Eden

53

I hear people asking those things, and sounding impatient, and decide I need to hurry.

"So can anyone speak for her?" I say. "Anyone at all?"

People look at each other, and then at the speech-making man, and he suddenly doesn't seem sure. He looks around at the other grim people, the ones who appear to be in charge, and they don't seem sure either. There's a quiet discussion among them. They talk quickly, and then seem to decide. After a moment, the speech-making man turns back to me and says, "Yes, anyone may speak for her."

"And do I have to do anything else?" I say, gaining confidence. "Or just speak? Like, just say out loud that I will?"

"Just speak," the speech-making man says. "But you must know that if you do, then afterwards, she is yours. So if she commits a crime again, if she does anything wrong ever again, then you pay the price, not her."

"Oh," I say, a bit surprised. "What, for ever?"

"Unless another speaks for her sometime in the future, then yes, forever."

I think about that. I'm suddenly not sure. Forever is a long time, especially here.

"It is something to think on," the speech-making man says.

I nod uncertainly. "Yes, it is."

"So what think you?" he says, almost cheerfully. "Have you decided? Will you still speak? Or not?"

I don't answer. I bite my lip. I try to think about what I'm doing. I stand there, and Lexi seems to notice my indecision. She grabs my arm and says, "No, don't."

I look at her. I don't shake her hand off. A little part of me is feeling the same way. I'm feeling that, and suddenly unsure what I should do, and I almost change my mind. I almost do, except that the tied-up woman is looking at me now, too, and she seems almost hopeful. She seems hopeful, and the crowd are quietly listening now, as if their mood has begun to change. Everyone is looking at me, paying attention to me, and suddenly everything matters terribly. Everything has become complicated. Something seems to be happening here, something is underway, and I don't completely understand what.