Snatched The Collection Book 1 Blake
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Blake Blessing
Snatched
Copyright © Blake Blessing 2024
All rights reserved
First published in 2024
Blessing, Blake
Snatched: The Collection Series #1
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. All characters in this publication other than those clearly in the public domain are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover: Opulent Design
Editing: Villain Era Book Services
Created with Vellum
Formygirlieswholovealittletoxicitywiththeirspice,thisisfor you.;)
Foreword
Warning
Prologue
Chapter 1
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 2
Atlas-Age9
Chapter 3
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 4
Beasty-Age8
Chapter 5
Kim-PresentDay
Chapter 6
Joaquin-Age11
Chapter 7
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 8
Lake-Age13
Chapter 9
Atlas-PresentDay
Chapter 10
Kim-Age12
Chapter 11
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 12
Beasty-Age12
Chapter 13
Lake-PresentDay
Chapter 14
Joaquin-Age15
Contents
Chapter 15
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 16
Atlas-Age17
Chapter 17
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 18
Lake-Age18
Chapter 19
Kim-PresentDay
Chapter 20
Beasty-Age14
Chapter 21
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 22
Beasty-Age14
Chapter 23
Joaquin-PresentDay
Chapter 24
Lake-Age19
Chapter 25
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 26
Kim-Age16
Chapter 27
Cressida-PresentDay
Chapter 28
Beasty-Age17
Chapter 29
Atlas-PresentDay
Chapter 30
Beasty-Age18
Epilogue
Addict
Afterword
Other Titles
Who is Blake?
Foreword
WHERE DO I EVEN START?
I watched the live action Beauty and the Beast with my family and had a thought. What if, instead of the beauty being the FMC, the MMCs were the pretty ones? And what if the FMC was the one who was a bit beastly?
That’s as far as the similarities between the two start and stop. But, it did spawn a whole set of characters you’re about to read about.
Life certainly didn’t treat them kindly. But they learned how to deal with things the best they could. That being said, there is so
much they never learned about people and love, giving them some very difficult trauma responses. Or maybe they learned too well?
These characters are frustrating, harsh, and a bit toxic. But I understand why they are the way they are. I want to see them get their happy ending no matter how much heartbreak they experience. I hope you love them just as much as I do!
Now, happy reading and I’ll see you on the other side!
Snatched is a dark reverse harem romance with content that some may find triggering. This story follows characters who are exploring and discovering their developing attractions, relationships and sexualities. They are not the most lily white, but they are trying to overcome their pasts. There’s something beautiful in that. As always, your mental health is important and read at your own risk.
PLEASE FIND THE LIST OF TRIGGERS HERE.
*This book has complete diversity in the harem and their story starts out in West Virginia. As an Asian woman who grew up in this region,
it is highly unrealistic that three kids of color not experience any comments on their race.
Racial issues and mistreatment is not part of the plot. However, to maintain realism, you’ll encounter one racial slur to the Asian MMC. This was only directed at the Asian MMC as I have lived this particular life, in this region. And let’s be honest, kids can be cruel.
“G et out of here kid!” The butcher threw an empty pop can at me. I wasn’t even doing nothing. Just looking at their trash to see if they had any scraps.
There was nothing. Just a few cut crusts and some rotten bananas. Everything else was napkins or cups. Not edible stuff.
The sun wouldn’t be setting for a while, and I needed to get out of here. I shouldn’t have come anyway. Old man Tabor threatened to put me in the “system” the next time he saw me. I didn’t know what that was, but it sounded bad. Like they might have food, but no playtime.
Aunt Erin said it was terrible and I’d hate it. So I avoided him, ducking down alleys and hiding behind dumpsters every time I saw him.
I kicked rocks, watching the pebbles skid away as I walked to the woods. It was hilly here, and too much time in the woods would make me more hungry. Looking back at the alley, I sighed and kept going. Hungry was better than the “system”.
At least it wasn’t cold. I think it was summer, maybe? Warm, and comfy…
In the woods, I walked until I couldn’t hear the cars anymore. Then I walked some more. I crossed a couple vacant roads, and moved even deeper. As long as I took my time, I wouldn’t have to try and find any more food.
I clutched some pebbles in my pocket, stroking them with my thumb. There were pebbles everywhere, but these were pretty. So pretty I had to keep them. They were the best things I owned.
A big cloud covered the sun, and I glanced up. It was too dark. That meant rain. I started to jog through the woods, heading deeper under the thicker trees. If it rained, I’d get wet and have to sleep in wet clothes.
Large rain drops pelted the leaves and echoed around me, but I stayed mostly dry. Thunder cracked in the distance and I stopped, bracing my hands on my knees. My sides hurt, but in a good way. I didn’t get to run like that very often unless it was from a grownup in town.
This was more fun.
A strange shout had me diving under a bush, and I waited to see what was coming as my heart pounded against my chest. No footsteps came my way. No brush was moving. It must have been an animal.
“Lake! Give it–!” The sound was so distant, I barely made out the words. But that could be the woods swallowing up their sounds, making them hard to hear.
Was that a kid? Out here? I rolled out from under the bush and stood up. Why was there a house back here?
I slowly walked closer, avoiding stepping on sticks or anything that might crunch. Soon, the trees thinned out just enough that a house was visible. But it was old. Nothing like the houses close to the food and the people.
A huge, shiny chain link fence surrounded it. That was weird. The house was old. Like really old. Falling down, and lopsided. But the fence looked new. The flowers climbing up through the links were different than the ones I saw in pots in town.
I crept even closer. Careful not to make a sound.
Two boys wrestled in the yard, one bigger than the other, but they were both scrawny like me. Their clothes were better, though. Not dirty and holey like mine.
They grunted as they rolled and punched each other's sides. “I told you that was mine!” The smaller boy said.
“You have to share, Isaac,” the other boy growled. While they fought, I peered around the house. There didn’t seem to be any lights on. Were they the only ones here?
“Hey!” I whispered. I wasn’t sure why I did it. They could be mean and try to run me off. But…I just wanted to talk to them. I wasn’t allowed to talk to kids in town. Parents didn’t like me.
I didn’t know why, though.
Both boys stopped, and the older boy turned his head slowly, his eyes widened when he saw me staring at the fence. In a snap, they jumped up, the smaller boy running over to me.
I held my breath as he got closer. He was the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen. His eyes were fairy shaped. Was that a real thing? Tilted up at the corners. And they glistened with unshed tears.
“Hi,” he whispered, so different from the screaming banshee from a bit ago.
“What’s your name?” I asked, then shook my head. “Isaac. Your name’s Isaac.”
The older boy stopped behind Isaac, close but not touching, and he looked at me funny. Like I was a ghost or something. He was just as good-looking with white-blond hair and light brown-ish blue eyes. He looked like Elsa’s brother. I’d seen that movie in the windows in town. Especially around Christmas.
“What’s your name?” he croaked, like he was gonna cry too.
I scrunched up my nose. “Cressida, but no one calls me that.” Only my aunt, and that was when she could talk. Most of the time she rolled around in her tent and groaned. Didn’t make any sense. “Everyone in town calls me Beasty.”
The older boy furrowed his brow. “That’s strange. Beasty.” He rolled it around his tongue.
I shrugged. I didn’t know why they called me that.
“I’m Lake.” He stepped forward, stretching a hand out like he was going to touch my fingers. I yanked my hand back, and he held up his own. “Where do you live?”
“In town. That way.” I pointed behind me, where the sun was setting, but I couldn’t see it now. The trees were in the way.
