The Boy in the Field (16 page)

“Noah Wicker,” you said. “His name is Noah Wicker.”

The soldier smiled. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

He walked you to the law hall where he had you wait for over an
hour in a dank room at the back of the building. When he returned, he had Noah
with him, who he pushed into the room with you.

“You told them I did it?” he asked, tears lining his eyes. “Why
would you do that?”

“I panicked.” You stared into your lap. “The man said that I
would be sent away, so I said I didn’t do it and when he asked who did, I
lied.”

“How could you do that to me?” He sat on the floor and shook
his head. “I went looking for you because I thought you were in trouble. I
thought we could be friends.”

“I’m sorry.”

He looked up. “No. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I tried to help you. I
hope you get sent away for this.”

* * *

The orphanage in Chapra wasn’t as bad as you had expected it
to be. You had a warm bed and free food and for most of the day, nobody was
watching you. In the mornings, you hopped over the wall and canvassed the town
for odd jobs and errands to run, hoping to scrape together enough money to buy
you a ride to freedom. You could never return to Landia, but there were still
plenty of other towns ready for you to call home.

The council decided that neither of you were to blame for your
father’s death, but Noah never forgave you. You wrote to him a few times and
although he never replied, you never forgot him or his brother or the kindness
the Adina had showed you. You couldn’t help but hope that maybe someday and
somehow, you might just run into them again.

The End
(Back to start)

“I don’t remember his name,” you said. “I don’t know who
killed him!”

“Tell it to the court.”

You were marched to the law hall where they held you in a dingy
cell for the whole night before they spoke to you. Every second replayed in
your head, the look on Noah’s face as your father’s body fell, the crack of the
jug – or his skull – and the thump as he hit the floor. Your cheek still stung
from where he had hit you and Noah’s bruises… They would fade from his skin,
but be forever burned in your memory.

“They’ll see you now,” the soldier said, retrieving you from
the cell. He took you through the hall to the chamber where the members of the
council were waiting.

The four men sat at a long table and you were made to kneel on
the other side. They asked you for your name, your address, your date of birth
and several other personal details before they asked for your story.

You told them the truth, explaining how your father was an
angry man and how you had seen him start fights when he had been drinking. You
told them about Noah, about how you were scared for both your lives. They
returned you to the cell while they brought in Noah to verify your story. He
was still in the room when you were called back for the council to give their
verdict. Adina and Ethan sat beside him.

“We find you guilty of causing death by accident. However,
under the circumstances, we agree that you should not be punished.”

You breathed and grinned. “Thank you.”

“Ordinarily, you would be sent to the children’s institution in
Chapra, but because your actions may have saved her son’s life, Adina Wicker
has agreed to take care of you until you are old enough to take care of
yourself.”

You looked towards Adina and bit your lip to stop yourself
crying. “Thank you.”

“I suggest you keep yourself out of trouble in future,” the
spokesman for the council stood. “You may leave.”

You got rushed over to the Wickers, throwing your arms around
Adina, Noah and Ethan in turn. “Thank you, all of you. You will not regret
this.”

The End
(Back to start)

There once was a maiden, fair and brave,
came from out of town, our lives to save.
Ran along the streets, knocked on every door,
warned all citizens of the coming war.

But the Taatar army heard her call,
heard her warning us that the town would fall,
so their scouts gave chase, and they found her here
and she turned around and she showed no fear.

She saved our souls from the Taatar
trolls
and it's to her that we owe our town.
But she lost her life to a Taatar knife
and allowed us to beat them down.

She told us all that the town would
fall,
roused us from our beds with her warning call.
The children cried and we raised alarms.
All our men stepped out and they took up arms.

She sped away on down the lane,
but the Taatars caught her, she was slain.
Their Surprise decayed and assault betrayed
by the fearless, faithful, loyal maid.

She saved our souls from the Taatar
trolls
and it's to her that we owe our town.
But she lost her life to a Taatar knife
and allowed us to beat them down.

