Author's Rant: I'm so thrilled to be back into the swing of this story. I have so much in store for the characters and plot flow. The beginning may be a tad confusing, but bear with me since I can't reveal too much lol. Please excuse mistakes. I'll proofread properly when I return home. Enjoy!
Taking Risks
He breathes in deeply the scent of something foreign, not at all like the afternoon earth and smell of freshly cooked bread. Its false lavender, modern made, not grown and fresh. Purple eyes focus on his surroundings, until the morning sun allows him a moment to concentrate on this new world. But it's not new. He knows it well, the blossoming reminisce awaking in his chest.
His desk covered in research books, open pamphlets and brochures, jotted notes made in messy handwriting and a plane ticket. He' pushes the sheets from his body and stretches along the warm, soft comfort of silk and cotton. The morning is delightful, his excitement evident. He stands to go over to the desk and reads over everything spread out.
His eyes flicker at a familiar, slang laced voice. Very powerful, loud and cheery. Someone's calling his name. Loud knocking, hurrying tones, and his feet are carrying him down a wide hall, through a sizable living room and toward the front door. His hand reaches for it, a smile wide on his cherubic face and then.
"Come on before you're late!" A bright personality belonging to a loud blond man comes inside with a whirlwind of joy and noise, wearing a green blazer, dark blue jeans and a white t-shirt. "Hurry . . . you gotta hurry!"
He laughs, "I'm coming."
Someone else appears in the door way, more feminine and not as loud. Still she carries some tone of sound with her, more musical and just as bright. She has long dark hair tied in two round buns, equally dark eyes and is wearing a short, pink and white flora body dress. She dances on the tip of her toes, arms spread and ruby red lips wide in a smile.
"You're going to be late . . . why aren't you already dressed slow poke?!" She comes to grab his hands. "Aren't you excited?"
He nods. "I am. I can't wait to get onboard. When do you leave for your flight?"
"In three hours. You know. . . . is gonna be pissed you left without saying good bye."
"When's . . . not ever pissed?" The blond one says.
"I'm sure he'll be fine."
"No he won't because we'll be the ones who have to deal with his sour attitude. He'll be a wreck without you here. . ."
Cloudy, shadowy are their faces. Soon their voices face and all he sees is a fading vision of three people in a room, sharing laughter and joy. One of them, he's sure is himself, but even his own face blurs and then he's not so sure.
Darkness sparkles in glorious orange, silver and shimmering purple. His eyes are closed again, his ears are not. There's a span of bright blue. Then there's giggling, so sweet and whimsical as a wind chimes stroked by a breeze. He opens his eyes and the swimming faces upon become two round eyed children, a boy and a girl. Dazedly his hand reaches out to cup the girl's face and as a blush arises on her plump brown cheek, she curls into his palm and giggles more. They wear beads of many colors in their hair, the little girl wearing a knee length brown dress with crimson, green and yellow trimmed edges. The boy, has the same color in wristbands on his wrists and painted markings all over his chest and face.
There's a gentle wind swaying over his face and he realizes the sky is span of blue in his vision. He suddenly sits up, startling the children to run away. Around them he sees a long green field fill the expanse of his vision and the children in the distant joined by one larger, a dark toned girl and another smaller one, a pale boy dancing in circles, singing and playing. Their beads click and bounce with their movement, the largest holding a lute, plucking the strings and loudly leading the song.
The smallest child parts from those so similar in face and body, but with eyes as big and purple as a horizon sunset. The child stops in front of him and grabs his hand, tugging to stand up.
"Baada ya mimi, Baba!" The child's smile is warm and alluring, his pale face round and pudgy. The little one tugs more. "Harakisha! Tafadhali Baba, kuja kucheza!"
His laughter joins with the little boy as he's brought up to his feet and pulled to join in the festive merriment. More voices arrive, deeper and edged with age. He turns around, sees them coming. One's tall, dark and lean. The other is smiling, waving and lightly tanned. He cannot see their faces. Their aura is immense, and soaks into his body. They come nearer, but his heart thumps a different beat for them than it does the children.
He loves the children with all his heart, but these two, he loves so much more. In mind, body and spirit.
Neo sighs pleasantly as he opens his eyes and curls his face into the side of his pillow. His mind's foggy, the dream a fleeting mix of blurs and coloration. A pity he could barely remember the details, but it left behind a sublime sensation in his belly that not even a bowl of Ms. Desta's delicious fufu can warm.
