A Beautiful Day
Moving Backwards
Here and now
It was a beautiful day, by Sabattan
standards. Warm without being overly hot or humid. There was a slight breeze
that for once didn’t carry the stench of death with it. Sheridann even found
the correct size ratchet attachment she needed on the first try. She just knew
something was going to come along and spoil the day but she was thankful for the
good day she’d had thus far. A few more turns of the wrench and she’d be
finished changing the trucks oil. By the time she got washed up dinner would be
ready or near enough to ready that she could steal a bite.
Something hit the sole of her boot. “I was told I could find Sheridann Riley
here, where is she?” The voice speaking was female but not one she knew.
Sheridann tilted her head so she could look out past her the length of her own
body. Four pairs of shiny Church of the Nuclear Messiah soldier’s boots stood
beside the truck. Nukes, there went her beautiful day. “I’m Riley. What do
you want?”
“Come out from under the truck, Riley.”
“Just a minute. I’ve got to tighten this up first.” The pan was already
secured. Sheridann just wanted to see what they’d do. Sure enough one of them
reached down to grab her ankle. They came up empty as Sheridann pulled herself
further under the truck, coming out the other side. She was wiping off the
wrench and putting it in the toolbox by the time the Nukes scurried around the
truck. “Ya know, you’re liable to lose a hand grabbing at people like
that.” Four messiah soldiers, two male, two female, talk about ruining a day.
She adjusted her eye patch then yanked off the rag that had kept her scarlet
hair from getting caught in the wheels of the cart.
“You were ordered to come out from under the truck.”
It was the same female talking. She looked vaguely familiar to Sheridann but
with so many Nukes wandering around New Rydynn she couldn’t be sure. “I
don’t take orders from Messiah soldiers. This isn’t Paradox.” A lazy grin
floated across her face. “I’ve always felt the military life was for chumps.
No offense to present company intended.” She watched the woman’s cheeks
flush, it was clear she had taken offense. Brown hair, blue eyes, regular army,
a Lt. Sheridann also noted the woman was shorter and slighter then she was so
she made a point of standing up straight directly in front of the woman. “And
I repeat, what do you want?”
“You don’t have any idea who I am, do you?”
Sheridann shook her head. “Newp, should I?”
“Where is that worthless old man of yours?”
“If you mean my father, he’s dead.” Sheridann was surprised to see the Lt.
blink, taken aback by that news. “He’s been dead for years.”
“Your mother?”
“Long dead, eleven or twelve years now. Why do you ask anyway?” Sheridann
was never one to shy away from asking questions, especially obvious ones. Her
single visible eye glanced over the three other soldiers. They looked more bored
then threatening at the moment.
The Lt. straightened up to take on a more forceful military bearing. “Just
answer the questions or we’ll be forced to take you back to base for
questioning.” If the Lt. was looking for a fearful reaction to that threat she
was disappointed. “Now, where is your stepmother and siblings?”
Sheridann raised a scarlet brow. “Never had a stepmother. My siblings, of
which there are four, are all married and spread out over Sabbatt and K-Land.
Orell married a farmer and lives in a collective south of here. Phillipa married
a miner and lives somewhere in the mountains. Quetah married some guy who
arranges caravans. I’ve got no clue where she is and Raleigh married a guy
from K-land and teaches school in a small village there last I heard. I’ve got
eleven nieces and nephews too.”
The Lt.’s face grew redder. “You’ve left a few siblings out, Riley.” A
fist raised. “There are boys too, where are they?”
“I have no idea.” Sheridann shrugged. “Both Lance and Nash left home
shortly after my mother died. I think they joined the military but I couldn’t
even tell you which side. I was only five or six.” There was her first lie.
She knew exactly what side the boys had joined. Lance and Nash Riley became
Freemen. Then came the next lie. “I don’t remember having any other siblings
‘cept for the baby, Tavish and I think he died the same time my mother did.”
As the woman’s face grew redder, Sheridann suddenly realized who she was.
“You want to know anything else about my private family business, Lt. or can I
get back to work now?”
“Don’t wanna go.” The five year
old girl dug her bare heels into the dirt and pulled back trying to escape the
grip of the older girl pulling her along.
“Come on Sheri. We’ll get some candy from them when we get there. It’s not
far now.”
Sheridann Riley tilted her face up to study the older girl. “Name not
Sheri.” Her nose crinkled. Even at five years old she was a contrary creature.
“No want candy. Daddy say Nukes are bad.” Truth was she didn’t even know
what candy was and her fear of Church of the Messiah soldiers far outweighed her
curiosity about candy. “Go home now.”
The older girl’s hand clamped around Sheridann’s wrist. “No! We are going
to meet Major Turley and I’m going to get that candy…along with the other
things he promised in trade for you.”
