Day 9: The Last Note

December 19, 1678

Dear brother,

Mommy, Auntie, and I have finally begun to feel better. I’m so happy to tell you that our village has mostly been cured of the illness that has ravished our lives for nearly half a year. The onsets of our illnesses confused many of the doctors, as the type of poisoning that was present in our systems were not conclusive of what they normally found. Nonetheless, we managed to survive with minimal deaths in the village, but of course people died.

I’ve been reluctant to tell you who has died in our village because it would mean that I would have to face reality, that people we’ve known forever could be gone within the blink of an eye. However, I’ve been most reluctant because it was our neighborhood Shoma who had died. Of course, others had, but her death had hit me the hardest. The poison was too much for her body to handle, but I just could not understand why she was taken away from this world when she had not done anything wrong. Her parents have been grieving for a while since her death, which did occur much earlier admittedly, but I just couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

For the most part, everything has finally begun to go back to normal. I helped build the new well that sits in another end of our village, but I’m proud of it anyways. With what happened, we are being much more restrictive in what is brought into our village from the traders. Dada and Uncle have both been able to return to work. However, because everyone is feeling better, I may not be able to go back with Dada to work because Mommy believes that I should e a proper girl. Mushu and all the other animals in the village have not fallen ill recently which definitely confused all the doctors that had come from Europe, but they figured that it must have been that their bodies are stronger against this poison than we are. The other option is that because almost all the animals are free roaming, they must have found a different source of water, making it so that they weren’t sick.

In terms of my toe, I actually got a bacteria from playing in the river. Who would’ve known? I’ve been playing in that river for years, and now it decides that it’s a good idea to attack my body and make it start to decay. I am happy to say, though, that because of everything that has happened, Thomas has been elected to stay here in Dacca to watch over everything. He continues to trade as part of his family business, but for the most part he’ll be playing around as well. Mommy is going to teach me how to make some new things to eat in hopes of letting Thomas try some. With you in that new western world, Mommy feels that our family should began expanding to different countries in hopes of spreading our family traditions and roots.

I think the thing that excites me the most is that you have decided to return home. I understand that you have studied much in the western world, but it just didn’t feel right to be there while we were here. We are all excited to see that you are coming home, but we hope that you aren’t giving up something you really love. If you feel that it would be better for your future for you to stay in that world, we all feel that you should stay. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll all come out and join you there! But for now, we’ll settle for a small visit. Until you return…

With eternal love,

Chayana

Day 8: The Final Pushes

November 17, 1678

Dear brother,

My birthday passed just yesterday. I actually lived to see my 13th birthday. With everything that has been going on this year at home, I never imagined that I would actually live. Many things around town are starting to get better, but there are other things that could definitely become better.

Building the new well is taking much longer than we had anticipated. We haven’t even started breaking ground. The European people have come and gone many times to try and help us fix our issue. We live near the Buriganga River, which is where all the traders come to trade, but we have a branch off where the water from the well is from. Right now, everyone at Dada’s work is trying to figure out if there is another branch off for our source of water. The European people in connection to the people from Dada’s work are trying to figure out why the arsenic from the water is still there.

Thomas tried explaining it to me a couple days ago. The powders that someone bought from the Asians were really potent in arsenic (that’s a new word he taught me. A lot of people in Europe use that word when describing something that’s really strong). We don’t know who bought it or why the Asians would sell us something like that, but they did. But, because we can’t even build the new well, people are still getting sick.

Now, the people all over the town who aren’t sick (currently) are trying to get harder restrictions on traders. If it hadn’t been for the little girl and her father coming when they came, our town would’ve been dead by the end of the year.

Mommy and Auntie are still sick. They are finally better than before. Now that they have hope that they will get better, they have actually started getting better. However, they are still very weak and fragile. On the other hand, I feel amazing. I still have those bumps in my mouth, but they don’t hurt as much as they used to. I don’t cough blood up as often as I used to, which is also a good thing because I will be starting to work on the well again as soon as they figure out what was wrong in the first place.

Thomas’s father knows an English doctor who has decided that he will come down to Dhaka to examine all of us and see what was really wrong with our town. He also agreed to look at my toe and try to figure out why my toe started turning green and eventually had to be cut off as a result.

All in all, everything is at a standstill. We still have traders coming here, but they’re much more careful with what they sell to us than they had been before. Any trading stall that sells food doesn’t sell to us kids anymore because they are afraid that we will get sick. To be honest, things since you’ve left have gotten much worse. I really wish you were still here, even though now we don’t really have that big of a threat anymore as long as we fix it soon. Write back soon! And thanks for the birthday candies you sent back!

