Love's Joy

by Emil Toth

  Devra smiled. “I had a hard time convincing him he loved me.”

  “You did and that is what matters.”

  Ashlee heard the news and embraced her Uncle Ravi. “I am glad you found love, uncle.”

  “Thank you my dear.”

  Ashlee gave her uncle a warm smile. “I am so proud of all of you. What you started here is having an impact. There are a dozen questions racing around in my head. They will have to wait for the appropriate time.”

  They were led to the meeting hall were people rushed to cram against its outer walls. Jars of wine, water and cups were placed on the tables in preparation for the conversation between the village leaders.

  Zafir addressed the travelers loud enough for those outside the hut to hear, “It has been several years since your last visit. We did not expect you.”

  Elgar, the Elder, replied, “We have a specific mission, which we would like to present to your council and people.”

  “You have our complete attention,” responded Zafir.

  “We are on a peace mission. We are hopeful every village we are aware of will ratify the peace treaty we are about to describe to you, the council and your people.”

  “It sounds intriguing. Have you approached others, and did they ratify the treaty?”

  “We have assurances from the Kahali, Homar, and Sumati villages they will honor the treaty. We have also talked to the Wanderers and they stated, if you ratify it, they shall as well.”

  “The Wanderers agreed? This is a great surprise. Something has had to change radically in them to agree.”

  “Their population is not growing, consequently, they cannot afford to lose any men and they were amicable.”

  “Is our tribe the last you will visit?”

  “No, after we leave here, we are going on to the Ebiji tribe. The tall lady, Evette, is from there. We brought with us one member from each village to help with any language barriers. We will go through the treaty step by step and give you a chance to discuss it at length.”

  “Please speak loud enough so our people can hear you.”

  “Of course,” responded Elgar. He went through the treaty step by step. While there were discussions on most of them the consensus was it was worthy and viable. A vote was taken by the council and they accepted the treaty. They put the vote to the people surrounding the hall and it was resoundingly accepted. There were only a few dissenters in the crowd.

  “I am curious. How is our former citizen doing in Kahali?” asked Zafir.

  “Netti is doing fine,” reported Elgar. “She met a man, fell in love and they now have a two year old daughter.”

  “I am glad to hear she has a better life than the one she had here.”

  Elgar shook his head. “It is sad the hooligan, ex-husband, Abdu, is still out of control.’

  “When we told him his wife left with Kaathi he was infuriated. I had to set him straight. It has been a long time since he has misbehaved. For a while, he was angry he could not marry again,” answered Zafir. “He had no proof she was dead. He was doing a lot of complaining, but he is stuck with his faith.”

  The Elder smiled, “I am glad to hear it.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  Sharika wanted to meet the man was who caused Netti to attempt suicide. She had to find a way to make it happen. The day after the Nubilons accepted the peace treaty Sharika found Ravi’s hut and called for Ashlee. She came to the entrance and Sharika took her arm and guided her to a bench a short distance from the hut.

  “Can you spend some time with me today? I want to find Netti’s ex-husband. He started the mess here, which caused Pauli and Sandor’s deaths.”

  The request was a strange one and Ashlee wanted to know more. “Why would you want to find him?”

  “I questioned your uncle if the man or men who killed our friends were ever punished. He indicated they were not. It is obvious this clan has no laws about abuse. Ever since I saw Sandor and Pauli’s widows and children weep for the loss of their husbands and fathers I swore, if I was given the chance, I would seek retribution for them.”

  “Oh, Sharika I do not think it is a good idea.”

  “Good or bad. It is what I need to do.”

  “You should talk to Kaathi.”

  “No. This is my decision. No one is going to talk me out of it. Will you walk the village square and the avenues with me? All I want is company until I see him.”

  Ashlee thought about the consequences of her involvement if Sharika did something drastic. At the time Pauli and Sandor lost their lives and Netti nearly took hers, she also sought retribution. The intervening years had softened her anger. It was obvious the Hun woman before her was not forgiving.

  “Are you going to kill him?”

  “No.”

  Ashlee felt better. “Very well. We can camp out on a bench until we see him.”

  Ashlee went back inside and got directions from Ravi, after she explained why she wanted to know. She and Sharika found a bench not far from the man’s hut.

  The morning was half gone when Abdu noticed the two foreign women a long distance away. He kept his eyes on them as he approached his home.

  “There he is,” Ashlee nodded to the man coming toward them.

  “Stay here,” Sharika commanded Ashlee.

  She got up and intercepted Abdu. She evaluated him, as he approached her. He was not a tall man, hardly a finger taller than her. He was thin and not muscled. She was sure he was the type of man who made himself feel strong by abusing his wife, sister and mother. It would end today. He was not going to abuse her, and she would teach him a lesson.

  “So you are the simian who rallied your men to kill my friends?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Your wife tried to take her own life because she was miserable with you.”

  “Get out of my way foreigner.”

  “You have lived many years and have not paid the price for killing my friends. I am going to make you pay for it.”

  His voice was a snarl. “No one is going to make me pay for anything, especially not you.”