“Who are you all talking to?” Another voice called from inside. Lake turned around, and waved like he wanted them to join us. Suddenly, two boys popped out of the house as they ran toward the fence. Skidding to a halt next to Lake and Isaac, they stared at me open mouthed. I didn’t like it. Their attention was making me feel weird. People looked at me in town, but they tried to hide it. These boys stared at me like they didn’t care if I knew.
The two new boys were bigger than Isaac, but smaller than Lake. One had dark skin, close to the night sky, and he was so serious. His face was set like he didn’t feel anything. The other boy had skin somewhere in between that boy and the boy with the pretty eyes–Isaac.
This boy was sad. Sad eyes and sad lips.
“Why do you all look so different?” I asked, scratching behind my ears. Most of the people in town looked like me. Or the same color as me? These boys were all beautiful, but so different from each other. “Why are you all so pretty?”
Lake looked angry as he looked back at the house, and the other boys just looked sad. When Lake turned around, he tried to shrug like I had, but it seemed off. Like he didn’t mean it. “The Curator calls us his ‘Around the World’ collection. Each of us from a different place. And I guess that’s why he took us, because he thought we were pretty too.”
I nodded. That didn’t make any sense, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. It had been a long time since other kids had been nice to me. “Who are you?” I looked at the two new boys.
“This is Atlas.” Lake laid a hand on the night boy’s shoulder. “And this is Joaquin.”
“Hwa-keen? That’s weird. But I like them. Your names are nice.” I tried to smile to show them I wanted to be friends, but they didn’t smile back.
“Where’s your family?” Isaac asked, stepping forward to hold the fence. His nails were clean and short.
I tried to sneak a look at my dirt covered hands. Dirt was even packed under jagged nails. I hid them behind my back and my face grew hot. They didn’t seem to notice, though.
“I only have an aunt. She sleeps most of the time by the river.”
Lake frowned. “You’re homeless?”
“No,” I said and shook my head. “I have a home. The tent by the river.” It wasn’t great. And it was cold in the winter but it was okay. My aunt had a nice spot where nobody bothered us.
“I’m sorry. You might have it just as bad as we do,” Joaquin said, and my mouth fell open. His voice was so sweet. I’d never heard a sweeter voice.
Recovering quickly, I grinned. “I’m okay. As long as the police don’t get me. They want to take me away from my aunt.” I glanced back at the house, but it really did seem empty now. “Where are your families?”
Isaac started to cry again and the other boys crowded around him. Atlas answered this time. “We don’t have families. We only have each other. And the Curator.” His voice dropped to a whisper on the last word.
“Do you want to play with me?” I asked, smiling again.
“We aren’t allowed.” Joaquin pursed his lips to the side like he hated that rule. Rules were stupid. We should play anyway. I could run when the Curator came back.
“Is there a way inside the fence?” I walked beside it to see if there were any holes anywhere. Not likely. It looked too shiny.
“No!” Lake almost yelled, and I jumped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be mean. But you can’t come in here. It’s not safe.”
Not safe? But they had a house. Clean clothes. Even if they were far away from everyone. “But…”
“And we have these anyway.” Atlas solemnly held up his wrist. Each boy had a tight, black wristband.
I was just about to ask what they were for when a car started to drive up. I couldn’t see it, but the gravel was loud under the tires.
“Go! You can’t be here. Please, Beasty!” Lake scrambled to the fence, shooing me away with his hands. “Go!” he whisper-yelled.
All the boys ran back inside and shut the door, leaving me behind.
The way they ran… my hair stood up on my arms. They were afraid. But what were they afraid of? I hid under the brush next to
the fence. Not close, but I could still see the house. On the other side, a car door shut.
That must be the Curator. He whistled as he climbed the porch steps.
Inside, a light switched on, illuminating old, dusty furniture through the filmy window. “Hello, boys. Have you been good?” A deep voice made its way out to me and prickled down my spine. The Curator sounded nice, but I knew people who lied all the time with their faces and their words. This man must be like that if the boys were afraid of him.
Was there a window open? There must be.
None of the boys answered him.
The man talked some more, but this time, I couldn’t make out the words.
“Me! Take me. It’s my turn.” Lake was scared. And maybe angry.
“All right boy, you know what to do.”
A smack made me jump. Then Lake yelped. He was hurt!
He made another strangled noise. That man was hurting him. I needed to get in. I needed to help. I started running up and down the fence.
There had to be a way. I could climb over it, but that would be loud.
I knew what he was doing to Lake. Bad stuff. I saw it sometimes at the river. It didn’t look like it hurt, but I never saw it with kids. And it didn’t sound good.
There, maybe I could dig under the fence at the corner. There was a larger gap there. I–
Atlas caught my eye in the window. Tears streamed down his face, and he shook his head.
“Go,” he mouthed.
I wanted to help. Lifting the fence up, I tested to see if I could get my head under it.
When I looked back up, Atlas was gone and glass shattered on the other side of the house.
“What the hell are you doing, boy!” the man roared, then moaned.
It wasn’t long until Atlas screamed. Soon the other’s joined in.
I jolted with each hit that landed. I felt their pain even though I couldn’t see it.
This wasn’t nice. I didn’t like it. It was bad.
I took off running toward town. There was one thing I could do to help them. Old man Tabor would help. He was a mean old bastard, but he would help if I told him there were boys who were being hurt. I knew he would.
And he did.
He even let me go with him to show him where the boys were.
Blue flashing lights lit up the house, making it look like some of those houses people went to on Halloween. When he brought the boys out, they were pale and their eyes the size of the playground balls.
I tried to run to them, but Tabor wouldn’t let me.
“They’re my friends! Let me see them!” I bit his arm when he stopped me. He slung me away and cursed.
“You little beast. I said stay right fucking there!”
He never did let me see them that night. But they were safe. That was all that mattered.
And the man—the Curator—was gone.
“J ohn, I don’t think you realize quite what this means for the American people.” Sally bent closer to the table as she turned her head toward John. Her shiny, perfectly styled blonde waves bouncing with the movement. “If the home of one of the most prolific leaders in the US, who has access to the highest level of security and technology, has been breached, what does this mean for the regular Joes?”
John shook his head at Sally like she was ridiculous. “The normal Joes don’t typically have a centuries-old vase from the Qing Dynasty.”
“Maybe not, but the reports believe this to be the work of—”
My phone rang, and it wasn’t anywhere close to me in the “kitchen”. I must have left it on the bed. I tossed my dish towel down and went searching for the annoying chime blaring through the small studio.
The place was shit, but it was mine.
I stopped by Quill’s tank and tapped on the glass. He had just burrowed in his little den for the day. I sighed when he didn’t pop back out to say goodmorning.
For my first pet, I could have gotten a kitten or a puppy. Or any number of normal domesticated animals. But I wanted to get something that resonated more with me. I’d only had him for a few months and I wouldn’t trade him for anything else in the world.
The bed was already made and the phone wasn’t there. Flipping the throw blanket on the couch, I found it.
“Aha, you little asshole,” I muttered, picking it up.
Stevo’s name flashed over the screen with an image of his macho-workout face. He’d added that in my phone months ago. I hated it. It was a terrible picture of him, but whatever. I hadn’t cared that much.
I stuck out my tongue and hit decline. The bed made a soft oomphwhere I threw it.
Over the years, I’d made my fair share of mistakes. Less than most, probably, because I’d seen all the consequences of people's actions as a child, but I’d still made some doozies.
Stevo was one of them.
What kind of Jackass name was Stevo, anyway?
The morning show was still on, but they’d already moved onto some shooting at a high school. They had great ratings and these two hosts reeled in the viewers because of their opposing views, and ability to shock and awe the audience.
