Past Lives and Borrowed Bodies

I opened my eyes into the darkness and wrapped a few shirts around me. I hadn’t noticed how bad the shirts had smelled before but the cold air was the worse of the offenses. My corset had created tender areas all around my mid section but I knew for now it would be pointless to remove it in case I couldn’t fit back in the dress. I crawled out and looked at the sky. Clouds diminished the brightness of the half moon but it at least gave me the advantage of invisibility as I approached a nearby tree and relieved myself for the first time since I died. I had to use one of the rags for wiping and suddenly remembered in my last life when my foster mother had forgotten to give me enough provisions when she locked me in the basement one time. After a few stumbles and trips over branches or possibly bodies, I returned to my tent, which was now occupied. “Where were you?” Richard asked quietly. “I was worried.” I stopped him with a hand gesture. He was speaking to me and I could hear him but his voice sounded quieter and at the same moment he spoke I could hear Eric’s voice inside my head speaking to me in more modern terms. This was going to take a bit of getting used to. “I’m sorry, Richard, can you talk a bit slower? I just woke up and I can’t think clearly.” From what I could see by the light of the lantern he held, he didn’t look confused by my statement. I gathered that Eric’s translation device worked so Richard would get my meaning but not my exact words. I was grateful for the new gift but still regretful especially as my stomach growled with hunger. “I was worried,” Richard repeated slowly as if speaking to a child. Darkened circles had formed under his big friendly eyes and he had also bundled some dirty shirts around his short but solid frame. I smiled wearily. “That’s kind of you, Richard. It’s nice to have someone worry about me but I had to powder my nose.” I couldn’t be sure how that would be translated but he seemed to accept that explanation without a fuss. “I have organized for Gilbert to take you to the manor now,” he explained. “I assumed you wanted to get back to see Alistair.” I assumed Alistair to be my husband. I finger combed my hair and prayed for gum to appear. “You aren’t coming with us?” I asked him, surprised after this girl had searched with him for what I assumed to be a long time. “I don’t want to go over this again with you, Genie,” he said exasperated. “I’m staying here and helping these people. They don’t have anyone else.” “Oh, okay,” I replied compliantly. “Well I’ll go home and see if I can round up some more people to help us.” He stared at me, mouth hanging open. “Are you mad?” I frowned at him, confused. “No, I’m not angry.” He chuckled though he still looked concerned. “No, are you insane? Since when did any of this have importance in your life?” “Since it became important to you,” I replied soothingly. He reached for my hand and kissed it despite its filthy state. “I don’t know what has become of you but I’m glad to see the compassion you once bore as a girl. I pray that the dear lord dare not return your ignorance.” I imagine Eugenia would have been at least mildly insulted by such a statement but despite the use of her body, I didn’t feel obligated to be rude for the sake of continuity. I patted his hand. I couldn’t help but like him and felt that his personality was much like mine. I wanted to learn more about him but I knew we were short on time. What question could I ask that wouldn’t be something his sister might already know. “Do you like it out here, Richard?” I asked him casually. He frowned then smiled wide. “Do you mean would I take my leave amongst a field of vile corpses on nights so cold that I have to wrap my toes to prevent them from falling off?” I smiled too, I sensed his sarcasm but his humor was close to mine and it appealed to me that he could make light of the senselessness around us. “So that’s a yes?” He laughed loud, his brown eyes shining with glee. “Why are you asking me this, Genie? You’ve quite lost your senses. Aren’t you in a hurry to leave?” I shook my head and crawled fully into the tent, slumping back down to my makeshift pillow. “I have a little time. I did come a long way to see you after all. You said that I have changed so let’s begin anew, Richard. I want to know more about you; humor me.” He seized my arms and shook me a little then slumped down next to me. “Very well but what is your fascination with here exactly? Do you wish to discuss the tiresome intricacies of my weather preferences?” I looked over to him and tried to mask my smile as I witnessed his smirk. “You really are horrid,” I said giggling a little. “I shall not ask you anything now.” He crossed his arms and looked over to me. “Very well, let's discuss the weather." “I love storms,” I responded enthusiastically. I crouched onto my knees. “I love it when the thunder roars so much that the ground shakes beneath me and the lightning illuminates the sky where I can see everything better than I’d ever seen it before.” He also got onto his knees as we both hunched in the tiny tent. “And when the rain falls so hard that the livestock fall from the peasant’s huts, tis beautiful.” “Oh yes.” I clasped my hands to my chest. “It makes me feel exhilarated.” His face suddenly turned serious. “You don’t like storms, Genie. You’ve despised them since you were a child.” We were fortunately interrupted by the sounds of footsteps nearby. “Let me depart, Richard so I can return to you sooner,” I said. We crawled out of the tent and he helped me stand. In the distant sky a dark blue signified that the sun would slowly appear for us but the birds hadn’t begun their song yet. Gilbert approached us looking tired but not at all disgruntled. “Ready,” he insisted. I suddenly remembered that not only did we not have the benefit of the afterlife transporters, but we weren’t even lucky enough to have the use of a car. “How are we getting there?” I asked. Richard and Gilbert looked at me funny so I vowed to not ask too many questions and just see how things pan out when possible. “You must share a steed,” Richard replied. “I need the other two for the men to get to the wells.” “Of course.” I smiled. A bearded villager brought us the horse and Gilbert helped me up on to it. I had only been on a horse once on a school camp and didn’t realize how high up it was. I watched as Gilbert got up with ease and I got ready to hold onto him for dear life. No doubt they expected me to be a lady and ride side saddle but for the sake of my life and long distant comfort I maneuvered my leg around so I sat like Gilbert did. Richard looked up at me, amused by this apparent spectacle. As the horse took off in a semi trot, I grabbed on to Gilbert and nuzzled my head into his back and hid from the cold wind and my fear.