31st Installment of Obeah

CHAPTER 14

Adofo and Henry stood on a hill overlooking a valley. A small river meandered down the middle; the crystal water glittered like diamonds, yellow, blue and red flowers lined the banks of the river. Henry sat down and he felt the cool dew on the grass soak through his pants. Adofo sat down next to him. They had walked most of the day and needed to take a rest.

“How can a place so beautiful have such evil things happen?” Henry asked, Adofo was drinking from a water pouch,

“You put man in anything beautiful and he finds a way to bring evil to it. Birds don’t enslave each other; butterflies don’t put evil spells on dragon flied. The difference between them and us is we have the intelligence justify that it is our nature to be evil, at least that is what my father once told me.” He replied. Henry scanned the valley. A flock of parrots flew into the trees on the other side of the jungle. Henry followed them as they glided over the water and back into the jungle.

“My father said that sometimes evil deeds are necessary for progress. My sister said it was his ways of making his job not seem as bad as it is,” Henry said. Adofo were looking around.

“Hey look,” Adofo said pointing. Henry looked in the direction he had pointed. A group of five people emerged from the jungle and walked along the river bank.

“It’s Akosua and the others,” he said and got up and started walking. They stumbled down the mild decline trying not to fall. Rocks tumbled down the hill taking chunks of mud with them. They reached the river and waded through a part of it that was ankle deep. The cool water felt good in the afternoon heat. Fish swam out of the way with every step they took.

“Akosua!” Adofo shouted. Akosua and her group stopped and looked around.

“Hey!” Adofo shouted again. Akosua saw them and began running. They met and stood in the middle of the river, the water rushed past their waist. It was crystal, until the point where it touched their bodies, then it was greyish, white. Akosua’s dress floated above the water, it looked like it was about to wash away with the rushing swell. Kwao stood his eyes ablaze with jealousy. Adofo and Akosua stood for a moment holding each other, and then looked into each other’s eyes. The parrots flew overhead, their feathers a rainbow of colours in the tropical blue sky. Kwao stepped forward.

“You were told to stay in the village,” he said walking past Adofo bumping him on his shoulder as he went.

“I wanted to make sure the lady I love was safe,” Adofo said, smiling at Akosua. Kwao kept walking trying hard not to look at Adofo.

“Come on, we have to get back to the village since no one is in charge,” he said.

“Ampah can handle it,” he said. The two warriors walked up to Adofo and hugged him,

“It’s good to see you friend,” one of them said as he smiled. Lassette walked past him looked at him then looked at Akosua and smiled. Adofo looked at Akosua.

“Long story,” she said “I will tell you when we get back to the village.” She said then took Adofo’s hand and they followed the others up the hill and back into the jungle.

It was late afternoon, hot and muggy as they walked across a field of wild cotton bushes. Small cotton balls floated around in the air around them and into the jungle. Bugs flew between them as if hypnotized by the sweat that glistened off their bodies. Kwao had not spoken since Adofo and Henry showed up. He pushed ahead trying not to listen to what was being said behind him. Lassette walked behind Akosua and Adofo. She was breathing hard, her mouth open, her eyes red from being in the sun too long. Her beige coloured dress was ripped and came to just above her knees. There were scratches on her legs from the bushes and thorns that ripped at her skin. Adofo and Akosua talked, their voices the loudest thing in an otherwise quiet jungle. Kwao stopped,

“Shhhh” he said, he looked around for a second. Adofo and Akosua walked up next to him. He stood like a cat; his eyes scanned the jungle, his spear at the ready.

“What is it?” Adofo asked. Kwao looked at him as if to silence him. They stood for a minute then Kwao relaxed.

“Stop the chattering and stay alert,” he said and began walking. Adofo caught up with him,

“We saw what looked like boats coming towards the island earlier,” he whispered.

“And you are just telling me that,”Kwao said. Adofo looked a little exasperated

“I just remembered,” he said, Kwao rolled his eyes,

“If you were not so captivated by love you would have remembered,” Kwao retorted.

“I am telling you now so be alert.” Adofo said and he stared at Bartholomew.

“Make sure and let the boys know,” Kwao barked and walked off.

