Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters

Author:Eric Walters [Walters, Eric]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Adventure, JUV013000, JUV032100, JUV030010
ISBN: 9781554699414
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2012-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Sarah and the other porters were dividing up the things they were going to be carrying. She was so different from all the other porters. Not just female and younger, but smaller. If only I’d known what her request meant, I would never have agreed. Aside from the flack from Mr. Odogo, could she actually do this?

I walked over and watched the porters talk. Really, talk wasn’t the right word. They were arguing. I thought they were fighting about who should carry what and Sarah was at the center of the argument. She seemed to be giving as good as she was getting. Finally the arguing stopped. Sarah and the other porters gathered up their things and packed their duffels and lifted up their loads.

My second porter—I wish I could remember his name—lifted a gigantic load onto his back.

“Thanks for helping to carry my things,” I said to him.

He grunted, turned away and started up the hill, joining the line of porters.

“I guess he doesn’t understand English,” I said to Sarah.

“He understands you. He just doesn’t like you.”

“Why doesn’t he like me?”

“None of the porters like you.”

“But…but…why not? Did I do something to offend them?”

“Oh, yes, very much. They are very offended.”

“Tell them I didn’t mean to offend them. I’m really sorry and I’ll try to fix what I did wrong!”

“I know that you did not mean to offend them, but you cannot fix it now. It is done. You gave me your word.”

“You mean that this is all because I insisted that you come along?”

She nodded. “It is stupid but true. They do not like that I am the first female porter to climb the mountain.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“No. The first and the youngest as well. Usually even males do not become porters until they reach at least sixteen years of age.”

“I didn’t know that!” I protested. “I knew it was your first time, but I didn’t know you were the first female.”

“If I had told you, then you might not have agreed.”

“You tricked me.”

“I did no trick,” she said. “It is not my fault that you know so little.”

“Just tell them it isn’t really my fault—it’s yours. They should be mad at you.”

“They are mad at me. Nobody will be talking to me on this climb either. They hope I will fail. They hope we both fail.”

“That’s just stupid, especially the part about you being female and not being able to do the job. Where I come from, there’s no difference between males and females.”

She gave me a questioning look. “That must be very difficult…if there is no difference between males and females, how do you have babies?”

I felt myself blush. “No, we’re different…you know…we have different parts,” I stammered. “I just mean we’re the same.”

“Do you mean that your females are as big as you?” she exclaimed.

“No, no, not as big. I’m bigger than any female I know. It’s just…maybe I’m not explaining this very well.”

“You are definitely not explaining it well. What do you mean?” she asked.

“I mean we’re equal…or we’re supposed to be equal.

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