by A. Achaka
“those were hyenas” i said, she hugged me tight and was sobbing, it must have been hard to encounter such terrible situation away from home.
About three of them took off but one was unlucky, i shot it dead, I held her to, making her more comfortable
“Its alright, they have gone” but she wouldn’t let go of me, but tightened the hug that I could not breath, I mange to speak “I can’t breathe” before she let go of me.
“We are far gone now, can we rest a bit, I am very tired” I said, she don’t seems to agree with that
“What if they came running, because that gunshot would have alert something” I stare into her face, ‘wow’ the moon had shaine bright on her face, she looke very beautiful and that was the time i realise the chalk used on her face, almost cleaned of because of the sweat.
“I love your make up” half laughing, she used her hands and cleans it up
“What do we do?” She look exhausted, but earlier she was more agile than i was, she came close to me and held my arm, surprisingly the pain came up again, but it wasn’t that much, i look over and saw what she was son interested at, the leaf had fallen off, during the panic, it was now reveling half cover hole the spear had made.
“You must have lost some blood, i think that the reason you are exhausted” she reached into her pocket and brough out hanki and tied it round my arm. “We need a hid out, so we can both rest, and more over those people might soon discover we are missing and come looking for us” I greed with her point.
We further continued on our journey looking for a form of a hide out, she was glued to me now, our pace was steady until we got to a cliff, it seems a water fall that had completely dried off, because of the draught or its source had lost out,
“Down there will be a perfect place, for hide out” I pointed down the cliff but she had focus to another direction, I trailed her eyes and discovered there was light some kilometres ahead because the distance was revealing dying flames, she turned and looked to me
“No, there is a perfect place for the hide out” she was smiling and anxious to start moving out but I resisted
“Really, do you want to be another person’s bride again?” her expression change “see it’s not that we won’t there, all am saying, we should allow the sun comes up to know what we are dealing with, because the next strange people might not be understanding” She just smiled, and starts down the cliff.
Going down was more tricky that climbing, i fell a couple of times, all she did was laugh and pull me up. Somehow the moon really favoured us that night, we could trace atleast a path to follow, down to the dried stream, the sand was worm, further was a cave like opening, i went ahead and she was behind me, the hole was so warm and very shallow because i came crashing into the wall of it, she laughed but it will our room for the night.
“This is quite a story” i said as we settle down, i took the edge and sink to the sand, she followed and lay by my side using the bag as a pillow, soon we wer both in a forever land.
It must have been a dream, i was with Emmanuella on my back running, and something like a dog was running after us, I ran untill I wasn’t feeling my legs no more and gave in to the ground and the dog jumped on me, i pushed myself into a seating position. Right infront of me was a huge dog with his tongue out, He was just staring at us, I felt my dream had come to reality but we were still in the little cave we slept last night.
I turn and saw her still sleeping, it was already morning, and the sun was slowly rising. I and the dog kept staring into each other’s eyes, he didn’t make a move and I didn’t either. Emmanuella adjusted and the dog took off his eyes from me to her, she put out her hand trying to touch who was by her side, the dog head was moving to the rythm of her hand trying to locate me.
When her hands couldn’t get hold of what she was looking for, she throw herself up and almost scream, when she realise we were policed by a gaint dog, she reached and held me, it came as a relief to her. I didn’t blink as much i was just staring at the dog.
We were both seated staring at the dog who started wiggling his tail, I couldn’t hold it any longer I burst into laughter and the dog came closer, i knew little about dogs but once a dog wiggle his tail, he means he/she is friendly, i reach out my hand and the dog finally put his head down and i stroke it and he lie down beside me.
“Oh, buddy we are just passing by, you don’t need to be friendly” I said still stroking its head, he raised his head and looked as if he heard what I said
“You know you are talking to a dog” she said
“have you seen your face when you turned, it was like we are dead, written all over it” I started laughing but quiet when we heard voices passing at the top of the cave, she hid her face behind my back, i held out the gun, waiting for the first monster to show up.
A whistle sound came and the dog got up Wagg his tail and ran out in no time the voices were gone but we remained in there for a while to make sure it wasn’t a trap.
The voises and sound seems to have vanished, I crawl and peep out of the cave, it was empty no one was there, i got up and looked around still there was no one, I made my hand for her to come and she did, with the gun and bag, we climb back to the top of the cave from there we spotted the village ahead. The village was a little bigger than the last, the houses were more in number and few things to make one feel relief and from our distance we could see the people in their normal activities at least they were putting on clothes.
“We are going to be safe there” she looks at me and smiled
“Let’s just be careful,lest we don’t get married again right?” she narrowed her eyes to me and just when we are about to setting off, I saw the dog jump out from behind a rock and approaching us, he came dancing into me, I stroke his ear and made down to play with him further when the whistle came again but this time the dog did not respond.