While Sheridann didn’t quite understand what was going on she did quite
clearly get that she was being dragged off to the Nuke compound whether she
liked it or not and she definitely didn’t like it. “Go home now!” She
twisted her body around and bit down on the hand that was restraining her. The
second the older girls grip loosened Sheridann was off and running for home as
fast as her feet would go.
“Sheridann! Come back here, you brat!”
Knowing she was being chased made Sheridann run all the faster. Adrenaline
coursed through her small body. She knew if she got caught she’d get a beating
and dragged to the Nuke compound so when a pair of hands snatched her from her
feet she let out a terrified scream and fought for all she was worth.
“Shhhhh, Peanut, it’s okay. You’re safe now. It’s me, Nash.”
It took a few seconds for the words to penetrate but once they did Sheridann
ceased her struggle and started to cry. “Wanna go home. Want Mommy.” She
wrapped her arms around her fourteen-year-old brother’s neck. Nash’s hand
was soothing as it rubbed over her back.
“S’okay Peanut, I’ll take ya home, don’t cry. I won’t let anyone hurt
you.”
“Hey, Nash, gimme the brat, I’ll take her home.”
Sheridann’s arms tightened. “Don’t want no candy, Nash. Wanna go home.”
She pleaded, knowing if she was returned to the girl she wouldn’t be taken
home. The next voice she heard belonged to her father. She looked up from
Nash’s shoulder to see both her father and oldest brother Lance marching
towards them. “Daddy!”
Her father gave her a faint smile and ruffled her scarlet locks. “Take
Sheridann home, Nash. We’ll be along shortly.”
“No! I promised to bring her and you’re not going to stop me, Old Man!”
Sheridann saw her father shake his head. He looked so sad. Her brother Lance
walked right up to the girl, backhanded her in the face then spit on her fallen
form.
“Nuke whore!”
Their father had to restrain Lance from further injuring the girl. “Melva Rose
Riley, you are a severe disappointment to me and the rest of the family.”
Sheridann only caught bits and pieces of words after that as Nash had started to walk
away. She didn’t understand most of it anyway but when she was older it would
make sense. Her sister Melva had been turning people in to the Nukes, selling
them out for whatever trinkets and food the Messiah soldiers would give her.
Melva was going to turn her in for having different colored eyes, for being a
freak and possibly a mage. It didn’t matter to Melva that Sheridann was only
five and her own half sister. Nothing mattered to Melva beyond getting her own
way.
Two nights later Melva showed up at the door to get her belongings. She’d
brought Major Turley and a few other soldiers with her. There was nothing left
of Melva’s belongings for her to find. Her father had given it all to the
families of those she’d sold out to the Nukes with false information and he
told her as much in front of Major Turley.
“Get out of my house, Melva. You are not my daughter.” Farris Riley ushered
his fifteen-year-old daughter and her Nuke escort out of the house. “Go find
your mother, maybe she’ll tell you who your father really is because no blood
of mine would do what you have. Don’t ever come back.”
Sheridann had never heard so much anger in her father’s voice. She watched
Major Turley lead Melva away, ignoring the girl’s protests. She never saw
Melva again. The family moved the next day and kept moving but a month later the
Messiah soldiers caught up to them. When it was over her mother was dead and her
family scattered.
“What about your oldest sister, Melva?”
“Melva?” Sheridann did her best to look like she was thinking about this but
she knew it was Melva who stood before her in a Messiah uniform. She scratched
her head. “Mel was disowned for trying to sell me to some Nuke Major for a
hand full of candy.” She let her gaze travel over the other soldiers. “My
so-called older sister, Melva was fifteen, I think.” Her hands came to rest on
her hips. “I was five and besides having this unnaturally bright mop of hair,
I once had dual colored eyes. Mel bought into that whole stupid tale about dual
colored eyes meaning a person was inclined to magic. As if anyone is truly
inclined to it anymore.” Sheridann turned away from the group to start packing
up the gear she’d been using. “My father caught up to us before she could
sell me for some worthless junk and disowned her. I haven’t seen her since
that day and I don’t really care to.”
One of the males put a hand on Melva’s shoulder as if to comfort her…or
maybe it was to restrain her. “You mother and brother, how did they die?”
Sheridann turned back towards them. “They died at the hands of Messiah
soldiers. We had to leave our home after what Melva did. She’d turned in other
people, our friends and neighbors, lied to the nukes about them so she could get
the pretty baubles she wanted. Anyone she had any kind of grudge against would
disappear in the night. My father was so shamed he gave away almost everything
we had to, in some small way, apologize to those Melva had harmed. We were
traveling for about a month when we were attacked. I don’t remember much
except my mom waking me, then we were all running. Something hit me and next
thing I remember was waking up in some sort of medical triage unit. I kept asking for my mother and
Tavi. Nash told me they were dead.” There was no emotion in her voice at all.
