I just got home yesterday night from my week-long trip to Belize. It was one heck of a trip. Instead of trying to summarize it in one long paragraph, I will instead type several sections, each describing one day. That way my disorganized mind will find some organization so that other people know what the heck I'm talking about.
Day 1 of Belize: It started at 4:30am when YS1 and I left for the airport. We got there by 5 and then we waited for everyone else in the group to show up. Goodbyes were said, and we headed off into the lines for security. At 6:40 our plane left and our trip officially started. The plane was pretty small, with only 12 full rows and half a 13th. We actually took up most of the room since our group consisted of 22 people. 21 at that point because our assistant youth pastor, Scott Anderson, had to get his tickets later than the rest of us, so he wasn't on the same flight. His left at 6.
We landed in Houston airport with a 4-hour layover. Cool thing was that we didn't have a gate right up to the airplane, so we got to go down the steps. So, even though it was only about 9:00, we went to Chile's to eat lunch. But apparently they don't serve Chicken Crispers until after 10. (WTF?)
So, finally time to get on the next plane to Belize. Funnily enough, this one was a 737 and a LOT bigger than the one from Des Moines. Oh well. The flight was smooth and perfect and we touched down in Belize about 2 hours later. The first thing that most of us noticed was that Belize was hot and the airport lacked air conditioning. (At least, the part where we were did) We had to go through the security to get into Belize and then went through customs. All incredibly easy. YS1 and I got to go through together because only one form per family was needed.
Now we were in Belize. After leaving the airport, we found a huge group of others also with the same missions organization that we were with: Praying Pelican. (We found out the last day why they're named that. Apparently, when there's not enough food to go around, a mother pelican will slice open her own stomach so that her babies can eat her insides; a sacrificial bird. The organization thought the parallel with Jesus' sacrifice appealing, hence Praying Pelican.) We all loaded our luggage onto buses by church group and then we drove off to the Central Assembly of God Church and school where we were staying. Rupert was our bus driver and he had mad skills.
As we were driving, the first thing I noticed was that almost every building in Belize City had some sort of fence around it. Even the more shack-like houses had fences. Also, it seemed that there were very few traffic laws there. You were vaguely supposed to stay on the right-hand side of the road and you had to stop at stop lights. But passing wasn't regulated, cars stopped whenever, bikers went wherever the heck they wanted whenever they wanted, and pedestrians walked into the street when it pleased them, making cars stop. It was crazy.
When we got to the school, our JEFC group was the last to get there. We had to set up our rooms and then get changed for church services with our various churches that night. Another group and we were driven by Rupert to Lake Independence Baptist Church, the only church with two groups. (Our first church had fallen through, so we got stuck with the group from Milwaukie, Oregon) The church service was just about 2 hours long. The Belizeans were very friendly and open and Pastor Ashley Rocke was very welcoming. All in all, it was a pretty nice church.
Finally, at about 8pm, it was cool enough to be comfortable. It was especially nice after we got to take our nice cold showers. Which, by the way, are outside and covered by a flimsy shower curtain that blew away with the slightest breeze. Needless to say, after that first night, all the girls learned that showering was definitely to be done with swimsuits on. (The JEFC girls had all worn their swimsuits and I couldn't imagine why anyone would assume you didn't need to wear your swimsuit...)
The rooms in the school where we were staying were pretty much bare concrete floors. Our room had a rug on one side, but that was it. (Girls were upstairs for sleeping, guys downstairs) The windows had no screens, just slats that you could open and close, and they had iron bars over the outside as well. That first night, everyone passed out pretty much immediately.
Day 2 of Belize: It was pouring Monday morning when we woke up. I was pretty happy about that, because rain makes everything cool down a lot, and in a semi-tropical place like Belize, that's a really good thing. I got a pretty good night's sleep, having passed out immediately and didn't wake up until 7:15.
Breakfast was served at 7:30, or so they said. All week they said that, but it was really served at 7:45. We got very good at waiting until the last minute to wake up and get ready. That first breakfast was a type of frybread with powdered sugar, scrambled eggs, and a chunk of cheese. It was basically a funnel cake for breakfast; it was very nommy.
We left from what we lovingly called "the Compound" at 8:30 so we could be prepared for our VBS/Sports Ministry at 9. Like I said earlier, we were paired with a group from Milwaukie, so they were the ones actually running the VBS. My impression after the first day was that they had never done this before. They weren't exactly organized. Our group did the games as our "sports ministry," but because it was still raining, we could only do inside things. The kids loved it still, especially Duck, Duck, Goose. That first day, there were only about 15 kids.
