Novels2Search

Preparation / Ch. 31: Weddings

BOOK 4: PREPARATION / CH. 31:WEDDINGS

FRIDAY, 22ND DECEMBER, 10PM ANCHORAGE TIME.

Sarah's wrist unit buzzed. It was time to keep a promise she'd made.

“Hello, is that Robert Trent's brother?” Sarah asked.

“Oh! Hello, lady, yes, it's me, I'm Matt, by the way.”

“Hello Matt, I'm Sarah. How is Robert? Did he get there OK?”

“Thank you, yes, he's back in the country. I've just got off the phone to him. He was telling me all sorts of things he couldn't put in his newsletter.”

“Oh? What like?”

“Well, the man he shared about his faith with? He actually turned to Christ a while back, and has been going on with the Lord ever since, and had just led his wife to the Lord before Bobbie left.”

“Praise God!”

“Amen.”

“You said in-country, does that mean he's not home?”

“Bobbie's going to stay where he is now, and look for a job, until next semester, when he's going to start a teaching course. Actually... you're probably not going to believe this.”

“What?”

“He's getting married tomorrow.”

“What?” she didn't believe it.

“Well, you know how I said yesterday, we have semi-arranged marriages, and he'd be staying with his future parent's in law?”

“Yes. That much made some kind of sense.”

“Well, they thought about it and talked it through with the pair of them, and decided that since it was all going to happen anyway, why give the devil time to lead them into temptation? It's sort of traditional, actually, when the groom turns up. And the pastor was free tomorrow.”

“So... sort of like a decision to elope, only with the parents involved in the decision too?”

“Yes. And the wedding's at her home church.”

“My cousin is getting married this weekend too. It's been planning, planning, planning for weeks. I think we'd all wholeheartedly approve of your tradition. Especially the bride and groom. But what about her dress and that sort of thing?”

“Oh, she's been working on her dress for years.”

“Oh OK. So it only really works because the marriage is arranged?”

“I guess so.”

“Oh well. I won't suggest it here then. But Robert and his wife will stay at her parent's house?”

“Yes, maam.”

“Is that traditional too?”

“No. No, normally he'd bring her home, or they'd set up in a place on their own.”

“And it is Anchorage he's living in?” Sarah asked. She could have checked, but why bother when she could just ask? If it was Anchorage, then maybe there was a job for him. Emerald Medical had an outpost there, she knew. Maybe they needed a mechanic or caretaker or something. Or even a translator. Stranger things had happened. Frequently did, in her experience.

“Yes, maam.”

“And he's a trained car mechanic, you said?”

“Yes, you think you might know of a job for him?”

“I might. I'll ask some people I know.”

“Well, he's a jack of a lot of trades, really. He's been teaching English, he can do plumbing and such like, and he's not too bad around a car. Not as good as me, of course, but yeah, I'd give him a job in the place of some guys I've got working for me even without him being my brother.”

“Interesting. Thank you for that. Can you give me his number, just in case I do find something?”

“Sure!”

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SATURDAY, 22ND DECEMBER. 9AM

“Where do these threads go again, Sarah?” Eliza asked.

“The loops on the veil go through the big rings, fold back round and poke their noses though the button holes. Got it?”

“Yes. Done that. Except that number three likes falling out when I let go.”

“I know. It's a pain. The loop of thread from the nose then goes to the relevant catch on your quick release, and they can't fall out then.”

“White on white. My favourite high contrast colour scheme.” Eliza moaned. “So what is the point of all this complication?”

“The train gets held up by those threads, but there's not actually much tension in them.”

“I was really asking why the train needs a quick release.”

“Oh. Well, so it can release quickly, of course. Useful at the end of the photo shoot. Otherwise there'd be loads of buttons and loops and things, and the fabric would be pulled out of shape.”

“And what are you fiddling with now?”

“These long strings are for threading the third quick release. I thread them carefully in the right places and then they let us actually put Karen into the dress.”

“The third one quick release?”

“Yes.”

“What does that do?”

“Holds the bodice together.”

“Wait, I know you said that the there's no zip or anything because it's held together a bit like the train, but you're saying that if something goes wrong I'm going to be left standing there in my native glory?”

“I don't recommend you let anyone fiddle with the button on your navel. Don't worry, It's actually tricky to do deliberately, even. It took John a while even after he had found it. But if an accident happens there is a sort of safety mechanism.”

“Sort of?”

“The shoulder straps are key. If you feel it going at the wrong moment, grab them, and urm, seek privacy.”

“Otherwise?”

“If you don't grab them, the shoulder straps slither away, and so does the naughty dress.”

“I take it this is supposed to be a lovely unwrapping for the groom?”

“John enjoyed it, yes. And I enjoyed his enjoying it.”

“Who on earth would put such a thing in a wedding dress?”

“Princess Sarah's mother, she designed it.”

“I thought she was just a con artist, probably with the power.”

“And also an exotic dancer. I guess she got the idea from one of her stage props.”

“Ah. Exotic dancer as in 'all her clothes fell off'?”

“Almost all her clothes fell off, out of sight. I've actually found an archive description of her act. She'd be dancing all formally dressed, and would step behind a screen mid-dance, formally dressed, and without stopping she'd step out in something quite risqué. No one could work out how she did it, and they were speculating about doubles and such like.”

“Oh. So this is the big secret?”

“It's not that big a deal. It's just a bit of a puzzle for the boys to solve. The dress behaves as though you're sewn into it, until the quick release lets go. I think it's a bit of an engineering marvel, actually.”

“The shoulder straps aren't holding the whole weight, surely, they'd cut into you.”

“No. The weight is on the waistband, where it should be. But the waistband fold is held tight by these hooks, and the hooks are held closed by the shoulder straps. So when we put her in, we're sort of zipping her up.”