I wasn’t shocked. Or awed.
A shooting was unfortunate. A devastation, absolutely. But I’d known for a long time exactly how ugly the world could get. I wanted nothing to do with it.
Hitting the button on the remote, I turned the television off. That was enough tragedy to remind myself exactly how numb I was. Maybe I’d try again tomorrow.
A loud bang came from outside. I jumped.
Before my heart had a chance to speed up, I’d already processed the sound as exhaust from a truck on the street. Loud noises at terrible hours was the cost of living over the bar.
Then again, it was comforting. Shady alleys and crazy people were par for the course where I’d grown up. Neither gave off soft and soothing vibes, more like wariness and danger tape. The despairing underworld was as much part of me as the muscle holding me together.
Didn’t mean I had to like it. And it didn’t mean I wanted it.
My phone started that grating song again and I gritted my teeth. I wouldn’t change it, though. I picked it for a reason.
Stomping over to the bed, I snatched the phone up. Fucking Stevo.
Decline.
I turned and took a deep breath. The sun was barely up. The gloomy, gray pall of light both brightened the space and made it depressing as hell. The cracks in the walls were barely visible and the stain in the middle of the old hardwood floor could have been a shadow.
Or an outline for a dead body.
Regardless, I loved it. I’d been here for about six months and it was mine. Completely mine in a way nothing ever had been before. Outside of Quilliam.
The independence was a bolt of confidence I’d never known I’d needed.
A-fucking-gain my phone went off, but when I raised it up to check the screen, this time it was my boss. Linda.
Forcing a breath out, I tapped the green phone to answer it.
“Hey! It’s early for you, isn’t it?”
Barely half past six, and no more than a handful of hours since she’d left the bar. Luckily, I hadn’t had to close last night so I got more sleep than normal. Unfortunately, waking up at the crack of dawn was a leftover from living on the streets. It was an internal clock my body had never managed to turn off, no matter how late I went to bed.
“Cressida,” her sharp bark sliced down that line.
“What’s wrong?” Now, I was on alert in a way I hadn’t been all morning.
“Why was there a masked man here looking for you?” she shrieked. Linda was a tough, old broad. With rough, wrinkled skin like she’d been left in the sun for too long, and a voice that scratched the inside of my brain in the best way. For her, it meant decades of chain-smoking.
Furrowing my brow, I jumped into gear and pulled on the clothes I wore last night. They stank of bar sweat and bad decisions, but
vanity was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
Linda could be in trouble. And if she wasn’t, my job was. I couldn’t lose it, not when things were finallystarting to go my way.
“Who was it?” I always kept my nose clean. What foster kid who didn’t want to fall into the predictable cycle, wouldn’t have? Still, I had my suspicions.
“He didn’t say.” She started coughing, nearly hacking up a lung. “But he was young. Maybe around your age. I couldn’t tell what he looked like because he was wearing a mask! I told you that you couldn’t bring trouble to my bar, girl. I told you that you had one chance. It was a gamble.”
Shoving my feet in my sneakers, I spun around, looking for my keys. “I promise, Linda. That has nothing to do with me. I’m not mixed up in anything bad. This has to be some kind of joke.”
I winced as she shrieked. “What fucking joke? I’d love to be let in on it. He had a gun!”
Taking a deep breath, I walked over to Quill’s enclosure. It was small, but hewas small. Once I had my feet under me better, I’d get him a larger one. With a bigger wheel.
“I’ll figure out what happened and I’ll make sure it never happens again,” I vowed, my voice dropping low.
“You’re damn right, it won’t. You’re fired.”
The click of air hurt more than I thought it would. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d been rejected or tossed over. It was part of life. But I didn’t need this rightnow.
I found Stevo’s number and called him. It barely rang one time before he answered.
“Cress,” he sobbed.
Ice needles pressed down my spine. “What did you do?” I asked slowly, my heart pounding. This wasn’t the cry of someone who got shafted over a drug deal.
Stevo was an idiot, and his brain was the size of a walnut, but he was also so arrogant, only pain could make him cry that way.
“I couldn’t help it. I tried not to. You know I would never do anything like this—”
“What did you fucking do!” I seethed into the phone. Even though I was over a bar, there were still neighbors. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to this apartment.
Cars were starting to drive by. It was time for people to go to work. Get coffee. The sounds of the day were going to cover up sounds of danger, and that scared me.
I edged over to the window that overlooked the street. The world was a little brighter now, but the overcast skies hid the sun. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
“I—” Stevo cried harder and cried out after a hard thump and mumble. “I fucked up,” he garbled.
“No, shit. Why are you calling me?” I wasn’t heartless. I was practical. And I’d cut off the short fling with Stevo weeks after it started. At first he was fun and sexy, with a big dick.
Then he reminded me of all the things I’d tried to leave behind in my life.
Yet here he was, with his ass in a sling, and I was almost certain this was the reason Linda got a visit.
“I stole something.” He coughed. It was wet, like his throat was filled with blood and spit.
Whoever he was mixed up with was interested in me. Imaginary hands tightened around my throat. “Whatever you have done has nothing to do with me.” I started to pull the phone away from my ear to hang up, but common sense stopped me. “Who did you steal from?”
If this was a punk-ass kid trying to play in the big leagues, I was probably okay to stay here. If he was messed up in something bigger than that…
“I can’t tell you.”
“Did you send them to Linda’s?” I was most likely on speaker phone. If I tortured someone, I wouldn’t let them have any private conversations.
“They’re looking for—” It sounded like a hard slap had landed on his face and he yelped.
Okay. Think, Beasty. What would they be looking for that had anythingtodowithme?
He never came over to my place. We’d always fucked in his car, because I damn sure wasn’t going to his house when I didn’t know him that well. We never exchanged presents.
“They just want to talk to you,” he whispered. “I can’t tell you anything more than that.”
Right, these nice people beating the shit out of him and who sent a masked man to my boss looking for me, only wanted to have a nice chat.
Was it possible Stevo didn’t know where I lived? I’d never told him. We didn’t have that kind of connection. I’d also never hid it.
So, either Stevo was trying to protect me, which was doubtful, or he was more stupid than I thought.
What the hell could I possibly have that someone else wanted?
“The only thing you gave me was a weak orgasm and a cold. I doubt whoever you’re with wants either of those.” I paced around my space, racking my brain about what they could want, but I kept coming up short.
Yet, I couldn’t hang up, not without wringing as much information from him as I could.
Maybe I should take off. If I couldn’t get Linda to reconsider on the job, I couldn’t stay in the studio. I glanced around as my heart cracked right down the middle.
Why couldn’t I keep anything nice?
Oh God. What if Linda told the man where I was?
Stevo started to mumble something else, but I didn’t have time for that. He wasn’t giving me the information I needed. “I don’t have whatever they’re looking for.” I hung up and searched for Linda’s number.
“Linda!” I yelled as soon as she answered. “Did you tell the man where I lived?”
“Of course not, you stupid girl! You think I’m an idiot? I told them I’d call the cops and let my dogs loose if he didn’t leave. Ronny raced out of the bedroom with the shotgun and that seemed to do the trick.” She paused. “So you do know what he was after.”
“No, I’ve been declining Stevo’s number all morning. I finally called him back. He's the reason this happened. I’m going to call the
cops, anyway.” I hesitated over the next sentence, but survival was important. “Will you let me stay if I can get Stevo out of the picture?”
I held my breath as I waited for her answer. A long-suffering sigh crept down the line, then she made my dreams come true. “You get the cops to handle that mess and you can stay. I never liked Stevo. He should have been swallowed. But listen to me, this is your last chance. You’re a good worker and not terrible on the eyes. It’s good for the bar and business.”