The kids left at noon so we could eat our lunch and then get to our service projects. Lunch was disgusting, so most of the Johnston group had bananas for lunch. (Our group seemed to be the most put-out by the food all week long) The Milwaukie group left for their service project while we got to work, painting the sanctuary floor at our church. It got boring after a little while, because we didn't have enough painting supplies to have everybody actually doing something. Erica (our Praying Pelican leader) would get mad at us for sitting, but there seriously was nothing to do. We really found her very trying the entire week long. As a person, she's great, but as a leader, she got pretty much no respect from any of us. We all went by what Jeff and Scott said was okay.
This was the day that I found out how much things cost in Belize. I had forgotten my water bottle, so I had to get a Gatorade from the store to use the bottle. It cost $3Bz. I gave them two American dollars, and got one Belizean dollar back. (So, $1Am=$2Bz) All their money, paper and coin, has Queen Elizabeth II on it (Just so you know, Belize used to be an English colony). The dollar coin is octagonal and has ridges on every other edge. (paper and coins) I brought home a $5-bill, a $10-bill, a $1 coin, a 25-cent piece, a 5-cent piece, and a 1-cent piece. YS1 was lucky enough to get a 50-cent piece, which they didn't give out a lot.
After supper, most of the Johnston group went to the store to get Pringles and cold Coca-Cola. (It was the habit of going before or after supper, every day, to get food that earned us a reputation of always eating.) Although, this was the night that supper was the best. They figured out what picky Americans wanted and gave us mac&cheese, mashed potatoes, and boneless chicken.
Without air movement, the Belize air is stifling.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Questions: 4th Installment
Damn that girl! Nannoc was furious. He kicked the side of his bed in frustration. He had been doing so well, getting so into scaring her. It was great fun, and he forgot all of his doubts. Then she had to go and ask that damn question! He had been angry enough with her because of her incessant inquisitions, but asking him why the People had the right to sacrifice millah? The idea was ridiculous. Of course they had every right to do what they were doing! But these damn doubts! He slammed his fists against the wall and sank down on to his bed, staring up at the ceiling.
Why did she place so many doubts in his mind? Why was she so difficult to handle from all the rest of the special ones he had dealt with already? He sighed, his mind swirling with questions. The stupid girl's habit of wondering about everything had apparently worn off on him. Deciding to place all these doubts out of his mind once and for all, Nannoc got up and began walking to Elliott's room. Of all the people who could make him sure in his duty to Sephirin, Elliott was the best.
The way to Elliott's Adult room seemed very long. He could hear Lilly asking her question, the words bouncing around in his skull: What right do you have to treat us like this? After what seemed like forever, Nannoc was in the Adult section of the caves, right in front of Elliott's room. Shaking his head to clear it, he walked in to his friend.
Elliott didn't notice at first that Nannoc had come in. Nannoc had always prided himself in being the quietest of the Children; he feet never made a sound against the stone floors or on the surface of the Outside world. He hoped to be a Hunter when he was made an Adult. It would be a good use of his skills. Now, he snuck up behind Elliott and stood right behind his him. Lowering his mouth to Elliott's ear, Nannoc said, "Anom," as a greeting, then watched as Elliott nearly flew three feet in the air.
Nannoc lowered his hood so his friend could see it was just him, and Elliott's expression of surprised anger became that of mere boredom. "So," he said, "You decided to come visit me to see how Adult life is and express your wondrous awe?" Nannoc had realized that Elliott had become pompous, but this was a new level.
"No, Elliott. I merely wanted to ask you a question." Elliott seemed to deflate a little.
"Oh. Alright then, what do you need my Adult advice on?"
Rolling his eyes, Nannoc asked, "Why do we sacrifice the Outsiders? What makes them so different from us that it's not a form of murder?" Elliott looked as though Nannoc was the stupidest being on the entire planet.
"What makes us different? What makes us different?! Seriously, Nannoc, I thought you were supposed to be one of the smarter Children! Honestly!"
"Will you please just answer my question?"
Elliott looked as though he thought such a question was beneath him, but he said, "Fine. We're better than the Outsiders."
"Why?" Elliott looked like he might explode into another outburst. "Please, just answer the question."
"Because Sephirin says we are, and our god is always correct."
"Does Sephirin also say we must sacrifice, breed, and eat the Outsiders?"
"How can you be so dumb, Nannoc? The Elder tells us what Sephirin says and we carry it out. The Elder said a long time ago that Sephirin wished us to sacrifice the special Outsiders and to use the others as food. It's as simple as that."
"But why couldn't we just use the cattle-things that the Outsiders use for food?" Talking with Elliott wasn't going the way he planned. "And, just think, what if the Elder was wrong, or what if he was lying to us?"