“It's a good job we're all roughly the same size.”

“Yes. There are some adjustments for waist size here.” Sarah pointed.

“And what about other measurements?” Eliza asked.

“Adjustable length care of the buttons on the waistband. Bust size by these buttons which move the hooks.”

“I thought you said that you'd needed to get it adjusted.”

“I did. The length used to be adjusted by sewing in pleats under the waistband. See here? It wasn't doing good things to the fabric.”

“Oh. I see. So, are we going to be ready for Karen?”

“I think so. Once she's finished with the hairdresser.”

“The lengths we go to...”

“I know. It's silly isn't it? It's just tradition, that's all, tradition and indoctrination, that you need a special dress, and a special hairstyle. Jeans, tee-shirt and tangled hair wouldn't be quite so photogenic of course, but it wouldn't change the important bits of the marriage.”

“No. I don't think I'd get away with starting a new trend of tangled hair though.” Eliza said. “But Karen's hair is beautifully long. It's a shame to put it up.”

“I don't know if she's going to, actually. But something is taking a long time.”

“Is everything ready for her?”

“Yes. Let's see if we can find our cousin.”

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SATURDAY 3AM

Robert woke up and looked at the clock.

Yuck. Jet-lag strikes again. It was the middle of the night and he felt wide awake. He had a drink of water, spent some time praying and then tried to get back to sleep. In the end he made it, but it took him a while.

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SAT 10.30AM

Karen was encased in her dress, had been reminded about what George would need to do, and suitably reassured that the feedback that would probably follow wouldn't kill them, or even lead to foolishness. And totally unexpectedly, there was an hour to spare — the wedding was due to start at twelve.

“What went wrong?” Eliza asked.

“We finished early.” Sarah said. “I guess we didn't need all the extra time I allowed to get it done.”

“That's... unexpected.” Karen said. “Can I sit down?”

“Yes. One sofa at your service.” Sarah said, clearing stuff away. “Two steps straight back and you should feel it. Eliza, help me with the train, can you, so Karen doesn't trip?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, that feels good!” Karen said, sinking into the sofa.

“So now what do we do?” Eliza asked.

“Rest!” Karen said. “And chat. Oh, I do know that May Kray really wanted to chat to you, Eliza.” Karen said.

“And she's dressed and ready?”

“She should be. May and May were in their dresses and going to get their hair done as I came in.”

“Sarah, want to be in on the chatting too?”

“Actually, would it be OK if I stole May Ngbila and I checked to see if I can find out something? This could be my only chance before tomorrow.”

“Of course.” Karen agreed.

“Right, then shall I find May Kray and send her in?”

“Please.” Eliza said. “I need to thank her for finding those bugs.”

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“You don't mind?” Sarah asked May.

“Of course not. It sure beats boredom. So, what's the challenge?”

“Emerald has an outpost in Anchorage. Apparently expanding significantly. Here's half the list of vacant positions, I've got the other half. Which one can you imagine might fit a jet-lagged missionary teacher-cum-mechanic with fairly fluent street-Arabic, a new wife, no home to take her to, and strapped for cash? She might have some, I don't know.”

“A new wife?”

“They're getting married sometime today.”

“OK, that's new, alright. No cash as in not much of a honeymoon?”

“As in penniless. I understand they're having a night or two in his dad's old hunting cabin. After that, they're expecting to live in her old bedroom at her parents' house. Not recommended.”

“And he's a teacher?”

“He's been doing English teaching to kids as his tent-making job. Planning to start proper teacher training next semester, which I think means early summer.”

“So, we're looking for short term, with a flat?”

“Yes. I know they've got some flats, but I'm not sure which ones they've got reserved for medical staff.”

“On-site custodian? That's a caretaker, right?”

“Yes. There is one?”

“Yes. But it's only a few hours a week.”

“Possible, but not ideal.”

“Part time translator?”

“What languages? Oh, he speaks Romani too.”

“It might do then. Long term though.”

“Not good then.”

“Driver?”

“What sort?”

“Lots of sorts. Oh! How about this one? 'Full time post, part-time mechanic's assistant, part time supplies gofer/driver.'”

“Sounds ideal. It's got a flat with it?”

“No. But can't you ask them to arrange something?”

“Yes, I expect so. My half of the list is all medical this and doctor in that so I think your one looks like the best. So, I'll send some messages to arrange it at the Emerald end. I can call him later on, otherwise I'll call tomorrow, I guess.”

----------------------------------------

“Hi, May. Thank you for spotting the bug and catching the perpetrators. There'll be an official thank-you sometime... I've no idea what, though. Is there anything you'd like? Since there's a spending freeze, it shouldn't be something expensive so much as unusual.”

“I don't quite understand.” May said.

“Say... would you fancy a tour of the palace with Albert and me as tour guides? That costs us nothing but time, but it might be special for you. Or you could be a fly on the wall for a day and see what it's like to be me at the moment. That costs approximately nothing, except we'd feed you of course. Or would you like to join us for a meal, with your parents?”

“You and Albert?”

“Maybe his parents too.”

“You're serious?”

“May, you've done a service to your royal family. We're on an austerity budget because of the impact, so we're not going to spend masses of money, but we have debt of thanks to pay. But you don't need to answer now. Want to hear what was going on with those bugs while you think?”

“Yes, please.”