The whistle came louder, I guess the people would have been closer by now, I got up straight with my left hand to the gun behind me, still the dog was just crash robbing his body against my trouser. Emmanuella was already behind me, when a young man came up behind the same rocks the dog came from he was holding a locally made gun resting on his shoulder, he stood startled for a while looking at us.
He wasn’t like those wearing leaves, he had clothes on, he whistle to the dog again, these time he raised his head and looked at him and then to me, he started towards him but stop halfway and look at me, dropping his ears down.
The guy made turned to go but the dog barked at him, then he turn and look at us and said something, we were still looking at him, we don’t know what he said he repeated it again then I shook my head to him.
“No speak” he manage to uttered, I think that was the best he could come out with
“Yes I said” he now turns fully looking at us trying to get a proper word to say and finally
“Come” he said, it seems the dog understand what he said and started jumping up and down, he would run to me and back to him, Emmanuella now held my hands seriously as we walk to meet up with the guy.
We climb down the rocky hill, gently because I almost fell twice, my hand doesn’t feel like mine again, it feels like it has a mind of itself, but the funny thing was I don’t feel so much pain. The first building we passed were two huts at the foot of the hill, there were two children playing ball, when they saw us passing they stopped looking at us, from there the next house was a distance of a two hundred meter race track, they were four huts.
The entire village had a sparse settlement, we were thought in our geography classes in Secondary school, I wouldn’t lie I was one of the best in that subject, all the map reading and all have you but have a hidden love for another course as bad as loving a human being.
We walk many meters again and came to what was the heart of the village, at least it was not round like those primitive people have, it was sparse too, but more closely that those at the foot of the hill. It was the heart of the village, the little market, the recreati
on activities and gathering for fun, they were making noise at the time we got there, but all together went mute the moment they saw us and to worsen the situation the dog was playing with me.
The young guy stopped for a bit and throw a greeting and they all chorus back still looking at us, he turn to us and said “come” we followed him still no noise from the villagers, who minght be wandering were the guy had gotten this strangers from.
We passed two more houses and eventually followed him into a hut, it was the main entrance into a compound, they were four hut and a wall that connects them all together, Emmanuella was seriously looking at me, I know what must be going through her mind at that moment, but I ignored her eyes and her thought getting into the way of our comfort, we stood as he opened one of the hut and show us to go in with his hand, I went closer and to my amusement there was a mattress, it was cool actually, he used news paper magazines as the ceiling of the hut and it was quite neat, I was impress I even smiled at him and then to her
“come and check it out its cool” I said to her, her eyes was narrowed down but she have no option and she came into the room, her face turn normal as she entered but was still uncomfortable, we sat down “Finally” I said, I brought down the bag and removed the shirt to look at the hand, It was really bad the handkerchief was covered in blood.
Emmanuella sat by the wall behind me, just in case we were attack, I should be the first, she watched my hand and was filled with pity for me
“Sorry, we need to find something for these your hand”
“Yea, we should settle first, before we think of that, I am very tired” i just closed my mouth and the guy pops in holding two plastic plates, with cooked yam, but his entrance was very scary, so it made Emmanuella to jump into my body, I could not resist the effect and I burst into laughter, as he set the food down.
The room was a bit dark, so he went across and opened the window and then down to me, I was really struggling to seat up, when he saw my hand, He shouted, i almost throw off balance, he was pointing at my hand, he drag me through the other hand and lead me out of the house, with Emmanuella behind us.
He drag me hurriedly to the square, he wouldn’t let me wear a shirt, when we got there, the people kept shut as he call out for someone twice, the people were still looking at us, when a man came out of a hut, he was very short and built, he had no shirt on but trouser and he was very black. They talk together even though we didn’t know what they were saying, when eventually they all saw my hand they shouted, it really sound worse than it look, some of the women were putting their hands on the head already.
The man ask us to come inside his hut, it was a little bit dark, ‘this must be a shrine’ i said to myself. He spoke but up I could not get what he was saying, it was the other guy that directed my hand to a small table in there, he pick up a small mortar and marsh on small leaf and then squeezes its liquid content into the hole in my hand.
The hand came to live and started vibrating like it was an independent organ of itself in the body, he asked the gay to keep my hand still, I was sweating profusely, the pain was very biting and I think Emmanuella felt the pain more than I do, she was behind me telling me to be calm, so that it will be done.
The man climb on a stool to get something from the roof of the hut, my eyes were getting blurred i was not seeing clearly now. The room became very hot and unbearing but I could not just get up and leave just like that beside I was very weak, my ears became very sensitive, as my eyes were going down. I could hear him pounding heavily in the mortar, when he had stopped all I could hear was laughter, and the next thing was me flying to one end of the hut and past out.
I woke up feeling very weak and my eyes were blurred, with much effort i struggled to get to a sitting position but my strength won’t allow it, i eventually gave up the need and lie still on the bed, it was dark in the room.
