by BJ Mayo
All of the group knew and were warned routinely by Mingas: Anyone caught inside the circle guarded by his roosters would be killed. No exceptions. If they needed to talk to him, they were to give the clucking hen sound, day or night.
Mingas deemed Mariel a fool but kept him around because he would always relentlessly kill anyone Mingas pointed in his direction, including the young boys in the band. Mariel loved to run into a fight, crowing loudly as he unloaded his gun on the villagers. Then he would climb on the tallest rock or structure and crow loudly while flapping his arms like rooster wings. Sometimes this made the boys laugh. Mingas simply told him to not crow out loud until the attack was finished. The terrified young boys were forced to stay in line. Adequate food and water were acquired only through attacks on small villages in their path.
Mingas had been studying the orphanage compound for some time with his spyglass. He was somewhat certain they had a small number of guns, if they had any at all in the compound. He could see two men on the compound wall at all times, but they never had a shouldered weapon. Every now and then he could see something reflecting the sun, possibly a mirror. He never saw it for long, and it did not appear they were trying to signal someone. Maybe their firearm was leaning against the wall.
The orphanage had long been off-limits to any type of military attack. He was well aware of the fact that the compound not only had food supplies and water but possibly young boys hidden behind those walls.
The band had not eaten well in several weeks. Eduardo had killed two monkeys with his gun a few days hence. By the time the three adults had their fill, there was precious little left for the boys, mostly the meat off the tail. Eduardo and Mariel made it a point to throw any bones for the boys to chew on. They dared not approach the fire, where the adults were eating. The bones were quickly grabbed and devoured by the hungry boys. At least they were getting a little subsistence from the marrow inside the skinny bones.
Mingas calculated that if the compound was taken over, his band would have immediate food and water, and possibly a stronghold where they could bring other fighters. Others might be eager to help him join the fight against the government, if they knew he had a compound with sleeping quarters. He would take the biggest room.
It would also give the government a place to kill his entire group in one setting, if they found out they were holed up inside. Maybe they would attack and overcome the compound, take all that they needed or wanted, kill all of the men and rape the women and girls.
That would make his entire band happy for a while. He might even let Mariel crow from on top of the wall after they were finished. He could see the men and boys raping the women, and then Mariel climbing to the top of the compound to begin flapping his arms and crowing.
He laughed quietly to himself. This would surely put everyone in good spirits. Timing of the attack would be critical. Mingas was good at planning attacks on innocent villages with little or no defense. Surprise, kill, and leave. Often the villagers were frozen in fear and the men unable or unwilling to fight off the intrusion. The attack on the orphanage would have to be shortly after daylight. He knew the men changed shift shortly after daylight, and were absent from the wall for five minutes. They would use their machetes to build enough ladders to put in place a short distance from the compound walls.
Maybe six ladders would do. They would dry camp a short distance from the ladders in the jungle, out of sight of the wall. They would have to ensure complete quiet. The tree monkeys were quick to detect an intruder, and would begin barking at the least sound in the night. This in turn would alert the guardsmen on the wall. Better that they be in place well before sundown the evening before.
He would tie each of the roosters’ beaks together with twine during the night, to avoid the morning crowing at sunrise. He would keep his main rooster with him as usual through the night. Even if he could not crow, he would gurgle cluck when someone or something approached.
Lions would have to be killed if they approached the group. If that happened, the whole attack would be off. When the men were changing guard the next morning, the band would quietly rush to the ladders and get them to the wall. He figured they could get the ladders set up at each corner, and get over the walls before the guards got back. He anticipated that Eduardo and Mariel, along with the two oldest boy fighters, would need to be first over the wall. They would have their guns ready and machetes strapped to their backs. The element of surprise was crucial, as the compound occupants believed they were safe from attack within the walls. His men would have to kill all men they encountered without reservation. Once those threats were eliminated, the women and children would be rounded up and assessed. At that point, the fight would be over and they could slow down and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Per his normal regimen, Mingas went over the fine details and timing of the planned attack. He knew of no other villages in the immediate area that would detect gunfire and come running. Through his area surveillance, he knew of no government troops within miles of the area. The only boat he could see from the shoreline was the big white Mercy Ship, which was normal for this time of year. The ship normally stayed offshore about two kilometers for the first day or so after its arrival from the United States. He figured that even if anyone on the large ship heard the gunfire, they were in no position to make an immediate response, and would not know where to respond. He figured that even if they lowered a boat, put personnel in it, and headed to shore, it would be at least one hour before they got there. Then they would have to approach the compound carefully, if they did at all. No, he figured they were safe enough with his plan. If someone did come their way, they would have to come over the wall with the ladders to get in. He would have to ensure that the last person up the ladder pulled it over the wall, if there was time. They could kill anyone below the wall if they approached.