Elliott's face drained completely of color. Nannoc could see the fury in his posture and could hear it in his voice, though it was obvious he was trying to control it, "How could you even think that? I could turn you in to the Elder and you could be put to death for saying something as blasphemous as that." Though he didn't, Nannoc wanted to say that blasphemy is only for doubting a god, and the Elder was certainly not a god. "Nannoc, where have you been getting these dangerous ideas? Who have you been talking to? We need to turn them in to be punished for saying such things to you, a mere Child."
Getting angry with the constant patronization by a person so near his age, Nannoc let out, "I am not a mere Child! I am nearly the same age as you, I'm the eldest of the Children, and nearly an Adult. Don't treat me like a little kid. And the ideas aren't from any of the People." They both stood, glaring at each other.
"Then where did you get those ideas, from your own head?" Then a look of comprehension crossed Elliott's face, and his eyes narrowed even further. His voice came out as a furious hiss, "You've been talking to the millah?!"
Feeling defiant, Nannoc crossed his arms. "So what if I have?"
"Nannoc, that's completely against all the rules of both the Elder and the Council! You can't just be doing these things!" Looking furtively around to see if anyone had heard any of their conversation, Elliott practically shoved Nannoc out of his room. "Don't come back here. I can't have someone like you ruining my chance of becoming a great person within the Adults. Leave, now." With that, Nannoc turned and left, fuming at the betrayal and lack of understanding by someone who had been his best friend. As he traveled the tunnels back to the room he shared with the other older boys, he felt very alone. But I'm not alone, he realized. There's someone else who thinks the same way I do.
Why did she place so many doubts in his mind? Why was she so difficult to handle from all the rest of the special ones he had dealt with already? He sighed, his mind swirling with questions. The stupid girl's habit of wondering about everything had apparently worn off on him. Deciding to place all these doubts out of his mind once and for all, Nannoc got up and began walking to Elliott's room. Of all the people who could make him sure in his duty to Sephirin, Elliott was the best.
The way to Elliott's Adult room seemed very long. He could hear Lilly asking her question, the words bouncing around in his skull: What right do you have to treat us like this? After what seemed like forever, Nannoc was in the Adult section of the caves, right in front of Elliott's room. Shaking his head to clear it, he walked in to his friend.
Elliott didn't notice at first that Nannoc had come in. Nannoc had always prided himself in being the quietest of the Children; he feet never made a sound against the stone floors or on the surface of the Outside world. He hoped to be a Hunter when he was made an Adult. It would be a good use of his skills. Now, he snuck up behind Elliott and stood right behind his him. Lowering his mouth to Elliott's ear, Nannoc said, "Anom," as a greeting, then watched as Elliott nearly flew three feet in the air.
Nannoc lowered his hood so his friend could see it was just him, and Elliott's expression of surprised anger became that of mere boredom. "So," he said, "You decided to come visit me to see how Adult life is and express your wondrous awe?" Nannoc had realized that Elliott had become pompous, but this was a new level.
"No, Elliott. I merely wanted to ask you a question." Elliott seemed to deflate a little.
"Oh. Alright then, what do you need my Adult advice on?"
Rolling his eyes, Nannoc asked, "Why do we sacrifice the Outsiders? What makes them so different from us that it's not a form of murder?" Elliott looked as though Nannoc was the stupidest being on the entire planet.
"What makes us different? What makes us different?! Seriously, Nannoc, I thought you were supposed to be one of the smarter Children! Honestly!"
"Will you please just answer my question?"
Elliott looked as though he thought such a question was beneath him, but he said, "Fine. We're better than the Outsiders."
"Why?" Elliott looked like he might explode into another outburst. "Please, just answer the question."
"Because Sephirin says we are, and our god is always correct."
"Does Sephirin also say we must sacrifice, breed, and eat the Outsiders?"
"How can you be so dumb, Nannoc? The Elder tells us what Sephirin says and we carry it out. The Elder said a long time ago that Sephirin wished us to sacrifice the special Outsiders and to use the others as food. It's as simple as that."
"But why couldn't we just use the cattle-things that the Outsiders use for food?" Talking with Elliott wasn't going the way he planned. "And, just think, what if the Elder was wrong, or what if he was lying to us?"
Elliott's face drained completely of color. Nannoc could see the fury in his posture and could hear it in his voice, though it was obvious he was trying to control it, "How could you even think that? I could turn you in to the Elder and you could be put to death for saying something as blasphemous as that." Though he didn't, Nannoc wanted to say that blasphemy is only for doubting a god, and the Elder was certainly not a god. "Nannoc, where have you been getting these dangerous ideas? Who have you been talking to? We need to turn them in to be punished for saying such things to you, a mere Child."
Getting angry with the constant patronization by a person so near his age, Nannoc let out, "I am not a mere Child! I am nearly the same age as you, I'm the eldest of the Children, and nearly an Adult. Don't treat me like a little kid. And the ideas aren't from any of the People." They both stood, glaring at each other.