“Everyone was hurt. I lost an eye and Orry had to have her left arm amputated
at the elbow. Soon as we could travel the boys went their own way and my father
brought the rest of us to New Rydynn.” She picked up her shoulder rig and
shrugged into it. It was difficult to repress the laugh that bubbled up at the
Nukes taking an instinctive step back upon seeing her weapons.
“We can arrest you for having weapons, you might be a Freeman.” Melva looked
very pleased with her new idea.
“I’m not a Freebie.” Sheridann popped her favorite bowler hat on the back
of her head. “And everyone around here has weapons, your arrest won’t hold
up. This is the frontier where all the barbarians and savages live…or so you
people keep telling us.” She pulled on her jacket. “Look, I don’t know why
you are so interested in my family and I really don’t care. All I care about
is the fact that you are making me late for dinner and around here that could
mean not eating at all until morning. What with the siege and all, supplies
are a little short.” She looked over the soldiers, paying particular attention
to Melva. The woman looked ready to strangle her and for some reason that
pleased Sheridann.
“I’m Captain Broderr, medical corp. We are looking for relatives of Melva
Riley because of a medical condition she has developed.” He stepped forward.
“You’ve been the only member of her family we’ve been able to locate. From
your story I realize you probably have no great love for your sister but we need
your help, she could die.”
“Tough luck for you because I’m not going to help you.” Sheridann leaned
her butt against the car’s quarter panel. “Melva Riley is not my sister, not
my blood and nothing to me. If she dies then it’s just one less nuke running
around making other people’s lives miserable…and that’s not exactly a bad
thing.”
“You’re going to help us. You don’t have a choice.” A smug look appeared
on Melva’s face. “We are Messiah soldiers, we are in control of this city
and you will do as we tell you.”
Sheridann shook her head. Melva hadn’t changed a bit. “See that blonde over
there in the cowboy hat?” They turned to look where she was pointing.
“That’s my boss, Bliss. See the woman walking beside her?” Bliss and her
companion were walking towards them, the sight of so many uniforms probably
having aroused their curiosity. “Yes, the redheaded woman in the Messiah
uniform. That’s Major Svetlana Lluchennkov, directorate of intelligence, sub
directorate five "The Backstabbers". They’re pals, my boss and the
Major. So no, I will not be doing as you tell me. “ She grinned at her long
lost sister, Melva. “I will be telling them all about what you are doing here,
what you want and why I am not inclined to give it to you. Go back to Paradox,
Lt. Melva Rose Riley. There is nothing here for you.” A feral grin appeared at
the surprised look that appeared on Melva’s face. “Yeah, I know who you are.
You’re the vicious little fifteen year old girl that tried to get rid of the
five year old sister because you were jealous of her, her mother and baby
brother. You’re the thoughtless, spiteful brat that cost Orry her arm, me an
eye, my mother her life and all of us Riley kids a brother. Dad always knew it
was you that brought the soldiers down on us, searching for some Freebie weapons
stash that didn’t exist.” Sheridann picked up the toolbox. “Go back where
you belong, Melva. Maybe your precious Nuclear Messiah will be able to save you
from whatever illness you have but I sure as hell won’t.”
Melva opened her mouth but Captain Broder stopped her. He wasn’t about to
tangle with a major in intelligence. He liked his job and he was a good doctor.
“I’m saddened to hear you can’t be of any help to us, Miss Riley. Perhaps
if you could direct us to one of your sisters?”
“Which one? To Orry who lost her arm because of Melva? To Phil who lost her
first husband to a drunken Nuke soldier’s fists? Maybe Quetah, if I had any
idea where she was.” Sheridann looked at the doctor. “I’m afraid Leigh
won’t help you anymore then I will. She’s only two years older then me and
my Mom was the only one she ever knew. Melva was responsible for our mother’s
death, she hates her more then I do. I really don’t know where the boys are
but they’d probably shoot her and put her out of their misery rather then help
her.”
“Is there a problem, Sheridann?” Bliss called as she got closer.
Sheridann grinned. “Just some little lost Nukes, Boss. I’ve told them where
to go and how to get there. I don’t think they’ll have any problems now.”
Later she’d tell Bliss what had happened; maybe she’d share it with the
Major as well if she was there. “I’m heading in to dinner now. Truck’s
fixed.” She picked up her toolbox then tipped her bowler. “Goodbye. Don’t
ever come back, Melva because the only help I’ll ever give you is a bullet in
the brain pan and that’s only if I’m feeling really charitable.” She
strolled away, never turning her back on the soldiers. It was mean, it was cruel
to refuse to help Melva but Sheridann didn’t feel guilty at all. The woman was
only reaping the harvest she, herself had sown years ago. She’d have to write
Lance to tell him all about it and to ask him when he and Nash were going to
bring Tavish by for a visit. Whistling a tune Sheridann headed for the group
kitchen. It really was turning out to be a beautiful day.
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Wednesday, April 07, 2010