  The harsh exchange of words drew a crowd of over a dozen people.

  He spit toward her feet. She moved them before the spittle could land. Her quick reflex surprised him. In spite of her having a terrifically muscled body she was no threat to him. He had nothing to fear. He swung his arm to push her aside only to have it smacked away with such intensity his arm hurt. He noted her quick reaction time. This time he drove his hand forward to push her backward only to have his hand punched forcefully by her. He shook his hand to ease the stinging sensation. His anger quickly escalated, and he was eager to teach her a lesson. He opened his arms to grab her and throw her aside. She grabbed his right arm and used the momentum of his body to throw him over her shoulder. He landed on the ground with a thud. The air in his lungs rushed out. His head was jolted by the ground. Shaking his head, he scampered up and was enraged she had embarrassed him by throwing him. He thought for a moment how he could throw her off. He decided to fake a charge then kick her in the stomach.

  The commotion brought more people. The crowd of over three dozen encircled them. He was vaguely aware of the crowd. He ignored them. He was facing more pressing things. He had to beat her ass and teach her a lesson.

  He made his fake charge and kicked out at her. Sharika was not fooled. She grabbed his foot and heaved it high in the air. He crashed to the ground again knocking the wind out of his body. He was startled and his back ached. He recovered and was incensed she had put him down again.

  Abdu was on his knees and had venom in his voice. “You bitch, you are going to regret what you did. I am going to kick your skinny ass.”

  People in the crowd were yelling for others to come out of their huts to witness the fight. The crowd quickly doubled in size. None of them had ever seen a woman fight a man.

  Abdu got to his feet slowly and was puzzled how the woman was combating every move he made. He had to take a dif
ferent approach. He stuck his left hand out as if he was going to grab her with it and moved toward her. With lightening swiftness, Sharika latched onto his outstretched hand and quickly bent it backward. Abdu screamed. He did something unexpected. He did a backward flip and landed on his feet. She could not hold onto his hand and watched in amazement.

  The crowd yelled and applauded in appreciation of the trick. Ashlee was hoping the fight would end soon. Even though Sharika was doing well, she did not want her to get hurt.

  More people gathered around them.

  Sharika waited for the man’s next move. She focused on her ability to sense the split second time gap between thought and action. Abdu gained confidence breaking out of her finger hold. He had to end this. He put his head down and rushed her. She dropped to the ground and used her feet to propel him high over her. He landed with a sickening thud. She bounced up and swiftly kicked him on the side of his head. The blow stunned him. She landed another heel kick to the side of his head and he squirmed away. She let him get to his feet and proceeded to drive her foot into the side of his knee snapping the ligaments. He fell to the ground screaming. She walked leisurely to him and drove a punishing kick to the side of his face knocking him momentarily unconscious. The crowd moaned. It was some time before he recovered. He struggled to get up. His left knee was useless and hurt like blazes. He stayed there on one knee trying to get his bearings. His eyes were not focusing, and more troubling he did not know where he was. He heard people talking as if in the distance.

  Sharika took her time and smashed her foot into his ribs. He screamed as his ribs broke. He flopped back on the ground moaning and crying like a seven year old. The crowd groaned. She took one last look at him and walked toward Ashlee. She took her arm. “I have had my retribution.”

  Many of the woman, under cover of their hoods, smiled at the resounding beating Abdu received by the slightly clad, muscled foreign woman.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  The village was abuzz with the news Abdu was beaten senseless by the foreign woman. The next day the Nubilon council was sitting and drinking in the meeting hall, talking casually with Elgar, Kaathi and the others celebrating the ratification of the peace treaty. A disturbed Abdu, being assisted by a friend, entered the hall swearing and cursing.

  His eyes found Sharika, and he shouted and pointed his finger at her. “She broke my ribs, mangled my knee and kicked me in the head and knocked me unconscious.”

  Jacob smiled. “I did not know she could send her foot so high.”

  Abdu gave Jacob a nasty look. “She cannot. She kicked me while I was on the ground.”

  Jacob was still smiling. “How did she talk you into lying on the ground?”

  “You stupid oaf. She did not talk me onto the ground; she flipped me.”

  Zafir knew the whole story but asked anyway. “What possessed her to do it?”

  “The courtesan was pissed we killed her friends.”

  “Watch your mouth little man,” cautioned Jacob.

  Abdu was about to snap back and caught himself after a quick appraisal of the warrior.

  Zafir questioned the snake of a man. “So how did Sharika come to confront you?”

  “I was walking home and she blocked my way, saying crap about she was here to avenge the death of her friends. I thought she was all bluff. She was not. She attacked me.”

  Elgar held up his hand. “Stop right there. I think we need to hear from Sharika.”

  Everyone nodded except Abdu. Jacob left and brought Ashlee and Sharika back and they sat and waited for Zafir to speak.

  “I think we need to start from the beginning,” announced Zafir. “Abdu, I want to hear your version of what took place.”

  Abdu story exaggerated how Sharika attacked him. The moment he was done Zafir asked for Sharika’s version.

  Sharika calmly gave her story and waited.

