| Safe Passage pg. 2 |
The children squirmed in their sleep. Little Maria pulled the moss green woolen blanket, scratchy and worn, from her brothers and hoarded it to herself. Folds of green fabric were tucked tightly beneath her chin. Maria softly stoked her daughter's brow until she relaxed her grip on the blanket. With a mother's tenderness, she rearranged the blanket over her children so they could share the warmth. Christopher softly suckled in his sleep, as if he were still nursing. Maria's heart broke. She lightly fingered his dark curls. My baby, she thought, so like his father. She had tasted to sting of loss before. Their son, Hans, lived until he was six. She thought she would die with him. And then there was the daughter they'd left behind in Germany, buried in an unmarked grave in the Bietigheim churchyard. The orthodoxy would never have allowed the family back into the church for a blessing over her tiny body, but Jakob still had friends there. She had died at birth; a perfect specimen of beauty. She had a wisp of auburn hair and a tiny rosebud mouth, with pale, soft skin as pure as cream. They named her Annomya, because they would never know her. They took her to the churchyard in the middle of the night and buried her there among the oldest and seldom visited graves. Jakob saw to it that she was given a Christian burial, with or without Church sanction. He was still a Diakonis, or minister, though he no longer headed a Church. He never told Maria exactly where the tiny grave was, for fear a mother's love would overrule logic, and she would give the secret away by trying to visit the site. It seemed cruel at the time, but one mistake could've proven dangerous. The persecution visited upon the Pietists and other reformers had not been a mere shunning, it was a threat to their very existence. "Maria," he rasped, calling her back to the present, "You will meet the others in the morning. John will know what to do. I have taught him well. You shall board the ship with the children, as scheduled. I know you don't want to leave me, but what can we do? The prophecy is bigger than you and I. You must do this for the children. As my wife, you will be well taken care of by the others. They say this Pennsylvania is beautiful and it is safe to practice our religion as we see fit. No more hiding, Maria. Our children will live in freedom. If I do nothing else in this lifetime, at least I can give them that." He dissolved into a coughing spasm that nearly shook the bed. It seemed to Maria as if he was drowning in his own fluids. The gurgle in his throat sickened her, and scared her to death. "This is so unfair! You have been faithful all this time, and for what? To die here in Holland just hours before we sail to America?" she hissed between clenched teeth. "Ah, my Maria, ever the wildcat. Don't you know that Moses never crossed into the Promised Land either, I should think I am in good company," he smiled weakly. A soft rap on the door let them know that John Kelpius was awake and preparing the group for their departure. He peeked his head inside the door to check in with his mentor before the voyage. One look at Maria's face and John knew something was terribly wrong. He slipped inside the room and closed the door with a soft click. He crossed the room to the bed, which was now drenched with sweat, and foul smelling. "Magister?" John touched his friend's arm and sat down on the edge of the bed. Though as brothers, John easily afforded to show his mentor the title and respect Jakob deserved. A terrible truth surrounded the young man's heart, as he took in the scene. "Good morning, my friend," Jakob coughed, "I believe there has been a slight change in plans." "Surely we can locate a doctor before we board. You will be better soon. You have a voyage to command, Jakob." "Listen to me, both of you!" Jakob eyes shown with a rekindled fire, "You will do this because you have to! There is no choice. No one else can possibly lead these people, John. Have I not trained you myself? You know what I know, for I have held nothing back. It is time you stand up and become the leader I know you to be. All roads have led us to this moment, so do not be dismayed. You go to meet the Lord, do you not? It looks as if He wants me just a bit sooner than that." He sighed in exhaustion, "Maria, what time is it?" "It is dawn, my love." "Has the rain stopped?" "Yes, I see the sun just beginning to rise over the wharf." "Describe it to me, Maria," he choked back hot tears in his tired eyes. A few of them escaped and trickled down his face and disappeared into his nightshirt. "Only the smallest glimmer of light can be seen, but above it there is the deepest blue velvet of night, giving way to the most unearthly shade of pinkest orange. It takes my breath away. There are just a few faint clouds hanging on the horizon, which fade, as does the ending night. Up above, the stars still twinkle. Your beloved stars, Jakob. Oh how I wish you could see it!" "He can, Maria," John whispered. He prayed to God for direction as he held his friend. She closed her eyes at his words and murmured something that only her beloved could hear. She opened her eyes and let the sunrise envelope her. She didn't think she could ever look away from that sunrise. "Safe passage, my darling" she whispered as she placed her hand upon the cool windowpane. Her darkest moment had become her husband's brightest one. And the adventure had just begun. |
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