The Bridge Home

by Matthew Williams

  Hathai looked Akiiki up and down and shook her head. “No. He is not from here. Now leave, before someone recognizes who you are and demands that I kill you. The only reason I haven’t killed you yet is because the elders have forbidden it, but even as we stand here I can feel myself losing myself to revenge.”

  “Of course,” Lael bowed. “We will be on our way. We pray for a good harvest and prosperity for your people.”

  Hathai snorted as her hand moved to her waist where a small sheathed dagger laid on top of her short skirt of dried grasses. The man next to her whispered something in her ear and she moved her hand away from her hip and glared at him with eyes of fire before turning back to Lael.

  “The elders have instructed me to bring you to them at once. Drop your weapons and come with me.”

  Lael looked at his men and nodded. They dropped their packs and each of them removed a small dagger from the small of their back and tossed it into the sand at the feet of the two warriors. The man picked up the knives and carefully tucked them into his own waistband before both he and Hathai turned and headed back into the village. Lael nudged Akiiki forward as they followed the two strangers through the village.

  Lael put a powerful hand on Akiiki’s shoulder as they walked. “Remember, worse men than us live in the brush. Play the role of a lost child and we shall be on our way without incident. If you fail, we will fight, and you will die,” he whispered in a voice just loud enough for Akiiki to hear.

  They walked through the heat of the day and the burning stares of the villagers in silence. The blank stares of the villagers sent the realization tingling down Akiiki’s spine that in the brush, he truly was nothing more than a lost child, scared and helpless. His restless heart fluttered with anticipation as he tried to force the thought from his head, but with each effort, he felt its roots settle deeper into the soil of his consciousness.

  Eventually they came upon a hut much larger than the others, with a steady stream of smoke coming from a small hole in the roof. Two men stood at the entrance, which was draped with long hanging ropes with bones tied to them. Hathai spoke quietly to one of the men and pointed towards Lael. The man glanced at Lael and nodded as Hathai made her way into the hut.

  The man spit in the direction on Lael. “You have made a mistake in showing your face here Lael,” the man said in a deep voice. “Hathai should have slit your throat the moment she laid eyes on you.”

  Lael stood silently, his eyes fixed on the doorway.

  “Unfortunately, she is burdened by circum-stance. As the future head of our tribe she must listen to the elders every word. I should kill you now, as a gift to her. To free her from the shackles of her responsibilities.”

  Akiiki’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the man glare at Lael. Lael’s men shifted next to him, their bodies coiled with a tension ready to spring. The man took a step forward before the other guard grabbed his arm and shook his head. Without taking his eyes off Lael the man stepped back and regained his post. Akiiki looked at Lael whose body was calm as he kept his eyes trained on the door.

  After a few moments, Hathai returned from inside the hut with a cold hardened look across her face.

  “The elders wish to speak to you and the boy,” she said in a voice that was as cold as her gaze. “Do not try anything foolish,” she said as she walked behind Lael’s men and tied their hands with rope. With three powerful kicks she dropped the men into the sand on their backs. “Go. They are waiting for you.”

  Akiiki and Lael walked past the guards, through the hanging bones and into the hut.

  Inside, the smoke lingered in heavy clouds that burned Akiiki’s eyes and made him cough. He followed Lael to the back of the hut, where the clouds of smoke were so thick, it was difficult to see beyond the length of his own arm.

  Three people sat with their legs crossed on a raised section of earth against the back wall of the hut. On the left was an old man with skin that sagged with wrinkles and eyes clouded by blindness. The man on the right was younger, with a large round stomach, and a head of matted black hair. In the middle was a woman. She was much younger than the men on either side of her, and her hair, caked with red clay, coiled down her body where it rested in her lap. A fleeting memory of his mother flashed through Akiiki’s thoughts, but he smothered it quickly before it could ignite the tinder of his emotions. They sat perfectly still, three shadows in the smoky darkness.

  The younger man on the right puffed on a pipe and blew out a large plume of smoke that hung in the air. He handed the pipe to the woman who took it and gently placed it on a wooden block by her side as she studied Lael.

