Jackal's Dance

by Beverley Harper

  Sean threw a look towards the soldier but the man appeared more interested in scanning their surroundings than watching Thea. ‘Let’s get these trousers off. Lie back, Thea, just for a sec.’ Working quickly, Sean removed her shoes, jeans and panties. ‘Can you sort of squat? I’ll help.’ Positioning himself in front and grasping her elbows he held and steadied while Felicity crouched behind, arms around her. Sean could feel Thea straining, her whole body trembling with effort. He felt completely inadequate. For how long would it go on? Could she take much more of this? What if the bleeding wouldn’t stop? Suddenly, Thea gave a small cry, then shuddered and fell limply back against Felicity. Sean released a ragged, pent-up breath. ‘It’s over, my darling.’

  She nodded weakly and closed her eyes.

  He looked down. He hadn’t expected that the foetus would look quite so human. It would be best if Thea didn’t see. Carefully Sean picked it up. Warm from her body, sticky with blood, he almost felt a kinship with the little being that didn’t make it. ‘Can you clean her up?’ he said to Felicity. ‘I’ll wash these clothes.’ Beyond the pool he dug to his elbows, before placing the tiny scrap of what might have been at the bottom and covering it. Bowing his head, Sean asked God to accept the soul of one innocent child and give it all the love it deserved.

  When he returned with Thea’s dripping things, Felicity produced a pair of dry panties. ‘I stuck spare knickers in my pocket. She can have them.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Sean helped Thea into them. Removing his shirt, he tied it around her waist. ‘That’ll have to do.’

  ‘Is she still bleeding?’

  ‘Not as much.’ He rose and helped Thea to her feet. ‘Come on, love. Let’s get back to the others. You need to rest.’

  The soldier followed them with little interest. His job was to guard. What the hostages did among themselves was none of his concern. A woman in labour was nothing more than the female of the species doing what she was designed to do. In his culture, when it was a woman’s time she would simply go into the bush on her own and return, several hours later, with a new baby. Sometimes, the child didn’t make it. Whether it did or not, the mother was usually back in the fields the next day. Europeans had the annoying habit of making much of what was a perfectly normal event.

  What differentiated the terrorist from the other three, what he could never experience or even wish to, was the bond which had formed between them. Thea, Sean and Felicity’s futures didn’t look too promising, but for however long they had left in this world, the incident by the pool of water in the bed of the Ekuma River bound the three of them as close as family.

  Ace had been watching. The whole incident took no more than fifteen minutes and though he had an idea of what was happening, asked Chester anyway. ‘What is wrong with that woman?’

  ‘She’s pregnant,’ Chester told him. ‘At least, she was.’

  The rebel leader showed no sympathy. In terms of any value as a hostage, Thea remained borderline. Being British had swung the decision in her favour but he still had two others, an actress and the Scottish girl. In his mind, Ace had already written Matt off. His big prize was Gayle Gaynor. If the one who had lost her baby slowed them down she’d be taken care of.

  Worried, Chester sought out Sean. ‘How is she?’ Thea was sitting next to Felicity, eyes closed, face pale.

  ‘She lost the baby.’

  ‘Look after her. That bastard will shoot her if she lags behind.’

  ‘If I have to carry her myself, I will. She won’t slow us down. I’ll make damned sure of it.’

  Chester nodded, then walked over to Billy. ‘In case you’re interested, your wife has just miscarried. She might appreciate some help.’

  Billy had the good grace to look concerned but his response said something else. ‘She seems to have plenty of that.’

  Chester turned away disgusted, missing the look of shame that passed across Billy’s face.

  Like everyone else, Billy had guessed what was going on. Unlike everyone else, however, his sympathies were reserved for himself. His wife was losing his baby in the arms of another man. That she was in a great deal of discomfort, in less than sanitary surroundings and under extremely taxing conditions were of secondary concern. But not even Billy was without some compassion and it slowly dawned on him that Thea might die. With that thought came a rationalisation of sorts. He didn’t wish her harm, just didn’t want any part of Thea and her problems. How to get himself out of this mess was Billy’s main concern. Failing that, how to survive it. All he could do for now was as he was told. At least then the terrorists would not regard him as a troublemaker.

