Power play

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Captain Rodrigo Liam pictured the streets paved with cobblestones and lined with buildings, flat stone walks leading to the houses, shops built of gray block, and steep, red roofs standing like sturdy soldiers with crimson plumes. He envisioned mansions with great brick walls and dazzling gardens, churches with far-reaching spires that could be seen for miles, and, perhaps in the center of it all, a palace keeping a watchful eye over its city.

He was ready to put himself to the task of building Quebec and his visions of what it could be spurned him on. Monsieur Fonte kept in contact with him, sending messages inquiring when he would be able to begin. He sent word back that he would assist with the hospital the day after next Sabbath. Frod Dominos complained that she was still too weary to go to mass, but Captain Rodrigo Liam insisted.

The bargain with the Jesuits was that they would attend mass each Sabbath, and they had already missed several. It was time they kept their end of the deal. Curiosity was Captain Rodrigo Liam's major motivator, though. Yes, he would hold to his agreements, whether spoken or in writing, but he wanted to hear what the priests would have to say in such primitive surroundings. Mostly, he hoped his mere presence in the chapel would drive the nightmares out of his soul. The work and plans of building Quebec helped relieve the constant nagging of them, but any quiet moment would bring the dreams to life.

Sabbath day dawned, and after performing a few necessary chores, Captain Rodrigo Liam and Frod Dominos readied themselves for the chapel service. Captain Rodrigo Liam was clean, shaved, and dressed within moments as Frod Dominos moved slowly about the little house, lazily digging in the one trunk she had brought from France. Captain Rodrigo Liam was irritated at her slowness, sure that it was meant solely to aggravate him. Not to give her the benefit, he waited outside without saying a word.

Frod Dominos readied herself behind the makeshift partition Captain Rodrigo Liam had made for her by her cot. She was uneasy baring herself even if Captain Rodrigo Liam was not in the house. She wanted to keep as much distance as she could between her nakedness and anyone else. There was no one who would be her protector in this strange new place...no one who really knew her heart and her fears. She had to protect herself until the day she would return to France.

Frod Dominos made one last complaint about going to the chapel as she appeared from the

little house. She looked more radiant than Captain Rodrigo Liam ever remembered. It made him furious. He had managed to feel nothing more than irritation and guilt about her for weeks, seeing her so mournful and angry. Now he had to wrestle with other feelings, seeing her in beautiful fabrics and ribbons, her hair brushed to its most silky sheen and fastened with pearls. He longed for her to smile at him. "If we must go, then let us be on our way," she said as she brushed past. Jacques greeted them at the door of the makeshift chapel. The fort was used for

mass ever since the chapel had been destroyed by fire. The plan was to rebuild, but

there were other priorities.

"How good to see you again." said Jacques. "I am afraid we have all been too busy to visit since our arrival. We will have to make an effort at it. I miss your company, my friend." Jacques looked at Captain Rodrigo Liam with a questioning look.

Captain Rodrigo Liam smiled and nodded back an all-is-well. "And I miss your company, Father Jacques." "Frod Dominos, you look more beautiful than words can describe. Obviously you are completely recovered from your fever. No one ill has such a glow."

"I am doing well. My strength has returned. With all the fieldwork I have been

doing lately, I think I may be stronger than I have ever been," she replied, suddenly

blushing and guiltily glancing at Captain Rodrigo Liam. "Thank you for your concern. Are you

performing mass today?"

"Oh, no. I will be listening to Father Vinmont with the rest of you."

"I hope someday to hear you, Father Jacques," she said. "And I hope to please you by doing so...someday."

Frod Dominos took Captain Rodrigo Liam's arm to keep up appearances, and they entered the building. Ten benches were lined up, five on each side, with an aisle down the center. They were plain and hard and had no back to them. At the front of the room was a taller bench on which sat candles, an ornate cup, and a large book of Scriptures with a tapestry marker hanging from between the pages. They chose the bench closest to the door and sat down. Captain Rodrigo Liam moved over slightly so he would not touch Frod Dominos. Even the possibility of doing so was a distraction.

Father Vinmont entered the room and the soft chatter ceased. He walked up the aisle to the taller bench and faced the people. He smiled and welcomed everyone, then read from the book of Scriptures. When he was done with the passage, he closed the book and began telling how Jesus came to save their souls. Captain Rodrigo Liam leaned forward to focus on the Father's words.

Father Vinmont continued to speak, despite varying degrees of attention from his audience. Captain Rodrigo Liam, unused to the whole concept of preaching, struggled to focus on what was being said. The Father would say something that sent Captain Rodrigo Liam on a whole new trail of thought. By the time he brought himself around, he had missed much of what else was preached. What he did hear fascinated him and caused him to want to hear more.

Frod Dominos fidgeted on the hard bench, uninterested in anything the Father had to say. She scanned the room and made a mental note of the parishioners. All were scrubbed clean and had on their best clothes. She could tell some of the men were uncomfortable, rugging with their finger at their buttoned collars and self-consciously patting their combed and parted hair.