“What did you do at the apothecary?” Liam askedRiver.
“It will sound morbid, are you sure you want tohear?”
“Yes, tell us,” Michanconfirmed.
“Well, I assisted doctors, and when someone died, I took their bodies to thecellar.”
“That is not too morbid. It is part of the job,” Seanadded.
“Did it bother you to be around death?” Ethanasked.
“No, not at all,” Riveranswered.
There seemed to be a pause on River’s part, or else I was picking up more distortion. I was glancing at Klyn when River said something that caused both of us to straighten in ourseats.
“I am also a sin eater,” Riveradded.
“A what?” Ethanasked.
“A sin eater,” Riverrepeated.
“What is a sin eater?” Michanquestioned.
“If someone is on their deathbed, or near death, I literally extract the sins from their soul. In doing so, I free their souls of the sins from their lifetime. Those who would not otherwise pass onto Heaven are welcomed there once I have removed their dirtydeeds.”
“How—” Liamasked.
Sean interrupted Liam, “My pop…when he died, the priest said he could not give my pop last rites. Said because there was a rumor he had murdered in Stonebridge. The priest would not allow my pop in the cemetery because of it. I had to burn his body. Are you saying that you could have removed the bad stuff he did, and he could have gone to Heaven instead ofHell?”
“Yes, I could have,” Riverconfirmed.
“Did your pop kill someone, Sean?” Ethanasked.
I could not hear what the boys were saying, and I stood up to make sure that I could still see them. The five of them were nearing the bridge to go into thewoods.
“Klyn, did you hear if Sean replied?” I asked, even though I was pretty sure Klyn hadheard.
“Yes.” Klyn stood and joined me at the balcony ledge to look out at the boys. “He said ‘yes,’” Klynrecounted.
Their voices faded back in, and I focused again onthem.
“I thought those were just rumors,” Ethansaid.
“No,” Seanconfirmed.
“What happened?” Riverpried.
“You do not have to tell us, Sean,” Liam remindedhim.
“I had just come home after work. I had earned twice as much as usual that day and was eager to show my mum. Just as I had shown her, a group of guys kicked our door in. My mum tried to protect me. Two men held me down while the others hurt her. They killed her in front of me and then went through the house, pillaging anything they wanted. They set the house on fire. My pop came home, and the men ran away, but he caught one of them. He bashed his head in and killedhim.”
I looked at Klyn. I felt horrible for Sean and his family. But I did not want to risk getting into the heart discussion with Klynagain.
“How do you eat a person’s sins, River?” Michanasked.
“I sit or stand beside them, on their left side closest to their heart. I take hold of their hand and recite the same thing; ‘With the blood I take, I give peace. And for peace, I trade my soul.’ Their sins are transferred to my soul. I bear it for them, and they are admitted to Heaven,” River toldthem.
“If you carry all of those sins, what happens to your soul?” Ethanasked.
