Victoria carried the glass of water to her husband. Each line on his face told an unfinished story. He reached out and touched her hand. She responded with a caress of his cheek.
“It’ll work out,” she said.
“Yeah,” he said, doubt and fear shouting the opposite.
The television glared at them in the background. News from the Presidential Palace. Reporters and cameramen clamoring for the best angle. A marching band performed off to the side, giving the scene a surreal, festive air.
“Do you want me to turn it off?” Victoria said.
Ben shook his head. “I need to see it.”
Despite her reassurance, Victoria’s hands trembled. She hid them behind her back so Ben couldn’t see them. A few seconds later and the kitchen door provided a barrier between him and the tears which forced their way out. Her windpipe closed up, and she coughed to remove the lump in her throat. Ben’s voice penetrated the barrier.
“You OK in there?”
Two more grunts rumbled from her mouth. “I’m fine,” she said. Her throat itched, but she suppressed the urge to cough anymore. “I made lasagna. Would you like me to bring it to you?”
He had no appetite, even for her lasagna, but he knew the effort his wife had made and what it would mean if he said no. “Sure. As long as you join me.”
Victoria returned with a pair of plates. Sauce and cheese leaked onto an Italian sausage from between the layers of pasta. Ben took a bite and laid the plate on the seat beside him. Victoria’s eyes darted between the television screen and her husband. A man in a green uniform stood on the front steps of the Presidential Palace. His stern face scanned the crowd of reporters. The screen only amplified his lack of compassion.
“What was he saying?” Victoria asked.
“I didn’t catch it all,” Ben said. A true statement on its surface. He had heard enough, though, to understand the essence of it.
Victoria plopped down beside him, her bones as worn and worried as her soul. She didn’t have the energy to pretend otherwise. A forkful of lasagna went to her mouth. It tasted bitter but she swallowed it anyway.
“How did it go at work today?” Ben asked.
“It was tough,” she said. She hesitated. “Everybody knew. I could tell by the way they looked at me, by the way the conversations stopped when I entered the room.”
“That’s just because you’re so beautiful.”
Even under the circumstances, he could make her smile. He wondered if he would remember the smile. The elephant came crashing into the room, giving him no choice but to address it.
“I’m going to have to face them eventually,” he said.
“I know.” Her chest shuddered. “Give me a little longer.”
The tears forced their way out again. She didn’t try to stop them.
“I’ve been praying,” he said. “God will work it out the way he wants. It’s all in his hands at this point.”
She nodded. “Did you get a chance to speak with Jeremiah?”
“Not since it started. Jehoiakim didn’t let him in the palace once the operation got underway.”
“Fool!” Victoria’s eyes burned bright red. “Why didn’t he listen? Why don’t any of them ever listen?”
“I don’t know.”
Ben let his attention drift back to the television. The man in the green uniform continued his speech – part lecture, part verdict – all in his native tongue. Ben picked out the key Russian words but withheld them from his wife. Jehoiakim had pressed his signet ring into the hot wax sealing the judgment. Only God could break the seal and overturn the sentence.
The war lasted less than a month. Jehoiakim overestimated the strength of his military and underestimated the resolve of the Russians. The Chinese never sent the help they promised, not wanting to bother with a nation which didn’t serve their interests at the moment. The gods didn’t climb out of their stone shells to lend him a hand either. The only positive news, the brevity of the war meant the nation would suffer the minimum number of casualties. All of Jehoiakim’s generals had already been carted off. Their bodies swayed in the stiff breeze at the end of thick ropes. Ben worried how long the pain would last before he no longer felt his lungs burning.
“You weren’t with them,” Victoria said as if she could read his mind. “They’ve got to know that. They’ve got to know you tried to stop them.”
“I don’t think it matters,” he muttered.
He immediately wished he could recall the words. Fortunately, Victoria was too preoccupied to have noticed. One hand covered her mouth but couldn’t stifle the whimper of surprise.
“They have him,” she said.
Ben followed the three men as they walked out of the palace. Jehoiakim seemed so small, so afraid as he stumbled between the two guards, his wrists and ankles wrapped in shackles. The chain around his neck provided no deterrent other than to humiliate him. A scene from many years ago flashed through Ben’s mind. He could still feel the weight of Jeremiah’s body as he carried him from the plaza to the car.
“God’s justice may be delayed, but it will always come,” he thought.
The phone rang, disturbing their privacy. Ben answered and mumbled a few uh huhs. When he finished, the phone returned to his pocket. He kept a brave face. Victoria knew better.
