Chapter 7 – Return to the main story, Creatures Don't Cry
Must you show cruelty for me to see kindness?
"It is an unkindness." He spoke to the mule. "The flock of Ravens over there." the man pointed. They continued walking toward the far pastures, where the mule could run free. "Well, I don't really know why you call a flock of Ravens an Unkindness. They don't really flock much. It seems they travel in pairs. Maybe it has something to do with the way they behave? Ravens are not particularly kind. I really don't know if they have a choice. After all, things do have to act like themselves."
The man paused to wonder why such a large flock of Ravens circled. Ravens tended to avoid the sisters., and what sisters killed. But today was not the same as yesterday. Maybe in time, even Ravens could learn to be kind. The sky above the man grew black.
Day 50
When they met, the man spoke up promptly, "I have considered what we talked about yesterday. And I have more questions. You became excited over the rope being tugged. You didn't know why. I would like to...?"
Mercy interjected, "I am sorry, but I have no more to offer."
"That's not the question." He raised his hand to get her to pause. "If you were as 'excited' as you say; then, how did you stop yourself, and the others for that matter? The sisters have spent many years only going after their desires."
"To break this last promise: was to kill us and doom the world. Besides my desires take president over the others. The others were easy to stop. And speaking for myself; my need outweighed my desire. No. No, I cannot truthfully say that any of that is real. It must be. It is simply that we did not wish to risk death. Yes, the sisters do not wish to risk death. There still exists much fear of our demon."
Samuel said, "So, once again the answer is that it's good to be queen." He smiled and shook his head. "And you really didn't want to lay with another that bad." This creature is really hard to trust. Here it goes lying to me again. Its desires had changed. Maybe it doesn't know? Could its desires really have shifted? Could knowing really be that much of a shock to it? Who knows? I'm only guessing after all.
"Yes." Mercy nodded, "and the shock of it all, made it easier to resist." A moment resisting is no harder than resisting all the time. Her insides tightened.
"Well, part of your answer may be right. I think that it's one of the reasons you're still alive now." he looked into her eyes. "That restraint." A ring of honey formed on the edge of the gray. That's it, the honey color is the girl. The gray is the creature. Maybe the different parts of her don't talk to each other?
"Thank you for noticing, Samuel. The restraint. As I have said before, a girl likes to be noticed."
"You said 'a girl likes to be seen' earlier." He sat back, "Sorry, didn't mean to start correcting you."
Mercy smiled a Mercy smile, "I like to be seen and noticed."
"Mercy, I have to go do things at the house." He leaned on the arm of the chair. "If you are here later; I may try to come back." It clearly was an excuse to leave.
"Am I in error?" Mercy felt a sudden spike of anxiety.
"No, no – I have to go. I'll try to come back later. If I can."
He couldn't let her know. The old pain from years past returned. The last hospital was destroyed several years ago. Civilization fled, scattered into the hills behind the old gates. He didn't dare seek them out. He had tried that once before. And the creatures tried to follow. He couldn't let the creatures follow him there. Besides, they were small groups of people, isolated and alone, they couldn't help. Not anymore. Almost all technology was gone.
He returned to the chairs later in the day. "Mercy, you are right. Time is running out. It is important. None of us has much time left. Neither of us can fix it alone. You can't do it by yourself. I can't do it by myself. And we don't know what to do." He felt his time on this world growing shorter. And he felt a sense of urgency build.
Mercy's face changed. Color came to her as her eyes shined. The gray- steel eyes with honey-bronze edges seemed to belong together. "When it is right, we will know." She didn't realize her anxiety had floated away.
"Yes?" he said; not knowing what to say. "You said, 'It was for you. It was not correct for us.' What did you mean?"
She replied, "Indiscriminately speaking of sexual matters, Samuel?"
"Yes." he answered, "Avoiding answering a question, Mercy?"
"Samuel, this is simple. You were the reason, cause for my increased excitement."
"Yes, I got that part." He stammered out. "What wasn't correct?"
"For my need to outweigh my desire." She spread her knees slightly. She placed her hands, palms together, in front of her. She leaned forward, resting her forearms on her thighs. It is unnatural. To have such a strong desire, and to leave it unfulfilled. This is not correct."
"Well, I don't know what to say to that." He couldn't tell whether a girl or a creature had spoken. Would this conversation have been different if she was really a human? He wondered.
