Spilled Blood

by A. Achaka

  In no time the village throw into dancing and celebration, with drums and singing, i was getting more weaker with the spears in my arm, but still i was more concern about Emmanuella, still being dressed with leafs by the women. The sun had gone way overhead, and the air was hard against the skin, though weak but i was sweating, ‘i was thinking, about what she is feeling’ I tried to keep eye contact with her, but the women were all around her, she was jumpy and shaking while the women were speaking their local dialect to her.

  Finally i caught her eyes in their mist, i saw the panic in her eyes, she was saying something but i can’t understand, i had to nod my head to keep her in check.

  “Ahrrrr” i felt a very sharp pain in my arm, the spear had been pulled out, and the blood pumps out, i looked up to the person it was just leafs, neither face nor feet was revealed, he had a calabash in his hands and whisteling, then my arm came very heay to me, he had the concoction placed there, i wasn’t just stron enought to kneel i fell down to the ground.

  The noises and chanting got intense, they were dancing possessively, the dust they had raised into the sky had bury them completely, i was still struggling with the pain and on the ground not to mention the dust that was now filing my longs. I was choking seriously and none of them care, i think none of them was aware, my hand were still tied despite the pain, i could only imagine a prayer and murmur in my heart, hoping for a change in the air because i felt like i was struggling with death itself.

  Immediatly the dancing stopped, and the dust simulateniously went down, i could breath properly but my chest still hurt. Still on the ground i searched for Emmanuella, she wasn’t there at all, I throw into panic state and was struggling to get up with my hands still tied up. The only position i got with my effort was half knelling, my face was still on hte ground but my stomach was up, from the corner of my eyes i saw a large feet, coming closer to me, i struggle the more but that was the best i could do and i passed out.

  The hot dry air of what suppose to be the raining season was pretty annoying, it either get your cloths wet of sweat or your face filled with oil, in times of oil skins. I was sweating all over my body when I woke up, and realise i was the only one at the centre of the village, tied now to the evil tree as I called it.

  I felt my arm pulling from the socket and the pain to the injury caused by the spear. I don’t know how long i have been out, but the sun was now going down and the sqare was just empty. I look over, there was a big ball of leafs placed there, it was like sucking the poison from the spear but it wasn’t bleeding no more, but the pain was still there.

  My thought went to Emmanuella, i have no idea what they have done to her or what they are doing to her, and either way there wasn’t a screaming coming from anywhere. It sickens me to the stomach, i tried not to imagine the worst been done to her, well, that sound like jealousy to me, she was indeed a beautiful girl and the idea of some uncivilized man having his way with her hit my chest hard but i am very tied to the tree.

  When i was little all i want was to be like the power rangers, i want to go save the world from bad people and now i am tied up and Emmanuella missing, now is the time for such super heroism to manifest, but it was just a myth.

  In all the ways to die, I have either seen and imagined, these was by far the last I ever imagined it will ever happened to me and once again the memory of my parent came to my mind

  “Oh God is this punishment for what I did at home?” I shout out loud. The sun was slowly giving way to the unthinkable, to me they had saved me up for dinner, and the reddish ball is not smilling, it flashes directly into my eyes.

  I could not see anything but I heard sound approaching me, when the steps finally stopped it was in front of me, i had to close my eyes for a bit. The moment my eyes were opened he drove a spear ringht into the ground before me, “So much strength” i whispered in fright, the ground was dry and hard and for someone to do that he must be a warrior.

  In no time, my widest imagination started happeining, i could only wish, i would run before the real thing happened, I was still trying to figure out what, the spear down means and and the villages reappear once again, this time my imagination were sound like trumpet in my ears, they had firewoods with them and a big pot were been rolled to the very centre.

  My heart sink and turned cold, i could hardly trace its beat, the fear became intense i felt like peeing on my pants. The thought of dying alone could kill faster than the death, i was seriously calling my father in heaven to come save me, which seems not to be happening because right before my very eyes they set three big stones, place the pot and the woods and the fire was lit, while some women and children pour water into it.

  My eyes were filled with tear, i was heavily confessing “God if you let me live, i will not Sin or be disrespectful to anyone again” i kept on repeating the words over and over again. But to make it worse another set of women came out with basket full of veggies and other things, they started slicing them up and worse tonting me witht the knifes in their hands.

  I believe at that moment i was praying for God to take me himself than let these ugly fools, kill me like i imagined in my head already, my eyes were dried completely, i forced the tears but it wasn’t coming at all, all i do was watch, at least if i have to be killed i should watch them prepare the ingredient.

  The women didn’t stop making fun of me, i started praying again “Oh God, please these is my last prayer” I murmured out aloud, then i heard a long “beeehh” sound; there were two goats being dragged to one corner, now its becoming more confusing, “what is happening here” i said out to myself. I watch two men slaughtered the goat and they skinned them, and buctchered the meat, it didn’t take them long, may be twnty minute or so, they were so fast. It came to my mind, ‘what if it were human being’ the meat were given to the women, they washed it and straight into the pot.

