The middle of the week following the National Championships was a time of pure happiness for Ashley. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and for the first time, her garden was giving her reasons to think that it might someday look nice. She ran her fingers through the warm soil and realized that she had plenty of time that day to do nothing but play, as she was only planning to spend a couple of hours in the gym to keep herself in shape. It was a little bit of a vacation, and she was already thinking that as soon as the South Dakota Special Olympics were over, she would plan a real vacation to include visits with her parents, Julie, Cheryl, and most importantly, Tim.
Liberty was also in her garden, examining the stones she had collected to form the base for the sculptured fountain that Brother Howard had made.
She had been thrilled when he had asked her if she could use it, and now it sat in a wooden crate nearby waiting to be installed. Brother Phil was going to help her with the plumbing, and she wanted to make a little bridge over the streamlet that would wind its way through her garden and down toward the pond in the South American Garden. She could hardly wait to show her father when it was all finished.
Sarah was in her apartment sitting at her small desk and alternately gazing out the window and drawing little dancers on a sheet of paper. She hoped they would be good enough to use as part of the poster for the upcoming Northwest Junior Dance Festival that was scheduled in August. She glanced at the clock, and saw that she still had half an hour before she had to leave for
the team meeting about Marty. A cloud moved slowly across the blue sky as she watched, but it didn’t look like it held any rain. She drew another dancer and smiled to herself, remembering her dance with Shawn at his birthday party. She was glad he liked her. She liked him more than she knew how to put into words. And she already knew how hard it would be to find boys who wanted to be close to her, at least after they saw the right side of her face and neck. Rachael had explained to her how some people would be bothered if she and Shawn were close because he was nine years older than she was. She wished she could make everyone understand that during her life she had already been awake the same number of hours as someone who was fifteen or sixteen years old.
Ashley felt that the soil was ready where she wanted to plant the flower bulbs she had selected. She cut one last piece of cedar edging board to length and worked it into the ground. Then she opened the bag and pulled out the first bulb.
With a test-fitting of the base stones completed, Liberty poured half a bag of fiber-reinforced cement into her mixing bucket and began to slowly add water. She knew that after it was mixed, she would have about an hour before it began to set, and figured that would be plenty of time. As she stirred the thick, gray mud, she remembered that she still needed to dip the stones in water before she applied the cement.
Sarah drew another dancer, this time a boy ballet dancer. She thought that was only fair, as the festival would include both girls and boys. Then her pencil stopped moving, her eyes glazed over, and her skin became cold and sweaty. A face came into focus, a face almost completely hidden behind a bush, a man’s face, and then a black metal thing in front of the face, a gun, lifted up to his eye level. Her heart pounded inside her. And suddenly she saw Liberty in her garden, stirring something in a bucket, and she knew the gun was pointed at her friend.
LIBERTY! DUCK! she screamed inside her mind with more force than she had ever used before in sending a telepathic message.
Liberty didn’t receive an intelligible message that she could ponder at her leisure. The thought that formed in her head was more like the impact of a sledge hammer, and she could do nothing but obey it instantly and without
question. She fell on her face in the dirt, the bucket tipped over, and something whizzed over her head and pinged off the pile of stones.
RUN, LIBERTY, RUN! the next thought screamed inside her head.
Liberty’s mind was racing. She didn’t know the source of the messages she was receiving, but she instantly recognized the thing that had flown over her head, and she knew that she wasn’t behind any effective cover. She jumped up and ran.
The path she was bolting down was twisty and it headed toward the main buildings. Liberty was glad of both things. She was in better shape than ever before in her life, and her blood stream was rapidly filling with adrenaline.
She hoped and prayed that her speed would give her enough distance from whoever was shooting at her. Then she saw Ashley in her garden peering into a paper bag. Liberty skidded to a stop.
“Ashley, help! Someone shot at me!” she said with a voice that was shaking and nearly screaming at the same time.
Ashley bounced up and glanced around, but saw no one else. She was, however, immediately convinced by the tone of Liberty’s plea that this was no joke. “Let’s get inside!”
Together they ran on down the path and soon burst into the members’
parking lot in front of the Residential Lobby. They kept running, side by side, and would soon be indoors where they could get all the help they needed.
They were about halfway across the parking lot when Ashley focused on something she hadn’t at first seen. Standing right beside the door was a man.
He was dressed more formally than Lyceum members usually dressed unless they were on duty at a conference or other event. Ashley didn’t recognize him.
But she saw him pull something out from under his coat and raise it to his eye level, and she realized it was a gun and it was being aimed at Liberty.
No one points a gun at my friend! she said to herself, and instantly used the only weapon she had at her command.
Liberty saw Ashley suddenly double her speed and fly straight ahead toward the man. Liberty was just beginning to wonder who he was. Then she saw the gun and screamed, “ASHLEY!”
But Ashley had already launched herself into the air just a few yards away from the stranger and was curling herself into a tumbling mass of fury.
Liberty saw Ashley collide with the man, and she heard the gun go off, and she saw them both fly through the large glass window that was beside the door.
The sound of breaking glass filled the air. Liberty kept running, but tears were filling her eyes and she could hardly see.
By the time Liberty got inside the Residential Lobby a few seconds later, everything had come to rest. Glass was everywhere, the man lay still with his head at a funny angle, and Ashley was sprawled on the floor with glass under her, glass on top of her, and a pool of blood rapidly forming around her.
Liberty was gasping for air and crying. She tried to scream for help but nothing would come out of her mouth. She managed to see a computer screen through her tears, dashed to it, and pounded on what she hoped were the emergency call key until lights started flashing and an alarm started wailing.
Then she ran to her friend.
Ashley lay still, with blood pouring from her face and neck and arms. With every heartbeat, more of the precious red liquid came flowing out. Liberty knew that she had to stop the blood. Somehow she had to keep her friend from bleeding to death, and she had to do it now. She had nothing to work with but her own hands, and they were shaking. Her tears made it hard to see, and she couldn’t keep her breath from coming in desperate gasps. But none of that mattered — the only thing that was important was stopping the freely-flowing blood. Liberty forced her will to focus on the problem. Then she picked the two worst gashes and placed her trembling hands over them.
The blood pouring from them seemed to be slowed, but there were many other cuts still letting Ashley’s life flow into the carpet beneath her. “Help!”
Liberty screamed, but still couldn’t make much sound come out of her mouth.
“Help!”
Seconds later others ran into the room and helped Liberty to put pressure on Ashley’s many cuts. Liberty could not remember ever feeling so relieved, and she knew that even if bullets were flying at her, she would not have left Ashley’s side at that moment.
The instant Liberty had jumped up and run from her garden, Sarah had telepathically contacted Rachael. It had taken Rachael awhile to calm Sarah down enough so that she could learn what was going on, and in the process
Sarah had completely ruined her drawings with tears and shaking hands, but eventually Rachael had been able to piece together everything Sarah had seen.
Breathe slowly, Sarah.
I’m trying.
I can sense Liberty. She’s scared, but she’s okay. Wait a minute. Rachael looked at the computer screen beside her desk in the Gallery workroom.
There’s a security and medical emergency in the Residential Lobby. Meet me there.
Sarah ran down the steps and across the lobby of her residence hall as fast as her legs would carry her, and then along the outdoor walkway toward the scene of the emergency. She arrived at the same time as her mentor. She had never before seen so much blood, and knowing that it was Ashley’s blood almost made her scream with terror.
Rachael quickly sized up the situation. Ashley already had plenty of medics and helpers around her. “Sarah, look at the man. Is he the one you saw?”
Sarah shook her head. She didn’t want to look at the man.
“You have to! The timing isn’t right. I don’t think the one you saw could have gotten here so quickly. I think there’s two of them!”
Sarah forced herself to look at the man. His neck was twisted strangely and he was white. Sarah wanted to puke, but she made herself remember what she had seen.
“No... not the same.”
“Come on!” Rachael said, taking her hand and breaking into a run toward the Main Lobby.
Sarah was glad to get away from all the blood and death. They didn’t stop running until they were at the front doors that led out to the Main Plaza.
Rachael stooped down and took Sarah’s hands in hers. She used telepathy so the many visitors in the lobby wouldn’t be alarmed. The man you saw won’t go anywhere near the Residential Lobby. Too many people there.
He’ll probably try to get away, through the Welcome Center or the Main Parking Lot. Go see if you can spot him. I’ll get my gun and be right behind you. If he gets into a car, try to remember the license. Otherwise wait for me.
