Chapter 17

The Escape Plan

image [https://i.imgur.com/DISPysD_d.jpeg?maxwidth=520&shape=thumb&fidelity=high]

It was the custom of the People of the Book to hold hands and pray before meals, thanking the Creator for their food, health and friends. “O Heavenly King,” said her father in his deep, gentle voice. “Lord of the universe, we thank You humbly for all your blessings. We love You and pray that this food may sustain us in our pursuit of wisdom, courage and temperance as we strive to do Your divine will. In the name of the holy and sacred One, we pray. Amen.”

“Amen,” responded Sophie and Julie together. Then they picked up their forks and started eating.

“Well,” said her father. “This is quite the breakfast. Thank you as well, my dear, for preparing it.”

Even after many years of marriage, Julie couldn’t help gazing and blushing when her husband spoke to her—like no time at all had passed since the day she’d first met and fell in love with him. Sophie noticed this and liked it.

“And you,” he continued, turning his attention to our heroine. “Are you eating breakfast or conducting one of your experiments?”

“Both!” she replied. Sophie had it all set up perfectly: whipped cream . . . maple syrup . . . cinnamon . . . and every kind of berry . . . all in separate miniature goblets. “One day, I will make the perfect combination.”

“That’s my little scientist. Speaking of perfection, I heard you got a perfect score on one of Mr. Knox’s surprise math tests the other day.”

“Mmmhmm,” agreed Sophie with her mouth full.

“He told me all about it. Quite an amazing achievement. Especially considering you didn’t show any of your work . . .”

Sophie froze and slowly gulped.

“Yeah, I guess,” she chuckled. “Must have got lucky . . .”

“Indeed.”

Her father was always so calm and soft-spoken. Throughout Sophie’s whole life, she had never once heard him raise his voice or even get frustrated. He took a sip of his coffee. Sophie used it as an opportunity to change the subject.

“Did you know,” she quickly blurted out, “that Mr. Stanley and mother almost got married?”

Her parents both looked at each other amused.

“I did,” he replied.

Sophie started getting excited.

“Can you imagine what would have happened if they had? She wouldn’t have felt nervous and run to the beach like that! She would never have seen you! You would have drowned! None of it would have happened! I wouldn’t even be born!”

“Yeah, it’s quite something,” he remarked.

“It’s more than just something!”

“It was a miracle,” said Julie.

“Perhaps.”

Her father started eating his pancakes. He had them plain, with nothing on the side. His coffee was plain. Even the way he sat and dressed was plain. A red checkered shirt and blue overalls? Less like a farmer, and more like someone trying to look like a farmer! Sophie couldn’t tell what it was, but there was something very suspicious about him. He was just too normal!

“Pass the salt please,” he asked.

Sophie wondered if he really had forgotten who he was. Maybe he was pretending. But why?

“Sure, John,” answered Julie, handing it to him.

And that name, reader! John? He did NOT look like a “John”!

“Thank you,” he answered. “Pass the pepper, please,” he said next, looking at Sophie this time. He smiled.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“Who puts pepper on pancakes?” she asked.

“Well, there is a first time for everything,” he said adventurously. “Perhaps it’s time I try something new. Don’t you think?”

She slid it to him suspiciously. Maybe he was an alien from another world! His ship had crash-landed. Now, he was trying to blend in with the humans. A ridiculous idea, of course. But if you had met Sophie’s father, reader, it would have certainly seemed more likely than the story he usually suggested.

“I’m probably just an ordinary man who got caught in a storm while fishing or something.”

He’d say it as casually as if he were commenting on the weather. But Sophie never bought it.

“Father, can’t you remember anything?” said Sophie. “Even something small? You know, about who you were before you arrived. Your mother? Your old home? Not even your favorite color?”

He stopped and thought about it very, very hard.

“Hmm . . . no. I can’t. Sorry.”

“What about a crest?”

“A crest?”

“Well,” said Sophie, turning red. “I was suggesting to mother that . . . maybe . . . you were once a knight . . . or something.”

Her father laughed.

“Good one . . .”

But his laughter only made Sophie more suspicious.

“Well, you could be!”

“Like I’ve always said, I was probably just a fisherman. One day, I got too much sun and fainted. The ocean carried me away.”

“Oh, please!” said Sophie, much to his amusement. “Do fisherman know how to use swords?”

Julie loved watching their debates.

“There are some pretty aggressive fish out there, Sophie . . .” he replied. “A little sword training would be wise of a fisherman to undertake.”

“So, you WERE trained with a sword then?”

“I never said that.”

“And are there any fish as aggressive as the Dragon King?”

“Possibly.”

Sophie’s father joined the People of the Book precisely around the time the Dragon King had risen to power. When the Dragon King discovered their village, he came to destroy it and take girls, like young Julie, as captives. But her father stood up to them. It was a fight that the People of the Book still whispered about to that day. The mysterious man from the sea who saved them! It was because of him they now lived in relative peace. Instead of killing the evil king—something forbidden by the religion of the People of the Book—he struck a deal. The village would make food for his army and the king would leave them alone.

“Doesn’t sound like the feat of an ordinary fisherman to me!” said Sophie after reminding him. She crossed her arms triumphantly and smiled. For once, she seemed to have stumped her father. But her triumph was short-lived.

“Must have got lucky,” he answered—in the same tone she had used about her math test. Then, he winked at her. Our heroine froze and gulped. She didn’t dare pursue the matter any further. She averted her eyes and went back to eating her breakfast.

“In other news,” he continued, changing the subject. “I’ve nearly finished drawing up the plans for the ship.” He made some space on the table and took out a blueprint. “If everything goes well, I’ll have it built by this fall. We’ll have enough food to give the Dragon King over the summer, as well as enough for the journey.”

“Exquisite!” said Julie. “Finally, we’ll be free! And you’re sure there will be enough room for everyone? The whole village?”

“Yes. I’ll be meeting Jean-Pierre this afternoon to show him. It will hold everyone. I’m certain.”

“And you don’t think the Dragon King suspects anything?”

“No, I don’t think so. Everything’s been normal. As long as everyone just keeps doing what we’ve always done, and nothing unexpected happens this summer, everything should go exactly as planned.”

Sophie wasn’t very interested in talking about the voyage. She loved her home and didn’t want to leave. Why couldn’t the Dragon King just leave them alone? They didn’t bother him. Sometimes she felt like going up there and speaking with him herself. Surely, if it was just explained to him, and she showed him they meant him no harm, he would understand. But no one was allowed.

“Sophie,” said her mother. “You haven’t even touched your strawberries yet. Is something wrong?”

“No . . .” she sighed disappointedly. But her mother didn’t believe her.

“I know. How about we take the long way home tonight?”

Sophie’s eyes lit up. It was one of her favorite things in the whole world to do! But she could hardly remember the last time they’d gone together.

“I don’t know . . .” said her father, sounding worried. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Of course, it is!” cried Sophie. “It’s a marvelous idea! Come on! Can we please take the long way home tonight?” she begged. “Please! Please! Can we?”

“It’s a pretty long walk,” said her father. “Maybe you and I could go? We can let your mother rest.”

“No! All three of us! Like we used to! Come on! Please?”

“I’m alright,” said Julie softly.

“You’re sure? You have the energy for it?”

“Yes,” she answered. “I want to. I’ll be fine . . .”

“You see?” said Sophie, slapping her hand on the table. “She’ll be fine! What else more is there to discuss? Come on!”

“Alright . . .” her father relented. “Okay. Let’s do it.”