Water Saga



  Water Saga

  By

  Claretta Maynard 

  Water Saga

  Part 1

  Claretta Maynard

  Copyright © 2014 Claretta Maynard

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or stored in a database or retrieval system without prior written permission from the author. 

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  From The Author

  Chapter 1

  Mabel lay in her bed still groggy with the fog of sleep. Something felt off as she lay there listening to the quiet. She lazily rolled over in her bed considering whether she wanted to get up, or give in to her desire to go back to sleep, when she shot straight up. The quiet! That was it. She suddenly realized that she didn’t hear the sound of the constant drip that was so familiar. The never-ending ping in the old bucket, as familiar as an old song that she had grown so used to that it was now part of her senses.

  The rain had stopped!

  No!

  I don’t want to miss it.

  She pulled off her threadbare nightgown and dropped it to the floor and hurriedly dressed. Mabel stepped over to the window and pulled back the blue worn curtains, the dust motes floating in the air as she watched her neighbors as they scurried about. Mabel was excited to see that the village was alive as she listened to the rising chatter. She saw some of the women hanging their laundry out to dry, jockeying for position on the clothesline.

  Mabel stopped long enough to reach for her gear. She slung her treasured rope over her shoulder, and slipped her spear, net and mudders inside her sack before she stepped out into the dim sunlight.

  Mabel stepped out onto the front porch and instinctively closed her eyes to purge the foreign, dim brightness. She shielded her eyes with her hand while she gazed upon the deep green pines with their glistening branches that were laden from the recent heavy rain. She inhaled deeply, taking in the rich scent of pine. Mabel felt a surge of energy wash over her as she listened to the sound of the birds as they sang. In a sudden hurry she rushed down the steps and nearly slipped on the old creaky split wood, reminding her once again that she still hadn’t gotten around to repairing it.

  As she set out among the villagers, Mabel slowed down when she came upon a group of children. They were busying themselves making mud pies, and singing a childhood song that she could remember singing when she was their age. “Rain, rain, go away.” Mabel smiled at the children and wondered how they never grew tired of making mud pies in this land of constant mud.

  She continued on traversing the patchwork of planks, careful to avoid the mud as she made her way to the kitchen.

  “Tom, have you seen Tess? I was hoping we could hit the water early, before it gets too crowded,” Mabel asked as she walked through the square.

  “Last time I saw her, she was over by the kitchen,” Tom answered.

  “Thanks, I will head on over. See you later,” she called as she made her way to the kitchen.

  “Hi, Mabel,” Sara called as she walked in. “What will it be?”

  “I’ll have the special,” she said, knowing it would be rice and eggs, which she could have made herself, but she was in a hurry. “Have you seen Tess?” she added as she scanned the room to see who was there.

  “Look behind you, you passed her on your way in,” Sara answered.

  “Tess, there you are. Boy, you’re up early.”

  “Hi, Mabel. I wanted to get out early this morning to gather some sassafras.”

  Tess enjoyed being up before everyone else. She relished the quiet walks, just her and the birds alone in the early morning light. She liked that she could take her time strolling throughout the edge of the village. She knew not to go too far, for fear of getting stuck in the mud. Knowing she could get trapped all alone and be buried alive and no one would even know she was ever there. But still she would stand at the edge, just out of reach, looking out at the fields and trees beyond longingly. She would often dream of just being free to roam where she pleased, to just run into the fields of tall grasses and feel them as they brushed against her skin, but she knew better.

  “I wanted to see if you were in the mood to go for a scav with me today.” Mabel pictured herself on the calm waters; just the thought of not having to don her poncho gave her a small thrill.

  “What do you think of this weather? Do you think it will hold out for much longer?” Tess gave her sister a hopeful look.

  “You never can tell, but we better make the most of it.” Knowing the weather could change without warning, they quickly finished eating their breakfast so they could get underway.

  “Thanks, Sara, wish us luck,” Mabel called out as she stood to leave.

  “You’re going to need all the luck you can find. Your workload is starting to pile up!” Sara exclaimed. “You’ll be on kitchen duty for a full week straight if you come up empty-handed.” She smiled and waved them off with a flip of her towel. She was more than glad to have Mabel go out and do the scaving for her. She hated the water, always had, and this arrangement worked just fine for her.

  ***

  Mabel quickly loaded the skiff and raised her yellow flag on the back. She knew she would not be in need of the rain tarp, so she kept it tucked away in the bottom compartment for another day. She pushed off, eager to start the day. The water was smooth, and the wind was light, which meant there would be more rowing today, but Mabel didn’t mind that she had to row if it meant she could exchange if for such a beautiful day.

  Mabel settled in to enjoy the warmth that the dappled sun provided. She lazily watched as the small beams of light were constantly being chased away by the clouds, as she scanned the surface of the waters searching for any hint of a glinting or bobbing object.

  She was hoping for a good find today, because her dry spell had been running for too long. More people were searching the waters, and fewer finds were becoming available.