  Several small fires were lit and the soldiers began preparing food. Water was finally handed out – one bottle and an enamel mug to be shared by all. Meat plundered from the lodge was being cooked over the fires, skewered on green saplings and eaten as soon as it turned brown. Almost raw, scraps were finally offered to the hostages, handed out with filthy fingers. Nothing more than a few mouthfuls each, but it was something.

  Gayle tried to give Matt some water but it ran from the corners of his mouth.

  ‘Dip your finger in and put it there,’ Dan said.

  That didn’t work much better. The actor’s lips stayed slack and he registered no reaction. The best Gayle could do was rub a little liquid on his gums.

  ‘You must eat,’ Sean implored Thea. ‘Come on, love, let me help.’

  She allowed him to put a small piece of meat in her mouth, chewing and swallowing with little enthusiasm.

  The mug and water came to Sean. By alternating liquid and solid, he managed to get some of each into her. ‘Good girl.’

  She was leaning against him, limp with fatigue. ‘I’m so tired.’

  ‘Go to sleep. I’m right here.’

  Her voice came back in a whisper. ‘Yes you are. Thank God for that.’ She shut her eyes, the warmth and strength of Sean’s arm somehow secure in a world turned upside-down. ‘I saw what you did back there for my baby.’ Tears trickled through closed eyes. ‘It was a very decent thing to do. Thank you.’

  ‘Sssh. Try to get some sleep.’

  She turned and snuggled against him. They can’t possibly try anything tonight, Sean thought. Not after what she’s gone through. He knew it was more a hope than belief.

  All the fires but one were allowed to go out. It was a sensible precaution against predators yet surprising, under the circumstances, that the soldiers allowed anything that might give away their whereabouts. Dan watched them throwing more wood onto it. Go on, he thought. Build a bloody great beacon. Then his heart sank. Two men made their way towards the hostages. Here we go. Jesus! Oh Jesus! But, one at a time, male and female alike, they were escorted into the darkness for toilet requirements before being returned, unharmed.

  When it came to Thea’s turn, Sean enlisted Chester’s help to demand he go with her. After a brief argument he was allowed to do so.

  Matt was ignored. It was obvious that he was beyond caring.

  As each returned they were bound hand and foot, this time with rope.

  Apprehension over what would happen next was impossible to escape. Not one of them was prepared to voice their fear. It hung over everyone like a spectre of doom. Would they be left alone? Was their wellbeing of any consideration at all to the terrorists? Now that it was dark and they had stopped for the day, thoughts turned back to those left behind. These soldiers had shown no compassion then. Life snuffed out was part and parcel of their daily routine. Was rape?

  Huddled together for comfort, the prisoners formed several distinct groups. Although difficult, it was possible to move around a little. Lying on one side, Sean curled his body around Thea’s. The position became extremely uncomfortable. With hands bound behind, the pressure on his arm was considerable. But he wasn’t thinking about himself. ‘Stay close. You need to keep warm.’

  Her answer was to wriggle as close as she could get.

  By rolling forward and transferring weight onto his shoulder, S
ean’s body gave Thea as much protection and warmth as was possible. Please God, don’t let them hurt her, he prayed.

  Thea was grateful for Sean’s proximity. She wasn’t fooling herself that she’d be spared if their captors went on a rampage. Sean seemed like the one decent thing left in her world.

  Gayle sat awkwardly next to the stretcher, feet to one side. ‘You’ll get a backache sitting like that,’ Dan told her. ‘Either lie down or bring your knees up in front of you. Do what I’m doing.’ When she was more comfortable he added, ‘Now lean against me. That way we can support each other.’

  Felicity and Philip, also at Matt’s side, were doing the same. Although Gayle hadn’t accepted it, the other three didn’t think that the young English actor would make it through the night. They were in unspoken agreement to be there for her.

  Dan watched the soldiers. They sat around their fire talking. Bottles of vodka, whisky and brandy had been produced. They’ll spare no-one, he thought.

