by Ralph Helfer
“My command will be pulling out in the morning. We have our orders. The relay system has been deemed no longer necessary.”
“Well, I must say that is a bit of good news. This thing has kept us from doing a proper job on the teak for months. Those stupid rebels must have realized the futility of attempting to overthrow such a powerful and well-established army as this country has.”
The captain nodded and prepared to leave, then stopped. “Would it be possible for me and my men to stay the night? That trail you call a road would be quite difficult to maneuver at this time of evening.”
Singh gestured to a waiting guard. “See that these men have some food and a good place to sleep.”
There were thank yous all around, a few good nights, and they were gone.
Singh took a minute to radio his security men that they could return to the village. It would no longer be necessary to secure the area. He heard a few cheers, something about “a good meal” and “a waiting wife.” He smiled, turned off the radio, clicked the light to dark, and headed into the evening shadows.
Bram and Sian were asleep when Bram woke to a noise just outside the door. He sat up, listening intently. Nothing. Turning over, he felt the warm firm body of his lady. She slept deep in trust, knowing he would keep her from harm’s way.
Another noise, a rustle. Bram left the bed swiftly but not to awaken Sian.
Thinking a forest animal was about, he picked up his choon and readying himself, pushed the door open. The muzzle of a gun poked his chest; he heard a click as the safety was taken off.
“Back inside,” spoke a voice.
Bram backed in, followed by the man with the gun and two others. One of the men pushed Bram onto the bed, waking Sian with a start.
Neither of them wore clothes to bed as the weather had been humid. The sheets had slipped down from Sian’s body, revealing her firm young breasts. She quickly grabbed the sheet and hid herself. One of the men struck a match and lit a candle on a nearby table. The glow cast a shadow across the hut, revealing Captain Mohinder and two of his men.
“What…??” Bram was bewildered.
“Shut up! Not a word!”
One of the two gunmen stuck his weapon against Bram’s body.
“Shhhhhhh!” The captain seemed to be listening for something. Then his attention went to Sian. He grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet, the sheet falling away from her body.
Bram jumped up, grabbing her in his arms.
“Sit down! SIT DOWN! NOW!!” One of the guns was pushed into Bram’s ear.
Slowly he sat on the bed, trying to help Sian hide her body as best he could. A gun butt cracked down on his arms. He winced from the pain. Again the rifle smacked down—hard! The pain was excruciating. His hands slipped away.
Sian stood nude and in shock as her captors pleased themselves looking at her body. She wept softly; her body trembled.
“Close your eyes,” said Bram. “The pain will be less.”
Sian’s eyelids fell. Her body seemed to relax a bit but the sobbing continued.
“Well, well, a man of the spirit,” said Mohinder. “But it won’t work! When she opens her eyes, we will still be here! Ha!”
His hairy beard separated to show a row of big buck teeth. The grin was ear to ear. Mohinder stopped for a moment, again listening. Turning to Sian he said, “She is a pretty one.” And then his temper flared. He grabbed her arm, pulling her to him. He wiped his wiry beard across her bare shoulder.
It was too much for Bram. He sprang for Sian to pull her away. The captain was a big brute of a man, with powerful arms. He reached around Sian, grabbed Bram with one hand, and pulled him against Sian. She was squeezed between them both.
“Be a man in bed, not here, not now,” he said. It came as a warning. His attention turned to Sian. “You are truly beautiful, my love.” He reached his hand to her breasts, running it over her nipples, cupping her breasts, feeling the weight of each.
The soldiers, anticipating Bram’s reaction, reminded him of the gun by pressing the barrels hard into his skin.
Mohinder’s hand traveled down her trembling stomach to the edge of her pubic hair.
“ENOUGH!!” yelled Bram and smacked the captain’s hand away.
The captain grabbed Bram by the throat. “You are a lucky bastard, you are. If you weren’t needed, I would blow your cock off and let you live to see what you could never have!” His face was beet red. Then as an afterthought: “Maybe I still will before this is over.”
Bram stared into Mohinder’s face. His fury was not in the leastbit lessened. “Why are you here?” he challenged them.
“Ha! We want your village,” charged back Mohinder.
“What do you want with us?”
“From the girl, what all men desire. From you…” He looked Bram up and down. “I have been told you are the best one for the job.”
“What job?”
“To work the elephants.”
“What for?”
“Just shut up. I have told your Mr. Singh that the war is over. Ha! Not true. The bastard army is not far from here. We got these uniforms from a few of their laggards after a brief skirmish—”
A shot rang out! Then another! The captain left Sian and moved to the door. “Ah! Good. My men have arrived.”
Now Bram understood what Mohinder had been listening for. While Mohinder was busy for the moment, Bram succeeded in moving Sian away, partially covering her with the sheet.
“Both of you—let’s go!” the captain ordered. He looked at Sian. “Later I will have the time.” Sian looked away, her long hair shielding her eyes from her captive. “Move it!” he yelled.
Sian went first, wrapping the sheet to cover her nakedness. Bram grabbed his wrap, putting it on as they headed for the village center.