“The function room is often used for parties. Sometimes those parties get out of hand, and sometimes there's a press interest in what happens there. So, the receptionist has this little monitor on her desk to see if there's something worth calling in a photo-journalist for, in which case he gate-crashes the party or points his camera in through the window and takes his privacy-breaching snaps. The hotel gets half the money for any scoop, and a retainer. The microphones are a similar scheme, but record. When she saw us arrive she called her manager, who listened to the recordings and decided that they had the biggest scoop they'd ever had. He didn't tell her what he'd heard, but told her to pretend they were on a date and go to a café to meet a journalist, and see how much they could make from it personally. Then you spotted the bug and things got tense for them. So, they are in custody for operating illegal bugs for personal gain, the hotel owners are facing a big fine for the same, and the journalist went to a meeting that never happened, but he doesn't know what it was about. And if you hadn't seen the bug then Karen's wedding would almost certainly be a media scrum. Of course it still might be, but we're very thankful to you anyway.”

“Wow. OK. Urm, I still don't know what to pick, but would it be too much if I asked that my boyfriend came with me?”

“No, May, that'd be fine.”

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SATURDAY, 22ND DECEMBER. ANCHORAGE. 9.50AM, LOCAL TIME.

Robert had talked to his mother the previous night, letting her know the news. She'd wept with joy, and wished them God's blessing.

Now, he waited near the altar in his borrowed suit, with hardly enough money to buy a meal to his name, now that he'd bought Maddie a ring. It was... daunting. He was about to promise to stay with her through thick and thin, and right now, it seemed pretty thin. But he loved her, and according to that note she'd told him to pretend she'd never written, she loved him too. She shouldn't have had to admit it, but he'd got it too wrong. He needed to apologise to her, it must have cost her so much to write that. She couldn't show a sign that she was looking forward to the wedding. That would have been wanton, disgraceful. He'd once tried explaining it to a gadjo friend. The best analogy he could come up with was it would be like a gadjo bride (well, gadji bride, to be grammatical) turning up to her wedding dressed like a prostitute. Different cultures defined what didn't fit in different ways. It was entirely appropriate that she wear the white — anything else would be unthinkable — and it was entirely appropriate that she act modestly, and appear the reluctant bride. No matter how long she'd been looking forward to their wedding day. And wedding night.

In the old days, he knew, he ought to come away from that night with deep scratches, along with the evidence of the blood he won from her. He was very glad that last wasn't necessary now. But he found the thought of her fingernails digging into his back... enticing, he supposed. Not that he liked pain, not at all, but simply the idea that the pleasure was sufficient to ignore the pain... No Robert, that's not a helpful thought he. The real pleasure will be in seeing her every day, maybe even with a smile on her lips, in bringing her joy and serving the Lord together. Where was she? There was deep aching in his heart at her absence, and he was clearly coming down with a case of poetry. Wow, that was extreme. He knew she'd be there, it was just a question of patience. Good things come to those who wait and he'd been hoping for this day a long time.

Pastor Abner had said something, Robert realised. “Pardon, pastor?”

“Robert, I should have talked to you last night, but I was out of town 'till late. I know Madeline's a true believer, and I know you've visited our congregation before, but where are you with the Lord? Have you trusted him with your life, really?”

Robert hadn't been expecting the question, but he saw the point immediately. “I gave my life to Jesus when I was about ten. I remember discussing the faith with Maddie before we got engaged.” he said. “I told her that I couldn't agree to marry her unless she was a real Christian, and she said she'd been going to say the same thing.”

“That's great to hear, man. And since then?”

“He's been good to me, and kept me from straying too far. Jesus is my Lord. I went to a Moslem country to teach and lost my job because I shared my faith with a man there. I could have come back immediately, but I hung around, partly to look for another job, partly to keep talking to him. It cost me a lot, in lots of ways, and it was a really anxious time, wondering how I'd get home. But it was worth it — I saw him make a profession of faith, and go on with the Lord, and just last week he told me he'd told his wife about the Lord and she'd given her life to the Lord too.”

“Praise God! Of course, I've seen your prayer letters! But you didn't put that in them.”

“No. I couldn't. I knew it might leak and get him in trouble, you see. It really didn't matter if I lost my job, but he had a wife and kids to care for.”

“Could you tell the church this, today? I like couples to give their testimonies, if they've got one.”

“Yes, sure!”

“Well you've probably got time to plan what to say, we've got a long wait, I expect. It might be good to move your weight from one foot to another, too. Stand still too long and your blood pools in your legs.”

“When did this custom start anyway? I mean, there's no practical benefit to her deliberately wasting everyone's time.”

“Not except to give you time to plan your testimony. But, hey, you don't want her appearing too keen, do you?”

“No.”

“Well, then. She's got to have a few hysterics, scream a bit at her dad, that sort of thing. I'm used to it.”

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SATURDAY, 22ND DECEMBER. ANCHORAGE. 9.55AM, LOCAL TIME.

“Dad, just what do you think you're doing?” Madeline screamed.

“Checking if you're ready.”

“Get out of here at once!”

“I've seen your toes before, girl. And you're almost late.”

“Get out!” another octave higher. “Didn't anyone ever teach you to knock?”

“Maddie, you're fully dressed except your shoes, put them on!”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I'm not ready. Now, get out!”

“I'm leaving!” he said, with a grin.

“Now, where were we?” Maddie said in normal tones to her sister.

“You were telling me why you wanted to put blue and green nail varnish on your toes.”

“It's a surprise for him.”

“You're weird. And what if you need to take your shoes off for something?”

“I hope I don't.”

“Don't do it, Maddie!”

“Why not?”

“You're going to end up embarrassed.”

“No, but he might be.”

“What?”

“I don't know if he remembers, but he bought me a plastic necklace when we were ten or so, and told me to keep it for our wedding day. It had blue and green beads on it. That's all. I spent ages looking for the right colours. So please paint my toe nails, or I'll do it myself.”

“Oh, all right. You're a romantic, aren't you?”

“I've just been planning this a long time. Haven't you?”

“Well, yes... Not this much detail though.”

“Well, I have. And part of the plan is the toenails. And as dad's pointed out, I'm almost late already.”

“You don't want to be early.”

