(title pending.)
*very rough 1st draft. more story to come. also, edits*
the virus is spreading. each day they are burying more dead bodies. they are running out of land in which to bury. they set fire to the latest ones.
“the council of elders have come with a remedy to clear us of this wretched disease for good.”
moses stops his studies to acknowledge his elder brother enter their library dressed in traditional linen cloth covering his body.
“what is it, brother? i must continue in my studies.”
this is important, moses .”
“this is equally important, bishop. i may stumble upon our cure.”
bishop sits with a smile at the corner of his mouth. power in his shoulders. he relaxes in his ego.
“you believe a cure can be found in your books, do you?”
“keep your taunts and tease. say what it is you came to say, brother. you met with the elders? what is the remedy you’ve discussed?”
“to send warriors into the villages and burn them.”
“what about the people?”
“the afflicted will perish. they will be too weak to escape. those that are well, they will live.”
“they may no longer desire life after you’ve set fire to their homes and their kin.”
“it is for the greater good.”
“you mean, for your greater good, brother?”
“yes. myself, you. our sister, our parents. the elders. their families. if we are to go on, we must have life to start again with.we are the greater good.”
“it is a waste of life to kill innocents.”
“i didn’t authorize this deadly virus.”
“i speak of you setting fire to the villages, bishop. it is not honor. it is not life. you are better than this.”
“you dare judge me?”
“it is not judgement. it is mere fact and regret in advance.”
“you honor me with support and respect. i do not wish to hear of your disapproval. stand.”
moses stands clothed in a white linen kilt. his energy wary of the ways of his domineering elder brother.
“do better to remember your place, moses. i will expect your support and i have no doubt i will receive it. do not disappoint me.”
“do not threaten me. i will do my duty for our parents. not for you. you do not have my heart in your desire to save yourself instead of our people.”
“i am saving you as well. it would stop mothers heart to bury you as one of them.”
“i would rather die with the people than watch them be put to death.”
bishop stands. he crosses his arms.
“i will not risk you despite your foolish words. i will not upset my mother and sister. you will support me. or in your studies, you will find a cure. the virus kills hundreds a day. you are sentimental. this virus ravages our people. it spreads quickly. it has no mercy on the host from which it feeds. i share none of your sentiments. this virus leaves no person behind. it has no grace. i do. i will. find a cure or be prepared to burn the villages. you are a warrior. you will participate.”
moses looks away. the remorse of setting the living on fire, paining him, in advance. he looks at his brother.
“you want what I can’t give you. i will do my duties, without your threats. i do not fear you. do not seek to intimidate me. let me return to my studies. you have spoken what it is you’ve wished to say, is that accurate?”
bishop puts his right hand on moses left shoulder. it should be a friendly touch among brothers. it is not. he grips the bone with his fingertips. moses does not blink despite the discomfort. despite bishop’s deceptive smile.
“one day, you will have nothing left to protect you from me. mother will not always live.”
“you are not strong enough to face me without mother, bishop. i fear nothing. i cannot be conquered by you. nothing has changed because we are men or because you are heir to father’s seat. i continue to succeed. i walk in the power of the people. remove your hands. or i will respond physically.”
“i release you. it is because i choose to, dear brother. i do not fear loss to you. if you are my greatest opponent, i shall never fear defeat before any other human.”
bishop releases his brother. he is still wearing his smile. his hand lingers light on the same shoulder.
“bishop…”
“breathe brother. be prepared. we leave before dawn”
“i will not find a cure by dawn.”
“we were not waiting for you to find a cure, moses. the elders have spoken. father, the chief, your chief has spoken. continue to seek your cure, if you must. at dawn, be ready, brother. you are guarded. father thought it’d be best to prevent you from going to the people. until dawn.”
bishop removes his hand. he bites his lip. he can feel his brothers anguish. he holds his words. he walks away instead.
moses falls to his knees and weep.
“moses. you do not need to cry for the people.” he sits up. his sister is there with a gentle touch on his back. “they will be taken care of.”
“onyx, do not risk yourself.”
“i am at risk if i stay or go. we both know that. this risk is worth it. i know your heart for the people. you would risk yourself for the people. why not me?”
“this is not your battle.”
“it is no battle for me, brother.”
she helps her brother stand. she takes both his hands in her own.
