CHAPTER 4 - RECRUITED
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Following that announcement, everyone withdrew. But not before a great variety of celebrations, which always accompanied the island's commander. It was unimaginable how many festivities were held upon the arrival of the Empress.
However, one thing was inevitable for some of the villagers—actually, for most of the villagers—whether they were conscripted or not, this was still news they had to process. Because one thing was certain: at best, someone would see a family member sent off to military training, and at worst, they would be sent themselves.
From that moment, there were exactly forty-eight hours, a whole day, to process the news, and the next day, the carts would arrive to transport all those who were to begin their training.
On the island, there were various reactions. There were those who were eager to go and those who claimed they wanted to seek justice. Then there were those who simply accepted that there was no way to avoid or bypass the system. And finally, there were those who had indeed found a way to bypass it, one way or another.
Whether they succeeded or not was uncertain, but those who failed were still obliged to go. So, if anyone tried, they would receive nothing more than a slap on the wrist or a reprimand from the recruitment soldiers—nothing serious. In the end, the lucky ones were saved, while the others boarded the carts.
Among those pondering what to do or simply discussing that insane decision, were all the families or groups gathered in their homes. Even people who, in the heat of the discussion and emotions, had congratulated the leader. But as the excitement, the shouting, the joy faded, so did their conviction that this could be a good idea. And so, they found themselves in the current situation.
In Natirra's medium-sized house, those discussions bounced everywhere. But the three of them—mother, father, and daughter—were arguing in a lovingly hateful way.
«“You didn't come to the announcement, but you should have,”» argued Natirra. «“You would have learned more about the situation.”»
«“I no longer trust the leader. The previous one was better, and this decision is the greatest proof!”» said the father harshly. «“It's a crazy idea! I won't allow them to throw my little girl into a training camp and send her off on an expedition.”»
The mother, in a more critical tone than the father, continued, spiraling into wild resolutions and widespread rumors. Since she was a child, Natirra had noticed that every time her mother spoke, it seemed like some furniture would shake from how loudly she yelled.
«“Let's leave this island!”»
«“No… That's exactly why they’ve launched this expedition. We can't leave; there are pirates,”» responded Natirra, seeing it as an impossible feat.
«“They're exaggerating! I'm sure of it!”»
«“There were bodies in the square! Killed by pirates!”» exclaimed Natirra.
«“Our daughter is right,”» affirmed the father. «“But that doesn’t mean we can’t bypass the system.”»
«“Absolutely,”» agreed the mother, upon hearing that new proposal. «“I’ve heard of fellow villagers who managed to get their children to safety.”»
«“Incredible,”» said Natirra, but most rumors are just that—rumors, more like tales made up on the spot. «“Did they really manage to act in just a few days?”»
«“When you're saving your skin, you don’t wait!”» the father remarked with a slight smile.
Natirra thought deeply. «“I don't see a way to bypass it, though.”»
Her mother gave her a playful tap on the head. «“Of course, you don't. You don’t know as much as I do. When I was your age, you were just a little egg! So, I know things. Listen closely: the government requires at least one conscript. The minimum is one. We just need to find a substitute we can pass off as family.”»
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«“Mom! That's an horrid idea!”»
«“What? Do you prefer to go off and die?! Let’s send some loudmouth from the village to see a bit of karma!”»
«“And I thought the pirates were evil,”» said Natirra, with an ironic tone.
«“I’m doing what I can for you, sweetheart! We're all thinking of a way out of this situation…”»
«“No, Natirra’s right. We can't do something like that,”» the father jumped in, coming to Natirra's defense. The mother shot him several furious glares, but even outside of this odd context, it was a fairly normal situation.
«“Bypassing something like this seems really difficult, but we can’t resort to putting someone else in our place, can we?”»
«“Mmh…”» They all began to think deeply.
«“I’ll go,”» the father announced again.
«“Enough with the imagination! Where do you think you’re going?”» said the mother aggressively, while Natirra watched silently.
«“I don't want my daughter to go to a place like that; I’ve already said it, haven’t I?!”»
«“And neither do I!”»
«“So, I’ll volunteer. I’ll be the one to go; it seems right that way.”»
«“No, no! Don’t even think about it. They’ll never take you. You’re out of the age range.”»
«“The range says twenty-five years, but I’m twenty-six. I’ll just lie about my age, that’s all. It’s a drastic choice, but it’s fine; I can do it.”»
«“It’s still worse if you go. We're trying to save all of us.”»
Both of them turned to Natirra with intense looks. Natirra reacted quickly, looking at them with a mixture of fear and curiosity, wondering why they were staring at her that way.
The father continued, «“If it’s about keeping our daughter safe, then I’m here to do it.”»
«“And I’m telling you no!”» the mother continued.
«“Natirra, convince him!”» But Natirra, still haunted by the terrible images from the square and the frightening stories she had heard, and with the general fear of being conscripted, couldn’t bring herself to say yes or volunteer.
That constant silence was interpreted as a yes, and so the father turned back to the mother with a slightly bitter smile. «“I guess it’s decided then; I’ll go.”» With that, Natirra’s chance to react and reclaim the apparent collective decision disappeared.
Suddenly, as if waiting for that critical moment, there was a sound at the door.
That sound, so infamous as it was, would be recognized even by the smallest of narwhals on that island: it was the sound that accompanied any military event. Often used for celebrations, this time, it announced the arrival of the recruiters.
The mother, shouting aggressively, urged the father not to answer the door. But in his now complete conviction, he did.
Slowly opening the door, he saw two soldiers standing in front of him, with a cart behind them that would be used to transport the conscripts.
One of the soldiers, taking the lead for the announcement, gave the request to the father. The mother, at that point, tried to hide Natirra from view. The house, with only one room, didn’t offer much space to hide, but she still managed to prevent the soldiers from seeing her.
The father opened his mouth, beginning to speak, but at that moment, and even moments before, Natirra felt a wave of regret.
She had been unable to stand up and had, in effect, approved the decision to send her father to the army in her place.
Despite all the fear she had of the soldiers, the pirates, and the sea, she couldn’t shake the guilt of having done something like that. She knew that if things continued, with her inevitable recruitment to follow, she would never forgive herself for it, especially considering the terrifying possibility that her father might meet the fate she so feared.
So, as he began his sentence, she interrupted him.
«“…I’m ready to be con-”»
«“No!”» Natirra exclaimed. Despite her mother, who didn’t understand the purpose of her actions and assumed it was just a whim, trying to cover her mouth, she made a quick leap. She stepped in front of her father, revealing herself completely to the two soldiers.
«“My name is Natirra, Natirra Sarel! I’m the one who should be conscripted! Not him!”»
The father was surprised by her action, the mother stood silent, both left speechless.
The soldiers glanced at each other for a moment, unsure what to do, and assuming it was either madness or some sort of enthusiasm, simply decided to take her with them. They weren’t paid to ask questions, only to transport people, and so they did.
One took Natirra by the arm, leading her slowly toward that ominous cart that loomed behind the two soldiers, while the other clarified a few things with the father. The father, seeing his daughter being taken away, prepared himself to go, feeling the guilt that Natirra would have felt in the opposite situation. But by then, Natirra was too far away to do anything, and the situation was already set in motion.
«“But… Natirra…”» were the only words he could say. His daughter, who was being led away, turned back even without hearing his words. In a desperate attempt to lighten the mood, she forced a strange smile.
«“I promise… I’ll be back soon, wait for me.”»
She quickly entered the cart, accompanied by the soldier.