"Then where did you get those ideas, from your own head?" Then a look of comprehension crossed Elliott's face, and his eyes narrowed even further. His voice came out as a furious hiss, "You've been talking to the millah?!"
Feeling defiant, Nannoc crossed his arms. "So what if I have?"
"Nannoc, that's completely against all the rules of both the Elder and the Council! You can't just be doing these things!" Looking furtively around to see if anyone had heard any of their conversation, Elliott practically shoved Nannoc out of his room. "Don't come back here. I can't have someone like you ruining my chance of becoming a great person within the Adults. Leave, now." With that, Nannoc turned and left, fuming at the betrayal and lack of understanding by someone who had been his best friend. As he traveled the tunnels back to the room he shared with the other older boys, he felt very alone. But I'm not alone, he realized. There's someone else who thinks the same way I do.
Questions: 3rd Installment
Everyone was finally gathered along the edges of the meeting room. Conversations were kept to a low, expectant hum. The People were all waiting for the Elder to arrive. Nannoc thought it was interesting that the Elder had no other name. Perhaps he had at one point, but no one new what it was now. In fact, none of the Council had names either. He wondered when their names had been taken from them. Not that it truly mattered, for it wouldn't bring the names back. He would probably also get in trouble for asking any questions, so he cut off that line of thought.
His attention was called to the ledge above the fire by the Elder's escort. The room was entirely silent now except for the small crackles and pops from the fire as it threw bizarre shadows across the cavern. Leaning heavily on his maplewood cane, the Elder appeared from the shadows. He walked to the very edge of the platform and stopped. In his deep and raspy voice, he addressed the congregation, "My People. You may have heard that some of our men caught a fresh millah." He paused as some of the crowd murmured their assent; some of them had heard that.
"You've heard correctly." The people began to whisper excitedly. The Elder continued, "In precisely two months time, we will once again have an Initiation ceremony to invite one of our Children into Adulthood." Everyone in the room cheered at the news. The Elder held up his hand for silence and said, "However, we have not yet chosen the Cutter. There are many Children who qualify, and the Council and I will be watching them for the next two months to see which one will become the next Adult." The crowd sighed, disappointed. "Don't be disheartened," the Elder told the People, "Two months will go by more quickly than you think. On the night before the first day of Initiation, I will announce to you the one who has been chosen. Now go and start the preparations."
At that, everyone began filing out of the meeting room. Nannoc was disappointed in the Elder's choice not to announce the one who would be the Cutter. He was hoping with all his heart that he would be chosen. But, it would not be wise to question the Elder's choice, and so Nannoc started off into one of the caves to do his chores. The People were going to be very busy for the next two months; they had no time for someone who didn't do his chores.
The first thing he had to do was sweep out the room for the older male Children. Since there were only four per room, this chore didn't take very long, though Nannoc tried his hardest to drag it out. He didn't want to get to his last chore; it was his duty to take care of the millah. He hadn't minded this duty, in fact, he thought it a great honor to be taking care of the People's meat supply. Until now. Now that she was here. He didn't want to go down to meet her. She made him uncomfortable, like what the People were doing was wrong. He knew that wasn't the case, but the way she said it made him doubt. He hated that feeling of doubt in his most deep-seated beliefs. Nannoc decided that he would be very glad to see the end of the two months waiting period.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Deep down in the tunnels of the nursery, Lily could hear the dull roar from the cheering. She figured it must be about her. She wished she knew what they were going to do to her, but anything, anything, would be better than staying in the nursery. She had no way of keeping track of time and could do nothing to entertain herself. She curled up in the fetal position on the cold stone floor. She could hear sounds coming from other areas of the nursery; moans and screams traveled through the dank air and into her ears with merciless accuracy. She couldn't help but cry at the hopelessness of her situation. Her family would have no idea where she went, and they definitely wouldn't find her down here. She had heard of the men and women living in groups of caves who clothed themselves in black robes and called themselves the People. She had heard stories of people being abducted and never being seen again. It was rumored that they had been stolen away to be sacrificed and eaten by the People in worship of their god. She knew now that these weren't merely stories, legends, and rumors. She had become one of those abducted.
Lily opened her eyes at the slightest noise from the side of her little room. There she saw her boy-captor putting down a small metal tray. She saw him look over at her and swear under his breath. She was surprised that she hadn't noticed him before that point. She crawled over to the tray and watched him begin filling it with some foul-smelling meat or bread substance.
"Please, sir, isn't there something better to eat?" She looked up at him, but that damned hood kept his face in shadow still. She wanted to know the identity of her captor.
"No. Eat this or go hungry." He sounded annoyed and uncomfortable with her so near.
"What's your name?" As she watched his shoulders tighten she realized he was truly uneasy when she talked.
