Raging Star by Moira Young Read Free Book Online

to say all that. I really hadn’t. Hell.
    That’s a big question, says Mercy. Is it ever right to kill another person?
    I’m jest openin my mouth, jest about to ask how she got slaved when she says,
    The Tonton came to Crosscreek one day. To run me off or … burn me out or kill me an take my land. That’s the first time I felt the lash of a whip. But when they found out I heal, they decided I’d be useful. I was set to work in one of their babyhouses. I’ll help any woman give birth. I will not be party to leavin a newborn outside overnight, to be took by a beast or killed by the cold. That’s what they do with the weak ones.
    So I’m told, I says.
    Exposure, they call it, she says. The baby’s left out, naked. If they make it through the night, they’re judged tough enough. They git another chance. But I ain’t never seen one brought back. I used to sneak out to try an save ’em. Oh, I had all kinds of schemes, but I never managed it. Always got caught. They whipped me plenty, but I kept on tryin. They got fed up with me in the end. Decided to wring the last little bit of life outta me labourin on their roads. We was headed tostart work on a new one when you blew the bridge.
    What’s all that about? I says. A new road in the Raze an settlers. The Raze is a deadland.
    No idea, says Mercy. I’ll tell you this, though. Them big hounds that was runnin the woods—
    Yeah, I lost ’em in some water, I says.
    —they came with this Tonton, she says. He showed up with the dogs when we was well on our way. He just started ridin at the back. None of ’em said a word, but they knew who he was all right. They rode a lot taller from then on. If they send somebody important like him, I figger it means the job’s important.
    I figger you might be right, I says.
    I’ll tell you this too, she says. That road in the Raze would have bin my last. There ain’t much left of me.
    We’ll git you strong agin, I says.
    She pops another nut in her mouth. With a frown, she eases the iron slave collar.
    Is it heavy? I says.
    The worst thing is how fast you get used to it, she says. She tips her head back an closes her eyes. Where Nero pecked an scratched her, the blood’s dried. On her arms an shoulders an a couple places on her neck. I dig my medicine bag from my pack. I wet the end of my sheema from the waterskin, kneel at her side an commence to dab her clean. At the first touch, a little smile curves her lips.
    Don’t git yer hopes up, I says. I ain’t no good at doctorin, not like you. Remember you fixed my hand that got shot? I show her my right hand. You did a neat job, I says. I tell you, I collected a good few scars since then. I got goatweed unction. You want some?
    Thanks, she says. As I smear it on her wounds with a careful pinky, she looks at the heartstone. Our eyes meet. My face starts to warm. I drop my gaze to my task.
    Feels like a lifetime ago I gave you that, she says.
    What is it? It’s pretty, says Emmi
.
    The pale rosy stone feels smooth an cool. Shaped like a bird’s egg. A thumb’s length in size. The light gleams through it, milky an dull
.
    A heartstone, said Mercy. It leads you to your heart’s desire. The closer you get, the hotter it burns
.
    It burns fer Jack. It burns fer DeMalo. Desire, yes. An danger. An betrayal. That’s what the heartstone’s led me to.
    I remember that mornin well, says Mercy. Crosscreek looked like paradise. After a moment, she says, We slept in these wooden sheds. Us slaves, I mean. Crammed together, chained together, men an women. My first night, I was lyin there an it was silent but … there was such a clamour from all them souls. So, after a while I said, My name is Mercy. My home is Crosscreek. A sweet green valley that sleeps in the sun. They was all quiet. Then one of the men said, The name’s Cade. I ain’t got no home but the road. Don’t need no roof but the sky. One by one, we all spoke. Our namean where we come from. After that, we did the same every