As always, the bleating mountain goats woke me the next morning. This was my favorite part of the day. I folded my blanket back and stretched. My robe that hung heavy and sweaty on me later in the day was warm and familiar in the morning chill. I tiptoed around Sophie, who looked angelic in the bed next to me. Even my parents weren't up this early. I snuck out with a chunk of bread and cheese, and made myself comfortable on a giant flat rock, overlooking the town of Mayrood. It was a darling city, with ample tourism, thanks to the majestic mountains framing it, and the enormous Lake Maybelle at the foot of the mountain. It was as though Diety reached below the earth and thrust five giant fingers upward to create the mountain range surrounding us. In his palm, he placed Lake Maybelle. Years ago, people forged paths between his index finger and thumb to immerse themselves in the watery, mountainous beauty and never left. I couldn't imagine a lovelier place in the world. It made it even harder to understand Misty's willingness to leave.
I watched the town wake up with the rising sun. It was no secret that the townspeople thought we were weird. We dressed differently, lived differently, we annoyed them, constantly knocking on their doors and bending their ears as they walked to work. There were some horrible stories of our community members being mocked, or even roughed up. Thankfully, I'd never experienced more than some mild annoyance.
The fair caravan must have arrived during the night. The center of town, usually a giant green square, was filled with tents and equipment. I went every year. It didn't have to be a Mayroodian I converted- any lost soul would count. Maybe my third convert was down there right now, waking up, ready to work the candied nut stand, or make a balloon animal! I let my optimism fill me up with courage for the day.
It occurred to me that whether or not I made my last conversion, this would be my last fair ever. If I didn't, I'd be banned from the mountain range, and if I did I wouldn't go down to the town anymore, but live happily on our mountain, serving the commune like my parents do. Misty thought it sounded boring, but Sophie pointed out how very stress-free and peaceful it would be and what better way to live? Than in a place you love with people you love, knowing you have pleased your Diety. My parents did seem very happy, though I wasn't sure they were stress-free these days. I could hear the tension in their voices when they asked how my day was at the end of every day.
I sighed. The sun was fully up, I could hearmovement in our little home. I'd better get to work.
YOU ARE READING
Three Converts
General FictionLucy is born into a community that requires its members to recruit three people before they turn twenty. Or pay the price.
