Kat and I were not on speaking terms since our earlier episode; hence, we dined at opposite ends of the fire- lit dinner table. Twenty-five villagers, all of them female, sat to eat, waiting for Madam B to speak from her privileged position at the head of the table. When that rough woman eventually rose, she cast her eyes and smiles over all present. 'As you know, ladies, we have two guests with us tonight. Daniel Fox, and his samurai, who needs no introduction. We have all been enthralled by your story at one time or another, Kat.'
The women graciously glanced, and I returned a smile. Kat did not.
'We hope you enjoy the meal,' B concluded, 'and our company, gentlemen.' The beaten up old woman then gave a consenting wave, permission to tuck in.
I was pleasantly surprised that we were not left waiting for prayer or some other ritual beforehand. I snapped a leg of chicken from that tray, scooped a generous helping of potatoes from another one, and ate.
After moments of ravenous chewing, I became aware of something very unusual. A delicious feast for the eyes this food was, but not for the palate. The same taste filled my mouth with every bite — it was a mash of sandy wood, poisoning everything from the bread to the soup. I coughed out that gunk coating the back of my mouth and heard further giggles from women around me.
'I'm not getting used to it Kat,' I said, from across the table. 'I'm really not!'
Kat didn't pay me any mind, and eventually the hunger pains in my stomach cancelled out the bitter taste on my tongue. I ate all I could, and although it was foul, it at least gave me energy and that satisfying feeling of having a full stomach. The pretty blonde-haired woman, Madam L, did not look at me once during the meal, and whenever I caught her eye, she would shy it to a table or plate, anywhere but me.
Kat's manners or lack of kept me amused throughout dinner. With no class or etiquette whatsoever, the man snatched large handfuls of food and scarfed; grunting snorts and lingering burps, he chewed with his mouth open and then swilled back goblets of wine to see it all down, and the unfortunate woman seated next to him clearly wished she wasn't.
When most were through eating, I drank wine whilst women chatted amongst themselves about the weather, the harvest, and other things that didn't interest me. What I cared about was my curiosity, and now that my hunger was satisfied, I might as well see to the other. 'I saw the white house earlier,' I began, scratching at my chin. 'I was wondering who lived there? Anyone?'
'A newly built home, Mr. Fox,' answered Madam B. 'In time, we hope to have one for each of the women here. They deserve it.'
I returned a nod, aware that she did not answer my question: Who lived there?
'Tell me,' I added, without care; 'are you all named with letters? A little strange, don't you think? I mean there's only so many letters in the alphabet.' I saw agreeing expressions from some, but anxiety from most. 'Is there a Madam A?' I continued, the question causing one girl to go into a sudden fit of choking. The woman seated next to her promptly patted several times on this girl's back. Not a moment later, she spat out a piece of doe from her throat, and we all breathed again.
'The bread is a little tough tonight,' said Madam B, wearing a cool demeanor toward my inquisitiveness. 'Madam A is gone, Mr. Fox. The second death, I'm sure you're aware of that.”
“What happened?”
“Poor thing,” B replied. “She became too old to protect the women, and too weak to protect herself.'
'Too old to protect the women, eh?” I said, trying to be clever. “Or maybe too old to have children?'
My comment caused even Kat to stop chewing, and the entire table peered at me with expressions of surprise and horror. In a matter of seconds, a moderately pleasant atmosphere had now disintegrated into tetchy and uncomfortable silence. Madam B's smile was gone, her pretence and patience were slipping. 'When will you be leaving, gentlemen?' she asked.
I waited for Kat to answer, for only he knew it. 'In the morning,' he grunted. 'For the Macros.'
'So soon?' one girl added. 'Shame.'
That synthetic tone agitated me. It was worse when I saw every face wearing that same mask.
'It will be a daunting climb,' said Madam B. 'Not many travel up the slope of the Macros, and those who do…never come back.'