We took the fight in the morning
light
and the Taatars, we overcame.
We were at her side on that night she died
May you forever know her name.

The End
(Back to start)

“I’m going to find help,” you said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t leave me here!”

You paused beside him. “I will come back.”

“There’s no one here,” he said. “No one will help.”

“Trust me.” You stood. “And shout if you need me.”

You set off again, running, each footstep making your head
ache. You hadn’t realised before just how bruised and battered you were,
catching sight of your reflection in the windows you passed. Half of your face
was black. Your hands were grazed, elbows scraped and clothes torn. Blood
stained everything in dirty streaks and dark splotches.

The pharmacy was closest thing Landia had to a hospital. The
door was locked but the glass shattered when you hurled a piece of broken brick
at it. Inside, shelves of boxes and bottles surrounded you, their names
unfamiliar and their purposes unknown. Something in there was going to save
Noah; you just weren’t sure what it was.

Behind the counter, there was a bag, half-filled with stuff
that the medic might have used in an emergency. Although it was already heavy,
you filled it to the top, taking as many bottles and boxes as would fit.

Noah’s eyes were closed when you returned to him. You called
his name, but he didn’t stir. You shook his shoulder, shouted, nudged his ribs.
Nothing. You put your hand against his face and screamed at him to wake up.

“No.” You shook your head and pulled him into your arms. “Don’t
you dare be gone.”

He was limp as you lifted him, his chest still. You put your
hand over his heart, desperate to feel something, anything that would tell you
he was alive.

The End
(Back to start)

“I’m going to find help,” you said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t leave me here!”

You looked each way down the street. “Maybe there’s a medic or
someone?”

“They’re all gone,” Noah said. “Everyone is gone.”

“What do I do?”

“Just stay with me.” He reached out to you with his good hand.
“Don’t let me die alone.”

You laughed, lacing your fingers through his. “You’re not going
to die, Noah. Alone or not. Even if you have to just lay there until the pain
stops or your legs mend, I’ll keep you alive.”

“What if I never get better?”

“Then we’ll spend the rest of our lives on this pavement.” Your
eyes scanned the objects scattered in the street. “I’ll build us a shelter from
boxes and blankets. I’ll find fuel for a fire. I’ll break into one of these
houses and find food. We’ll be okay.
Hai na?
” You squeezed his hand.

* * *

It didn’t come to building a shelter or stealing food. You
kept Noah talking until sometime after noon when footsteps in the street caught
you ear. You both called out, as loudly as you could to attract their
attention, relieved when they came into sight wearing the blue uniforms of the
Kinel military. Their medic crouched by Noah’s side, using every tool in his
bag to make him comfortable and then move him to safety in the town hall.

Slowly, the town hall began to fill with people, the Kinel
soldiers coaxing the few remaining citizens from their hiding places. You sat
by Noah’s side, watching as frail, elderly couples were paired up with young,
now-parentless children.

“What happens to us now?” he asked. “What are we supposed to
do?”

You shook your head. “I don’t know. I don’t think there is
anything we can do. We just have to hope that the soldiers find where the
Taatars took the others.”

“And if they don’t?”

You smiled. “Then we start again.”

The End
(Back to start)

The second that your hand moved, Noah yanked on the rope.

“No. I have a mission and you're not going to stop me.”

“Noah—”

“My name is not Noah and you have nothing to say to me.” He
finished tying your hands and stood up, moving to stand beside Noah Junior.
“Call for help and you'll never see him again, okay?”

You nodded. “Anything. Just don't hurt him.”

He crouched beside the boy and forced a smile. “I know a
perfect place to take a special little boy like you,” he said, his voice full
of synthetic syrup. “If you're good, I'll even buy you some sweeties. Do you
want to come?”

Noah Junior looked up at you and you nodded. “He won't hurt
you. It's okay.”

“Stay here, keep quiet and he'll be back before you can miss
him.”

You nodded and watched as Noah Senior picked up Noah Junior and
walked to the door.