  Ashlee spoke up, “What she said is true. I think she kicked him to let him know how it felt to be kicked while being vulnerable.”

  “I suppose we can contact others who saw the confrontation. What do you want to do, Abdu?”

  He made a face and shook his head.

  “Since you made the first advance on this lady, I cannot chastise her. What I can do is congratulate her for her courage. No other woman would have or could have done what she did.”

  “Are you telling me you are not doing anything to her?” yelled Abdu.

  “You are correct. When you and friends killed those two fine men, I was sad we did not have any laws in place to deal with all of you. I am going to recommend at our next meeting we put in place safeguards so it will never happen again. I am also going to draft laws to protect our women from brutes like you… Get out of here you disgust me.”

  Abdu glared at Zafir, turned and left with the help of his friend. His limp was more exaggerated than when he had entered.

  The leader of the council looked admiringly at Sharika. “I suppose I should thank you for being the catalyst to bring these issues back out in the open after all these years.”

  A warm smile replaced the frown on her face. “I am happy I could be of service. It was a pleasure to finally have revenge for the widows and children as well as for Netti.”

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  The peace contingent had accomplished their task among the Nubilons and they bid old and new friends goodbye. In spite of haunting, old memories, a sense of accomplishment buoyed their moods and traditional Kahali songs were sung through much of the first day on the river. Jacob spotted a desirable place for the travelers to spend the night. Wood was gathered for the fire, the meal was prepared and eaten. Kaathi and Sharika volunteered for the first watch to guard those sleeping. The fire was roaring and there was sufficient wood collected to stoke the fire through the night.

  Sharika cocked her head. “Are you going to chastise me for what I did to Abdu?”

  The mystic smiled. “I suppose I could get all philosophical but I believe it was the best way for the man to learn to respect women.”

  Sharika returned the smile and dropped the subject. “I have heard the Teller of Stories version of why the world fell apart. Do the Talker Healers have a story about the Age of Destruction?”

  “We do,” responded Kaathi, “and it is the reason I have put so much emphasis in changing the attitude and philosophy of our village and other villages. Everyone needs to see how important and significant it is to love and understand their neighbor and their family.

  “Here is the Talker Healer’s story: Religion, race, land, pollution, water and lack of understanding were the main causes of disputes and wars for all of recorded history. Prior to the impending disaster, the world’s scientists warned every one of what was going to happen, if we did not take preventative action. On one hand, there were leaders of government and business tackling the problem. On the other, there were some placing greed over the welfare of the people. Others did not believe the scientists because the changes were not easily detectable and other leaders were skeptical of the data. By the time the skeptics were convinced, the problems had become insurmountable and chaos was already in progress.

  “The large land mass nations producing most of the edible goods used chemicals in their production and the chemicals leeched into the ground water and the technology to counter act its harmfulness was not widely utilized. The supply for uncontaminated water for humans and livestock simply could not keep up with the demand. Riots for food and clean water were commonplace.

  “The world could not sustain the population explosion. Much of the produce eaten was contaminated and adversely affected people, causing mutation among all the world races. The land was polluted and the seas were over fished and were also contaminated. Much of the fish humans ate came from fish farms. Even this measure could not keep up with the demand.

  “The world’s climate grew warmer. It changed for a number of reasons. The foremost cause was gases polluting the air from vehicles and power plants. Tied to this was the dema
nd for wood products and the need for farmland, which depleted our forests. It was known the forests were a major source of harmful gas absorption. Sadly, greed overruled knowledge. With the forests shriveling, the rain patterns around the world changed, causing droughts over vast areas normally providing farm goods. The droughts caused a huge drop in farm production. World leaders admitted too late the World Ecosystem was complicated and tied to everything. The warmer weather caused the ice at the world’s poles to melt and the sea levels rose and flooded many large coastal villages.

  “Uprisings and riots occurred in virtually every large populated village in every nation. As the situation grew worse, people fought to keep their families alive and nations fought each other to preserve their food producing land and water supplies.

  “In the later stages, Mother Earth rebelled. Volcanos erupted and blanketed much of the world with ash clouds for months, which curtailed our ability to raise crops due to the lack of sunlight. Famine and disease were rampant. Adding to humanity’s problem, the weather changed and we faced an abbreviated Ice Age. The end result was only the hardiest of people survived. Much of mankind’s survival was due to having a clean supply of spring water. As the chaos ran its course the survivors eventually congregated in social groups, which gave way to our villages.”

  Sharika shook her head. “Your story is much more descriptive than ours. Having heard it, I cannot fathom why all of the nations did not heed the scientist’s warnings. It is sad the leaders were so stupid. Now I have a clearer picture of why you have worked so hard to help people learn the importance of relationships and why you initiated this peace mission. I hope we do not make the same mistakes our ancestors made.”

  “It is my hope as well,” extoled Kaathi. “It can work, if we keep our minds open to what is happening around us, and we are able to express our concerns, fears, doubts, compassion and love with each other.”

  “I have noticed people not attending the sessions are still argumentative and disruptive about them.”