“Thank you. Thank you so, so much.” I hung up and raced around the studio. It only took two minutes to find my keys in the pockets of the dirty jeans I’d slipped on. I’d go to the police station. I’d be safer inside their walls until they had Stevo, and whoever had him hostage apprehended.
“I’ll be back as quick as I can,” I whispered to Quill, running my fingers along the rim of his house. Maybe I should take him with me…
Shit, this was going to be a mess. I made sure the top was fastened down and picked it up by the handle. It was heavy, but manageable. He snuffled his upset as he wiggled inside his den.
“Sorry, buddy. I don’t want to leave you. People always hurt the pets first.”
With Quill’s house in one hand, and my keys in the other, I twisted the deadbolt and threw open the door to stop short.
A kaleidoscope of sparkling blue and golden brown took up my entire world.
“Did you think you could hide forever?” Lake smirked as he pushed me inside and shut the door.
The tall, dreary, U-shaped building seemed lifeless. It was made up of stone, dark from the weather. This was supposed to be the kids’ home they were taking us too?
I cast a sideways glance at Isaac. He wrung his hands in front of him as he stared up at the building. He was afraid.
Not me. I wasn't afraid.
But I was worried. We’d only been found yesterday, and this didn't look any better than the house the Curator had us in. It was cold, damp, and just sad.
"Are you okay?" I started to reach out to touch his arm, but he shied away from me.
I dropped my hand and sighed. This was a new thing. He was the last one to join us at that house. I think he was there for six months. Maybe? Or more?
It was hard to tell when our days ran together.
I still remembered my mom and the cartoons she would put on. But she'd been wasted half the time and didn't even know when I was in the room.
She certainly never fed me.
"You think these people will touch us like the bad man?" He glanced at me for a second, then looked back at the house like it was going to bite him.
"No." I sounded sure. I wanted to be. But the truth was, I didn't know.
When Mr. Gates had first stolen me, I didn't think it was so bad. I had friends to play with and there was food and nice clothes. Then he started to hurt me.
Hurt allof us.
"You promise?" His voice softened to a whisper. I couldn't do that. Lake said not to make promises you couldn't keep. It was why he never said things were going to get better, or that it wouldn't hurt so bad next time.
"No. But I promise I'll do my best to protect you. Lake will do the same." I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
It wasn't even hot outside today, and the sky was full of dark clouds. That was why this place looked so sad. The weather was bad.
“Did you see the kittens running down the hallway at the hospital?” Isaac turned large, dark eyes on me. I didn’t have time to answer, though.
"Come on, boys. Are you ready to go in?" A woman bent down next to us. She was kinda short, so she didn't have to bend down that much.
I shrugged, and Isaac gave her a smaller version of it.
Lake and Joaquin were still at the hospital. Lake was getting help, and I thought they might be trying to find Joaquin's mom or dad.
The grownups thought we couldn't hear them, but they talked too loud. That was how I knew they couldn't find my family–or Isaac’s. We didn't match any missing reports.
I snorted when I heard that. I knew what that was. The milk carton stuff. But my mom probably still didn't know I'd been kidnapped.
The lady walked us inside, and another woman stepped out of the kitchen. She was wiping her hands on a dirty dish towel as she stared us down.
A deep frown curved her mouth. It was a perfect half circle, and if she'd been smiling instead, she would have looked like a clown.
"These are the boys?" She didn't sound friendly at all. I scrunched up my face.
"Yes! These are them! You might get two more here in a while. Do you need help getting them settled in?" The lady placed her hands on our shoulders. Isaac stiffened and ripped himself away. If the lady thought it was odd, she didn't say anything.
"No. Not necessary. Shelly can show them around." She turned and whistled down the hall. "Shelly!"
A woman who might have been this nasty hags’ daughter came down the hall. She was much younger, but had the same terrible expression like someone sucked the happiness out of her life. "Yeah?"
"We got two new ones. Take 'em upstairs."
Shelly rolled her eyes, and motioned for us to follow her up the stairs on the right. "Come on."
Isaac and I exchanged a look before I jerked my head forward. I wanted him to go first. If he was last, they could take him and I wouldn't be quick enough to save him. He was just so much tinier than me.
Someone could still try and snatch him if he was first, but I'd be able to do something about it.
"It was so nice spending time with you! Rosie has my number! Call if you need anything!" the lady called up after us.
We didn't glance back. This place was too unfamiliar and it wasn't like that lady actually cared. She pretended like she did, but it was fake.
People were all fake.
At the top of the stairs, Shelly threw her hand out toward the doors we were passing. “This is the hall where the boys sleep. There's only five others here right now. All different ages.”
The hallway was long, with at least ten doors on each side. The carpet was stained, and there was dirt on the walls and ceiling. This place seemed like...
I didn't know a word for it. A jail? That might be it. I'd seen something like it on TV once.
"You'll meet them at dinner. From here," she chopped her hand down at one door and stopped, "down, are free rooms. Two bunk beds per room. You can stay together, or you can get your own since
we have the space. Just know you won't be allowed to move rooms if we get more boys. You want to put your stuff down?"
We each had a small backpack with a change of clothes the lady had bought us. We didn't have anything else, and none of us wanted the things Mr. Gates had bought us.
"Yes, we'll take the same room." I picked one that was right in the middle so no one would be with us on either side.
After we set our stuff down, she showed us the kitchens, but we weren't allowed to make our own food. The only thing we could get was water from the faucet.
She showed us the bathrooms. The boys had one big one, and the girls had their own. But the girl's hall was on the other side. She said there were three girls here right now.
Then she showed us the backyard. It was a decent size, more than what the other house had.
A swingset was right in the center. The wood was so old, it looked like it might be rotten in places, but probably still sturdy enough. The sand around it was riddled with weeds, but I had shoes, so it didn’t matter. It was what was beyond that, that I wanted to explore.
"You can play on the playground as long as your chores are done. Since it's your first day, you don't have any." When she turned away, I put out a hand to stop Isaac from following her.
The treeline started at the edge of the yard. It was as if it was an entrance to the hills. It was steep. And made for climbing. Leaves were falling, and it looked like a lot of fun to run up it.
"Ya’ll coming?" She glanced over her shoulder.
"Can we play outside?" I asked.
She scrunched up her face. "Yes, but when you hear the first bell ring, that means dinner will be in fifteen minutes. Be clean and presentable."
Once she stepped back inside, I tugged on Isaac's sleeve, making sure not to touch his skin.
"Let's go up there!" I pointed and took off running. I reached the treeline, but he wasn't with me. My stomach twisted and I turned
around. He was still standing in the same spot. "What are you waiting for!"
I pretended like I hadn't been afraid that he'd been taken from me.
He glanced around and then started to walk toward me, slowly, like the ground would swallow him up.
"The ground's lava!" I yelled. When he first arrived at the other house, he asked us to play that game. It was nice to have a few minutes of fun.
That got a smile, and he started to run. Once he was next to me, I went straight up the hill. My feet slipped often on the dead leaves, and my heart beat so hard, I struggled to breathe.
But in a good way.
"Use the roots!" Each tree had a web of roots covering the ground and they made great steps and better handholds. I hadn't needed to tell Isaac that. He was just as fast, maybe even a little faster than me. We reached the top in no time, and I flopped on my back. A few leaves floated up around my face before falling back down to the ground.
No one chased after us, and there wasn't a fence holding us in.
We could run away if we wanted to.
My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide. The cool air barely bothered me, even though the chill on my face stung.
"That was fun," Isaac whispered. "We escaped the bears."