  The red ball had vanished given way to the sky light, but the cooking light was set high, more woods are put in place for the cooking. The aroma of the cooking pot make my stomach rumbled, ‘God i am hungry’ i thought to myself, my mind had calm tremendiously, no more death sentence from my side but then another set of woods were brought in and were properly arranged more like a little bed, “OH, this is for me ” i was caught between life and death in fright, i think my heart stopped a second before it revives.

  I have a strong flash of grave in my mind, it was like a movie being played, i was completely hopeless, i totally forget how to pray. The fear had became a snare to me and the little children were all about me, they would touch me and run and come back to do it all over again.

  A man came out from a hut and blow a horn, the whole village screamed and the fire was lit, it rouse hight into the sky, it was a very beautiful sight, one wish to behold, but my death thought could not allow me to enjoy the view, the brightness had given the whole place a clear view. I could see everything happening, it was becoming amusing, people started to gather around and singing while a large drum was been played. Two men showed up, they were all in animal skins, and the people made a huge circle surrounding them, the men went round showing musules and chanting, while the people cheer for them, in no time they turned and engage themselves in a westling match.

  I was really coming to live with that, its been a while i saw people, fighting as such, one was lifted up high but his back could not touch the ground, the whole crowd cheered and they continued until one was put down before they cleard the ground for the dancers. Young men and ladies came out lined up and started some dancing steps, they were really good and every thing very intereting. I could only asked myself “was this for our death or for something else” the answer to that never came.

  For about an hour, fighters would do their part and dancer would come again. While by the corner, the women tend to the meat in the pot, it seems to be done, because two huge men came and set the pot down, this time i was testing the aroma in my mouth, well if i have to die i should enjoy before dying as well.

 
The meat were so tempting, i could see everythin, it was set on a very big bowl, looking very inviting, all i could do was silavate and hope it gets to my mouth.

  Another group of dancers came on this time they had keges of palm wine, they were placed right beside the bucket of meat, “this must be a huge celebration” i whispered, not nowing that around me was a lady, she was full breasted right in my face, she stood there looking at me, my eyes were bulging in her chest, they were very pointed and inviting ‘such temptation’ i tried to dismiss the thought, but it was right infront of me until she was called, i found the will to concentrate.

  A talking trum came to live from nowhere, i could only hear the sound but can’t find who was handling the drum, the whole square went mute, only the flickering of the light was the sound interrupting the drum, shortly tow girls dressed in white animal skin down at their waste surfaced from behind a hut, behind them was a man dressed in animal skin from the head to the ankle, he was wearing a masked, i could bearly see his face, they walk majestically and behind him, were two men hold a chair, “Ah their chief” i silently said, such respect for their chief, i admire it.

  The seat was set at a corner beside the tree, and he sat down. When he sat down the whole group cheered and silent soon fill the place again, it was just a moment of silent, the girls sat down at his feet while the men stood behind him. A minute passed and the crowd went nuts followed by drms and flutes and some ladies came in, they were completely naked, no shame and dancing round the fire, the crowd cheered and danced as well.

  From behind the hut i noticed a form of struggle, soon Emmanuella emerge, she was been pushed into the filed, I almost burst into laughter, actually a laughter of joy, i had no idea what had happened to her. They pushed her closely i could see her face, the tears were calling me to help but i myself was helpless.

  Finally they pushed her to the man on the chair, and was made to seat beside him as well.

  “wait, i hope its not what am thinking, oh disgusting” i said to myself. How can they do that i can’t help but think, when the man got up from the chair the whole place went mute. He spoke in adialect i have never heard before, he was like chewing his tongue while speaking.

  I started a trace of the place we might possibly be, because the forest we were apprehended, was actually a boundry between two state, and seems to be a little familier with most of their tonges but not this one, does people still live this primitive in this 21st centuary, i can’t help but think.

  He finally stopped talking, all my concentration was on Emmaunella, she was looking at me too, with big apologetic eyes, then the man reach for her arm and held it up, the whole crowd cheered and they sat down. A chair was brought for her to seat on, all her face was to me, i think both of us have a good idea of what just happened there, she started crying.

  The danmce commenced again, the dancer were dancing possessively, the men were playing the girls genetals and the crowd were laughing, this is none i have ever seen before, ‘this is madness’ when i looked at Emmanuella she had her hands over her face.

  A man walked up to him and pointed at me, he turned to me and spoke back to the man, the man came up with vigour, i was now agitating, what would be my own fate, he was holding a knife and when he came he cut down the ropes and i fell to the ground. For a minute, i felt no blood flowing through my vains, i thought i was pushing myselg up but i was still on the ground, until he pull me up and seat me down in between two people a man and a woman.

  The woman or lady as it was, was seriously looking at me, I could tell from the tail of my eyes, but then i kept my eyes was on Emmanuella, who was also looking at me, she was sobbing, I wished I knew what happened when they took her away.

