Prologue
There is an even darker, more mysterious part of the LaMistas, in the near corner of the Mitumbi mountain region, where no one has ever been, and no one has survived. It is said that those who enter this region never come back.
In 1988, there was a plane flying over that region. A rocket launcher's crosshairs were directed at it.
"Your Majesty," the flight crewmember said, "We are coming across the lower LaMistas."
The King smiled at his wife and son. His son walked over to his father as his wife, the Queen, smiled at the exchange.
"This is the LaMistas my son," the King said, "We hope to make peace with the President, and soon, our neighboring countries will be at peace."
Fingers were on the trigger.
The son ran to his mother and smiled. The crewmember returned to the cockpit and sat next to the pilot.
"Soon," the King said, "there will be peace."
The trigger was pulled. A rocket flew straight into the plane and the plane exploded on the back end before crashing into the darkest part of the LaMistas. As the smoke dissipated, the prince who just saw the LaMistas for the first time, crawled out of the ruins. His parents were dead. The pilot and the crewmember were dead. Around him was nothing but dark jungle.
Present Day
Kali was visiting elders in the region, as she did every three months. After spending time with those communally, she always spent more time with Nyangoma Bosemba, who had a continual symbol of mourning near her hut. Kali hesitated before inviting herself in.
"Goma, how are you today?"
Nyangoma turned her head, as if she was being interrupted.
"I fear my life is going to end soon, and all I want is to know if my grandson is still alive."
"Goma, we've talked about this."
"Yes, we have. We've talked for years and years."
"Do you still believe after everything I told you?" Kali said, grasping her hand.
"Yes. I do. I have seen my country fall to those who seek to abuse it. I've seen N'Gama usurp its lands and my people ravaged by war. I have reduced myself to utter poverty, but, after someone told me the news that fateful day, I felt from the Great Protector that my grandson, Prince Alongi Elikoya Bosemba, was still alive."
Nyangoma went to her chest and without help, she tremored her way through the lock, and pulled out a bag of money.
"Kali, this is my life's savings. When the palace fell, I had it with me. When the country collapsed, I hid it right in this spot. I lived off the land as one should. I have planted and grown and saw a generation pass me by. I want my grandson returned to me, and I trust you with this money to get him back. If you cannot, I trust you to hire someone to return him to me."
"Goma, do you know that your grandson may not have survived that uninhabitable region? What if he were to return by a skull?"
"Then I will know and hold that skull as I pass away."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. If the last thing I see is my grandson, then make that happen. Please Kali. Humor a dying woman."
"I'll do my best." Kali took the bag of money and put it in her bag.
"Goma, I may know a person, but I think you should meet before the last look for your grandson happens." Kali said, "This person might need to meet you."
"Do what you can, just don't let me tell the story I told, because now, I am in mourning." Nyangoma said, tears down her eyes.
Kali walked over to her and gave her a hug.
"I'll come back in a day or two."
Nyangoma nodded, and looked out the window of her hut, and continued crying.
Sheena had time off from the medical facility. Chris was making sure the place was running okay, and he stayed back. She got into her jungle outfit, and was roaming the jungle. She went past her old cave where she lived and she came to Kali's village, where she saw Kali walk back, as if shaken and meditative.
"Kali, is everything okay?" Sheena said, walking up to her without even saying hello.
"No, child, things are not," Kali said, "Come into my hut."
Sheena came in. Kali put her bag down, put her hands on her knees, breathed a world-weary sigh, and looked at Sheena directly. Sheena had a look of concern on her face.
"Do you remember the King Mother Nyangoma?"
"Yes, and I remember how embarrassed I made you when I spat out the appetizer at that function we went to."
"She doesn't have long to live. She wants to see if her grandson is still alive."
"Didn't you tell me the chances of that were near impossible? They crashed in the mystery region of the LaMistas."
"She still believes he is out there. She has tasked me to look for him."
"Kali, you shouldn't venture out that far. No one has come out of that region alive."
Kali pulled out a bag of money from her bag.
"She has tasked me to hire someone who will look for him."
"And you thought of Cutter?"
"Yes, but I insisted that he meet her before he goes."
"Does he know how dangerous that region is?"
"Probably, but he'll do anything for money."
"What if Cutter doesn't find him?"
"Then he doesn't find him and Nyangoma will perish knowing what she's denied, and see her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson when she meets the Great Protector."
"I should offer to go with him."
"He hasn't even committed yet."
"He'll commit with that amount of money."
"We'll see." Sheena grabbed Kali's bag and walked out of the hut. Kali followed her.
Cutter just got back from a safari, and was making out with one of the female tourists. The two snuck coyly through Cutter Unlimited, and Cutter escorted her to his bedroom. He closed the door behind them and the two made love and fell asleep.
An hour later, Cutter woke up, and saw the female tourist asleep on his chest. There was a knock on the door.
"Mendlesohn," Cutter whispered loudly, "can it wait?"
"It's not Mendlesohn," Sheena said, "Kali and I will wait downstairs."
Matt got up from the bed. The female tourist touched his shoulder as she was still relatively sleepy.
"Don't go," she said, "your skin is so soft."
"Sorry," Matt said, "Come down when they are gone."
Matt got up and got dressed. He came down the stairs putting on a tank top.
"I was having a restful sleep," Matt said, slipping his shirt down around his waist, "What's up?"
"Sorry to disturb your restful slumber," Kali said, "by the way, you have lipstick at the top of your mouth."
Matt found a tissue and dabbed it off.
"Kali has a job for you." Sheena said.
"Anything, just can it hold off until tomorrow?"
"Another safari?" Kali said.
"No," signaling upstairs, "just a sure thing."
Sheena rolled her eyes.
"Would this interest you?" Sheena pulled out the bag of money.
"Yes, actually, it does." Cutter said, reaching his hand for the bag.
Sheena slapped it.
"Kali has something to tell you."
"Cutter, this money comes from the last of a fallen country whose kingdom is said to have died years ago. The Queen Mother Nyangoma."
"Sounds very Nigerian prince-ish."
"What?"
"Just a mail scam Kali." Sheena said, responding to her shock.
"She doesn't have long to live Cutter," Kali continued, "and she would like to be reunited with her grandson before she dies."
"That's not a problem. Where is her grandson?" Matt said, finding his safari button down and putting it on.
"Her grandson is in the mystery region of the LaMistas."
"Haven't we been to that area before?" Matt said.
"No, that was another corner. This is on the cusp between the Mitumbi and the LaMistas, and no one has survived that part of the LaMistas." Kali said.