"We did. They almost had us, but we outran them,” I panted.
"You know something, Atlas?" He peered up at me through his lashes.
"What?" I braced my fists on my waist.
"I don't want to be Isaac anymore. That's what he called me. Can you call me Kim instead?"
"You want to be called by your last name? It's a girl's name too." I rolled my head so I could see him. He stared at the gray sky through the trees.
"I don't care. I like it, and it’s still my name. Better than Isaac." He made a blech sound.
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sheikin pojat: Romaani aavikoilta
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Sheikin pojat: Romaani aavikoilta
Author: E. M. Hull
Translator: Alpo Kupiainen
Release date: May 20, 2022 [eBook #68132]
Language: Finnish
Original publication: Finland: Arvi A. Karisto Oy, 1925
Credits: Tapio Riikonen
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHEIKIN POJAT: ROMAANI AAVIKOILTA ***
Romaani aavikoilta
Kirj.
E. M. HULL
Englanninkielestä suomentanut
Alpo Kupiainen
Naisten romaaneja 44
Hämeenlinnassa, Arvi A. Karisto Oy, 1925.
Aamutuuli puhalsi vinhasti aavikolla.
Muodottomina paksuissa, tiukkaan kiedotuissa vaipoissansa, selkä taivutettuna tuulen mukaan, ratsasti hämyssä kolme miestä verkkaisesti ja varovasti rosoisella, kivisellä maaperällä. Maanpintaa peittävä ohut juoksuhiekka-kerros piilotti monta ilkeätä salahautaa; kavion luiskahtaminen niihin olisi saattanut aiheuttaa vakaviakin seurauksia sekä hevoselle että miehelle.
Se ei ollut pimeässä taivallettava tie.
Mutta vaikka ratsut olivatkin hermostuneita ja niiden vapisevat jäsenet ja pärskyvä hengitys osoittivat, kuinka tuskastuneita ne olivat, vaikka seurueen kaksi jäsentä silloin tällöin päästi hillittyjä huudahduksia, matkasi pieni joukkue pysähtymättä ja varmasti eteenpäin.
Johtaja oli kääriytynyt mustaan burnusiin, joka verhosi hänet, valui satulan kahden puolen ja näytti huomaamattomasti sulautuvan hevosen kiiltävän mustiin kupeisiin, ja häntä tuskin saattoi hämyssä erottaa, kun taas hänen muutamia askelia jälempänä ratsastavat kumppaninsa näyttivät kahdelta häntä saattavalta aaveelta.
Kilometrin toisensa jälkeen he retuuttaen samosivat eteenpäin ja sallivat ratsujensa kävellä petollisella polulla oman mielensä mukaan, ilmeisesti luottaen enemmän eläinten vaistoon kuin omaan harkintaansa.
Äkkiä tuuli asettui, yhtä pikaisesti kuin oli noussutkin, ja sitä seuranneessa tyynessä ilmassa tuntui hiljaisuus painostavan raskaalta, miltei kouraantuntuvalta.
Tuntui siltä kuin maa olisi jännityksen vallassa hengähtämättä odottanut aamunkoittoa.
Täydellistä hiljaisuutta häiritsivät vain hietikon taukoamaton kuiske ja silloin tällöin kuuluva kova kalahdus hevosenkengän sattuessa kiveen. Mutta tyven meni ohitse, ja tuuli alkoi uudelleen puhaltaa koleampana kuin ennen. Ja kielevästi kiroillen vetivät arabialaispalvelijat vaippojansa tiiviimmin ympärilleen ja kumartuivat syvemmälle satuloissansa.
Mutta heidän johtajansa ei näkynyt välittävän sen enempää ilman kylmyydestä kuin seuralaistensa nurinastakaan. Pää pystyssä ja välittämättä kasvojansa pieksävistä, pistävistä hietahiukkasista hän näytti unohtaneen ympäristönsä ja vaipuneen omiin aatoksiinsa.
Ja hänen ajatuksensa olivat nähtävästi hupaisia, sillä pian hän alkoi hiljaa hampaittensa välistä hyräillä hilpeän ranskalaisen laulunpätkän säveltä. Ääni oli hyvin heikko. Muutaman metrin päässä se häipyi, sekaantuen tuulen suhinaan, mutta sitä ennen sen erottivat hänen takanansa ratsastavien miesten herkät korvat. Toinen heistä tiukkasi suitsia, hilliten hieman hevostansa. »Allah!» jupisi hän vapisten. »Hän laulaa!»
»On hauska olla nuori — ja rakastaa», tokaisi toinen mielevän sukkelasti. Mutta sanoja seurannut naurunhihitys poisti niistä kaiken arvostelun tunnun ja paljasti hänen oman luonnollisen myötätuntonsa, sillä hän itse oli ainoastaan muutamia vuosia vanhempi kuin laulaja.
Hämy synkkeni.
Vähitellen sitten yön pimeys väistyi syrjään uuden päivän syntyessä. Aamunsarastus tuli aluksi hitaasti, ikäänkuin arkaillen itseänsä, peläten omaa mahtiansa. Mutta asteittain se voimistui ja paljasti paahtuneen, aution maiseman, joka näytti kolkolta ja uhkaavalta aamun kylmän harmaassa valossa.
Paljas, yksinäisen suurenmoisena leviävä aavikko, jylhä hiekkalakeus, josta pisti esiin matalia kalliokumpuja vinottain aavikon halki pohjoisesta etelään ulottuvina jonoina. Hämärässä valaistuksessa ne näyttivät luonnollista isommilta.
Mutta joka hetki päivä kirkastui. Ylhäällä selkeällä taivaalla tähdet kalpenivat ja sammuivat toinen toisensa jälkeen. Ja äkkiä ilmestyi kaukana idässä taivaanrannalle himmeä juova vaaleanpunaista valoa; se laajeni, ja sen väri tummeni, kunnes se sitten lehahti taivaalle kuin tulenliekki.
Hurjaa, voimakasta värileikkiä, ja sitten sen alustasta nousi aurinko komeana kuin kultainen pallo. Ja sen näyttäytyessä taukosi aamutuuli.
Arabialaiset seisauttivat ratsunsa ja laskeutuivat satulasta. Mutta palvelijat suorittivat aamurukouksensa hätäisesti ja lyhyesti, eikä heidän johtajansa edes polvistunut, vaan jäi pää taivutettuna
seisomaan ison, mustan hevosensa viereen. Eläin kääntyi ja työnsi kuononsa isäntänsä rinnalle, nuuhkien häntä hartaan mieltyneesti.
Viiden minuutin kuluttua he olivat uudelleen satulassa ja oikaisivat lähintä kumpua kohti hevosten nelistäessä pitkää, keinuvaa laukkaa.
Aamuvalaistuksessa ei aavikko enää näyttänyt niin jylhältä.
Vieläkin sen äärettömyys ja tyhjyys tekivät salaperäisen ja kammottavan vaikutuksen, mutta sittenkin siitä huokui omituista rauhaa, joka oli kummallisesti ristiriidassa sen villin ulkonäön kanssa.
Sen pinnalla kiitävistä kolmesta miehestä se oli kuin avoin kirja. Lapsuudesta saakka he olivat tutustuneet sen kaikkiin ailahduksiin; he tunsivat tarkalleen sen äkillisten muutosten kaikki moninaiset vaiheet, sen hymyilevän tyyneyden, sen hurjan myrskyraivon. Siinä ei ollut heille ainoatakaan outoa piirrettä, ei luonnonvoimista johtuvaa eikä inhimillistä.
