#Excerpt 2 - From Across the Sea

In Gawsh, we finally stopped at a place with a real roof and walls. All of us were tired from the nearly endless walking and hiding. Ren allowed us to stay for a few days and stretch before we went to another house (all the while, Poppa was always watching me and keeping Daniel in a separate room). This pattern continued until the morning Ren announced that we were heading into the trees. On the way out, Daniel whispered that we were in the village of Swite.

We stopped in front of a large tree in a remote area. Ren whistled, and a rope ladder rolled down from above our heads, out of nowhere.  Daniel went first, and he pulled me up with him. Everyone else followed behind me.

The climb was so high! The mist grew thicker, and it blinded me enough that I could not see past the bottom of Daniel’s shoes. When I heard a creak and felt warm light overhead, I was relieved. It meant that the end of the line was close. Despite the achiness under my skin, I pushed myself to climb through the hole.

Just as Daniel helped me up to the large platform, something blurry knocked me over. I doubled over, unable to breathe. When I recovered, Daniel told me they were Ren’s children.

Some others had joined our group – Eric Bearback, the leader of Little Deef, and River Ren’s wife. While River took control of the two boys, Eric explained Little Deef to Poppa. He seemed sincere when he said that they needed more hands around. Then, his tone changed. He told Ren that we were tired and needed rest.

That perked me up immediately. It wasn’t the prospect of rest that interested me. There was a sense that Eric was mistrustful of us. I could not blame him, but I was also a little annoyed. He had no right to suspect us of anything!

Ren guided us through the gathering crowds. We followed him to a side doorway and then up some stairs. Just when I thought we were close to our quarters, Ren surprised us with another pathway. Afterward, we jumped from one branch to another and dodged around leaves bigger than me.

Ren promised us that he was taking us on the shortest route.

I was beginning to doubt his word.

Finally, Ren claimed we reached our destination. It was a large building constructed around a tree trunk. Inside, he introduced us to a woman at a desk, Madame Lahn. Ren told her that we were wanted persons.

“With children,” Poppa added.

I was annoyed. “I am not a child,” I reminded him.

Poppa did not say anything, but I knew he was angry. His lips pressed together and his cheeks turned bright red. When Madame Lahn asked if we needed three or four rooms, Poppa announced that nobody was married and took the keys and a box of supplies. Afterward, Ren took us to the lift (whatever that was), which was a large box with ropes, gears, cranks and buttons. He pressed and pulled mysterious pieces, and the floor shook and rose.

Suddenly, Poppa grabbed me and shielded my body with his. He held onto me tightly even after we stopped and stepped off. It was our suite (as Ren called it). There was a common area with a room to clean and relieve oneself. Up one stairwell were our rooms.

Intrigued, I found the place refreshing and exciting.

I had never seen anything like it before!

Daniel and I gaped at everything on Ren’s tour, especially the water that rained from the ceiling with the pull of a chain. But Poppa and Uncle Joshua did not like us playing around. Quickly, we were shown our rooms. I was on the far right, and Daniel was on the other end. Poppa and Uncle Joshua were squeezed between us.

My room was a light brown color, matching the branches that ran through it. There was a small table, a small box on the wall and a bed to sleep in – that was it. I noted that Poppa could not enter as he pleased, since I was responsible for my own room keys. That did not mean he was not watching me closely, though, and I knew it.

Daniel and I met again in the common area and explored more. We were both openly thrilled with the newness around us, and we talked over each other loudly. It was not only the lift. There were places where we can “call” on someone in another room of our suite, and all we had to do was flip a switch and talk. There was fresh food on the tables, and pitchers of water were scattered on almost every surface.

As Daniel and I played with everything that moved, we did not notice Poppa and Uncle Joshua had slipped away. Ren was confused too and excused himself. Daniel and I bet each other on the outcome of their adventure outside. I thought Ren would bring Poppa and Uncle Joshua back quickly, considering his strength. Daniel thought Poppa and Uncle Joshua would give Ren a good chase, knowing that they could outsmart anyone.

We were both wrong. Madame Lahn returned with Poppa and Uncle Joshua, holding them by their ears. When she released them, she told them that they were confined here for the time being. She promised to return with more food and water. She offered Uncle Joshua and Poppa some spirits, but only if they behaved.

I snickered.

It was nice to see Poppa scolded for once.