The village was in a state of panic. People were coming from every hut, some being pushed, some being knocked down. Women screamed, shots rang out. Bram saw a few people falling. He didn’t know if they had been shot or just pushed. Fires had been lit everywhere. The whole population of the village crowded into the center around the Rumor Tree.
Bram saw Kalli Gooma for but a moment, caught up in the crowd. A number of military vehicles had moved into the area. Soldiers and equipment were being unloaded. Machine guns were being set at strategic positions around the village. Rajah climbed up on a large dead teak log.
“Now listen here! All of you. In the name of the Peoples Liberation Party, we have taken over your village. Now hear this! My troops have my orders to shoot you…any of you…if you decide to try to escape. We are here to move our men and equipment through the Dullirah Mountain Pass to the north.”
A murmur rose from the people. Dullirah Pass was impassable.
“The army is headed this way. If we have a confrontation with them here, in your village, many will die. If, on the other hand, you assist us in getting over the mountains, no one will be hurt. We will leave you in peace. Now go to your homes, sleep well, for in the morning we will need to work hard…and fast…to accomplish our goal. And…I must remind you, if you leave your hut before morning…YOU WILL BE SHOT!!!”
Sian slept in Bram’s arms the whole night. The slightest noise caused her to jump or cry in her sleep. Bram’s mind raced. What could he do? There must be something. He knew that anything requiring force was hopeless. Force was all these men knew. He decided to go with them peacefully. To not cause a problem by which others could get hurt.
Morning seemed to be waiting just outside the door all night long. Bram felt that whenever he got up, the night would be over and he would have to face the day. Sian awoke with the experience fresh in her mind. She held Bram tight, her head buried in his chest. She had wanted to bathe, to get the captain’s smell off her. But Bram felt it was not the thing to do. There were soldiers everywhere. He didn’t want a repeat of what had occurred last night.
Before they left he spoke to Sian, quietly explaining that no matter what had happened or would happ
en, he would never stop loving her. “He took nothing away from us. A bit of dignity, perhaps, maybe he caused an embarrassment, but nothing more. Do you understand?”
She looked down into her lap, nodded her head.
“No,” said Bram. “Look at me. Look at me with your eyes so I can see that you understand.”
He took her chin, raising her head. Her eyes were filled with tears. Little quakes shook her body at intervals. Her lips trembled.
“I love you, Bram,” she said, and then, “He…took…nothing…away from us.”
Bram brought her to him. They held each other for a long time. Her tears dampened his shoulder.
“Now let’s go.”
Outside was a different world. The quiet from within was overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of people, soldiers, trucks, smoke, yelling, fires. All the activity seemed to be directed to the river where the elephants were tied out.
“Sian, I want you to go your father’s house. Stay there until I come for you.”
“But I don’t want to be alone. My father is working. What happens if he comes…I will die before I let him…”
“Don’t worry, honey, he and his men are too busy, and besides, I’ll be with him so I will know where he is every minute.”
“He hates you, Bram. Please watch yourself. Be careful.”
“He needs me. That will keep us safe.”
They kissed and he was gone.
“What do you need me to do?” Bram had come up behind the captain, who was barking orders to anyone within range.
“Well, well, I see you have decided to join us in our endeavor.”
“I am not joining you, I will do as you say only to keep the people safe.”
“Bullshit! You are afraid I will pluck a petal from your little flower. Right? Huh? Right?”
Bram knew he was trying to break him, to get him angry. “You’re right, I am,” he said.
“Well, my enemy, you are wise to worry.” He put both of his hands on Bram’s shoulders, drawing him near. “The first chance I get I plan on having your lady, and you can watch. Now come with me so we can become better acquainted, huh?”
Captain Mohinder pivoted, putting one arm around Bram’s shoulder as they headed for the elephant building.
Bram was put in charge of the operation. For the next two days the whole village helped the guerrillas prepare for the trek across the mountains. Heavy cross frames were made from the biggest bamboo, tied with reed and fitted to the elephants who would carry the load.
Machine guns were mounted on special racks and set high up on the backs of the biggest elephants. Modoc was one of them. Bram saw that thick swamp grass mats were woven and placed under the mounts to prevent them from resting on the bare skin of the elephants.
The elephants to carry the guns were taken into a small valley by the mahouts so they could practice getting them used to the gunfire. Many panicked and ran off. It took the whole of two days before they were quiet enough to allow the guns to be set on them and fired.
Bram’s thoughts went to Sian. At least he felt she was safe for the moment. If the captain had touched Sian, Bram would have tried to stop him, even to the point of death. The captain needed him too much to risk that.
Singh was mostly locked up unless information that he could supply was needed.
Kalli Gooma was never asked to work. He sat under the Rumor Tree and watched. Bram spoke with him at times, asking if he was all right. All his thoughts had a special connotation.
“Tomorrow is a new day. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain.”
Ja kept the village going. Food was prepared on schedule each day. The village had given over the main office building to the guerrillas’ needs. Beds were brought in, tables and chairs were rearranged, and the communication board was manned by the soldiers.
Each day the captain pushed the men to their fullest capacity, and at night he drank his fill of liquor and slept deep. Bram knew that the next day would be the day of leaving.