As he sits upright, Neo brings a hand over his forehead and feels the early more sweat filming his skin. The sun's unbearable even this early in the morning. With droopy eyes, and feeling sluggish, Neo forces himself to leave the comfort of his bed and stands to stretch. He opted for sleeping with only a pair of kaptula pamba to bed to accommodate for the heat.
Heba promised before they turned in for the night that they wouldn't have to deal with the heat much longer when the rainy season started. That was another month away in the beginning over November. Beforehand the village will have already harvested most of the crops to live on for the duration of the season. Then the process would start all over again, the following April and May.
Neo smiled to himself as he made his way to the bathroom. He relieved himself, washed his face and brushed his teeth. The mirror gave him a full view of Yami's handy work last night. His reflection showed an odd arrangement of dark maroon, ivory and gold wooden beads intertwined with his banes at the roots and tips of his banes. One blond bane, the longest, was braided and wrapped around his brow and cornrowed to his scalp behind his ear. The beaded baness framed his heart shaped face rather nicely if he thought so himself. Really, it wasn't all that bad. Even black ostrich feather woven in with small grass strings gave the style some character.
Neo winked at his reflection, chuckling. Yeah, he could get use to this style and probably others in the future. He left the bathroom, momentarily ready for the start of the day, but the rowdy commotion outside reminded him of what was to come. He couldn't waste time dawdling. He changed into a sleeveless pale blue button up linen shirt, dark brown cargo shorts, and slipped his feet into a pair of thick sandals.
A sudden high pitch yelp came from outside, signaling a chorus of different octave cries and shouts. The beads danced around Neo's face as he whipped around to gaze out the window. The tail end of who he knew was Atem leading the horde of villagers to the center was all Neo managed to make out before sprinting out of the hut and towards the main road.
No one was where they should be. No sound of production, chores being started, drowsy grunts to an approaching busy day; none of it was anywhere as Neo made his way through the maze of dirt huts, large trees and scattering chickens. It wasn't hard to find where the action would take place.
He just follow where all the excitement traveled, with chanting, the banging of drums and drawling blow of kudu horns, and interlocking 'cluck, clock' patterns of the akadinda. The music held no tune of festivities or jollity as last night. It all resounded with the nearing of soon to be quiet doom. Neo wouldn't be able to live with himself if these two were the same men he'd encountered yesterday.
It'd been his fault. He'd knocked over their water. They had every right to be upset, with the water supply being as scarce and difficult to distribute out between the villagers living inside and out of the ranch.
The crowd was thickening. That's how he knew he was getting closer. Neo pushed his way through the congested herd of people, some shouting incoherent, others bitter towards the offenders, not caring of the crime, but relieved they would be punished all the same. Mothers ushered their children towards the back while the men shook their fists and yelled with such fury, Neo could see the back of their throats.
He found the familiar backside of a friend and eased his way up to stand next to Heba and now that he took closer notice, Yami was on Heba's left.
Yami greeted him first with the gesture of two fingers touching his brow. "Habari za asubuhi, Neo. You wake up late."
Neo's smile was uneasy. "What's happening?" he whispered.
"Atem is setting the criminals before Kifo Kuzuia," Heba explains next to him. "He has to deliver punishment, but the village must all bear witness to Tiba, Jugo and their families' faces before they're banished. We are to look upon them no longer as part of this village. They're outcasts."
Neo swallowed. He couldn't stop the sinking feeling in his stomach. 'Please,' he inwardly prayed. 'Don't let it be the same two men.'
"Why does the family suffer for their crimes? It's not fair."
"It is our way, Neo," Yami says. "No other way to accept fate. Wives and children cannot survive without husband and father. No one take pity. They better off banished."
"The children. . ." Neo's voice faded to ashes.
The crowd of people across from them spread evenly apart as if by some gentle force. Atem appeared shirtless, flanked on his right side by his father, and left by his uncle and Seth. They wore the same attire, knee length Kente cloth loincloths threaded with multicolored beads around their hips. Their faces were painted with white tribal dots around their eyes, nose and forehead. What wasn't covered in dots was loudly colored bright yellow and blood red.
The four stood before the village, horizontally aligned. Atem broke the ranks, and spun around on his heel to face the parted sea of villagers.
He raised his hand and silence was he was granted silence. The command's so efficacious, the soft murmuring teenagers and children looked on in awe and respect.
Neo gulped again, eyes enlarged and entranced at the vibrant spectacle that was Atem in the garb and bright patterns of paint laced over his taunt muscles.
Yami thought the same, judging by his humming approval and low muttering that Neo was thankful he couldn't understand. Heba's faint blush said it was more than he wanted to hear about his own brother.