  Gayle’s mind was on Matt. I wish I had loved you. I have never known a finer person.

  Felicity swallowed to relieve her dry throat. Fear had her heart hammering. Who will they pick on?

  Philip’s thoughts were along the same lines. He had never felt so helpless as he did now.

  Angela, Troy, Fletch and Caitlin formed another group. Angela huddled as close to Troy as she could, his strong body her only reassurance of safety, any personal dislike playing second-fiddle to an inescapable fear deep within. The rape, never far from the surface of her mind, was playing over and over in her memory.

  Troy, for once in his life with a beautiful girl pressed close, was not thinking about sex. Well, he was actually, but not in the way he usually did. The thought of those disgusting men using any of the women against their will was so repugnant, he was sweating with impotent rage.

  ‘What happened to you lot last night?’ Caitlin asked Fletch.

  ‘Prof said no.’

  She fell silent again. The feeble attempt at conversation hadn’t seemed appropriate. Caitlin, using yoga methods, tried to put her mind into a state of neutral. If the soldiers came for her she’d need to be somewhere else, at least in her head. But fear was in the way and all Caitlin could do was be afraid.

  Mention of Eben Kruger brought with it a vision of Megan. Fletch didn’t want to think about the two of them lying out on the pan. Maybe another day he could face the memory, but not now. It was too obscene.

  Josie lay next to Billy. Neither of them were inclined to talk.

  She had removed her tampon under cover of darkness, buried it in the sand. It had long since stopped being of any use. Now she worried about blood staining her clothes.

  Billy’s thoughts were of Thea. Typically, they were bitter ones. Even if the marriage was over there was no need for her to be quite so blatant about her dependence on Sean. Didn’t she have any moral standards at all? Look at them, all snuggled together. It was shocking. What about me? She’s making me look like a fool.

  James sat with Walter and Jutta Schmidt. He felt somehow connected to them through grief.

  Walter had the deepest fear in him for his little girl. Her body had started to mature last year but she was still basically a child. He knew that all she was trying to do at present was deal with the death of her mother. The thought of her own danger hadn’t occurred to her. She had every right to hold romantic ideals, get crushes, dream of being swept off her feet by a handsome prince. Every girl’s expectation of falling in love and becoming a woman with tenderness and affection bestowed in lashings should be her God-given entitlement. But Walter sensed that his adored daughter would not be given that chance.

  Kalila and Chester leaned together. ‘They’ve started drinking,’ he said quietly. ‘They’re talking about the German girl.’

  ‘You understand?’

  ‘Some.’

  Laughter became louder and more frequent.

  ‘What are they saying now?’ Kalila asked a while later.

  Chester bit his lip. Some of the conversation was too difficult to follow but he’d heard them mention four of the women. Jutta, Josie, Thea and Kalila. Thea was quickly discounted. ‘She bleed like a pig.’ More mirth followed this remark.

  ‘What are they saying?’ Kalila repeated.

  Chester shook his head. ‘I can’t follow it.’ Let Kalila enjoy a few more moments of ignorance. He knew what was coming. The dark-haired girls were their first choice. Angela, Felicity, Caitlin and Gayle should be safe, at least for tonight. But after that? No-one, not even the men, would be spared.

  Ace and his men, when they had the chance to get their hands on alcohol, drank with only one aim. To get as drunk as possible as fast as possible. No-one cared whether it was vodka, whisky or whatever. Bottle after bottle did the rounds, snatched from hand to hand, each gulped down until it was empty. Within a very short time, all the soldiers were staggering drunk. It was then that their thoughts turned to sex.

  Held captive, they had eight women but the little German girl was their unanimous preference. Young, probably a virgin, her continued safety was not important. It was the father who had to remain alive. The African woman also appealed to them. Thea didn’t. She was dirty. She could wait. They joked about the one with short dark hair. She had a good body, not the stick figure of that skinny thing with long dried grass growing on her head.

  Three soldiers made their way unsteadily towards the hostages.

