Episode 16
Tukur’s head was bowed, and his breathing was heavy. Three days had passed since Idris asked his men to capture him. They were in the ranch waiting for their master’s return, as Idris had gone on one of his raids.
“Wa—ter,” Tukur groaned. His throat burned. His lips burned for a taste of water. His belly churned to be filled with food. Three days.
He had neither eaten nor drank. His strength was slowly fading away. Tukur knew he had to eat something, else he would die in this ranch. And Idris didn’t care about him; his ambition to rule the cattle lands was more important.
“Please, in the name of God. I need water.” Tukur mustered the little strength he had in him and begged the men, but they ignored him.
It was clear that Idris had given them orders to starve him to death.
“Oh Idris, I curse the day I met you…” Tukur whimpered in a broken voice.
He had always dreamt of owning his own ranch; he had been envious of young Abdul. Angrily, he had ganged up with Idris against the young man. Maybe Allah was punishing him for his actions. Abdul hadn’t harmed him in any way, but he had killed some of his men and cattle.
“Forgive me Allah, if I die, may I die a righteous man.” Tukur’s lips moved in silent prayer. Scenes of memories flashed through his mind. He remembered his late wife and the last moments he had shared with her. He thought of his lovely daughter, Amina.
He cursed the day he allowed greed and aimless ambition take over his life.
“I have sinned against God and man. Allah, please accept my soul as I breathe my last.”
Tukur knew he was the reason Amina fled Dafa. He had been living comfortably with her, and she never showed any signs of discomfort; until Idris was brought into the picture. This same man that he was willing to sacrifice his daughter for, didn’t care about him. He didn’t care that Tukur didn’t own a ranch of his own. Idris was never his friend, he cared only for himself.
“Shut your mouth old man!”
There were only two guards left to watch over him. The rest had followed Idris for a raid with all the horses in the ranch. Idris’ ranch seemed like a desolate place.
It was the first and stout guard that spoke.
“You disturb the peace and quiet of the ranch!”
Tukur’s lips trembled with thirst as he glared darkly at the men. He wished he could plunge a fine sword through their sturdy necks. Anger stung his back. Desperation washed over him. He was hungry for freedom.
If he had a way to escape, he would flee Dafa and never return again.
“I am thirsty my sons, please have mercy on an old man…”
The second guard scoffed, “you should’ve asked Idris to show you mercy. Maybe if he showed us the ropes, we would follow suit.”
When he said this, the other guard chuckled and they burst out with laughter.
Tukur realized that no matter the amount of persuasion, these men weren’t going to help him. He had two choices right away; life or death. If he chose to die, he could never straighten his ways. He needed to find Abdul and make peace with him. He needed to find Amina, his daughter and ask her forgiveness.
He couldn’t die now. He needed to find a way to stay alive.
“Idris doesn’t love anyone but himself. He’ll get rid of you two soon enough!” Tukur barked in a voice, eager to convince the men to his side.
The men stopped laughing and focused their attention on him.
“We both know that. The rich only care for themselves.” The second guard turned his attention on the prisoner. There was something that he noticed in the older man’s eyes. It was knowledge and reason.
“You shouldn’t talk to him. He is trying to buy his way out by stealing our hearts with vain words. I have been tricked by a prisoner before. I learned my lesson.” The first guard called back the attention of the second guard.
Tukur ran his dry tongue over his cracking lips. He tasted a drop of his blood, and shuddered at the thought of starving to death.
“Idris is not a good man. You mustn’t help him.”
“He will stab you in the back like he just did to me,” Tukur continued, but the men weren’t paying attention to him.
One of them sneered, “Idris doesn’t like weaklings and you just proved yourself to be one. It’s time to get over with you.” He pulled out a sword from his sheath and advanced towards Tukur.
He was about plunging the sword through the older man’s right arm when the second guard called him back.
“Rafai!”
The guard tightened his fingers around the head of his sword and tilted his head backwards.
“What is it?”
“Someone is coming!”
The men abandoned Tukur and rushed towards the entrance of the ranch. Idris wasn’t going to return till two days, and he had given them stern instructions. Who was this man?
“He is not from around here, he comes from a far place.” The first guard whispered as they stepped outside.
“I don’t care where he comes from, he is not welcome here…” the second guard gritted his teeth angrily and reached for his sword.
Three days of journeying to the Great Plain had worn him out, but Hazim’s mind was fixed on penetrating Idris’ camp. He had come to get information; a dangerous mission, but he was determined to help his people. He knew how suicidal it was, to step into the camp of one’s enemy, but he was willing to risk it.
Hazim paused and placed a hand on his brows, so he could see clearer. A sandstorm was slowly building up, and the brown fog built by dust blurred his vision. Many years had passed since he stepped his feet to the little town of Dafa.
“This is the right place,” Hazim murmured. He was quite sure he was at Idris’ ranch. Something bothered him. The place looked desolate and deserted. Where were the horses and cows? There wasn’t any bleating or mooing.
Did something happen to Idris?
Tired of speculating, Hazim pulled his horse and continued trekking towards the widely opened gate.
“Don’t worry boy, we’ll leave as soon as I get what Kanem Dazau needs.”
No one could allow Idris take over the Cattle Lands. He was a tyrant. Inflicting pain on the innocent was his mastery. Idris had to be stopped, before it was too late.
Hazim thought about the ranch he had left behind. He thought of his good friend Abdul. He thought of Amina. A smile curled on his lips as he remembered Keernahaza; the love of his life.
“If I survive this mission, I shall profess my love for her.”
Suddenly, his horse began to neigh and struggle. Before Hazim could tell what was happening, two men jumped out of nowhere and buried their sharp swords into the animal.
The horse’s wild cries filled the air, before the animal stumbled and fell. It died.
Hazim’s felt a surge of energy within him. He felt powerful. He felt the need to protect himself. Clearly, he had walked into a trap.
“I come in peace,” Hazim carefully revealed a fine silver blade.
“We do not care. We only understand war, blood and dust!” One of the men replied, and advanced towards Hazim with a sharp dagger.
He moved like a hyena; swift and smart. The dagger brushed Hazim’s face, and blood rained down slowly. Hazim knew he couldn’t fight longer. What if they were more men?
He couldn’t fail Kanem Dazau; he had to return to his people and his family. He had to see Keerna again, even on his dying bed.
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