“i am but a girl to him. he does not notice me outside of my place in this family. you are worth controlling to him. i am not. i am free. i am expected to obey. i lingered in their meeting. they do not wish the people well.”
“we will die tomorrow. there will be war. the ones that are well, they will want our blood. if they do not spill our blood, the gods will.”
“yes. it will be the people. they feel the stirrings now. they look this way with suspicion and anger. i will do what you cannot.”
“in this moment, i long to be a girl.” he laughs. she smiles. wraps an arm around his waist holding him close to her.
“at least i could keep you then. it pains me to think of you no more.”
“do not stop thinking of me. everything i’ve been to you, be to the people. soon, you will be the new chief. does mother know?”
“she won’t speak. she feels different. her energy feels like the people.”
“take her with you, onyx.”
“she would not abandon you, moses. you must know that. she will help carry your burden. her servants are preparing her to be along side you at dawn. she would want to die beside you.”
“what about you? what will you have?”
“the people.”
“go to them. they will fight for you. they will fight with you. you will be their new chief. everything that is this family, burn it. rebuild it. they are your family.”
“i understand.”
“see mother before you leave. she would know. she will support you with her silence. she will still love you.”
“i will.”
he smiles at her with red rimmed eyes. drying tears on his face. she stands away from him. she knows this smile. it is forced. to hide the pain or cover over a burden. it never works. this smile does not reach his eyes. she waits to hear what it is he doesn’t want to say.
“you will put your own family to death.”
“i thought you might say that.”
“it is the way of things. if anyone kills us, you’d have to put them to death. that’s wasteful.”
“it’s easier.”
“for you, not them. the gods will support you. it is for the people. it is us or them. you must do what is right.”
“brother, you’re telling me to put people to death that i still love and honor as if it’s a simple deed i can perform in my sleep. it is not so simple.”
“i bow to you, chief onyx. it is not simple. you have not seen what you will see tomorrow. you won’t believe with your own eyes and heart that you were born within this family. when you see all they intend, and the disregard. you will take a stand in the moment. the decision will be made for you. you will feel it later, when you must. it is not simple. it won’t be as heavy as it is now.”
he bows to her. she holds back her tears. he takes her hand.
“you are the chief. the least among us, will become the greatest. train the people in the future so there will be no least among you again. love them as you love yourself. more than you love yourself. i am not my brothers keeper.”
“i am my brother.” she whispers. her breaths are heavy.
“i am not my sisters keeper.”
“i am my sister.”
“you are them. they are you. there is no above or below. you are the same. they are your family. you belong with them. they belong with you. hug mother before you go. don’t look back.”
“yes brother. i will keep you.”
“i shall hope so. i have the beginnings of a cure written in my notes. finish them. continue them. it will help save your people. learn from your healers. they will teach you and you will teach them. collect my things. they will become yours before you burn this place.”
“i will.”
“you are ready. you are leaving nothing behind. anyone not with you is against you. anyone against you is a threat to the people. you are leaving nothing behind. it is my shame that i cannot be by your side. this is meant. you’d stand in my shadow. you are not made for hiding. you never were. we will meet again.”
“i would not be surprised if you return in a girls body.” she laughs taking his hand. leaning against him. “will you return a girl, moses?”
“i will.”
“and bishop?”
“he will be one of your suitors.”
“i thought it could get no worse than my duties at dawn.”
“you will marry him.” he smiles.
“i almost want him to live so that i avoid this punishment.”
“you will be ready for him by then.”
“i will not be surprised if i put him to death.”
“you put him to death each life. he thinks i am the only one he cannot defeat. that is not true. it is you he cannot defeat. you won’t recognize him until after he breathes his last breath.”
“it is hard for me to leave you. i will listen to your words if it means more moments near you. i don’t get them again with you in this body. you have been sturdy and constant.”
“i can be that in your heart. you’ll always know my heart for you. you must go, young one. the people need as much time as you can give them. we both have duties. we both think of the people. i will finish writing a cure.” he kisses her head, bows and turn away from her.
she watches him return to his studies. she inhales deeply.
“in the power of the people.” he says. he doesn’t look away from his notes.
“in the power of the people”, she repeats in a whisper. she leaves him thinking of only the people.