The danger welcomed, Kat grinned behind handfuls of stale bread.
'What's your business up there?' asked L, resulting in the immediate glares from her fellow villagers. The question was innocent, but L hastily withdrew it, and I cringed, watching her feel the lashes under her clothing.
'What's wrong?' I asked her. 'Everything okay?'
She parted the tangled hair away from her eyes and dimly smiled back. 'Good, mister. Fine, mister.'
'She's healthy, Mr. Fox,' added Madam B. 'Now, you have inquired about us, you've accepted our hospitality, and eaten your fill. Tell us about yourself. We women would like to hear more. Have you ever climbed before? There's a good start!'
'I've never climbed,' I answered, thinking it wise not to press more attention onto L. 'In my day, I'd use a car for the steeper hills.'
'Car?' pried a puzzled-looking brunette.
'Like a horseless wagon,” I explained, forgetting that some if not all of these women passed long before the invention of the automobile. “It's got four wheels and an engine to power it.'
'Sounds complicated!' said Madam B, to further snickering.
'There are harder things in life, I guess. A friend once told me that the world is made up of tiny miracles. Now, you take a whole village, and all the women pregnant, that's a lot of miracles to go around. Wouldn't you say?'
'We are blessed!' said Madam B. 'Mysterious fate has brought us women together to bear our children. Here we are, safe and happy in that endeavor. Do you have children of your own, Mr. Fox?'
All of a sudden, I was mentally pulled out of this murky village and myself. No dizzy spell from a returning migraine, this was something deeper, like a blood illness. I was dumbstruck by a question I could not remember, and as these women awaited my answer, I could only stare at the empty dinner plate under my nose.
'Are you well, Mr. Fox? Mr. Fox?'
I held a blink and the image of Kathy for several seconds before hauling my mind back out from its unmarked well. 'Fine,' I returned, hollow-faced. 'I'm fine. Thank you for the meal.' I dropped my fork with a clang; dinner was over. Two women removed my plate, and as they waited for Kat to finish, I attempted to regain my mental place before an odd moment washed me over with amnesia.
The head instantly returned to my shoulders upon witnessing Madam B bend and whisper into L's ear. Something short and to the point was said, something that delicate silly girl did not ever want to hear.
'Madam B?' I grumbled. 'This village is the safest place in the Distinct Earth, why is that? I see no men to ward off trouble. Or am I…being sexist?'
'You're being something!' blurted one.
'Your attitude is prehistoric,' said Madam B, composed. 'We women are quite capable of handling trouble, whatever form trouble takes. Men allow emotions to rule them; their presence here would only disrupt the balance. It's my job to keep the continuity, and we don't need men to maintain that.'
'So?' I asked, suppressing a laugh. 'How the hell do you get pregnant?'
Like a game of tennis, all eyes followed the ball back to Madam B, but I spoke before she could return it. 'Pardon me, ladies, please. I do appreciate your hospitality, and I am not saying you need men, it's just that I see vulnerable, pregnant women here with no obvious fence or defenses around their village. Surely, in a realm like this one it would be wise to be prepared for danger? Alert at least, for your babies’ sake?'
Still indifferent, Kat continued shoveling food into his mouth. Perhaps he already knew these answers.
'No one would dare hurt us!' stirred the passionate redhead. 'They wouldn't dare it!'
'Why not?' I pressed her. 'What's so special about you?'
Madam B's mask was gone, leaving an ugly frown for a face. 'You may not see our defenses,' she cried, 'but they do exist! We are a peaceful community, Mr. Fox; we do not cause trouble and we do not seek it. Most wander the Distinct Earth with no purpose, but here everyone has a purpose, and everybody is safe!'
'Safe?' I mocked. 'You lash the shit out of these women and call that safe? What if a wizard were to enter your village, bog pigs, flying birds, or Christ knows fucking what else!'
'You've said enough!' exclaimed Madam B, seething. 'We no longer wish to spend time in your company!
