But he’s not!
I choked up again as I stood with the catapult in my arms. It was like a portal to memories of Justin glowing with pride when he showed me his project for school. He had made all of us come outside to admire how far he could propel test objects.
Tears were prickling just behind my eyelids, but I didn’t have time to let my emotions go. Instead, I hurried down the stairs and placed the heavy catapult on the table.
An answer, I’ve got to write an answer to Wilma.
In this mess of boxes, I’d no idea where to find paper and I didn’t have time to search. I turned Wilma’s letter in my hand, considering writing on the back side, but no, if she had been kidnapped, I would need this as proof when I alerted the authorities. Opening the old cabinet, I bit my lips as I stared at the five books in there. One was a copy of the first book I’d ever had published. Not that it had sold many copies, but a book was sacred somehow. I couldn’t tear out the last blank page to write on, could I?
Turning my head, I grabbed for the trash can that I’d filled this morning. One of my old drawings that I’d made for my grandmother as a child was on top. It would have to do. I wrote a quick reply to Wilma’s letter and placed it inside the bottle.
Making my way back to the border took time, as I had to put down the heavy catapult several times. Once I got there, I was exhausted and decided that the catapult wasn’t coming back with me.
At least, attaching the bottle was easy.
“Here we go,” I muttered and stuck my tongue out in concentration. It wouldn’t do to fail, because there was no way I was walking into the no-trespassing zone to retrieve the bottle when there were mines.
Communicating with someone on the other side of that wall was illegal, but I wanted to find out what Wilma’s situation was before I alerted the authorities about her being caught on the wrong side of the wall. In order to do that, I had to get my message across that wall.
CHAPTER 3
Answer from the South
Tyton
“I got an answer.” Wilma, my little sister, came running through the garden and grinned from ear to ear.
“Someone wrote you back?”
“Yes!” She stopped right in front of me with eyes bright with excitement. “Here, you can read it yourself.”
Just as I reached for the letter she was holding in her hand, she changed her mind.
“No, I’ll read it for you.” Her eagerness to share it with me had me amused and I sat down on the large stone behind me.
“Let’s hear it.”
Wilma drew in a deep breath and steadied herself, “Okay, here goes.”
Peace and Prosperity to you, Wilma,
Are you okay? How did you get to be on that side of the wall? Were you kidnapped or born there? What do you mean that they are forcing you to marry a large warrior against your will? My heart is bleeding for you, but dear Wilma, I will help you escape if you need me to. Just say the word and I’ll alert the authorities.
I’ll keep an eye out for your answer.
May you walk on a path of peace, abundance, and enlightenment,
Devina Baker
PS: I’m impressed that you can throw a bottle that far. I would have answered you sooner, but I had to use a catapult and it took time.
Wilma’s eyes met mine. “Isn’t it amazing? I have a friend on the other side of that border and she’s worried about me.”
“Why would she think that you’re suffering and being forced to marry?”
“I’m not sure.” She pinched her eyebrows together. “I only said that whoever found my letter would have to hurry with a reply because I’m moving soon. I don’t remember writing anything about being forced to marry, only that I am forced to move from here even though I don’t want to.”
“Ah, she misunderstood you then.” I reached for the letter and turned it to see a drawing that looked as if made by a child. “And why did she write on this? Don’t they have normal paper over there?”