“I’ve got to go down to the palace,” he said.
“Now? Why?”
“They have a car waiting for me downstairs,” he answered.
Victoria’s chest heaved a couple times. “But what for? Did they give you a reason?”
“I’m sure the Russians want to talk with me, see my involvement in the rebellion.”
“But you didn’t have any part in it. You tried to talk Jehoiakim out of it. They’ve got to know that. They can’t hold you responsible for something he did.” Her words came out in a rush, a desperate attempt to convince the people who needed convincing even though they were miles away.
“You’re right, sweetheart. That’s why I have nothing to worry about.”
His attempt to assure her had the opposite effect. She broke down in his arms and cried, pitiful sobs a plea for him to stay. His lips pressed against her dark hair.
“I’ve got to go.”
“Please.”
Ben lifted her up to look directly in her eyes. “The Lord will take care of us,” he said. “He promises that, and he’s never failed. He won’t fail us now.”
Victoria held his fingers as he slipped out the door. The sobs became loud cries. She flung herself on top of the sofa and curled into a ball. In the background, the tv droned on. The Russian colonel in the green uniform gave way to another man dressed in a blue suit. White hair capped a youthful face. A mild accent seasoned his otherwise impeccable English. Victoria heard the words but comprehended none of them.
Wild, frantic thoughts took turns clouding her mind with scenarios too horrible to fully imagine. Would they kill him right away or send him to Russia where she would never see him again? Which would be worse? Would they come for her, for their son? Should she run? Where was Jeremiah? Where was God?
A mention of Jehoiakim brought her out of her trance. She sat up as the man in the blue suit pronounced sentence on the former president. Jehoiakim didn’t raise his head when the charges against him were read. He didn’t make any movement when he received life in a Russian prison camp. A look of confusion burrowed into his face as though he were nothing more than a passive observer caught up in a dream that didn’t make sense. The guards dragged him down the steps towards a dark van and threw him inside. The man in the blue suit waited until the van had vanished before continuing.
“We have long tolerated the insolence of the government of the Atlantic States, forgiving debts, turning the other cheek out of the goodness and benevolence of our hearts. But your disobedience, your treachery can no longer go unpunished. Even though you fought against us, we allowed you to keep your president and your government institutions. All we asked was for a small tribute to be paid, acknowledging that you sinned against us. You would not keep your end of the bargain. Not only did you refuse to pay the tribute, but you also sent armed men to murder our innocent soldiers. We could not forgive this crime. Thus, your president has been banished, the generals have been hung as payment for murders they committed, and you will no longer decide who rules over you. Now, a president of our choosing will sit in your Presidential Palace. But even in this, we have mercy. One of your people, President Zedekiah, will rule on our throne, wearing the crown we give and the one we can take away at any moment. Let this be a warning to him, to you, and to your children.”
Victoria bit the rim of her fingernails as her left leg shook uncontrollably. A coughing fit shook the rest of her body. When she returned from the kitchen with a glass of water and a couple of pills in her hand, another man with red, curled lips, shoulders hunched slightly forward, and the rasp of someone who persuaded others by yelling stood behind the podium. She immediately disliked him.
“… as we work together to find common ground between our two great nations,” President Zedekiah continued. “Finally, thank you to General Devonov for bestowing this honor on me and trusting me to rule the Atlantic States on behalf of the Russian nation. And let me restate my pledge to you, my people. I will never let you down. My administration will be transparent in all its dealings with you and with our friends in the Russian government to whom we owe our allegiance and a debt of gratitude.”
Victoria tuned him out and paced the room, stopping twice by the window overlooking the street. The second time, a familiar face passed beneath. A quick wave. The woman smiled and changed course. A minute later, her knock sounded on the front door. Victoria embraced her former neighbor and shut the door behind her.
“How are you, Victoria? It’s so good to see you.”
Victoria smiled back. “You too, Anna Lynn.”
“I’m glad to see you’re still here. I thought you and Ben might have moved out. Truth be told, I’ve thought about stopping by many times. Things kept getting in the way. Work has been so busy, especially since we expanded our product line.”
Victoria took a deep breath. She wasn’t in the mood for the rapid-fire, one-side conversation that comprised the norm with Anna Lynn. On the other hand, her former neighbor did provide a distraction from the worry gnawing at her stomach.