"Kuwaleta mbele!" Atem loudly ordered, lowering his arm in a sharp motion, forward and straight down the middle of the opening.
The excitement renews, the earth quakes beneath stomping feet and symbolic drum beats. Neo's wraps his arms around his stomach to staple the dread lining inside, but it's too much to bear when he sees the two men being lead through the gap of people. He recognizes them without hesitation. They were indeed the same men from yesterday. Atem had saw the whole thing and whether Neo knew to be grateful or not that this ceremonial was done on his behave, he couldn't stand to see it happen.
In this country, as well as any other, a man prides himself on the things he creates with his bare hands. Without the use of them, he's no better than a lifeless tree disarmed of its roots. They'll never find work, they cannot survive. Atem, all of them have to know this. It's not right for the families to suffer as well.
There's an alarming cry of despair as two women are thrown on the ground, one holding a baby and the other clutching a small boy to her chest to cushion their fall. Dust flutters in the air, landing in grand sheets over their bodies. The tears dry from the dirt, there are bruises and whelps on their legs and chests. People call them foul names, and brutally kick at their sides and heads.
Neo violently shakes his head to dislodge the image from his mind. He can't see it, but it's impossible to ignore the Jugo and Tiba's failed attempts to fight the restraining ropes tightly wound around their wrists and ankles. No one cared about their anguish, the struggle to protect their family and accept this unfairly justified crime.
It's Atem's father, Aknamkanon, and uncle, Aknadin, who quiets everyone with the simultaneous rise of their hands. Silence sweeps like a heavy wave, a command that even young babies know to obey without realizing how important it is.
Their arms are lowered when the two men are brought before them. The elder men wear exact expressions of calm anger and disappointment. Three, large, burly men emerge from the midst of the huddle of people, carrying an enormous boulder above their heads, perfectly shaved across the top. The edges were chipped with tiny triangular cuts.
As it's placed between the village chiefs and criminals, Neo gasps when he finds the courage to lift his head. The entire surface is saturated in a dingy brownish red. Blood from the previously punished no doubt. Neo's nails dug into the crooks of his arms. His heartbeat is loud, a dull throb in his ears.
"Hukumu ni rahisi kamwe kupita, hasa juu ya watu nimekuwa kujua kwa miaka." Aknamkanon's voice carries over them. "Mimi nina undani tamaa ya kuona wewe kabla ya mimi, Jugo na Tiba."
This isn't right. Neo clutched the inside of his arms, nails digging deep into his skin.
"Kuifuta mtu yeyote bila ya kijiji hiki ni haramu—"
"Yeye ni hakuna zaidi sehemu ya kijiji hii basi kuku sisi kuongeza." Jugo wobbled up to his feet, teeth bared in outrage. "Yeye kupita maji ya thamani, Mkuu. Mjinga kwamba got nini hasa alistahili. Kwa nini sisi ndio kuteseka kwa ajili ya makosa yake?"
Seth stepped forward, crossing his arms. "Kama yeye taka maji au tips juu ya gari ya maembe, sisi kusimama imara juu ya sheria kuzingatiwa katika kijiji hiki. Kushambulia moja ni kushambulia wote."
Tiba slumped over, shoulders shuddering. "Yeye hana mali katika kijiji hiki. Kwamba mtu ni nje. Wewe utakuwa kweli kamteuwa juu yetu? Tumekuwa hufugwa ng'ombe, kuvuna mazao na umesaidia kuongeza wengi wa watoto hawa katika watu wazima!" Tiba lifted his head, tears streaking over his hard tanned face. "Nilifundisha jinsi ya kuwinda, Atem. Wewe ni nusu ya mtu wewe huduma kwa sababu yangu. Angalau -rehemu familia yangu kama si mwenyewe!"
Neo heard Atem's name mentioned and looked to the chief's son. Only a hard and silence scowl replied to the man. He could've been pleading for his life, but Atem showed no signs of caring. Neo felt blessed and cursed all at once at being ignorant to this language. If he could understand what they were saying, he probably would have broken down.
"Neo ana haki kama kiasi kuwa hapa kama mtu mwingine!" Heba scoffed angrily and stepped forward, fists clenched at his sides. "Baba yangu alichukua wewe wote katika wakati wewe hawakuwa na mtu mwingine alifanya. Wala wewe ni maalum. Kwa nini yeye kutibiwa yoyote tofauti?"
Yami's protectively arm encircling Neo's shoulders explained relayed that whatever Heba said, Yami agreed with. And the way Heba would gesture behind himself, only added to how much the two defended him. Neo turned his face into Yami's side and bit down hard on his bottom lip. There's so much he wanted to say and do to stop this, but it wasn't his place.
