Beast of Caledonia (12 page)

They had been walking since sunset, making their way to
Castrum Novum. Micah assured them his family there would shelter them. “And it
is a seaport,” he had told them, “so you will be able find a ship to take you
home.”

Home
, Sara thought. Her home was anywhere Annachie
was, but if she had to choose, she would pick Caledonia. He was still adamant,
however, that he would not return to his homeland.

It had taken Sara four days to get strong enough that her
knees did not wobble when she stood. But she made herself move, the sooner to
get out of the catacombs. The sight of the bones surrounding them was too much
a reminder of how close to death she had come.

Micah had brought them blankets and more food for the
journey. “How do you get all these things?” Annachie asked.

The boy grinned at him. “My people have built up quite a
network to protect ourselves.”

“How can we ever repay you for all you have done for us, Micah?”

“There is no need, Sara. You have helped me escape as well.
Until I met Annachie, I had not had the courage. Now I will see my family
again, thanks to him.”

“Ha,” Annachie said, “you were the one who did all the
work—stealing the key, finding the iron bars to move—” Annachie stopped and
looked at Sara.

“Is that how you got me out? I wondered how only two of you,
even as strong as you are, were able to move the slab.” A shudder ran through
her as she remembered her time in the grave.

“We will not speak of it,” said Annachie. “It is over now.”

That night, they had started on their way.

Annachie held her hand or, as when she stumbled, put his arm
around her waist to support her as they walked. They stayed to the road as much
as they could, but frequently had to hide in the bushes bordering it when a
patrol or a traveling merchant passed by. At this point, they were afraid to
trust anyone.

The sky was lightening from dark blue to gray as they came
in sight of the broad flat plain that separated Castrum Novum from the sea. “It
is only about two miles into the city,” said Micah, “but I think we should wait
until night to go in.”

Annachie shook his head in frustration. “So close, yet so
far. But you are right, Micah, we should not risk it. What do you think, Sara?”

“Yes, I agree. We do not want to be discovered after all we
have gone through.”

Micah found a small clearing in a grove of pines, with
undergrowth that shielded it from view by anyone passing on the road. They
settled down to wait for nightfall.

As she was falling asleep, Sara heard Annachie whisper,
“Sara, look.” He was pointing to the east. “We slept so late on our first day
of travel that we missed it, but there it is. Our first sunrise.”

“The first of many.”

* * * * *

Just before sunset, Sara went to a nearby stream to relieve
herself and bathe. When Annachie was certain she would be safe, he returned to
their hiding place. Micah was preparing their last small feast before they
reached his family’s home. Annachie studied the young boy as he unwrapped the
remaining bread, cheese, and strips of dried lamb. “How old are you, Micah?” he
asked.

“Seventeen.” Annachie must have looked surprised for he
continued, with a smile, “Yes, I know I look younger because I am small.”

“How long have you been a slave?”

His smile faded quickly. “Two years.”

Annachie wondered if it would help Micah to share his story.
“What happened…if you want to tell me?”

“Septimius stopped in Castrum Novum one day.” Micah would
not meet Annachie’s eyes. “He was looking for…for fresh young boys.”

Annachie’s body tensed. He feared he knew the rest of the
story.

Micah continued, his eyes still downcast. “I was with a
group of my friends. They ran away, but I could not run fast enough.”

Annachie’s nostrils flared and he let out a deep breath. He
reached forward to clasp the boy’s shoulder. “You do not have to say anything
more.”

Micah shook his head. Now that he had started, it was if he
could not stop the words. “I fought him enough that he had to tie me down each
time. I begged him to stop but that only seemed to make it worse. He was rough.
It hurt. But-but I could not help it, I responded to his touch. I tried to go
away in my mind to my home, my family, but I still—” Tears poured down Micah’s
cheeks.

Annachie put his arm around the boy’s shoulders and
squeezed. “I know,” he said, “I do know what you have gone through.”

Micah looked up at him. “He-he did the same to you?”