“You should see the diamonds we brought in last week. Beautiful. Jacobo – you remember him, don’t you? He does wonders with designs – he made a pair of earrings which would look absolutely amazing on you.” Anna Lynn reached out and brushed Victoria’s cheeks. “You have such beautiful earlobes. I’d kill for a set of lobes like those. So, how are things going with you and Ben? I bet the situation has got you a little nervous. Is he still working at the Presidential Palace?”
“He’s ….” Victoria paused to correct herself. “He was the chief of staff to President Jehoiakim.”
“Oh.” An awkward silence followed but only for the briefest of moments. “I don’t follow politics. Try to stay clear of that. Let the experts run the country, I always say. I’ve got too much on my hands running a business. It’s hard being a small business owner as you can imagine. I have to admit, it’ll be nice having stability. The Russians have been fair with us. Admittedly, I’d prefer not to send the ten percent tax to them, but when you’re making as much as we do, it doesn’t really affect our quality of life. And that’s what’s important, isn’t it? Making sure we have a good life. Grabbing what we can before we shuffle off this planet to who knows what.” She let out a short laugh. “Sometimes, I envy my clients, how they believe in something beyond this world. Me? I believe in money. And diamonds and often gold. I can touch those things.”
The conversation took a detour.
“Did I tell you we expanded our business?”
Victoria nodded.
“We have a whole new religious line of products. You’re religious, aren’t you? I should show you our catalog. We’ve got beads and crystals. Have you ever tried crystals? We get them imported directly from India. They have the best energy flow. I didn’t believe it either until I tried them for myself. You can feel the pulse of the world in them, warming you, revitalizing you. I keep a few on me at all times. Here. Try them. You’ll see what I mean.”
“No,” Victoria said. “I’d prefer not to.”
“Ah. The superstitious type,” Anna Lynn said. “I understand. If you change your mind, let me know. Remind me again which religion you are? Religious icons comprise another new line. We have a huge selection to choose from. Statues of the virgin, whichever one you prefer. Candles too. Buddha, if that’s your thing. We had a few people ask for some of those Egyptian gods. You know, the ones with the dog heads. I liked them. They were cute. Had Jacobo make me a pair for my front porch. You should hear the compliments we get. They’re made out of stone. I’m not going to put something valuable out where anybody can come steal it. Jacobo uses gold for our wealthier clients. A solid layer on the outside, not the thin one you can scrape off with your fingernail like our competitor does. Don’t go to Carter’s. It’s a rip-off. Drop by the shop and I’ll make sure you get the family discount. It’s never too early to order a candle for the Day of the Dead.”
“That’s not for me,” Victoria said. “I follow Jesus.”
“Hmm. We still sell crosses. Not as many as we thought. Most of that inventory sits in the warehouse. I’m sure I can get you an extra twenty percent off on those. By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you. How’s Gedaliah doing? What is he in now? Kindergarten?”
“Third grade.”
“Third grade? Already? My how time gets away from you. Where’s he at? I bet he’s in school.”
Victoria nodded again.
“I never had time for a family. Always too busy at the store or traveling the world looking for bargains. Kids get in the way of a career as you know all too well. I got pregnant a couple times. Once from Eddie. The other from ….” She paused to think. “It could’ve been one of three guys. Honestly, I’m not sure which one. Eddie and I, we have an open marriage. Best thing that ever happened to us. Anyway, I terminated both pregnancies. The second time, I didn’t realize I was pregnant until the bump started to show. I’m sure glad abortions were legal by then. I could’ve easily bled out if we didn’t have a health clinic which specialized in late term abortions to go to. Hey. Isn’t that Ben?”
Victoria turned her attention to the tv. “Yeah.” Her forehead wrinkled as a shudder swept through her body.
Two men walked beside Ben as he made his way up the steps of the Presidential Palace. When he reached the top, President Zedekiah called him over.
“I’d like to introduce my chief of staff,” he said. “Ben Ahikam. I’m sure you all recognize him. A man of integrity. He’ll be a fantastic asset to our team.”
The relief sighed from Victoria’s lungs. A quick prayer of thanksgiving rose to heaven.
“Congratulations, Victoria,” Anna Lynn said. “That’s fantastic. Who knows? Maybe you two can introduce us to President Zedekiah. If I could convince him to wear some of our product or keep an icon in the palace, our sales would double. Triple even. I wonder if we could keep up with the demand. I better tell Eddie to look into hiring some new people.”
Victoria felt the spirit move inside, a deep groan speaking words beyond understanding. A light touch fell on her former neighbor’s arm.
“Anna Lynn,” she said. “We need to talk.”