Mingas really did not like to travel in the jungle at night, unless it was an absolute must. Full-moon nights were desired, if they must travel. When they camped, he liked to have a fairly good fire next to him and his rooster’s sleeping spot. He would sleep on his bedroll, gun and machete by his side, rooster secured by foot tether within a few feet of his bedroll. The slightest alert from the rooster had him up, gun in hand.
He would continue to flesh out any weak spots in his plan overnight and tell the troops in the morning. The moon would be full in two days.
Mingas slept lightly. The animal night sounds always made him feel uncomfortable. He never showed any fear of any kind to his fighters. To do so would be death. His total grip of fear on the men and boys was his control. Without that he would lose control quickly. He had watched the younger lions drive out and many times kill the pride leader when he demonstrated the least ability to keep them at bay. Although wary of night sounds, he was fearless. The group knew he had killed countless men, women, and children. He loved to utilize the machete and work on the head, often slicing off ears before whirling like a samurai warrior with a sword and taking off the entire head at the neck. He was deadly accurate at hitting the victim’s neck just about midway. The aftereffect was extremely disconcerting to the viewers of the kill: the chickenlike neck spurting blood as the heart continued to pump, the head falling to the ground, and then the body crumpling to the ground following the head. The band had seen him kill many in this fashion after the main attack was over, and the men and women were all huddled in fear in a group. With no means to protect themselves, nor the will to fight, they were easy targets for his cruelty. He kept a whetstone in his side pocket on his pants. He continuously kept the machete razor sharp under the attentive eyes of the men and boys. Just sharpening the blade kept them wary and careful of not being his next victim.
Eduardo had started a morning fire when Mingas arrived in the main camp. He carefully set his rooster down and tethered him to a tree. The boys had already gone out with Mariel in search of food to bring back to the camp for some type of breakfast. Mingas stood by the fire. The flames reflectin
g off his dark eyes gave away nothing of his intent. Eduardo knew it was useless to try to question him when he was in this mindset. Better to wait and see what he had to say.
He was always quiet and moody like this when an attack on a village was imminent. Then, when he was ready, he would lay out his precise plan and timing. After that was done, there was no turning back or questioning. He could not and would not be reasoned with. He was the absolute leader and authority.
Eduardo knew if he wanted to challenge him, he would have to kill him. He knew he did not have the nerve and possibly the skills to kill him. He also knew that Mariel was too stupid to attempt to kill him, and the boys were scared of looking him in the eye. He would wait and see what the boys brought to eat, and see what Mingas had to say.
Shortly after midmorning, Eduardo could hear the boys making their way back to the camp. They were carrying bananas in each hand. He had hoped for some type of meat. Their bodies were in need of protein.
The bananas would do for now. Mariel came behind the boys carrying two large frogs. He probably hit them with their machete as they stared back at him at the edge of a stream. He had killed many in this way. The legs would be tasty, cooked over the fire, but there was not enough to feed but one person. That person would be Mingas. As the leader, he always got first choice of any food and particularly meat. Mariel or Eduardo was always close to the boys when they were sent out for food. They normally stayed a short distance away, in case the boys were detected by army troops and captured. Then they would be able to report back to Mingas and escape.
The boys sat the bananas by the fire. There was enough for everyone in the group of ten boys and three adults to have a banana each. Mariel cut off the frogs’ legs and placed them on a pointed stick above the coals. He did the same with the body of the frogs, though they would be last to be eaten if at all.
Mingas did not acknowledge that they had arrived. He did not look in their direction, only in the direction of the Benguela by the Sea compound. They all knew something was up.
After the legs had cooked a while, Mingas turned around and went to the fire. He picked up the stick and blew on the legs before, pulling one off, and began eating. He motioned with his head and the boys each took a banana. He motioned to Eduardo and Mariel in the direction of the frog bodies on the sticks. “Those are yours,” he snarled. They took a frog body apiece and began eating the portions he allowed them to eat. Mingas finished his legs and grabbed a banana. He washed down the meal with stream water from his canteen. “Hurry up and finish your meal. I have something to say.”
The group knew it was no-nonsense time and sat around the fire. Each boy threw his banana peel into the fire, as they had been taught. Eduardo and Mariel threw the remainder of their frog bones into the fire and stood. All eyes on Mingas, he began to lay out his plan.
“It has been a while since we ate good meat and slept off of the jungle floor and not on the ground or in trees.”
While speaking, he surveyed the face and emotion of each person in the band. He was looking for any potential noncompliance or disobedience.
“I have found a place where we can have good food for a while, good water for a while, and women for a while.” Eduardo and Mariel smiled at this announcement, their unbrushed teeth gleaming. Never mind the sweat and grime on their bodies, women sounded good. They knew from the past that Mingas would order them killed when they were done. He would only keep them alive for the men, and possibly some of the older boys, and to cook for them.
