Sun Stealer. Hidden Anomaly.

by A. Mani

  “See something you like…?” he asked and looked around to get a reaction from his crowed.

  “I am sorry” I said “but I understood from kujo, I could stay here for a while.”

  “You can stay, Almas” Kujo hurried to answer, when the dark beast suddenly raised his right arm and made everybody leave the place, including kujo.

  Dark beast waited until everybody left and then looked at me for a moment. I stood still and did not move. I had no fear in my heart and kept looking straight into his eyes. I could see that made him angry. The next moment, he grabbed my waste and lifted me up with his big arm, till our eyes met and were at the same line. It was the first time I ever felt a man’s body this close to my own. First time, a male chest was so close to mine, I could feel his heart beat like it was beating inside of me. I could see that moment affected him yet, he tried so hard to be tough.

  “Do you really think, I would believe a woman with yellow eyes like yours, to be a wild one?” he whispered in my ear.

  I could not blame him, all wild ones had dark eyes, why would he believe me. The intensity of his hold and his will to dominate me, did not prevent me from noticing a young woman looking at us. she stood behind us and had the same bright eyes like mine. she held a little baby in her arms. Dark beast noticed something drew my attention and looked back.

  “Oh, I see you noticed Daria” he said and released me from his hold.

  “That is right. Daria has bright eyes. But she is not a wild one. Not a complete wild one.” I could see his words had hurt that young girl’s feelings, as she kept her head down and said nothing.

  “You see Almas…” he kept explaining with a cruel smile “Daria’s mother was a very friendly wild woman. Too friendly, if you ask me. Especially to the civilized ones. That is how Daria came into this world. I decided to let her stay here with us. As a good gesture… where else could she go…?” he asked with a mean voice, passing his hand through her long hair. We kept looking at each other. Daria and I. her eyes where like an open book, telling it’s story of pain and loneliness.

  “So that makes her half wild. What does it say about you?” He asked.

  “I know exactly who I am!” my firm answer angered the wild leader. he opened his big eyes, froze at his place and…

  A sudden call was heard. I was saved. That was the wild call, Sia taught me at the valley. It was a sign from The wild women to the wild men and children to gather around the fire. Food was ready and so was I.

  As we were eating, I noticed the girls were passing a coconut shell between them. Every girl took one sip of the liquid and passed it on to next one. My turn arrived:

  “What is it?” I asked

  “A drink from your leader.” they answered.

  “I am not thirsty” I said and made all the girls laugh. They laughed so hard, they made the wild men, who sat apart from us, look to our direction.

  “What is it?” the dark beast asked.

  “She refuses to drink the potion” said one of the girls.

  Daria came close to my ear and whispered:

  “Drink it… drink it now…”

  The dark beast got up from his place and walked towards me. Kujo rushed after him.

  “So you do not wish to drink it… why is that?” he asked.

  “I do not know what it is” I said

  “Oh just a traditional potion any wild one would know.” he was testing me but I was prepared.

  “There are many kinds of potions. Potions for illness, potions for love, potions for death… which one is this?” I asked naively, making him even more angry.

  “Oh, just a few gifts from your host” he answered with a cruel smile “Little bit of my blood… my sweat… my seed… drink it!” he ordered me while I was staring at his eyes.

  “No” I whispered

  “Drink it!” he yelled at me.

  Everybody was quiet, kujo was trying to make his leader stop, when suddenly he grabbed the shell in one hand, grabbed my face in his other hand and shouted:

  “Drink it!”

  I felt the bitter liquid in my mouth, waited a few seconds and then spat it straight in the dark beast face. He wanted to slap me on my face but kujo stopped him.

  “She is our guest.” he tried to calm him down. Finally he let go and everybody went back to their food.

  At the end of our gathering, all the wild women was busy cleaning the place and preparing it for something, I did not know of. I helped them.

  “Why didn’t you drink it?” Daria asked me, as we were washing coconut shells and some tools in the lake.

  “Why didn’t you stop him from talking to you like that?” I asked her back.

  Daria looked at me with her sad eyes and said:

  “You think everybody has your courage? Your strength?” She asked me “Some of us has a lot to loose, Almas!” As she walked away from me, all I could think of was, she thought I was being strong, while I was just tired of being weak.

  Another wild called was made. Everybody were sitting together at the fire, women and men. All as one. Dark beast made a sign with his arm and everybody turned quiet. That was the silence that arrived before the storm. Five girls approached the centre of the circle, while some of the men were playing the forbidden beat, just like Sag did with my sister. The girls started dancing the wild dance to the loud cheers of the crowd. I enjoyed their performance. It made me remember the old days with my cat Shadea. All eyes were on the dancers, except for one per. I knew a wild storm was heading my way.

  “A wild one can dance to the forbidden beat. That wild rhythm flows in our blood.” The dark beast said “Show us what you know…” he turned to me and pointed his arm to the centre “Prove that you are a wild one!”.

