Chapter 6
By this time the food had arrived, and the people at the table were hungrily eating. The babies, having already enjoyed the fine taste of mother�s milk, were quietly sleeping through the story told characteristically loudly by Natonito. The other observers were greatly intrigued by the tale that the Directrix told.
�Who knew that we were all a part of history?� Daniel said. �I always enjoy reading about the Bravian rebellion, as it is something I saw with my own eyes. Still, it makes a lot more sense as part of a larger whole.�
�Yes,� Henry said. �We were just kids having fun, too young to be afraid.�
�We still are, my dear,� Cherie said with a conspiratorial wink.
�Am I the only person here who doesn�t have anything to do with the Bravian rebellion?� Delia said. �It was a great story, but somehow I don�t feel I belong in the conversation.�
�Don�t worry, my love,� Daniel said. �Just because you are not a Bravian doesn�t mean that you don�t deserve to hear about the rebellion.�
�Daniel is right,� Natonito said. �After all, this was not merely a rebellion to free the Bravians, but also to free Secfenia. The work is not finished, but this empire is not as despotic as the one we rebelled against. Hopefully it will be better in the future, but that depends on all of us here.�
�Why are you silent, sister?� Cherie said to Bathsheba.
�I am very sad right now,� Bathsheba said.
�Why, my dear. Does this place pain you?� Natonito asked gently.
�Yes, but that is not the only reason that I am sad right now. This story is really depressing me,� Bathsheba said.
�But you are not even in the story yet,� Henry said.
�Yes I am. It is because your father�s right hand man kidnapped me that my father refused to join the rebellion against the empire,� Bathsheba said.
�Your family does not like mine,� Cherie said.
�No, I guess not,� Henry said.
At this point of awkward silence the waitress came up. �How are you all doing?� she said with a smile.
�The food is excellent,� Natonito said.
�Yes, very large portions and very tasty,� Daniel said.
�That�s good to hear,� the waitress said. �Do you need anything else?�
�Not right now,� Natonito said. �But thank you for asking.�
As the waitress walked away Bathsheba spoke up again. �I am sorry if I am not myself today. Being in this place and hearing about the Rebellion has made me wonder what my own suffering has to do in the great scheme of things. At the age of ten I was kidnapped from my family and sold to pimps in this city. I was one of the original �waitresses� in this restaurant, and had it not been for Natonito I would have lived and died a wasted life. God has given me a great gift with my husband, and my baby boy here, but still, the memory of my past brings me great sorrow.�
�I know, my love,� Natonito said. �I will stop the story if you like.�
�No, go on,� Bathsheba said. �The best part is yet to come, for that is my salvation from the life I had known up to that point.�
�When do you meet my sister?� Cherie said eagerly.
�You will see,� Natonito said. �After all, the rebellion has been won, but the peace has not been won.�
�There is more yet to come?� Henry said.
�Yes, much more,� Natonito said. �Can anyone guess what will happen?�
�Well, you have yet to meet the love of your life,� Delia said.
�Yes, that much is true, but that was an obvious one,� Natonito said.
�You have yet to join the new empire,� Daniel said. �Or thank Anias Russ for her work in helping you out.�
�I can�t believe that wonderful vacation to Bravia when I was a kid was as a prisoner,� Cherie said. �I didn�t feel imprisoned at all, and I couldn�t understand why the rest of the family was so upset.�
�Maybe it�s good that you didn�t understand you were captured,� Natonito said. �After all, Anias Russ was among the most clever leaders that ever were in Secfenia, and one who deserves a lot of credit for the winning of the Bravian rebellion. After all, her success kept the Imperial troops from establishing any base in Bravia, and saved us all from a lot of grief.�
�This story does not put my father in a positive light,� Henry said. �After all, look at all the petty politics of the Bravian dukes.�
�Yes,� Natonito said. �Your father was, and still is, a provincial. I assume that he always will be one. After all, if it�s not butterflies, there is very little outside of Bravian politics that really interests Oen. That is just the way he is. The Empire thought I was a provincial, but I was much more cosmopolitan than most of the Imperial politicians today. It is funny how people can easily read one wrong.�
�Yes,� Bathsheba said. �Do people whisper behind our backs about me?�
�Some people laugh about how I married a prostitute,� Natonito said. �But those who do not know you have no right to slander you. You know that you are my beautiful lady, and I do not hold you responsible for what you were forced to do.�
�I know, you love me with all your heart, an amazing thing, and that is enough,� Bathsheba said.
�You guys are such a great couple,� Daniel said.
�Yeah, you guys are always so loving and affectionate with each other,� Delia said.
�It is easy to love Bathsheba,� Natonito said. �I do not think I am easy to love, but she loves me just the same.�
�You�re so hard on yourself,� Bathsheba said. �You are a kind and sweet person, though you have a hard time trusting others. You are quite a loveable person, you just do not realize it.�
�See, you guys are sweet talking each other again,� Daniel said. �It must be wonderful to have the love of your life always at your side.�
�Yes, it is something I always missed when I was a swinging single,� Natonito said. �I never realized that love was this good.�
�Well, you realized it before it was too late,� Delia said. �And that is what matters. We cannot repeal our sins, but we can have them wiped away so that the penalty hangs over us no more.�
�Yes, and that is a great blessing,� Natonito said.
�Yes, it is,� Bathsheba said. �No longer do we have to feel as if our flaws are in scarlet, but we can be white and pure.�
�I like that thought,� Cherie said. �It is good that God forgives.�
�Why would God be vengeful?� Daniel said. �God desires mercy and love.�
At this point the waitress came up again and asked how everyone was doing now that they were finished with their dinners. �Is everything alright?� she said as she filled the glasses with refills.
�Yes, everything is alright,� Natonito said.
�Do you know that Heather Van Larken is going to be singing a selection of songs later tonight?� the waitress said.
�Yes, I remember hearing that before,� Natonito said. �Do you have a playlist?�
�I remember seeing the songs,� the waitress said. �And most of them were popular songs except for one, a song I�ve never heard of called �Seven Stars.��
�Ah, she is going to be singing a folk song then,� Natonito said. �One of my favorites.�
�Would you like any desert?� the waitress asked politely.
�How about some strawberry cheesecake and Natonitos for the whole table,� Natonito said.
�None of you are driving tonight?� the waitress said with a laugh.
�Nope, that is what walking is for, to take the edge off of the tipsiness. Besides, I figured everyone here deserved a good drink,� Natonito said.
�Thanks,� Daniel said, everyone nodding in agreement.
�You are most welcome,� Natonito said.
�Alright, your bill is on your account, so there is no need for me to bring the check,� the waitress said.
�Thank you muchly,� Natonito said politely to the waitress.
�You�re welcome. You have all been wonderful guests,� the waitress replied before she walked away.
�So, what part of the story is next?� Daniel said eagerly.
�You will see shortly,� Natonito said. �After all, the Bravians have just won their freedom, so do you know what time it is?�
�Time to get drunk and celebrate,� Bathsheba said with a wry grin.
�Spoken like a true Bravian,� Natonito said. �But very true.�
[ Chapter 5 ]
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