"So, why does she think the grandson is still alive if he is in that region?" Matt asked, finding his safari hat.
"She has a strong feeling. I have visited her for years. The loss of her son and daughter-in-law left her completely in perpetual mourning. I have talked to her repeatedly on this. She refuses to see the facts. She gave me this money to find her grandson, but even I know the task is too dangerous. She trusted me to find someone who will find him."
"What if I die from that region?"
"That won't be a problem, if I go with you." Sheena said.
"I have been on several dangerous missions for the CIA that I cannot to this day disclose. I think I will be fine. Besides, I wouldn't want to make Chris a widower."
"And I don't want to leave Mendlesohn your business again." Sheena said, a little insulted.
"He won't."
"She would like to meet you before you go." Kali said.
"That's fine."
"Kali, clearly I should go with him just to be sure he doesn't die. You won't even go there and you wouldn't even let me go there!"
"Sheena, I think Cutter knows what he can and can't do. However, I think it's important that you meet Nyangoma."
"I can do that."
"Without my help?" Sheena said, insisting.
"Sheena, I think it would be helpful for you to meet her too."
Sheena gave Kali a look.
"You can at least keep her safe."
"Okay, just let me take care of business, and I will be ready to meet her."
"We'll come back in the morning, Cutter."
Sheena huffed outside. Kali took the bag of money with her. Cutter looked puzzled. Cutter breathed a sigh of relief and frustration and he went back upstairs and said goodbye to his new lover.
In the meantime, in the dark unknown region on the LaMista/Mitumbi border, a soldier was running in fear. The soldier was trying to communicate something to his commanding officer.
"I'm being chased by a tribesman, but I don't know the tribe! Send back up!" The soldier said, dropping the radio as he could hear a loud yell.
"Send back up! Please!" The soldier yelled.
A spear with sharp metal pierced through the radio and it fell to the ground. The soldier took out his knife for protection, as his gun was no where to be found. He continued running. In the short distance, the spear was picked up by a muscled man in war paint and a leopard skin loincloth. The man jumped up into the trees.
The soldier kept running until he left the dark region. He looked back as he left the jungle. When he turned back around, the man who attacked him was right before him. The soldier pulled his knife and scratched the other man's shoulder. The other man jabbed his spear through the soldier and the soldier fell to the ground. The loinclothed man picked up the spear from the man and looked up and saw a helicopter fly above him. The loinclothed man ran back into the dark, unknown region as the helicopter briefly trailed him.
"Go up!" Mbato said, "and head back to N'Gama's."
The helicopter did just that. As the helicopter flew over the LaMistas, Cutter drove to Kali's village where Sheena and Kali were waiting outside her hut. He was dressed in his usual safari outfit. He got out and put his black hat on.
"Are we going to meet her?" Matt asked.
"Yes, we are," Kali said, "I've talked to Sheena, and while she has her reservations…"
"Like you going out in a dangerous part of the LaMistas where you don't know how dangerous it is. You don't know what he looks like nor where he is."
"Sheena!" Kali said, pounding her stick to the ground, "Sheena is going to watch over Nyangoma until you return."
"So, are we heading there then?"
"Yes." Kali started walking towards the truck and put the bag of money in the trunk.
Sheena stayed behind.
"Sheena, if Kali trusts me, I don't see why you can't too?"
"Too many variables." Sheena started walking towards the truck slowly.
"Sheena, I have been in almost every single dangerous location in the world, including here, and I am sure that I can survive this dangerous location."
"I can count on my hands the many times I have had to save you. It's not that I don't trust you to go alone. You have a good supporting knock out count. But this region Kali wouldn't even let me go alone."
"Sheena, I have a radio in my car and I can take a hand held in the jungle if I need it. Also, I have a shearing knife for vines and my usual knife and handgun. Now, can you please speed this up so we can meet Nyangoma and get this mission going?"
Sheena gave him a look and then ran to the truck and got in. Cutter was amazed at her speed, but didn't run with her.
"Was that too fast of a speed up?" Sheena said.
"No," Matt opened and closed the truck door, "That's fine."
The three drove to a remote village miles from the unknown area on the border. Nyangoma could barely see a truck pulled up. She hadn't seen one in a while and she remembered a long stick she had nearby. She grabbed it and before she could throw it, she saw Kali come out of the truck, and dropped the stick in shame.
"Kali! I thought you would never come back!" Nyongama said, with tears down her face.
"Goma, don't run!" Kali said. "We'll come to you."
Nyangoma stopped trying to run. She looked around, almost forgetting her place. She paused when she actually did. She heard a child screaming in excitement, and thought it was her grandchild, but after a minute, no one was there.
"Oh Great Protector!" she whispered to herself, "Please don't take me just yet. I need to see my grandson one last time."
Kali, Sheena, and Cutter were closer and could hear her whispering.
"Goma, do you remember Sheena?"
"Of course I do!" Nyangoma gave Sheena a big hug. "You've grown since I saw you last."
"I saw you five years ago."
"Right! Of course! Memory is so rare for me these days. I am glad I can see you before I die."
"Goma, don't speak like that!"
"And who is this strapping young man?" Nyangoma said.
"Matt Cutter," Matt extended his hand to shake Nyangoma's. She shook it gently and touched a bit of his bare arm. "At your service."
"Come inside! I can only take in so much sunlight. Cutter, you have the same constitution of my son."
"Thank you." Matt smiled before Sheena gave him a look not to.
The four entered into Nyangoma's hut. Kali knew the way around more, and encouraged them to sit. Around the walls were images of her family. There was a single photo in the center, by her bed, which was just blankets on solid ground. Sheena and Cutter analyzed the walls.
"So, why have you all come?" Nyangoma said, "it's been a while since I've had company this side. Not since the day of the Kingdom. Shall I offer you the country's finest snacks?"
Nyangoma presented a tray but there was nothing there.
"It's worse than I thought." Kali whispered to Sheena.
"Kali, this is my home and I hear every word said in my house. I may be losing my mind to the Great Protector's time but I swear I still remember my son, my daughter-in-law, and my grandchild, who is somewhere out there!"
"I'm sorry Nyangoma. I have taken the money you gave me and I hired Matt Cutter here to find your grandson."
"And he will take advantage of an elder's memory for cash, so you are in good hands." Sheena smirked.
