Time Spike: The Swarm
Written by David W. Dove
The tiny, grasshopper-like insects munched on the last of the plant leaves, oblivious to anything but eating. Their mating season would be arriving soon and they consumed as much as they could so that they would be fertile.
Suddenly the odor of pheromones filled the air around them. The scouts had returned and were broadcasting a message: food!
As a single unit, the creatures took wing and began to fly in the direction the scouts had indicated. The air darkened, as if a malevolent cloud had formed over the area.
****
"Jack, look out!"
Jack Dauderman was snapped out of his thoughts by the warning and barely managed to throw himself out of the way of the swinging piece of wooden machinery.
As he picked himself up off the ground, Kevin Johnson, the one who had shouted the warning, reached down to help him up. "Are you all right, Jack?"
Jack let his Cherokee friend pull him up from the ground. "Yeah, thanks Kevin."
Kevin reached out to catch the swinging piece of their latest ballista. They had figured out a way to build the weapon in pieces so that it would be easier to put in a watch tower, like the one here in the Cherokee town of Saluka. "Where are your thoughts, Jack? You could have been hurt badly."
"He thinkin' 'bout his chica, yeah?" came a voice from up in the tower.
Jack looked up to see the teasing grin of Carlos Martinez looking back at him. Carlos had been one of the first prisoners that the Boomers had nominated for parole and the first one to be released from that parole. His ability with construction, especially his knack of building things without nails in the metal poor settlements, made him a natural to help set up the ballista towers in the different towns. His easy-going good humor almost made up for the way he could get on your nerves.
Jack shook his head in resignation. "He's right, Kevin. I can't seem to concentrate when I don't know what's going on. Why couldn't I be there?"
Kevin smiled. "I told you, Jack. This is a matter for the women to decide. It is the Cherokee way. Now put your mind back on the task. We need to finish the ballista before it gets dark."
****
Susanna Johnson fumbled with the basket she was working on, unable to concentrate on the task at hand. She was too focused on listening to the conversation in the other part of the cabin. The women there were discussing her future.
She had been overjoyed when she discovered the turkey that Jack had left by her door last evening. Well, it wasn't really a turkey; it was one of the small lizards that lived in the area. But it was the same size as a turkey, moved much as a turkey moved, and even tasted a bit like one, so everyone had just started calling it that. Jack had hunted and killed the lizard himself.
Susanna smiled at the thought of Jack hunting. Her brother had been teaching Jack how to hunt and often joked about how clumsy the man was in the woods. But he had also told her that Jack wanted to court her properly and took the lessons very seriously. She was sure that Kevin had coached Jack about leaving the gift.
As she sat and tried to work on the basket, she could hear the women talking.
"Why is his mother not here? I should be speaking with her." That was her mother speaking.
The next voice was that of Kathleen Hanrahan. "He has no mother here, Elizabeth, just as none of us from my time have any family. That's why I'm here. Jack asked me to sit in place of his mother because I now live here with your people. I consider it quite an honor to be asked."
"Can he provide for my daughter?"
The third woman in the room, Susan Fisher, answered. "Elizabeth, did he not bring a gift of meat yesterday?"
"My son says that the man is not much of a hunter."
"No, but he is trying to learn. The people of his time did not have to hunt. Animals were raised on great farms and meat was easy to buy in markets. And he has important work. He builds the weapons to protect the towns from the great lizards and other predators. Do not act like you do not know that. Your own son helped Jack kill the great lizard that threatened the village children in Schulerville."
"He is not Cherokee."
"No, he is not, but how many Cherokee men do we have? And of those who came with the Great Wind, how many are not of your clan? The simple truth is there are very few Cherokee men that your daughter may marry. And do not forget, Elizabeth, your own grandfather was a white man."
"He will want to take my daughter to live in his village, take her away from her family. It is always what the white men do."
Kathleen answered this time. "Elizabeth, that is not true. Jack explained to me that he wants to follow the Cherokee tradition. He would, of course, have to go to the other settlements to do his work, but he would live here with Susanna. Besides, I really don't think he wants to take her back to his place. Like a lot of our people, he sleeps in one of the old prison cells, hardly the place to take a new bride."
