Read Charlinder's Walk for Free Online

and they pray maybe once or twice a week."

    There was chuckling at this. "I guess that doesn't sound as impressive as what Taylor told Char," said Phoebe.
     
    "I wish I knew what started this campaign, at least," said Charlinder when the laughter died down. "Have they ever tried this hard before?"

    "I don't care what got them started on this shine-the-light-of-God kick," Miriam sighed. "I just want to know how long it'll take before they get it out of their systems."
     
    "I'd like to know why this is so important to them," said Meredith.

    "Why which part is so important?" asked Sunny.
     
    "Why it means so much to them to make us see it their way. It's one thing if they want to believe in God, but why do they care so much about what we believe? Like, the Plague, for instance--why does that matter anymore?" Meredith explained.

    "Because some people have too much time on their hands to stop obsessing over a disease that happened over a hundred years ago," Miriam grumbled.
     
    "The Plague is simple," said Charlinder. "If they can prove the Plague was beyond science, they can establish two things. One, that God exists, and two, that we should fear Him. If they can get us to fear God, they can also get us to change our behavior to keep God happy. I'm still not sure why they have such a problem with our behavior, though."

    "I see you've been thinking about this," said Sunny after a pause.
     
    "I'm trying to give it some more thought."

    "I say don't waste your time on their preaching and think more about how to take care of this village," said Miriam.

     

    It was their custom that the whole village took their meals together. They ate in the meeting square in front of the kitchen and the main vegetable garden. Everyone brought their own bowls and forks, ate the meal that the elderly women prepared for the village, and then washed their dishes in the river. That night, Charlinder went for dinner with his uncle as usual.
     
    "Eleanor looks like she's angry at me about something," said Roy when he returned from the line. "Though I can't imagine what." Eleanor was Ruth and Robert's grandmother.

    "It's nothing you've done," said Charlinder from above his dish of stew and cornbread. "It's because Miriam kicked Ruth out of Spinners' Square when I showed up today."
     
    "Then it's because of what Miriam did, that she's looking at me that way?"

    Charlinder shrugged. "Maybe Eleanor doesn't approve of me doing 'women's work.' And Mom isn't around to blame anymore."
     
    "Whatever it is, I’m sure she'll get over it," said Roy.

    "Or maybe she's in a bad mood at me because of what I said to Robert the other day," Charlinder said after a moment.
     
    "It's a thought. I don't think you were rude to him, but he might see it differently."

    Just then, Kenny sat down in front of them and addressed himself to Charlinder.
     
    "Hey, Char, you're not teaching tomorrow, are you?" he asked.

    "No, tomorrow's off from school, why?"
     
    "Some of us are going for a hunt; you wanna go with us? We could use another guy."

    "What are you going after; deer?"
     
    "Yeah, and any spare meat is for pemmican. You in?"

    Charlinder thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I'm in. Come by the cabin for me in the morning."
     
    "Good," said Kenny, and left them.

    "What's this?" asked Roy after Kenny left. "Since when do you have any interest in hunting?"
     
    "I don't really," said Charlinder. "But there's no harm in doing something different once in a while, right?" Charlinder had gone hunting several times in his life. It was not an activity he particularly enjoyed, nor was it among his greatest talents, but something was different this time. He didn't tell his uncle, because he didn't understand it himself, but for some reason, pemmican sounded like a very good thing to make all of a sudden.

     

    They didn't have much to say for the rest of dinner. Only after they were back in their cabin did Charlinder bring up his question.

    "Hey, Uncle," he said.