"It is more than just cash, Sheena dear," Nyangoma said, "My apologies Mr. Cutter, for Sheena's remembered stubbornness. When she was a little girl, she insisted that the stars were always aligned her direction. One night, while visiting me, she went outside, and the stars were in every direction but not towards her. I told her the Great Protector often plays tricks to teach us."
"I remember."
"It is not possible that the Great Protector is playing a trick with you right now, Sheena?" Nyangoma said.
Nyangoma went over to where her photo was of her grandson, and took it off the wall with grace. She handed it to Cutter.
"This is who my grandson looked like when the plane crashed in the unknown region. I expect that he would be bigger, and have his father's body and his mother's face. His name is Alongi. He may not remember his royalty, nor his kingdom. The kingdom is no more, unfortunately. I am a king's mother without a kingdom. I want you to find him, and I believe you will."
"Thank you," Matt said, accepting the photograph and putting it in his pants pocket.
"Somehow he has survived a fatal plane crash. He was only five when it happened. Who knows if he'll remember Goma. I trust you to find him."
"Sheena is going to keep you company and safe until Cutter returns." Kali said, getting up from her seat.
"That isn't necessary. He'll come back."
"Nyangoma, it's my compromise to Sheena and all of us are worried for your health, which is deteriorating. She'll look after you. I will come by from time to time, and I will be with you as your days wind down as promised. For now, this is all I ask."
"Yes, Kali, my confidante and friend. Sheena can stay until Cutter arrives with Alongi."
"Cutter," Nyangoma said, "You can leave your truck here as well. It's lonely in the elder part of this village. I'm its only elder, and they aren't even my tribe, but Kali can tell you of our kinship from that."
"Thank you."
"Please don't go Kali! Stay with me for a while longer. We'll send Cutter on his way but please, I need to hold onto this memory."
"I'll stay longer," Kali said, "Is there something else you need to tell Cutter?"
"Yes, leave your truck. The area where my grandson is not too far from here. You can get there sooner by going west towards the center of the village."
"Thank you." Cutter said.
Nyangoma walked up to Cutter and put her hands on Matt's cheeks.
"Bring my grandson back to me, however he is right now."
Nyangoma didn't let Cutter answer, just graced her hands off his cheeks and patted his left shoulder. He smiled and got up. Nyangoma followed Matt out the door, and Sheena and Kali were behind her as he walked in the direction, she put him on. He stopped by the truck and got some supplies, and went on his way.
"You are sending him to his death." Sheena said.
"You and your stars, Sheena, you and your stars. Come inside, and let's talk." Nyangoma walked like a queen as she entered her hut.
"Sheena, be wary of your stubbornness." Kali said, before going in after her.
Sheena saw as a military helicopter fly by in the other direction. She went inside.
Mbato got to N'Gama's office to see him fidgeting with something useless.
"One of our soldiers was killed by someone in the dark region."
"Why is this my problem? You are the commanding general, you decide what to do."
"It is your problem because it is possible that your father's enemy's son is still alive, and went after our troops because of that association."
"Everyone died in that plane crash, and my father gifted me their kingdom before my inauguration. He's long dead, as is that family."
Mbato showed him a picture of the dead soldier.
"Notice the spear design?"
N'Gama took a closer look at the photo.
"Alongi cannot be alive."
"And the dangers of the region?"
"Mbato," N'Gama said, "You have military equipment at your disposal. Use what you will. I cannot have a threat to my Presidency. Alongi cannot be alive."
"What of his grandmother?"
"Senile old woman is losing her mind by the day. Her grief has debilitated her. She may believe Alongi is out there, and this may not be Alongi, but any hope needs to be dead."
"I will scope out a team at once."
"Just tell me when he's gone."
N'Gama looked at a picture of his father with King Bosemba.
Matt Cutter did bring a handheld radio and a shearing knife. The sun was climbing in the sky as he got to the LaMistas/Mitumbi border two hours as he left the village. He took off his black safari hat and wiped off his forehead. There was a field before him and he saw denser jungle not far from where he was. His arms were not as sweaty as he thought they would be.
It didn't take long to get to the denser jungle. As soon as he walked in, there was a wall of vines that he couldn't easily pass through. He took out his shearing knife and started swatting and cutting through the vines. The vines went for a long time and Cutter had to switch arms to get through. Vines were above him but not below him. Jungle floor was below him. He cut his way about five miles through the vinery before he got to small clearing of regular jungle.
When he saw the end of the vines, he put his hands on his knees and sighed a deep sigh. There was someone watching him in the distance. As Matt got up from his half rest, a spear came darting his direction and took his black hat to the center of a tree. Matt ducked to the ground to see if anyone would come retrieve it. He didn't see anyone, took the spear from the tree, and retrieved his hat. The hole was too big though, and Matt ended up leaving the hat. He also dropped the spear too.
Back at Nyangoma's hut, Kali was ready to leave.
"Thank you so much, Kali. I hope when you visit, Alongi will be here."
"I will visit you soon." Kali said, hiding concern from her face.
The two women hugged and Sheena looked at them from inside the hut. Nyangoma re-entered the hut.
"Sheena, you've grown!" Nyangoma said. "I can't recall the last time I saw you!"
"Nyangoma, it wasn't too long ago."
"Right, right. What shall we do?"
"Tell me more about your grandson."
"Alongi Bosemba. The Prince. As soon as I met him, I remembered the innocence of his face. I remember the boldness of his smile. And I remember the last time I saw him" Nyangoma looked towards the tiny window in her hut, and froze.
"What's wrong?" Sheena asked.
Nyangoma was crying silently. She remembered seeing her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson off from the airport. She remembered the news footage and the video of the exploding plane. She remembered her grandson walking to her for the last hug. She remembered him smiling in his baby clothes crouching down on the floor.
Nyangoma suddenly noticed Sheena.
"I'm sorry, child," she was looking at Sheena but was speaking about Alongi, "I'm so sorry."
A tall, muscular man in a leopard skin loincloth and makeshift tribal apparel got up from the ground after throwing the spear at Cutter. He didn't know who this new person was, but, since he was a child, he knew it would be someone who was responsible for his parents' death. He didn't know from the part of the jungle he was trapped in. He knew about the vines, the rapid quicksand, the panthers, and he lived to survive it. But, he wondered why it took so long for those to finish him off to do so.
He scoped Cutter walking towards the denser part of the jungle from the brief clearing. Quickly, he went down to retrieve his spear. His spear had the designs of royalty as far back as the kingdom of which his country and nation had. He scurried back and caught up where Cutter was, albeit from the distance. In his heart, he could feel the ancestors drumming, ever present as he felt he was the last of his nation, but he was not.