Sarah nodded and ran out the door toward the Welcome Center. She was on the edge of screaming terror, but she knew she was the only one who could find the man who had fired the first shot. She didn’t know exactly why Ashley had gone through the window, but she guessed that somehow it was to help Liberty. If Ashley could do that for her friend, Sarah was determined to keep down her fears and do her best to help Rachael find the first man.
There were a number of people at the passenger loading zone waiting for the next van. Sarah slowed to a walk as she came through the Welcome Center’s covered archway and tried to catch her breath, wiping her face on her sleeve at the same time. She began to wander amongst the people, looking for the face she had seen. As she looked, she could hear Rachael’s feet running across the Plaza.
Rachael arrived and stopped in the archway, scanning the scene before her. After several seconds, it was obvious that Sarah hadn’t identified anyone, and she was just about to steer her young friend on toward the parking lot.
But then she noticed that Sarah had frozen, and was looking up at a middle-aged man who was right in front of her.
Him! Sarah said wordlessly to Rachael.
Rachael could see that the man was afraid, and so she moved forward as slowly and nonchalantly as she could, but at just that moment two other things happened. The van that everyone was waiting for came around the corner, and a siren was heard somewhere in the distance. The man felt trapped, and he panicked.
Sarah was the closest person to him, and she looked young and helpless, so he grabbed her as a shield and pulled out his gun. “Stay back, everyone!”
All of the visitors scattered away from the man and his gun, some of them screaming.
“Everyone out of the van!” he demanded.
Rachael had no intention of letting him take Sarah hostage. She knew that course of action had little chance of turning out well for Sarah. She knelt down on one knee and brought out her large-caliber semiautomatic pistol. A deadly shot at that moment would blow Sarah’s arm off, but she took deadly aim anyway.
When I say, spin to your right, toward the parking lot. Understand?
Sarah was shaking like a leaf, and looked frozen with fright.
Understand?
Yes. Toward the parking lot.
“Let’s talk!” Rachael said.
“Empty the van, leave the motor running, and we’ll talk!”
“Okay,” Rachael said out loud. NOW SARAH! she mentally projected.
The man’s grip had not been very tight at that moment, thinking he had won an escape route. Sarah twisted and Rachael squeezed the trigger. The noise of the shot was so loud that most of the visitors screamed and covered their ears, and both the man and Sarah flew backward into the vehicle lane.
Rachael ran forward, and quickly saw that her aim had indeed been deadly, as a serious chunk of the man’s chest was missing, and both he and Sarah, who lay close beside him, were covered with blood. But Rachael knew that her hand had not been perfectly steady, and she did not know if Sarah had twisted far enough. She was worried. Sarah showed no signs of life.
After flipping the safety on her gun, she set it down and began to feel for wounds on her young friend. She had been forced to make a choice, forced to decide if Sarah’s chances were better being taken hostage, or being frighteningly close to the deadly shot. She hoped, she prayed that she had made the right choice, and her heart trembled inside her. If she had chosen wrong, she would want to be locked away in the deepest, darkest prison cell.
And if they wouldn’t lock her away, she would make her own cell, in some unknown corner of the Lyceum campus, and never come out.
But Rachael could find no wound on Sarah’s chest or shoulder. Finally, as she was working down Sarah’s arm, she found it. The flexor muscles of Sarah’s left forearm had been torn open, but as far as Rachael could tell, the bone was not broken. It was a flesh wound. She breathed a sigh of relief as she clamped her hand over it to stem the bleeding.
Soon there were plenty of medics around Ashley, but Liberty was reluctant to let go of the cuts on her friend’s neck and arms. Then she heard Jason’s voice in her ear and felt his arms around her waist.
“Brother Kenneth is ready to take over, Lib.”
She looked down and saw that her hands were shaking, and that the doctor
was ready to apply compresses. She reluctantly lifted her blood-covered fingers. Ashley’s cuts immediately began to gush, but Brother Kenneth quickly covered them while a helper wiped away the blood and then taped on the compresses.
Liberty felt weak and sick and began to fall backwards. Jason caught her and held her in his arms. She started retching, but nothing was in her stomach. He continued to hold her and speak to her softly.
A few moments later Brenda knelt beside. “Hi, Liberty. How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. How is Ashley?”
“Alive, and we’re going to get her to the hospital. She’s very strong. Can I examine you?”
“I
guess...”
Brenda looked into Liberty’s eyes, felt her pulse, and did several other things. Liberty watched as Ashley was carefully placed on a stretcher.
“Oh, God, I just remembered that his gun went off. Was Ashley hit?”
“Kenneth, possibility of a bullet wound!” Brenda called out.
“I haven’t found one, but thank you.”
Suddenly everyone heard another gunshot, from somewhere outside, toward the front of the campus. Liberty heard Brother Fred’s voice near her talking into his pager. More members arrived whom Liberty knew were on security teams, and most of them dashed outside. A moment later Brother Fred and three other members were kneeling around her.
“Liberty, you know Brother Tom and Sister Shannon Eileen. They’re both armed, and at least one of them is going to stay near you at all times for your protection.”
Liberty smiled weakly.
“And I don’t know if you’ve met Sister Samantha...”
“She’s in my piloting class.”
“I’m also a lawyer, Liberty,” the older lady said, “so I’ll be with you during all interviews. The Sheriff will be here soon.”
“Thank you,” Liberty said, still in somewhat of a daze, and still in Jason’s arms.
Medics and security teams quickly arrived at the passenger loading zone to care for Sarah and analyze the situation. Visitors who had been waiting for the van, and who had witnessed the event, were made comfortable in the Welcome Center, and a tray of sandwiches and other goodies was brought out from the kitchen. Several cars from the Sheriff’s Department arrived minutes later.
Deputies cordoned off the scene and detectives began to interview the witnesses. As soon as they had given their statements, three vans were used to transport them directly to their destinations, and each person received a voucher for a weekend of free lodging, meals, and other services as token of Lyceum’s apologies.
Lastly, Sister Rachael was interviewed by a detective, at length, with a Lyceum lawyer present.
“How did you know that this man was the one who had shot at the other girl earlier?”
“Sarah told me as soon as she recognized him,” Rachael replied calmly.
“You mean she just blurted it out while standing right there in front of him?”
“No. She was discrete... but clear.”
The detective considered this for a moment, but didn’t feel any need to dig into the issue further, given the statements he had already taken that clearly showed the man’s guilt through his actions. “Have you ever shot anyone else?”
“Rachael,” the lawyer interrupted, “you don’t have to do their research for them.”
“No problem. It’s on public record. Seven years ago, Denver, Colorado.”
“Disposition?”
“In defense of self and others.”
“Thank you. What if your young friend had twisted in the wrong direction when you pulled the trigger?”
The lawyer was ready to jump in, but Rachael raised a hand.
“We all have many if’s in our lives. We have to weight the risks in every situation, and sometimes all of the options weigh about the same. Luckily we don’t have to answer for the paths we didn’t take.”
The detective nodded understandingly. “Thank you very much. No travel plans in the next few days?”
“None.”
“I’ll have your gun back to you in about a week.”
“As I’m sure you know, I have another.”
The detective let a slight smile cross his face to show that he did indeed know, and went to join the deputies who were searching the area around Liberty’s garden.
By the time Sister Rachael returned to the Main Office, Liberty had already been interviewed and was in a telecommunications booth talking to her father. Sister Samantha and Jason were with her, and her guards waited right outside the door.
Ashley and Sarah had long since been whisked away to the hospital in one of Lyceum’s helicopters, along with Shawn, Brother Kenneth, and Sister Heather. The Healing Arts Clinic could have handled their wounds, but Ashley needed blood, and both needed cerebral scans in case of concussions.
Rachael made sure that the girls’ parents had been contacted, and learned that they were literally on their way, with all travel arrangements and costs covered. She was glad to hear that Sister Laura was accompanying Ashley’s parents.
Rachael glanced at a computer screen and noticed that campus security was at Level Three, which meant that all the security teams were on-duty, and they were discretely armed. She watched as a detective wrote out receipts for two pieces of evidence they had found: the rock that the first bullet had struck, and the slug itself, found in the dirt some ways away.
“Lieutenant, have you cleared the scenes for entry yet?” Rachael asked.
“Yes, I believe so. Have any thoughts?”
“I only got a quick look at the broken glass, and I haven’t seen the garden at all. I’ll spend a little time in each, and then I want to head up to the hospital.”