  Walter saw them approaching. Each was naked to the waist. One carried a half-empty bottle of Smirnoff. The look on their faces made it clear as to what was wanted. Hot rage and ice-cold fear clashed inside the German. ‘Nein!’ Walter shouted. ‘You’ve already taken my wife.’

  ‘Papa?’ Jutta didn’t understand. Then she noticed the soldiers. Thinking they were going to kill her, she screamed. ‘Papa!’

  Walter was weeping. Helpless to defend his daughter, he watched as one man lifted Jutta to her feet, slashing a knife through the bindings around her ankles.

  Stumbling, eyes wide with fear, she was pushed towards the waiting terrorists.

  And then Kalila knew. ‘Oh God, no. Oh sweet Jesus, Chester, help me.’

  But he was powerless to do any more than say, ‘Remember who you are. They can’t take that from you.’

  She too was led away.

  Josie also guessed. ‘Please God, please God, let me die.’

  As she was dragged towards the leering men, Billy hung his head and wept. His fears were for no-one but himself.

  Troy could feel Angela shaking. He wanted to hold her, keep her safe, but couldn’t. She was whispering something under her breath.

  ‘Not again, not again, not again,’ over and over, running the words together.

  At last, Troy understood. ‘Sssh, sssh, sssh,’ he said softly, leaning over and brushing his lips against her hair. ‘Don’t draw attention to yourself.’

  It worked. She fell silent but her trembling became so severe that without Troy’s supporting shoulder Angela would have toppled over.

  The soldiers were laughing, shouting, clapping each other on the back, verbally jostling for position.

  ‘Oh my baby,’ Walter wept. ‘My baby.’ He bowed his head, unable to bear what he could see in the flickering firelight.

  Jutta screamed with fright when two of the soldiers pulled off her jeans and panties. When another produced a knife she became hysterical. It was used to slash the bindings around her wrists. Pushed down and held, kicking, bucking against the hands that held her, screaming with fear, Jutta saw a man drop his trousers and expose the swollen penis he would force into her. Ace took her first, ramming her knees up and out. Jutta cried out again, this time in agony, as she was brutally entered. ‘Papa! Papa!’

  Josie was more fortunate, saved by the blood on her inner thighs. When one of the men discovered that she was menstruating, none of the drunken terrorists would have anything to do with her. Superstition being stronger than desire, they returned Josie to the others. Roving e
yes had just selected Caitlin when someone shouted out from the fireside. With a smirk, the soldiers turned to James.

  Jutta’s screams only served to excite those waiting. They cared nothing for her pain. Even if any had known that Ace carried not one but two sexually transmitted diseases, Jutta would not have been spared. It went beyond lust. These men were driven by a desire to destroy all that was innocent or beautiful. Being neither, they saw no reason why others should be favoured. By the time a fourth had finished with Jutta she was beyond verbal objection. She had fainted, the sudden silence somehow more terrifying than her shrieking.

  Kalila submitted stoically. Physical resistance was impossible. Eyes open yet unfocused, she tried to block her mind from what was happening. As first one, then another, and another took their turn, pain became more prevalent than outrage and Kalila also screamed.

  ‘No!’ James did not believe it was happening. He bellowed and struggled but nothing could save him.

  In the face of such unspeakable savagery, all the hostages went into shock. Each reacted differently. Some resorted to silence while others sought solace in the comforting of those around them. Nothing worked but they had to try.

  Sean felt Thea trembling against him. Unable to hold her, he kissed her hair, the back of her neck, her shoulders. ‘I love you,’ he kept whispering. It was all he could think of doing.

  Chester’s gut tightened when he heard Kalila scream. By the time she stopped he had vomited twice.

  Fletch and Troy managed to position themselves on either side of Caitlin and Angela. It was a futile gesture – there was nothing they could do to keep them safe. Old-fashioned ideals of masculine protection and feminine acceptance gave each of them something they could hold onto.

  Josie had been dumped next to Walter. Not given the chance to dress, in fact her clothes were still back beside the fire, she could feel the big German trembling. However, all Josie could think about was that her period had never been so welcome.