Sheena was able to move Nyangoma to a seat she had in her hut. She wiped her tears finally.
"I'm so sorry, you see, I insisted that I watch Alongi, but my son wanted his son to see how peace was to be made. He knew his wife would be helpful, as women were in our tribe, and she knew she'd keep an extra eye on him. I felt like I should have insisted, and I wouldn't be living here, but the elaborate palace we once had, that N'Gama's father turned into a ruin. I want Alongi to be alive, because while he has no kingdom anymore, he does have…."
Nyangoma froze as to not finish. She was still breathing, but it took a hot second for her to get out of her mind.
"I need to rest. Can you help me do that, sweetie?"
Sheena got her bed ready, and laid her pillow down. Nyangoma fell asleep instantly. Sheena watched her sleep. Two hours passed. Nyangoma was still sleeping, and Sheena decided to walk outside. Sheena walked towards Cutter's truck. She had her spare keys to his truck, opened the door, and sat inside. Sheena herself was crying, but not for herself. She composed herself and went back in to tend to Nyangoma.
The dense jungle was very humid, and Cutter was glad that he chose to wear his sleeveless safari shirt. He wondered about the spear. He put his shearing knife away and kept searching. He wondered what more dangers were in store if all he was met with was vines. He also wondered about the spear that caught his hat.
In the distance, he saw something that did catch his eye. He saw etchings on a tree and something next to the tree. He didn't recognize the language and saw the cloth. While he couldn't make out the etchings, he did recognize the pattern. He bent down and continued reading. There was a subtle growl in the distance, but Matt was too busy deciphering the etchings and the patterns. They glowed in his eyes, and he turned in front of him and a panther charged him, knocking him down. The panther growled in his face, then Matt threw the panther over him and got up. Matt quickly grabbed his handgun and started shooting at the panther.
Another panther jumped down off the tree and knocked Matt's gun out of his hands. Matt made himself look bigger as he opened both of his arms and legs. The panthers backed away as Matt made himself look bigger and bigger, though as he got towards a canopy, another panther jumped on him and knocked him down. This panther pressed him down from the chest and the other two panthers were on the rest of him. Matt made a fist and punched the one on him to the side and then elbowed the other two away from him. He found his gun and shot at all of them. In fear, they scurred away.
Matt wasn't one for wear, but his safari shirt did look dishelved on the bottom and his arms were dirty from the ambush. Matt got up and continued walking. The loinclothed man wondered how he could survive too, unless he was trained somehow. Matt grabbed the cloth though, as it was a clue for him.
Mbato assembled a crew to fly sporadically into the dark region of the LaMistas. The plan was they would land at different places. Mbato knew how treacherous the land was. But, he also knew that without a confirmation of a dead body, N'Gama would have to go there himself, which he wasn't too keen on going. He sent the first helicopter out.
The helicopter flew over the village where Nyangoma was. She slept for two days, but Sheena made sure she was still breathing and wasn't disoriented when she woke up sporadically herself. The helicopters woke her up.
"It's time!" she screamed. "It is time to leave the country!"
Sheena didn't know how to respond as she watched Nyangoma react to the noise.
"What are you doing?! We have to get out of here. N'Gama is forcing us to leave. We have to leave everything behind. Please, we must go!"
Nyangoma grabbed a bag and was putting things in it.
"Take this key," Nyangoma gave Sheena a flint rock, "And go to my safe. Grab the biggest bag, bring it here. I must not leave this country without it."
"Okay." Sheena said, and Sheena went outside.
The helicopter was going towards the direction of the dark region. Nyangoma came outside to wonder where her assistant was and why she stalled.
"Silly girl! We missed the flight!" Nyangoma looked around and saw that she wasn't in her home country. She looked at her hands. The bag she had dropped and all she saw was rocks and sticks.
"Sheena." Nyangoma said. "Isn't Cutter back yet with my grandson?"
"No Goma, he's not."
Cutter did find a place to camp out after escaping the panthers without that much of a scratch. The blue cloth he didn't make any sense of, as he tried piecing together things. He camped further into the jungle and stayed away from any threats. He didn't have much of any form of eventful days as he continued through the dark region. If anything, the area had the most density of jungle he ever saw in the LaMistas.
He still couldn't find Alongi. He wouldn't even know where to look, but he kept scoping the region. He did come across weird land though. The jungle turned into a muddy terrain with empty trees, spare wildlife, and he spotted hats, shoes, and other things that suggested human life. Matt, ever one to experiment, took a stick and threw it into a questionable area, and saw the stick absorb into the ground. He was in an area of dangerous quicksand. He picked up whatever he could find and threw it in places he suspected and didn't suspect. It got him through a few miles.
He came towards the jungle again. He noticed interesting curves in the trees and saw rusted ruins of an airplane. He thought he heard a noise in the trees above him. He turned around. He saw nothing. He continued to walk among the ruins. He saw passenger seats swallowed by vines and vegetation. He saw pieces of plane medal that were swallowed by trees and trees enclosing plane parts. There was a wind that blew, and Matt mistook it for someone above him and looked up.
"Alongi?" he asked, not really shouting.
Matt continued walking until he came to another clearing. This time, he could see a river near him and another twisty patch of dying plant life. Matt took a stone and threw it. It was quicksand. He walked toward the river. There was rustling in the trees and Matt looked around again. Before Matt could turn around, a man jumped him from behind and grabbed Matt by the neck and threw him towards the trees. Before Matt could recover, the man punched Matt in the stomach, grabbed him by the collar and threw him to the ground, overlooking the river below. The man grabbed his white spear and pointed it towards Matt's neck.
"Alongi?" Matt said.
The man hollered a rough battle cry and lifted Matt up with the spear near Matt's chest and then threw him down the hill towards the river. Matt rolled in dirt, leaves, and mud until he was at the river's edge. The man jumped on him and pointed his spear right at Matt's throat. Matt went to his pocket.
"Listen, I am not here to kill you," Matt said, using his spare hand to get the man to calm down. "Here!"
Matt showed the man the picture Nyangoma gave him. The man took it from Matt's right hand and held his spear closer to Matt's neck. He froze in place seeing a younger version of himself.
"Nkuku" the man said in broken Congolese, looking at the picture and remembering.
Cutter didn't quite know what it meant, but the man put his spear away and started crying. Matt got up, as he wasn't scratched but his shirt had a mud stain and his bare arms were covered in leaves, grass, and mud. He went over to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
"She sent me here to look for you, to see if you were still alive."