  “What business do you have here in our village?”

  “This boy wandered into our village a few days ago and we were sent to see if he belonged to any of the tribes in the area. We must admit we were surprised to see Ta-hati this far west,” Lael’s voice did not waver as he lied. “If he is not one of yours we will be on our way. We do not wish to trouble you.”

  The focus of the room shifted to Akiiki as the woman and the younger man searched for any familiarity.

  The larger man spoke next “This boy, does he have a name?”

  Akiiki’s heart jumped. Every instinct begged him to say his name, to shout it until he was back home, safely in the comfort of the palace walls, but the moment faded with the sound of Lael’s voice.

  “He has not said a word since he came to us. We have tried everything, but he has either forgotten his name or does not wish to tell us.”

  “Come here boy,” the woman’s voice made him want to move closer and run away at the same time. Akiiki approached her cautiously, trying to steady his nerves. She looked him up and down and when her eyes met his, she held her gaze. Akiiki stood helplessly until she relinquished her power by turning her eyes back to Lael.

  “When did you say this boy wandered into your village?” she asked.

  For the first time, Akiiki sensed a small break in the confidence of Lael’s voice. “It was four days ago. On the night of the new moon,” somehow, by the end of his sentence, Lael had recovered his confidence enough to make his lie believable.

  The woman took a deep breath and turned to Akiiki. “Let me see your hands.”

  Akiiki reached out and put his hands in hers. Her hands were tough, but her grip was gentle as she studied Akiiki’s palms. When she was done, she let his hands go and looked up at Lael.

  “His hands have not seen struggle. Wherever he is from he has enjoyed the luxury of an easy life. In our tribe a boy his age would have calluses from years of hard work. In fact, I do not know of any tribe in which a boy’s hands would be so soft. His clothes are also different from any that I have seen. It is possible he wandered here from much farther north, perhaps even as far north as the capital city.”

  She paused.

  “I do not need to tell you General Lael how difficult things have been during this drought. We have not had to come this far west since I was a little girl. How he came into your company is your business, it does not matter to us. Hathai has made her desire for revenge well known, however in times like these we cannot risk the safety of even one of our warriors. Now leave our village in peace. I hope you do not take this gesture for granted. Remember General, in times like these, extra mouths require extra food and water.”

  Lael studied the woman carefully. “I’m sorry. You know my name, but I do not know yours.”

  The men on either side of the woman turned towards her. She smiled, and for the first time, the regal tension faded from her body.

  “My name is Na’zyia. Your people and mine used to trade together quite often. When I first met you, you were only a child. When your sister was born, your father had a great feast and invited all the neighboring tribes. You were only a boy then.” She told the story with a warmth that even Akiiki felt.

  “We would hear stories of your bravery and honor as you grew into a man,” she smiled. “The stories they told do
not seem to have been exaggerated.”

  “Na’zyia I am honored to meet you again,” Lael said with a softness in his voice that sounded strange to Akiiki.

  “This is my uncle Ta’ziyah and my father Gakuru,” Na’zyia said pointing to the other men. The older man, her father, nodded, then spoke.

  “Na’zyia is right, you have grown strong Lael, I can hear it in your voice. I am sure you understand that in these times we cannot spare the extra food or water. The kingdom has taken a third of our cattle. We have already lost many to starvation and I fear more will be lost in the coming weeks.”

  At the mention of the kingdom Akiiki felt a rush of confusion come over him that he struggled to contain. Standing on the outskirts of his family’s rule, hearing the way these new people spoke of his father’s decisions, made him angry. Only the fear that he felt deep within kept him from defending his father’s name.

  “Of course. We have lost many as well, that is why we were hoping to find a home for this boy. If he is not one of yours we will be on our way.” Lael said as he bowed and began to make his way out of the hut. Akiiki gave one last look at the woman before following Lael.

  “General Lael,” Na’zyia’s voice cut through the air as Lael turned around to face her. “We wish you safe travels.”