Mercy continued. She alone of all the sisters had this ability of self-control. She put a question to Samuel. "Never before have we not fulfilled our desires. I was not aware of this ability; until I found you. I wonder, Samuel which of us brought it about? I do not believe I would have discovered it without you. Still, it was not yours to give. Before you, I would have taken whatever came before me. No other had existence. There was no reason not to. These are the things I do not understand."
"Mercy, my dear creature, you have just puzzled out the nature of change." he leaned on the chair. "Well, at least you have figured out part of it. And I believe, I will call this conversation over, for now."
"Please stay. I have much to say."
"Mercy. You have a long walk to the others. You don't want to upset your sisters. Tomorrow is another day." He left for the house.
"Good night, Samuel. I feel we are being better friends, now." He called me 'dear'. I even liked the 'creature' part. 'My dear creature.' He will choose. He will be my Samuel. To speak to. To touch. To hold. To be close to. To be...
Day 51
Mercy waited. A new understanding was coming to her. She tried, but she could not remember when she had questioned anything. She always had the answers. She took what she wanted? Did she not? The man would help her with understanding. She remembered the beginning of his pain. She did not know what happened. She remembered a woman? We had done something? Whatever we have done, it caused the man great pain. If Mercy had been the man, she would not help Mercy or the Sisters. I will die before I hurt the man again. All other thoughts drifted away as she wondered what her last thought meant? She must find a way to know what not to do. Mercy waited by the tree.
She was under the bright green canopy. Her pale peach dress had no sleeves. It did not quite reach her ankles. She had the pointed beige shoes on. The off-white woven hat was too big for her. The light cotton gloves fit. She waited.
Mercy was patient. Samuel could tell time by looking at the sky. She did not have to. She had been here for six hours and twenty-two minutes. She had waited forever. I hope you are well, my friend. This was the least selfish idea Mercy ever had. She did not even notice. She watched. Samuel walked toward her. He came from the barn. She went around the chair. She eased herself down.
The man approached. She did not wait for him to sit. "You are not well, Samuel." It was not a question. "I fear you are very ill."
Samuel leaned on the chair's back. "Yes, I believe you're partly right. Must have caught something." She could not find out how bad it really was.
Mercy quickly rose and approached the man. She stopped inches from him. She stood erect with her hands at her side. The hat hit the ground. Her head flowed around the man, encircling him. She looked like some kind of crazy water bird. "Name your need, and we will make you well again." She straightened herself out, and she gazed upward. He was already peering down. They nearly touched their noses. Mercy's breath was warm on his face. "Mercy will do anything Samuel needs." she paused as she realized she was squirming in her dress, "To get well."
"I can get you a stick, if you need to start poking me now?" He joked.
"Mercy has no desire to poke Samuel with a stick." She did not want to lose this closeness. Her hand rose. Fingertips reaching. Her eyes darted to her hand. She quickly stepped back. "Why do you desire to be poked? With a stick?"
"You seemed to be doing a very intense inspection there. I didn't want you to think you missed anything." He craned his head, mimicking her. Then he nodded at her.
"You are making fun of us? We only wish to help Samuel be well. Is this an attempt to injure us with words?" She plopped into the chair. 'We only wish for you to have wellness. And you seek to make us less?" She felt like her heart had been stepped on.
"No injury or insult was intended, Little One." He handed her the hat. "I was joking with you. I was not trying to make fun of you."
She studied the tree. "If injury was not intended, why do you call Mercy 'Little One' Samuel?" For the first time in her existence, she wanted to run away.
"You are half my size?" He studied Mercy. Something was going on. She was different. How different? Did she actually care about his health? For a sister of Mercy to care about anything not her, this never happened. How could this happen?
"This is not so. Mercy is... I am approximately three fifths of your size." She tried the smile of a snake. "Mercy will... I will help you any way I can to get well."
"I think you might've helped, already. I can't do a bird dance as good as yours was." Her disposition? Was she offended? Did she actually care? Even a little?
"Mercy will have sisters," she paused.
He broke in, "Hold on now. No need to do a bunch of stuff. Can't go off on a hunt with no direction. Besides, this will pass."
"Mercy has uncertainty." her brass rimmed silvery eyes blinked at Samuel, "This will pass? I cannot speak my words." She closed her eyes and lifted her head skyward.
This creature puzzled Samuel. It acted like it cared about others. It could be offended. It cared about its appearance. It could check its strongest desires. It seemed to be self-aware. It even had doubts. And it seemed to want to live. It was the most dangerous creature he had ever encountered. He had too many questions to kill it now. It was better to go along with it. Samuel spoke calmly and gently, "Little One, tell me what's going on in that pretty head of yours? It's going to be fine. We'll figure it out. The only thing you have to do is talk to me." He hoped that this new presentation would speed things along. It did seem to have an interest in kindness?