Susan again spoke. "Elizabeth, Jack does not want to change our traditions. I am sure he has traditions of his own to share, but he also wants to learn ours. But you know as well as I do that our traditions will be changing, joining with those of the people of Schulerville as well as those of the other villagers. We must become one people to survive in this new world."
Her mother didn't seem convinced. "If he is so concerned about our traditions, he should have received my permission before he brought the gift."
"He is learning, Elizabeth. Even among the Cherokee the traditions are not always followed as they once were. I believe Jack truly does want to do it the right way. You must overlook a bit of youthful impetuousness."
When the women grew quiet, Susanna risked a glance in their direction. She could see her mother was thinking.
She almost jumped when her mother spoke. "Susanna, come here."
Susanna put down the basket and quickly walked over to her mother, barely able to breath because of her nerves.
Her mother pulled a chair next to her. "Sit with me."
When Susanna sat down, her mother took Susanna's hands in her own and smiled. "Susanna, if you wish to marry this man, I give you my blessing and will not stand in your way."
Susanna was so happy it felt as if her heart was going to burst out of her chest. She wrapped her arms around her mother in a tight hug. "Oh, thank you, Mother, thank you!"
Elizabeth chuckled and patted her on the back. "Forgive me, Susanna, for giving you doubts. I only wanted to be sure he was a good man."
"He is mother. He is!"
Elizabeth pushed her away and held her at arms length. "Now go. You have some cooking to do."
****
Three Wolves huddled with his family in their small hut as the sound of insects filled the air. Time and again one of the small creatures would slip inside through a crack and he had crushed each of them.
The small boy curled tighter into his protective grasp. "Papa, I'm frightened."
He pulled the boy in closer. "I know Little Turtle, but do not worry. I will protect you."
He saw the worried look in his wife's eyes and he knew she could tell he lied. He really didn't know what would happen.
The cloud of insects had descended only a short time ago and everyone in the village had fled into their huts. Three Wolves had heard stories before the Great Wind of lands far in the direction of the setting sun. In those stories, clouds of insects had come in to devour all the plants and people had gone hungry.
He didn't know what his village would do. How did one fight insects without number?
****
Jack held the pieces steady as Carlos used a mallet to pound in the dowel that would secure the mortise and tenon joint on the ballista. When the end of the dowel was flush with the surrounding wood, he shook and twisted the connection to make sure it was secure.
He leaned back to look at the completed weapon. "Carlos, I think that's it. Congratulations, you just completed your first assembly of the Mark III Ballista."
The Mexican's face lit up in satisfaction. "Can we fire it now?"
Jack smiled. "Not yet, we need to double check all the joints to make sure they're secure and then we need to wind up the springs. Only after all that's done can we fire it."
Carlos nodded and bent to examine all the joints of the weapon.
Just then Kevin appeared at the top of the ladder and placed the wooden spears he had been carrying onto the floor of the tower. "Is it almost ready?"
"Almost, Carlos is checking all the joints now. All we have left is to wind it up."
Kevin's response was interrupted by a voice from below. "Hello in the tower."
Jack looked over the edge of the tower floor and saw Chief Geoffrey Watkins below. "Hello, Geoffrey. What can we do for you?"
"How is the construction going?"
"We've finished assembling the ballista. We're just double checking it now. All that's left is to wind the springs and it will be ready to fire."
"Good, you should stop for today. There will be plenty of time to finish that tomorrow."
"It really won't take long."
Geoffrey smiled broadly. "That may be, Jack, but you have another appointment. You need to be ready."
Jack was confused. "What other appointment? All I had planned for today was to work on the ballista."
"You might want to go to this one, Jack. Someone is fixing your meal this evening."
Jack's was still confused until he looked at Kevin.
His friend was smiling knowingly. "Susanna is preparing a meal from your gift, Jack. My mother has agreed to your marriage."
****
Rebecca Calhoun carefully picked the small insect from the corn stalk, threw it to the ground and crushed it beneath her heel.
That was the fourth of the grasshopper-like creatures she had found today. They seemed to be appearing in the field more frequently. Susan Fisher would have to be told.
****
Jack was so nervous he almost turned around and ran, but he steeled his nerves and knocked on the door of the cabin.
A small Cherokee woman answered the door and looked at Jack with suspicion. "Yes?"
Jack took a deep breath. "Mrs. Johnson, my name is Jack Dauderman. I have brought a gift for your daughter."