“Sandra, paint! It's not going to dry in ten seconds, and I'm not planning to glue my toes into my shoes.”

“Yes, Maddie. You're an extremist.”

“Paint!”

“I'm painting! Alternate toes?”

“Yes.”

“And at the change of feet?”

“Big toes different colours.”

“You're weird.”

“And stressed at my little sister.”

“You shouldn't rush me. I might get polish on your dress.”

“Do, and you die.” Maddie said, matter of factly.

“I'm going to die anyway, eventually.”

“Yes, but you didn't ask how.”

“I don't want to. You might tell me. Did you keep the necklace then?”

“Yes.”

“I told you you were a romantic. You're not wearing it though?”

“No. It only had that cheap elastic which breaks after two weeks.”

“Oh.”

“So why is he going to be embarrassed?”

“It's the last gift he bought me.”

“What?” Sandra was shocked.

“That's what I thought too. He's just so literal, sometimes.”

“You didn't go and tell him not to buy you gifts did you?”

“Yes.” Maddie admitted.

“Maddie, you need to work on that with him.”

“I know.”

“Where are the beads?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“You're not going to tell me, are you?”

“No.”

“What did you think about going to his dad's cabin?”

“One of his better ideas.”

“You're going to freeze!”

“I doubt it. There's got to be some sort of heat. But I can scream and cry all I like without eavesdroppers. That'll be nice.”

“You think you're going to?”

“Of course.” Maddie said, realistically. She didn't like pain.

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SATURDAY, 22ND DECEMBER. 11:50.

“It's traditional to keep him waiting a little, dear.” Maria said.

“I'm ready, Mummy. Being late is because people are hurrying to get ready on time. Why deliberately waste everyone's time? We've been ready for almost an hour, let's go, please.”

“She's got a point, Maria.” James pointed out, putting down the book he'd been reading. “We're just killing time here.”

“You don't want to arrive early, surely.” Maria said. “There might be important people who haven't arrived yet.”

“I'll check.” Karen declared.

[Eliza, do you see anyone significant absent?]

[No, not except you, of course.] Eliza said, having looked around.

[Deborah, It's Karen. You and your cousin are in the church?]

[Yes, is there a problem?]

[Only my mother, she wishes me to be late. I don't know why.]

[Maybe she thinks it's good for George to be nervous.]

[George has known we'd marry for longer than I've known he even loved me.]

[She's being silly then.]

[There aren't any gaps in the seating near you?]

[No.]

[Thank you my friend.]

“Mummy, the only people missing are us and there are no seats empty in the VIP section. I'm leaving now.” Karen said, standing up from her stool. Sarah and Pris rushed to carry the train, which they'd loosely rolled up to stop it creasing.

“How can I argue with that?” Maria said, conceding defeat and following.

May Ngbila looked at May Kray in surprise, “I think we've just been let in on a secret.”

“It happens.” May Kray replied.

“You knew?”

“I... suspected and asked Karen. I got 'That's not a question you ever ask.' in reply.”

“You do know I have the power, don't you?”

“You did rather display it at youth group a while ago.”

“I was an idiot.”

“Want to talk about what was going on?”

“Not really. Oh all right. When we're in the car. We'd better go.”

There were two cars: Maria, James, Karen and Sarah were in the first, Pris and the two Mays in the second.

“Pris, I'm just filling May in on what I was doing when I went off the rails.”

“I won't listen.” Pris said, with a smile.

“Oh, you can listen. Just... please don't spread it. I think you can keep secrets.”

“I can neither confirm or deny that I have or ever had a job where that might have been important.” Pris said.

“Yeah, I thought so. So.... Basically I went off the rails because I missed my Gran, she had the gift, you know? And she kept a close watch on me, I suppose, often dropping in on my mind for a chat. Then, she was gone, and I felt alone. I found that eves-dropping on people's thoughts sort of blotted out the pain, especially when flirting. But never again.”

“How do you know?”

“Karen asked me what my Gran would say to me misusing the power like that.”

“And?”

“She'd have walloped me. And I'd have deserved it, and more. And she'd have had tears in her eyes when she did it, because if she'd been alive then my doing that would have hurt her more than I'll ever know. And she'd have reminded me that I hurt myself acting like that and that I was spitting in God's face, and there's only a certain amount of that that he'll take before he turns away. It was a terrible place I'd got myself in. I'd cut myself off from the people who love me most of all. So, I say never again. And even if I forget that, Sarah would probably fire me in an instant.”

“You really work for Sarah?”

“Contract signed last night. I'm quite possibly the first truth-sayer employed in this country.”

“Certainly the first I know of,” Pris said.

“And you know pretty much everything?” May Kray said.

“No, certainly not! I'll leave that to God.”

“And people like Karen.” May Ngbila asked.

“Oh, they don't know everything.” Pris replied “They can't even find out everything. They're quite happy to leave the omniscience to God.”

“Yeah. Being able to find out what people really think must be a terrible thing.” May Kray said “Imagine the temptation.”

“Even with the power it's big.”

“Even with technology. For example, bugs.”

“Yeah, it was cool how you found that bug last night.”

“I suppose so. It used to be a hobby.”

“A hobby?”

“Something to do at home, before my birth-parents were arrested. There were plenty around, just in case the A.I. heard them talking about a raid.”

“How did that come about?”

“Well, they were suspects. But the police needed proof. Hard evidence. I found the first bug when I was about eight, I guess. Dad gave me an expensive watch, and said well done. The watch turned out to be stolen, of course.”

“And then you found more and more?” May asked.

“Yes. I... kept some, that's how I know about the temptation.”

“You've still got them?” May was horrified.

“No. I asked someone in Security to take them away.” Then she echoed May Ngbila's statement “Never again.”

“I think we're going to be good friends.”

