The Good Book

Samantha continued fighting the underbrush up a steep hill, at the top of which she found a lush green meadow dotted with yellow, white, and purple wildflowers. Beyond this, she saw green fields stretching to the horizon. "Those are the fields," Prudence said. "The boys work there in the afternoon. Except for harvest time. Then everyone goes out to help."

"It's beautiful," Samantha said. She and Prudence sat down in the grass to watch as a flock of geese flew overhead in a V-formation. "Do you ever wish you could fly away from here?"

"Of course not. Eternity is my home."

"I wish I knew where my home was."

"I'm sorry about what happened at church."

"You saw? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't see them, but I know them. They pick on me too." Prudence looked down at the ground with shame. "I should have said something. It's sinful what they did."

"You really believe in this Way stuff, don't you?"

"I don't want to go to Hell. It's a terrible place with fire and demons poking you with swords."

"That's just a story."

"No, look." From a pocket, Prudence took out a black book with gold-trimmed pages. She turned to the back and showed Samantha a picture of a screaming demon with the body of a goat and the wings of a bat surrounded by flames.