Love,

Chayana

Day 7: The Final Frontier

October 2, 1678

Dear brother,

It’s been nearly a month since our last exchange, and much has happened. Dada has gone back to work, leaving me in charge of Mommy and Auntie. He has agreed to take me along back to work whenever Uncle can watch over the other two. In terms of illness, our prayers have finally been answered.

The little girl Thomas and I had been watching was actually a European. Her father had left her here to observe the town’s behaviour as he believed there was something happening to us locals. She’s actually older than she looks, but because of her height and size, we thought she was younger. After a couple weeks, her father returned in search for the problem. She had been writing him back and forth about everything she observed about us locals and what was happening to us. Along with the girl’s father, he had brought other Europeans with him to find the source of our illness. He stayed for a couple weeks, and he finally figured out what had happened to us.

For a while, you know how we’ve had traders coming from all over the place? Well, there was a period of time (around a little after you had left for America) where some other Asians were coming to trade. They had so much good trading goods and medicine that everyone here was buying whatever they could. However, someone did not like one of the powder medicines they had bought, but instead of throwing it away normally, they buried it into the ground. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue, but they buried it right near the well. The medicine started leaking into the well, and it’s been contaminated since.

The Europeans who came brought a lot of powders and liquids to test their things. We actually found out that a lot of people in the village had what I had. Everyone was coughing up blood and had mouth bumps. To explain it to us, they said that there was this bad stuff in our well that was making everyone sick, and since we all drink from a single well, we were exposing ourselves to this all the time. Dada and Uncle were not affected because they were apparently exposed to this thing in their work, so their bodies were used to it. I was better off than Mommy and Auntie because Dada had begun letting me go with him to work, where this thing was actually common in the stuff used to build.

Thomas actually explained to me that this thing is called arsenic. It’s really bad for the human body and does a lot of pain on all of us. But, the thing that bothered me the most was why the Europeans had rushed to help us in our time of need. It’s not like they ever really cared for us. That was when I found out that they only cared because Europeans were getting really sick. They couldn’t figure out what it was, and they had mapped out where a lot of people had been travelling to. Many people who were sick had traveled here at least once, which is not shocking since we have a lot of trading that happens here. However, the thing the Europeans are looking for is not here, so they are still stumped.

Well, the little girl left, but we still have to drink from that single well. Dada’s work has actually expanded to building a new water well. So, while Dada works on that building, I get to start helping with the water well. Because of how many people have been falling ill, they are letting whoever they want to help if they can. Everything has felt relieved now that we all know that we are going to be ok. The only thing that bothers me is what had happened with my toe. When I went back to the doctor’s hut, it could have actually been something just wrong with my body as I was born. Which explains why I always feel cold.

Everything finally feels normal. I’m glad you’re not here though, because this would have been tough for you to face. I hope you write back really soon!

Love,

Chayana

Day 6: The Flowing Boy

September 2, 1678

Dear brother,

Everyone is still sick. Those who aren’t sick are slowly withering away from exhaustion. So far, my illness has been at a standstill. I’m still coughing up blood and my mouth still has these bumps all over. So far, no other extremity has shown signs of the decaying matter thing that was on my toe, but you can never be sure here anymore. Mommy and Auntie are in the same position so far. Traders still come and go, but it’s hard to tell when the next thing will strike. Uncle and Dada are still alternating for work, which is harder and easier for both of them since Uncle now works Dada’s job. The town in general is still pretty sick, but it’s hard to tell who is sick and who isn’t anymore because everyone else is just exhausted.

The little girl who Thomas and I saw the other couple days ago is still here. So far, we’ve asked every trader who has come recently so we can see who she belongs to, but this has come to no avail. Every person we ask has noticed a small robe always flowing in the wind, unsure of what that was, and we have safely deduced that it is the girl. However, it seems that she has recently brought a friend. There’s a little boy with this girl, maybe her brother, and he seems to be following in her steps.

When I told Thomas of this little boy, he looked at me very confusedly, wondering what I’m even talking about. I think it’s really obvious, that the girl is standing right there with the younger boy. The two look absolutely lost, but Thomas keeps claiming there’s no boy with th girl. At some point, I ended up drawing the boy so he could finally see that what I’m saying is true. But he kept saying that I’m making this boy up in my mind. That this boy doesn’t exist, that I’m just seeing things.