“I'd like that. What's being a truth-sayer like?”

“I guess it's a bit like listening to someone talking to themselves, when you've told them you're going to listen. And they don't stop doing it.”

“Weird concept.”

“All open and above board with informed consent.”

“Not that that would stop you hearing random thoughts that had nothing to do with the topic at hand.” Pris pointed out.

“Exactly. So, I got to sign the institute's ethics policy too. I don't ever pass on what I hear, except as agreed, unless there's criminal activity involved. I like gloves.”

“Me too.” Pris agreed. “And we're here, so action stations!”

It was one minute to twelve when Karen entered the church, and the train control went perfectly.

[Thank you for getting here on time, Karen. You're beautiful!]

[Were you worried?]

[No. But, thank you anyway. It makes me think you want this.]

[Of course I do.]

[But it wasn't your idea. I mean, the prophesy...]

[I was just telling Deborah about that. I'm glad you were given it, George. Otherwise... who knows when you would have had the courage to ask me out?]

[Have I said you're beautiful?]

[Not in the last five sentences.]

[I love you Karen.]

[I love you George. So keep alert, save up your energy. We've got some wood to chop up tonight. Among other sorts of exercise.]

[Stop doing that please, my precious. I don't need reminding.]

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Arwood's sermon probably wasn't unique, but then what could you say about marriage that hadn't been said hundreds, thousands, of times before? But he didn't stick to the normal passages either. He spoke about the way that Karen had been living under a false name, and spoke about truthfulness, trust, and necessary lies. He spoke about lies that had been told in the Bible for good purposes — Rahab protecting the spies, Jonathan protecting David by lying to the arrow-collecting boy, about more recent lies, made to protect the innocent from oppressive regimes. But also about the many more cases where lies were made for the purposes of evil. The first exaggeration — Eve saying they shouldn't touch the tree — and the first real lie — that death would not follow. There was the human tendency to exaggerate, and so misrepresent reality, and he said that it was interesting that the first exaggeration was before the fall. So be careful, he concluded, addressing George and Karen, that your marriage is based on truth, and so honours the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who he knew lived and worked in them.

After their vows, George took Karen's hand and put the simple gold ring on her finger, she reciprocated, and Arwood proclaimed them husband and wife.

“You may kiss the bride.” he said, not without trepidation. The last time he'd said that to someone in that dress the kiss had lasted a few minutes.

He didn't need to worry though. Karen and George weren't planning on experiencing feedback quite yet.

After they'd finished their kiss George unhid, looked Karen in the eyes and thought

[Mrs Kray, I love you very very much.]

[I know. And I love you too, Mr Kray, my husband.]

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SATURDAY, 22ND DECEMBER. ANCHORAGE. 10.15AM, LOCAL TIME.

Robert looked round at a sound from the back of the church. It was Maddie, her parents, and her sisters. Maddie's dress wasn't some overly ornate cake-decoration, Robert was pleased to see. It was simple, elegant, and modest. She looked beautiful, of course, but a vision of purity.

It would have suited a virgin sacrifice to a dragon, he thought. He wondered if she'd been thinking along those lines when she made it. If so, then he supposed that made him the dragon, but he didn't want to eat her. And she was the one with the fiery temper. But he was going to eventually take her away from her family, the only life she knew, and he was certainly planning to defend her to the death if anyone attacked her. She was so beautiful! He was aware that the church was filling up as she came up the aisle, and that he could have checked what his almost father and mother in-law's expressions were, but none of that was possible, because he couldn't take his eyes off Maddie. Her face was set, and serious, but he thought he saw some sparkle in her eyes. Was it anger? Or concealed excitement, humour? Or something else? He'd ask her sometime, but not now. He had a vow to take. Or at least he would when he stopped looking at his bride.

Maddie glanced and him and whispered, “If you smile any more your face is going to crack. Pay attention to pastor Abner!”

The pastor spoke about marriage, how it was one of the hardest and most important decisions anyone ever took, secondary only to the decision to follow Jesus. He said he knew Madeline and Robbert had genuine faith, and that they were going to be taking their vows seriously, but purity in their marriage was something everyone should be praying for one another, not just now, but all the time. Then the sermon continued touching all the standard passages about marriage. Robert thought it was a good sermon, but it it did go on a bit longer than he'd expected. Then the pastor turned to them both and asked them to come forward. “I expect everyone is expecting the marriage about now. But first, I'd like us to give Robert and Madeline the chance to to share their testimonies. I know it should be ladies first, but Robert's had some notice, so Madeline, would you like some thinking time?”

“You're serious?” she asked Abner, incredulous.

“Yes. I know it's short notice. Would you like Robbert to go first?”

“No, it's OK. I just didn't expect it.” she tried to gather her thoughts.

“Try to tell us something about how God's worked recently.” the pastor said.

“Well, as you know, I've grown up here, I was baptised here, and you've mostly heard about how I came to put my trust in Jesus when I was about eight, not least because I thought it would stop a certain son of my father's best friend from pestering me.”

“Then I grew up a bit and so did he, and even if we only met one another for a day or two every six or eight weeks, I'm told that we'd take up our arguments just where we'd left them. So our parents put two and two together and decided an arrangement would be in order. They sat us down in different rooms and asked us if we agreed. I'm told we both answered maybe, and then they let us talk. I told him that I'd only marry him if he was really a Christian, and he told me the same thing. A couple of years ago, when I was about to finally win one of our many long-standing arguments, backed up with irrefutable evidence, he announced that he was going to take a well paid job in a far off country to teach the heathen to speak, read and write English. Now, I think we all know how hard it is for the schools to find Romani-speaking teachers, so among the things I screamed at him was why he didn't teach the Roma children to read and write their mother tongue instead.