  “Thank you.” Lael replied, gently nodding his head.

  Suddenly, a loud cry from outside shattered the thin veil of harmony in the air. Lael passed a cold stare towards Na’zyia, who smiled and nodded. Lael rushed out of the hut, leaving Akiiki alone with the three strangers.

  As the sound of commotion grew louder outside, Na’zyia spoke quietly to Akiiki. “I do not know where you are from boy but know this, a drought is the most dangerous time out here in the brush. Desperation leads even good people down dark paths. If I were you I would continue to keep my mouth shut and sleep with one eye open. Out here alone, you would surely die, but with Lael the chances of your survival are not much higher.”

  Akiiki stared at her and even in the cramped darkness of the hut, her eyes seemed alive with a mischievous energy. Another loud scream from outside jolted Akiiki’s attention away from Na’zyia, and with his heart racing, he made his way outside.

  A small crowd had gathered around the hut, filling the air with the murmur of whispering voices. The scene around him unfolded in small pieces that dizzied him as they sped together. Zikomo laid limp and lifeless in the sand, a pool of dark red blood spilling from his neck. Lael crouched next to the body, his eyes trained towards the crowd where Hathai stood behind Farajii with a curved blade to his throat.

  “It was foolish of you to come here,” Hathai said to Lael. “You know the rules of the brush as well as anyone. After what you did to my brother did you really expect us to allow you to pass through our village without bloodshed?”

  “Do no lecture me about the rules of the brush, I have lived by them my whole life,” Lael said. “Perhaps it was your brother who was not so familiar with them, for it was him and his people who attacked us. By the laws of the brush he got what he deserved.”

  “Liar!” Hathai screamed. “They were hunting, they had no reason to attack you.”

  “Silly woman. Men do not need a reason to fight or kill. It is simple thing, like eating or fucking. Your brother was young and dumb, and he paid for his mistake with his life. You talk of rules and honor, but men die for lesser things every day. You would do well to forget him before his memory forces you to do something foolish.”

  “Malachai,” Hathai said quietly. “His name was Malachai! And I will never forget him. Do you even care about the people you kill?”

  The crowd was silent.

  Lael looked down at the body at his feet and then at Hathai. “Why would I care about those I kill? History never remembers the name of the weak, why should I?’

  Pain and sadness flashed through Hathai’s face for a moment before being replaced by a look of rage. “Do the names of your men matter? Or are they too weak to be remembered by history?”

  Lael watched Hathai silently.

  “Answer me!” she yelled as she pushed the blade harder against Farajii’s throat.

  A single drop of blood ran down Farajii’s neck.

  Lael glanced at Zikomo’s lifeless body, and then back at Farajii.

  “My men will always have a place in my thoughts, we are family. They have chosen a life of sacrifice and because of their decision their names will live on as long as there is breath in my lungs. But the rules of the brush are clear. My only question to you is, why are we still alive? If our roles were reversed, you and all of your men would have been dead before you ever made it into the village,” he glared at her with eyes like embers.

  Hathai paused and looked around at the crowd before putting the blade back in the belt across her waist. “I am nothing like you,” she said as she kicked Farajii in the back. “Now go.”

  With a sly grin Lael bowed his head. “A wise decision.” He bent down and took a necklace from around Zikomo’s neck. “Farajii, Nassor get your things, we are leaving.”

  The two men quietly stood up and walked towards Lael. Lael reached for a small dagger that laid in the sand near Zikomo’s body when one of the guards pointed a spear at his neck.

  “We will keep your weapons,” Hathai said, her voice tired and weak. “I am sure the great Lael can survive without a couple of small daggers.”

  “Of course. C’mon boy,” Lael said as he turned and began to walk away from the crowd.

  Something within Akiiki urged him to stay, but he changed his mind at the sight of Zikomo’s dead body. As they walked past the elder’s hut and into the open desert, the village erupted in celebration. They walked until the whooping and cheering faded away into silence.