“Aye,” Annachie replied, “and he had to tie me, too.”
Annachie continued to hold the boy as he calmed down. “I have known men who
prefer…other men. And there is nothing wrong with that, if it is their choice.
But what Septimius did to us was rape, and you have naught to feel guilty for.”
It was easy to say that to Micah, but harder to convince himself.

Micah nodded, and went back to preparing the meal.

Annachie looked up to see Sara standing near them. Her
expression told him that she had heard the conversation between him and Micah.
Now
she knows why I cannot return to my family. What does she think of me now?

* * * * *

At nightfall they made their way into the town, trying their
best to be inconspicuous. The route Micah took led them down backstreets and
around piazzas, rather than through. The fewer people who saw them, the better.

Finally they stopped before a door engraved with the figure
of a fish. As soon as it opened, Micah threw himself into the woman’s arms.

“Micah, praise God. How did you get here?” Micah embraced
his mother and kissed her cheek. Their tears ran freely. “Come in, come in.”
She seemed surprised when she saw the other two people behind her son, but
waved them in nonetheless.

“This is my mother, Rebekah,” Micah said. “Mother, this is
Sara and Annachie, friends of mine.”

The small woman faced them, her hands folded in front of
her. Streaks of gray highlighted her black hair. The delighted smile she had
given her son faded until it did not quite reach her eyes. Rather she appeared
wary as if, even though her son vouched for them, she was not sure she could
trust them…or anyone. The look deepened when she gazed up at Annachie.

Sara bowed her head to the older woman. “I am so pleased to
meet you.”

“People have already been here looking for you, Annachie.”

“Oh, no,” Sara said, turning to look up at him.

“Were they also looking for Sara?” he asked.

“No, only you. They were not soldiers. I believe they were
from the slaver, the one who took Micah before. Fortunately, I could truthfully
tell them I had not seen you.”

“And now you cannot.”

“And I will not. If I gave you up, I would also have to give
up my son.” She caressed the back of Micah’s head and held him close to her.

Annachie knelt before her. “Rebekah, we are in your debt.”

Rebekah said, “Rise, Annachie, you are not a slave here.”
The woman’s smile deepened again when she saw Sara’s belly. “Ah, a baby. My
daughter is expecting her second child. And here she is now.”

From a door to their left, a young woman, almost as pregnant
as Sara, and a tall, young man emerged. “Mother, are you talking to someone?”
the young woman asked. Then she spotted Micah, ran to him, and hugged him as
tightly as her rounded belly would allow. “Micah, you’re home. Oh, thank the
Lord, you’re home.”

The young man also hugged him, then gripped Micah’s
shoulders. “Welcome home, Micah.”

Rebekah gestured to the couple, but looked at Sara and
Annachie. “As you might have guessed, this is my daughter, Rachel, and her
husband, Jacob.” Then she turned to her daughter and son-in-law. “This is Sara
and Annachie, friends of Micah’s.”

They each nodded at the other couple. Sara saw the same wary
look in Rachel’s eyes that had been in her mother’s when she opened her door to
them.

Rebekah clucked her tongue. “But where are my manners? Sit,
all of you, sit and let me get you some food.”

“When is your babe due?” Rachel asked.

“Late winter or early spring,” Sara replied. “And yours?”

“In the spring. We shall be able to help each other.”

“Rebekah said you already have a child?” Sara asked.

Rachel glanced at her husband and laughed. “Yes, we have one
who is two and a half. He is the terror of our household. You will meet him
tomorrow.”

By then, Rebekah had arrived with bowls of thick lamb and barley
stew.

Sara took a few spoonfuls. Despite her hunger, her stomach
was in a knot of worry and fear—more for Annachie and Micah than herself. “You
must realize we are putting all of you in danger,” Sara said. “If you want us
to leave now, we will do so. Micah has saved our lives. We have no right to ask
more of you and your family.”

“And where would you go?” Rebekah asked.

Sara shrugged. “I do not know, but we will be all right.”

“No, you will not. You may stay here as long as you need. I
owe you that much for bringing my son back to me.”

Annachie gave a short laugh. “Rather, he has brought us to
you.”

Rebekah smiled. “Either way, you are both welcome to stay
here as long as you like.”

