Woman Scorned Page 13

  Gertrude looked up from her humble seat in the front row, for the first time utterly stunned. This was not part of her plan.

  She had completely expected Lucy to take up the new position. The girl had even shown signs of a desire to be headwoman in the past. What had she not seen? She needed to salvage the situation, and quickly, before a disaster occurred.

  “Lucy,” she said, “I think perhaps you are simply overwhelmed by our events here today. Maybe we should all take a few days to re-think things-”

  “No, Gertrude,” Lucy said firmly. “I’ve made my decision, and you cannot change it. It’s my life now, and I’ll live every last moment of it just as I desire.”

  Gertrude felt a reeling in her stomach, but saw and recognized the look in her young protégé’s eyes. Her mind truly was made up. No matter how misconstrued, the girl was truly done, just as she said, and it made no sense to belabor the point or embarrass herself any further.

  “So be it,” Gertrude said, “I shall truly miss you, Lucy. You are one of a kind.” But Lucy didn’t thank her. She only nodded and stepped away from the lectern, sliding her way to the shadows in the back of the room again.

  “It seems to me, Gertrude,” Monica said, “that we are in a very serious predicament. A headwoman is not a position to be taken lightly. We need someone with experience, but at this point there is no one nearly qualified. Perhaps I could fill in the duties on a temporary basis until we can get someone properly trained-”

  “Absolutely not,” Gertrude said, not caring how it sounded. “We need you right where you are. No one could ever perform those two duties together. It would be a conflict of interest.”

  “I have another suggestion,” Rhonda said. Her voice was quiet. Smooth. All eyes turned to the head trainer. She was not as formidable as Gertrude, of course, but she was easily the second largest and second most powerful woman on the island. When Rhonda spoke in her caressing voice, people still listened. “You said we are a family, and that reminded me of something. There was a man the other day… he was struggling to forget his father. Quite an acute case, actually. I used my favorite device to begin breaking him, and when I first started- when he was still angry enough to talk back to me- he said something that I think applies here. When I pressed him why he wouldn’t give up on this father of his, he said quite simply that in dire circumstances dire measures must be taken. Now, I broke him eventually, but even the pigs we work with every day have their moments of truth and eloquence. I think we are in our own dire circumstances now, and I think I know just what kind of dire measure we must take.”

  “What?” Gertrude asked on behalf of everyone in the room.

  Rhonda did not speak for a moment. Taking a trick directly out of Gertrude’s book of tools, she waited, smiled slightly, perused the room with her eyes. Finally, she spoke. “Josie,” she said.

  “Excuse me?” Gertrude tried not to laugh.

  “Josie should be our blue headwoman. You yourself showed us how strong she is. There are all types of people in the world and all types of women on this island. Since we have no one with experience, we must be satisfied to choose among their characters instead. In my mind a woman who can rise to the rank of second-in-command in so short a time is the only kind of woman who could take over a position of authority without the aforementioned experience. And I’ve detected a certain resilience in her since she has returned. She is perhaps more ready for this than we know. I am fully aware that something like this has never been done before, but again… dire circumstances.”

  Frantically, Gertrude tried to douse the idea. This wasn’t at all what she’d had in mind. “But who will be my second-in-command?”

  “Come, Gertrude,” Rhonda said softly. “Everyone here knows that Rachael was a close second for the position in the first place.”

  “But, Josie? It’s too soon. There won’t be time to….” she trailed off.

  “To what, Gertrude?” It was Lucy speaking up from the back. “To make her into your perfect servant first? Rachael’s better suited for that job, I think.”

  “Lucy!” Gertrude shouted, but Lucy just chuckled. Mumbles of awed shock rolled across the audience. Gertrude had already seen her control slip. Now her composure was following suit. What the hell is Rhonda thinking? she thought. Doesn’t she realize what this will do? And Lucy’s rebellion is heartbreaking. This is devastating.