Heillä oli kokemuksen perusteella saatu tuntemus. Sellaisen maan poikina, jossa salaisia vaaroja väijyi alituisesti, he olivat jossakin määrin varovaisia, mutta heissä ei näkynyt vähääkään levottomuuden merkkejä; he alistuivat välttämättömään fatalistisen välinpitämättömästi, rotunsa perinnäiseen tapaan. Heillä oli mainiot ratsut ja hyvät aseet, joten he olivat valmiit kaikkien mahdollisuuksien varalta eivätkä huolehtineet niiden seurauksista. Eikä sillä hetkellä näyttänyt olevan lainkaan aihetta huolestumiseen.
Aavikko oli tyhjä niin kauaksi kuin silmä kantoi.
Se oli karu paikka, jota karavaanit karttoivat ja jossa liikkuvien paimentolaistenkin jälkiä oli vain vähän ja nekin vanhoja, sillä seutu oli vedetöntä ja vähäisiä kuivuneita kasvullisuustupsuja oli niukalti ja harvassa eikä niissä näkynyt merkkiäkään uusista vesoista, jotka
muutamien viikkojen kuluttua itsepintaisesti tunkeutuisivat esille paahtuneesta maaperästä. Lakeana ja yksitoikkoisena ei tämä alue tarjonnut edullisia kohtia, suojapaikkoja, joissa vihamies olisi saattanut väijyä piilossa, vaikka kumpujen väliset mutkittelevat notkot muodostivat luonnon muovaamia satimia, joissa kokonainen armeija olisi voinut lymytä. Mutta jos kolme ratsastajaamme ajatteli väijytystä, ei se ajatus näyttänyt heitä häiritsevän.
Määräpaikkaansa lähestyessään he pikemminkin kiristivät vauhtiansa, ja heidän ratsunsa — kookkaita, joustavia, nopeiksi ja kestäviksi kehitettyjä eläimiä — suorittivat uljaasti niiltä vaaditut ponnistukset. Peräkkäin ne kiitivät aavikolla, laukaten ikäänkuin väsymättöminä.
Ja arabialaiset istuivat satulassa kuten kentaurit ja ratsastivat suurenmoisesti. He istuivat liikkumattomina burnusien hulmutessa laajoina, pullottavina poimuina heidän ympärillänsä, pitivät pyssyjänsä poikittain polvillansa ja näyttivät yhtä uupumattomilta ja kestäviltä kuin sitkeät ratsunsa.
Pettävässä ilmassa näyttivät kummut korkeammilta ja kaukaisemmilta kuin ne todellisuudessa olivat, mutta joka hetki niiden etäisyys lyheni ja niiden koko pieneni.
Vielä loppupinnistys, jonka kestäessä molemmat palvelijat ehättivät johtajansa rinnalle, ja he saapuivat ensimmäiselle ulkonevalle kallionkielekkeelle. Hevoset pysähtyivät äkkiä, vinhasti syöksyttyänsä, ratsastajien päiden yläpuolelle jyrkkänä ja rosoisena kohoavan kallioseinämän juurelle.
Johtaja laskeutui ratsailta ja jätettyään hevosensa toisen seuralaisensa huostaan seisoi muutamia minuutteja paikallansa,
katsellen hievahtamatta siihen suuntaan, josta he olivat tulleet. Hän oli näköjään noin kaksikymmenvuotias, kookas ja hoikkavartaloinen, mutta hänen leveät hartiansa osoittivat hänen vielä vankkenevan, ja hän esiintyi ylimielisesti. Hänen kauniit kasvonsa, laihat ja auringonpaahteen rusketuttamat, olivat sileiksi ajellut, joten voimakas, itsepäinen leuka ja suoraviivainen, hieman julmapiirteinen suu näkyivät. Tuuheat,, mustat, syvien ryppyjen lähekkäin vetämät kulmakarvat varjostivat tummansinisiä silmiä, jotka sillä hetkellä olivat ajatuksien sumentamat.
Hänen kasvoillensa lehahteli monenlaisia ilmeitä, kun hän katseli aavikolle. Hän ei nähtävästi tähyillyt mitään silminnähtävää, vaan näytti pikemminkin olevan vaipunut sielulliseen taisteluun, jossa epäily ja epävarmuus lopulta väistyivät, ja hän muuttui jyrkän päättäväisen näköiseksi.
Hän kohautti hiukan olkapäitään, ikäänkuin karkoittaen vastenmielisen muiston mielestänsä, heilautti burnusiansa taaksepäin, pyörähti kantapäällänsä ympäri ja meni palvelijoittensa luokse, jotka olivat seisoneet lähekkäin, keskustellen hiljaa keskenänsä ja silmäillen häntä tarkkaavasti.
Toinen heistä oli samoin kuin johtaja pitkä ja hoikka, toinen taas lyhytkasvuinen ja tanakampitekoinen, mutta kasvonpiirteiden ja ilmeiden selvä yhdennäköisyys osoitti heidät veljeksiksi.
Hänen tullessansa he vetäytyivät erilleen, ja lyhempi, joka näytti vanhemmalta, tarjosi hänelle taateleja satulannupistansa irroittamastaan repusta. Mutta nuori mies hylkäsi tarjouksen, heittäytyi hietikolle, sijoittui mukavaan asentoon, nojaten selkäänsä kiveen, otti silkkisen ganduransa taskusta kultaisen kotelon ja sytytti savukkeen.
Hän poltteli lähes puoli tuntia virkkamatta mitään, ja hänen kumppaninsa varoivat visusti häiritsemästä häntä. Mutta heidän katseensa siirtyivät harvoin pois hänen kasvoistansa, ja he olivat ilmeisesti rauhattomia, minkä he kumpikin ilmaisivat omalla tavallaan — vanhempi istui liikkumattomana otsa rypyssä kuten aikaisemmin hänen isännällänsä oli ollut, kun taas hänen veljensä liikahteli levottomasti, leikitellen kasaamallansa pienellä kiviläjällä ja vilkuillen yhtenään yläpuolella kohoaville kallioille ikäänkuin olisi odottanut, että heidän yksinäisyyttänsä häirittäisiin.
Vihdoin nuori päällikkö nousi pystyyn ja teki merkin, että ratsu oli tuotava hänen luoksensa. Mutta leikkisä nauru, joka hänen antaessaan määräystä oli väikkynyt hänen huulillaan, häipyi, kun hän näki miesten palaavan, taluttaen myöskin omia hevosiansa.
Hän viittasi jyrkän torjuvasti.
»Niitä ei tarvita. Minä lähden yksin», sanoi hän käskevästi, tarttuen ratsunsa suitsiin ja sujuttaen jalkaansa vanhemman veljeksen pitämään jalustimeen.
»Sinun on varrottava minua täällä, Ramadan — niinhän sovittiin. Ja sinun myöskin, S'rir», lisäsi hän kiivaasti olkansa ylitse nuoremmalle veljekselle, joka oli jo puolitiessä satulaan.
Hänen sanojansa seurasi vastalausemyrsky, kiihkeitä väitöksiä, nöyristä pyynnöistä aina avoimen kapinallisiin lauseihin saakka. Mutta eivät rukoukset eivätkä järkisyyt kyenneet horjuttamaan päällikön päätöstä. Nyt hän oli satulassa, pystyen vain vaivoin hillitsemään maltitonta ratsuansa, ja tuijotti kiihtyneisiin, viittoileviin seuralaisiinsa silminnähtävästi harmistuneena. Hänen
suuttumuksensa äityi nopeasti, kunnes hän menetti malttinsa ja kivahti äkäisesti:
»Suu kiinni! Kuka meistä määrää — minäkö vai tekö? Etkö kuullut, onko minun sanottava se toistamiseen? Minä lähden yksin.» Ramadanin käsi, joka vielä piteli jalustinta, puristui nyrkkiin.