“I’ll see you there.”
“Any I.D. on the men?”
“Yeah. Fake ones.”
“Interesting!”
When Sister Rachael, Liberty, Jason, and Brother Tom arrived at the hospital three hours later, both injured girls were out of surgery but were still unconscious. Because of the recent incident, Rachael was careful to be unarmed. Brother Tom could not make the same claim.
When they got to the waiting area near the recovery room, Sarah’s mother was already there, as well as Shawn, Sister Heather, and Sister Samantha.
Greetings were exchanged and introductions made. Rachael sat down with a humble posture beside the worried mother.
“I’m sorry that Sarah had to feel that bullet, but the alternatives seemed even worse.”
“Sister Samantha explained to me what happened,” the slender lady of about forty-five said. “I never thought I’d say thank you to someone for shooting my daughter, but after thinking about it, I’m very glad you didn’t let that man take her hostage.”
The two ladies, close in age, looked at each other knowingly for a long moment while holding hands. Then Liberty came over and knelt before them.
“Sarah saved my life. If there’s anything I can ever do for her... or for you... I’ll do it... no matter what it takes.”
The lady was deeply touched. After wiping her eyes, she reached out and put her hand on Liberty’s shoulder. “Sarah told me recently that she had to wait a long time to be friends with you, Liberty, and she was very happy when you both started trusting each other.”
Liberty blushed and hung her head, remembering her initial conflict with Sarah, and all those months during which she hadn’t really liked the nine-year-old.
Not much later, Sister Laura arrived with Ashley’s mother and father.
Liberty stood, and the other Lyceum members in the room knew not to interfere. She faced the two confused parents.
“Ashley is one of my most special friends. We were both accepted into Lyceum at the same time, and we’ve been close ever since. She has a lot of bad cuts, but she’s going to be okay. It happened because... someone was trying to kill me... and Ashley saved my life. Please, if you’re mad at anybody,
you should be mad at me.”
They looked at Liberty, who was on the verge of tears, and couldn’t do anything but put their arms around her. And even as the three of them were standing there in the waiting area, Senator Buchanan entered.
“Daddy!” Liberty screamed and ran to him, letting him just hold her for a minute. Then she took him by the hand and led him across the room.
“Daddy, these are Ashley’s parents.”
“Hello. I am indebted to you for your daughter’s courage,” the senator said.
“And this is Sarah’s mom.”
“I am indebted to you also. Liberty is my only child, and I am so glad I didn’t lose her, but I am equally as glad that your daughters are recovering.”
“Ashley is our adopted daughter,” Mr. Riddle said, “but we have no other children, and she is as precious to us as our own daughter would be.”
“I understand,” Michael Buchanan said.
“I must admit that I’ve never really understood my daughter, because of her... differences,” Sarah’s mother said, “but I love her, and I’m glad she’s going to be okay, and I’m glad her friend Ashley is going to be okay too.”
At that moment a doctor entered the waiting area. “Are all of you here to see Ashley and Sarah?”
They all affirmed with words or nods.
“They are both doing well. Only a minor concussion was detected in Sarah, nothing that a few weeks of rest won’t take care of at her age. We’re taking them off sedatives now, and they should be awake at about six o’clock.
A detective from the Sheriff’s Office will be here to ask them a few questions at that time.”
“I am their legal counsel,” Sister Samantha said, “and no interviews should take place without my presence.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” the doctor said. “All visiting will have to be very quiet and relaxed. Ashley especially cannot move much for several days.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Sister Rachael said, looking at her watch. “We have about two hours before we can see our friends and daughters. May I suggest we select one of the nearby restaurants so that we are relaxed and nourished when our brave young ladies wake up? And some of you have luggage. We
can stop by our van in the hospital parking lot first. Lyceum is taking care of all your needs, and of course all the needs of your daughters.”
Liberty walked hand in hand with Sarah’s mother, and Jason walked beside Senator Buchanan as they all headed out toward the elevator.
Shortly before six o’clock that evening, all of the parents, friends, and other Lyceum members gathered once again in the hospital, this time on the floor where Ashley and Sarah had been moved into a semi-private room. The Sheriff’s detective was also there waiting. The same doctor came down the hall a few minutes later.
“They’re awake. Remember, I need you all to keep your interviews and visits very low-key.”
They all nodded and followed the doctor to the room. Ashley’s mother gasped and began crying when she saw her daughter, who had most of her face and neck covered with bandages. Her husband comforted her, and after a moment they were able to approach their daughter’s bedside.
“Hi, Mom. Please don’t worry. I won’t have the bandages on for very long.
It’s just a few cuts and scratches.”
Ashley’s mother wanted to hold her daughter, but it obviously wasn’t possible. Ashley sensed her need.
“You can hold my hand, Mom, but I can’t move my arms yet.”
The troubled mother carefully took her adopted daughter’s hand in hers, and was relieved when Ashley was able to squeeze her fingers.
“Honey,” her father began, “do you want to come home? Do you want us to get you out of here?”
“No, Dad. This is my home. I did what I had to do because someone was trying to hurt my friend. I would have done the same thing for Julie in Rapid City.”
“But wouldn’t you feel safer some place where there’s more...
supervision?”
“And give up everything that’s important to me, just so I can have a teacher on lunch duty telling me when I can come and when I can go?
Thanks, Dad, but what I really need is for you and Mom to understand what happened. Jesus would have risked his life for a friend, wouldn’t he? All I
wanted to do was what was right.”
Mr. Riddle joined his wife in holding Ashley’s hand. “I’m sorry, Honey, I just wanted to be sure no one was keeping you in a bad situation.”
“Dad, I promise you that no one will ever be able to do that.”
Even as Ashley was talking to her parents, Sarah’s mother sat down beside her daughter’s bed. “Hi, Puka.”
“Hi, Mom. Thanks for coming to see me.”
“How do you feel?”
“Splitting headache. And I can’t feel my upper arm at all.”
“You were very brave.”
“I don’t remember being brave. But I remember Ashley lying there in all the glass and blood. That was the worst part.”
“The doctor says you can go home tomorrow.”
“Good. I wouldn’t know what to do here in the middle of the night.”
Sarah’s mother smiled, remembering the years of raising a child who rarely slept, and who always knew everything her mother was thinking. Now her daughter was almost a young lady. She wondered what lay ahead for Sarah, and what happiness her daughter would be able to find in life.
The detective approached Ashley and her parents. “I just want to ask a few quick questions to complete my investigation. Do you feel up to it, Ashley?”
“Sure.”
Sister Samantha sat down nearby.
“When you were running beside Liberty toward the door, what made you decide the man standing there was a danger?”
“He was aiming a gun at Liberty.”
“Were you sure it was a gun?”
“I was as sure as I could be.”
“I have to ask this next question, even though, as your lawyer will point out, you don’t have to answer because I can find out from public records.
Have you ever killed anyone before, Ashley?”
Ashley glanced at Sister Samantha.
“You only have to answer if you want to, Ashley.”
Ashley looked troubled. “I don’t mind answering. No, I haven’t. But... did I kill someone this time?”
Sister Samantha decided she should be the one to speak. “The man broke his neck when he went through the window, Ashley. Based on the circumstances I’m aware of right now, it will be recorded as a justifiable homicide, and you’re not guilty of any crime.”
“That will be my recommended disposition,” the detective said, “unless new evidence comes to light, which I don’t anticipate.”
Ashley wasn’t listening. She was crying silently. She wished she could curl up in a little ball and hide somewhere. She had never imagined, in her wildest dreams, that she would ever kill someone with her gymnastics skills.
The detective went over to talk to Sarah, and Ashley lay there feeling terrible. Shawn had overheard the last discussion and came over to the far side of her bed and took her other hand.
“Hi, Ashes. I’ve never been tested like that yet... but I hope that if I ever am, I make the right choice... like you did.”
He squeezed her hand tightly. She blinked her eyes to try to clear them of tears. Her father noticed and dabbed at them with a tissue, and as he did so he began to understand what his daughter needed. She was not a little girl who needed to be protected from every little danger in the world. She was a big girl dealing with large, heavy questions.
“Honey, your mother and I also feel that you made the right decision.
Imagine how terrible you would feel right now if you had stood by and watched your friend get shot.”
“I would feel ten times as bad,” Ashley said.
“Yes, you did the right thing,” her mother said.
Ashley looked at her parents. “I think and hope and pray I made the right choice. Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom. I sure am glad you’re here.”