  The proper feast started, the meat was brought and passed round for everyone to take a piece each, it started with the chief then Emmanuella then every other person, I chose a very soft part of the goat meat, I almost got it to my mouth when I noticed every one looking at the chief first. He had to make the first bite before every one devours there, so they continue to pass the meat round and when the meat has finished then the palm wine.

  Emmanuella just ate one piece of meat, because I nodded to carry on and she didn’t partake in it again. I also took one horn of the palm wine and didn’t again, because I know how light I was when it comes to drinking.

  The drinks were passed round, every one in the village drinks children included, they started getting drunk and laughing and misbehaving, two men got up and pull up two naked dancers and they chant and pointed to the chief and to Emmanuella and the unjust happened, they were actually having sex right infrom of every one. But that was not my concern, i got the massage they were trying to pass across, “i can’t bear the thought” i said, my mind was jaking up in wild imaginations and ways to escape.

  Much later, one after the other people got up and left the ground drunk, some cant even walk, they crawl or slept there, the fire had gone down already with only the red coal in between the stones. I hardly noticed but there was a half moon way up, giving a little light to the place.

  Emmanuella had been taken in, but the women, i was seriously praying nothing happen to her, at the same time patiently waiting for the time to set in, every one was drunk, all sleeping except one man, he was drunk but singing. I watched him pushed himself up and stargered forward and backward, when it became very difficult he fell flat on the floor, i thought ‘this is it’ he struggled once more but finally gave up and slept.

  I got up, look around and crossed the dead like men, tip toeing, at a point one would turn and i would freeze, and continue again. Finally i was way out of the people, i traced my way into the hut door, they all came out from, it happened to be a big compound, the hut has a two way entrance, i followed quietly and was whispering Emmanuella’s name, jsut then i saw some one pop out of a hut, i almost dive into the shadows but i saw the bag and the gun, then i relaxed and saw Emmanuella.

  She gave me a big hug and gave me the bag and gun and she lead the way, she pull my hand through another hut out back, just by the out side opening, we heard a loud noise, we froze holding ourselves, and then we heard a loud snore caming from there. Emmanuella was eager to leave, she break off the little hug and tip toed out the opening, half way through the snoring stoped and came back in style, it was like car jaking up, it was so much loud, we didn’t hear a single noise. Soon she vanished into the shadow outside, i made my way also and stopped when the image rose up from the ground, and pour out like a gallon of urine from the tank and soon back to a sitting position, with the loudest snore ever ‘I mean how can someone sleep through that’ i quite forgot we were escaping, until she whispered from the dark, i tip toed and started off into the no where land in hasting movement and when we got far enough from the settlement we took off to heels.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The mosquitoes in the bush were as big as flies, they don’t wait for the night to suck on the blood of people, and the funny thing so you can’t get to kill a thing. Attached to that were other annoying insect, some stick to the skin and bite as hard as they can, others creep in and out of it.

  The Sun on the other hand, was not smiling on humans as it hit the skin without mercy, though the handful of rainfall could not change a thing, its more or less arouse and angred the insects in the bush.

  Everything was a mess nothing, seems to have happen the they imagined and now they were back to where they started, to get themselves fixed and ready for whatever was coming.

  The ten men group were sitting shirtless in front of a thatch hut with many disgusting things in front, from an infant skull to dead animals and other images. They gave their body to the angered sun, to freely demonstrate its vengeance all for the purpose of protection.

  A bald headed man half dressed in a red skirt, emerege from the little hut, he was coming out with his back, all other exposed body part were covered in whilte chalk, including the head. He came out humming a song, and he finally turned immediately he was completely out of th
e hut. He had in his two palms a small wooden bowl covered with leafs, his face was also covered in chalk and in between his lip was a leaf too. One could say he was as ugly as a gorilla to begin with.

  He Proceed majestically to the men lined up under the sun, and one after the other he performed a ritual, using the bowl to circle their head and whisper into their ears and to the next until the last of them. The first stage went round on all of them, he watched them from a distance admiring what he has done and walked back into the shrine, and back again this time he was holding a bucket, the blazing sun was shining all over their body even the blackest of them was turning light.

  It was a routine they have been doing, for as long as they can remember, hence none of them did complain about the sun. He set the the bucket down and started washing their bodies with some leafs from it.

  “Make sure you don’t eat meat, as your friend did” He spoke and walk round them sniffing like a dog, when he had done all that is required he stood in front of them admiring his work.

  They were confused with the sentence ‘as your brother did’ who among them did the unthinkable, they all looked at each other and back to him.

  “there is danger ahead of you, better learn to fly on your own than to be caught unready” He always speak in parable to convey his massage, but they are already familier with such statement. He once told them to bring five human head for the ultimate sacrifice, that would enable them do their operation and never be seen or apprehended, but their boss had always object to that.

  “But, Baba who among us has eating the meat you spoke of earlier?” asked one of the men

  “A child that would not want to know, what kills his father, will embark on a journey to the land of the dead, don’t just eat meat, and don’t say I didn’t warn you” he said and went back into the hut humming.