I believe that I also told him that I hoped that he caught malaria, typhoid and gangrene all at the same time, and not to think of coming to marry me until I was past eighty. So, we didn't exactly part on best of terms.”

She paused for the ripple of laughter that triggered. “I didn't know if or when Robert would come back, but what I'd screamed at him about teaching Romani kept going round in my mind, and I felt it was something that the Lord might be laying on my heart. Why couldn't I do that? Apart from minor things like going to college not being something I could afford without saving up for about a decade. So, I prayed that it might be possible, and as some of you know I started saving and trying to do some part time courses too.

“When it eventually sunk in that Robert hadn't just gone there as a get-rich quick scheme, I eventually started praying for him. When I saw that he had lost his job for sake of the gospel, I prayed that he might see fruit from his sacrifice and be able to come home. He's home, and he told me yesterday that actually teaching Roma children was his plan even before he left, that there was government support available, and that he would like me to train for this too, beside him. So, it looks right now as if at least some of my prayers have been answered, for which I praise God! And, perhaps my parents did know what they were planning all those years ago, despite every appearance to the contrary. I'll let you know if I'm convinced of that when he's grown up a bit more.”

Robert was listening at least as attentively as anyone else, and he thanked God for what Maddie had said. God had clearly been leading them in the same direction, and she'd clearly not listened to any of his explanations. That was also a warning to him which he filed away for future reference: Maddie can't hear when she's angry. The pastor indicated to him that it was his turn. “I'd like to start by saying that actually Madeline's prayers have all been answered. I couldn't write in my prayer letters, because of the safety issues, but after I'd shared the gospel with my friend at work, he did turn to Christ, and in the months my funds were running out I saw his faith grow and the last time I saw him he told me that he'd told his wife the gospel, and she had accepted the Lord also. So, yes, there was a financial cost to my going there. It never was a get rich quick job, and in the end I left with some savings, and returned almost penniless with a 'persona non-grata' stamp in my passport. But I thank God that I went. I have seen the fruit of my labour. And I thank God that he's answered my prayers. I'm home, and He's also softened Maddie's heart towards me enough that she's at least willing to stand here now, beside me, after all. Which I count as one of the most amazing things of all.”

Abner took the hint, and led them through their vows.

“Having declared your faith and exchanged your vows and rings, I now declare you man and wife. May God bless you and keep you, may he watch over you in all you do, and keep you united come what may. May he also grant that your marriage be marked by a self-sacrificial love, and all the healthy babies you might wish for in due season.”

With that over, Robbie stole a kiss. Which caused Maddie to wave a dangerous finger at him to the accompaniment of laughter from the congregation. It was a set piece, but he deviated from the script by kissing her wagging finger rather than taking hold of it. The script said he should have then pulled her out of the church by it, demonstrating that he was in charge now. Instead, he picked her up and carried her out of the building. “What are you doing?” she demanded in a stage whisper which carried to the whole congregation.

“Supporting you in the only way I can right now.” he answered a little more loudly than he needed to, to more laughter.

Outside the church, as he put her down, he whispered into her ear “I love you Maddie.” and stole another kiss.

“Oh you! Grow up!” she whispered back.

----------------------------------------

SATURDAY, 22ND DECEMBER. ANCHORAGE. 11.25AM, LOCAL TIME.

Sarah checked Robert's feet. He was in that room there sitting next to a woman and talking to another couple. The room was there in the house there next to the church, there. She's seen enough, and sneaking away from the crowded reception hall, rang the number Matt had given her.

“Hello, Robert Trent?”

“Yes?” Robert answered, confused at who this might be.

“You don't know me, but I've been talking to your brother quite a lot over the past few days. My name's Sarah. I understand congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you. Erm, you're my benefactress?”

“Yes, that's me.”

“I think my wife would like to talk to you.”

“That's great, because I'd like to talk to her too.” Sarah said.

“Maddie, this is Sarah, the lady who paid my way home.” he said, offering her his wrist unit.

“Hello. Thank you so, so, much for bringing Robert home to me.”

“Congratulations on your wedding. I gather it was a bit of a surprise for you both.”

“Yes, it was rather.”

“I've got an unexpected question for you. You're local there, aren't you? Do you know where Emerald Medical are based?”

“Yes. Yes, I work there. Why?”

“You do? Oh that's excellent!”

“It is?”

“Yes. That should make it even easier. I'm going to bully your boss into interviewing Robert. If it goes well, and you like the idea, then I'm also going to suggest that he offer you a flat as part of the deal.”

“You're serious? You can do that?”

“You've heard of GemSmith?”

“The parent company? Yes.”

“I own it. My great-grandfather set up Emerald Health Insurance. E.H.I. set up Emerald Medical. You know most companies have a duty to keep the shareholders happy? GemSmith and Emerald have to keep me happy. It would make me happy to know that you two have a place to yourself assuming that's what you'd want.”

“I don't know about Robert, but, yes, yes please!”

“OK, well, have a lovely wedding party. You're talking to the pastor and his wife?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“It didn't sound like a party, and I thought your wedding service ought to be over. You're going to talk about... bedroom things?”

“I... I think so.”

“Good. Take care, and have a lovely honeymoon.”

“A couple of nights don't make much of a honeymoon.”

“No, but they give you some time alone. And you've got all day tomorrow too. But, really, as long as you've got privacy and the energy, you can sort of think of the honeymoon lasting until your contraceptives fail.”

“Erm...” Madeline said. Thinking that yes, well, given some notice she could have started on the pill.

“Talk about that too.” Sarah said. “I don't care if it's cultural or not. Matt said Robert was going to study to be a teacher? You too?”

“Yes, I hope to. It's been a dream for a long time.”

“I'm told it's very hard to study when you're throwing up every morning.” Sarah said.

