The Rule
The Children of the Faith will obey their Leader, for the Lord speaks through him.
RACHEL’S MOUTH DROPPED OPEN. ‘You mean she’s borne him eighteen children? Ten of them have been cast out? Can it be true?’
‘I think so. Sister Jerushah wouldn’t lie.’ I told her what else the nurse had said.
‘Rebecca, that’s awful. She shouldn’t speak like that of any Elder, let alone Elder Stephen.’
I brushed that away. ‘She’s a worldly woman. She doesn’t understand. But what she said about him being critical, about him not being loving towards her … d’you think it’s true?’
Rachel shivered. ‘I pray not. Sister Jerushah is so kind and loving herself …’ She shook her head.
Neither of us mentioned that we’d never seen any loving affection between our own parents. They respected each other, though, and Father was never critical of Mother. Since she’d nearly died having Zillah, he also made sure she went to a doctor if ever she was unwell — something that had only happened twice in the nearly three years since our little sister’s birth.
It was Rachel’s turn to sit with Sister Jerushah the next day. School seemed less important than ever. It was difficult now to plod through our work, aware as we were of Sister Anna’s distress about Sister Jerushah, and our own sorrow. There was also the constant concern about Kezia. There was still no news of her.
Rachel said, ‘Perhaps knowing she can go is enough to give her the strength to stay.’
I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that if Ira happened to find the paper with Mrs Lipscombe’s address on it, I would be in trouble.
FRIDAY BEGAN with a prayer. ‘Elder Stephen wishes us to pray for the safety of our Sister Jerushah’s soul,’ said Sister Anna.
We bowed our heads. The safety of her soul. He must have left the pain relief in place. I couldn’t decide who was right — him for wanting his wife to prepare her soul for salvation, or Nurse Katherine for wanting to spare her body pain.
The prayer ended. Sister Anna said, ‘Before you begin your work, I have an unpleasant announcement to make. Kezia Strong has been expelled from the community. She is dead to us, and from now on nobody will speak her name. Is that clear?’
‘Yes, Sister Anna.’
But Shem called out, ‘What’s she done?’
Sister Anna sat down at her desk. ‘Did you not understand, Shem? We will not speak of her now, or ever again.’
He gave a snort of disgust.
My work that day was all over the place. I made a complete mess of the English assignment. The geography didn’t make sense. I wrote random equations on my maths paper. Where was Kezia? Was she safe? Or had she sharpened another knife? I couldn’t bear it. I raised my hand.
‘With respect, Sister Anna — who is caring for Mara?’
For heartbreaking moments, it looked as if she wasn’t going to reply, but in the end she said, ‘The mother has compounded her sin by taking that innocent child away from those who would raise her in the love of the Lord.’
Of course, at break it was all we talked about.
‘We knew something had happened,’ Drusilla said. ‘Elder Hosea visited Kezia’s parents this morning. It was early. Perhaps Mother might know more this evening.’
‘It sounds to me like she’s run away and taken Mara with her,’ said Abigail. ‘Poor cow — the Elders should have banished Ira.’
Rachel said, ‘But where would she go? She might have worldly relatives in Wanganui, but how would she get there?’
‘She looked strained on Sunday,’ Tirzah said. ‘Didn’t you think so, Rebecca?’
I nodded. It was so difficult speaking as if I had no extra knowledge, no guilt over Kezia’s banishment. ‘I was worried about her. Damaris was too, but Kezia told her she was getting much comfort from prayer.’
BROTHER ENOCH WAS ALERT and wide awake at market the next day. There’d be no chance to ask Mrs Lipscombe about Kezia until he had to accompany one of us to the bathroom. We sold eggs and chickens, smiling and chatting as we did so. But, earlier than necessary, Rachel whispered to Enoch that she needed to go to the bathroom.
As soon as they were out of sight, Mrs Lipscombe zipped across to our stall. ‘A dozen eggs please, Rebecca. Kezia and her babe were on the first plane out this morning. Going to her grandma’s in Wanganui. She says thank you.’
Tears flooded my eyes. ‘Thank you. Oh, thank you so much.’
Another customer arrived. Mrs Lipscombe tapped her carton. ‘Excellent eggs these. Best in the country.’
I served a rush of people before Rachel returned. ‘All is well?’ she asked as she hurried in behind the counter.
‘Yes. All is well.’