When Jack held out the sack, the woman took it and looked inside. The sack contained the big pine nuts that the Cherokee were grinding into nut meal.
The woman gave Jack a dirty look, but then her eyes twinkled and she gave a wide grin. "Come in, Jack. We have been expecting you."
The next couple of hours were a bit confusing to Jack. He was placed at one end of a table and Kevin sat beside him. Mrs. Johnson sat at the other end of the table and watched Jack almost continuously.
Kevin constantly reassured him that his mother was only watching to make sure things were done properly.
As Jack watched, Susanna brought out the meal. The turkey that Jack had left the evening before was now cooked and placed on the table. Never meeting his eyes with hers, she used the knife to cut off a large piece of the meat and placed it before him. She then went and took her own seat. Still her eyes never met his.
Jack leaned over and whispered to Kevin. "Why won't she look at me? Is something wrong?"
Kevin chuckled. "It is our way, Jack. She has accepted your proposal. Now she may not meet your gaze until you are married."
Jack had a hard time concentrating the rest of the evening. Susanna had accepted his proposal and her mother approved.
All through the meal, Susanna's mother asked many questions about his work and the family he had left in the future. Elizabeth Johnson seemed somewhat impressed that Jack's father had worked with wood and built things. It took a bit longer to explain what he meant when he said his mother drove a school bus.
He was still feeling the elation when he returned to the cabin he was sharing with Carlos while they worked on the ballista tower.
Carlos ambushed him with questions as soon as he walked through the door. "How it go, man? She gonna be your woman?"
Jack sat down on the bed, his mind still whirling. He nodded slightly. "Yeah, she is."
****
Rebecca watched as Susan Fisher picked the small insect off the corn stalk and examined it. She had come quickly when Rebecca had warned her about the insects.
This was the fifth insect they had found in only ten minutes and they all were eating from the stalk.
Susan shook her head in worry. "This is not good. Have the men build small fires around the field and tell them to use green wood to make smoke. Maybe that will keep the insects away."
She looked over the small patch of corn, the only field in existence. "I will tell Geoffrey."
****
Jack pointed out the different parts of the ballista to Geoffrey Watkins. "It works just like the one I built to protect Schulerville. Of course, I'll have to spread out the ones I finish to the different towns. The next one is slated to go to BoomTown. But, when I'm finished, I think four should go around Saluka, one on each side."
"I understand, Jack. The other towns need to be protected as well and it is not as if the large predators come to the village every day. We can wait our turn. What else do you suggest?"
"Well, I was thinking about that. Schulerville has the walls of the prison that people can go behind for protection. Here in Saluka, that's not the case. You might consider putting one up."
"Like the forts the Americans built on their frontiers." Geoffrey shook his head. "I do not like the idea of walls around the town, but I do see the wisdom of what you say."
"Okay, if you don't want walls, you need to at least clear a bigger area around the town, at least out to the range of the ballista. That way, whatever is coming, you'll have the maximum time to deal with it before it gets into the town."
Geoffrey nodded in thought. "Yes, that we will do." He looked at Jack and smiled. "We can use the wood we cut to build your cabin."
Jack could feel himself blushing as Geoffrey continued. "Ah, to be a young man again. Do you know yet when you will marry?"
"Not yet, but I don't plan on taking too long. I know as the chief, you will perform the Cherokee part of the wedding, but I also want to get Brian Carmichael to be there. He's the closest thing to a minister we have."
"The mixing of traditions is a good thing, but do not take too long. Your woman may think you do not want her any longer."
Jack laughed. "No worries there, Chief. If I could, I would marry her today. But, I want to do everything right and arrangements must be made."
"Good! Now, show me how to load and fire this ballista."
****
Rebecca watched as the children walked through the cornstalks, picking off the small grasshoppers and putting them in a covered basket. The smoke-producing fires were helping, but there were still many of the small insects.
She bent down and picked one of the insects from a stalk and examined it. It definitely looked much like the grasshoppers she knew, even if the color was a bit different. She crushed the small creature between her fingers.
Looking out from the small field, she could see the activity on the edge of the village. After Susan had discussed the problem with Geoffrey, the two of them had decided to burn away the plants surrounding the town in an attempt to create a barrier against the insects.
