Sanctuary by Lynne Norris

Author:Lynne Norris [Norris, Lynne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

ALICIA SAT ON the edge of Sister’s Juanita’s second floor porch with her legs sticking through the balusters swinging them to and fro. The water below her swirled and frothed around the rocks in the creek as it flowed down the outer edge of the plantation. The scent of moss and water warming in the morning sun filled her senses. Behind her she heard Sister Juanita moving about in her room.

“Sister?”

“Yes Alicia?”

“What’s on the other side of the mountain?”

“More mountains,” came her reply.

“Yes, but once you get past the mountains what is there?”

“If you go far enough you’ll reach Haiti.”

“Have you ever been there?”

“No.”

Alicia looked over her shoulder when she heard Sister Juanita walk behind her. “What direction are you facing?”

“North,” she answered and sighed. It was dangerous to ask questions of Sister Juanita because questions were often answered with more questions.

“What body of water is to our north?”

Alicia was quiet, thinking of the tattered world map Sister Juanita used to teach them geography and history. She loved her fantastic stories of the Greek and Roman empires. “The Atlantic Ocean, but what does the land look like? Is it all like this?”

“No. There are mountains running north to south and valleys greener than the moss along the banks of this creek as far as the eye can see.”

“Where do the mountains lead?”

“Down into the foothills and out to the coastline where the land meets the ocean.”

“Have you ever been there?”

“Alicia did you practice your multiplication tables?”

“What do I need to practice them for?” she protested.

“Because one day you will leave here and you need to know these things. Math is important.”

“I hate math. Besides nobody ever leaves here,” she pouted.

“Not true,” Sister said. “Two boys left last year and went to the orphanage in Santo Domingo.”

Alicia looked back at the nun. “I don’t want to go there. I won’t know anybody.”

“You can’t stay here forever Alicia. You see the life before you. You can not stay.” The rumbling of an engine grew louder and Alicia knew without looking it was the Colonel’s jeep approaching. Alicia watched as the expression on Sister Juanita’s face changed and she motioned her inside. “Stay here and don’t come down until I tell you to. Understand?”

“Yes, Sister.” Alicia climbed to her feet and stepped inside the room and stood uncertain of what to do. She slumped to the floor beside the bed, stared at the ceiling, and dreamed of what was on the other side of the mountains.

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