In his small thatched-roof hut, Chinedu knelt and prayed for understanding and courage. It was a short prayer, as his mind was too distracted to truly focus on an unseen deity. His thoughts wandered back to the beginning of his sojourn among the Kanna…
35 years ago, Chinedu traveled the long miles from Tukt with his father, Chimwa, and ailing mother, Anu. His village had been under constant attack by pillaging tribes and the bent people. When Chinedu’s elder brother and sister were killed, and his mother was seriously injured, Chimwa decided it was time to leave. Chinedu was 10 years old when they arrived on the borders of Kanna country. Anu had healed of her wound, but was not well.
A young man named Anthon found them seeking water from a small stream, and brought them home to his wife, Salara, who was nursing a baby girl. Chinedu’s family had spent two weeks circling around the limits of Kanna land, constantly chased away from wells and towns because of their dark skin.
Anthon and Salara took the family into their home, and began to teach them the heavy tongue of the Kanna, and neighboring clans. They also convinced the village leaders, including Nathan, Anthon’s elder brother, that the family was safe, and deserving of share in the common lands to raise food.
Chimwa quickly learned to farm, but continued to teach his son to build drums, to play the flute, and to sing the tales of the Tukt. He had been the tribe’s chief singer before coming to Kanna. In Yevalde, their new home, life was difficult. They managed to eek out enough to eat from their small share in the common lands; very few were willing to share space with them. And, they were able to build a small hut on the outskirts of town with the help of Anthon, and even Nathan.
Chinedu was a quiet boy who excelled in his father’s musical instruction. He found that he was good with animals, and was hired as a shepherd’s assistant when the talent was discovered. He lived in fear of the other boys in the village, and treasured the quiet times with the goats, sheep, and rams. His peers still saw him as a bogie, some dark outsider, and he longed for the ability to bleach his skin pale like theirs.
Nearly three years passed with peace throughout Kanna when a clan feud to the north forced many to move into new lands, lands inhabited by the bent people; the Kanna called them crows. When these people were pressed off their land they began to raid small villages for food. The crows continued to raid, as it was the only mode of survival they knew.
One night, they attacked Yevalde. The village was nearly taken by surprise, but Nathan’s two sons saw the crows approaching, and gathered the men to defend their property and families. Chinedu was too young to fight, and was sent to heard the livestock away from the raiders.
The townsmen fought bravely, but had little to defend themselves from the arrows of the bent people. Nathan’s eldest son was killed leading the first charge, and many men fell with him. Most of the crows were beaten back, but about a half-dozen broke through to the center of the village where they stole what food they could carry, beating down all who got in their way. Anu fell before their crooked blades, as did Salara.
A stray arrow found the hollow of Chinedu’s hip as he was leading the livestock into the cover of the woods. He stumbled and fell into a ditch breaking his femur. He immediately lost consciousness.
As the battle wore on, the crows became desperate, mounting one final assault in hopes of breaking the resistance, and finding a way of retreat. Three dark, hunched beasts with hideous faces surrounded Nathan. He was not trained for battle, but fought as best as he knew how. Chimwa came to his rescue from the left, taking one of the crows down from behind. His momentum carried him into a second. They tumbled into a heap, wrestling for a killing position. Nathan took the opportunity of distraction to attack his last assailant who fled at the sight of his fallen comrades.
Chimwa finished his opponent, but did not stand in victory. Nathan knelt down to see that Chinedu had fallen on the crow’s blade. It was impaled deep into his left lung; there was nothing to do to help him. Gasping for breath, Chimwa charged Nathan to care for his son.
Seeing that the enemy had fully retreated, Nathan called his youngest son, sending him to seek Chinedu and the livestock in the woods. The young man found Chinedu unconscious, and surrounded by scavenging wild dogs. He fought them off, and brought the boy to his father’s house. By the time Chinedu was able to leave his bed, Nathan’s son had died from a diseased wild dog bite.
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