He and Sian woke early. Bram spoke softly to her. He could see that she was panicked over his leaving.
“This morning, take Swati to our lake and hide until someone comes for you. Pack enough food for a couple days.”
“They’ll find me! I know it! I know it!” Sian was near hysterics.
“Sian, now listen to me! By time they notice you have gone, it will be too late. Mohinder has hours of work to see to, and he won’t leave the elephants until he is sure that everything is done. I will be with him at all times. Now then, there have been so many elephants coming and going for reed, grass, timber, you won’t even be noticed.” He kissed her forehead. “Wear something to hide your beauty, dress in rags if you have to.”
“But if you leave today, I won’t see you.” Her voice echoed the fear in her face. She was whispering and crying at the same time. “I want to go. Please, Bram, let me go!”
“Sian, baby, listen. The captain will come looking for you before we go. I know he will. He needed me for preparation only. If he finds you, I will die trying to save you and we will both be violated. Do you understand? I have to go with him but I’ll be back.” He cupped her head in his hands. “I must know that you are safe. Some of the other women will do the same as you. Once you return to the village, calm the others—they will need your help—and take care of your family.”
He kissed her many times, her lips, her ears, her nose.
“Please take care, come back.”
He was out the door and gone. “I will,” she heard. “I will.”
30
THIRTY-FOUR ELEPHANTS STOOD READY. Eight had been outfitted with machine guns, the others carried the equipment, food supplies, and men. Heavy, thick hemp ropes laced with fig vine were used to tie the equipment on. Some elephants seemed nervous. This was all new to the elephants but the mahouts kept them in line, talking softly to them. The villagers were quiet, except for some women who were crying, saying goodbye to their men.
Bram had been with Mohinder since early morning, carrying out his orders. Bram wanted them to be on their way as fast as possible to avoid a clash with the army. And then there was Sian. Maybe if he kept Mohinder busy the captain would not have time to think about her.
Ja was doing a final check of the food bags that hung from the howdahs. Each elephant carried six soldiers, who in turn carried rifles.
The children of the village wandered glassy-eyed, not comprehending what was happening. Singh was brought down to the loading area as well.
“They’re taking all the best teak elephants. Those that are left are too small to work,” said Singh.
“Do you think any will come back?” asked Ja.
Singh’s look was enough for Ja not to set his hopes too high. Mohinder started up the trail leading to the village. Bram went with him.
“You realize that the elephants will never get over the pass. Maybe the men but nothing more.”
“Have you been there?” asked Mohinder.
“No.”
“Then you don’t know. So shut up.”
“Where are we going?”
“To be with your wife.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Then I will have to shoot you or you can watch!”
Bram prayed Sian had gotten out all right. They arrived at the house to find it empty. Captain Mohinder yelled a few profanities, then turned to Bram.
“Well, asshole, where is she?”
“I don’t know. I have been with you the whole day. Maybe she’s just around.”
“Just around, huh!” Bram felt this was the deciding moment. If he was to be shot this would be the time. Mohinder grabbed Bram’s arm, hustling him outside. “Hey you, soldier.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The pretty girl, Sian’s her name, find her.” As an afterthought: “Get some of the others to help.”
The hours went by. The mahouts climbed down from their mounts to rest under the nearest shade trees. The elephants stood quiet, their trunks
playing with blades of grass or one another’s tails. The village dogs slept. The heat of the day was taking its toll.
“We’ll have to unload soon,” said one of the mahouts.
“The sweat is building up under the howdah pads.”
One by one the soldiers came back, each afraid to approach the captain with the news.
“Nowhere to be found,” said the soldier.
“Nowhere to be found. Bullshit, she has to be here.” Mohinder started to bark some new orders when far off in the distance, toward town, gunfire could be heard.
“Shit,” was his only word. “It’s time to go.”
From out of nowhere Mohinder’s fist collided with Bram’s jaw. He went sprawling, blood gushing from his mouth.
“You bastard, you’ll get yours. All right, load up!” he shouted, “we’re moving out.”
The village sprang to life. Elephants lowered their heads to let the mahouts board. The dogs barked. Ja did a final check of the loads on the elephants. Kalli Gooma came to say his goodbye.
“Survive, my friend. Stay alive and don’t look over your shoulder.” He placed his hand over Bram’s heart, then mounted his elephant and left.
A special howdah had been rigged on the front elephant, a massive beast called Sinja. This was for the captain. Two soldiers rode with him. An umbrella had been rigged up to keep sun and rain off him.
Bram rode Modoc, who was packed full of equipment and a machine gun that took up most of her back. One soldier manned it, another walked alongside.
Bram, in the eyes of the captain, was just another mahout. Bram liked it that way. It kept him out of problems.
Bram saw the captain whisper something to one of his soldiers, who nodded yes. He figured it was something to make Bram pay for the captain not having Sian. Well, whatever it was, it was worth it, Bram thought.
As the convoy ambled up the trail, Bram looked back as though he would see Sian waving goodbye. But no one was there. At least he knew she would be safe.
In the beginning the trail up the mountain was gradual, but the difficulty increased as the days wore on. The elephants, who generally worked four hours a day, were not accustomed to this kind of effort.