Chapter 4
1475 Words
Mosi was curious about what she meant about “sect’s gathering”. The only thing he knew about the picture was what his parents had told him. They said that this picture was taken the day they met and fell in love. It was love at first sight according to them.
He wanted to ask about the “sect’s gathering” part but was unsure if he should. It would probably alert Elisa that he wasn’t knowledgeable.
“Well, is that all you can tell me about that picture?”
That picture brought uncomfortable memories to Elisa. She always regretted taking her daughter to that gathering. She believed that if she hadn’t taken her she probably would have never ran away.
“What would you like to know about this picture?”
“Everything you can tell me, everything you know would be best.”
“Very well. At that time Carmen was 12 years old if I remember correctly. I took her because since she had awakened her talent at 5 she was already allowed to go. You see, kids can go only after they have awakened their talent. That’s why I didn’t take her to the previous gathering. I wanted her to see the world the way it is. To see the future that awaited for her to grow up.”
Elisa kept quiet for a while and Mosi decided it was best not to say anything. He realized she was reminiscing and would most likely keep on speaking if he didn’t interrupt her.
“On that gathering Carmen met the son of the sect leader of another sect. Her heart was captured by him. After we returned from the gathering she couldn’t stop speaking about the kid. She insisted she was in love and wanted to see him again. She kept asking when would she be able to see him again. If we could visit his sect or invite him over.”
By now Mosi was certain Elisa was his grandma, if not how could she know all this? He knew how secretive both his parents were. Not only was the same picture in Elisa’s album but she knew the story that his parents had told him.
Although he wasn’t aware of what happened after this “sect gathering” the fact that Elisa knew; evidenced that even if she wasn’t his grandma she had had a close relationship with his mother.
“I of course told her it was impossible to visit their sect or to invite him to ours. Sects are very protective of their secrets and inviting members of other sects to one’s own is the same as opening up the possibility to have the sects secrets uncovered.”
Mosi decided that this was a time to keep quiet. Silence sometimes is better than pestering. Since she already started she would most likely finish if he didn’t interrupt. Elisa took a deep breath before continuing the story.
“Carmen insisted she was in love with the kid. She wanted to marry him. I admit that freaked me out. I realized I should have arranged a marriage for her before taking her to the gathering. It was my mistake that her heart was available when I took her. Marriage between sects was extremely rare and only happened under very particular circumstances.”
Elisa sighed deeply. “I told her it was impossible for her to marry him and that she should marry someone within our own sect. That was probably the key moment that made Elisa decide to run away.”
Both Mosi and Elisa spent a couple minutes in silence. Mosi didn’t know what to say. He realized Elisa was feeling down, most likely guilty. It had been a long time since they sat down to eat and more than half and hour has passed after he finished eating.
He stood up and said, “The time I had to talk to you is up. I appreciate you telling me all this. I will go back to work now. If you want you can wait for me in the farm’s entrance and we can go together from there to the house when I leave. I’ll be done here at sunset, so feel free to do whatever you want in the meantime.”
Elisa was taken out of here reverie by his words.
“So you believe I’m Carmen’s mother then? You’ll allow me to meet my grandkid?”
“I’m still not sure if you are who you say you are. But I agree that you have passed the test with the pictures at least. Since I offered I would let you in the house to meet him if you passed, I’ll do exactly that. I’m a man of my word.”
Elisa was ecstatic. She didn’t think he would be convinced so easily since he had been so hard and distant throughout their conversation.
“Thank you, I really appreciate the opportunity you are giving me of meeting my grandson. I’ll wait for you at the farm’s entrance by sundown then.”
She stood up and walked back to her mountain of stuff and started stuffing her bag with them. Mosi couldn’t help but gawk at the scene. It seemed surreal. It defied reality, not even a tenth of those things should fit in that bag.
He decided it was best to go back to work before it got any later, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to finish up everything he was supposed to do before the day ended.
While he was working he couldn’t help but think about Elisa. He was very excited about the fact that he and his brother still had family left alive. Would they have aunts or uncles as well? Would his grandparents on his father’s side still be alive?
He had to work extra hard because his lunch break which usually lasted 45 minutes tops had extended more than an hour and a half. He hurried up and realized that unless he made less trips carrying the wooden stakes he wouldn’t be able to finish.
This week he had been building fences. Cattle had to be separated in groups in order to maximize efficiency in cattle raising. He built fences very often and was very good doing it. From cutting trees, to working the wood into stakes, and then placing them in the ground to divide the territory into slots.
He was working extra hard and carrying more than 50% more stakes than he usually carried. Which was a ridiculous amount because he already carried almost double what an average worker would carry. He knew he could carry even more weight and even jog while doing it but he was averse to showing too much strength in case anyone was watching.
The foreman and Mr. Fernandez had always been deeply impressed with his efficiency which was the reason he got paid more than other workers.
Nonetheless he always bore in mind what his father had once said, “People are prone to envy, if you show them too much of your abilities an uncountable amount of bad things could happen to you. Always and I mean always keep a low profile.”
Mosi kept working like a machine and he managed to finish his scheduled work even before sunset. He decided he would leave everything ready for monday since sunday was his day off.
He organized his tools and all the remaining wood stakes and other materials in his shed. He was a very organized person, something he learned from his mother. She hated living in disorder and was very organized not only with her things and the house but also with her time.
After leaving everything ready for monday he still had some time left so he started walking slowly while using the time to think how he should manage Elisa who would most likely be waiting for him in the entrance.
Should he tell her he was also her grandson? Should he ask about the “blood ritual” she mentioned? Or should he pretend he knew? What about the “sect gathering” part?
He believed that at the very least he should pretend to know about the sects. At least until they arrived home. He could probably ask about the sects if he told her he was her grandson too but he didn’t think it was appropriate to tell her before they arrived home.
He had to first stop by the main house to collect his wages for the week. After all, even if his grandma had appeared he couldn’t expect her to pay for their expenses. Sunday was the day when he and his brother would go and buy their groceries and other necessities. It was his only day free so he had no other choice even if he wanted to.
He arrived at the main house and went to the side door where Mrs. Fernandez usually supervised the wage distribution. Sandra, the lady that helped cleaning the main house, was in charge of giving every worker their respective envelope.
Mosi got in line and didn’t have to wait long before he got his wages and left for the main entrance.
Before leaving Mr. Fernandez called him over to the study.
- Writer