  “Sorry, Dirty Gertie!” Lucy nearly shouted. “Did that one hit too close to home?” And this final comment caused near bedlam. No one had ever called her that in public before. Lucy was turning out to be a real scream on her way out. Gertrude had to raise her voice to again be heard.

  “I don’t know what you’re doing here, Lucy!” she yelled, and magically everyone went utterly silent, eager to catch every word, and she was able to continue in a normal volume. “But it is not the kind of behavior I’ve come to expect out of you.”

  “No shit,” Lucy said. And more awestruck exclamations came. “God, this is living. You know Gert, I really can’t wait to sit with you in the helicopter. It will be a real pleasure.” Gertrude shot her a look that seemed to fuse her eyes into a permanent scowl.

  “Enough of this crap,” Rhonda said over them. “I have far too much work to do for any more. As the head trainer with lots of personal experience with Josie, I feel she is the best woman for the job, and I nominate her. We need another authority to second the motion. Any takers?”

  “Sorry, Gertrude,” Monica said, “but I agree with Rhonda. Under our circumstances, I don’t think there is anyone else we can count on to learn the ways of our third headwoman so quickly. I second it.”

  “I agree as well,” Beatrice said.

  Gertrude turned her scowl to Monica now. Bitch, she thought. You can’t be trusted for anything!

  “Well then, I guess it’s up to the woman herself,” Rhonda said. “Do you think you are up to it, Josie? This is an immense thing we ask of you, I know. But you’d be working directly for The Cause and doing it a great honor. You’d be a permanent part of our family, and at your age you have the potential to do so much for so many.”

  Josie glanced over at Steph, a lowly trainer of the blue squad like she had been less than two years before. Steph could only lift her shoulders and brows, clearly overwhelmed with the situation and of no help at all. Josie distrusted the means by which it was happening, but her mind had been made up immediately. She stood, feeling mountains taller than she had just days before, and walked to the lectern.

  “This nomination is… both a personal honor and also a milestone for The Cause,” Josie said. She looked to Rhonda and saw a smirk of respect. She looked to Gertrude and saw a scowl of confusion and mistrust. She looked to Steph and saw… but Josie couldn’t place Steph’s emotions. There was something there, of course. Something strong. But the blank look defied explanation. Josie tried to see compassion or jealousy… pride or even adoration. But none of those were right. Steph appeared as if she wasn’t even in the room. As if the ghost of her friend sat there instead. I’d be her boss, Josie suddenly realized. She’s worried this will ruin our friendship. And she’s right.

  Yet hiding her disquiet came easily enough, as did Josie’s next words. “I heartily accept the position as blue headwoman.” A brief but low gasp burst from the crowd, then died immediately. Josie continued without hesitation. “Perhaps this moment can be a beacon for new things to come. I don’t know how well I’ll ultimately function as a headwoman, but I know that I’ll understand my girls better than Lorraine ever did and that I’ll never lose track of my goals.” Josie played her own game of pause-and-watch now, perhaps subconsciously testing an authoritative role for the first time, perhaps merely working on instinct.

  “None of you have had the experience I did this past week.” She paused again, letting them all remember where she had been. “Recruiting the man who raped me is the most difficult thing I have ever done. But it is also my greatest accomplishment. I not only succeeded, proving my own str
ength as a woman, but I also reached a new apex in my personal life. I know you all see me as a young girl who has only been here a few years, but believe me when I say that the woman standing before you today is much different than the one you saw two weeks ago. I am the woman best suited for this job, and I am proud to now be a greater part of The Cause.”

  Applause followed Josie’s incredible promotion, but it wasn’t the cheering eruption that followed her announcement as second-in-command just minutes before. This applause was somehow reserved, as if nobody knew which politician had just won the election.