It's not his place.
It's not his place to interfere.
It's not his place to say what's right or wrong.
Atem snorted, and nodded to someone in the crowd. Three men appeared, one carrying a large rusted machete and the other two positioning themselves behind Jugo and Tiba. The criminals struggled, eyes widening, their pleads enough to rip a soul in half. The women screamed, praying, clinging to their children and begging for mercy.
They were subdued. Atem came forward with the machete in hand. "May peace be with you," he says aloud, raising the might knife above his head.
Neo opens his eyes. It's not his place.
The knife steadily falls.
It's not his place to interfere.
The men scream.
It's not his place to say what's right or wrong.
But his feet are propelling him at an inhuman speed, dusting kicking up in his wake. Somewhere in his mind he hears Yami, Ms. Desta and Heba calling at his name. They're so far away, maybe where his common sense is. All the same, he knew he may have granted his own death wish when he tackled Atem to the ground, stumbling and rolling over him.
The machete's knocked into a spin some few feet away. As soon as Neo made up his mind to try and put some distance between him and Atem once he could untangle their limbs. That plan backfired the moment pressed the heel of his palm to his forehead, trying to job the stupor he was in and his eyes connected with the shadowy glare of death himself.
His head lifted more, turning inward and as the sunlight adjusted Neo found he was closer to Atem's face then assumed, their noses an inch away touching. A brief second into wondering what his next course of action should be and Neo had just amount of time to analyze just how messed up this situation was. He wasn't just on top of Atem, he was RIGHT on top of the man, wedged between his thighs.
Neo quickly crawled over Atem's chest to level his hands and knees on the ground next to him. He coughed, glanced sideways and then all around at the murmuring whispers and written shock on the villager's faces.
They were the least of his worries. Neo pushed up to his knees, fingers curled over the ball of his knees. "I . . ." he swallowed the gulp of dust and whispered "I'm sorry. It wasn't right, what I did . . .I don't expect forgiveness. But I can't stand by and allow this to happen." Neo gazed up pitifully at the charged men who looked upon him as if he'd sprouted the winds of a devil and face of an angel. "I'm sorry to have caused you this trouble. It's my fault. I accept full responsibility."
They only stared, no shred of understanding in their faces. Neo chuckled solemnly and bowed his head again. Of course they didn't understand what he was saying. What little he could make out from what they said was true. He was an outsider. He's long accepted that. Should they really be blamed for his clumsiness?
White hot pain spears the back of Neo's head, spreading to the base of his neck and down his spine. His face plants flat into the ground and then his face is snatched up by the roots of his hair, the sharp sunlight blinding him, but the feel of a razor thin blade to his neck all he needs to understand. A heavy weigh sits in the middle of his back, calloused bare feet firmly locking his hands at his sides.
There's too much dizziness spiraling round in his head to focus on one colorful, but the growling voice above is the best he supposed.
His head's jerked back hard. Neo gasps from the strain.
"Damn you, little bastard. How dare you think you're important enough to speak your mind? You're nothing to this village. You have no say as to how we discipline our people!" The knife's pressed into his neck. "I should kill you!"
"If it'll spare them, I don't care." Neo coughed, sniffling. "I'm in the wrong. I wasted their water. They have a right to be angry. They're outside men. It's difficult enough to surviving the dry season on handfuls of water and seeing some stranger waste it with little care? Wouldn't you be angry too?"
Atem smashes Neo's face back into the dirt. "I've survived on less and gone on with bitterness in me towards the Gods. But that's enough. I'd cut off my own hands before I lay a hand on anyone here. No one is excused. No matter how much I despise it, even a stranger like you is allowed justice when treated poorly. To allow it to go unpunished reflects on the quality of our leadership."
"They have families. Overlook this, just this once!" Neo shook with building rage. "It's not fair to do this to them! If you would cut off a man's hands for something so petty, you will kill anyone for whatever you believe to be justified!" Neo shimmered his shoulders when the weight slacked on his back. He wiggled and thrashed before Atem was forced to get to his feet and Neo stumbled to the stone block.
He roughly pushed the two men side, fell on his knees and pressed his wrists together, and laid them on the stony surface. "If hands are what you want so much, then have mine. I'll be no good to anyone and forced to leave."
Atem sneered, lips curling back over his teeth. His fingers fastened like a noose around the handle of the machete. "Whether it's their hands or yours, the crime still stands. It'll be right back to the original charge."