  “Tess, look over there. Turn right,” Mabel shouted. “I’ll ready the net.” She had caught sight of a slight ripple in the water. Whatever it was, it was small. Anything would be better than what she had produced lately, which was nada, and she knew that her chores were stacking up.

  “There, I’ve got it. Let’s see what it is,” she said as she pulled it in. “Damn!” she exclaimed, as she longingly looked at the old tube of toothpaste. I wish it wasn’t owed, she thought, wishing she could keep it for herself. She could just taste the mint and feel the freshness in her mouth. Anything, no matter how old, would be better than the taste of fish and cabbage.

  Just then, she spotted something. Mabel hoped it would be in good condition, because it was just what she needed, what she had been looking for. “Tess, look over there! Hurry, let’s get closer.” She could feel her excitement grow as she drew near. It was an old piece of plastic, long and lightweight, with green ridges. Mabel spotted a few holes, but knew it would be perfect to patch their old leaky roof. Just as she reached for it, a hand came up, followed by a head. It was Jack from down in South Hill. He was a diver from the shiner clan; everyone was in debt to his clan. The clan was the only place to get moonshine anywhere in the local villages. The villagers paid their debt by bartering their scavenged goods and trading labor.

  Mabel knew that some of the scavs liked to dive along the banks to search for their finds, but she herself had no desire to go beneath the surface. She knew that there were several buildings under the water that had been caught up in the floods from before, and that the finds were more plentiful there. She would sometimes entertain the idea, as she was curious as to what lay below, but she also knew that it was a dangerous sport
. Divers were at high risk, and more than one mother had mourned the loss of her son or daughter from being tangled in the roots and debris down below. For this reason she preferred to stay up top and search the surface for her prize.

  “Don’t even think about it, Jack,” shouted Mabel. “I spotted it first. It’s mine.”

  “Yeah, well, if you spotted it first, how did I end up here before you, then? Explain that, please.”

  “Well, my hand was on it first, and that makes it mine. I’m not giving.”

  “I tell you what, May-bell,” he said, drawing out her name. “There’s another one over there. You can have it if you can beat me to it.”

  She dove in without taking time to answer, and swam with all of her might through the murky water, holding her breath until she thought her lungs would burst. She rose up just out of reach, pushing herself the last few feet as she looked behind her to see where Jack was, but he had not moved. He just looked at her and laughed. “You’ll never learn.”

  “Well, at least this one’s mine, you twerp, and stop calling me that.” Even though it was much smaller, it would do. Also, it meant getting away from him sooner, which suited her just fine.

  “Come on, Tess, let’s get going and not waste any more time here.” Mabel looked over her shoulder as she began to row away. She paused to call out to Jack. “Stay out of our way!” Then she quickly moved on.

  As they continued their hunt, Mabel looked around at the waterscape. She found peace and tranquility in the beauty of the hills that jutted up from the water. Each one was as different as the clans that called them home.

  Tess watched the skies carefully for what seemed like forever, while Mabel studied the calm waters in complete silence. At last, Tess spotted her target. She steadied her hand, pulled back on her lovingly worn slingshot, and the bird fell instantly from the sky. Not a sound could be heard until it splashed in the water and Mabel rowed over to fetch it with a gleam in her eye. She knew that they both would be able to get out of kitchen duty for a short while at least.

  ***

  Mabel banked the skiff around the curve from the lonely hill that rose from the murky water. It looked like a beast with its mouth sprawling open, daring one to enter.

  “Since we are out this far, we might as well head to the cave and collect some coal. We’re starting to run low,” she said.

  This was one of the few hills that no one occupied. It was known as common ground among the locals and was available to all. Their livelihoods and many aspects of their daily needs depended on the coal. Since the coal was in abundance, there was no need to lay claim or control it. There was more than enough to share.

  Tess manned the skiff while Mabel climbed the hill that led up to the mouth of the cave. The cave was dark and dank and gave Mabel a sense of foreboding, and she did not like going inside if she didn’t have to. She searched near the entrance for small pieces of coal that had been left behind by the last visitor. She only needed enough for a few days, as it was warmer this time of year. She mostly burned it for light. She quickly loaded it in her sack and hurried back to the skiff.

  As she neared the bottom of the hill, Mabel was startled when she heard a whimper. At first she was not sure where it was coming from. She looked over at the boat and saw immediately that Tess was gone.

  With panic setting in, she called out for her. “Tess, Tess, where are you? Are you all right?” She scanned the bank and saw footprints. She quickly went to the boat and gathered her gear. She stopped to check and make sure her mudders were on tight. Mabel set off to follow the tracks. She could hear a low grumble as she trudged through the mud, careful of each step, making sure it wasn’t too deep and would hold her weight. As she climbed by an outcropping of rocks she spotted Tess, stuck knee-deep in the mud.

  “Tess, what are you doing? Where are your mudders? Why didn’t you wait for me?” Mabel said with an accusing tone.

  Tess gave her a sullen look. “I was only going to be a moment. I had to go to the bathroom, if that’s all right with you.”

