Chapter 9.5

A short side story

My name is Agnes and I work in the harbour of San Tomas. I have two sons and a cheerfully husband. My husband works like me in the harbour. While I account and control the fish of the fishermen’s fish, he loads goods from the ships into warehouse. We are quite a happy family even though we are not rich.

But two months ago, everything changed. Some seafarers brought a terrible illness into the town. We were lucky to not get infected with the illness. My kids and husband stayed at home while I was the only person who went to work. The townspeople were afraid and stayed at home like my family and so the town was empty and felt like a ghost town. But not only were there no people in town there were also nearly no ships in the harbour. On good days there were around 10 big and midsize ships around plus 20 small boats. But on bad days like these there were just some small and no big ships around. All the merchants who heard about the illness left the town. So, my work too decreased day by day.

Finally, after some hard days there was positive message. A boy found the needed herbs for the cure and now people started to retake their daily lives. In those days I had lost many friends who were dead. I cursed in my mind the people who brought us this disease. My husband too lost a lot of friends and work colleagues. In the end I was relieved that my family was fine. Yes, I felt bad for thinking like this but that was life.

The crisis was over, and our daily lives began from the start until that horrible day. The day I lost so much.

It first started with rumours. Rumours about the Janet the town healer. I didn’t know her because my family were not rich like most people of the town and so we couldn’t afford the fees of her. The rumours said that she was a witch who wanted to make money with this disease. A wicked person who hates normal humans. There were even some leaflets in the streets where it was written. I more and more believed these stories. I got angry at this witch and my family too felt anger. One day my husband went out with some friends to attend a speech of one of the victims and a witness of her crimes. I still had work to do and couldn’t accompany him.

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I worked long and was tired when I came back home. My kids were at home and asked where their father was. I was surprised he should be back by now. While I prepared dinner for us, I heard a loud knock on the door. So, I went to the door and opened it. Some friends of my husband stood there and looked sadly and serious at me. I could read it in their eyes. Something happened to my dear husband. I asked where my husband was, and they answered me to calm down listen to their story.

After a lot of crying, cursing and whining later they went away. I felt lonely for the first time in my life. They had told me that little demon had come and killed nearly everyone in the warehouse. Just a few survivors were left. They searched now for him, but the chances were low to find him. I started again to cry and wanted to despair. If I still hadn’t my kids, I probably would commit suicide.

The days went by and they didn’t find the demon, but they arrested this evil witch. Just she alone had a reason to kill my husband who knew the truth about her. She should just die this bi***. And then finally today was her execution day. I went there early and stood in the middle of a lot of people. They all suffered under this witch. When they started the fire, I heard a loud ‘Noooo’ and turned around. I saw a young boy. He couldn’t be older than 6 years. He looked similar like one of my boys. Small figure and a pale face. Instinctively I knew that he felt anger and was connected to this witch. Then someone shouted that he was the little demon. This kid should be the demon? I didn’t know what to think or do, when the boy turned around and fled. I think I would have done the same if I was in his situation. He had nearly no chance to escape this mob. The thought to help him crossed my mind but I stayed silent and waited. Perhaps he was really the little demon and not a small kid.

In the end they couldn’t catch him, and he disappeared. I was a bit disappointed, but I went back to my life and my kids. I worked hard, and the days went by again. Right when I thought that everything would turn back to its normality, I heard new rumours. Rumours about war. I was shocked and afraid for my kids but what should I do. I needed to work here and in the end, I persuaded myself that nothing would happen to a neutral small town like ours.

I was wrong.

They came.

They came with big ships and hundreds of troops. They brought fire and destruction. I tried to flee with my kids, but it was useless. They blocked the harbour and invaded the town. I hid my kids in wooden barrel and throwed it in the ocean. I hoped they would at least survive. Then I turned around and ran through flames and destruction. I tried to help the people but I and everyone else knew that there was no end to it.