  I got up and walked to the centre of the wild one’s circle. I could see their eyes were on every part of my body. I thought I heard the forbidden beat, starting it’s journey, but it was my heart, Beating to the rhythm of my fears. They could look at my body. It was out there. Exposed. But they would never see my soul. I remembered the serpentine motion, Sia taught me. I remembered the snakes on Didam Valley. I remembered Shadea and all the civilized cats dancing with the innocent version of me.

  I closed my eyes. It was time to let go. It was time to give myself to the forbidden beat. The one that roused the devil. The beat went faster and faster and as I was moving, I could hear the wild calling and the wild men cheering. I could even hear the dark demons roaring. Could it be? had the devil lived through me on that moment? Every look felt like a burn over my skin. And even though my eyes were closed, I was bleeding.

  The music stopped yet, the silence was loud. I opened my eyes and looked for him. The leader of this wild pack. The dark beast. I looked at his face and knew, he did not care who I was anymore. He just wondered, when he could have me. I saw myself through his eyes and knew. I was a wild one.

  “That was a very beautiful dance almas” kujo said to me as I walked my way out of ’Shab Square.

  “Where are you going?” he asked me.

  “Cats are night animals” I answered “And so am I” I smiled at him and walked away with my per of demons. I could hear kujo calling his own cat. I was wondering how she was doing. His girl. His Gia.

  I had to get away from the wild ones, to gather my thoughts. after all, I am here for a reason. I did not mind the company of kujo and Gia. They gave me a feeling of confidence. They gave me a sweet memory of my childhood with Shadea and I wanted to preserve that. I needed them close to me.

  “What is the story of your leader?” I asked as we walked outside the border of the wild zone.

  “Dark beast?” He asked with a smile “He is like a big brother to me. He did a lot for the wild zone” he said with pride.

  “Why are the women forced to drink that bitter liquid?” I asked with a sour face.

  “It is dark beast’s potion. Potion of lust. All wild women are ordered to drink it. He dominates them that way. All girls belong to him.” he answered. />
  “Daria’s baby?” I asked “Your leader is his father?” My question frightened Kujo and he immediately answered.

  “All the wild children are dark beast’s children”

  “What do you mean all children?” I laughed.

  “he takes care of us” he said and started playing with Gia, to avoid anymore questions.

  “I can see you tamed her. She is almost civilized.” I laughed.

  Kujo looked at me and tried to understand what I was talking about. I forgot he did not remember me. And just for a minute I forgot who I was.

  I noticed a small hill in front of us and yelled;

  “lets run till the edge of that hill! Last one is a donkey!” I laughed and started running. I enjoyed the open space so much. The broad sky above us felt like a huge dome of freedom. Sapron, Narnegi and Gia made it first up the hill. Kujo and I were barely breathing with all the running and laughing.

  Finally we made it. We were lying on top of the hill, enjoying the moonlight over the bare soil. I looked down and could not believe what I saw. I had no idea we went so far away from the wild zone. That same hill led to Didam Valley. Kujo could see my reaction and tried to calm me down.

  “don’t worry Almas. I know this place. I come here all the time.”

  “you do?’ I asked him.

  “you promise not to laugh?” he asked me.

  I nodded.

  “Several summers ago, I met a girl on the edge of that valley. She was from the other side. The most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Ever since that day, I kept on coming over here, in hope I would see her again. She had a crying tiger with her” he said

  “Tigers never cry” I whispered.

  “That’s what she said” he said with confusion.

  We were both silent, until I asked:

  “have you seen again?”

  “No” he said with a sad voice.

  “Probably better” I said “since she was from the other side”.

  “I just wanted to see her, one last time” he whispered.

  “Maybe you will”. I whispered back.

  I noticed Sapron and Narnegi started a little love dance with Gia so I called them, letting them know, it was time to go.

  “How do you do that? Kujo asked me. “How did you tamed your cats? They listen to you…”

  “I don’t fight them anymore.” I said “I learned to accept them, the way they are. Sometimes I teach them. Sometimes I learn from them.”

  “Yet, you still have a lot of cuts on your hands” he said, while his fingers took a little trip over my arms.

  “It will heal” I said and got up on my feet to step away from his touch “Time to go back”.

  I called my cats and we all headed back to the wild zone. When we arrived kujo directed me to the place, where the wild women and children were sleeping. He said I would be safe there.

  I was so exhausted from the long day, I could not keep my eyes open. I just wanted to lay my head down and drown to the sea of sweet memories. I used to dream a lot about my cat, my home in Ko-Ey-Nor’s kingdom. My warm bed. My father’s hugs…

  On my way, I had to go through Shab- square again. Something drew my attention. I kept hearing moaning that became louder and louder as I came closer. I heard these sounds before, on Didam valley, at night time, when the black demons were speaking their urges. Only this time, The sounds belonged to the humans. These familiar sounds came from the wild ones.

