The Participants Read Online Free PDF Page A

relieved themselves on. Elza ignored the hunger pangs.
Her body was prone to fatigue, but she could ignore that infirmity
when necessary. What she could not ignore was the fact that these
men were going to brutalize and violate her in front of that man.
Elza ground her teeth until her jaw sent stabs of pain all the way
to her temple. Because he was an Observer for the creator, she
couldn't even bring herself to request he not watch.
    Glaring at the impassive Observer did no
good. Elza finally plopped her rear to the ground. The good spirit
of the other women had departed. They could fool themselves for
only so long. That their captors denied them food and water and
shade proved a lack of regard. These women were accustomed to
hardship, but their resilience did not include trusting the brutes
who had murdered their men and their children. Elza wasn't sure
just when the change of mood had happened. She had been too busy
trying to bring Hess back.
    “You are a very odd woman, Elza.”
    She spun at his voice. He had waited
until her attention was elsewhere to sneak up on her. “You are
participating,” she said.
    Hess raised one brow on his
handsome face. Why is one such as him
given an attractive form and made a man while I must be ugly and
endure the touch of brutes? Her best glare
brought only an amused smile in response.
    “I have nothing to do with what the men of
this tribe do. You can blame me if it makes you feel better, but I
am not involved.”
    “You are participating .” She
emphasized the word.
    Hess narrowed his eyes. “What are you
saying?”
    “The Creator did not send you here to bed
beautiful women and tease Kallig.”
    The man sucked in one cheek as he pondered
her words, but gave no other clues to his mental state. Finally, he
spoke softly. “How many of us are there?”
    “It doesn't matter. You are violating the
Divine Command. This entire tribe is contaminated because of you.
My observations are ruined.” She spoke firmly, but kept her volume
low to avoid a spectacle.
    Hess sucked in his cheek again. “We
participate just by existing. You can claim that I participate more
than you think right, but you can't say I am wrong to do it. The
Creator made us in this form. He obviously intended us to interact
with people to make our observations.”
    She climbed to her feet. “These people fear
you. That is manipulating, not observing. You said this world is
wrong. That is judging, not observing. You comforted these women.
That is interfering, not observing. She didn't place you in this
world for your own enjoyment.”
    “She ?” Hess flashed a smug grin. “You think the Creator is a
woman?”
    “Do you really think a man would create a
world?”
    Hess gestured around them. “Does this look
like a world created for the benefit of women? Clearly the Creator
must be a man.”
    This conversation is
ridiculous. The Creator doesn't have flesh. Gender doesn't apply to
Her. Then Elza saw the conviction in his
eyes and stiffened her resolve. “What do men make? Nothing. On the
other hand, women make everything people need. Clothes. Tents.
Rope. Pottery. Children.” Her legs wobbled beneath her.
    “I have yet to observe a woman who could
make a child by herself.” Hess looped his arm through hers just
before she dropped to the ground from exhaustion. “We can argue
some more after you eat.” He pulled her arm over his shoulder.
    “Let go of me,” she hissed.
    Hess hesitated. “I don't know what good you
think you're doing here, but I know what will happen to these
women. You want no part in it.”
    “I don't interfere in events like you,” Elza
said.
    “Don't make this about your pride. The
Creator doesn't require this of you.”
    “Let me go.”
    “You said that I contaminated this entire
tribe. If you believe that, then there is no reason for you to
observe anything further here.”
    “Let me go.”
    Hess released her. “If you think enduring
pain proves something, then go ahead and