Choice:
116. Call Out
or
117. Wait

“Hello, Noah,” he said, moving away from you and kneeling on
the floor. “What's your daddy called?”

“Noah. Like me!”

“Do you know what my name is?”

Little Noah frowned and nodded. “You're Uncle Ethan?”

“Uncle Ethan...” He shook his head and smiled. “No. My name
is...”

He stopped, almost as if he couldn't remember. His lips moved,
but no sound came out. Little Noah moved away from him, climbing into your lap
and putting his arms around you.

“Mummy, is he broken?”

You shook your hands free from the rope and moved from the
chair to the floor, keeping your son close to your chest. Noah Senior looked up
at you and for a moment, he seemed no more dangerous than the child in your
arms.

“Why did you leave me?” he whispered.

“I was scared. I had to protect him.”

“Ethan?”

You shook your head. “Our son.”

“Can I hold him?”

You glanced over him. The knife was still on the table. Noah
Senior looked on the verge of tears. You nodded and leant in, sliding the boy
onto his lap.

“Hello.”

Little Noah looked at you and then back at Noah Senior.
“Hello?”

Noah Senior laughed. “My name is Noah. Just like you.”

Little Noah frowned. “No, you’re not. You’re called Uncle
Ethan.”

You brushed the boy’s hair back from his face. “This isn’t
Uncle Ethan, sweetie. This is his brother, Noah. This is your daddy.”

He stared at you for a moment and then shrugged. “Okay.”

Noah Senior let go of him, letting him wander off across the
room to be reunited with his toys. “It must be confusing for him.”

“Yeah.” You smiled. “You’re dressed like him too. To think that
all this time you could have been so close and I didn’t even know.”

Noah glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you just knock on the door if you knew we were
here?” You put your hand on his shoulder and he turned to look at you. “You
didn’t have to frighten me like that.”

“I didn’t know.”

“But—-”

“I only knew that Ethan lived here with his wife and kid. I
didn’t know it was you.”

“Oh.” You straightened, letting go of his shoulder. “So you
might have hurt him if he was someone else’s kid?”

Noah stared into his lap. “I’m sorry.”

“Do you really hate him so much? Ethan, I mean.”

“More.” He didn’t look up, but reached for your hand, turning
it over to examine your fingers. “You’re not his wife, are you?”

“Ethan’s not married. And that’s not his son.”

“I messed up.” He stood and glanced at a clock in his pocket.
“I have to go, I’m sorry.”

Choice:
118. Let Him Go
or
119. Ask Him
to Stay with You

“I’m sorry,” you gasped, as he tightened his grip. “Noah, I’m
sorry.”

He stepped back and released you, shaking his head. “Sorry.
Yeah? Well, me too.”

He put his hand on your shoulder and pulled you around, cuffing
your wrists. He marched you off to the holding cells in the city courthouse
where you found the other members of your group. Ethan and two other men named
Luke and Romir were in one cell while you were kept separate. Noah said nothing
as he pushed you into the cell. He simply locked the door and walked away.

“What happened?” you asked them, shielding your eyes from the
shaft of sunlight streaming through the window.

“We were ambushed.” Ethan glanced over his shoulder. “They
offered Romir a deal and he sold us out.”

“They shafted me too!” Romir protested.

Luke raised his fist and Romir flinched away. You shook your
head.

“There was a magister in our house. He caught me.”

Ethan smiled. “I love you.”

“What?”

“I love you.” He sighed. “If he was in the house, there will be
no trial. They will execute us and I want you to know that I love you.”

You laughed. “I love you too, Ethan.”

* * *

The Serlorans were mercifully quick with their executions.
Their hangman was competent and they didn’t enjoy feeding prisoners while they
were awaiting their fate, instead scheduling the hangings as soon after
sentencing as possible – in your case, the very next day.

There was a small crowd in the hanging square that morning,
mostly curious passers-by. Ethan took your hand as they read the charges. You
didn’t feel a thing.

The End
(Back to start)