As soon as the detective was finished talking to Sarah, Liberty stood up.
“Sir, I need to add something to my statement.”
“Of course, Liberty.”
“When you asked me if I knew who would want to kill me, or why, I wasn’t thinking very deeply. I was just thinking about myself, in the literal sense.”
“And you have a new idea?”
“Yes. You see, this is my father,” she said, and the senator stood and extended his hand to the detective.
“I’m Senator Michael Buchanan of Pennsylvania. Glad to meet you, Lieutenant.”
Everyone in the room could see the wheels turning in the detective’s head.
“Senator Michael Buchanan... aren’t you... spearheading the congressional effort on that new weapons treaty?”
“Yes, the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty.”
“Okay. Now I’m beginning to see what might be going on here. That thing is the political hot potato of the decade, isn’t it?”
The senator chuckled. “That’s one of the nicer things I’ve heard it called.”
“So... the possibility exists, although we have no direct evidence yet, that the attempt on your life, Liberty, was an effort to influence your father.”
“That’s the only thing I can think of,” Liberty said.
Her father added, “The Treaty is the only thing I’m involved with that’s controversial enough to warrant... extreme persuasion tactics.”
The detective raised his eyebrows at the senator’s euphemism. “This brings up some rather dark possibilities for who the two men were, who sent them, and what kind of danger Liberty still might face.”
“I’m going to work with Lyceum on security measures for Liberty,” the senator said.
“Good. There isn’t much the Sheriff’s Department can do.”
“I
understand.”
“Thank you for your additional insights, Liberty,” the detective said. He shook hands with several people, and then left.
Liberty saw that most everyone who wanted to talk to the injured girls had already done so. She approached Sarah first, somehow feeling that talking to her would be easier.
“Sarah... you saved my life. I owe you... more than I can ever pay.”
“I hope you’ll be my friend for a long time, but not because you owe me anything. I hope you’ll be my friend just because you want to.”
“I do want to be your friend. I’ve felt a deep bond with you ever since... we discovered we have something in common.”
Sarah nodded understandingly.
“But, in addition to being your friend, I owe you my life, and I’m never going to forget that. If you ever need anything from me, it is yours.”
Sarah smiled. “Does that mean I get a discount on slices of your cheesecake?”
Both girls giggled, and Liberty made a mental note to bake Sarah her own cheesecake as soon as possible.
Then Liberty went over to Ashley’s bed. Sarah had saved her life by sending a telepathic message. Ashley had saved her life by going through a large glass window, and doing so could have just as easily broken Ashley’s neck. Liberty sat down and looked at her wounded friend, then stared at her own hands in her lap for awhile, then looked at Ashley again.
“I never had friends like you guys back in Philadelphia. I don’t know how I can ever pay you back... but if you ever need me to do anything for you...”
“Yeah!” Ashley said, obviously in a much better mood than Liberty. “You can lead the Special Olympics in Pierre, South Dakota this weekend! I was supposed to do it, but I don’t think I’ll be able to. Maybe Tabitha can go with you — they like a little gymnastics thrown in.”
“Um... gosh... I’ve never done anything like that before. And I don’t know anything about... Special Olympics. But... if you need me to... I’ll do my best.”
“It’s easy. There’s a book about it in the library, and I’ll give you some pointers before you go.”
Liberty took a deep breath. It wasn’t something she would have ever chosen to do. But she was alive, thanks to Ashley and Sarah. Doing something she didn’t want to do was much better than being dead, and much easier than tumbling through a glass window. And Liberty had been hoping for some assignments that would allow her a little more travel, like those Ashley was always doing. She smiled, and then squeezed Ashley’s hand, the very best friend she could ever imagine having.
Chapter 11: Adjusting to New Realities When Liberty met Tabitha in the Dining Hall just before breakfast, the older girl had a book in hand.
“Hi,
Tabby.”
Tabitha gave Liberty a searching look. “You didn’t get much sleep, did you?”
Liberty shook her head and turned away. She had just spent the entire night thinking about, worrying about, and fretting about the enormous debt she had incurred the day before. She knew it wasn’t a debt anyone would ever expect her to pay in the literal sense. But it was a burden she knew she was going to carry for a long time, no matter how many nice things she did for Ashley and Sarah.
Many times during the previous night she had looked into the eyes of the Reaper, and pondered where she would be now if either Sarah, or Ashley, hadn’t acted. And she didn’t like the conclusions she had reached every time.
She didn’t know if there was a Heaven, or a Hell. If they did exist, then she was ready to wager that both of her benefactors would qualify for the preferred place. But she definitely didn’t feel safe risking money on her own chances of getting there.
But if neither place existed, as she had so far in her life always believed, then the idea of dying was even more frightening, and thinking about it nearly sent her into a panic. Luckily, she had spent the night with Jason, and he had placed a comforting arm around her each time she had started to tremble or
cry. He hadn’t gotten much sleep either.
“I’m sorry,” Liberty finally said. “No, I didn’t sleep very well. But at least I got the book.”
Tabitha smiled reassuringly. “Ashley told me it’s a good book, but there’s nothing in it about what she does. And since what she does is what they’re paying us for, we’ll have to learn from her very quickly!”
“But they were just planning on paying for Ashley to come. Aren’t they going to be ticked that they have to pay for two of us?”
“Actually, there will be three of us. Sister Shannon Eileen will be along for security.”
“I forgot about that,” Liberty said guiltily.
“But we’re not charging them any extra. We’ll lose a bunch of money on it, but Lyceum always keeps its promises. You should know that by now!”
Liberty nodded, Tabitha put a hand on her shoulder, and together they walked across the Dining Hall toward the table where Senator Buchanan was awaiting them.
“Good morning, ladies. I haven’t ordered yet,” he said as they sat down.
His words seemed cheerful, but his tone and facial expression revealed his deep concerns.
“I just want a fruit salad,” Tabitha said.
“Are you sure that’s all you want?” he said. “It’s on me...”
“Yeah. I’m in the gym at nine. There’s an invitational meet in Rome in three weeks that I’m getting ready for.”
“Wow, that’s neat, Tabby!” Liberty said. “You know, you and I have hardly had a chance to even talk, but now that we’re working together on this mission for Ashley, I’m starting to think that you’re my kind of person!”
“Thank you, Liberty. I’ve admired you ever since you came to Lyceum.
It’ll be fun working with you this weekend.”
“Let me see...” Liberty said while looking at the menu, clearly in a better mood, “I want scrambled eggs, hash browns, and a fruit cup.”
Sister Carolyn came by and took their order, giving Liberty a squeeze on the shoulder before she left.
“I’m going to meet with some people in your security department right after breakfast, Liberty,” her father said. “You’ve got some really wonderful
friends here, but now that we know someone is going to try to get at me through you, we can’t count on your friends always being just where you need them.”
Liberty sipped at her herb tea and looked at her father. She could see deep lines of care and worry in his face. “I really appreciate that, Daddy. But I don’t want to crawl away and hide from the world.”
“And I have no fantasies that I could make you do that. To this day, I am amazed that I managed to keep you at the country house for an entire year.
And now that you can ride horses, I’m sure I couldn’t keep you there again.”
Liberty smiled. “This may surprise you, Daddy, but I look back at that year with fondness. It let me find Lyceum, and Lyceum gave me Jason, Ashley, and Shawn, and I’m making new friends like Sarah and Tabitha.”
“I won’t ask you to part with your friends, but I am going to ask you to put up with some inconveniences for the sake of security, at least until after the Treaty issue is over.”
Liberty’s food arrived, and she began eating, wondering what security measures she might have to put up with. But then she thought of what Ashley and Sarah were putting up with, and she realized she had absolutely no cause for complaint.
By mid-day, Liberty and Tabitha had read the book about Special Olympics, and had a number of questions ready for Ashley. Senator Buchanan emerged from his meeting with Brother Fred and Sister Shannon Eileen looking satisfied, and Sister Heather returned from a long walk in the gardens with Ashley’s parents. They met in the Main Lobby, and were soon joined by Sister Rachael, Shawn, and Sarah’s mother, the three of whom had been talking while watching the animals in the Petting Zoo. From there, they walked together, silently passing through the Residential Lobby where members were working to replace the window and the blood-stained carpet.
Brother Tom had been inconspicuously near Liberty all morning, but now he walked openly with them to the awaiting van.
When they arrived at the hospital room, Sarah was already dressed, sitting on her bed, her left arm in a sling. She was glad to be going home, but sad that Ashley could not yet join her.