A large hand cups over Atem's shoulder. He's gently moved to the side and Akanamkanon steps forward. His old, rough face frowns hard at the young man sacrificing himself for two men he didn't know. Aknadin joins his brother, the pair share a look, lips grimly thinned and then share a mutual, unspoken agreement.
"You be punished in their place. Is that what you want?" Akanamkanon asks calmly in tattered English.
Yami shouts. "No!" He's held back by Seth's around his shoulders and Heba's struggles to put a stop to this are halted by Timeaus, holding him in a headlock. Ms. Desta covers her mouth, bright eyes watery and scared.
Neo keeps his head down and nods. "I'm fine with that," he says, but the quiver in his voice and shoulders proves the decision isn't without fear. Yet he remains there, unmoved.
"Very well." The eldest chief holds his hand out for the machete.
Atem hesitates, glaring evilly at the top of Neo's head, but inside he can't see why he doesn't want to place the blade in his father's hand. His grip's tight, his eyes hard and then he growls angrily, thrusting the machete with such force, the blade stabs into the earth.
"Stupid fool," he snarls. He walks around his father and uncle to stand by Neo. His hands cuffs the front of Neo's shirt and yanks him up to his feet. "Why do this? You don't owe them anything. Ba!" He throws Neo back on the ground without wanting for an answer.
Neo shakes his head, confused and dazed. He lifts his head wondering what'd just happened. The elder chiefs were still standing in front of him, but both had their eyes trailing after Atem's retreating form.
Aknadin's smile is brief before he turns toward the two criminals. "Wewe ni kuepushwa, lakini kosa lako ni si wamesahau. Wewe na familia yako bado wametengwa na ranchi hii. Sisi ugavi wewe na chakula na maji wewe chuma na hakuna zaidi. Kutolewa yao."
While he goes about delivering the criminals back to their families, Aknamkanon walked over to help the young man to his feet. He drops his heavy hand on top of Neo's head.
"Si wengi show ushujaa hivyo ushujaa kwa mtu mwingine, hasa wale hawajui. Kujivunia mwenyewe kwa ajili ya umefanya sana hisia yangu na ndugu yangu."
The old man's smile is warm, it's fatherly and though Neo couldn't understand, the expression was clear. He's warmed inside and says, "Thank you," but his insides are in turmoil, his conscience bothered. Neo rubs under his nose and suddenly breaks through the crowd and away from view before anyone can follow him.
Yami wasn't sure who to go after, watching Neo run one way and Atem stomp off toward the edge of the village. As much as he dearly wanted to soothe Neo, Atem came first. He wove through the people, pardoning his way through and sprinting off to where he knew Atem would be.
The front door to their bungalow's open, the windows cracked to allow a breeze. Yami toes off his shoes and quietly walks to the dining room. Atem's there, sitting in one of the chairs, hands folded on the back of his neck and low eyed glare cast at the table top.
"You not kill him," Yami braced his hand over the table top as he eased around to sit in the chair opposite Atem. He pulled it out and sat, folding his arms over the surface. "I surprised more than anything."
"So am I," Atem sighs, dipping his head further down until his forehead bumped the table. "He's such a damn fool, challenging me like that in front of the village. He should know it won't work in his favor. They'll hate him more."
Yami hums softly, cupping his cheek in his palm. "You hate him too?"
"I don't have the energy to bother. Still, he's a nuisance. I can't figure him out, nor do I care to try."
"It help if you try. Neo not bad person. He has good, um," Yami lightly chews on his bottom lip. "I think it said, hee-art."
Atem blows out heavily before lifting his eyes up and frowning tiredly at Yami. "Why are you speaking that language?"
Yami chuckles and shrugs. "It good practice. You speak it. Heba too. I learn as well. If I speak native tongue all time, I no get better."
Atem can't help smiling small-like. "You live here. It's not a primary language you need to improve."
"You speak really good."
"I went to school, but a lot of good it does me. Heba's more fluent than me."
Yami's smile vanishes. He looks off to the side. "Neo speaks it."
Atem stills and lifts his head full to look at his fiancée. He doesn't have the energy to argue and with a mind full of confusion, he doubts he could put up much competition for Yami's sharp tongue anyway. Atem drops his head back into the crook of his arms.
"Is bad for me to want to learn too, Atem?"
He never deny Yami anything. Why start now? "No, do as you wish," Atem says, smoothly reverting back to Swahili. "Leave me. I need rest."
"Of course." Yami raises to his feet and steps around to lay a kiss on Atem's head. Then whispers in Swahili, "Don't regret your decision, my love. You did fine."
He walks out, positive he catches the side of Atem's lips lift. With one storm calmed, it was time to ease the rains of another.