I don’t know how long I have been asleep but I know I have slept for a very long and my eyes finally came clear, I was only wishing I could do something, when I heard a deep sigh of someone beside me. It was at that moment I realise I wasn’t alone, it’s either the guy that brought us there or it was Emmanuella, yet my body was stiff to move.
I watched through a little open as the darkness turns into day, though towards the day my body lightens a bit, I could feel my hands and feet responding a little, now I know I am not paralyse. Finally Emmanuella woke up and found me trying to get up, she showed her excitement in getting me up to seating position, I could tell she missed me and I have no idea how long I have been asleep
“Am glad you are awake” she said in excitement, my mouth was too heavy to talk, she watched me trying to move it, but only blink my eyes to her “can you hear me?” she asked and all I could do was nod, “you have been asleep for three days” my eyes bulged ‘wow’ what did that guy did to me, three days is a not funny for one to sleep. With my head turn I noticed the hole in my arm completely dried up, she kept the hug for long, she must have seen a whole new game this three days, Still locked together a figure came in, I couldn’t see the figure clearly until she reached and open the window, it was a girl, I think she must have made some friends, when i was passed out.
She was excited as she saw me in a seating position, she turn in flight from the room and came back with the young man that brought us in, he was also excieted but left in haste and in no time he was back with a small pot, it smell very odd looks like traditional concoctions, he handed it over to me and asked me to drink it, the smell alone can knock out some one, let alone taking it.
“Please take it, it will help you” finally Emmanuella mentioned “it was the medicine man who gave him, instructing that you should take it, once you are awake” She reached it to my mouth and pressed it, it was as bitter as gall, I tried to resist but she wouldn’t let the pot slide out and it passed down to my throat. She burst into laughter and they joined her, it looks like they all witnessed the expression I gave out because of the concoction.
“look at your face” still laughing she said to me, the very excitement really showed in her entire body, the guy now spoke and demonstrated that I should lie down a little, she help me down and was stared down at me, as if to kiss me but she will steal a look at the them and back at me.
She got up and told me she would be back, they all left the room leaving me behind trying helplessly to get my body come back fully, I think I missed her as much as she missed me, but it would take an open mouth to say the matter of the mind or heart, in my effort I gave up and quickly fall to sleep.
The sun was over head the next time I woke up, i was sweating profusely, the room was baking hot, I was feeling a little energetic my feet could move as well, I sat up on the bed and look around, I was alone in the room, despite the opened window, it was hot. I got out of bed and staggered to the door, the weakness in my bone held just a little.
I felt very dirty, the sweat must have stick on my skin, i my self had my fingers to my nose cause of the smell, finally i was out of the room, the compound was empty only a chicken and her chicks roaming round picking food on the ground. The sun was blinding, i closed my eyes and allow the sun to freely rest on my body. By the corner was a chair, i reach for it and sat under the sun watching the hen and her chicks do their favourite thing, two in particular were struggling over a warm, one over powered the other and took it away and the other followed the mother.
I was excited watching them moving with their mother, “Family” i outhered, and the thought of mine flashed, what will their thought be or how are they? I was trying to picture their face and Emmanuella’s thought also flashed in, ‘What would be the fate of her family we left at the hands of those monsters’
“Thinking of the devil” I heard voices coming into the compound, when they finally emerged they were happy to see me awake, she was more excited, they went to fetch water, She was struggling with hers but trying to act strong. Clearly she had never done something like this before, back home i could guess alot of house help doing
everything for her probably.
They emptied the content of their pot into a bigger one, by the kitchen and she came to me smiling, She looks really beautiful, i could only smile back, They all did and greeted me, I answered by raising my hands, well someone said language is the thing for women, he further said if an man and a woman goes into a new environment or a new tribe, women tend to get hold of the language than men, so here she was speaking a little of it, I was surprise
“Are you surprise?” she trails my eyes
“Off course” I said “but I would really need a bath, because i feel dirty and smelling” she burst into laughter, she turns and spoke to them again, one of them run and soon into the kitchen and in no time came out with a bucket of water and kept it in the sun
“How do you feel?” she was touching my hand
“Very well, where is the guy?”
“Oh you mean Jaan, he might have gone to the farm, before I was up this morning he had gone”
“Is that his name, Jaan” she nodded
“May be, when you take your bath, I will show you around”
“I hope no one touched the bag?”
“No, go and wash your smelly body” I look up, the other girls were looking at us, in their mind it would be like ‘look at these couple playing love’ because she was so into me.
I got up and as directed, I got to the stand they call the bath room, it was sticks pined to the ground and turn clothes wrapped round it, to avoid exposure, I was a bit conscious in case wind should blow the cover away. The water was cool and sweet to the body, I washed myself and in no time i was done and out. I felt very light and clean but my clothes were dirty, I still wore them like that and straight to the room where Emmanuella was lying on the bed, when she saw me she smiled and I smiled back