“Urm, thank you for that, Sarah. I'm sure you're right.” Madeline said, feeling distinctly nervous. She couldn't bring up that topic. She just couldn't. Sarah sensed her discomfort.

“Would you like me to break some taboos?” Sarah asked.

“Please. I can't.”

“OK, I'll tell Robbie about the interview and the flat, and drop that little bombshell.”

Maddie was relieved “Thank you, Sarah.”

“Look, Maddie, I'm newly married with a job myself so I know it's all a bit daunting. And since I'm responsible for him only getting part-way home I feel responsible for you too. Since you're helping make money for me to give away to good causes, I'm allowed to feel doubly responsible. I hope you don't mind me interfering.”

“I don't, Sarah. Thank you.”

“And if you need advice or help, send me a message. I mean that. Not just financial, but that too.”

“Why? Why are you being so helpful?”

“Why not? We serve the same God, Maddie. Now, put me over to Robert, please.”

“Robert, she wants to talk to you again.”

“Hello?” Robert said.

“Three things. One, since I own the place where Maddie works, I'm going to persuade her boss to interview you. They've got the opening for a mechanic-cum-driver anyway, so that won't take much persuasion. I'm also going to get him to offer you two a flat as part of the pay package. I think that'd make married life easier on both of you. And thirdly, sorry if this is a shockingly taboo subject, but if you're serious about Maddie studying to be a teacher, you're going to need to use contraception. At this short notice, that probably means condoms. Otherwise there's a really high chance she'll be pregnant before you even start the course. That's it. Bye!”

Robert looked at his wrist-unit in shock. “She owns your workplace?” he said.

“She owns the parent company, apparently. She told you about the flat too?”

“Yes.”

“And the other thing?” Madeline asked, blushing.

“Yes. Very bluntly.” Robert said, equally red.

“She's shocking, isn't she?”

“Very.”

“That call was from your benefactress, Robert?” the pastor asked.

“Yes.”

“And she's going to pull strings to get you a job?”

“She said they had an opening anyway. But she's going to pull strings to get us a flat apparently.” Robert reported.

“And from the look on your faces she also dropped unsubtle hints about contraception.” the pastor said “Which is good, because it is an issue all couples need to discuss, and I'm pretty certain you've not had that conversation yet.”

Robert and Madeline, both bright red, didn't dare speak, but they both shook their heads.

“So. First of all, almost all protestants say contraception's not sin, but abortion is. Some would say that certain methods, which allow fertilisation of the egg to occur but prevent implantation, is closer to abortion, others disagree. So that's an ethical debate you might need to have.

Secondly, you're married now, you're very soon going to be one in flesh. You may and should talk about these things between yourselves. It doesn't need to be in public, of course. Thirdly...” he nodded to Mildred, his wife.

“This is our newly-wedded couple pack.” she said, giving Maddie a box which used to contain a tube of toothpaste. “We know it's an embarrassing subject, so it's in disguise. There's some stuff to read together in there, on paper, more details on a chip, the password is 'Marriage'. Plus there are a few other things which we hope will help things go well. Hide it away in your handbag, dear, and don't let anyone borrow your toothpaste, or they'll get a big surprise.”

“Thank you.” Madeline said, no longer resenting the fact that her mother had insisted Madeline take her handbag, even if Sandra had to look after her until after the ceremony was over.

“Out of interest,” the pastor asked, “What did she reply to you asking her about why she was helping?”

“She said 'Why not? We serve the same God.' She also said she felt responsible for us, and that if we ever needed any sort of advice or help, financial or otherwise, we should send her a message.”

“Matt said she'd told him she'd got a friend with the thought-knowing gift, that's how she told him I was being bugged. So I guess she meant that sort of help too.”

“So, you don't think it was just an empty promise?” the pastor asked.

“It wasn't a promise. It was... I don't know, it sounded like 'don't you go hiding it from me if you're in trouble', like I might say to my sister.”

“So, you've got a nice elderly lady who happens to be ultra-rich taking you under her wing? That's a wonderful blessing.” Mildred said.

“Oh, she's not elderly! She sounded younger than you, Mildred. And she said she's not been married very long.”

“Really? Well!”

“I admit I'm a bit curious about this woman.” Abner said, turning on the console beside him. “You said she owned Emerald medical?”

“Emerald medical is owned by Emerald health insurance, which is owned by GemSmith. She says her great-grandfather set up Emerald Health Insurance, and she owns GemSmith.” Maddie supplied.

“It says here... GemSmith is a privately owned corporation, with diverse interests in a variety of sectors, currently held in trust as part of the Smith family estate. Well, 'currently' might be a bit stretching the point since this page was last edited two years ago.”

“What about the history of Emerald Health Insurance?” Mildred suggested.

“Hmm, set up by Jacob Henry Smith, as an in-house insurance venture for workers at his jewelery stores and other business interests. Oh, here's a link to the Smith family tree... Jacob Henry Smith had a son, Aaron. Aaron had a daughter who never married and oh, a lot later, a son Joshua, who had one daughter, Sarah, but it only gives her decade of birth, and he died about ten years ago. Oh, there must have been an accident — his wife Maggie died on the same day.”

“That's her name, all right.” Maddie said. “Why are you looking this up?”

“Curiosity, Maddie. And concern. I don't want you being led astray by someone just because she's rich and has a nice voice. I don't really trust all this stuff about this thought-knowing gift, either.”

Mildred had swung the console towards her and said “I've found her. It wasn't an accident, they were killed in a terrorist attack. You remember, that shopping centre that got blown up. There's a testimony here about their charitable work from their pastor, and how they considered it so important to take care of the people who work for them. Hmm, not much more interesting there. Oh wow!”

“What is it?”

“You know that foreign prince who's in the news a lot? What's his name, Albert and his fiancée Eliza, you know, the daughter of the master-criminal who gave that testimony about God's power to save?”