Ashley had some of her bandages off, those that had just been covering scrapes and minor cuts, but there were still several on her face, neck, and upper arms. After her parents visited with her for awhile, Liberty and Tabitha got out their list of questions, and the three of them appeared to be willing and able to talk about Special Olympics for several hours to come. At two o’clock, Senator Buchanan interrupted.
“I have to head for the airport, ladies. I’ll be in touch almost every day, Liberty, in case there are any new developments. Brother Fred will fill you in on what we decided.”
Liberty went to her father and embraced him. “Don’t forget, they might try to hurt you, too, Daddy.”
“That’s a risk I’ll have to take, Honey. I’ve never felt that anything in my entire political career was as important as this treaty. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do everything possible to see it through.”
“I understand. But you can’t expect me to be careful unless you are too.”
“I promise. I’ll be careful,” he said in barely more than a whisper.
Sister Rachael drove him to the airport, and when she returned, the girls were finally getting tired of talking about Special Olympics, and a nurse wanted to change Ashley’s dressings, so the Lyceum members and parents wrapped up their visit and headed back to the campus, taking Sarah with them, and promising to return that evening.
The following morning at breakfast, a seemingly new member was introduced by Sister Ruth. She was about sixteen years old, had long blond hair, and her name was Sister Nancy. Shawn and Sarah thought she looked a little familiar, but they were confused, as Sister Ruth hadn’t actually said she was a new member, but had merely introduced her to the four hundred and fifteen members present, emphasizing her name.
When the mysterious girl sat down in the seat next to Jason that they assumed he had been saving for Liberty, who for some reason was late to breakfast, everything became clear.
By the time all of Ashley’s friends and parents gathered just after lunch to head for the hospital, the girl’s long blond hair had changed to a very different, medium-length style. She announced to them all that a certain L-
word was not to be used in relation to her until further notice. She was Sister Nancy for all purposes. Her friends smiled and understood.
To their delight, Ashley was sitting up when they arrived and could start walking around that afternoon, but the hospital wanted to care for her wounds and monitor her blood for one more day. She grinned when she saw Liberty’s new hair and heard of her new identity. Then Liberty and Tabitha asked her more questions about Special Olympics, and her parents talked with her for a long time. Ashley was a little sad that she wouldn’t be able to visit her hometown that weekend, but vowed to take a vacation as soon as she was healed enough to travel.
After dinner that evening, Liberty arrived at the Gallery where Sarah was carefully dusting the artworks with her good hand. Liberty was carrying a covered silver cake platter and there was a smirk on her face. Rachael and Shawn gathered around to watch. Liberty uncovered the platter to reveal the cheesecake she had made for Sarah, each slice topped with a different fruit sauce: strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, apricot, pineapple, kiwi, mandarin orange, gooseberry, peach, banana, and mango. Sarah’s face lit up, and she hugged Liberty as best she could.
“I’ll make you one of these whenever you want,” Liberty said. “Just don’t get fat, okay?”
Sarah
laughed.
Liberty and Tabitha packed small suitcases, stopped by the hospital to visit with Ashley for a little longer, and then were driven to the airport along with Sister Shannon Eileen. They knew they would arrive in Pierre, South Dakota in the middle of the night after changing planes twice. They were as ready to fill Ashley’s shoes as they could be. They only hoped they had what it would take.
On Saturday morning, June first, the world’s second Lyceum campus opened near Atlanta, Georgia.
Because of the attacks earlier in the year by a prominent television evangelist, and certain other socio-political considerations, the decision had been made to open quietly, without public ceremony or celebration, without
even an announced opening date. Directory listings, pamphlets, newspaper ads, and other information were simply timed to not reach the public until on or after June first.
On that first Saturday, Lyceum Dixie had seven visitors.
About mid-morning, a black family of two parents and three children drove in looking for a place to picnic. Somewhat in awe of the extensive facilities, and half expecting to be asked to pay a fee or show credentials at any moment, they carefully followed little signs that directed them to the Picnic Area and Playground. Many members were out gardening or finishing construction details, and they greeted their first guests warmly, but they all knew not to make any fuss over this being Lyceum’s first day of operations.
It was the three children who began to discover more and more of the campus, and joyfully coax their parents into seeing gardens, fountains, the small Petting Zoo, and eventually the Snack Bar and Cafeteria. There, the first slices of Sister Colleen’s strawberry rhubarb pie were served to non-members.
Late that afternoon, an elderly couple arrived on campus who had picked up a pamphlet from a tourist information center just that morning, and had realized that Lyceum was located on the precise back road that they wanted to explore. They were immediately enamored by the gardens and shrines, thoroughly enjoyed their dinners of prime rib and broiled halibut, and became Lyceum Dixie’s first overnight guests.
The members of the new Lyceum were happy. They still had a great deal of work to do before the campus could host large conferences or busloads of visitors. They hoped that many people would come and go from the new campus with good reports and fond memories before those arrived who equated tolerance and diversity with evil.
There was danger of having so many members in the van as it left to bring Ashley home from the hospital that there wouldn’t be a place for Ashley to sit on the way back. Sister Heather had to start saying no when more and more people who admired the young gymnast wanted to join the welcoming committee. They understood, and went to work on gifts, cards, or decorations.
Lyceum had plenty of experience at dealing with minor security problems.
Persons arrived constantly who wanted to pass out religious tracts, make speeches, picket events, or vandalize the shrines of religions not their own.
Often enough, journalists came to the campus on rumor that some famous or infamous person could be found there, and were willing to harass any number of people to get their story. Lyceum had even lived through several visits from extremely judgmental persons such as the Reverend Tommy Mitchell.
Shawn’s father had been anxious to leave. Others had required assistance in making the decision to depart.
But very few deadly dangers had actually come to the campus. The shots fired at Liberty, and the necessary actions taken by Sarah, Ashley, and Rachael had deeply shaken the entire membership. Most of them were smart enough to know that the knee-jerk implementation of new policies and procedures, as would be the practice in most organizations and governments, would be an effort at appearing to solve the problem, not at actually solving it.
Fences and patrols would not keep out the kind of gunmen who had come for Liberty.
In conference with Senator Buchanan, the immediate need to protect Liberty’s life had been addressed. Many of the protective measures that had gone into effect were not even known to Liberty herself. Her father had insisted on paying for at least part of the cost, and Lyceum had left that up to him. Liberty was a member, and Lyceum was not in the habit of knowingly allowing its members to be murdered.
In a sense, new policies and procedures had already been put into place.
More than four hundred members, all of whom had very sharp minds, now knew that such a transgression of their sanctuary was possible. Those four hundred sharp minds had eyes and ears that were all wide open.
But as much as the people of Lyceum wanted to protect the one in danger, they also wanted to honor the three people who had risked their lives or reputations. Even though Ashley had not yet given it any thought, nearly everyone else knew that facial scars could radically change the course of her life. Sarah was already handicapped with acid burns on her face and neck.
She didn’t need a large scare on her upper arm. Even though the detective seemed favorably disposed toward the action Sister Rachael had taken, they all knew that people were still imprisoned every day for defending themselves
and others.
As soon as Heather, Rachael, Sarah, and Ashley’s parents had left for the hospital, everyone else who could be spared from other events went into high gear setting up Conference Center Two. By the time the van returned, they were ready. With Liberty gone for the weekend, this celebration was for the rescuers. This was their moment to receive honor.
They knew something was up when Sister Heather guided the van toward the public side of the campus and entered the conference center parking lot.
As the vehicle came to a halt opposite the large double doors, they opened and a roll of carpet came tumbling toward the van, getting smaller and smaller, and finally completing its journey right at the curb. It was red. Ashley, Sarah, and Rachael were all smiles.
Members lined up on both sides of the red carpet, and Shawn had the honor of opening the van door for them. Everyone clapped as the trio made their way into the conference center, Ashley moving very slowly with her proud parents coming directly behind.
Inside they found the huge room decorated with streamers and balloons, flowers and banners. There were enough seats for about half of the members currently on campus, and most of those were full. On the speaker’s platform were three large chairs decorated to look like regal thrones. And on both sides of the room were serving tables loaded with food and drink.
The three heroines were led to the thrones and invited to sit. Ashley lowered herself carefully, and Sarah took pains not to bump her bandaged arm. Then the entire room exploded with clapping and cheering. After several minutes, old Sister Rebecca stood up with the aid of her cane and everyone fell silent.