"That's none of your concern." He grabbed another metal tray from a burlap sack she had missed seeing before.
"Well, you're my captor. I should say it's my concern." Lily received no answer but the turning of his back as he swept out of the room with the sack. No wonder she hadn't noticed when he arrived. His movements were completely silent. The only reason she heard him at all was the unavoidable sound the metal trays made when they touched the stone floor.
She began to wonder why he had filled one tray and not the other, when all of a sudden he was beside her again, this time with a water pitcher. When he started to fill the tray with water, she again harassed him with questions.
"May I see your face at least, mysterious warden?" Again he didn't answer.
When the tray was full, he started to walk out of the room, and she tried one more question, "Sir, why am I here? What are you going to do to me?" This time, she got a reaction.
He stopped in the middle of the room and asked her, still facing the opposite direction, "If I tell you why, will you shut up and stop asking me questions?" He sounded angry this time, making her hesitate.
"Uh...yes. Yes, I will. If you will please explain why I'm here." At that, he turned and sat down next to the stake in the middle of the room. He was spotlighted by a small shaft of light the came from high up in the ceiling. Then he began his story.
He spoke in a voice so quiet, that Lily had to strain to hear over the others in the nursery. She had to keep scooting closer and closer until she was right next to him.
"You are here because a few of the hunters went out looking for new millah to breed. Some of our older ones are dying and are no longer viable."
"To...breed? Like cattle?" She could not disguise the horrified disgust in her voice even had she wanted to.
He nodded, "Yes, like what you call cattle. That is what Outsiders are to us. Just as you raise your cattle for food and to breed, so we raise millah- Outsider-cattle."
"That's what we are to you? Cows? Nothing more than filthy animals?!" Now Lily was more angry than frightened. These people had no right to use people like her in such a way. And how could he be telling her this in such a calm, flat voice?
"That's what Outsiders are. They are no more. Except..." Now she could tell his eyes were directly locked on to hers.
"Except what?" She felt a trickle of dread running down her back, flooding out the anger.
"Except that a few outsiders are better than the others. They are more lovely in our eyes, for they resemble our god, Sephirin, or his wife, Ophelia. Those are the special ones. When we find them, we are more careful. We make sure they do not get hurt on their way down to their special rooms in our nursery."
Lily felt her anger flaring up again. "Don't get hurt?! I was thrown all over the place on my way down!"
She then fell over to the ground. He had slapped her across the face.
His voice was no longer the calm, even tone. She could hear the fury as he said, "I let you be disrespectful once, but I will not allow it again. I would not mind if you were merely disrespecting me, but now you disrespect the Elder and the Hunters. That is not allowable." He then waited until she picked herself up and sat down in front of him. She was sure he could feel her anger seething towards him. When he spoke again, his voice was back to normal, "As I was saying, the special Outsiders have different rooms. They are fed a special diet to keep them strong, for their strength is needed for the Ceremony."
"What ceremony?"
"When a Child is to become an Adult, they have a large Initiation Ceremony. These only happen whenever the Hunters bring back the special ones, so they are not very often. The very end of the Initiation is the Cutting."
"What's that?" Lily tried her hardest to keep her fear from showing, but her voice still shook.
She heard the evil smile in his voice as he continued, "The Cutting is the sacrificing of the special one by cutting off the head, then drinking the blood to take in its strength. This is why the strength is kept up until the Ceremony."
She was speechless. She had never heard something so horrible as this. She was to be sacrificed and then eaten. She looked up to where he had all but vanished out of the room and shouted after him, "What gives you the right to treat us this way?" All she heard was the moaning and groaning of the other millah.
His attention was called to the ledge above the fire by the Elder's escort. The room was entirely silent now except for the small crackles and pops from the fire as it threw bizarre shadows across the cavern. Leaning heavily on his maplewood cane, the Elder appeared from the shadows. He walked to the very edge of the platform and stopped. In his deep and raspy voice, he addressed the congregation, "My People. You may have heard that some of our men caught a fresh millah." He paused as some of the crowd murmured their assent; some of them had heard that.
"You've heard correctly." The people began to whisper excitedly. The Elder continued, "In precisely two months time, we will once again have an Initiation ceremony to invite one of our Children into Adulthood." Everyone in the room cheered at the news. The Elder held up his hand for silence and said, "However, we have not yet chosen the Cutter. There are many Children who qualify, and the Council and I will be watching them for the next two months to see which one will become the next Adult." The crowd sighed, disappointed. "Don't be disheartened," the Elder told the People, "Two months will go by more quickly than you think. On the night before the first day of Initiation, I will announce to you the one who has been chosen. Now go and start the preparations."