  Mabel threw her the rope to pull her out, and continued to scold her. “You know you’re never to go tromping through the mud alone, especially without your mudders!”

  “I’m not a child anymore. I do not need to ask permission from you or anyone else!” Tess looked at her sister with tears of anger forming in her eyes. “Please just help me out and stop acting like my mother.”

  The trip back was in silence as Mabel stewed over what had happened. She looked at Tess and could see she was growing into a young adult. Mabel felt a pang of guilt for not noticing before now. She knew she looked at Tess as still being a child because she was her responsibility. Mabel had promised her mother that she would take care of her.

  Mabel herself had been Tess’s age when her mother left. She took on the challenge like an adult; Tess was never a burden to her. Tess, who was only thirteen when their mother left, was always quiet and dependable. She could always be counted on to take care of herself, and to help with the duties of keeping up the household. Mabel knew she should give her more credit than she did, but a simple mistake like the one Tess made today could cost her her life, and Mabel knew she would never be able to forgive herself if anything happened to her.

  ***

  As they arrived back at the village they saw that the festive mood had continued. Mabel and Tess made their way up through the raised stepped gardens that stretched along the south side of the land. The children were busy at work placing rocks and shoring up the gardens. It was a never-ending job, but the children made a game of it. They greatly enjoyed the task of constantly moving rocks from one place to another, making sure the walls of the garden were secure and providing proper drainage.

  Nearing the village center, they split up and went their separate ways. Mabel saw with delight that the kitchen staff had placed a pig on the spit and her stomach immediately began to growl. She knew that this meant there was going to be a party tonight. It was something she had not seen for a long time. Excited, she dragged her find to the house to store it for later use. She then went to the kitchen to pay her debt. She loathed the idea of being stuck in the kitchen when she could be out on the water; she was born for the water, and did not mind relinquishing her finds if it meant she could spend more time there.

  Mabel enjoyed being in the kitchen; she just didn’t want to have to work there. This was where she and the villagers had most of their meals. She and her friends whiled away their time trying to avoid the daily doldrums of everyday chores. They could ignore their responsibilities for a while, and catch up on the daily gossip like she knew happened in the other small villages. Mabel knew that it was nearly impossible to keep a secret in a community this size.

  The kitchen felt like a second home to Mabel. She had fond memories of spending time there growing up as a child, playing with Tess while their mother worked. It had a cozy atmosphere, with its cast iron stoves in the back that were always bursting with aroma from Sara’s latest dish. The rows of tables led to a fireplace at each end. Mabel loved sitting by the roaring fire in the winter while she sipped on her tea. Outside there were more tables and benches under a makeshift awning that made for a porch, which invited her to sit and enjoy on a nice day. There was an outdoor stove made of stone, along with a fire pit for placing game on a spit when there was an event, holiday, or festival. Tonight would be just such an event. Mabel could hardly wait to taste the pork, as it had been too long since she had had anything other than fish and duck. These were the most abundant game that could be found and a change would surely be welcomed.

  Chapter 2

  Mabel returned home to repair the roof before the rains began again. It would be nice to remove that old rusty bucket that had done its duty, doing its best to try to hold back the ever-present rain. The abused bucket was filled on a daily basis, forcing it to spring a leak in its rusty spots that covered it like an old man who had toiled his whole life until his skin became thin and frail with age spots.


  She removed the pail from its long-standing location and took it to the outdoor shower. Mabel thanked it for its last offering as she quickly washed her face, hands, and feet of the ever-present mud. She took the last of the water and poured it over her hair as she looked at herself in the small mirror. For the first time she could see her mother looking back at her.

  She saw her same auburn hair, green eyes, and the line of freckles over her nose. She brushed her hair, deciding she would wear a dress tonight. Who knew when she would get the opportunity again. It was a blue and cream flowered dress that had long ago faded with time. It was one of the few items her mother had left behind. Mabel could remember her mother scrubbing it on the rocks, ever so gently, as though it was as delicate as a newborn babe. She could remember her mother humming, and holding it up adoringly, to admire it as only a woman would do.

  As she dressed, she heard someone moving about the house, and knew that Tess was there to ready herself for tonight’s activities.

  “Tess! Are you there?” Mabel called out just as Tess rounded the corner.

  “Geez, you scared me! Why didn’t you say something?” Mabel said as she feigned her fear by placing her hand on her chest.

  “You look beautiful, Mabel.” Tess sighed. “Mom’s dress fits you perfectly,” she said.

  Mabel took note of the sadness in her expression as she replied, “Thanks, Tess. It’s the only thing nice I could find to wear. Do you think Mom would mind?”

  Their argument from earlier was temporarily forgotten as Tess leaned forward to hug her sister as a tear rolled down her cheek. She could picture their mother standing there as though it was yesterday. She longed to see her again, to hear her soothing voice, and see her beautiful smile.

  “No, Mabel, she’d be proud to see you in it. Why do you think she took such good care of it all this time? It was so she could pass it down to us.”

  Mabel smiled and embraced her sister. She told her she’d best hurry and get ready so as not to miss the fun.