  Chapter 3

  THE SCORCHING MIDDAY HEAT gave way to a comfortable evening breeze as the sun slowly began to drop from its perch high in the sky. Lael led the way through the sand. His shoulders were tense, and the muscles of his back rippled as he walked.

  “Sir, we should stop and set up camp. It will be dark soon and we need to start a fire.”

  Lael stopped and wiped his face with his hands. He took a deep breath and when he turned around Akiiki noticed a change in his eyes.

  “Thank you Nassor, you are right. My thoughts were with Zikomo. Let us stop here and set up camp.”

  Lael used a small rock to cut the rope from the wrists of Nassor and Farajii, and they sat in silence while Nassor worked to build a fire. The silence dragged into the evening and Akiiki looked up at the burnt oranges and dark reds of the setting sun as he rubbed his tired feet. The flames that flickered in the growing darkness soothed only the smallest aches from his body. Lael sat to his left, with his shoulders hunched and a blank look across his face. Akiiki glanced towards him and for the first time, saw something other than the cold indifferent look of an evil man. The dancing glow from the fire made it difficult to see his face, but in the darkness, Akiiki saw the pain and sadness in Lael’s eyes. Before the roots of sympathy could take hold within him, he shook his head.

  Farajii pulled a pouch from one of the packs and took a sip. When it came time for Lael to drink, he passed the pouch to Akiiki without a taking a sip. Farajii and Nassor looked at each other and then at Akiiki.

  “Sir, you need to drink, we must make it to the market tomorrow or we will be out of supplies,” Farajii said.

  Lael nodded and stuck a hand out toward Akiiki, who handed him the pouch. Lael took a long drink as they sat in silence.

  “When we get back to our village we should bring the rest of our warriors and strike the Ta-hati quickly and punish them for what they did to Zikomo,” Nassor said, his voice trembling with anger.

  Lael stared into the fire and shook his head. “No. I will not risk any more men on my behalf. Besides, Hathai will have her warriors ready for an attack. We should consider ourselves lucky she respects the word of her elders, otherwise she surely would have
killed us all. I killed a member of her family, and she has taken one of ours. We will let it be and hope the drought does not drive them closer to our village,” his voice was cold and plain. He turned towards Akiiki.

  “I hope you now see how dangerous things are in the brush. You did well to hold your tongue, otherwise we surely would have seen more bloodshed. Zikomo was a great man and a better friend. His death is a steep price to pay for your life. I will make sure that his death is not in vain,” he fell silent as a breeze blew across them, bending the flames of the fire.

  Lael turned back to the fire and spoke to the shadows sitting across from him. “The market is not far from here. There will be many people who question us about our motives, so the less time we spend there the better.”

  Nassor and Farajii nodded.

  “Nassor, do we have any food? I want us to have a clear mind for tomorrow.”

  Nassor grabbed his pack and held it close to the fire as he looked through it. He pulled out a small pouch and tossed the pack into the sand. “All we have left are Ochi berries.”

  “I see. Perhaps that is for the best, our nerves could use some soothing. You two take some, and rest. I am going to stay up and keep guard. I do not think Hathai would send men to kill us in our sleep, it is not her way, but it is still wise to have someone keep watch,” Lael said.

  “Sir you need rest as well. Allow me to keep watch,” Nassor said as he passed the small pouch to Farajii.

  Lael shook his head. “No. Both of you have proven your loyalty many times over. This is my burden and my burden alone. Most of my dreams are haunted by ghosts and I do not wish to see Zikomo in my dreams, I want to remember him as he was.”

  “Sir, it wasn’t your fault,” Farajii said quietly.

  “Of course it was!” Lael snapped back. “I have reaped many bad omens throughout my life and I have done so willingly. I have angered many people and shadows always follow darkness. Everything I have done I have done for my people, just as Hathai did what she did for hers. This is the price I must pay for my decisions in life and I have come to accept it. Do not feel pity for me, reserve your pity for those who cannot choose their own way in life. I have chosen my path and walk it with no fear or regret. I am sorry for the pain and hurt I have caused the two of you. You will never understand how much I value your trust and loyalty.”