At that, everyone began filing out of the meeting room. Nannoc was disappointed in the Elder's choice not to announce the one who would be the Cutter. He was hoping with all his heart that he would be chosen. But, it would not be wise to question the Elder's choice, and so Nannoc started off into one of the caves to do his chores. The People were going to be very busy for the next two months; they had no time for someone who didn't do his chores.
The first thing he had to do was sweep out the room for the older male Children. Since there were only four per room, this chore didn't take very long, though Nannoc tried his hardest to drag it out. He didn't want to get to his last chore; it was his duty to take care of the millah. He hadn't minded this duty, in fact, he thought it a great honor to be taking care of the People's meat supply. Until now. Now that she was here. He didn't want to go down to meet her. She made him uncomfortable, like what the People were doing was wrong. He knew that wasn't the case, but the way she said it made him doubt. He hated that feeling of doubt in his most deep-seated beliefs. Nannoc decided that he would be very glad to see the end of the two months waiting period.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Deep down in the tunnels of the nursery, Lily could hear the dull roar from the cheering. She figured it must be about her. She wished she knew what they were going to do to her, but anything, anything, would be better than staying in the nursery. She had no way of keeping track of time and could do nothing to entertain herself. She curled up in the fetal position on the cold stone floor. She could hear sounds coming from other areas of the nursery; moans and screams traveled through the dank air and into her ears with merciless accuracy. She couldn't help but cry at the hopelessness of her situation. Her family would have no idea where she went, and they definitely wouldn't find her down here. She had heard of the men and women living in groups of caves who clothed themselves in black robes and called themselves the People. She had heard stories of people being abducted and never being seen again. It was rumored that they had been stolen away to be sacrificed and eaten by the People in worship of their god. She knew now that these weren't merely stories, legends, and rumors. She had become one of those abducted.
Lily opened her eyes at the slightest noise from the side of her little room. There she saw her boy-captor putting down a small metal tray. She saw him look over at her and swear under his breath. She was surprised that she hadn't noticed him before that point. She crawled over to the tray and watched him begin filling it with some foul-smelling meat or bread substance.
"Please, sir, isn't there something better to eat?" She looked up at him, but that damned hood kept his face in shadow still. She wanted to know the identity of her captor.
"No. Eat this or go hungry." He sounded annoyed and uncomfortable with her so near.
"What's your name?" As she watched his shoulders tighten she realized he was truly uneasy when she talked.
"That's none of your concern." He grabbed another metal tray from a burlap sack she had missed seeing before.
"Well, you're my captor. I should say it's my concern." Lily received no answer but the turning of his back as he swept out of the room with the sack. No wonder she hadn't noticed when he arrived. His movements were completely silent. The only reason she heard him at all was the unavoidable sound the metal trays made when they touched the stone floor.
She began to wonder why he had filled one tray and not the other, when all of a sudden he was beside her again, this time with a water pitcher. When he started to fill the tray with water, she again harassed him with questions.
"May I see your face at least, mysterious warden?" Again he didn't answer.
When the tray was full, he started to walk out of the room, and she tried one more question, "Sir, why am I here? What are you going to do to me?" This time, she got a reaction.
He stopped in the middle of the room and asked her, still facing the opposite direction, "If I tell you why, will you shut up and stop asking me questions?" He sounded angry this time, making her hesitate.
"Uh...yes. Yes, I will. If you will please explain why I'm here." At that, he turned and sat down next to the stake in the middle of the room. He was spotlighted by a small shaft of light the came from high up in the ceiling. Then he began his story.
He spoke in a voice so quiet, that Lily had to strain to hear over the others in the nursery. She had to keep scooting closer and closer until she was right next to him.
"You are here because a few of the hunters went out looking for new millah to breed. Some of our older ones are dying and are no longer viable."
"To...breed? Like cattle?" She could not disguise the horrified disgust in her voice even had she wanted to.
He nodded, "Yes, like what you call cattle. That is what Outsiders are to us. Just as you raise your cattle for food and to breed, so we raise millah- Outsider-cattle."
"That's what we are to you? Cows? Nothing more than filthy animals?!" Now Lily was more angry than frightened. These people had no right to use people like her in such a way. And how could he be telling her this in such a calm, flat voice?
"That's what Outsiders are. They are no more. Except..." Now she could tell his eyes were directly locked on to hers.
"Except what?" She felt a trickle of dread running down her back, flooding out the anger.
"Except that a few outsiders are better than the others. They are more lovely in our eyes, for they resemble our god, Sephirin, or his wife, Ophelia. Those are the special ones. When we find them, we are more careful. We make sure they do not get hurt on their way down to their special rooms in our nursery."
Lily felt her anger flaring up again. "Don't get hurt?! I was thrown all over the place on my way down!"
She then fell over to the ground. He had slapped her across the face.