  He was standing next to the fire. His body was exposed to anyone, who whished to stroke it with sight. The flames striped him from any cover. I could see his dark skin, his marks and symbols covered with sweat, his cuts and bruises. I could almost see his soul. His eyes were closed, his head turned to the sky. He was breathing so heavy, as if he was trying to swallow the moon along with the stars. His big arm held a wild woman’s head close to his down part. We used to call it the sinful part, in the civilized zone. His fingers were pinned to her hair, as her head was moving back and forward. As her movements got faster, his moans got louder and louder until they tore up the sky. My cats joined him by roaring. Even they thought, he was a wild animal. Luckily, he did not hear them. The woman tried to move her head back but he was not letting go. Not yet. After all, that was the dark beast, the wild zone leader, the ruler. He was setting the pace. Him, and no one else.

  Finally he let go. He grabbed that same girl by her waste and lifted her up over his head. His face were pointing her sinful part as her thighs were strangling his neck. Her pelvis moved up and down his face as he was holding her bottom. As he moved, I noticed another girl was behind him. She was lying on her knees. Her lips and tongue were covering his back side. She didn’t stop, like she was possessed. As the first girl was lifted up, a third girl joined the group and took her place. He was surrounded by them. The wild women. Each one was waiting for her turn. I could not tell whether he was the hunter or the prey.

  A wild scream tore up the sky and made my dark demons lose control and make a sound of their own. This time, they were heard.

  The dark beast opened his eyes and looked my way. All the girls froze and turned quiet.

  “… You like to watch?” he asked with a devilish smile.

  “The new girl likes to watch!” he shouted and made all the wild women laugh.

  “Feel free to join us” he said and grabbed another girl by her waste. This time his sinful part disappeared into hers. Their united bodies began the dance of lust. Their skin marks became one, as if they were creating a new story. One of their own. One their joint sweat was threatening to erase.

  I did not move from my place. I did not stop looking straight into his eyes, as he was losing control to the sweet taste of sin. Nothing could touch me anymore. After one had been betrayed by family. by blood. After everything you knew, had been taken away from you. You turn into a dead creature, walking among livings, Driven by the power of revenge.

  My consistent look got him mad. He was trying to embarrass me but he could not. Just like he was trying to scare me at my arrival to the wild zone. He was trying to dominate me at the expense of my weaknesses. Only I left my weaknesses in Didam Valley. I had no fear. No shame. I had nothing to lose. So I was winning.

  Suddenly, his eyes that shed tears of pleasure got filled with rage. he stopped what he was doing, threw the exposed girl on the ground and walked away into the darkness.

  The next day started with a riot. The men were running nervously towards Shab- square as the women were hiding their children away.

  “What is happening?” I asked Daria.

  She was swiftly covering her baby and trying to put him to sleep, so that no one would notice him.

  “Somebody made the dark beast mad” she whispered “It is cave day”.

  “Cave day?” I asked her.

  “Few of us will have to face the terror of the abandoned dark cave today. He chooses who will go in. Men, women, children- we’re all in danger Almas. Someone will lose his life today” she answered.

  “Why would he do that to his own people”? I asked.

  “he claims this is his way to train us for future battles with the civilized zone.” Daria answered.

  I wanted to ask her so many questions, but something startled her and she rushed away from me.

  “I believe this is your!” said the dark beast. He was standing behind me and I figured, that was what had scared Daria away. He threw my sharp stone to the ground, covered with blood. I recognized the second man, that was hurting the little girl together with his friend. He must have told the dark beast what I did. That I took the life of a wild one.

  “he was hurting a little girl…they both did!” I said.

  “So you’re a killer.” dark beast said “my guest is a killer”.

  “He deserved it!” I said firmly.

  “Who are you to decide that?” the dark beast shouted at me.

  “Only I am authorized to make this decision. didn’t they teach you that at Bira Amikta?” he asked me and did
not wait for my response. He just turned his back to me and walked towards Shab- square together with the snitch wild one.

  “Meet us at Shab- square.” he shouted and didn’t look back.

  I called my cats and together with the rest of the wild women and children rushed to Shab- square.

  Dark beast was standing in front of the crowed, waiting for a silent moment for him to lay his verdict.

  “The dark cave. Many have walked in it, only few have walked out. The strong one will survive the danger applied by nature: snakes, bats, black demons. and those are the names…”

  Every name he mentioned was followed by a big cry of sorrow. A woman crying for her man, a mother crying for her child and two demons crying for their owner. My name was one of them.

  “You can not do this” kujo jumped “she is just a guest”.

  “Guests are part of the wild zone.” The dark beast said.

  “I am going in too” kujo said, making his leader even more upset. He approached him with a little smile on his face:

  “You two are getting real close… You wish to lose your life for her? Fine. You’re in.” he whispered.

  I was not going to let kujo do that for me and I asked him to stay out.

  “Your people need you for the real battle” I said “This is just practice. I will be fine” I whispered in his ear.

  Nine terrified wild ones stood outside the dark cave. Nine innocents and one stealer. I was ready.

  The big cloud of dust could not cover the big wonder everybody had on their faces, when all ten of us came out of the cave alive. I was holding two kids on my arms. We were all covered with blood, sweat and tears but it did not matter. We had survived. We had to go through the cave from it’s opening to it’s back hole. For a few moments we had to face together, what I had faced alone for years and years in Didam Valley. I did not see that as a challenge, only another obstacle in my way.