Only time would tell how successful their efforts would be.
****
After returning to Schulerville, Jack found Brian Carmichael outside the church doing his best to smooth out a path to the door. "Hey, Brian. How's it going?"
The big black man stood up straight and leaned on the shovel. "Hi, Jack. I'm doing good, which is more than I can say for the grounds around the church here. That last rain really made things muddy and then everyone tromped through it to get to the church. Even though it's dried up now, it's kind of like walking across a cheese grater. I thought I would level off a path and maybe even see if I can get some gravel."
"What you could really use is some concrete, put down a real sidewalk. But, I guess gravel will work for now."
"A concrete sidewalk would be nice. I wonder if there's some way to manage that. Anyway, what brings you to my little church, a social visit or something else?"
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about a marriage ceremony."
Brian's face lit up in a smile. "So, she said yes."
"I didn't really have any doubts that she would. Well, okay, a few, but the real question was would her mother agree to it."
"And I'm assuming she did, otherwise you wouldn't be here. Step into my office and let's talk about it."
Brian led him into the large wooden structure and then to an office on the inside. He offered a chair and took one himself. "So, what kind of ceremony are you thinking of?"
"Well, Brian, I really want to honor Susan's traditions as much as I can, but I also want to have a wedding my mother would approve of."
Brian leaned back with a frown. "Cherokee traditions, huh? You know, Jack, I won't be part of any heathen practices."
"Oh, no, I understand that. I was raised a Methodist myself." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Brian. "I've talked it over with Chief Watkins and I've written down the basic Cherokee ceremony. I want to take that and inject some parts of a regular church wedding."
Brian took the paper and read it. "This doesn't look as bad as I thought it might. There are lots of references to the Creator and a whole bunch of the bride and groom's vows to each other." He nodded thoughtfully. "Actually, a lot of these vows would fit right into a regular church ceremony where the couple has written their own vows."
He laid the paper on the desk and picked up a pencil. "I have some ideas where I could fit in some more traditional church practices."
****
Three Wolves reached down and picked up his small son. They had been walking for two days and still the devastation was all around them. The insect swarm had stripped every plant of anything that could be used for food. Without plants to eat, even the animals had fled.
Little Turtle's head rested on his shoulder. "Papa, I'm hungry."
"I know, my son. I know."
****
Kevin Johnson set the last of the plastic bottles on the floor of the cabin. "What is this stuff again?"
Carlos smiled at him. "I tol' you, man, is liquor. One a' the guys in BoomTown figure out how to make it from some plant, look like a cactus."
Kevin twisted the lid off the bottle and took a whiff of the contents. The strong alcohol smell made his eyes water.
Carlos laughed. "It not tequila, but it got a kick. We gonna have a good party."
Kevin kind of liked the idea of a bachelor party. The way Carlos had described it; the party was much like the pre-wedding feasts that Cherokee men received from their friends. There would be lots of food and drink, along with jokes and teasing about the groom-to-be's lack of experience.
Although Kevin and Carlos, Jack's closest friends, were putting together the party, several of the men from Schulerville and a few Cherokee men would be joining in.
Kevin grinned at Carlos. "I agree. I think it will be a good party."
Carlos grinned back. "We gonna send him off good. Too bad we not gonna have a stripper!"
Kevin wasn't sure what Carlos meant by that, so Carlos had to explain. When he understood, he was intrigued. Yeah, too bad.
****
Susanna sat in a party of her own, which was being held in the cabin she shared with her mother. There had been some teasing, but also a lot of instruction on her "duties." Each of the women present had brought a gift for her to help start her new home with her new husband.
Her mother waited until last to present her gift. "Susanna, when we were forced to leave our home by the whites, we were unable to bring many things with us. However, I did manage to save this. Now I want you to have it."
Susanna took the soft, blanket wrapped gift and placed it on her lap. As she unfolded the cloth, another blanket was revealed within. The second blanket was dazzling white in color. "Mother, is this . . . ?"
"Yes, Susanna, that is the blanket used when I married your father. I spent an entire day cleaning it, getting it as white as I could. Now, I want you to have it for your wedding."
"Of course, Mother, thank you."
Her mother's eyes were filled with tears. "Your father was a good man. It is a shame he was lost to us and could not see your wedding. I believe he would have approved of your Jack."
