Three Converts

Part 64

The house was silent the next morning. We were awake and moving around early, but without the usual chatter. Not a word. My friends and I were in the zone. We marched up the hill in a group, a tiny army. But not one I'd want to mess with. I asked one question that I already knew the answer to. "Dob has the right time?" Griffin confirmed. We were ready.

I'd never seen the commune so eerily quiet. I supposed this was how it looked every Sunday morning, but I was always with the others. At worship. Though it hadn't been worship in all the years I'd attended. The faint smell of Herb's dill bread floated past me. Mrs. Bradley's bedding hung on a line. Outside Brother Aiano's hut was a neat pile of wood my father likely delivered. Nothing and everything had changed since my departure.

We stormed the council's Sunday morning lecture at the mid-way point by design. Brother Augustus would be done telling everyone how awful they were, but wouldn't yet be explaining how they could redeem their souls by doing whatever penance the council deemed fit. Before I could stop and think about it, I pushed open the door to the lecture hall. Brother Augustus had worked up a sweat. His face was red and glistening. He stopped his ranting, mid-pose, arms frozen in waving motion. "What. Is. This." He spat. I threw the door open and it banged on the inside wall. Several Robes looked alarmed, but I didn't let myself register the faces. They would only distract me. I especially didn't want to see my mom and dad.

I marched down the aisle, Misty close behind me, and planted myself in front of Brother Augustus. When he didn't say anything (whether he was too shocked, or too curious, or what, I will never know) I began my speech. "Friends, family, I've missed you. I never wanted to leave our commune. I care for all of you so much. But after the council sentenced me to twenty-four hours in the pillory, I had no choice but to leave. Many of you think my story stops there. It does not. I was captured and dragged back here. My dear friend (I took Misty's hand) and I were thrown into an inhumane cell with no cause or trial. It was only by the help of our loved ones we were able to escape." I stepped backward as Misty moved forward.

Even though her wounds were older than mine, they were deeper. She cried openly as she described the ordeal the council had put her through. There was a gasp and murmur when she lifted her shirt to reveal her scarred midsection. When she moved back with me, my sister floated angelically up the center aisle. Her voice was a mere whisper at first, but she gained confidence. The horrified faces listening to her fed her courage. She reminded them who she was and called them by name. "Caroline, I loved chatting with you as we mended robes." "Ernesto, it was always such a pleasure to see you in fellowship after Sunday lectures." "Marion, I miss watching your kids!" She paused, and breathed deeply. "I made a very bad decision. A decision I regret. Franklin and the council had an opportunity to extend grace, but instead they took it upon themselves to shame me. My guilt was between me and Diety. Between me and God (she hesitated before the word 'God.' Nobody who hadn't lived with her her entire life would have noticed. I also caught her eyes skirting to Gordo for a blink.) They shaved my head as though I needed a reminder of my mistake. Misty, Lucy, and I? Maybe we should have done things differently, maybe not. But it is not for the council to judge us. We must put a stop to them before one of you, one of your children, wind up in the pillory, or the dungeon, or over a firepit, or with a shaved head Before they wind up with more shame than they can cope with."