“Sister Sarah... Sister Ashley... and Sister Rachael. I honor you. You have taken Fear, Danger, and Death by the horns for your friend and fellow member. She is deeply in your debt, and you are wise to allow her opportunities to serve you.”
Everyone
applauded.
Sister Rebecca continued. “Please accept this moment of honor and celebration from those of us who could not be there to share your danger.
Please accept our gifts and cards and words.” She looked toward the serving
tables. “And please accept these culinary delights.”
Everyone chuckled and the three honored guests smiled.
“But once you have been honored, remember that you are servants. Go back to being humble members of Lyceum, or whatever you choose to do with your lives. This moment of honor should be just that — a moment. You cannot draw upon it at a later time in lieu of doing the right thing at that time.
You cannot keep the friend you saved in your debt for long without destroying her. Let your friend heal, let yourselves heal, enjoy this moment of honor, and then let it all become part of the past.”
Again there was a hearty applause.
“You are all greater persons because of these events. The world will have need of you. Be well!” She turned and moved slowly back to her seat.
Ashley felt a warm glow, both because of the wonderful applause, and because of the wisdom she sensed in the words that Sister Rebecca had spoken. Before she knew what was happening, a table had been placed in front of their thrones, and servers were approaching them balancing trays and platters.
Sarah had expected to fill a plate from the trays that were approaching.
Instead, the trays were simply left on their table for them to take as much as they wanted. And one of them, Sarah noticed, contained a cheesecake covered with a thick cherry glaze.
Rachael knew that her risk had been a different kind than either Ashley or Sarah had taken. She had risked being charged with murder. But then she remembered that the man’s gun had been pointed in her general direction for a few moments, just before she had ended his life. She knew that pundits could argue forever about the morality of taking one life to save another. She knew what she thought about the issue, and she felt very honored to be part of the celebration.
Everyone in the room seemed to have words of thanks, or a card, or a gift for at least one of them. The gifts were generally small, but even so were starting to pile up beside their thrones. After making their bestowals and partaking of some of the food and drink, many members left, and more arrived as events ended or shifts changed. The gifts, cards, and kind words continued, and the three honored ones found little time to eat.
But eventually the line did reach an end, and all three dug into the goodies they had piled on their plates. A few moments later they became aware that one more person was approaching their table.
They looked up to see Jason holding three large, flat boxes.
“You saved the life of the girl I love. Thank you so very much. I hope you like these.”
He handed a box to each of them. They scooted back their chairs and opened the boxes in their laps. Each box contained a top-quality brown leather jacket.
“Jason! This is beautiful!” Rachael said.
“I love it!” Sarah exclaimed. “Except... mine’s a large.”
“Mine’s a small,” Rachael said. “Let’s swap. Do you have the right size, Ashley?”
“Yep! Thank you, Jason. I really love it too! You must have spent a fortune!”
“It was worth it. I love Liberty more than I ever thought was possible. If I can ever do anything else for you, I will.”
“Your love for that special lady of yours is enough, Jason,” Rachael said.
“But if you find any spare time this evening, I could use some help putting up some more shelves in the Gallery workroom.”
“You’ve got it!” he said.
“Blackberry needs her hooves trimmed...” Sarah said.
“Um... gosh... as long as you’re there to keep her calm...”
Ashley just smiled. Seeing Jason’s loyalty to Liberty was making her feel the intense need to call Tim, tell him what happened, and find out when he would be able to visit. But another part of her wanted to get the bandages off first.
Ashley was in a quiet and thoughtful mood as she ate lunch with her parents and Sister Heather at a restaurant near the airport on Sunday. Her inactivity had resulted in a poor appetite, and when they inquired if she was feeling okay, she replied in the affirmative, but knew she wasn’t telling the whole truth.
She continued to ponder things as she saw her parents board the small
plane bound for Missoula, Montana. Her thoughts touched upon many things that were important to her, but they kept coming back to one particular subject: Tim.
By the time she got back to Lyceum, she had decided. If they were promised to each other, there should never be anything she had to hide from him. Not bandages, not anything. She found a free televideo booth and tapped in his number.
Ashley trembled inside when she saw that his mother had answered. “Is Tim home?”
“Um... Jesus... yeah. Just a minute. Tim!”
“Hi, Ash...” He froze the moment he saw her.
“It’s just bandages, Tim! It’s not as bad as it looks.”
“Jeez, Ashley, what happened?”
“I tumbled through a window.”
“God...
why?”
“Because I had to. One of my best friends would be dead if I hadn’t.”
“Gosh... I always knew you were brave, but... wow!”
“I miss you, Tim.”
“I miss you too, Ashley. I’ve been trying to figure out a time I could come see you, but with school and all these dance competitions, it’s really hard.”
“Can you come when school gets out? Or can I come visit you? I’ll have the bandages off and be able to travel by the middle of June...”
“Gosh... I don’t know, Ashley. My mom’s pretty freaky about stuff like that.”
“Stuff like what?”
“You know... medical problems.”
“Tim! I got cut by some glass saving my best friend! It’s not contagious!”
“I know. It’s just... I don’t know when I’ll have time.”
Ashley closed her eyes and bowed her head. She could tell by the tone of his voice, by the look on his face, that he didn’t want a girlfriend who was...
defective. She wanted to cry, but she wouldn’t let herself. Not in front of someone who didn’t care.
“Ashley, are you okay?”
She looked at him again, knowing it might be her last look. Her throat was
starting to tighten, but she knew what she wanted to say. “Yes, Tim, I’m okay.
I know what it means to be a friend, and I know what it means to be promised to someone, and this isn’t it. I need you right now, but I don’t think you love me enough to come.”
Tim looked at the floor. Ashley had hit the nail on the head, and he knew it. “I’m sorry.”
She could only get out a whisper. “Me too. Good-bye.”
He didn’t say anything, so after a few moments, Ashley reached up and broke the connection. She sat there for a long time staring at the blank screen, not knowing what to do.
Then she remembered Shawn, and how much he cared about her, and she felt an intense need to be in someone’s arms, someone who loved her. She dashed out of the booth and ran across the Main Lobby, remembering him saying that he was going to work in his garden that afternoon.
She ran all the way to the Ecumenical Temple, which was not being used at that hour, and through its outer lobby toward the door closest to Shawn’s garden. But before she reached the door she stopped and looked out through the glass. There he was, just stepping onto the walkway, a bucket of tools in one hand. Ashley had never stopped to realize how handsome, how strong yet gentle he was. She wanted and needed to be with him, to be held and loved by him.
And then she saw Sarah come out from behind a tree and start walking with him, close by his side, and they were laughing and talking and were clearly very happy and comfortable together.
Suddenly Ashley remembered telling Shawn that it was obvious he and Sarah liked each other. That was a long time ago... weeks, or was it months or years ago? That was when she still thought she was promised to the boy she loved. She hadn’t understood Shawn’s loneliness. If she had, she would have been kinder and more comforting. Now she understood.
As Ashley stood there in the Temple Lobby watching Shawn and Sarah walk along the path toward her garden, a single tear rolled down her bandaged cheek. She felt an emptiness that she never before thought was possible. Shawn and Sarah were soon out of sight, but Ashley continued to stare at the scene before her for a long time.
Liberty and Tabitha were in a happy, talkative mood on Monday morning.
Their friends gathered around them right after breakfast to hear about their Special Olympics adventure.
“You should have seen their faces when three of us arrived instead of just you, Ashley!” Tabitha said.
Ashley just smiled as best she could with bandages still covering parts of her face.
“Tabitha had to list all her ribbons and medals before they would believe she was a gymnast!” Liberty said with mock exasperation.
Tabitha
giggled.
“How did you explain Sister Shannon Eileen?” Shawn asked.
“We said she was our chaperone,” Liberty said and laughed. “We didn’t tell them she was armed!”
“That’s good!” Sarah said. “Was it fun?”
“Really fun,” Tabitha said. “L... Nancy took the microphone while I did most of the gymnastics. I would coax them along if they were moving away from the podium, and Nancy would do it when they were coming toward her.”
“Any problems,” Jason asked, “for Shannon Eileen to take care of?”
“Nope!” Liberty answered. “We were careful about names, at the airports, the motel, the event, everywhere.”
“Was it scary just having thin mats over a concrete floor?” Karen asked.
“A little, but Faelan told me what skills to avoid before I left,” Tabitha said.