Susanna leaned over to hug her mother and felt the tears fill her eyes.
****
The next morning, Long Strider stalked through the ferns toward the small group of lizards. Soon they would be within easy range of his spear-thrower.
The people of the village where he now lived, the Cherokee, would not understand his reliance on the weapon he now used. But he knew; a real hunter used the spear-thrower, not the bow that the Cherokee preferred.
Oh, he would be forever grateful for both the Cherokee and the ones who called themselves "See-ohs." They had rescued him, along with his sister and other young villagers, from the evil man called "Day-so-to" after that man had killed most of the people of his village. But that didn't mean he had to accept all their practices.
He allowed himself to smile. It still amused him when he thought of how his sister had refused to ride on the strange, animal-pulled device that day.
His attention returned to the hunt. Slowly, he brought the weapon back and prepared to throw when the lizards all stopped their eating and looked up into the sky. Long Strider looked up as well, for he heard the same noise as the lizards.
Coming from the direction of the setting sun was a strange, buzzing cloud.
****
Jack started to rise from the bed, but dropped back with a groan. His head was throbbing. He wasn't sure what he had been drinking, but the after-effects were awful.
A voice from across the room intruded. "So, you back to life, huh?"
Jack opened his eyes to glare at Carlos. "No thanks to you trying to poison me."
Carlos laughed loudly. "Poison? No, man, it only a lil' bit a' cactus Kool-aid. You gotta learn to drink, gringo."
Jack groaned. "I may never drink again."
"You a wimp. I drink twice as much as you. Come on, I got fried lizard eggs and steak from the one that laid 'em."
"No food!"
Carlos laughed again. "You gotta eat, man. It almost noon and you getting married this ev'nin."
The statement shocked Jack back to life. "Oh crap, I still have to learn my vows."
****
Rebecca and the warrior she spoke to barely managed to catch the man who had come running full speed from the woods.
"Where is Geoffrey?" the man gasped.
Rebecca recognized the villager when he spoke. "What is it Long Strider?"
The man looked back the way he had come and pointed. "I must tell Geoffrey. They come!"
Rebecca looked where Long Strider was pointing and she felt a chill run down her back.
The sky was darkening from the cloud of insects.
****
Jack zipped his pants after relieving himself next to the tree. His head hurt like hell, but he didn't have time to deal with it. He had vows to learn.
He was about to go back into the cabin when he heard a low buzzing and looked around to find its source.
His eyes widened when he saw the swirling cloud of insects descending on the town.
He quickly ran back into the cabin. "Carlos, we've got a problem!"
"What the problem?"
Jack motioned him to the door and pointed to the insects.
Carlos crossed himself. "Madre de Dios!"
****
Kevin swatted at the insects that landed on him as he hurried to escape the cloud.
A small child screamed in terror and he hurried over to brush the insects from her skin. Tiny welts were forming where she had been bitten.
He quickly scooped her up and ran to the nearest cabin.
****
Susanna held the blanket tightly around her as her friend pulled the comb through Susanna's freshly washed hair. Today was her wedding day and she wanted to look her best.
Another of the women around her cried out in pain and swatted at her arm. The spot she rubbed was developing a small welt.
Susanna felt something land on her shoulder and quickly swatted at it, crushing the small, grasshopper-like insect there.
She looked around at the now swarming insects. "Quickly, into the water!"
The small group of women jumped into the water, hoping to keep the insects away from them.
****
Rebecca rubbed at the welt on her arm as she used the other hand to wave the smoky torch near the cornstalks, hoping to keep them from the valuable crop.
Geoffrey Watkins swatted at an insect on the back of his neck. "It's no use! There are too many of them! Get into the cabins!"
Rebecca continued to fight the insects. "But they will eat the corn!"
Geoffrey grabbed and pulled her away. "We cannot stop them!"
The two of them ran toward the cabins.
****
Jack smashed the insect that had crawled through the crack.
Carlos crushed one on the other side of the cabin. "What we gonna do?"
"How the hell should I know? We make ballistae, remember? We need bug spray, not siege weapons."
He saw that another insect had landed on the floor and crushed it under his shoe.
****
Kevin quickly slammed the door of the cabin shut after Geoffrey and Rebecca were inside.