They got to a part of the jungle where the trees stood tall and there were no bushes around their trunks. The red top soil was hard and it crunched when they stepped on it. A peacock trotted by, its tail a glitter of colours. They stopped and watched it go by. Lassette tried to step in front of it, but the bird evaded her and lumbered away. Henry took a drink of water, and then brushed the back of his hand across his forehead.

“Its bloody hot here,” he said, Kwao looked back at him,

“What Kindoki can’t take a little heat?” he said then snickered.

“Shhhh!” Adofo said, Kwao gave him an evil look and was about to say something when an arrow whizzed by his head and stuck in the tree next to him. They froze for a second, then there was a shrilling war cry and an army of men rushed out of the jungle screaming. Henry pulled out his machete and braced himself. Adofo bumped into him,

“Take Akosua and the lady and go hide,” he said.

24th In stallment of Obeah

                                                 CHAPTER 11

It was three in the morning and Akosua was still asleep in the corner. She had not dreamt all night, but now she tossed and turned. Her dark sleep had changed, and now she stood in a field that was engulfed in a thick fog that came up to her waist. She heard animals, and felt them brush against her legs. Birds flew just above the fog, as if in search of something. She heard laughter and tried to figure out where it had come from. The laughter echoed, and the macabre sound seemed to surround her. She saw a black top hat coming towards her; someone or something slowly ascended a flight of stairs. She waited, a face appeared, and it was skeletal like. Despite his dark glasses, his red eyes seemed to be floating in its sockets. He wore a black tuxedo and had cotton plugs in his nostrils like a corpse dressed and prepared for burial. Akosua recognized him; it was Baron Samedi Loa of death. He walked up to her and stopped about an arm’s length away and laughed. He lifted his hand and took a swig from a bottle of rum and puffed on a cigar that dangled from his mouth.

“Me little pickeny.” He said his voice was nasal. “You thik you go win a war with me,” he threw his head back and laughed. Smoke floated out of his mouth. He stopped laughing, took a drink, and then tossed the bottle into the fog. She heard the bottle hit the soft mud then roll a little. A wolf howled then scurried away. Baron Samedi laughed again.

“You don’t have the power to defeat we. Your parents will always be our slaves, Jumbies for life. We will destroy you chosen one or not. “He said, his eyes became a deathly stare, Akosua shivered a little in the damp air.

“You are not all powerful you can be defeated, it has happen in the past,” Akosua said. Baron Samedi threw his head back and laughed.

“That was no defeat, remember, a man who turns and run away, lives to fight another day, and furthermore, do you think I am going to let meself be defeated by a mere child. You should be out playing. Just because you have a boyfriend does not make you big woman,” he said and laughed, smoke bellowed out of his mouth.

“Yemaya and her good spirits will make sure you and your Ligaroos are destroyed,” she said, Baron Samedi took a drag from his cigar and looked at her.

“Yemaya, that’s Obeah witch, that lose woman, a little of me charm and she would be like sugar in me tea,” he said, a twisted smile on his face. Akosua smiled back and that enraged him.

“You should be afraid of me you little witch. Your services and offerings will not save you and soon you too will become me Jumbies just like you mother.” He shouted then laughed, and backed up. His red eyes flashed with a spark of orange. Slowly drowning out the sound of his laughter was a chorus of voices, some moaned woefully while others screamed causing the area around Akosua to vibrate. Behind him, she saw a human form above the mist. Akosua shook her head but kept on smiling;

“Your black magic doesn’t scare me,” Akosua said. Baron Samedi threw his head back and screamed then charged at her. Just before his body slammed into her, she woke up and looked around. A thick fog floated into the hut from the door. She saw a dark figure looking down on her and sat up, Kwao stood looking in at her. When he realized she was awake he turned and walked away.

The storm had stopped, the early morning sun created grey shadows with the fog that floated into the hut. The wet mud smelled like mildew clothes, over ripped mangoes, and molded bushes all at the once. Akosua got up and walked to the doorway. The storm had knocked down several huts, and there were fallen trees and branches everywhere. Akosua walked through the village assessing the damage. Her feet sank into the mud, leaving her petite footprint in the soft top soil. Some of the Bokors were already repairing the damaged huts. Donkor walked up to Akosua; his giant foot prints engulfed hers in the mud. He was not painted in red and blue anymore. His dark brown skin glistened with sweat, his eyes were hazel, almost brown, and he had frown lines on his forehead. He smiled and reached his hand out like a father would to a daughter.

