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Authors: Nicola McDonagh
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bowl.
“Thanks, Adara. May the Lord shine upon your soul.” She nudged Elijah and with my helping hands, he sat upright. Lilith gently spooned the liquid into his mouth. I warned her of the dangers of feeding him too much all in one go.
“Perhaps you could finish the meal. We cannot let food go to waste.” Lilith smiled and ate the rest.
Elijah gained colour to his cheeks and slowly stood. He stretched and yawned. I noticed that his face had lost its look of desperate. Underneath the muck and stubble, I fancied he might be somewhat fetching in appearance. I think I must have gawped too long for he furrowed his brow. I quickly turned away. Lilith licked the bowl and spoon dry then patted her newly rounded tum. I was amazed at how such a small portion of food could have such a dramatic effect, but then they were all but starved and any titbit would be of value.
“Thanks and more for the food Adara. Would I be able to use a room to rest in?”
“There are four all of the same design, pick any you wish. Oh, I have to ask Elijah, you will not try to escape will you?”
“How?”
“Well, you could attempt to break down the doors and flee that way.”
Both Lilith and Elijah let forth a mighty guffaw. He rolled up the sleeves of his tunic and laid bare his scrawny arms. “I believe I would not be able to break a twig with these muscle-lacking arms let alone a large wooden door.”
“Point taken. Go sleep. Do you wish to retire also Lilith?”
“Soon. I must first honour the promise I made earlier. Sleep well in peace Elijah.”
“I will. Despite this prison and not knowing what is to become of us, I am all weary. Praisebee Cheseus.”
“Praisebee his name.”
They looked to me. I stammered, “Erm yep, Praisebee the Cheesus.” Elijah nodded to us both and left.
“I am loathed to give over the info you require. It goes against all that I believe and have vowed to do, but I must keep my word.”
“That you must, but I feel a-grieved at being the cause of your conflict.”
Lilith placed the empty bowl upon the table and put her elbows on her knees. She cupped her face in her hands. “Our order have been travelling for many years. There is unrest amongst us. Our faith is wavering. Daniel saw this and decided we needed to find a place to settle. But who would let us in?”
“No one I fear, your kind are not well regarded as far I can tell.”
“Just so. There was a time just after the Great Famine when disease brought about the near end of all hominids and animals, that Cityplace was built. A fortress to protect what remained of folk and keep out any lingering threat of pestilence.”
“Yep, all this I know, get to the point.”
“So be it. When this great metropolis was constructed, our kind outnumbered all else in settling here. Then greed ensued and those that did not abide by strict hygiene laws and the philosophy of the OneGreatProvider that stated: ‘Keep behind the fence. Stay within reach. Wash. Stay clean. Procreate. Survive,’ were cast out.”
“Nah, your story of history events are clouded by anger. We are taught in class that you Praisebees got all greedy and demanded the best of everything. That you wanted the rest to subscribe to your faith and do the bidding of the god the other folk deemed long dead, having abandoned his flock.”
Lilith’s face darkened. Her eyes seemed to glow with what can only be described as hate. “I will not argue semantics with a kiddle from a place that excludes those who need aid for fear of contamination. You may live in sterile bliss, but know nowt of the world that surrounds you. Little wonder you succumbed to the Agro sweetener and turned your backs and minds to their rising power. Just so long as you all had food.”
I wanted to reply to her harsh words, but to be truthful, some of them pierced through my lack of giving a huff about anything other than my own problems. It was true when Cityplace was founded, or so we are told, that some did
“Thanks, Adara. May the Lord shine upon your soul.” She nudged Elijah and with my helping hands, he sat upright. Lilith gently spooned the liquid into his mouth. I warned her of the dangers of feeding him too much all in one go.
“Perhaps you could finish the meal. We cannot let food go to waste.” Lilith smiled and ate the rest.
Elijah gained colour to his cheeks and slowly stood. He stretched and yawned. I noticed that his face had lost its look of desperate. Underneath the muck and stubble, I fancied he might be somewhat fetching in appearance. I think I must have gawped too long for he furrowed his brow. I quickly turned away. Lilith licked the bowl and spoon dry then patted her newly rounded tum. I was amazed at how such a small portion of food could have such a dramatic effect, but then they were all but starved and any titbit would be of value.
“Thanks and more for the food Adara. Would I be able to use a room to rest in?”
“There are four all of the same design, pick any you wish. Oh, I have to ask Elijah, you will not try to escape will you?”
“How?”
“Well, you could attempt to break down the doors and flee that way.”
Both Lilith and Elijah let forth a mighty guffaw. He rolled up the sleeves of his tunic and laid bare his scrawny arms. “I believe I would not be able to break a twig with these muscle-lacking arms let alone a large wooden door.”
“Point taken. Go sleep. Do you wish to retire also Lilith?”
“Soon. I must first honour the promise I made earlier. Sleep well in peace Elijah.”
“I will. Despite this prison and not knowing what is to become of us, I am all weary. Praisebee Cheseus.”
“Praisebee his name.”
They looked to me. I stammered, “Erm yep, Praisebee the Cheesus.” Elijah nodded to us both and left.
“I am loathed to give over the info you require. It goes against all that I believe and have vowed to do, but I must keep my word.”
“That you must, but I feel a-grieved at being the cause of your conflict.”
Lilith placed the empty bowl upon the table and put her elbows on her knees. She cupped her face in her hands. “Our order have been travelling for many years. There is unrest amongst us. Our faith is wavering. Daniel saw this and decided we needed to find a place to settle. But who would let us in?”
“No one I fear, your kind are not well regarded as far I can tell.”
“Just so. There was a time just after the Great Famine when disease brought about the near end of all hominids and animals, that Cityplace was built. A fortress to protect what remained of folk and keep out any lingering threat of pestilence.”
“Yep, all this I know, get to the point.”
“So be it. When this great metropolis was constructed, our kind outnumbered all else in settling here. Then greed ensued and those that did not abide by strict hygiene laws and the philosophy of the OneGreatProvider that stated: ‘Keep behind the fence. Stay within reach. Wash. Stay clean. Procreate. Survive,’ were cast out.”
“Nah, your story of history events are clouded by anger. We are taught in class that you Praisebees got all greedy and demanded the best of everything. That you wanted the rest to subscribe to your faith and do the bidding of the god the other folk deemed long dead, having abandoned his flock.”
Lilith’s face darkened. Her eyes seemed to glow with what can only be described as hate. “I will not argue semantics with a kiddle from a place that excludes those who need aid for fear of contamination. You may live in sterile bliss, but know nowt of the world that surrounds you. Little wonder you succumbed to the Agro sweetener and turned your backs and minds to their rising power. Just so long as you all had food.”
I wanted to reply to her harsh words, but to be truthful, some of them pierced through my lack of giving a huff about anything other than my own problems. It was true when Cityplace was founded, or so we are told, that some did
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