“Yes?”

“Well, according to this, the last person to wear the historic dress was Maggie Upton, bride of Joshua Smith, heir to the GemSmith fortune, tragically killed etc. etc.”

“So, she must be some sort of cousin to this Eliza?”

“It sounds like it.”

“That's that country where they're getting ready for the comet to hit, isn't it?” Robert asked, thinking he'd have been totally lost he hadn't been able to keep up with the international news, even if there was hardly anything from home.

“Yes.” Maddie answered, not getting the connection.

“Warned by dreams and visions apparently from God. And lots of scientists not to mention governments that were saying 'Who wants to believe in that rubbish? What a way to rule a country!' are now saying 'Well, yes, O.K. we know the last estimate centres the impact on the city they said was the target, but there's still a massive uncertainty.'” Abner said. “I won't be surprised to see that city smashed.”

“That city is the same one whrre her parents died” Mildred said. “I wonder if she still lives there.”

“Ouch,” Robert said “And yet, here she is, sending money for me to come half way round the world, and sending best wishes on our wedding day?”

“Does that make you trust her or suspicious of her?”

“Neither. But it seems pretty generous to me.”

“One of the confusing things she said was that she had a job, and she said that as an employee, I'm helping make money for her to give away to good causes, as if, you know, she doesn't actually live on the income she gets from GemSmith. Which does make sense, actually.”

“It does?” Robbie asked.

“Sorry, you don't know. Part of the new employees briefing I got said that they hoped I'd be happy there, and that while the pay might not be the highest, they wanted to treat me like a human being, not some replaceable part. I'm just a receptionist cum secretary, surely I'm replaceable! But I've had to file the annual reports they send off to head office. As well as income and expenses there's also stuff about staff satisfaction and staff turnover. It seemed odd when I saw it, but if the ultimate boss is concerned about more than just the money, or even hardly about the money side of things at all, that makes sense, doesn't it?”

“It must be a nice position to be in.” Robbie said.

“It must be incredibly hard to navigate the line between not being taken for a ride by every con-artist with a convincing sob-story, while not becoming hard-hearted.” Abner said. “So maybe that's part of her motivation for picking on you two. In which case, maybe I'm less worried. But... this so-called thought-hearing gift thing does make me worried.”

“Why, pastor?”

“Because I'm not sure I believe that any spiritual gifts are for today, let alone ones that I can't see mentioned in the Bible.”

“But you mentioned those prophetic dreams and visions, dear. What are they if not spiritual gifts?” Mildred asked.

“They're another item of confusion for me.” Abner admitted. “Far be it from me to deny that God can do whatever he likes, but I grew up being taught that tongues and the rest have ceased, but that the word of the Lord, faith, hope and love remain. I know there are people don't agree with that position, like my wife, for example, so I feel it is better to concentrate on solid ground. Which is why I preach about the fruits of the spirit, and on the word, but you won't have heard me preaching on the subject of the gifts outside the New-Testament era.”

“I had wondered.” Maddie said.

Robert had had a lot of time for Bible study in the past few months, and knew the passage, and had his own thoughts on the matter. “Pastor, with due respect, I don't think we know perfectly, or see God perfectly, or understand his will perfectly. So I'm not sure perfection has come yet.”

“But the cannon is complete. We have the whole revelation of God.” Abner replied, rehashing the old arguments he'd been taught.

“I agree. And when we're transformed from glory to glory, we'll no longer see him through a glass, but face to face, and we won't have a need for prophesy or learning. I guess I'm trying to say that we need all the help we can get, and I'm not going to tell God he can't astound me if he wants to.”

“That's very easy to do, by the way, watch!” Maddie said, and planted a kiss on his lips.

Bobby was astounded, and admitted it: “Wow. Yes, definitely astouded, Madeline, what's come over you?”

Maddie was wondering the same thing. She'd kissed him! On the lips! In public! What was he going to think of her?

“I think perhaps your wife is trying to make up for her harsh words in the past, Robert, or maybe just get revenge for you carrying her down the aisle.”

Mildred said, with a smile.

“It won't happen again, Robert.” Maddie said, crushed by her sense of guilt.

Robert took Maddie's head gently in his hands and gently whispered into her ear “Maddie? I didn't say I was disappointed. And I hope you don't mean what you've just said.”

“I was shameless.” she replied.

“You two need some time to talk, I think.” Abner said, and led Mildred to the door.

At the door, Mildred said “And Maddie, don't be ashamed on our account.” and she gave her husband a kiss, considerately more passionate than Maddie's had been. Then shut the door on the young couple.

“I'm sorry, Robbie.” Maddie said.

“What for? For writing a letter that turned my fear to joy? I'm sorry for making you write it. For marrying me for all the right reasons, not just some of them? Or for making a very good theological point?”

“I've shamed you.”

“No. No you haven't Maddie.”

“Good girls don't do things like that.”

“Good girls don't. Good wives can do that to their husbands. I saw my parents kiss, and it wasn't always Dad's initiative.”

“But... in front of the pastor!”

“Hmm, and look how Mildred behaved.”

“That's different.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. I'm still...”

“You're my wife, and I love you. I've loved you a long long time.”

“I.... I can't say it.” she said.

“You wrote it.”

“You destroyed the message?”

“Of course. But thank you for being so honest.”

“More honesty: I'm scared.”

“Then, you don't need to act.”

“Yes I do. The kiss... wasn't acting, but you must think me a slut.”

“Maddie, why would I think that of you?”

“Because, like you agreed, good girls don't do that. I'm still a girl, technically. So I'm not a good one.”

He embraced her, “My Maddie, my wife. You cannot be both a girl and a slut. I think you're a good girl who loves her husband. That sounds very good to me.”