Alongi wasn't looking at Cutter as he said this, but Alongi understood love. Alongi turned around and signaled to Matt to follow him. Matt did so. Matt walked a distance further into the jungle from the initial ruins of the plane with him. He saw more pieces of the same plane and behind those pieces, was a little hut that had a few books, and a few trinkets.
"My home," Alongi said,"what I have."
To Matt, Alongi sounded like a five-year-old speaking words for the first time. To Alongi, he sounded like himself. Matt asked if he could take a look at some of his things. Alongi signaled yes, and Matt looked through them. Matt saw books on the Bosemba family, the history of the nation, and documents on foreign and domestic policy that had burnt edges on them from the plane explosion. There were pictures Alongi was also able to retrieve. Matt saw photos of the King and Queen, and of a younger Nyangoma. There was a book in perfect form about the ancient warriors of the nation. Matt looked through and saw the design. It resembled the design on the spear. Matt pulled out the blue cloth.
"Did you do this?" Matt asked, handing the design to Alongi.
"Yes," Alongi said, "and the etchings. Bad guys get confused."
"They do." Matt said.
Matt noticed a fire pit next to his metal hut.
"Alongi, if you were able to do all of this, where did you bury your parents?"
Alongi was shocked by the question. He backed away from Matt for a hot second.
"Have there been people who asked you that before?"
"No!" Alongi said, "No one has lived to."
Alongi huffed like a child in a temper tantrum and walked away. Matt followed him. They walked to a hill in a low clearing, slightly elevated from the jungle.
"Here." Alongi pointed to two graves. One said Mommy. The other said Daddy.
"Tradition states that when royals die, they must be buried in a place overlooking their homeland. Since we are far from it, I buried them in the way of the homeland. Where is Nkuku buried?"
Cutter paused. He took a deep breath.
"Alongi, she's still alive. Your country as you may remember it is no more, but she is still alive. She isn't too far from here. "
"She's still alive?" Alongi said.
"She is, but she's losing her memory and she told a friend of mine that she doesn't have much longer. She always believed you were alive, just no one believed that. Even as she loses her memory, she believes you are alive and she wants to see you before she goes with the Great Protector."
Alongi couldn't compose himself. He ran into the jungle and Cutter tried to follow him the best he could and not entirely break a sweat. He caught up to Alongi, who was by the fire pit, lighting a fire. Alongi sat, shivering profusely. The sun was profusely hot and the fire was making it hotter. Matt decided to take off his shirt and wrap it around Alongi. Alongi didn't know what to think of the gesture, but as Matt rubbed the back of the shirt to remind him of warmth before crouching on the floor next to him, Alongi did think of something to say.
"Thank you."
Matt left Alongi to process. Matt walked out to the top of the hill, where he could see the quicksand drop and around the area. He stood there, away from the dense jungle, feeling the hot sun on his now bare torso. He saw a helicopter in the distance. It looked like it was beginning to land. Why would it land in the dark region? Matt grabbed his handgun and started to descend down the hill.
Matt heard the helicopter land as he was in the jungle, pacing himself behind trees with handgun ready. He heard soldiers being ordered to stay close to each other, and watch out for the target. Matt moved stealthy as he got closer to the troops. A soldier was within a reasonable distance from him. Matt pulled the trigger and fired into the soldier's leg.
"What that?" another soldier said, from a shorter distance hearing the gunshot.
The other soldier ran towards where the gun was and he saw his injured comrade.
"Who did this to you?" The soldier turned around and Matt sucker punched him. To the injured soldier, he used the butt of his handgun and knocked the other soldier out as well. He looked around, there were soldiers still in the area who might have heard the action. None came through the trees around him, but he was vigilant.
He stepped out of the clearing, still holding his handgun. Matt looked around. Sweat was beginning to form on his forehead.
"Hey! Someone's knocked out…." All of a sudden, an array of bullets was shot in Cutter's direction.
Matt got down on the ground. The heat of the bullets was felt along his bare back, and Matt crawled towards the bullets. He put his handgun in his pocket as he was crawling towards the area. The shots stopped firing and the patch was clear. Matt got up and saw no one was there. What he didn't see was one big arm in camouflaged sleeves. Matt noticed too late and was grabbed by the bottom of his neck and another soldier, also from behind, punched Matt in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.
"Who are you?" the soldier who punched him in the stomach said.
Matt looked up from his held position, feeling the slight soreness on his abdomen.
"Alongi Bosemba."
The soldier who punched him in the stomach punched him again. The soldier gripping him let go and pushed Matt on the ground. Military handcuffs presented themselves as Matt was being held down and resisting like hell. The soldiers took his knife and his handgun. Just then, a violent shout came from the trees. Matt resisted more as his hands were being forced down his back. Another soldier pointed Matt's handgun to Matt's neck.
"You are under arrest for treason against N'Gama's government for interfering in a state operation." The soldier had his hand on the trigger and Matt squirmed more as the soldier gripping him got both arms behind Matt's back.
A green shirt fell down on the bigger soldier's face, but before the soldier could remove it, Alongi jumped down from the trees, grabbed Matt's knife and stabbed the soldier in the eye, killing him. The other soldiers dropped holding down Matt to attack Alongi. Alongi had his spear and he jabbed one of the soldiers through the chest. Matt wasn't far from the last soldier in the group and tripped him. Alongi grabbed Matt's shearing knife from the ground and slit the last soldier's head off. Matt got up from the ground and crawled back to a tree. He looked at Alongi in fear.
"Are you okay?" Alongi extended his hand.
"Yes, Alongi, you just shocked me." Matt said, his bare torso now a sweaty, dirty mess.
"Hold on." Alongi threw the spear in the right direction and there was a life-ending shout from someone. "Ancient traditions of my people."
Cutter started walking towards where the spear was thrown. Alongi touched him in the center of Matt's chest.
"No, wait and grab your weapons." Matt did grab the handgun and the shearing knife, but did got grab his pocket knife.
"He's dead. I know when people come to this region to kill me."
"How many people have come through?" Matt asked.
"Enough to meet their fate. Enough for the unfound peace."
"Alongi, we need to get back to your grandmother. We can return, but we have to go to her. She needs to know you are alive," Matt touched his chest to know he means it, "We have to start going now."
Alongi looked around and nodded. Matt grabbed a rifle from one of the dead soldiers and walked away from the patch. Alongi followed him.
At N'Gama's palace, Mbato entered President N'Gama's office with news.
