Episode 6
It was morning. Sun rays crept into the open cave, accompanied by the sounds of chipping on nearby trees. By the time her eyes flew open, Deba was alone. The men had all woken up and gone about their duties.
She raised her head up slightly, trying to look outside the cave. Having her hands tied behind made it impossible for her to sleep well or move easily. Talking about impossible, memories from the night before came flooding back. How was she to know that Dogo was on patrol? He saw her running, and for a man of his size, he was a fast runner too. He caught her and tied her up, while complaining of her foolishness.
“You want to alert the riders to our presence and get us killed!?” He barked.
Mekani was still in great pain when they returned. He spoke angrily and asked Dogo to untie her so she could run off. He had suddenly decided he wanted nothing further to do with her. It was Kubu and Mayo that took him aside and calmed him down. She didn’t know what they told him, but whatever they said worked. He asked them to take her back into the cave.
“You have to stop being childish.” Kubu said to her once they were in the cave.
“I am not.” She screamed in her head. She couldn’t reply him out loud, thanks to the cloth over her mouth.
“Mekani only cares for your safety. He has risked everything to be here. He normally shouldn’t. But he did.” Kubu lectured her. “There are things you don’t know yet; things you have to learn and understand. You’re not being punished or maltreated. You’re undergoing a training with us. This training is necessary for the work that lies ahead. The longer you take to learn, the longer we remain in the forest and hills. We will never make it home. We will never find it. We all risked our lives for you. The best you can do is stop acting childish and learn fast. I have three wives and 12 children to return to.” He ended his talk, stood up and returned to his corner.
Deba tried to make sense out of all he had said, but she couldn’t. It was like he had spoken in an unknown tongue, not what she was used to. “You’re not being punished or maltreated. You’re undergoing a training. He had said. But what training? Why would anybody want to train her on anything? From a death sentence to training?
Deba reasoned. “They’ll only go out and hunt more slaves.”
“Exactly my thoughts.” Dogo supported.
“We need to find out what is happening.” Mekani said
“We can’t.” Mayo finally spoke. “We’re out numbered, fifty to one.”
“Who said anything about fighting the whole army. Look” he pointed at the far west. Only one warrior remained, inspecting each farm land and shelter, just to ensure no one was left alive. “He is the only man behind. The warriors are far ahead. And you, princess” he turned to Deba. “You’re a beautiful woman.”
“And what has beauty got to do with war?” She frowned at him.
“Distraction. I need you to distract him.”
Deba’s eyes widened in horror. She became dumbfounded as a thousand and one thoughts raced through her mind. Now she knew her dreams were right. Mekani really had plans to kill her.
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