“The evil spirits were extremely mad at us this time.” He said Akosua looked around; she had seen this scene of helplessness in her own village before. Still, there were smiles because no one perished. A woman held a small baby and rocked it. The baby giggled as it nestled in its mother’s arms. A young man chased after a pig, the animal scurried into the jungle.

“I have an uneasy feeling about our village; we should be on our way.” She said, Donkor started walking and she followed him, trying to keep up with his long stride.

“So soon, we were going to have a feast to celebrate our union,” he said, Akosua stopped. Donkor stopped and looked back at her.

“I have a feeling that something may have happened in our village, I must get back there to make sure all is well,” She said. Behind him she saw the former leader walking among the villagers. He had a blank expression on his face. He bumped into people, but did not seem to know they were there. Donkor turned and looked at him.

“Sad, he used to be a good Hougan,” he said. Akosua walked over to the man. He still wore the red and white robe only it was covered with dirt.

“Evil child, Pedro will rain vengeance on you for putting a curse on me,” he said. She reached out and touched his face;

“You did this to yourself,” she said

“I see the evil in your eyes,” he said, slapped her hand and ran off whispering. Kwao and the warriors walked up, they looked at the former leader then turned to Akosua.

“Get yourselves together we are leaving,” she said. They turned and walked away.

“Hey Kwao, we are taking the woman from last night’s service with us,” she said, Kwao stopped and turned to her,

“We don’t need another Kindoki in our village, I don’t trust them, their people are demons,” he said. Akosua looked at him.

“Go get her, she comes with us,” she said. Kwao hesitated for a second. Akosua turned back to the former leader.

“Are we going to take him too?” Kwao said and before Akosua could respond he turned and walked away.

“That boy is indignant,” Donkor said. “I would keep an eye on him,” Akosua looked over her shoulder at Kwao.

“He is just angry that’s all,” she said and looked over at the former leader who sat under a mango tree mumbling. .

“I wish there is something we can do for him,” she said. Donkor nodded,

“I do too but he sold his soul to Baron Samedi this is the consequence.” He said. Akosua stood there for a second looking at the man. She shook her head then turned and followed Kwao.

From Obeah

It was three in the morning and Akosua was still asleep in the corner. She had not dreamt all night, but now she tossed and turned. Her dark sleep had changed, and now she stood in a field that was engulfed in a thick fog that came up to her waist. She heard animals, and felt them brush against her legs. Birds flew just above the fog, as if in search of something. She heard laughter and tried to figure out where it had come from. The laughter echoed, and the macabre sound seemed to surround her. She saw a black top hat coming towards her; someone or something slowly ascended a flight of stairs. She waited, a face appeared, and it was skeletal like. Despite his dark glasses, his red eyes seemed to be floating in its sockets. He wore a black tuxedo and had cotton plugs in his nostrils like a corpse dressed and prepared for burial. Akosua recognized him; it was Baron Samedi Loa of death. He walked up to her and stopped about an arm’s length away and laughed. He lifted his hand and took a swig from a bottle of rum and puffed on a cigar that dangled from his mouth.

“Me little pickeny.” He said his voice was nasal. “You thik you go win a war with me,” he threw his head back and laughed. Smoke floated out of his mouth. He stopped laughing, took a drink, and then tossed the bottle into the fog. She heard the bottle hit the soft mud then roll a little. A wolf howled then scurried away. Baron Samedi laughed again.

“You don’t have the power to defeat we. Your parents will always be our slaves, Jumbies for life. We will destroy you chosen one or not. “He said, his eyes became a deathly stare, Akosua shivered a little in the damp air.

“You are not all powerful you can be defeated, it has happen in the past,” Akosua said. Baron Samedi threw his head back and laughed.

“That was no defeat, remember, a man who turns and run away, lives to fight another day, and furthermore, do you think I am going to let meself be defeated by a mere child. You should be out playing. Just because you have a boyfriend does not make you big woman,” he said and laughed, smoke bellowed out of his mouth.