»Myöskin me tahtoisimme tulla», intti hän.
»Minkä tähden?»
Miehen silmät värähtivät, mutta itsepäisesti hän pysyi paikallansa. »Täällä ei ole turvallista», jupisi hän vastahakoisesti, ikäänkuin sanat olisi väkisin puristettu hänen huuliltansa.
Hetkisen säihkyivät päällikön silmät pahaenteisesti. Sitten hänen suuttumuksensa haihtui poikamaiseen naurunpurskahdukseen yhtä äkkiä kuin kesäinen myrsky menee ohitse. »Turvallista — voi sinua, arkaa tyttöä!» pilkkasi hän. »Milloin olet alkanut ajatella turvallisuutta, Ramadan?»
»Sinun turvallisuuttasi, herra, en omaani», tokaisi Ramadan kiivaasti.
»Minun tai sinun, se on samantekevää — ja joka tapauksessa hupsuutta. Niinpä niin, Ramadan, tämä riittää. Minä menen yksin. Odota sinä, kunnes palaan!»
»Entä jollet palaakaan?»
Päällikön terävä, lapionmuotoinen jalustin kosketti hänen hevosensa kylkeä, saaden ratsun kavahtamaan miltei pystyyn takajaloillensa, joten arabialaisen oli pakko hellittää otteensa. »Jollen
palaa», huusi päällikkö, nauraen huimasti, »niin etsi minua taivaasta tai helvetistä — sillä varmasti tunkeudut kumpaankin paikkaan minua etsimään.» Ja heilautettuansa kättään hän katosi tomu- ja hiekkapyörteeseen.
Veljekset katselivat hänen jälkeensä, kunnes kallionulkonema piilotti hänet näkyvistä. Sitten he kääntyivät toisiinsa päin, ja vanhempi kiroili hartaasti nuoremman hymyillessä arvoituksellisesti.
»Jos hänelle sattuu jotakin pahaa — mitähän mylord silloin tekee?» puhkesi Ramadan äkkiä tuskittelemaan.
S'ririn hymy muuttui ilottomaksi virnistykseksi, ja hän teki perin kuvaavan liikkeen.
»Sano pikemminkin: miten meidän käy!» vastasi hän merkitsevästi. Mutta seuraavalla hetkellä hän kohautti olkapäitään joko vilpittömän tai teennäisen välinpitämättömänä ja vilkaisi aurinkoon.
»Kolme tuntia hän viime yönä käski meidän nyt odottaa», huomautti hän tyynesti. »Olkoon niin! Varromme kolme tuntia, ja jollei hän palaa siinä ajassa, niin sitten, veli, todennäköisesti näemme joko taivaan tai helvetin. Mutta siihen saakka minä nukun.»
Ja naurahtaen hän veti burnusinsa huupan päänsä ympärille ja sykertyi hietikolle, jättäen vähemmän filosofisen veljensä yksin tuskittelemaan vastuunalaisuutta, jonka hän oli vuosikausien aikana kantanut keveästi, mutta joka viime aikoina oli alkanut uhata hänen mielenrauhaansa.
Mutta kaukana kallionulkoneman takana, joka salasi mustalla hevosella ratsastavan miehen hänen huolestuneitten seuralaistensa
näkyvistä, kiiti hän aavikolla, eikä hänen kasvoillansa ollut minkäänlaisia huolen merkkejä. Unohtaen palvelijoittensa itsepintaisuuden ja oman sisunsa pikaisen purkauksen hän nuoruutensa, voimiensa ja häntä odottavan nautinnon tunnossa ratsasti huimaa vauhtia toiselle kallionulkonemalle, joka samoin kuin hänen jälkeensä jäänyt kieleke pistäytyi hietikkoon parin, kolmen kilometrin päässä.
Näiden kahden kalliohaaran välissä oli luonnon muovaama, laajan hevosenkengän muotoinen amfiteatteri, jota kolmelta suunnalta saartoivat kaartuvat kunnaat, kun taas neljäs sivu avautui lakealle aavikolle. Aamuauringon punertamana kohosi mahtava, säröinen kalliomöhkäle jyrkästi tasangosta, kuvastuen selvästi pilvetöntä, kirkkaan sinistä taivasta vasten ja luoden pitkiä, tummia varjoja hietikolle, joka tuulen pieksämänä värähteli sen juurella.
Se oli verrattoman suurenmoinen ja kiehtova paikka. Mutta rientävä ratsastaja ei nähnyt maiseman villiä kauneutta. Vilkaisemattakaan sivuillensa hän ratsasti arabialaisten tavalliseen hillittömään tapaan suoraan päämääräänsä kohti. Nauttien harvinaisesta vapaudestaan sillä harvoin hän saattoi tai edes halusikaan erota saattueesta, joka poikavuosilta alkaen oli seurannut hänen kintereillänsä — hän ratsasti kasvot punehtuneina ja tummat silmät palavasti säihkyen.
Ja ratsastaessansa hän lauloi raikkaalla, nuorekkaalla baritoniäänellään valittavaa rakkauslaulua, jonka jokainen rakastunut kaikkialla berberiläisvaltioissa tuntee. »Itke, itke, sydän runneltu», hän hyräili kaihoisasti maanmiestensä tapaan herttaisen välinpitämättömänä siitä, etteivät ne sanat hevillä sopineet sellaisesta miehestä, joka ei suinkaan ollut hylätty, vaan päinvastoin
riensi rakastettunsa luokse niin vinhasti kuin hevosenkaviot jaksoivat häntä kiidättää.
Mutta pian hänen synnynnäinen, luontainen varovaisuutensa otti vallan käsiinsä, ja laulu lakkasi hänen lähestyessänsä ratsastusretkensä päämääränä olevaa kallionulkonemaa.
Jossakin noiden sokkeloisten kunnaiden keskellä odotti häntä tyttö — hänen haaveilunsa hento, ujo neito. Mutta täällä hän oli oudossa, vieraassa maassa, ja muukalaisena hänen oli liikuttava varovasti. Sillä kukapa tiesi, kenen muiden korvat paitsi tytön kuuntelivat hänen tuloansa.
Hillittyänsä ratsunsa kävelemään hän kiersi teräväkärkisen kielekkeen ympäri ja pysytellen likellä sen laitaa ratsasti sen suuntaisesti alastomalle kallioseinämälle, joka oli kunnaiden eteläliepeellä.
Se kohosi jyrkkänä ja näköjään tiettömänä; sen ylitse pääsi ainoastaan aikoja sitten kuivuneen, muinaisen joen uurtaman, ahtaan rotkon kautta.
Pienen solan suu tuli kallion sisältä vinottain, ja sen edessä oli ylhäältä irtautuneita kivimöhkäleitä, joten sen löytäminen oli vaikea, mutta mies oli käynyt täällä jo kerran ennenkin eikä tällä kertaa epäröinyt.
Ja myöskin isolla, mustalla hevosella oli muistoja, sillä kun sen isäntä laskeutui ratsailta ja koetti taluttaa sitä synkkään, mutkaiseen solaan, tenäsi se vastaan, korskuen ja vapisten pelosta. Vasta pitkällisen ja jäykän rimpuilun jälestä se alistui etenemään, vilkuillen hurjistuneena puolelta toiselle, silkinhieno karva hiestä märkänä, ja
seurasi hermostuneesti syöksähdellen isäntäänsä, joka mairitteli ja hoputteli sitä arabialaiseksi harvinaisen kärsivällisenä.