He really wished he'd minded his own business now. Going back to the village was definitely a bad idea now. If Atem hated him, the villagers would even more than they did already. Well, Neo smiled a little. It wasn't too bad in the end. He succeeded in saving the husbands from a terrible fate. Even they weren't allowed to live in the village, they'll survive. That's plenty of reason to believe that he wasn't entirely wrong.
The sky's no longer a brilliant blue as it'd once been. Neo traveled so far away, he didn't recognize the surrounding greenery. His stride slowed to a casual pace going straight on, like being draw inside by an invisible thread. The village was still in sight over his shoulder, but a good distance away.
The canopy above was lush and filled with life, tri-colored birds, and smaller beasts wandering about their daily routine. There's much life, plenty of beauty and tranquility. The troubles of earlier are far away.
Neo enters a clearing between parted trees with giant trucks and branches. He braces his hand over the surprisingly smooth textured bark, using its strong foundation to keep him balanced while preparing to jump a small crevice. The thrums of the ground and trees hum, and the air vibrates with pulsing life the deeper he ventures.
Something inside him urges him to push onward and that he would see something grand, but it's far more than what he expects. He steps down into an open clearing, teeming with radiant colors imaginable. His mouth drops and his chest constricts at the sheer beauty of this place.
A still, clear lake as blue as blue could be, sat nestled beneath heavily dense trees, shading over the lake with great stretching branches. More brush covered it from behind, sitting like miniature guardians with blossoming glory in many shades of pink, violent and cream flowers.
Neo, purple eyes enormous with wonder, walks into the scenery with care, so scared to disturb the beatitude of everything. He feels serenity bloom inside his chest, but the knots of joy clog his throat and suddenly he feels the urge to fall to his knees and cry. It's amazing, simply incredible to believe that such a place exists undisturbed by mankind. He feels almost sinful having found it.
Neo wipes his wrist under his nose and flees to another apart of the forest, as far away from here as he can go. He would return, no question, but with his mind so tainted with confusion, regret and misery, he dare not blemish it with his thoughts. He finds a more suitable place, closer to the edge of the forest and discovers a worn tree that looked aged beyond its years. The vines are tight and strong. He grabs one and tests it with a few tugs before giving it a try.
Up he climbs until finding a sturdy perch and sits where the branch juts like a fat finger towards the village. Neo leaned back against the trunk and simply allowed his mind to filter free of his troubles. A pity since it felt like all his issues were erased from his mind when he had been in that divine place.
Now, all he could was consider his actions. He pulled his knees up to his chest, folded his arms around them and laid his chin on top. God, what had happened to him? How could he do something so disrespectful? It wasn't his place to intervene. This is their land, their laws.
Neo tilted his head to the side and sighed. Moreover, as bizarre as it may sound, he felt he should apologize to Atem for interrupting the judgment. Neo questioned and challenged his authority in front of the entire village. Where did that leave Neo after acting out like that? He didn't expect any favors won from his display.
And God, Yami? What would he think? Neo buried his face. Embarrassing Atem meant shaming the entire Bellos Family. How could Neo make it up to them? The chief didn't seem disappointed in the outcome. In fact, he looked almost relieved. Maybe he was and Chief Aknadin. There's no telling with Seth. He looks like the kind of guy who goes with the flow of things.
And then there's Atem. Yes, it seems to rotate back to that man. Neo groaned, further burying his face in his arms. He wished . . . he wished . . . there wasn't so much animosity between them. They could get along. If only Atem could trust him.
The sun's very low in the sky when Neo finally lifts his head. He blinks sleepily around himself, and realizes he'd fallen asleep. His limbs ache, his stomach hurts and he's dizzy. Opening his mouth in a wide yawn, Neo cracks his neck and looks towards the village. Dots of the dark skinned clan go from one end to the other in the bustle of an ending day. Bells ring to the moaning grunts of the cattle being herded to another field for grazing and dogs bark their assistance.
He jumps down and walks back to the village. Goodness knows how long he'd been gone. His stomach said half past breakfast, lunch and dinner. Getting Heba to cook for them was out of the question, and Ms. Desta likely had her hands full cooking for the others. Maybe he could find some dry fruit somewhere—
"Neo, ya juu hapa! Mimi kupatikana kwake!"
Neo jumped out of his skin from the barking shout up ahead. A half dressed man was pointing at him, gesturing wildly with his other hand to someone else. Several others appeared and came rushing toward him. Neo stepped back as they surrounded him, speaking too fast for him to see what was wrong.