The boy follows the girl everywhere she goes. Like the girl, who I presume is his sister, he walks with a long flowy robe, always just out of sight. I’ve gone alone without Thomas before, asking other people if they had ever seen this girl before, but I always get the same response as I did with the girl. I keep thinking that some traders left her and her brother behind, forgetting these two children. Thomas keeps claiming there’s only one child, but I’m determined to prove that there are two.

When I returned home after my hunt for the boy and girl, Mommy and Auntie were both feeling a little better. They kept saying they saw ghosts throughout the day, but Dada and Uncle told me not to believe them.

It’s been tough these months. Everyone getting sick, and traders are still coming despite everything that’s been going on. We aren’t sure how long this is going to last, but we know for sure that you should stay away from home for now. Everything here can’t be taken care of easily, and if you come back, you may end up bringing some crazy illness from the Americas that we have never heard of. It’s hard to describe this feeling, that I can never see my big brother again, but it’s for the best. Enclosed, Mommy and Dada have sent some small things from home that they thought you would miss. You’ll hear back soon…

Love,

Chayana

Day 5: The Mystery Girl

August 28, 1678

Dear brother,

Several weeks have passed, and there has been no sign for hope. All of us are still sick. Dada and Uncle are tiring from exhaustion. I’m still suffering from all those things I described in the past letter. It hurts to even talk now. Auntie and Mommy seem to be getting a bit worse. Auntie can’t eat anything as she ends up throwing up and coughing up a lot of blood. Mommy can’t talk to us anymore because of the bumps she has in her mouth. Out of me, Auntie, and Mommy, I’m the only one that has some energy to do anything. Mommy and Auntie remain in bed, Daddy and Uncle watch over them, and I’m free to rest and wander.

I walked around town today. Traders seemed quieter than usual, and everyone who lives here seem to be slightly dead. The sickness has been ravaging through the town like crazy. At least one person from each family has been attacked by this vicious monster, and none of us know what has actually been causing it. Some of the traders have been struck with our disease, but others remain normal and completely healthy.

As I was walking, I noticed this girl, small and innocent, hiding behind a barrel of fish. She seemed tense but confident. I’ve never seen this girl before. If she had been born here, I would’ve known her, so she’s definitely not a native. Thomas came by as I was observing her. On the bright side, he forgave me for our last encounter. On the down side, he had never seen the girl before either. We estimated her to be about seven years old, but she seemed to not have a chaperone. Since Thomas had been around many various trading posts in different countries, he’s learned to notice people who are out of the ordinary, and she is a girl that he has seen at each post. No one has ever claimed her to his/her child. He’s asked around in different countries, and no one ever knows who he is talking about.

Through it all, she should not be outside during this time of sickness. With everything going around, it is dangerous for her to be remotely near main places of the town, particularly the trading post. We have approached the girl, but she looks at us with her big eyes and walks away. We’ve asked around everyone of who she is and whether any of the traders knew her parents, but so far all of our questions remain unanswered.

This girl remains as the second biggest mystery here in Dacca. Our biggest mystery is that of the illness and why it seems to be targeting a lot of us. More natives have fallen ill than traders, but some traders are still ill. The girl seems to go around interacting with the sick, and yet she remains immune to the illnesses that have taken over our town. Thomas and I are both intrigued by this girl’s behaviour. None of us seem to be getting better, and we are unsure of what to do. Yesterday, we saw the girl go towards the swampy, marshy woods area we used to play at when you were still here. I’m not sure why she would head in that direction, but I want to follow her. I haven’t been able to go because Dada wants me to stay in for a little while to help watch Mommy and Auntie while he returns to work. I’m not allowed back at the construction site. Thomas has agreed that he will follow the girl and tell me what he sees. Hopefully, I can see him tomorrow.

Lovingly confused,

Chayana

Day 4: The Blood Marks

August 7, 1678

Dear brother,

The weather is still really hot here. Things at home are getting even worse. Auntie’s condition isn’t any better than the last time, if not worse. Dada’s still ok, but he’s starting to feel warm and more tired than usual. Mommy’s been in bed for days now, and she won’t come out to see Uncle or Auntie or even me. As for me, I’ve gotten better and walking without a toe, but it still feels weird to not have anything there. My coughing has continued, but it seems as though I can control it a bit more. When I went to the doctor’s to see what he could give me, mommy, and Auntie, he gave me some herb things and when away as everyone else in town is getting sick.

