Page 18 - MailOrderBrideFlipBook

send anything?” “When send tip, she considered acceptable to her village. If you no send tip, then she disowned in village.” Eli could hardly believe what he was hearing. “You mean that we are supposed to send back money for what we think she’s worth, and if we don’t, her village will disown her?” The captain nodded. “Da.” A determined, defiant look came over Eli’s face. “I won’t do it! In the Bible, Isaiah said, ‘I will make a man more precious than fine gold.’ How then can I reduce a human being to the worth of three or four dollars?” “I beg you consider,” the captain said. “If you not send, village think her worthless and she feel worthless. She actually very nice.” “I won’t do it!” Eli said. Whitman pointed his pencil at Eli. “You may want to consider everything, before making a decision.” Eli looked lost and confused. He turned to Jim. “Jim, what am I to do?” The old man stood quiet and stoic for quite some time, looking out to sea, as if considering many things. Finally, he turned to Whitman. “Isn’t there something we can do while Eli considers his options?” Whitman tapped his pencil more forcibly on his clipboard. “Well, she can either stay on the ship, or I can lock her up.” “She no stay on ship,” the captain said, “for I no plan take back.” Eli again looked over at Anya standing there, quiet and scared, her fate being discussed as if she weren’t even 15