The Scourge - Page 82

Jonas must've proposed to Della too. One day, we got an announcement of their wedding and a request to visit them at their new home on Attic Island.

I was so surprised that I nearly dropped the announcement, but Weevil pointed out a note that was inside the letter.

It read, Dearest Ani and Weevil, Weevil, at some point before you grow up, will you please change your name? It's a terrible name.

I paused and laughed. "It's a perfect name."

"No," he said. "It's terrible, but it's still the only name I've got."

We continued reading, We would've invited you to the wedding itself, Ani, but we were afraid you might want to sing for us.

I took no offense at that. My singing was worse than ever. I'd nearly killed a bird last week when I tried to sing along with it.

Perhaps you are wondering why we chose to make a home on Attic Island. Well, the easy answer is that no one wanted it, so we were given as much land there as we wanted. The more complicated answer is that Attic Island has always begged for me to come back. It wants to prove that it is not a place for prisoners or for the dying, but it is a place for life. We are creating new buildings here. Homes for those who are truly sick, where they can come to a place that is quiet and peaceful and that can offer them hope to recover completely from their illnesses. Jonas and I will both train as physicians, and we will build our lives here and be happy. If either of you ever want to return to Attic Island, we will offer you comfortable places to live for as long as you want to stay. They can never equal the river country, I'm sure, but it would be the greatest joy to share in your company again. With love, Della

Weevil put an arm around me while I folded up the letter and reclined against him. "What do you think, Ani?"

I smiled back at him. "I think we ought to see the Colony one more time."

The first spark for The Scourge began with the history of leprosy (Hansen's disease). Hardly the cheeriest beginning for a book for young readers, I know, but I was fascinated to learn that by the twentieth century, we understood this disease and how to treat it, yet in many places around the world, it still remained legal to take leprosy victims away from their families and place them in a leper colony, often for the rest of their lives. For most of human history, the stigma was worse than the disease itself.

And it began to occur to me how easily a stigma like that could be manipulated if the wrong people were in power.

From that strange inspiration, both Ani and Weevil began to emerge, each of them with strong, unique voices and an unshakeable friendship. My thanks to the Proclaimers for their song "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" as the basis for that friendship--you'll see in the story where that pops up. Thanks also to Linkin Park for "Breaking the Habit." It could be Ani's theme song.

Tags: Jennifer A. Nielsen Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net
readsnovelonline.net Copyright 2016 - 2024