"We haven't heard from the first unit. We can't help but assume…"
"Alongi Bosemba is still alive. I believed him dead, but my father believed he was still alive even after he tired terrorists to target that plane. As long as there is a Bosemba alive, there is a threat to the N'Gama legacy."
"We'll send the next unit immediately," Mbato said, "What are we doing with Nyangoma Bosemba?"
"No need to kill her, the dementia is doing the work. Alongi's return could mean rebellion against me."
"How do you know?" Mbato said. "Alongi might not even know who you are."
"He might. My father commanded secret operations in the dark region for years. This is not the first time we've hunted him. If he's alive, as no soldier has come back to tell me, he knows we want him dead."
"Why? If Alongi is dead, what threat does he pose?"
"If Alongi is alive, it is to usurp my power. My father didn't plant the last president for me to not see that happen. My father passed Alongi's country to me and it's a part of my nation. It's my father's gift to me. If Bosemba got his way, there would be no land for me and no continued war games space for the military that trained you. Peace would have compromised it all. My father didn't live to see me be President, but I won't let Alongi live to see his country returned. Now, send the next chopper."
Nyangoma's mind appeared to be getting worse and worse. Sheena often had to play along with the memory Nyangoma was remembering, and being the sounding board. The two were weaving a traditional design from the lost country.
"Sheena," Nyangoma said, "is Cutter back yet with my grandson?"
"No," Sheena said, "not yet."
In the back of her mind, Sheena wondered if she did send Cutter to his doom retrieving Alongi or his skull. On her face, she was pleased Nyangoma was lucid, if not for a minute more.
"Sheena, I really don't know how much time I have left. My mind is wearing away day by day, and I don't have the energy I need to live."
"But, your grandson?" Sheena said.
"I need to face the facts, Sheena. Kali knows when it will be time to come. I feel she will be coming in three days. When I return to the Great Protector, I will see my grandson. I've held on too long."
"He could still be out there." Sheena said, holding onto her words as though she actually believed them, "Cutter will return with your grandson any day."
"Please don't humor an old woman, Sheena, " Nyangoma said, "I lost my family in a plane crash in 1988. After the state funeral for the family, General N'Gama invaded my country while his plant, President Evian, burned every treaty and destroyed every legal right to our name and our country. My country was amassed into the region soon after that. We were all told to abandon our homes and head east. Some of us stayed to fight, but were slaughtered by N'Gama. I supported them, but the time came, and I fled my home during the last purge, as it was unsafe for me to set foot as the mother of the King on my own land. I fled with refugees until I came towards the LaMistas. We were housed by other nations in the area. I didn't reveal myself until I met Kali, who was helping relief efforts among the nations. This was before you entered her life, Sheena. I saw President Evian use my country for war games. Then, General N'Gama passed away, and for many of us, it meant hope, but his son, whom I cannot believe my son let play with Alongi once, took over the Presidency and has been the President for quite a while."
Sheena looked at her awestruck at the stream of conscious memory flowing from Goma.
"I knew for years, I had to stay alive believing my grandson survived. I've held onto that belief for so long, and it's kept me alive. But, I am losing my memory. My mind blurs my memories of the past too much with the present. I'm afraid. I don't want to go. I fear I've asked Matt Cutter for the impossible."
Sheena was practically crying. She turned around and collected herself.
"I don't know how much longer the Great Protector is going to hold onto me." Nyangoma said.
Nyangoma went outside almost immediately. Sheena collected herself as this felt newer to her. She noticed Nyangoma was outside. She went outside. Nyangoma twirled around.
"Ancestors! Hear the prayers of your Nyangoma! I am the last of the Bosembas. Protect me before I enter with you!" Nyangoma spun around several times. "Send me my closest as time goes before me!"
Nyangoma didn't see the wind turn around her as another military helicopter took a deep turn and almost killed her, but headed in another direction towards the dark region. The helicopter created a quick, deep undertow of wind and it knocked Nyangoma down. Sheena ran over to her to see if she was okay.
"Goma!" Sheena said, turning over the body. "Goma! Can you hear me?"
Nyangoma looked at Sheena and raised her body up.
"Of course, I can hear you! Now, we are getting late for the ceremony!" Nyangoma was not conscious of herself as before. "Get going! I have to look good in this dress!"
Sheena walked into the hut with her and they looked for something to wear.
Oh Cutter, where are you?" Sheena whispered under her breath.
Matt Cutter crotched down to speak to Alongi, his back riddled with sweat from walking with him.
"When the soldiers' started to pin me down, they said that I was going to be arrested for treason."
"That means General N'Gama still wants me dead."
"Alongi, General N'Gama passed away years ago."
"Yet, in all those times, the government that my country was supposed to make peace with has been trying to kill me for this long. I don't know why."
"Your Nkuku might know. We need to keep going."
"Yes, who are you?"
"Matt Cutter." Matt shook Alongi's hand.
"Matt Cutter, my parents wanted peace. Nothing more. General N'Gama didn't want peace. That is why he shot down the plane. I've lived my life since the age of 5 in this region. The first time N'Gama came after me, I was eight years old. I knew escaping the plane after it crashed means that they would come after me."
Matt got up, sensing the danger of Alongi's words.
"We need to get you to where your Nkuku is. It may save you if N'Gama is on you still." Cutter said.
Alongi went to his knapsack and pulled out three pieces of paper with considerable burn marks.
"This is the treaty my father planned to present to the President of this region. I carry it with me when I travel to see it realized one day."
Matt looked at it and read respect of lands and traditions, as well as friendly border. He thought to himself as tanning skin and sweat dampened his chest and back, that the peaceful ones are targets for a reason.
"It would have brought peace. Instead, N'Gama chose war."
"It took me until I was ten to realize that it wasn't an accident that the plane we were on was shot down."
"Who was the first person or people who tried to kill you?"
"I don't remember their names. I just remember surviving amid the rubble of the plane, and people came to me and asked me my name, and then something happened, and I was running away from them. I turned around, and saw just their fingers before they fell into the quicksand. I find out when I see their bag that they were originally from N'Gama."
"N'Gama wasn't President when you were young," Matt said, wiping his forehead with his arm. "Evian was."
"The N'Gama I knew was a general whom my father tried to negotiate peace with between our nations. He was reluctant about the peace terms, but I don't remember much, and what was written from the wreckage I saved."
Matt remained perplexed that this grown man, who still talked like a five-year-old, knew so much about the world around him.
"So, why would President N'Gama want you dead now? Is that why helping you is seen as a treasonable offense?"