“Thank you so much,” Sara said. Her conscience still nagged
at her. Rebekah did not know who she harbored. “But you should know—”

“Not tonight,” Rebekah said. “You must be exhausted after
your journey. There will be time to hear your tales later.

While they ate, she made up beds for them on the floor of
the main room of the house. “Micah can sleep on a pallet in my room. I am sorry
I do not have a spare room for you, but alas, it is a small house.”

“Please, do not worry about us,” Sara said. “We are simply
grateful to have a place to sleep.” She took another bite of bread and washed
it down with the wine.

For the first time, Sara took a good look at Rebekah’s home.
Although it was clean and neat, it was decidedly in a state of disrepair. One
of the window shutters hung crookedly on its hinges. Drafts came in around the
door and a roof tile slapped with each gust of wind. Jobs that a man would do,
all left undone.

A question hung in the air, and Sara was hesitant to ask it.
Rebekah said it was all right for them to stay, but was it her decision alone?
Micah had not told them anything about his father. No one spoke about him and
he did not appear to be in the house.

“Rebekah, you have welcomed us into your home, but what of
your husband? Will he agree to sheltering us?”

Rebekah’s smile disappeared completely and she glanced at
her son. “My husband was killed in a raid when Roman soldiers came looking for
a man who had been trying to spread the word of our Lord.”

“Oh, Rebekah, I am so very sorry,” Sara said.

“I do as much as I can for Rebekah and most of our
neighbors,” Jacob said. “The raid left us with mostly very old men and very
young boys. But I am a fisherman. If I do not go out in my boat and catch fish
to sell or trade, we do not eat. That is why the house needs so many repairs.”

“Is that why you have a fish carved next to your door?
Because you are a fisherman?” Sara asked.

Their hosts smiled and glanced at each other. “No,” said
Rachel, “we mark our houses that way signify that we are Christians, and that
others of our beliefs can seek shelter here if they need to.”

Annachie shook his head. “But why a fish?”

Micah spoke up. “Our Lord told his disciples to follow him
and he would make them fishers of men.”

“Do you know how to fish, Annachie?” Jacob asked.

“Aye.”

Jacob’s brow furrowed and he shook his head.

“That means ‘yes’,” Sara said.

“Sorry,” said Annachie, “sometimes I still slip into my own
tongue. Yes, I fish.”

“I lost one of the men from my boat in the storm last week
and I thought…if you could sometimes, perhaps…”

“Help you out? Of course. I have never fished from a boat
before. I lived in the mountains and hardly ever went to the sea. I am sure it
is quite different from fishing in a river. But if you are willing to teach me,
I am willing to learn.”

“I would be most grateful for your help.”

“It is the least I can do to repay our debt to all of you.
And I can help with chores around here, so it looks as if I can earn my keep,”
said Annachie. “We do not have houses like this where I come from, but with
your help and Micah’s, perhaps I can do the jobs of your men.”

“That would be wonderful, Annachie. Thank you.” Rebekah
stood and started toward her room at the back of the house. “Tomorrow, we will
make better arrangements, but now, I must let you sleep. Good night to you
both.”

Rachel and Jacob said their good nights and went back to
their room.

Sara and Annachie settled down on the bed before the fire.

Sara was too overwrought to sleep. She turned slightly and
studied Annachie’s face in the moonlight coming in through the open shutters. Not
for the first time, she thought about how close she had come to never seeing
him again, how at this moment she could be dead instead of lying in his arms. A
slight shudder ran over her.

“What is it,
nighean
?” Annachie whispered.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“No, I cannot stop thinking that I almost lost you.”

Sara gave a soft laugh. “I was thinking the same. I-I
thought I would never lie in your arms again.” After a few moments, she said, “Annachie,
do you still see me as a little girl?”

“What? No, of course not. I am well aware that you are a
woman.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, then laughed. “Why do you ask?”

“You keep calling me
nighean
. You told me once that
it meant “little girl.”

“But it is also an endearment. Men of my tribe say it to
those we love.”

“Oh, I see.” She lay quietly, thinking he had fallen asleep.
So she was surprised when he whispered in her ear.