blocked_10_final

Red Knot Continued...
beauty glowed, despite the fracture. He tucked the broken
shell into his pocket.
“I trust her,” he whispered.
Penuel smiled inquisitively and patted the boy’s head.
They walked on the path toward the ocean accompanied
by the faint sound of waves crashing in the distance.
“No one believes you, Jack, yes? But you told the truth.
The Guardian commanded you to deliver the serum to the
E.C.C.O. agent. It was all part of her plan. Thank you for
being obedient and maintaining your silence. You are special,
like the golden spiral.”
“I heard her voice. Like a dream—b-but real. No one will
ever believe me,” Jack croaked, his voice hoarse from lack
of use.
“Ah, maybe not yet. The Guardian cherishes free will.
It’s admirable, and in some ways, incomprehensible, yes?
Like God, she lets us choose. I think she enjoys the tension,
no?” Penuel and Jack were now walking along the
beach.
“Maybe.”
“Can you tell me about what happened, Jack?”
Jack cleared his throat. It seemed he couldn’t stop talking
now that he’d started again. “It was strange. I was
alone in my cabin when I heard a voice, but no one was
there. It was like when Ainsling cloaked us. We were all invisible,
but we heard each other.”
Penuel stroked his chin, awed by the tale. Jack met his
eyes. “The voice said to walk down the hall. It told me
every turn to make and which doors to enter. When it
whispered the combination of the lock, I opened it and
took one bottle of serum from the case, as instructed. It
was all so easy. I trusted the voice completely.”
“Did she mention your sister, Sara?”
“Yes. The first thing she said was, “I’m the Guardian.
Your sister is safe. Will you help me?’”
“That felt good, yes?”
“Yes.” Jack fell silent.
“There is more, yes?”
“Well, I never told anyone about this. But the Guardian
knew all about my first mission. One of the people we
were sent to rescue died. I always blamed myself. She was
so close—I should have saved her. But the Guardian assured
me Maria’s death wasn’t my fault. No one else knew
how guilty I felt about it. She said she understood like
she’d experienced the same thing once. When she asked
me not to tell the others that she spoke to me, I promised I
wouldn’t.”
“The Guardian believes in you. She understands your
pain.”
“I think that’s true. I don’t know how to explain it. But
after talking with her, I felt free. I wanted to do what she
asked. I haven’t spoken since then ‘til now.”
“You were no longer alone, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, I’m glad. The Guardian trusted you and you
proved yourself a faithful servant.”
“Was what I did that great? I mean, they all think I’m a
traitor. Maybe I should have told them about hearing the
Guardian’s voice?”
“No, Jack, you did the right thing—you did what the
Guardian asked. You kept your promise. I’m sure it wasn’t
easy, yes? Not everyone is ready to hear her voice. You
were ready. Liang will be ready soon. And the Guardian
will speak again,” the man smiled wistfully.
“Can I have some water?” Jack asked, his voice still
warbled. Penuel handed him a bottle of water from his
knapsack and chuckled as Jack took a few sips and then
poured the rest of it over his head, like a self-baptism. Jack
shook his head like a dog, sending water everywhere.
The morning wind picked up. Soon it blew strong, lifting
Jack’s damp hair straight up. The boy scanned the sky
for storm clouds, but something in the ocean distracted
him.
He pointed.
“Penuel—look—a ship!”
Penuel followed Jack’s finger and joined him in staring
at a spot of brown bouncing on the ocean’s horizon. Penuel
sighed.
“At last. They’re coming.”
Jack raised an eyebrow at Penuel. He asked the obvious.
“Who’s coming?”
Penuel gulped the salty ocean air and replied, “Come,
we must inform Elizabeth. The island is about to fill with
people. There’s a lot to do! You are a hard worker, yes?”
“I’m free. Put me to work.”
The young man inspired Penuel, like a breath of fresh
air. He inwardly thanked God that the Guardian asked him
to speak with Jack on her behalf. He had wrestled with the
dichotomy of free will and fate long enough. Talking with
this faithful child ground every bit of his doubt to sand.
They turned back toward the cottage to find Elizabeth.
They found her perched at the top of the stairs as they
reached the end of their climb. She exchanged a meaningful
look with Penuel, their dark eyes exchanging both
concern and hope. Jack couldn’t restrain his excitement.
He spoke out coarsely but exuberantly, “We saw a ship!”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose at hearing Jack’s rough
voice.
“Thank you, Jack,” she said, smiling. She turned to Penuel.
“May I speak to you in private for a moment?”
Jack excused himself and watched from a window inside
the cottage as Penuel and Elizabeth had an animated
conversation.
He wrapped his hand around the seashell in his
pocket.
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