"Because I carry the legacy of my father and my mother. If President N'Gama wants me dead, he thinks it's because he believes what his father told him. Myself and my people are a threat to his leadership."
Matt didn't know how to respond. The two were near the quicksand terrain. Matt hesitated. Alongi looked over.
"Cutter," Alongi extended his hand, "I know where to walk."
A helicopter came out from behind a mountain and saw them. The helicopter started shooting bullets. Matt and Alongi ducked down on the ground, and Alongi led Cutter crawling quickly down the way. The helicopter spun around and it looked like soldiers were about to parachute out. Alongi grabbed Matt's shearing knife and threw it at the back of the helicopter. The helicopter took the hit fuel started leaking out of the plane. Soldiers jumped out for dear life as Alongi threw his spear through the windshield, striking the pilot dead. The plane crashed in a puddle of its own fuel and exploded, causing fire to rip through the fuel marks. The quicksand terrain was mostly on fire.
Matt took the rifle that was on his shoulder and prepared it in his hands. When he turned around, Alongi was gone. Matt walked through the terrain, vigilant. The fires didn't grow, as they seemed controlled. All of a sudden, a soldier grabbed Cutter's back and Cutter jabbed him with the butt of his gun. Another soldier charged at Matt before Matt used the gun to throw the soldier into the fire. Suddenly, soldiers charged in all directions. Matt stood his ground, and dropped the gun on the ground. One soldier had a knife and started charging at him. Matt ducked. The flames around him made his back sweat. The soldier tried again. Finally, Matt grabbed the soldier by his wrist and threw him to the ground. The soldier's knife flew into the air and landed in the fallen soldier.
Another soldier grabbed Matt and gripped him strong trying to crush Matt's back and stomach. Matt moaned in light pain before the soldier dropped him on the ground. Before Matt could get up, the soldier punched him in his left ear. Before Matt could recover, the same soldier punched him in the right ear, knocking him down. Matt got up and gave the soldier a hard punch in the head, knocking the soldier out cold. One soldier punched Matt in the chest and threw him against a tree by the fire and started punching him. Matt elbow punched the soldier out cold. There were five more soldiers and they all started towards him.
Alongi jumped through the flames and started attacking three of the soldiers. Matt couldn't much see the action, as the two who were on him started to attack him. One of them grasped Matt by the neck and stomach, but Matt grabbed him back and threw him towards a tree, knocking him out. Matt grabbed the gun on the ground and the other soldier swatted at Matt repeatedly as if fencing. The two repeatedly jabbed until Matt took a moment and swung below, causing the soldier to trip. Matt could feel the ground being slightly muddier than usual, and saw Alongi within considerable distance from him. The soldier recovered and knocked the gun out of Matt's hand. Matt dropkicked the soldier down and ran to get the gun. After he grabbed it, his foot slipped and he fell into the quicksand.
The quicksand was moving quicksand was towards his chest now and it felt like a quick undertow. Matt couldn't see much of anything, but he heard a struggle.
"Alongi!" Matt shouted as the quicksand began covering his mouth.
Soon, his face was covered up, and Matt only had his arm up and two of his fingers. He thought this was it. He thought he heard gunshots from under the quicksand, not that he could hear much. Only two of his fingers were visible. Suddenly, something grabbed his arm from near his elbow, and he was pulled out of the quicksand.
As soon as he was out of the quicksand, he dapped his eyes to try and see. The fire had died down, and all the soldiers looked dead or out cold. Alongi was there.
"Couldn't lose you, what would Nkuku say?"
Matt got up and wiped some of the quicksand and mud from his body the best he could. He didn't know what to expect next. Once Matt was able to get up okay, the two went along their way through the dark region. It was sundown before they came across a cave in the jungle.
"We sleep here for the night." Alongi said. "I will protect you, Matt Cutter."
Matt felt like he had enough of the jungle, as he was shirtless, sweaty, dirty, and still wet from the quicksand that almost killed him. As Alongi made a fire, he gave Cutter a cup of water.
"With any luck, we will be at Nyangoma's by tomorrow." Matt said. He sat near the cave entrance, and fell asleep.
Nyangoma wasn't leaving her bed. Kali had come and Sheena told her everything. Sheena stood by Kali to assist in any end-of-life rituals Kali learned from Nyangoma of her nation. When Kali arrived inside Nyangoma's hut, Nyangoma sensed Kali immediately.
"Kali, the ancestors are communicating with me."
"What have they said?" Kali said, sitting down and holding her hand.
"The time has come."
"How do you reply?"
"My time?" Nyangoma said, looking up to the thatched roof. "They don't answer."
"Who are the ancestors who visit you?"
"I haven't recognized their faces, though I know their voices. I hear my father, mother, grandparents, and sister."
"Are there questions they do answer?"
"Yes. I say to them 'Is my son and wife there?' They reply 'Yes, we are protecting them.' 'When I can I see them?' 'Soon.' That was a day ago. When I sleep, I see dreams as if I wasn't dying."
"They will come to you soon, Goma."
"I am tired, Kali. Did I disservice the ancestors by hoping Alongi was still alive?"
"No."
"Then why can't I see my son and my daughter-in-law?"
"That's for the ancestors. Come, rest."
"I don't want to die without seeing them."
"The Great Protector knows this."
"Yes," Nyangoma said, going from terror to calm, "Yes. I am going to rest now. I will let you know what I see when I awake."
"Thank you, Goma."
Nyangoma fell asleep.
"Come Sheena we must prepare for the ritual." Kali got up and went outside. Sheena followed.
"I am worried I sent Cutter to his doom."
"No time for that, child," Kali said, "Go to the jungle and get this root."
Kali handed her a picture of the root.
"It's not far."
Sheena went and did that. She found Kali getting ribbons and oils from the townspeople. Sheena put them in a basket. The townspeople were ready, as they remembered her instructions close to a decade ago when she told them.
Nyangoma was sleeping. The voices of her ancestors were there. In her dream, she saw her son and her daughter-in-law.
"Mother," her son said, "We have come for you."
In her dream, she said "Take me."
"Not yet," her daughter-in-law said, "The Great Protector has only given you nearness to us. What you desire most you will seek. We will come back when it's time."
Nyangoma woke up and breathed heavily. Sheena heard this first and rushed in to tend to her. Kali followed gently, placing the basket down near the entrance.
"I saw my son and my daughter-in-law!" Nyangoma said repeatedly.
"What did they say?" Sheena said, holding her delicate hands.