“Yemaya and her good spirits will make sure you and your Ligaroos are destroyed,” she said, Baron Samedi took a drag from his cigar and looked at her.

“Yemaya, that Obeah witch, that lose woman, a little of me charm and she would be like sugar in me tea,” he said, a twisted smile on his face. Akosua smiled back and that enraged him.

“You should be afraid of me you little witch. Your services and offerings will not save you and soon you too will become me Jumbies just like you mother.” He shouted then laughed, and backed up. His red eyes flashed with a spark of orange. Slowly drowning out the sound of his laughter was a chorus of voices, some moaned woefully while others screamed causing the area around Akosua to vibrate. Behind him, she saw a human form above the mist. Akosua shook her head but kept on smiling;

“Your black magic doesn’t scare me,” Akosua said. Baron Samedi threw his head back and screamed then charged at her. Just before his body slammed into her, she woke up and looked around. A thick fog floated into the hut from the door. She saw a dark figure looking down on her and sat up, Kwao stood looking in at her. When he realized she was awake he turned and walked away.

Evil at the Pond (From Obeah)

Akosua sat on a bamboo chair looking out at the pond. There was an empty chair next to her with a calabash bowl of food on it. The scent of the roasted chicken filled the air attracting bugs. They settled on the rice in clusters, buzzing as they fed, Akosua had not touched the food. Frogs jumped in and out of the murky pond, ducks and swans glided across the surface. Akosua was in deep thought when a thick fog appeared over the pond. At first, she ignored the change, but then a figure walked towards her. She sat up and looked. It was a woman. She was light skinned and beautiful, and she glided across the pond like a princess gliding down the aisle on her wedding day.  The woman stepped onto the ground. The fog dissipated, and Akosua saw the face of Yemaya. The girl smiled as the Loa walked up the bank of the pond and stopped in front of her.

“Hello my child,” Yemaya said. Akosua reached out her hand and Yemaya took it. Akosua thought the palm of her hand was unusually coarse, after all, Yemaya was a gentile. Akosua picked up the calabash bowl of food and Yemaya sat down next to her. Her white dress brushed the top of the blades of grass as she sat gracefully. She looked at Akosua.

“I see that you have had a hard time lately. How have you been doing?” she asked Akosua fought back tears.

“Its o k dear go ahead and let it out,” Yemaya said. Akosua rested her head on Yemaya’s head and sobbed.

“This is hard, I don’t know if I am the one to do this.” Akosua said between tears. Yemaya ran her fingers through Akosua’s hair.

“Maybe you are not my dear,” she said. Akosua lifted her head and looked at the Loa. Yemaya looked into her eyes,

“Maybe you are not the chosen one,” she insisted. Akosua wiped the tears.

“But you said….,” Akosua began to say.

“Never mind what I said child, even us Loas can be wrong.” Yemaya said, Akosua stood up and looked down at the woman.

“I am sorry, but maybe you are too weak to lead your village into a battle with the Ligaroo King.” Akosua walked to the edge of the pond, the fog partially engulfed her. Akosua looked back at Yemaya, she sat stoic, no expression on her face. Maybe she was right; maybe she was not strong enough to take on the responsibility of leading her people to freedom. Out of the fog, a swan floated towards her on the water. Akosua turned to Yemaya.

“If not me then who?” She asked, The Loa smiled at her.

“Don’t worry us good spirits will find someone else. We have the power to choose,” Yemaya said. Akosua looked down at the woman; the Loa was looking at the ground. Akosua looked at the Loas fingers, the three wedding bands that she usually wore were missing. Akosua sat down.

“It is good to have you help me work through these hard times.” She said. Yemaya smiled. Akosua looked around, and then looked down at the calabash of food she had laid down on the grass. She reached down and picked it up.

“You look hungry here have a bite to eat.” She said. Yemaya looked at the food and seemed like she was going to throw up. She took the calabash bowl and set it on her lap, picked up a piece of chicken, and raised it to her mouth. She looked at the food like it was laced with poison, then looked up at Akosua without moving her head, the blacks of her eyes pointed straight up. Suddenly she growled and grinded her teeth. She looked up to the sky and screamed.