“I only forgot and did a diving forward roll once. That was all it took!” she said, rubbing her neck which was still a little sore.
Ashley continued to just sit and listen. She felt happy that it had been fun for her two friends. But she was not in her usual bouncy mood.
“It was a little scary when we came to the end,” Liberty said. “I explained to the head lady that if our work hadn’t been close enough to what Ashley had done, there wouldn’t be any charge. I could tell from her face that she would have rather had Ashley, but I also knew that the place had been packed and they had received healthy donations. She knew she didn’t dare complain, or she might get nobody next year!”
Everyone
laughed.
“So she said it had been wonderful, and I handed her the bill for six hundred and eighty dollars, which was about a third of what we spent.”
“You forgot to tell them about the boy!” Tabitha said to Liberty.
“You tell them! You’re the one who almost kissed him!”
Tabitha blushed. “Well... there was this boy. He was sixteen or seventeen, and he was really cute, and he kept standing right next to Nancy or me.”
Ashley was beginning to realize who they were talking about.
“He wasn’t like the others. He seemed normal. I couldn’t figure out why he was there. We danced together Saturday night, and he was getting sweeter and sweeter.”
A grin was slowly growing on Ashley’s face.
“I thought I was falling in love... until he started talking.”
“That’s when we figured out why he was there,” Liberty said. “He’s a real heart breaker until he opens his mouth.”
“Chad,” Ashley whispered.
“He was there last year?” Liberty asked.
Ashley nodded, still grinning.
“Did you go through what I did?” Tabitha asked.
“Worse. I was staying with them in the dorms. He came to my bed in the middle of the night and wanted to take me into the bushes. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.”
“That was before you met Tim?” Liberty asked.
Ashley closed her eyes. Part of her wanted to tell them what had just happened with Tim. Part of her knew it would be hard on Shawn, who would then have to choose between two girls. She knew somewhere inside that Shawn would be happiest with Sarah. She opened her eyes and smiled.
“Yeah. I met Tim about two weeks later.”
There were more questions for Liberty and Tabitha. Ashley was glad she hadn’t burdened her friends with her problem. But she was anxiously looking forward to telling Sister Heather all of her feelings.
After feeding and brushing the horses, Liberty checked her computer account to remind herself what her schedule looked like for that day. She found a message from Sister Ruth requesting that they get together for a
conference about the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty, that afternoon if possible.
Liberty sent a message back confirming that two o’clock would be fine.
Off and on during her morning classes, Liberty wondered what she and Sister Ruth could possibly talk about that had anything to do with the Treaty.
She knew, of course, that the only suspected motive of the two men who had tried to kill her was to influence her father somehow, presumably to get him to quit supporting the Treaty. But she herself knew very little about it.
She had lunch with Jason and Tabitha, but Shawn was at work in the Gallery, and Ashley was not around. Then she applied her mind to her Aeronautics class, the first hard class she had gone to since the murder attempt. It felt good to get back into her routine.
At two o’clock she dashed to the office and found Sister Ruth’s desk.
“Hello, Nancy. Let’s go find a quiet conference room. I have a proposal for you about a significant role you can play in the political arena during the next few months. Your father has already okayed it, but neither we nor he want you to do it unless you are completely comfortable with the idea...”
They entered a small conference room and shut the sound-proof door.
During the next two weeks, Ashley had to get used to a completely new routine. She meet with Sister Heather almost daily to talk about her feelings about Tim and Shawn, and sometimes even about Jenny and others from the past. She spent much more time with Karen, and could now understand much better what the ex-gymnast, still unable to even walk, was experiencing.
She went to all her academic classes, but gymnastics and dance were out of the questions for at least another month, and her childcare and kitchen shifts were being covered by others until she felt ready for them. She had considerable free time, and she spent much of it just being by herself.
Even before Ashley had returned from the hospital, the window had been replaced and the entire Residential Lobby had been recarpeted. All of the broken glass was gone, and no blood was to be seen anywhere. But she still paused every time she passed through, remembering what had happened, wondering if she would do the same thing if faced with the same situation again someday.
Her bandages had been off for almost a week at that time, and she was
beginning to see what parts of her cuts were going to heal, and what scars would remain. Liberty’s father was adamant about paying for any plastic surgery that was needed, but Brother Kenneth had told her it couldn’t be done until everything was completely healed and she was over her current growth spurt, all of which would take at least several months. Also, she had been told she couldn’t do any serious gymnastics for a month or two after the surgery.
After hearing all the limitations, Ashley decided to not even worry about it until after the Olympics.
As the weather improved, Ashley began spending more and more of her free time in the gardens. When other people were around, she would watch their expressions to see how close they would get before they noticed the scars on her face and neck. She discovered that some people stared (she liked those the least), some people turned away, and a few said comforting things. To those who had the courage to speak to her, she always returned words of thanks or a smile.
But when no one was around, as was usually the case early in the morning or late at night, she would sit and talk to certain trees, sometimes leaning against them, sometimes even hugging them. They became her friends, and she would tell them things she had once told only to Tim.
Ashley continued to wear the broken coin for two reasons. First of all, she didn’t want Shawn to know what had happened, and her mentor, the only person she had told, was sworn to secrecy. And also she held onto a tiny bit of hope that perhaps someday soon he would change his mind and call, or even show up at Lyceum. But as the second week ended, that hope was fading.
As the last week of June began, Ashley was preparing for her first real vacation since coming to Lyceum. Her cuts had healed enough for most normal activities, and with Sister Heather’s help, she had put the worst of her feelings about Tim behind her. She smiled when she remembered sitting down with Brother Hans a few days before to plan her vacation, and he had informed her that she was entitled to more of a vacation than round trip train and bus fare to Rapid City. He had listed some possibilities, and she had become excited when he had mentioned going north to Vancouver, British Columbia, where non-resident members could show her the city, and then taking the train part way across Canada, again meeting members in Regina,
Saskatchewan before heading south.
Her mind was brought back to the present as an elderly man sat down on the other end of her bench overlooking the pond in the European Garden. He looked vaguely familiar, as if she had seen a picture of him somewhere, but she couldn’t remember where. He took in the beauty before him for a few minutes and then spoke while still gazing out toward the statue of Athena in her Greek temple. He had an accent that Ashley couldn’t quite place.
“I can see that you have stories to tell, far beyond what anyone would guess from your years.”
She looked at him. His eyes were bright, and his bearing was upright, almost but not quite proud. At once he made her think of a mighty king or president, and a simple, honorable old man. Then she remembered that she had seen him in the back row of the chapel at Mass the previous Saturday.
But she knew she had seen him somewhere else as well. She too looked across the pond as she spoke.
“I’ve learned more and done more in the last two years than I thought I would in twenty years. But still there are so many things I don’t understand.”
He pondered her comment for a moment. “I could not have chosen better words to describe my own situation in the universe right now, Sister Ashley.”
“How did you know my name?” she asked, looking at him with a curious smile.
“In much the same way that you are beginning to recognize me. When a person becomes an honorable servant of God, they become known, especially to other servants.”
Ashley felt very close to putting her mental finger on who he was. She was starting to see images of fine, elaborate robes, beautiful religious paintings and murals, and crowds of attentive people. “I haven’t quite figured out who you are, but I hope I’ve done what God wants me to. I had to do something a few weeks ago that... I’m not sure was right... but I can’t see any way I could have avoided it.”
“There is nothing more blessed than the willingness to give up your own life for a friend. Your life, Sister Ashley, and the life of the one who died, were both in God’s hands at that moment.”
“You know about what happened?” Ashley said with a surprised look on
her face.
“Yes, my daughter. And much more was at stake than lives, I assure you.
Entire armies have perished to achieve what you did. From what I understand, the course of human history was in your hands at that moment.”
Ashley’s head dropped onto her chest. “But I’ve been taught all my life that killing is evil. How can I ever again be sure that I’m going to Heaven?”
Ashley didn’t see, but the old man closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and smiled. “Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo...” he began in a soft, rhythmic voice, and suddenly Ashley knew. She had seen him on television, saying Mass for thousands of people at the Vatican. A wave of warmth and love and sadness, all mixed together, filled her and she quickly moved over next to him and looked into his eyes.
“... Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem,” he continued while looking into her eyes.
Ashley joined him. “... blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and you, Father, to pray to the Lord our God for me.” When she finished saying those words, she closed her eyes, even though tears were in them, and sat there trembling, feeling so lucky to be in the presence of such a great man.
“Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris perducat vos ad vitam aeternam.” And when he had finished, Ashley felt him make the sign of the cross upon her forehead.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. She felt fresh and renewed, as if a great weight had been removed from her shoulders, a weight made of broken glass and human blood. Spontaneously she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, giving no thought to whether or not such a thing was appropriate. “Thank you, your Holiness.”
“Shhh! Please, I am on vacation. My presence here must be our secret.
Your security people know, of course, and my people are here also, but they are very good at not being seen.”
Ashley smiled. “I promise to keep your secret.”
“Good. And now, Sister Ashley, servant of God, will you perform the same rite for a tired old man?”
Suddenly Ashley felt very unsure of herself. It seemed to her that only someone very great could do what he was asking her to do.
“I am not worthy...”
“Perhaps not. Neither did I know if I was worthy to bestow a blessing upon you. You have already passed tests that I would have failed. If I cannot come to a child of God for a blessing, to whom can I go?”
She looked into his eyes again. They were soft and loving, but clear and wise. He had asked her for a blessing of forgiveness, just as he had given her.
She knew she was not worthy, but neither could she refuse. With trembling lips she spoke.
“May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life,” she said, and then reached up and made the sign of the cross on his wrinkled brow.
He smiled. “Thank you, my daughter.”
They rose, and hand in hand they walked the garden paths of Lyceum, sometimes Ashley leading the way to a favorite spot she wanted to share, sometimes their feet just guiding them this way and that. Now that she was aware of them, Ashley did glimpse his security guards ahead of them, or behind them, or just standing nonchalantly along the path. After sensing how well trained and dedicated they were, she said a silent prayer of thanks that she was on good terms with her companion.
Eventually Ashley realized it was getting late. “Please, Father, I have some money saved. May I have the honor of treating you to dinner?”
He looked at her, and he felt like crying. “It has been a long, long time since I have had dinner with a young lady. The thought makes my heart leap within me. You know how to make an old man feel young again.”
Ashley giggled. “I’ve been feeling pretty old recently, too. But now I’m feeling better. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to wear a dress to dinner.”
“And I will buy some flowers at the Gift Shop, and we shall order all the tastiest things on the menu!”
Ashley grinned, and together they entered the Main Lobby, where other visitors were also thinking of dinner. She stopped at a computer screen, made their reservation, and then ran all the way to her room to change.
“You
wouldn’t
believe the rhetoric that’s been flying around the capital during the last few months,” Senator Buchanan said from the video screen.
“This is one of those issues for which no one claims neutrality.”
“Oh, yes, I would believe it!” Liberty said. “I’ve seen some of it on T.V., and I’m sure it only gets worse off-camera. Has anyone tried anything nasty against you?” she asked with genuine concern.
“Not yet, but I must admit, I haven’t been going on walks at odd times and places like I used to. Any sign of more trouble there?”
“Nope. Lyceum’s being very careful with me. We’ve started to draft some of my speeches, and... I’m working on a little surprise of my own.”
“What kind of little surprise?”
“You’ll see, Daddy. But don’t worry about me. Security’s a lot tighter because of what happened, and for other reasons. The Pope was here for a few days, and even though his visit was supposed to be zero profile, Ashley discovered him, and you would have thought they were old friends. It really cheered her up, and she left for her vacation in a good mood. Are you coming out soon, like you promised?”
“You may not believe this, but the answer is yes. Some Chinese diplomats are flying home from Washington in two days on a small private jet, and the Vice President wanted a senator to accompany them across the country. I volunteered. We’ll get into PDX early Saturday.”
“Fantastic! I’m not sure Brother Fred will let me meet you at the airport, but I’ll be waiting for you here! When you arrive, remember that my name is Nancy.”
“Did
you
have to pick that name?” he said with a hint of sadness.
“I knew her before you did!”
“Slightly true. Anyway, my committee is about to reconvene. I know you’re not big on religion, but if you ever find yourself praying, say one for me.”
“I’ve been seriously tempted to try it recently. Please be careful, Daddy.”
“I will, and you do the same.”
The screen went blank and Liberty rejoined her security companion just outside the door.
“How’s your dad?” Brother Don said.
“Good. He’ll be here soon, but I shouldn’t spread around when or how.
You understand, don’t you?”
“Completely, and I compliment your discretion. Tabitha came by while you were on the line. Said she had to run an errand, and would meet you at the pool in about ten minutes.”
“So we’ll just walk slowly.”
“Sound’s good,” Brother Don said.
They made their way across the busy Main Lobby. Liberty knew which three of the two hundred or more people around her were Lyceum members on security duty, and she exchanged smiles when she passed near them, but knew they couldn’t stop what they were doing to talk. Soon she and her companion were walking along the glass-walled corridor that led to the Education Center and beyond.
They had crossed the next lobby and were just about to enter the passage to the Recreation Pavilion when two pairs of young feet came running down the mural-lined walkway from the labs. Sarah and Marty burst into the lobby and skidded to a stop, laughing and gasping for breath and slapping each other’s hands. Liberty knew how fast Sarah could move, and so suspected that she had avoided winning on purpose.
“Hi, Nancy!” Sarah said as soon as she noticed Liberty and her guard.
“Have you met Marty?”
Liberty considered. She remembered that once someone had quickly told Marty her name in a group situation months before, but of course that was when she had had long black hair. There was little chance he would recognize her now. “I don’t think so,” she said, kneeling down to his level.
Hi, Nancy, Marty said telepathically, out of habit since he had been with Sarah for the last couple of hours.
Hi, Marty. Did Sarah let you win? Liberty said in her thoughts, not really realizing what she was doing.
Yeah. She always does. She’s fast! Marty replied.
Both Liberty’s and Sarah’s mouths fell open at the same time. Liberty had heard Marty’s telepathic greeting, but she was, by then, used to being able to receive thoughts projected by Sister Rachael or Sarah. It was the fact that she had successfully sent her own thoughts to Marty that startled both girls.
Neither Rachael nor Sarah had been able to hear Liberty’s thoughts in the past.
Nancy! You’re fully telepathic! Sarah projected.
Liberty was grinning from ear to ear and starting to spontaneously dance around in the Educational Center lobby . Wow! This is so fantastic! I never dreamed I’d be able to do it! I am so excited! She grabbed Sarah’s hands and they danced in a circle together for a few moments. Other people in the lobby had no idea what they were so excited about, and a few strange looks were cast in their direction, but they didn’t notice.
What’s her problem? Marty asked Sarah as soon as they stopped.
Liberty answered. I’m really excited and happy, Marty! I just spoke to someone telepathically for the first time! I could hear people before, but I couldn’t project anything.
With grins on their faces and sparkles in their eyes, they pranced over to some seats that were empty on one side of the lobby.
How long have you been telepathic, Marty? Liberty asked.
I don’t know, since I came here I guess.
He was before, but he didn’t have anyone to talk to, so it just got him in trouble, Sarah explained.
Marty, I’ve heard you’re really smart, Liberty said.
Yep! You’re really smart too. I can tell.
Being smart got me into a lot of trouble before I came here.
Marty wrinkled his brow in surprise. You’ve been in trouble? I used to make people mad ‘cause I would cry every time I found something broken.
But Shawn told me how everything in the world is always slowing breaking.
He called it entro... something. That’s why we make new things.
Shawn is very smart too. He’s one of my best friends.
The silent exchange continued, and Sarah sat watching and mentally listening, as neither Marty nor Liberty were experienced enough to shield their thoughts from her. She could tell that both of them were being very loud and pushy with each other, but both seemed to be holding their own and just pushing right back. Her mind was starting to wander when one of Marty’s thoughts caught her attention.
Nancy, who is Liberty? he asked.
Liberty was caught off guard. Gosh... um... why do you ask?
You keep thinking about her. She has black hair.
Um... yeah, she’s a friend of mine, and she does have black hair. I haven’t seen her for weeks.
Marty seemed satisfied, and went back to talking about other things.
Sarah continued to listen, and realized that where she had been tip-toeing with Marty for months, Liberty was now dancing, even wrestling. She looked forward to telling Rachael all about it, and wondered if maybe Liberty and Marty could somehow help each other to refine and control their telepathic abilities.
After a few more minutes, Liberty remembered that Tabitha was waiting for her at the swimming pool. She said good-bye to Sarah and Marty, and with her armed companion at her side, continued on toward the Recreation Pavilion. But she was thinking about her father, and looked forward to telling him what she had just discovered she could do.