Bone China Mausoleum

{Excerpt from Salvation and Beef Wellington} - From Jericho's hands has emerged an intriguing design to appeal to a princess. A small set of wood stairs, bordered by scalloped rails, leads to an ornate white door. Sienna is surprised to see a sliding bolt on the door that locks it from the outside. She wonders, "Why would you lock a door from the outside, and what are you hiding?" She wants an answer, releases the bolt, and walks into a magical setting with twinkling fairy lights, a white gauze canopy over a white bed and a pink powder room towards the back. A beautiful porcelain-skinned, Asian girl, wrapped in a quilt, crouches near the princess headboard, staring at her in horror. "Who are you? Where is that man? I have to get out of here!" she cries. "My name is Sienna, and I'm going to help you. What is your name?" "River! Jesus, how long have I been asleep?" "Listen to me, River," Sienna orders. "We have to get you out of here NOW! I'm going to hide you on the floor of the truck. NO MATTER WHAT you must be very quiet. Whatever you do, DO NOT SAY A WORD. OK?" River nods her head, putting her complete trust in Sienna. She bends down beside the bed for her flip flops, as if diving into a pool of water her waist-length black hair falls around her face. She quickly scans the floor for her backpack, grabs it from beneath the bed, swings back up, and holds her hand out to Sienna. "Ready!" she says. Sienna grabs the girl's hand and pulls her forward. River's backpack slams against their legs as they run out the door, towards the truck. The sound of the utility tractor returning from the tracks is getting closer. Like a mother hen, Sienna presses River close to her and swings open the truck's door as it lets out an agonizing squeal on its rusty hinges. It seems to be tattling on her. Sienna pulls off Zeke's tobacco scented seat cover in one smooth, quick move, pushes the girl into the truck towards the passenger side, and throws her backpack behind the seat. River doesn't ask questions but curls up in a ball on the floor. "Now lay as close to the floor as you can, River!" Sienna throws the cover on top of her. "I know this doesn't smell great, but it will hide you until we get away. OK? Everything will be OK. I PROMISE! OK, River?" "Yes," the girl's small voice calls back. Sienna calmly closes the truck door, walks back towards the train caboose, rebolts its entrance, and casually sits on the steps as the utility tractor with Zeke and Jericho rounds the Depot. Sienna stays calm, smoothly rises from the stairs, and walks over to greet the two men. Jericho's first sight of her is on the stairs of the train car, and he immediately senses something is not right. As he lowers the statue to the ground, it's fragile arms uplifted to the sky, Zeke hops off, and retrieves the dolly leaning against a tree. Sienna sees a large roll of bubble wrap placed on the porch and walks over in long strides to fetch it, picks it up and brings it back to the men who begin the process of wrapping it around and around the statue, and load it onto the back of the trailer hitched to the truck. Sienna senses Jerichoe's distrust but stays serene. "Well, Mr. Schreiber," Zeke says, "it has been a wonderful day. Thanks so much for the dinner and conversation. I will run these things to the university art department. They'll be meeting us at seven tonight." "Thank you, Zeke. Here is the $500.00 I promised you. Sienna, I appreciate you helping to clean up after dinner. Is it alright that I call you Sienna?" She feels this is an attempt to charm her because he suspects his terrible secret has been discovered. His eyes glint at her, beneath heavy lids, a silent message of blame. She is sure as soon as they are out of sight, he will run to the train car to check on River.