Revolution: Chapter One: Papers

This story takes place directly after Hunter, which you may want to read first. Follow Christine Moore's story after James leaves New Covenant

The papers were like lead weights in her pockets. Christine Moore needed to be very careful holding such documents. They were against Doctrine, evidence of unbelief. If her husband found them, he would have her executed. Rushing through meal prep, she went to her sewing room to examine the papers her son brought her from his brother's house, before he burned the place down.

With six sons, Christine always cherished her moments of peace. She banned all of them from her sanctuary, and her husband had never visited. It was sparsely furnished, but more than enough for her needs. Bright morning light filled the room from the far window. A comfortable chair sat near a cold fireplace. Despite its name, she rarely sewed, preferring instead to sit in silence and contemplate her life.

That morning, however, she had other business.

The first paper was a map of the colony, which was not too incriminating. Christine had never seen one before, and she rarely ventured far from her hometown of Jerusalem. The second paper, however, was titled Emancipation Proclamation. She skimmed it, but could hardly understand what it meant. It did not help that she'd never read anything except the Bible in her life.

At the bottom of the pile was a typed article on something called feminism. She read it three times. The idea of women being equal to men was so startling she couldn’t quite grasp the words. Everything in her life told her women were subservient to men. She could not earn income, leave the home without permission, or handle currency. Women existed to serve men and raise children.

But the article argued against all that, instead. Dazed, Christine hid the papers in the chimney, then returned to her seat. For several long moments, nothing in particular occupied her thoughts. The implication of the article weighed on her, and she wanted to adjust. Her hands felt cold hands pressed over her thumping heart as she processed. She'd long suspected James was an unbeliever, but never imagined he went so far against Doctrine as to consider women equal to himself. He never gave any indication he thought that way. Christine felt duped, but a small smile crept onto her face.

Christine had never loved her husband. Like all girls, her father and the church betrothed her to a boy she's never met when she was twelve. A few days before their wedding four years later, her father called off their betrothal and instead married her to Marcus Moore, who was twenty-one and had just set aside his first wife for not bearing a viable heir.

Suddenly tied to an older, steely man was not what she wanted, but she had no choice. No betrothal was a love match, just business. Fathers worked with the clergy to determine suitable matches, intending only to maintain a strong lineage and tighten family connections. Marcus was frigid toward her, rarely speaking more than a few words in her direction. Christine wanted different for her boys.

When James was ten, the youth pastor disciplined him for waving at a girl. Doctrine kept boys and girls strictly separate until betrothal. Christine figured out which girl he'd risked punishment for, just to wave. Twice more, clergy caught James getting the girl's attention. All too soon, it was time to make a match. In her greatest feat, Christine convinced Marcus to match James with that young girl, Alaina. She didn't know if James was aware of her involvement, but she had never seen him so happy as when he saw Alaina at the betrothal ceremony.

Just the day before, Christine visited James to give him the family Bible. She risked a great deal to do so, but had an overwhelming urge to get it into his hands. He was going to inherit it anyway when his father died. Christine had not read it, but thought James needed it more than Marcus did.

He left that night, stealing away in the dark with his wife and son. Christine didn’t think she would ever see him again, but she hoped. Leaving earned someone an automatic death penalty. Christine grimaced when she considered of it, her heart aching at the thought of her wonderful boy taken from this life. Sitting became intolerable.

Christine went to her youngest son’s room to tidy up. Beau was only five, and he had a habit of leaving his toys everywhere.

In the modest size room, Christine’s thoughts wandered to JJ, James’s son. He was the same age as Beau, and just as sweet. James and Alaina were doing a great job raising him. When she considered she might never see his tiny grinning face again, Christine sat on the small bed and covered her eyes. No tears came; she held those in through force of will. The grief welled regardless. She prayed James and his little family would be safe, asking Jesus to watch over them.

Wallowing would get her nowhere. She stood to put away the myriad of toys littering the floor. Beau’s favorite, the wood gun James carved for him, identical to JJ’s, laid in the center of the rug. Christine set it on his little table, then moved on to make his bed. Beau had a favorite blanket, the one his father’s mother knitted for him shortly before she passed away the year prior. He insisted on sleeping with it every night, so Christine took care to make sure it was always on his bed.

Once Beau’s room looked decent, she moved on to Ryder's. Her second youngest was ten, and he was actually very tidy. She finished his room in under five minutes, which left her with nothing to do.

The rest of her boys were grown and already in the militia. There was a room for when any of her five grandchildren stayed over, but that room was already spotless.

Christine checked on her herb garden, then returned to her sewing room. She sat idly waiting for her younger children to return from school. Once they returned, she’d be too busy for any thoughts of feminism.

Just after noon, Beau and Ryder raced through the door demanding lunch. Christine put together sandwiches and fruit, which they inhaled.

“How was school?”

Ryder shrugged. “We’re learning more colony history. Right now it’s the creation of Doctrine.”

Beau finished his sandwich and pushed his plate toward her. “We talked about Adam and Eve. Preacher Tim said Earth is 6500 years old! That’s so long.”

“Yes it is,” Christine said. “6500 is quite a bit longer than you’ve been alive.”

“Closer to your age?” he asked.

Christine barely held in a smile. “I’m 39, so I suppose you’re correct.”

“That’s old too.” A frown spread across his face. “JJ wasn’t at school today. Is he okay?”

Christine hesitated. How could she explain he would never see his best friend again? They were born within a month of each other, and had spent nearly every day together since. JJ’s disappearance would devastate Beau, and probably Ryder as well. Actually, all her boys would be upset by James leaving.

“Boys,” she said, “I have to tell you something. Hunter came by this morning. James, Alaina, and JJ have left the colony.”

They stared at her uncomprehendingly. “What?” said Ryder.

“Left?”

Christine nodded. “Yes. They’ve crossed to the Other Side.”

Beau’s lip quivered. “But they’ll die!”

“I don’t know why they left, honey, but you may be right.” Christine wanted to believe they would be fine more than anything. She couldn’t stand to think of them murdered by monstrous aliens. The image of James hauling the beast he slew back to the center of town flashed in her mind. It had long razor-sharp teeth and spinal ridges, not to mention great enormous claws.

Beau jumped away from the table and ran toward the stairs up to his room. Ryder stared at the wall.

The papers Hunter had given her overwhelmed her thoughts.

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