When the boys saw that Eduardo and Mariel were allowed to smile, they began to smile as well. They remembered the attack on the village where the village men’s heads were placed on sticks around the fire. They remembered the two young girls and the killings. They would have to be careful not to get the girls’ brains on Mingas’s boots, if he told them to shoot them. He would probably kill them this time if it happened again.
“I have decided we will overtake the compound where the children are. Benguela by the Sea.” The boys tried to look straight ahead without emotion. They all remembered the young girl who had escaped into the compound and the boy who led her there. They remembered dropping out of the trees and cutting off his head and hanging him upside down from the big tree.
“The moon will be full in two days. We will attack when the sun is one finger from the ground.”
He described the attack plan in vivid detail, covering the preassembly and placement of the ladders, their height, and pulling them over the wall. After he completed the lists of duties and timelines, he turned away.
As usual, he asked if everyone understood their task and if there were any questions. As usual, everyone nodded. He carefully opened his cigarette pouch and doled out brown-brown cigarettes to each person. He also gave each person a wax-covered match to go with the cigarette.
“Do not smoke these until before we attack. I will tell you. Get the ladders prepared. I will be back.”
With that, he gathered his rooster and headed back to his camp spot. It was time for him to sleep. He tethered his rooster and lay on his blanket, safe from the challenges of a rival.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Jackaleena was en route to give the chickens her one finger’s worth of bread when she noticed the girl with the long stick. She was holding it where the top of it cleared the top of the compound wall.
Jackaleena observed cautiously for a while, sneaking a peek every so often, so as to not draw the girl’s attention. The young girl, about Jackaleena’s age, would look toward the top of the stick and then lower it down. She did so multiple times before laying the stick down parallel with the wall, so as to not be seen easily by anyone passing by.
Quietly she slipped away. When she had been gone for a little while, Jackaleena carefully walked along the wall without moving her head as she walked by the long stick. She shifted her eyes downward and walked slowly past the stick. She stopped to pull off one of her sandals. While she appeared to look at her sandal, she shifted her eyes to the stick. The end of the stick was split and a small mirror was stuck in the split.
Jackaleena determined the girl was attempting to look over the wall. She had heard the large boats steam past on the seaward side of Benguela. She remembered that the jungle was on the other side. Maybe the girl was looking at the sea.
Jackaleena carefully looked around in all directions, to ensure there was absolutely no one watching her, including the men on guard duty. She picked up the stick and stuck it up over the top of the wall. The mirror was not easy to see, but her eyes were sharp. She moved the stick around a little and only saw ocean and waves. She could make out birds flying above the water. It was then she spotted the large white ship with a red mark on it. It was sitting in the ocean a distance away. It did not appear to be moving.
She lowered the stick and lay it down as she had found it. If there were people on the ship, maybe they were going to attack the compound.
She ran to her room. She must tell Margaret so she could warn the others before it was too late.
Margaret was in the lunch room, helping the other women prepare the noon meal, when Jackaleena walked through the door. She was worried. Standing quietly at the door, she said nothing. All of the women turned and looked at her, as no children were allowed into the lunch room until someone hit the bell. Margaret saw her and knew there was something terribly wrong. She wiped her hands on her apron and ran to the door.
“Jackaleena, you look terrified. Did you have a bad dream last night? Did something happen?” Jackaleena motioned her to come outside. “What is it, dear?”
“I saw a girl holding a stick over the top of the wall by the sea. She had a looking glass on the stick where she could look at the ocean. Just like the one I have in my room.”
“You mean a mirror, dear?”
“Yes, a mirror,” she replied.
“Okay, so what happened exactly?”
“She laid the stick by the wall and left. When I was sure no one was looking, I picked it
up and looked over the wall to the sea. I saw a big white boat with a red mark on its side. Do you think they are going to attack us?” Jackaleena’s eyes were wide with fear. “Maybe they had machetes. Maybe they would cut our heads off.” She began to cry.
Margaret held her tightly and caressed her hair and cheeks.
“Jackaleena,” she said quietly. “Jackaleena, it is okay. They are not going to attack us. What you saw is called a Mercy Ship. And the big red mark is a cross. That means they are a boat with doctors and nurses.”
Jackaleena pulled away and looked into Margaret’s eyes. She dabbed away her tears. “What is dockters and nusses?”
“Well, the ship comes one time a year. That means one time every time the sun has come up and gone down many times.”
“What do they do?”
“They send a small boat to our compound with supplies for people that may be sick or that may get sick. A small group of people are on the small boat that can help sick people. If they are very sick, they will take them back to the ship where they can help them more.”
“Where does the ship come from?”