"My theory," said Eben, "is that being a captive is an honor for the strong and the uncomplaining."
Sarah and Mercy considered this.
"Then why is Ruth alive? She complains all day long," said Sarah.
"But she isn't sobbing," Mercy pointed out, "and she isn't actually complaining. She's calling them names. She attacked her own Indian this afternoon, did you see? She was going to stab him with his own knife."
They giggled. It was scary to watch Ruth, and impossible not to. Instead of a blow to the head, though, Ruth was usually given food. It wasn't a method anybody else wanted to try.
"But Eliza doesn't fit your theory, Eben," said Mercy. "She hasn't spoken since they killed Andrew. If you let go her arm, she stops walking. Yet they're patient with her."
"I admit Eliza isn't brave," said Eben. "She's in a stupor. Maybe they respect her for caring about her husband so deeply."
Mercy had never liked thinking about Eliza marrying an Indian. But what was her own future now? Would she, would Sarah, would Ruth, end up marrying an Indian?
The image of Ruth Catlin agreeing to obey an Indian as her lawfully wedded husband made Mercy laugh. "And they let Sally Burt live," Sarah went on, "and she's about to give birth right on the trail. They're letting her husband walk with her, and he's the only one they let do that."
Sally's courage was inspiring. Eight months pregnant, big as a horse, and she bounded along like a twelve-year-old boy. She had even taken part in the snowball fight. "I'm having this baby," she had said when Mercy complimented her. "It's my first baby, I know it's going to be a boy, I know he'll be strong and healthy, and I know I will be a good mother. That's that."
In Mercy's opinion, Sally Burt was holding her husband up and not the other way around. If she could be half as brave as Sally Burt, she would be satisfied.
Sarah and Mercy considered this.
"Then why is Ruth alive? She complains all day long," said Sarah.
"But she isn't sobbing," Mercy pointed out, "and she isn't actually complaining. She's calling them names. She attacked her own Indian this afternoon, did you see? She was going to stab him with his own knife."
They giggled. It was scary to watch Ruth, and impossible not to. Instead of a blow to the head, though, Ruth was usually given food. It wasn't a method anybody else wanted to try.
"But Eliza doesn't fit your theory, Eben," said Mercy. "She hasn't spoken since they killed Andrew. If you let go her arm, she stops walking. Yet they're patient with her."
"I admit Eliza isn't brave," said Eben. "She's in a stupor. Maybe they respect her for caring about her husband so deeply."
Mercy had never liked thinking about Eliza marrying an Indian. But what was her own future now? Would she, would Sarah, would Ruth, end up marrying an Indian?
The image of Ruth Catlin agreeing to obey an Indian as her lawfully wedded husband made Mercy laugh. "And they let Sally Burt live," Sarah went on, "and she's about to give birth right on the trail. They're letting her husband walk with her, and he's the only one they let do that."
Sally's courage was inspiring. Eight months pregnant, big as a horse, and she bounded along like a twelve-year-old boy. She had even taken part in the snowball fight. "I'm having this baby," she had said when Mercy complimented her. "It's my first baby, I know it's going to be a boy, I know he'll be strong and healthy, and I know I will be a good mother. That's that."
In Mercy's opinion, Sally Burt was holding her husband up and not the other way around. If she could be half as brave as Sally Burt, she would be satisfied.
( Caroline B. Cooney )
[ The Ransom of Mercy Carter ]
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