His voice was no longer the calm, even tone. She could hear the fury as he said, "I let you be disrespectful once, but I will not allow it again. I would not mind if you were merely disrespecting me, but now you disrespect the Elder and the Hunters. That is not allowable." He then waited until she picked herself up and sat down in front of him. She was sure he could feel her anger seething towards him. When he spoke again, his voice was back to normal, "As I was saying, the special Outsiders have different rooms. They are fed a special diet to keep them strong, for their strength is needed for the Ceremony."
"What ceremony?"
"When a Child is to become an Adult, they have a large Initiation Ceremony. These only happen whenever the Hunters bring back the special ones, so they are not very often. The very end of the Initiation is the Cutting."
"What's that?" Lily tried her hardest to keep her fear from showing, but her voice still shook.
She heard the evil smile in his voice as he continued, "The Cutting is the sacrificing of the special one by cutting off the head, then drinking the blood to take in its strength. This is why the strength is kept up until the Ceremony."
She was speechless. She had never heard something so horrible as this. She was to be sacrificed and then eaten. She looked up to where he had all but vanished out of the room and shouted after him, "What gives you the right to treat us this way?" All she heard was the moaning and groaning of the other millah.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Current Events
So, it's been a while since I've posted. I've been busy in the meantime. The biggest thing was my youth group's missions trip to Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Basically we run a vacation bible school for the Indian kids in three towns: Winner, Ideal, and White River. In addition, a work team builds on to the playground they've built for the kids every year.
This year I was on the Winner team, just like every year before that. It was going to be really weird for our team, because all of the leaders were new. However, it wasn't going to be too bad, seeing half the seniors have been on the Winner team for four years, so we all knew roughly how things should work. And then Mother Nature decided to have fun with us. For the first three days, it rained during the day time. It has NEVER rained during the Kids' Club before. It only presented a problem this year; the year after certain allegations were made against someone who was related to the man who's in charge of the Community Center that we've always used before. Obviously, they weren't exactly happy with us this year, so we could only use the Community Center on the first day. It wasn't too bad, as the rain didn't start until Kids' Club was almost over.
So...second day, pouring rain, and we have nowhere to go. We can't stay at the park when it's freezing and raining. So, that morning, our leaders were frantically calling all the buildings in the area to see if they would let us use something. Finally, we were able to get the Middle School gym. It was weird- we had never been inside all day. EVER. We managed to get through it, and, it actually seemed to be nicer than staying out at the park all day anyway.
Second day, we didn't have the gym. Again there was frantic calling and we got the Armory gym this time. Now, this gym was nice. It worked incredibly well. Everything there went smoothly and we all loved it. About this point in time, I was acquainted with Lucas. Lucas is a little Indian boy about 1.5-2 years of age. He's the most adorable thing ever. He became my little buddy for the rest of the week. He was really attached to me. It got to the point where I had to go do something, and I tried to leave Lucas in someone else's arms. He wouldn't go. When she finally got him off me, he started crying and so I grabbed him back. I ended up leaving him with his older sister, Shaylyn, before I could go do what I had to. The next day we ended the Kids' Club with a barbeque for us, the kids, and their parents. I cut up Lucas' food and was feeding him. In the middle of eating, he started falling asleep. He ended up falling asleep in my lap. It was so adorable!!! He was still sleeping when I handed off to his mother.
The next day, when we were driving home, Shaylyn (from our group) was talking to Shaylyn (Lucas' older sister). Shaylyn was saying that Lucas had been crying all morning, saying, "Lanie, Lanie!" :( I was tempted to tell Kate to turn the van around and go back. I felt so bad leaving the little dude. He was MY Lucas. :(
But, all in all, Rosebud was a good one. :)
This year I was on the Winner team, just like every year before that. It was going to be really weird for our team, because all of the leaders were new. However, it wasn't going to be too bad, seeing half the seniors have been on the Winner team for four years, so we all knew roughly how things should work. And then Mother Nature decided to have fun with us. For the first three days, it rained during the day time. It has NEVER rained during the Kids' Club before. It only presented a problem this year; the year after certain allegations were made against someone who was related to the man who's in charge of the Community Center that we've always used before. Obviously, they weren't exactly happy with us this year, so we could only use the Community Center on the first day. It wasn't too bad, as the rain didn't start until Kids' Club was almost over.
So...second day, pouring rain, and we have nowhere to go. We can't stay at the park when it's freezing and raining. So, that morning, our leaders were frantically calling all the buildings in the area to see if they would let us use something. Finally, we were able to get the Middle School gym. It was weird- we had never been inside all day. EVER. We managed to get through it, and, it actually seemed to be nicer than staying out at the park all day anyway.