Korkeiden kallioiden saartamina he kompuroivat kivisellä maaperällä, noudattaen kuivuneen joen sokkeloisia käänteitä, kunnes heidän eteensä äkillisen mutkan takaa avautui vähäinen umpilaakso, joka oli piilossa kumpujen keskellä. Sitä ympäröivät kallioseinämät olivat loivemmat, ja myöhemmin päivällä tunkeutuisivat auringonsäteet lämmittämään kitukasvuisia pensaita, joita kasvoi niukasti kivien välissä takertuneina sitkeästi elämään.
Heidän poistuttuansa peloittavasta rotkosta hevosen hermot rauhoittuivat, ja se seisoi levollisena päällikön tyynnyttäessä sitä sekä äänellään että kädellään sekä sitoessa sen tamariskipensaaseen, minkä jälkeen hän vielä kerran hyväiltyänsä ratsua erojaisiksi poistui sen luota.
Mentyänsä pitkin, joustavin askelin pienen alanteen ylitse alkoi nuori mies kiivetä vastaisella puolella kohoavalle kummulle. Tie oli vaivaloinen, kalliorinne oli liukas, ja irtonainen maa petti yhtenään hänen jalkansa alla. Mutta ketteränä kuin kissa ja mainiossa ruumiillisessa kunnossa hän kapusi pysähtymättä ja sallimatta paksun burnusinsa laskoksien ja ratsastussaappaittensa säikyttää itseänsä.
Vain kerran hän seisahtui sijoittaaksensa mukavampaan asentoon isotekoisen revolverin, joka oli piilotettuna hänen uumenillensa kiedottuun hopealla kirjailtuun, mustaan silkkivyöhönsä. Ja tutun aseen kosketus johti hänen mieleensä kumpujen toisella laidalla häntä vartovat miehet. Häntä hymyilytti, kun hän muisteli, kuinka vastahakoisesti he olivat suostuneet jäämään jälelle ja kuinka
silminnähtävän levottomia he olivat olleet eilen hänen kertoessansa heille suunnitelmistaan.
Hän keikautti päätänsä maltittomasti. Heidän ei sopinut kysellä hänen tulojansa ja menojansa eikä vastustaa hänen toiveitansa, mietti hän ylpeännäköisen ylähuulensa värähtäessä halveksivasti. Ennen he eivät olleet kertaakaan vastustaneet häntä. He olivat olleet hänen alttiita auttajiansa ja yllyttäjiänsä hänen miehuusikänsä alkuajalle ominaisissa lukuisissa poikamaisissa kujeissa ja hurjissa kepposissa. Ja nyt tämä uusi kanta! Mutta sitä olisi aikaa ajatella sitten, kun hän palaisi heidän seuraansa. Toistaiseksi hän tyytyi miettimään ainoastaan käsillä olevaa hauskempaa asiaa.
Pysytellen jyrkällä rinteellä kiemurtelevan vanhan polun eniten syöpyneillä kohdilla hän vihdoin saapui kunnaan laelle, jossa oli pieni tasanko, ja pysähtyi vähäksi ajaksi tähystämään tutkivasti ympärillensä.
Hänen vasemmalla puolellansa vietti jyrkkä rinne kapeaan rotkoon, jonka toisella puolen kohosi säröinen kallioharjanne toisensa jälkeen.
Hän kääntyi oikealle silmäilemään kaukana alapuolellansa leviävää aavikkoa. Muutamalla askeleella hän pääsi loivalle vierulle, joka mutkitteli sekavasti isojen, rapautuneiden kivilohkareiden välitse, päättyen vihdoin rotkoon. Tämä vei pohjoista kohti ja sitä sekä eteläistä solaa myöten, jonka kautta hän oli tullut, päästiin kukkuloille.
Hän oli odottanut tapaavansa tytön ylängöllä, mutta pienellä tasangolla ei näkynyt elon merkkiä.
Taaskin hän pudisti kärsimättömästi päätänsä ja hänen pikainen luontonsa leimahti. Kuinka paljoa kauemmaksi tyttö kuvitteli hänen menevän saamansa kaksimielisen sanoman johdosta? Hän oli ratsastanut rajusti yön; pitäisikö hänen kuluttaa koko päivä vaanimassa tyttöä, jonka hän oli suvainnut huomata? Otsa kiukkuisesti rypistettynä hän empi, ja hänen mieltänsä raastoivat halu jatkaa matkaa ja ylpeys, joka vaati häntä kääntymään takaisin.
Sitten hän hymyili hieman tuikeasti. Tytön rankaiseminen kolahtaisi häneen itseensä, ja kun hän kerran oli tullut niin pitkälle, ei häntä suinkaan haluttanut palata näkemättä tyttöä.
Heilautettuansa burnusinsa liepeet taaksepäin saadakseen kätensä vapaiksi hän lähti astelemaan rinnettä alaspäin käsi vyöhön piilotetun revolverin nupilla.
Ylängöltä poistuttua oli polulla liikkuminen kuin sokkosillaoloa, sillä joka puolelta häntä saartavat isot kivijärkäleet jättivät tiestä näkyviin vain muutamia metrejä. Aistit herkkinä ja valppaina hän kaarsi jokaisen möhkäleen ympäri nopeasti ja meluttomasti, laskeutuen yhä alemmaksi vierua myöten, kunnes hän äkkiä kuuli ääntä ja seisahtui kuuntelemaan tarkkaavasti.
Ääni oli hiljainen ja särähtelevä ja kuului kivien seasta jostakin hänen oikealta puoleltansa.
Hän poikkesi tieltä ja eteni sitä kohti. Varovasti käveltyänsä kivien välitse hän saapui vähäiselle, puolipyöreälle aukeamalle, joka oli kahden korkean kallioseinämän välissä. Hänen vastassansa oli kallioissa laaja halkeama, josta näkyi esteettömästi aavikolle kuten rappeutuneen rakennuksen särkyneestä ikkunasta.
Ja tämän luonnonluoman tirkistysaukon vieressä istui tyttö hentoinen olento, joka näytti parhaiksi sivuuttaneen lapsuusikänsä.
Hänen yllänsä oli musta lyhyt hame ja kirjailtu pusero; uumenille oli kiedottu vyö, päässä oli somasti kallellaan kultakirjauksinen lakki, ja hän huojui verkalleen edestakaisin, pidellen huulillansa guesboa.
Vielä hän ei ollut huomannut miehen tuloa, ja koko hänen huomionsa oli kiintynyt koppaan, joka oli maassa hänen edessään ja jonka levällänsä olevasta suusta pisti näkyviin kookkaan, mustan käärmeen litteä, kapea pää. Kiemurrellen ja huojuen otus lumottuna heilutteli päätänsä kummallisen, haaveellisen sävelen tahdissa, jota sen emäntä houkutteli pienestä arabialaisesta huilusta.
Kenties minuutin ajan nuori mies tarkkaili matelijan velttoja liikkeitä ja nuorekkaan soittajan joustavaa vartaloa.
Sitten hän lausui:
»Salamalik!»
Ja hänen syvä-ääninen tervehdyksensä ikäänkuin mursi lumouksen.
Äkäisesti sihahtaen käärme vikkelästi solahti kopan reunalta ja katosi kivien väliin, kun taas tyttö ponnahti pystyyn hopeisten rannerenkaittensa kilistessä ja katsoi häntä silmät levällänsä ja läähättäen.
Hänen ryhtinsä muistutti pakoa mielivää villiotusta, ja hän näytti olevan miehen tulosta puolittain iloissaan, puolittain peloissaan.