Rebecca collapsed on the floor. "They will eat everything!"
Kevin looked at Geoffrey. "Can we do anything?"
Geoffrey shook his head sadly. "What can we do? There are just too many of them." He looked over at the old woman that was tending the bites on the young girl's arm. "How is she?"
The old woman smeared a salve on the welts from the insect bites. "They may be sore or itch, but there is no real damage from the bites. There does not seem to be any poison."
"The insects only bite out of irritation then. That is good for us, but it does not help the fields. I fear the crops will be lost."
****
Susanna could hold her breath no longer and rose above the surface of the stream for air. As she gasped, she took a quick look around.
Insects swarmed the entire village. The buzzing sound was almost deafening. The few people still in the open rushed to hide inside cabins.
Everywhere she looked, the insects were landing on plants and she knew they would strip the plants bare. She shuddered as she thought of what that would mean for the crops the Cherokee tended.
The only things that did not seem bothered by the insects were the turkey lizards that had wandered into the town. Instead, the flock was happily leaping and catching the insects.
The sight caused her to pause. The turkeys are eating the insects!
She swatted an insect away that landed on her forehead and saw her companion come up for air. "Mary, the turkeys are eating the insects!"
"And they will eat us if we let them! Get back under the water!"
Susanna reached out and kept her friend from submerging. "Don't you understand? If nothing is done, the insects will eat all the crops!"
"But what can we do?"
"Everything else can be replaced, but the corn cannot. We need to get the lizards to the corn!"
Susanna quickly told her friends what they needed to do and then led them toward the lizards.
****
Jack heard the women yelling outside and opened the window to see what was happening. Outside he saw Susanna and a small group of young women trying to herd a large flock of the turkey lizards.
What was that woman thinking? "Susanna, are you crazy? Get inside!"
Susanna turned and yelled out. "Jack, the turkeys are eating the insects! If we can get them to the corn, we may be able to save it!"
Jack understood. The corn was special to the Cherokee, sacred, and if it was destroyed could not be replaced. It needed to be saved. "Okay, we're coming!"
He started to the door. "Come on Carlos, we've got some work to do!"
"You crazy man, but okay."
The two men rushed out to join the women and tried to help herd the lizards. The lizards, of course, didn't particularly want to be herded. One lizard took off away from the group and Jack started after it.
Carlos quickly stopped him. "Jack, you crazy gringo, you never chase chickens? Leave the stray! If we get the flock where we want, he come back to them!"
Jack returned to the line and helped herd the flock. As they made their way toward the field of corn, people would look out of their cabins and Susanna would recruit them to help.
****
Rebecca stopped to get her breath and wipe away the sweat. As she looked over the field, the turkey lizards leapt among the stalks, catching and eating the insects.
Susan Fisher stood beside her. "There is some damage, but the crop will survive."
"But if the insects move away, so will the lizards. The insects will then be free to return."
"You are correct. We need to keep some of the lizards around. I will get some of the warriors to build a fence. When the children gather grasshoppers, we will use part of the catch to feed the lizards."
****
Jack helped Kevin put the log across the hastily created fence. "That should hold for now, but a better fence needs to be built."
Kevin rubbed at the welts on his arm. "Better fences we can build. The corn has been saved."
Now that the fence was finished, Geoffrey had gathered a few warriors together and sent them to warn Schulerville and BoomTown.
Brian Carmichael walked up to Jack. "Not the best start to a wedding day is it?"
Jack inhaled sharply at the statement. "Oh no, the wedding. It completely slipped my mind in the excitement!"
"Easy, Jack, I'm sure we can delay it until tomorrow if you want. Everyone would understand."
Jack looked over at Susanna, who was wiping away a trickle of sweat. Her freshly washed hair was now a tangled mess. "Let me check with Susanna."
He walked over to her and she quickly averted her eyes when he approached. "Susanna, honey, after all that's happened today, we don't have to have a wedding tonight."
Susanna quickly looked at him in alarm, then remembered and dropped her gaze. "If that is what you wish."
"No, it is not what I wish. I've been waiting months to marry you and I don't really want to wait."
Susanna smiled, but didn't look at him. "But there is so much to do."
"Let me handle that." He saw Geoffrey walking by. "Hey, Geoffrey!"