  The meeting that morning dissipated shortly thereafter. The hunters and trainers left to attempt accomplishing their strenuous expectations in the next few days. Gertrude disappeared almost instantly, and Monica tried to gather Rhonda into a conversation of what must have been the best gossip she’d ever been witness to. Rhonda, however, simply collected her papers and told Monica to shut up, that she had too much work to do. Josie looked for Steph but was heartbroken to see her slip out with the rest, as quiet and meek as a little mouse.

  The last two people in the room were Josie and Lucy, who had hung back clearly waiting for some privacy. When the door to the women’s unique, representative room clicked closed, Lucy spoke.

  “I like you, Josie,” she said. “That’s why there’s something you need to know.”

  “What?” Josie asked. And the gravity on Lucy’s face suddenly stole away so much of the energy Josie had so recently gained.

  “I can’t tell you all of it. You need to discover the details for yourself. But if you’re the person I think you might be, I think you’ll find a shortcut. What I can tell you, though, is important. Very important. All right? I need to know you’ll hear me.”

  “Of course,” Josie said. “She’d always respected Lucy and was eager to be given any kind of intelligence from her years of experience. Is this what’s it’s like being in charge? she thought suddenly. People are suddenly willing to tell you their biggest secrets? What is it?” she asked. “Lucy, you look pale.”

  The elder stateswoman uncrossed her arms and looked past Josie to the front of the room. Josie couldn’t believe she was seeing it, but a tear slowly welled then toppled out of Lucy’s eye.

  ‘“Just,” she began. “Just don’t turn your back on Gertrude,” she said. “Ever.” And without further explanation, Lucy turned and almost ran down the corridor and into her final days on the island.

  Josie was left standing there with no understanding, no friends, and no clue as to what job she was now expected to undertake.

  5

  “Tonight?” Heather said. “I thought you said next Tuesday. I haven’t packed my things and a friend was taking me out to a movie.”

  “Cancel it,” the voice on the phone said, and for a moment Heather was a little frightened. For a moment the soft, gentle tone had sounded a lot more like the grating voice of the woman who usually answered the hotline.

  “But… I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair. She’s been talking about it all week. Can’t you at least wait until tomorrow? I could make tomorrow work. Tonight is just a little too soon.”

  “I’m sorry,” the voice said. And after a moment it continued in the soothing nature Heather was used to. “I don’t mean to be so pushy. It’s just that our facility is located in Hawaii and flights there are quite expensive. We’re willing to pay your airfare for you, but we don’t often get deals like the one that just popped up. If you need the extra time, we can provide that, but unfortunately we wouldn’t be able to pay your way.”

  Heather felt her stomach tremble. Hawaii? I had no idea it was so far away. It must be a pretty big operation. I wonder what they do there, exactly. It does sound exciting, though. But I’ll never afford a ticket on my own. My God, this might be my only chance. What if they give that ticket to some other girl?

  “I suppose I could reschedule if I had to. I didn’t realize you were going through so much trouble just for me. How long would I be gone?”

  “Just for the weekend, dear.”

  “Do I need to bring anything special? A bathing suit, perhaps or a passport?”

  “No, nothing like that. But there is something we need to test you on. See if you’re ready for our… unique manner of handling things. I don’t mean to pry, but I don’t supposed you have any truly provocative clothes? Something that could get the attention of a real pervert?”

  Heather thought for a minute. In truth she had thrown away most of her sexy clothes after her uncle had… well, after she’d stopped feeling sexy. Almost everything she wore these days was black or gray or brown.

  “I don’t think so,” she admitted. “But I could borrow something, I guess. Why?”

  “Good,” the voice said. “Are your breasts large?”

  “What?”

  The voice sighed a bit heavily for a moment, as if the speaker- what was her name again? That’s right. Monica. –as if Monica was exasperated or in a hurry. “If your breasts are large you’ll need to show lots of cleavage. If they’re small that won’t do. You’ll need to show legs instead.”

  “Oh,” Heather said. Then suddenly she remembered something. “Wait. I do have a red leather miniskirt I used for a Halloween costume. It’s pretty slutty. I forgot that I had that. It matches my hair.”