Someone quickly shoving their way through. It was Heba and not far behind him, Yami, and Ms. Desta.
"Ba, mjinga bubu!" Heba snapped, smacking the side of Neo's head with the force of a horse kick. "We looked all over for you! Gone without a word, you damn fool!" He hit him again, ignoring his outcry. "I thought Makunga got you!"
"OK, OK, I get it!" Neo dodged another hit, skipping backwards on his feet. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry anyone. . . I just needed to get away."
"For ten hours? Are you dead in the head, man? Father have whole village search for you. You have my mother and Yami worried sick!"
Neo looked to Ms. Desta who was holding a hand over her chest and curled a finger under her wet eyes. His expression softened. He walked up to her and bowed his head. "Mimi nina sorry, Bi Desta."
His words were muffled into the crook of her neck when he felt her arms thrown around his neck. Ms. Desta sobbed, stroking the back of his head and kissing all over his face. "Silly kijana, si milele scare me kama hiyo tena!"
Her shoulders quake under Neo's awkwardly placed hands because he's unsure as to how to calm her. Luckily, Heba comes to his rescue, soothingly easing his mother away, whispering, "Huna haja ya kulia, Mama. Yeye ni OK sasa." Heba grins sheepishly over his shoulder while guiding his mother away. But an added wink and determined set frown says that when they're both home tonight, he's going to demand a more thorough explanation.
Neo bows and apologizes to the rest of the villagers who slowly return to their previous duties after some sighs of relief and murmuring annoyance at having their day interrupted for nothing. Yami's the last one Neo steps up to. He mutters an apology.
It goes unanswered. Neo lifts his head and all he sees is Yami's back turned to him. His knuckles cracked, a visible shiver vibrated all around him.
"Yami?" Neo takes a step forward, then pauses. Oh, he knows what Yami wants. More than just an apology for his leaving. Neo sighs and shyly dissolves the space between them. He takes a huge risk, but decides it's the only way to convey his true feelings.
Neo closed his eyes and stretched his arms out and wrapped them tight around Yami's middle, laying his head on the center of his back. Yami's whole body stiffens and for a while, Neo's able to fully appreciate how much of a man Yami really is. With a well-defined chest, contour lines and hills of muscle pressed against his face, it's no wonder, Neo sees some of the young girls ogling him.
"I should've told you I was feeling troubled," Neo finally starts to say. "I know you said I could, but I felt so full that it'd be unfair to unload everything on you . . . but I see that doesn't matter does it? You want me to talk about it all."
Yami's chest rises and falls beneath Neo's encaged fingers. "You scare me too. Thought . . . thought bad things."
"I'm so sorry," Neo whispers, snuggling into Yami's back and so damn grateful he wasn't pushed away. "I won't ever do it again. I promise."
Yami patted Neo's hands affectionately before turning in the embrace to hold Neo's wrists and pulled him toward the inner part of the village. "Hungry, yes?"
"I'm starved. Did you cook?"
"Yes, and Atem too. You come eat with us."
"Ho, ho, whoa," Neo tugged back until Yami stopped and fixed him with an annoyed and confused look.
"What is matter?"
"I'm pretty sure I'm not invited to eat dinner with you two."
Yami tilted his head, not a flick of understanding in his eyes. "What is in-vii-tent?"
"Oh, well," Neo thought a moment, scratching his head. "It's when someone asks someone to join them in something, usually a special occasion. Atem did not say it was OK for me to join you in eating."
"Oh!" Now that Yami understood he still didn't seem the least bit bothered and waved off Neo's explanation. "It my house too. If not like, Atem eat outside."
Neo wasn't convinced. "Really, Yami, I can find something to eat at Heba's."
"Ba, Heba cooking taste like mbwa kavu shit. We cook better."
Neo never heard of mbwa kavu shit, but it had shit in it and that wasn't too far off in describing Heba's cooking skills. After living off Heba's cooking for four months, a person learns to chew past the burnt food without thinking about it. And, Heba had the tendency to believe an extra sprinkle of any spices not necessary for the dish would bring out an alluring flavor.
Neo sighed thinking about those near death experiences, but he would risk constipation over having to avoid Atem's lethal glare. No matter how much Neo rejected the idea, Yami found a reason around it. Before Neo knew it they were less than a few feet from the front door. Even worst, Atem's body filled the entrance with all of his intimidating presence.
Neo inwardly groaned. He didn't see this ending well at all.
TBC: I promise we won't have this much translation in future chapters.
Glossary:
Lute ~ instrument similar to a violin, but with an oblong shape, deep round back, kind of like a teardrop sliced in half. The neck or handle is crooked, made to fit in the musician's hand.
