Heartbeat

Chapter 1- Megaera

Seven years later

Two trumpets sounded. What seemed to be a low tone and the other in harmony at a higher pitch. Meg stood near the water's edge, behind two rows of five people. She chose her spot close to the musicians to hear them well. Her hands were behind her back, with no readable expression on her face. Spring is a terrible time for a funeral, Meg thought. In the crowd of thirty, everyone's feet had sunk in about two inches of mud. Meg lifted her feet to wrench free from the sodden ground. Still, she only managed to raise them slightly. She assumed she was making a horrible squelching sound that everyone could hear above one of the trumpets. Meg felt someone shudder and looked to her right. Next to her, Clementine was giggling, who had no doubt been watching her and enjoying her attempt at freeing her feet to retain dignity. Meg rolled her eyes. She knew it wouldn't be long for Clem to get bored and begin looking for entertainment. Clem lacked any pretence of decorum and always thought Meg's ability to maintain it to be the most entertaining thing.

The trumpeters ended their musical lamentations, and someone closest to the edge of the water turned to the group to speak. Her feet seemed especially stuck in the mud as she struggled to turn. Meg could feel Clem trying to catch her eye to share a grin and a stifled laugh, but Meg refused to glance her way. Dame Cora was speaking in honour of the dead. Meg always found her to be a good speaker, worthy of attention and did not want to disrespect her by giving Clem attention. She also needed to ensure she could hear her. She focused her attention.

Dame Cora first thanked everyone for their attendance and then read the name.

"Nula was wise, Nula was brave, and Nula was steady," she roared. The crowd, in unison, repeated her words.

"Nula was wise, Nula was brave, and Nula was steady." Followed by silence, a voice directly behind her finally yelled. Meg was sure it was Ertha who believed strongly in rituals and tradition.

"The grievances!" The grievances, Meg thought. Something the Widows had believed in and carried on for fifty years. There were strict rules among the Widows, including the right to name a grievance against the dead. It would be voted on if the debt should carry on past death. Meg always felt the grievances should happen before the funeral or maybe a few days afterwards. However, the Widows wanted to know how the person would ascend to death, with a debt to carry on or a clean slate. A woman's voice yelled out in a soft, ragged tone. Meg couldn't make out what was being said, and she looked to Clem, who mouthed the words for Meg to understand.

"Nula owed me money! A hundred Kruge, she promised she would pay me. I have a signed contract that is over six years old. I demand payment!"

Oh God, thought Meg. Mena brings up owed money at every funeral. Her name should just be 'Cheap.' "Does the debt continue? Vote!" Ertha cried. No hands shot up except Mena's, who began cursing at the lack of participation from the others. Mena stopped once Zelda, standing next to Cora, stared, and hissed at her. After that, nobody aired any further grievances.

Nula was a lovely woman who had lived a long time. People suspected she was around sixty-five, which was impressive in the Barrel.

"With no grievances or further debt, we declare Nula free to go to Ghezen. Her labour only created profit. She owes no one. In the next life, may she be as prosperous as she was in the last." Dame Cora continued.

Meg nodded solemnly at this. Although leaving this world with no debt was a privilege, the notion of creating profit was not yet something Meg could see in her grasp.

The trumpets sounded again. Granny, on Dame Cora's right, nodded to her. Meg finally looked down at Nula's body, strapped to a piece of wood covered with sheets and twine. Two men had been holding it in place on the water and, at the nod, dragged her to the barge that would take it to Sweet Reef.