The boy I had met earlier is still here! I thought he had left, but turns out his father is staying in town to trade while his partner does all the exporting. His name is Thomas, and he’s just a bit older than me. Dada hasn’t really technically been allowing me to leave the house, but I sneak out when he’s not paying attention to see him. I mean, there are a lot of boys in town, don’t get me wrong. Thomas is just different. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know the town like we do, so he just seems so new. Or maybe it’s because I’m tired of all the boys at home. But, I may have messed EVERYTHING up with him…

The other night, I snuck out of the house to meet with Thomas. I’ve been able to hide my toe from him (quite literally since it’s gone…), but coughing up blood is getting a bit more difficult. I’ve been keeping one of dad’s old handkerchiefs with me to catch the blood as I cough. I’ve been coughing up blood for the past couple days, and these bumps have been growing on the sides of my mouth. It hurts to chew and everything, but if you look at my mouth you can see them pretty easily. Dada pointed it out to me before I could even tell what was growing. I’ve started wearing a scarf around my mouth again (like mommy made me do when I was younger), but as a result, I can’t cough conspicuously. When Dada was caring for mommy, I snuck out to see Thomas (as I usually do). With the scarf around me, he thought it was cute to have a change in my clothing (I can’t believe he liked it!). But of course, I thought all was fine and I didn’t take Dada’s handkerchief with me. When I was with Thomas, I started coughing so vigorously that the blood was spewing everywhere. I ran home as fast as I could crying. When I snuck back in through the window, both Mommy and Dada were asleep, so I cried myself to sleep.

I found out Auntie is starting to get those bumps in her mouth. Mommy is feeling better, but not well enough. Uncle and Dada have been rotating through Dada’s work so that both can take care of all of us. The heat is making everything ten times worse. I don’t know how much longer I can stand here. Nothing seems to be getting better, and traders are still coming from all around to sell their stuff in the markets. I hope you write back soon. I really miss you.

Love,

Chayana

Day 3: Death Do Us Part

July 27, 1678

Dear brother,

Traders are still coming from all over the place. They won’t stop coming. Dada’s construction on the temple has been delayed because people from all over keep disturbing him.

Everyone here is still sick. Mommy and Dada are still fine, but Auntie and Uncle are getting sick. The green, black thing I had with my toe has now spread to them. My toe got so bad that the doctor cut if off. You can’t imagine how different it is to not have a big toe.

A few days ago, I snuck to see dada at work. I shouldn’t have been walking, but I just couldn’t help it. I met a boy on the way to construction. He’s a foreigner, the son of an English trader. He’s a very cute boy, and I just couldn’t help but talk to him. So, instead of going to see dada, I talked to him for hours on end. He’s only in town for a couple more days, but we’ve already made plans to see each other again. Dada almost caught me when he was walking back from work, but I managed to sneak through back home before anyone noticed I was gone. The only problem is I don’t know how to tell him about my missing toe. The thing is absolutely disgusting, but he can never see. He can’t know I work with dada in construction either. Back in England, all girls stay at home and take care of husbands while boys work. I even told him I stay at home instead of going to work with dada. I live a tough life now…

Cough. Cough. I’m dying. It’s been a day since I’ve talked to the boy. From what I’ve heard, he’s going to be in town longer than I expected. I think I’m dying. I’m definitely dying. Mommy says I will be ok, but I feel dead.

Brother, I know you have worried since my last letter. I fear to worry you more, but I need to worry you more. I’ve begun coughing up blood, and mommy now has that dead skin stuff I had. Auntie has begun getting chills, but Uncle is better. Dada has had to take off work to watch over me. I’ve been afraid to go see the boy I met, but I’ve begun feeling really hot all the time and have started having trouble breathing. The doctor has come to see what is wrong, but everyone in town is getting sick. I can’t sleep laying down in fear I’ll choke to death. I try to get up and help dada around the house, but I get put back down. He worries even more as I haven’t had as much of an appetite.

I just went to check on Auntie, and she has begun coughing blood as well. The town talk has it that the traders have been spreading disease among us. Dada can’t go to work anymore because he has to take care of us as Mommy is having difficulty walking now. Many of her toes have the green stuff that I had.

I don’t know what has been happening. Quite a few traders have left in fear of catching any of this sickness many of us seem to have. I haven’t left the house in days. Mommy and Auntie sleep all day now. I’ve tried sneaking out to see Mushu, but dada keeps catching me. I wish you could come home, Brother. I don’t know how long we can last here anymore. We’re slowly losing hope...write back soon.

I miss you,

Chayana