Heavens Before by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow Read Free Book Online Page A

beats me any more, I’ll probably die. I must get away .
    Moving weakly, she pushed herself to her feet, clutching her grass bag and veil as if they could save her from additional harm. Stumbling outside, she turned away from the settlement and headed for the river. She would hide in the lush leaf-shrouded trees and rest there. At nightfall, however, she would have to return to the lodge. Her fear of being caught outside in the dark was greater than her fear of another beating.
    Her fear was not due to the darkness or to the creatures of the night, but because of feast-goers such as Naham and Yerakh—and because of the Serpent-Lovers, in particular, the Nachash. If any of them found her alone in the darkness, they would probably abuse her, then kill her.
    By the time she reached the trees near the river, Annah was shaking from pain and fright. Suppose Yerakh were to come after her? Or worse, what if Naham decided to ignore Yerakh’s demands and take her anyway? Fearfully, she watched the settlement. Perhaps Yerakh was still searching for her mother and sisters. I hope they’ve managed to escape .
    Intent on escape herself, Annah crept into the deep green vines, fronds, and cloak-sized leaves of the undergrowth. Feeling safer, she leaned against a tree trunk andslowly eased her way down into the sanctuary of the leaves. The very act of sitting brought tears to her eyes. I can’t stay here , she realized. Sitting on the ground hurts too much. But I have to rest. And I’m thirsty .
    Groping inside her woven bag, Annah found one of the afals. There were only two left out of the heap she had gathered, and they were sadly bruised and crushed. Like me , she told herself ruefully.
    Her jaw was so swollen that she had to break the fruit into tiny bits and push them between her teeth to swallow them. Slowly she ate them both, then pulled herself to her feet. She needed poultices for her wounds, but she was too weak to gather any herbs and pound them out.
    All I can do is to soak myself in the river. Was I really there this morning? Impossible. I must have dreamed that I was happy .
    She limped upriver to a sheltered, sandy inlet where the women of the settlement gathered occasionally to soak their garments and fleeces, and to bathe themselves and their children. Today, however, the inlet was deserted. Annah relaxed, grateful. She had feared some of the children might be playing in the water. The children were vicious, pampered creatures, preying on anyone they perceived as different, which she was. They usually threw rocks at her, forcing her away. She would not have been able to run from them today; the pain was too overwhelming.
    Moving stiffly, Annah settled onto the inclined bank, scooting far enough into the water to cover her body without submerging her head. The water did ease her pain. She crammed her veil into her grass bag to make a pillow for herself, then leaned back and shut her eyes. The sound and the feel of the lapping water soothed her. She also sensed the fish hovering gently nearby, nottouching her, but lingering, as if they understood her misery. Comforted, Annah slipped out of consciousness.

    Voices woke her. Opening her eyes, she recognized Parah’s feet and those of Iltani, Haburah, and Ayalah. They were standing behind Parah, the water barely edging their brown toes. Annah didn’t have to see their faces to know they were angry with her. Their annoyance showed in their crossed arms, or their hands on their hips, and she felt them watching her.
    Why are you angry with me? Naham’s the one who provoked Yerakh! And obviously, you’ve all escaped beatings. You don’t have bruises. You aren’t struggling to breathe. But you’re just waiting for me to prove I can stand and walk, so you won’t feel guilty for abandoning me .
    Annah sat up, catching her breath at the pain. She wondered if she could stand at all. She felt shaky. Her ribs, her legs, her arms, and her jaw all ached and pounded