change at Mary Delight, Madam," said the driver with a respectful nod.
Martha took her ticket and climbed aboard. This noble act wasn't too difficult. She found a seat half way down. A country babushka smiled at Sophia who flirted back. Martha placed the diaper bag on the rack above her seat, beside a cackling cage of chickens. She sat down and waved at her father through the dusty window. He waved back. For the first time, Sophia gave a tiny wave. Martha pointed at her with delighted surprise. "There's a clever girl," said Martha. William grinned and pumped his arm at them.
Air rumbled underneath. The bus pulled away from the store. Martha watched her father, then the store, then the few scattered homes of Endor become small dots. They disappeared.