Second day, we didn't have the gym. Again there was frantic calling and we got the Armory gym this time. Now, this gym was nice. It worked incredibly well. Everything there went smoothly and we all loved it. About this point in time, I was acquainted with Lucas. Lucas is a little Indian boy about 1.5-2 years of age. He's the most adorable thing ever. He became my little buddy for the rest of the week. He was really attached to me. It got to the point where I had to go do something, and I tried to leave Lucas in someone else's arms. He wouldn't go. When she finally got him off me, he started crying and so I grabbed him back. I ended up leaving him with his older sister, Shaylyn, before I could go do what I had to. The next day we ended the Kids' Club with a barbeque for us, the kids, and their parents. I cut up Lucas' food and was feeding him. In the middle of eating, he started falling asleep. He ended up falling asleep in my lap. It was so adorable!!! He was still sleeping when I handed off to his mother.
The next day, when we were driving home, Shaylyn (from our group) was talking to Shaylyn (Lucas' older sister). Shaylyn was saying that Lucas had been crying all morning, saying, "Lanie, Lanie!" :( I was tempted to tell Kate to turn the van around and go back. I felt so bad leaving the little dude. He was MY Lucas. :(
But, all in all, Rosebud was a good one. :)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Now entering...
...the busiest part of my summer. I leave for Rosebud Indian Reservation on Sunday and stay there for a week. Coming home, I immediately have to start my malaria medicine, because two weeks after that I go to Belize for a week. AND not quite two weeks after that, our family vacation begins. Two weeks later, as soon as vacation ends, I have that weekend to move into my dorm at UNI before band camp begins that Monday. O.O So busy!!!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Fun with Friends
Last night was incredibly fun. After I took YS1 to work, I went over to my bf's apartment. We hung out, playing Brawl and messing around on the computer with his sister Heather and her bf Josh, until it was time to go see the new X-men movie-- X-men: First Class. Was an awesome movie by the way. Then we all went over to Tasty Tacos for supper. Inappropriate jokes commenced. Tom was ashamed of me cuz I didn't eat my entire taco.
Then we went back to his apartment. After a while, Fleming and Jake showed up. Playing Brawl with these people was amazingly fun, seeing as Fleming totally dominates with Olimar and Tom does the same with Ike. Jake and I aren't quite as good as they are, but I'm pretty sure I'm better than Jake is. ;) There was some awesome trash talk going on. For instance, when Jake said something to Fleming about him being straight, and Fleming (responding without thinking about what exactly had been said) said, "You'd think so, but you'd be wrong." XD Eventually we decided to stop playing, at the point when I, as Kirby, killed Fleming's Olimar. He decided to go cry and eat his frozen custard. Then they played League of Legends for an hour or so before I decided that it was my bedtime and went home. (around 2am) Of course, when I kissed Tom, Jake shouted out, "GAY!" Yeah. Lol.
I have decided that I am definitely going back sometime to hang out with Tom and his friends, seeing as they're so insane. Should prolly learn to play some of the games they constantly play before that point though.
THE END
Then we went back to his apartment. After a while, Fleming and Jake showed up. Playing Brawl with these people was amazingly fun, seeing as Fleming totally dominates with Olimar and Tom does the same with Ike. Jake and I aren't quite as good as they are, but I'm pretty sure I'm better than Jake is. ;) There was some awesome trash talk going on. For instance, when Jake said something to Fleming about him being straight, and Fleming (responding without thinking about what exactly had been said) said, "You'd think so, but you'd be wrong." XD Eventually we decided to stop playing, at the point when I, as Kirby, killed Fleming's Olimar. He decided to go cry and eat his frozen custard. Then they played League of Legends for an hour or so before I decided that it was my bedtime and went home. (around 2am) Of course, when I kissed Tom, Jake shouted out, "GAY!" Yeah. Lol.
I have decided that I am definitely going back sometime to hang out with Tom and his friends, seeing as they're so insane. Should prolly learn to play some of the games they constantly play before that point though.
THE END
Sunday, June 5, 2011
FuN tImEs!
So, I've recently started using the site omegle.com. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a site where you get paired with a random stranger to chat. Kind of like Chatroulette. Anyway, it's incredibly entertaining, especially when you start pissing people off. To date, I have seen:
Just letting you know what fun you could be having with random strangers. =)
- A zombie who apparently lost his fingers
- A horny zombie into bestiality (or just has no idea how to spell)
- 3 awesome people who are into art and music and had awesome chats with
- A horny Indian male who had no idea that someone had told him the wrong English (Like, he was using the wrong body parts when he randomly decided to talk dirty. I was greatly confused before I told him to check his English)
- Two trolls (definition of trolling here)
- Several people who log off after only a "hi"
- People who don't want to talk about zombies
- Someone who asked what my darkest secret was and believed me when I said something about fantasizing about Tigger (EEEEEEWWWWW!!!)
- Countless horny males who are really annoying
Just letting you know what fun you could be having with random strangers. =)
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