Image by Vladvictoria from Pixabay
Jayncia opened the window of her one-bedroom apartment and relished at the snow falling fiercely. She turned and headed towards the Christmas tree where she had carefully hung the holiday card, then read the message for the tenth time:
"I'll Always Love You and Promise to Keep You Safe"
Your devoted husband, Henrique
She stared at the photo inside, then held it close to her heart.
She walked deliberately towards the fireplace and gently lowered herself down on the loveseat. Several small pillows were positioned until her feet were nestled underneath. She stared at the embers, embraced herself, and began to remember the vow from the message.
It was late 1940s. That year, Spring opened up and allowed Summer to sprinkle its rays upon the netted hammock near their bungalow's front porch. It was a place where life felt lived in slow motion. Mosquitoes tried but failed to penetrate.
The country looked beautifully exotic; however, Henrique vowed to protect her from dangers the Brazilian rainforest presented.
She loved Henrique and his quiet spirit. He was also tall and dark-tanned with a handsome physique.
One particular Friday afternoon stood out.
Henrique had been at work for two days. He returned home just as Jayncia finished preparing dinner. After ten minutes of small talk and no response, she allowed silence to fall over their meal.
Afterwards, he retired to his study.
She began to clear the table with an uneasy feeling remembering other incidents. Not only did he stop talking about work but also retired late after she'd fallen asleep. She'd often find his side of the bed undisturbed.
"I love you so much," he'd say from across the room with his back towards her.
Whatever was happening had stretched beyond reason and eroded her resolve.
Irritation gave way to conjecture as thoughts took hold ranging from personal to professional as a dish hit the floor.
The sound startled her into calm. She reasoned he was just trying to protect her from something. It was an odd feeling because they'd promised no secrets.
Suddenly she noticed Henrique rushing from his study.
The doorbell rang, then several loud knocks. He cast a swift look at Jayncia. They heard several more in rapid succession.
"Wait. I'm coming!" Henrique shouted in a shaky voice.
Frowning and watching his reaction, Jayncia stood nearby covering her mouth.
"Open up, it's Max."
Henrique opened the door, scoured the yard, then quickly grabbed Max and pulled him inside.
"I'm sorry to bring this to your home, my friend. I fear we're being followed. The foreman ordered this I'm sure to document our whereabouts." Max was adamant about his claim.
"But we're loyal employees." Henrique's even tone was delivered more to assure his wife than his friend.
"It doesn't matter." The men he hired must have followed us to the South side of the harvesting farm," Max spoke rapidly, then continued. "They know we know about..." Henrique interrupted before he could finish.
"Max, please stop! You're imagining things. Return home but be cautious." Henrique's voice carried such a high pitch that it silenced the room.
Stunned, Max stopped and turned toward Jayncia.
"I'll do what you recommend, Henrique."
"Let me walk you out, Max! We'll talk tomorrow."
Henrique and Max stepped off the porch towards the side of the house. Jayncia rushed to the window hoping to hear more.
Shadows and muddled voices were all she could see and decipher, so she backed away. Max's unannounced arrival, his abrupt departure, and the conversation in between visibly shook her.
Henrique watched as Max disappeared down the road. Heading back inside, he stopped short of opening the door trying to think of an explanation Jayncia would accept.
The conversation with Max clearly unsettled Henrique as he was so deep in thought, he didn't notice Jayncia standing just inside.
Crying, she yelled, "what's going on, Henrique. Are we in danger?"
"Potentially. There's danger all around that I need to protect you from."
"Protect me from what?" Exasperation already set in, Jayncia felt now was the time for answers.
"My job has taken a directional turn I feel is unsafe for the people of the region. That's all I can say." Henrique avoided her questioning eyes.
"That's not enough. I demand you tell me everything right now; else I'm leaving." She was adamant now and wouldn't be quieted with the usual consolatory phrase.
"I wish you would." He looked directly at her.
Shock registered on Jayncia's face as her head jerked back in disbelief.
"I mean, I brought you here to this adventure. Now I must ask you to leave; at least for a year until the danger subsides."
"Why is it dangerous for me, but not you?"
"I can't explain right now. Just trust me, please. I'll Always Love You and Promise to Keep You Safe".
Jayncia's pleading fell on deaf ears. Her fears mounted even while she nodded reluctantly.
Henrique helped her pack.
So back to the U.S. Jayncia traveled alone. She thought about enduring a year without Henrique. His last words to her at the airport kept spinning like a record player's turntable, "Separation is only a state of mind. Our love will endure forever."
With Jayncia safely back in the U.S., Henrique directed Max to return so details of their plan could be finalized.
"We must first gather as much information we can before confronting the authorities." Max sat silently watching Henrique draw the detailed map of the area they needed survey where the crimes were taking place.
A short, stout fellow, Max was also an engineer who was lured to the new job, located in the northeast near Ceara, with the promise of a secure future and wealth. However, just like Henrique, he also believed the health and safety of the people were at stake by the illegal deeds their company was involved in.