Her gaze fell on the man. "I wish you to continue. My wish is uncertain. I do not like uncertain."
"To continue what Mercy?" he questioned.
Her head leaned to the right. The sad gray of her eyes lacked focus. "Mercy wishes Samuel to continue. Mercy finds Samuel important. Samuel must not end."
"Oh, you were talking about me. It sounds like your low on hope." He rested his chin on his right hand. "Samuel has no intention of ending any time soon. Not if I can help it. Mercy, I believe you have a case of too much new all at once."
"Samuel will explain?" she proposed.
"First, pick one way to talk. Wait, never mind. Let's not add anything new on, right now." He took a deep breath. He would have to think of something good. "You just figured out that a 'being' outside of you can exist. You just discovered that a person who is not you could exist with its own purpose. This was a change for you. Next, I catch something. I am the only other you know. If I am gone; then, you're alone."
"Mercy does not want Samuel to end."
"Now, you're just starting to learn how to be 'friends' with another. Part of that is understanding that both good and bad happens to people. But the thing to remember is that things can be influenced, changed, sometimes. Hope gives us the strength to change things."
"I can learn hope?"
"You already have. You just have to use it now."
"I have seen your desire to help me get well. One does not do that without some hope it can happen."
Mercy's eyes were the same steel and brass. A hint of wonder hid in her flat expression. "Samuel wishes Mercy to have hope in his wellness?"
"No. Well, yes. But that wasn't what I was saying." Her hair fluttered. He squirmed in the chair. "I'm telling you that you have learned and changed a lot in a short time. With change comes uncertainty. In uncertain times, we find our own hope."
"Thank you, Samuel for speaking well of Mercy. As you have said, I will call this conversation over." The urge to run was stronger now, but for a different reason. She suddenly remembered; creatures do not cry.
"Very well, good evening, Mercy." Her eyes were the same bronze and steel.
Her back was to the man, "Thank you for saying I was pretty." Hope. He said pretty. She had the overwhelming urge to seek comfort from her sisters.
Day 52
The man was far from his creature. He was sure she was watching. Randolph pulled the small plow, the horse used to pull. Randolph stopped more than the horse. He would look at Samuel and snort. There were worse things. Samuel could be in front of the plow. In a few days, he would start planting. He was tired. I would bet she noticed I touched the hat. Her speech has differed more than her eyes in the last few days. Do the changes mean anything? It's getting stranger. And smarter. It doesn't drift off as much either. I have to find out what it's after. If I wait, I won't be able to find anyone to warn. "Come on Mr. Mule, we've done enough for this morning." Randolph snorted and shook his head. Samuel thought that he should have more fear of this creature.
Mercy's long wide bottom gray pants flapped at her feet like flags. The blood red blouse she wore did the same. From a distance they both seemed to exaggerate the wind. Samuel felt the urgency to find out her plans and schemes. He just had to find the energy to talk.
"Mercy," he stood on his side of the border.
"Samuel do not speak. From your appearance you are not better. I ask you to hold your work for another day?" Standing by the chair, she turned away. "Please, sit so you can rest."
"Mercy, I was coming to tell you." He fell to one knee. His world started to fade. He was abruptly drawn back by the warmth of a... creature! The butt of the shot gun jumped out. He fell back.
A scream, screech, howl unlike any ever heard by a human before covered the world.
Samuel rolled on the ground. He reached out to Mercy. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Please don't be hurt." The ball of a creature in the grass that was Mercy began to unfold. "Please, be well." he whispered. His eyes blinked. An angel?
Mercy stood with her back to the man, arms spread wide, and her fingers open. She spoke to her sisters. No human would be hurt by her kind today, or any day in the future. No more, pain. She went to the human.
Samuel saw her eyes. They were glowing blue steel surrounded by fiery gold. He whispered "Beautiful."
Day 53
Warmth? He didn't know where he was. A familiar darkness surrounded him. Everything faded.
Day 54
His eyes opened. It felt like someone had been pressing on them. A heaviness was on him. He didn't try to move. He was warm? He was in his own bed. Those eyes. What does it all mean? He drifted off.
Later that day, he rose. He washed, ate, and dressed. From the window he could see through the open gate. Mercy stood across the border. Her gray and red waved in the wind. She did not move. He wondered if a girl was in that body somewhere? What did the honey eyes mean? It did seem to trust him more now, maybe? Could it be trying to get him to trust it? He left the house.