"'What you desire most you will seek. We will come back when it's time." Nyangoma collapsed on the bed.
"She hasn't much time," Kali said. "If and when Cutter returns, hopefully he can grant a dying woman's wish."
Mbato took a breath before entering President N'Gama's office. He entered and stood firm.
"Is Alongi taken care of?"
"None of our helicopters have returned from the dark region. We can fly over it, but whatever brought them down left them down."
"Then it isn't Alongi after all?"
"No, just a cursed region."
"Mbato, are you hiding from me?" N'Gama said. "Are you scared of some wild boy?"
"I am not hiding anything and I am not scared."
"Good, because I won't tolerate a threat to my Presidency."
"I will send someone…"
"No! You will personally go there and see for yourself."
"But, it's the dark region!"
"You should have had your soldiers bring Alongi's head to me immediately otherwise you wouldn't go up there."
"But, President…"
"No buts! Threats to my Presidency need to taken out. Bomb the region to smithereens for all I care!"
"President N'Gama, are you sure Alongi isn't dead? No one can survive that region, not even a five-year-old."
"And who is to say it's what? The Darakn'a?" N'Gama said seriously.
"It's quite possibly the Darakn'a." Mbato said. "We can close it if that's the case."
"Get out there!" N'Gama said.
Mbato nodded and left the room. He decided to drive to the border of the dark region. When he got there, he started pacing.
The sun blinded Cutter and he woke up. When he looked down, he saw his entire torso had dirt and sweat from the entire experience. His entire torso was tanned too. Alongi was up and kicking dirt onto the fire.
"I picked berries for breakfast, and the river water is pure." Alongi passed Cutter the food.
"Thank you."
"As soon as we are done, we will leave. I just don't know the direction towards my Nkuku's."
"I can take care of that." Cutter said, finishing his food and drinking the water.
The two went on their way, and soon came upon the vine wall. While vines were starting to grow back, there was still an opening that Alongi and Cutter could walk through. Alongi paused.
"Why did you stop, Alongi?"
"One more soldier," Alongi started crawling up the tree. "One more death."
"Hold on," Matt said, signaling Alongi down some, "If you can find another way through the trees, I can meet you. Trust me."
Alongi understood he got it and crawled into the trees. Alongi watched from them. Matt checked himself and ran in place. Then, he ran out of the jungle.
"Stop!" Mbato said.
Matt stopped and caught his breath.
"Mr. Cutter, what were you doing in the dark region?"
"I got lost coming back from a safari."
Mbato looked him over.
"What happened to you?"
"You try saving yourself from quicksand, these vines, and angry panthers." Matt saw Alongi in the distance as he went towards the jungle.
"There wasn't anyone else in there?"
"I did come across the ruins of a plane, and I thought I saw a hut, but I also found the corpse of a twenty-year-old. Do you know who it was?"
"Alongi." Mbato said. Mbato stopped pacing and went back to his vehicle.
"Who was it?" Matt asked.
"Never mind who it was. Just stay out of the region." Mbato said, getting into the front seat of his car and driving off. Matt waved at him, and then walked back into the jungle to where Alongi was.
"I think the government won't bother coming to find you anymore," Matt said, wiping his forehead. "Your Nkuku is waiting."
Sheena and Kali were lighting candles as Nyangoma lay on her bed. She was in and out of consciousness. Kali had performed all the rituals of Nyangoma's nation. Sheena watched as Nyangoma was in and out.
Nyangoma was in and out, but not entirely between life and death. She fell into a trance. She kept intending to see her son and her daughter-in-law, but there was no luck. She was hearing the ancestors. Physically, she was in and out.
As she was between slumber and alertness, her son and daughter-in-law came back.
"Have you come to take me to your side?" Nyangoma said.
"We have come to give you what you desire," they both said, "but you must get up, open your eyes, and walk. We will see you again when it's time."
Nyangoma opened her eyes, got out of bed, and walked outside. Kali and Sheena followed her in mad worry and concern. Nyangoma walked towards the end of her hut's sidewalk. Sheena and Kali saw two people coming towards her. Kali and Sheena walked closer to Nyangoma.
"That elderly woman walking is your grandmother." Matt said, touching Alongi's shoulder. Alongi signaled he understood. Matt walked slightly up to be visible, but also, close to his truck.
"Nkuku?" Alongi said.
Nyangoma looked right in front of her. It looked like her son and her daughter-in-law's child, grown up, resembling an ancient warrior from their nation.
"Nkuku?"
"Alongi?" Nyangoma had tears running down her eyes.
Nyangoma suddenly felt she had new life. She collected her wears and started running towards Alongi, who ran towards her. When they finally embraced, the two were crying. The two turned towards the hut and started walking and talking.
Sheena walked over to Cutter. She saw how filthy he was, but saw the smile on his face more.
"I am glad you are alive, Cutter, and glad you brought Alongi back. I am sorry for doubting you as I did."
"It's okay, Sheena," Matt said, "What matters is that a grandmother is reunited with her grandson."
"We should go in."
Matt didn't want to, but he felt compelled by duty to go in anyway. Kali looked puzzled.
"It's weird," she said to Sheena and Cutter, "Goma was dying right in front of us and was about to go any second, and it seems that all life has been restored to her. She even hasn't had a memory spell."
The two talked and talked. Eventually, Sheena, Cutter, and Kali decided to leave them to themselves. Cutter got his car keys back from Sheena, got in the truck, and drove away. After freshening up, he drove back to Nyangoma's village. Nyangoma, Alongi, Sheena, and Kali were outside.
"It is decided that Alongi is going to live with me. We will ask Rashid to go on the helicopter to retrieve all the things from his makeshift hut. If we must, we will move. But, I'm alive again." Nyangoma said.
"Thank you for everything, Matt Cutter." Alongi hugged him.
"Yes, thank you. Can you take off your shirt? There is something I want to give you."
Matt didn't know what she meant by that, nor did he want his confusion to be considered disrespectful. Matt took off his shirt. Nyangoma had a thin bowl and she put her palm in the powder. She then sprinkled something blue on the dust. She then touched Matt in the middle of his chest.
"In our nation, this is how we marked the honorable. Though it seems like there are only two of us, as our physical nation is gone, and it isn't customary to give it to a foreigner, Alongi and I thought you deserved this though, and Sheena and Kali agree."
They both smiled. Nyangoma lifted her hand from his chest.
"May the Great Protector protect you."
Matt looked and everyone started leaving. Matt turned around, and saw the sunset for the first time in a long time.