The chief walked up to him. "Yes, Jack."
"I know everyone is tired, but do you think we could still have the wedding this evening?"
"Is that what you want?"
Jack looked at Susanna, who smiled and nodded. "Yes, Geoffrey, we do."
Geoffrey's face lit up. "Then a wedding we shall have!"
Susanna's friend Mary had heard the exchange. She grabbed Susanna's hand and led her away. "If we are having a wedding, we have a lot of work to do."
****
Jack walked with the men until they came to the center of town. Next to the large ceremonial fire that always burned, two smaller fires had been built, one on the north side and one on the south.
He slowly walked to the east side of the large fire and stopped, facing the flames. The men filed behind him, forming a single row facing the fire.
After only a few moments, a line of women came towards the fire, led by Susanna. Susanna stopped on the west side of the central fire and faced it, her eyes downcast so as not to meet Jack's. The ladies formed a single row behind her, facing the fire.
Jack saw that Susanna's mother carried a basket on a blue blanket and knew that it carried the symbolic gift for the marriage.
Kathleen Hanrahan also carried a basket on a blue blanket. She was serving in place of Jack's mother and carried his gift.
Jack couldn't take his eyes off of Susanna. The young woman's disheveled appearance from earlier in the day had been replaced with that of a goddess, his goddess.
After the women had stopped, Brian Carmichael and Geoffrey Watkins walked up and stood on the north side of the central fire. Jack knew that the two men had been discussing the ceremony and they were each taking part in conducting the wedding.
Brian was the first. He opened his notes and began to speak, addressing the crowd. "Friends and loved ones, we are gathered here today in the sight of God to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our blessings to the joining of Jonathan Dauderman and Susanna Johnson in holy matrimony.
"Months ago, when the event that we now call the Quiver or the Great Wind tore us from our old worlds, we were separate peoples, thrown together by chance in a new world. The need to survive brought us together to carve out a new home. Now this joyous event brings us together in a new way. This marriage is a step toward a deeper cooperation, a step toward becoming a single people.
"Jack, Susanna, life is given to each of us as individuals, yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family and friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and live together is one of life's greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a marriage.
"Today truly is a glorious day, as today both of you are blessed with the greatest of all God's gifts, the gift of love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today, as well as those who could not be here, wish you both all the joy, happiness, and success the world has to offer."
Geoffrey then began to speak. "Gathered friends, a marriage is a partnership of two people. For a marriage to succeed, each partner has responsibilities and must fulfill these duties."
Jack took a step moving clockwise around the fire and recited his first vow. He had worried he wouldn't remember them, but now the words came freely. "My beloved, our love has become firm by your walking the first step with me. Together we will share the responsibilities of home, food, and children. May God bless us with noble children to share and may they live long."
Susanna took a clockwise step. "This is my commitment to you, my love. Together we will share the responsibility of the home, food and children. I promise that I shall discharge all my share of the responsibilities for the welfare of the family and the children."
Jack took his second step. "My beloved, now you have walked the second step with me. May God bless you. I will love you and you alone as my wife. I will fill your heart with strength and courage. This is my commitment and my pledge to you. May God bless you and our home."
Susanna stepped again. "My love, at all times I shall fill your heart with courage and strength. In your happiness I shall rejoice. May God bless you and our honorable lodge."
Jack stepped a third time. "My beloved, now that you have walked three steps with me, our wealth will grow. May God bless us and may our children grow wise and strong."
Susanna stepped. "My love, I love you with single-minded devotion. From this moment on, I will treat all other men as my brothers. My devotion to you is pure and you are my joy. This is my commitment and pledge to you."
Jack stepped again. "My beloved, it is a great blessing that you have now walked four steps with me. May the Creator bless you for you have brought joy into my life."
Susanna stepped. "My love, in all acts of righteousness, in material prosperity, in every form of enjoyment, and in all acts such of worship, I promise you that I shall always be with you."
Jack took his fifth step. "My beloved, now you have walked five steps with me. May God bless us and make us prosperous."
Susanna stepped again. "My love, I will share both in your joys and sorrows. Your love will make me very happy."
Jack stepped. "My beloved, by walking six steps with me, you have filled my heart with happiness. May I fill your heart with great joy and peace, time and time again.