The creature in the young woman's body turned to face him. "Mercy was in error." She stopped herself. Her body shook like an animal shedding water. "I have broken my word to you. I am very sorry, and I wish to." she paused to search the sky.
"You've run out of words again? Little One. Will you allow me to guess some of them?" He was in the mouth of the gate.
"Yes." she peeped like a shy songbird.
"You are greatly ashamed of crossing the border, working locks and doors, going into my home without permission. And to make it worse, you can't think of any grand gesture to make it better? All of this, on top of, everything else you're figuring out." He stopped himself before he made things worse. "Mercy, right now I want you to look at me." He lowered his eyes to meet hers. "I'm looking at you. And I want you to listen."
She moved closer to face the man. She did not know the reason, but she felt all good things would end today. "I will listen." She fought the overwhelming desire to run.
"Thank you. You broke your own rules, fearing the consequences, to help someone who is not you. That was a little foolish and a lot brave. All beings should have some self-respect. Well, that's what I've heard. Maybe, you could respect yourself for trying to do the right thing."
"Samuel, you do not have a great anger at me?"
"No. No anger at you over this. I did not want to hurt you. I'm glad you are here. I didn't know how to ask if you are alright." He paused to look at Mercy. He hadn't really looked at her before. "I'm sorry for hurting you. It was a reflex. Not intentional. Still, I did it."
"Mercy's greater concern was for Samuel." She spoke. She was certain that this new concept had value. This is not the way of the sisters.
"Mercy, you haven't said if you were hurt. Are you alright?"
"Samuel, this body will be completely repaired in seven hours and thirty-eight minutes. Your strike was exceptionally strong for the condition you were in. We do not like to be struck." She watched the clouds flow by, "What was beautiful?"
"What?" he questioned, "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"Yesterday, before you slept on the ground by the chairs. You said that word. Beautiful. What did you see?"
"I don't have an answer, right now. It may come to me later." he lied. Why? "I would like to talk so more in the morning. By the chairs. We should both go get some rest." It was a shame that the girl hadn't had the chance to grow up and have a life. In her own way she was beautiful.
"Mercy will stay."
Samuel replied, "Mercy will close the gate. Go to her sisters and do what sisters do. Mercy will heal and prepare for tomorrow. Mercy will not argue. Mercy will do what Samuel asks. And you will be better tomorrow because of it?"
"Mercy will do as asked." The snake smiled. "I will go and rest; only if, you go and do the same."
"Yes, and close the gate when you leave." He turned to the house. "Right now, is a good time to start." She would have been a pretty lady. That's what the old man meant.
Day 55
She sat there and blinked. She would be staring if she didn't blink. There was no expression. Not even a fake smile. She was overly calm. She didn't say good morning. She's wearing pants again. He squinted and leaned forward. Was she copying people? Was she trying to be cute? Could she really have a soul? I knew this creature was trouble. Too late to end it now.
"I have discovered the meaning of your stick. Are you in need of one now?" her smile was slightly wicked.
"Alright, I have to ask. Where do you get all the clothes from? And why gloves? You almost always have gloves on." His eyes widened and he nodded playfully. "Come on. I want to know?"
"The answer is a sad one. Humans. When they left this part of the world much stayed behind. We saved some things." Her right hand glided toward the man, palm up. "Please do the same." She gestured with her hand.
He moved his right hand outward, palm up. "Alright."
"Samuel, you said I was foolish and brave." She pointed her index finger. She moved her hand over his. "I offer you a similar chance." She touched her gloved index finger to the center of his palm. See Samuel, a creature can touch a human without disastrous results. "Are you feeling foolish and brave today?"
His fingers curled around hers. He held her hand in his. I still don't trust her.
"That would have been much harder for each of us without the gloves."
The man gazed at her hand in his, "I'm afraid to ask about the pants now." He lifted his head. Her eyes silver and gold but not the same.
"There is nothing special about the pants." She held back her smile. Oh, to be touched, held... "The sisters would be proud to gather any clothes you wish me to wear."
"I believe I'll let go of your hand now?" Was she alright? A balloon ready to burst. He released her hand.
She blurted out, "Or not wear! I must go! I will...? Samuel?" She stood up and straightened her clothing. "I will go do things with my sisters now. Important sister things. I am the Goddess Queen. I must rule, and...."
"OK, go on." He waved for her to go. "Go on, before you pop." How squirmy would she have gotten without the gloves? The gloves, more for her then me. Mercy, the one creature that doesn't blurt out every sexual fantasy they can come up with.