Chapter 7: The white mans secret

Taliben stared at the site before him in a cold resentful wonder. He couldn't begin to describe what he saw…for he had never seen such structures in his life. The pile was covered in ash…the fire had died out long ago but what was left of it lay in one large pile…creating a towering elongated shadow that crept across the ground towards his bare feet. It was a mountain of destruction. Ajule and Yeebal stood behind him. Keemiol had come along as well…but he would stand no further then where he already was. Ajule approached the dead monster first, his chest bent low to the ground prodding his knuckles lightly in dirt to keep him balanced. His nostrils flared.

"This is the smell of white mans trash." He said stubbing his toes into the dirt and spiting in disgust. Taliben looked at him and then studied the heap once more, his broad shoulders gleaming in perspiration against the hot undying sun.

"No. This is something else…" This came from Yeebal who suddenly grew more courage after realizing that whatever it was it was lifeless. He picked up a piece of cold hard scrap from the ground rubbing it and knocking his knuckles across it. It was a shiny color none of their eyes had ever witnessed before…

"How strange," Yeebal murmured to himself Ajule approaching him and the object curiously. It was a shard of something…but of what they couldn't be sure.

Yeebal and Ajules minds whirled with amazement as they studied the sharp scrap together, while Keemiol stood trembling in fear from a far. Taliben however shunned his curiosity. He didn't need to know what it was or how it worked…all he knew was that it was a fowl omen along with those disgusting white men…and for that he hated it. He hated them and he hated their things. He wanted nothing more then to light the heap on fire again until it was nothing but a mountain of ash and soot.

Taliben was stirred from his deep thoughts of hatred, when his acute sense of hearing picked up a hiss in the air. His eyes darted back to his two thick-headed followers. Ajule had slid his thumb across the shard but as it turned out it was quite sharp. He sucked the blood from his thumb while Yeebal merely continued to gaze at the shard.

Taliben had just about had enough of staring at the bizarre waste and was about to call the journey back to home but his eyes strayed on something that glinted bright with the reflection of the sun. His feet moved one step at a time, and no matter how he tried Taliben could bring himself to look away from the small object that lay forgotten in the pile. He pulled it out carefully holding it in his hands and brushed the ash away.

It was magnificent. Shadows formed by his own and he felt the hushed breath of his two companions on his back as they stared at it from behind.

"What is it…" Ajule asked his mouth gaping. Yeebal reached out and tried to touch it but Taliben yanked it away with a growl. He pounded his chest putting out his authority.

"It's mine." He growled. Yeebal lowered his eyes to the ground and nodded.

The two soon left him alone with his new toy…and grew more curious among the larger piles. Ajule sat down in the grass and studied his findings while Yeebal rummaged for more.

Keemiol remained silent and staring the entire time.

Day began to fall into night. Palla was just about to set. Taliben was still fiddling with the angular black object, twirling it in his fingers.

"Let's go," Yeebal whined. Talibens eyes flickered over his companions faces but ignored them nonetheless.

"Yes please let us go Taliben. I want some food."

"Shut that hole in your face," Taliben replied, silencing them. His eyes then grew thoughtful again as he stared at his treasure.

"I am not done here yet." Yeebal and Ajule exchanged annoyed look that would have never been passed had Taliben not had his back turned.

Talibens strong callised hands moved lightly across the dark object…mesmerizing every inch of its shape. Feeling the hard texture of it. Each groove and angle. It was riveting..so ark and magnificent. He could hardly tear his eyes away. Suddenly one of his fingers got stuck in the bottom that curved into a loop. He grunted trying to pull it out but his finger was turned the wrong way. Stumbling around he held it in one hand wiggling his finger back and forth trying to ease it out. When that did work he sighed.

"Perhaps if I bend the loop just a little it will come out." He mumbled to himself turning around. He put pressure on the small object protruding from the loop.

Harder.

And harder.

Suddenly Talibens body shook like thunder, a giant roar pierced the air and quick as it came- Stop. Nothing…just silence.

Taliben opened his eyes and fear shown in them. His ears were ringing the sound he had just heard echoing further and further away until it became nothing but memory. Carefully he turned to face his friends. But they were not looking at him. Their faces were agape in sheer horror. Talibens eyes that had been bright with amazement dulled.

The weeds swayed gently in the breeze. Everything seemed perfectly fine.

"What is it?" Taliben asked.

With one trembling finger Yeebal and Ajule pointed in the direction behind him. Slowly Taliben turned around.

Keemiol stood ten feet away from him watching him silently but his eyes were blank and unseeing.

And then Pallas last rays of shimmering sunlight revealed the dark truth.

Talibens eyes trailed downward to Keemiols chest . To the right of his breast there was a hole. And through the hole spilt blood. Taliben dropped the object staring at the man in bewilderment. Keemiol seemed to look at him for one short moment as if realizing what had happened too..before his eyes rolled back into his head and he fell backwards landing with a soft thud against the dirt.

Yeebal was the first to react. He carefully crawled across the dirt and kneeled against Keemiols unmoving body. With wide eyes he turned around again.

"He's dead."

Taliben reached down and picked up the object. It was hot at the tip, the place where death had seeped out and with a sickening crack had flown into Keemiols chest and killed him.

But the death of their third companion worried him not. He was happy. He began to laugh. He jumped around with sheer joy and howled as Yalluk rose from his slumber and came out to shine with his small children littering the night sky.

"Don't you see!," Taliben cried shaking Ajule as he danced around him. Yeebal came closer with precaution his eyes following the object as it waved carelessly around in his leaders hand.

"This is a miracle! This is a gift!"

"But Taliben…," Yeebal exclaimed with fear stricken eyes, "Keemiol is dead. You killed him….you- …you killed him!" Ajule was still at a loss of words. Taliben clucked his teeth instantly turning savage.

"No! I DID NOT." He seethed through gritted teeth. He pointed the weapon of death at them and they stumbled away shielding their faces with their hands.

"If you tell the Mansa of any of this…I will kill you with it," He waved it towards them his tone cut-throat.

"Yes," they chorused in fear. Taliben laughed but his eyes grew defensive and crazed.

"Don't you see…" He whispered shaking his head.

"This was a gift sent from Gizzam. It is to honor me in my future reign as Mansa. Can't you see? Keemiol was sacrificed to show me the way! We have unlocked a secret of the white men and we can use this weapon to our advantage! It is a gift!" Then he turned and yelled out into the dark cloudless sky, exulting and dancing over Keemiols dead body.

"Bless you Gizzam! Bless you!"

Ajule and Yeebal stared at each other their mouths rendered clear from words.

What had Taliben done? What madness had he unleashed…

Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

(I hope everyone understands that Taliben found a gun and i just had to describe it the way they would see it!)

Ut-oh… so Talibens up to no good. Hmm I wonder what will happen…