The company's main base of operations was situated on the outskirts of the shantytown. The place was called such due to the fact that it housed people with so little hope that managed to survive on so little resources.
For the past year, the company's foreman assigned their unit to collect samples in the nearby fields.
However, collecting nine-banded armadillos had nothing to do with engineering.
Henrique had discovered that the nine-banded armadillos that lived and thrived in the area carried the bacteria for Hansen's Disease.
They, along with all the workers, had direct contact with these diseased animals. In fact, the village people viewed these animals as a source of protein.
How many of them now had the disease and didn't know? Henrique felt sick with the thought he and Max were part of the efforts to distribute the diseased animals in the U.S., particularly in the southeast.
Had both Henrique and Max been aware at the outset of the danger this presented, they would have exposed the company's activities sooner.
But now they knew, and it was their duty to expose these misdeeds.
At dusk both men, equipped with surveying gear, loaded up the jeep and headed down the back road to the company's camp.
Two employees patrolled the front entrance. Henrique motioned for Max to approach and distract them while he entered in the rear. His task was to photograph and document the captured animals.
Worried he wouldn't be able to hold their attention much longer, Max shouted a farewell to them loud enough for Henrique to receive the message to retreat.
As Max headed towards the jeep, a look over his shoulder confirmed the guards were following. He quickly realized something had gone wrong. Once inside the vehicle, he sped off towards the back of the building to retrieve Henrique.
Bullets rang out just as Henrique ran towards the jeep. He barely was able to throw the package he confiscated in the back seat as Max drove wildly away through the back road into the forest. Stopping to rest was not an option.
Afterward, they hid the information elsewhere as they didn't dare return to either of their homes. They realized how close they came to losing their lives that night.
The next day, the authorities agreed to evaluate the information they secured. They didn't have time to get everything, but it was enough to implicate and expose the company's illegal activities.
They left the authorities feeling that although they risked their lives, they acted justly.
Not only was Henrique tired, but he was also troubled as he tossed in bed that night. What if Max and I contracted the disease? he thought. Suddenly his heart began to beat faster as he remembered his last passionate night with Jayncia before she left.
The next morning, he called Max to meet him at the doctor's office. He felt sick at the thought that he may have contracted the disease; even sicker that Max may have it after he'd urged him to come to Brazil in the first place; and devastated that he may have passed it to his wife with prolonged contact.
Even though the doctor's told them they didn't show signs of having contracted Hansen's Disease, they were warned it sometimes took years for symptoms to appear.
Confronted with this possibility, he pondered his future as he discovered that compulsory isolation was the verdict for victims of Hansen's disease.
No! he thought. Call it what it originally was named: LEPROSY. And those who contracted it were called Lepers, ostracized, and placed in Leper Colonies.
At the house, he didn't know how long he lay staring at the side of the wall with his legs curled up into his chest. He wanted to die. Not from what he'd done to himself, but what may have been done to his marriage.
Questions swirled as he dissected each. He should have paid closer attention to his surroundings; to what was happening on his job. He thought how busy he was thinking about the dangers of the Rainforest, he was caught looking in the wrong direction.
Now, he couldn't go home. Not with the possibility of having Leprosy.
Next morning, Henrique stood on the porch of the bungalow. He spotted the hammock where his beloved once swayed with arms hanging over the sides, her beautiful frame nestled underneath the thick, long hair draping her shoulders.
He entered the house and slowly sat down at the secretary. His hands shook in his attempt to find a pen.
Would she accept the letter? he wondered, as words were slow to come that could justify his failure to protect her as promised.
The trash bin held several attempts to explain, so the next day he purchase a holiday card and beautiful ornament.
The package now mailed, he decided to call. But it wasn't to his wife.
"Franklin's residence." Once he identified himself, his mother-in-law's voice sounded strained. She immediately handed the phone to her husband.
"Placing our daughter in danger is something not easily forgiven; however, I'm willing to listen."
Past dealings with his father-in-law meant his plan would likely fail, but he forged ahead. "I hope after reading my letter you consider helping me."
"We understand the situation you got yourself into. The fact you did right by our daughter in immediately sending her back is admirable.
His wife now spoke. "But we have another situation."
Silence fell over the line as Henrique envisioned Jayncia ill; then crying at hearing he'd be a father next Spring.
Relieved, Henrique hung up hoping Jayncia's parents would deliver the card.
Jayncia's parent visited two weeks before Christmas. Mom distracted her while dad placed the package under the tree. They sat down awaiting her reaction. She gathered them both in her arms.
She was heavy as they helped guide her towards the window. Then outside, she saw the snow replaced by that Spring day lying in the hammock thinking life was good.
Finally, she thought about next Spring and bringing forth a new life.
Declaration
I certify that my entry to the The Ink Well Writing Prize is my own original work and has been published exclusively to The Ink Well and my Hive profile. I understand that my entry may be excluded from the Writing Prize if I have not met the Rules of Entry and the Community Rules. The Ink Well and the Writing Prize is supported by the @ocd Communities Incubation Programme and the @curie curation initiative.