  “Perfect,” Monica said. “Now all you need to do is pick out a bar, go there and strut your stuff, and lure any common pig outside into the parking lot. I’ll be there to take care of the rest for you.” Another pause. “Do you think you can do that?”

  “I don’t know,” Heather said. She was thumbing the mangled picture of her graduation. She’d fished it from the trash and had been contemplating calling her mother. Just to hear her voice. “It sounds kinda… scary.”

  “It is. But you won’t be alone. I’ll be there the whole time, watching you and watching him. Just remember that the first step to healing is facing your fears head on. Once you get him into the parking lot, I’ll take care of everything else.”

  Heather looked at the picture again. Her mother had called her a liar. She’d defended that asshole brother of hers. And despite her need for a connection again, this wound had been too fresh. She wasn’t yet ready to make that call. Fuck mom and fuck Uncle Frank, she thought. I’m going to Hawaii.

  “Yes,” she finally said, and the voice on the other end breathed another audible sigh. “I can do it. How do I call you when I’ve picked out the bar?”

  “You don’t. I’ll call you in a few hours. Just have that skirt and your courage ready to go.”

  “I will,” Heather said. And when she hung up the phone she tossed the graduation picture back in the trash and began rummaging through her closet for a shirt that wasn’t black.

  6

  In the fortress basement, Rhonda was making special preparations. At the far end of the longer hallway waited box #150. She so rarely got to use box #150, but Monica’s pronouncement of bringing a new girl to the island meant it was going to be needed tonight.

  She carried a large, dented metal bucket by the handle, and she was careful to use only the tips of her fingers despite how heavy it was getting. She was also wearing two layers of rubber gloves.

  She placed it on the ground and walked back ten paces. Then, knocking gently on the door of box #47, she unlatched it and stepped back.

  Instantly man #47- his name was Zit- scrambled out and placed his palms on the ground an inch in front of Rhonda’s boots. His eyes found them and stared, waiting.

  “I want you to urinate in this bucket,” Rhonda nearly whispered, “and you better not spill a drop.”

  Zit didn’t question her, didn’t so much as flinch at the change in procedure. He was far too deep into his training to have any such individual thoughts left in his battered mind. He was one of those she was hoping to push for the upcoming mass release. He was nearly the perfect man.

  Already naked, Zit needed only get to his knees and waddle over to the bucket. He aimed carefully and,
after several seconds of absolutely nothing, a tiny trickle of urine spurted from him. In a moment it was over and he was dry. Every drop had gone inside the bucket.

  Would have been nice if they would have told me to expect this a little sooner, Rhonda thought. Do they think men just produce more piss when I want them to? They barely drink as it is. Fucking prima donnas.

  “You’re worthless,” Rhonda said. Zit neither argued nor agreed. She reached down and grabbed his long, unkempt hair. Zit had been in training for just over sixteen months. If he did make the final cut for the release, he would soon get his first haircut in all that time. She yanked on the hair, pulling his face up to the ceiling. Rhonda spit in his eyes. She twisted her hand, pulling half a fist of hair out in the process. Zit grimaced but did not make a sound. “Get back in your hole,” she hissed at him, and thrust his face toward the ground. Had he been less experienced, he might have slammed his nose, but Zit caught himself with his quick, ready hands, and quickly scrambled back from whence he had come. He even closed his own door, latching it with barely a sound. I think he’ll be ready, she thought.

  Then she bent over and knocked on the door of box #48. Her bucket was only three-quarters full, and for box #150 she always used three full buckets.

  INTERLUDE

  A Miracle

  Far out from the island, miles from any shoreline, the empty ocean sings a song of patience.

  The song goes unheard, unknown, unappreciated.

  Yet it sings every day.

  Every night.

  It has done so for ages.

  It will do so again.

  It is a song with a billion voices.

  A song with every known memory.

  It is beauty.

  It is yearning.

  It is home.

  It is a song that still sounds like conjured miracles.