Baada ya mimi, Baba ~ Chase me Papa (Dad, Father, or Daddy)
Harakisha! Tafadhali Baba, kuja kucheza ~ Hurry up! Please Papa, come play!
Fufu~ *Made by boiling starchy food crops like cassava, yams or cooking plantains and then pounding them into a dough-like consistency. Fufu is eaten with the fingers, and a small ball of it can be dipped into an accompanying soup or sauce. I've never had the pleasure of trying it, but it looks yummy.
Kaptula pamba~ Cotton Pants
Kudu horns ~ *Made from the horns of creatures such as a water buffalo, hollowed out and used similar to trumpets.
Akadinda ~ made from wood, supported on banana tree stems and placed over a tuned pit dug into the ground. Resembles a xylophone.
Habari za asubuhi~ Good morning, Neo.
Kuwaleta mbele!~ Bring them forward!
Hukumu ni rahisi kamwe kupita, hasa juu ya watu nimekuwa kujua kwa miaka ~ Judgment is never easy to pass, especially upon men I've known for years.
Mimi nina undani tamaa ya kuona wewe kabla ya mimi, Jugo na Tiba~ I 'm deeply disappointed to see you before me, Jugo and Tiba.
Kuifuta mtu yeyote bila ya kijiji hiki ni haramu ~ Striking anyone apart of this village is forbidden—
Yeye ni hakuna zaidi sehemu ya kijiji hii basi kuku sisi kuongeza. ~ He's no more a part of this village then the chickens we raise.
Yeye kupita maji ya thamani, Mkuu. Mjinga kwamba got nini hasa alistahili. ~ He wasted precious water, Chief. That fool got exactly what he deserved.
Kwa nini sisi ndio kuteseka kwa ajili ya makosa yake? Why are we the ones to suffer for his wrongdoings?
Kama yeye taka maji au tipsjuu ya gari ya maembe, sisi kusimama imara juu ya sheria kuzingatiwa katika kijiji hiki. Kushambulia moja ni kushambulia wote. ~ Whether he wastes water or tips over a cart of mangos, we stand firm on the laws upheld in this village. To attack one is to attack all.
Yeye hana mali katika kijiji hiki. Kwamba mtu ni nje. Wewe utakuwa kweli kamteuwa juu yetu? Tumekuwa hufugwa ng'ombe, kuvuna mazao na umesaidia kuongeza wengi wa watoto hawa katika watu wazima! ~ He's doesn't belong in this village. That man is an outsider. You'll really chose him over us? We've herded cattle, harvest the crops and helped raise many of these children to grown men!
Nilifundisha jinsi ya kuwinda, Atem. Wewe ni nusu ya mtu wewe huduma kwa sababu yangu. Angalau -rehemu familia yangu kama si mwenyewe! ~I taught you how to hunt, Atem. You're half the man you care because of me. At least take pity on my family if not myself!"
Neo ana haki kama kiasi kuwa hapa kama mtu mwingine~ Neo has as much right to be here as anyone else!
Baba yangu alichukua wewe wote katika wakati wewe hawakuwa na mtu mwingine alifanya. Wala wewe ni maalum. Kwa nini yeye kutibiwa yoyote tofauti? ~ My father took you both in when you had no one else did. Neither of you are special. Why should he be treated any differently?
Mei amani na awe nanyi ~ May peace be with you
Wewe ni kuepushwa, lakini kosa lako ni si wamesahau. Wewe na familia yako bado wametengwa na ranchi hii. Sisi ugavi wewe na chakula na maji wewe chuma na hakuna zaidi. Kutolewa yao. ~ You're spared, but your crime isn't forgotten. You and your family are still banished from this ranch. We will supply you with the food and water you earned and no more. Release them.
Si wengi show ushujaa hivyo ushujaa kwa mtu mwingine, hasa wale hawajui. Kujivunia mwenyewe kwa ajili ya umefanya sana hisia yangu na ndugu yangu. ~ Not many show bravery so valiantly for another man, especially ones they don't know. Be proud of yourself for you've very much impressed me and my brother.
Mjinga bubu! ~ Damn fool!
Mimi nina sorry, Bi Desta~ I'm sorry, Ms. Desta.
Silly kijana, si milele scare me kama hiyo tena! ~ Silly boy, don't you ever scare me like that again!
Huna haja ya kulia, Mama. Yeye ni OK sasa. ~You don't need to cry, Mama. He's OK now.
Mbwa kavu shit ~ Dry Dog shit. (Ha!)