Susanna stepped. "My love, God blesses you. May I fill your heart with great joy and peace. I promise that I will always be with you."
Jack took his seventh and final step. "My beloved wife, as you have walked the seven steps with me, our love and friendship have become inseparable and firm. We have experienced spiritual union in God. Now you have become completely mine. I offer my total self to you. May our marriage last forever."
Susanna stepped next to the northern fire. "My beloved husband, in God's eyes we are joined and I have become your wife. Whatever promises I gave you I have spoken them with a pure heart. All here are witnesses to this fact. I shall never deceive you, nor will I let you down. I shall love you forever."
Jack now stood next to the small fire to the south and Susanna stood next to the one on the north.
Geoffrey again spoke. "Both groom and bride have made vows. Now as the two small fires are joined to the larger fire, so too are their lives joined together under the eyes of the Creator."
Jack knelt down at the same time as Susanna. Gently they each pushed the burning wood of the small fires into the larger fire. They both stood and Jack walked around to stand beside Susanna as they faced Brian and Geoffrey.
Geoffrey nodded to Kathleen and she walked forward to give the blanket and basket to Jack. She then stood off to his side. Elizabeth likewise brought forth what she held and gave it to Susanna.
Jack placed his basket on the ground before him, as did Susanna. He then turned to Susanna, who now looked him straight in the eyes for the first time since their engagement. He smiled and gave his blanket to Susanna.
As Susanna took the blanket and folded it inside her own, Geoffrey spoke again, explaining the ceremony. "The two blankets represent each individual's being alone, their old ways of weakness, sorrow, failures and spiritual depression. The new bride folds his blanket within her own, symbolizing her promise to nurture and support her new husband."
Susanna bent, placed the joined blankets on the ground, and then picked up her basket. She turned and gave the basket to Jack.
Geoffrey continued the explanation. "The new bride gives the gift of bread to her groom, symbolizing her role as keeper of the home."
Jack placed the basket on the ground and picked up his own. As he gave it to Susanna, Geoffrey continued. "The new groom gives his bride a gift of meat as a symbol of his promise to provide for her needs and keep her safe."
Susanna placed the basket on the ground and turned to face Jack and take his hands.
Kevin stepped out of the line and brought a white blanket to Kathleen. She took the blanket and unfolded it, giving one end to Elizabeth. Together, the two women draped the blanket around the couple. They stepped back to join the line of women, which had joined hands, along with the line of men, to form a circle around the couple.
Geoffrey continued the explanation. "The single white blanket represents the joining of the couple, their new life of happiness, fulfillment, and the peace they will share together with their spirits joined."
He stepped forward and placed his hands on their shoulders. "As chief, I declare the blankets are joined!"
As he stepped back from the couple, Brain again spoke. "Jack and Susanna, as you come together as husband and wife, and on this day affirm your love for one another, I ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas, and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day as if it were the last one you will share together. From this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort, and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect."
Brian looked out and addressed the crowd. "I now present to you the new couple! Geoffrey and I would like to invite you all to the ceremonial lodge in a feast."
Cheers went up from the crowd, along with many hoots from the Cherokee.
Jack heard none of it as he stood holding Susanna's hands and looking into her eyes.
****
Jack quietly led Susanna out of the lodge, leaving the sounds of the noisy party behind them. He was trying his best not to attract attention.
Unfortunately, Carlos was just returning from relieving himself and stopped Jack just outside the door. "Jack, where you goin', man? This your party!"
Jack pulled Susanna closer. "Carlos, in case you've forgotten, I just got married. This is my wedding night."
Carlos looked first at Jack and then at Susanna. His face lit up with a knowing grin. "Oh, sure, man! Get outta here! There plenty of other chicas I can dance with."
Jack patted Carlos on the shoulder. "Thank you, my friend. If anyone asks about us, just tell them we wanted to be alone."
As Carlos laughed, Jack led his new bride to the cabin that had been prepared for their use.
Susanna opened the door, but Jack stopped her before she entered. "What is it, Jack? Is something wrong?"
"No, my wife, but there is another tradition from my people."
Before she could ask what it was, Jack swept her up into his arms. "I must carry you across the threshold. It is one of my traditions."
As she clung to him with her arms wrapped around his neck, he carried her through the entrance and kicked the door shut behind them.
****