“You know I can’t eat food that the cooks have touched.” She screamed and threw the calabash bowl to the ground.  Slowly her physical features changed as she screamed and growled. The frogs jumped into the pond, the ducks and swans flapped their wings, as they retreated into the fog that suddenly thickened. The woman looked up at Akosua. Half of her body was Marinette-Bwa-Check, the other half Yemaya. Her eyes were ablaze with anger, her face twisted with contempt and hate. She got up and rushed at Akosua, the girl backed up until she stood at the edge of the pond, her heels touching the water.

“You little witch, I will cut you up and cook you into a stew and have you for dinner.” She screamed. Saliva shot out of her mouth and landed in the pond. The water bubbled, and steam rose with every drop of saliva. Dead frogs floated to the surface. Akosua stepped to her and reached her hand out. The Loa had completely transformed into Marrinette-Bwa-Check, she jerked away from Akosua, as if afraid to be touched.

“Fire go burn you,” she screamed, Akosua tried to touch her again,

“You don’t have to be evil. You can be the way you used to be in our homeland.” Akosua said. Marrinette-Bwa-Check threw her head back and screamed a loud scream that turned into a laugh, a laugh that turned into a growl. The Loa disappeared across the pond. Birds flew out of the trees and retreated into the jungle. Akosua stood; her hand was still outstretched, her eyes closed.

“You, a mere girl you think you can change me. I have ripped men’s hearts out and fed them to the animals. What do you think I will do to you child?” she screamed. Akosua opened her eyes and looked at the Evil Loa. Marrinette_Bwa_Check trembled then backed away from Akosua.

“You will be destroyed, you will be destroyed!” she screamed, as she ran to the pond and disappeared into the fog leaving ripples on the water. The jungle was silent, as if every animal was hiding from the wrath of the evil Loa. Slowly, the fog went away. The dragon flies came back and buzzed around the pond, frogs croaked and hopped from Lilly to Lilly. The bodies of the dead frogs had disappeared with the evil Loa, and the pond was back to its serene peace. Akosua turned away from the pond and slowly walked back to the village.

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5th Installment of La Diablesse the novel

I entered the classroom as the bell rang, students hurried to they seats some dropped books as they went. I sat at me desk at the front of the class and surveyed the room, they sat looking at me, all thirty something of them, man, and I felt like a Prime Minister at he impeachment.

“Michael,” I called to the boy sitting closest to me “Would you hand out these papers for me?” the boy smiled as he reached out to get the papers. I watched as he maneuvered through the wooden desks and chairs he charcoal coloured skin glistening, I tell you what he mother should never put so much grease on the child. Most of the students looked at they papers but some just put it into the draws in they desks.

Whispers came from the other classrooms the confusion of voices sounding like telephone operators during the Christmas rush, often, we heard the roar of laughter or the scraping sound of a chair as someone stood up, but despite all of the distractions and overcrowding, we were able to educate these students and some of them moved on to be doctors and god help them politicians. Michael was back at his desk waiting for me to assign a lesson, I thought for a while as they waited patiently
“Here is what I want you to do,” I said shuffling through a stack of papers on the desk. “Write a story about some folktales your parents or grandparents told you, I want it to be about two pages long.” The students got out their notebooks and began writing. I sat and stared at the papers in front of me for a while and when I was satisfied they had settled down to they work I got up and left the room.

As I walked into the teacher’s lodge I saw Alison standing at the door she was one of the senior students known as an obeah woman round the campus. Some of the students were real afraid of her because it was widely believed she knew how to cast spells and curses that might turn them into some kind of hideous beast. She was the only student who defied the dress code, I mean, despite wearing the white blouse and brown skirt, she arms and neck were decorated with beads of green, red and black, she fingernails, well, they were painted black and she walked round with this suspicious look on she face, she would carefully walk past corners as if expecting some evil spirit to jump out at she. I stopped short of the door expecting she to move but the damn child gave no indication of moving so I stepped round she and walk into the lodge.

There were two female teachers in the room and as I walked in smiles appeared on they faces.

“Ghosts and spirits,” one of them said and they both began to laugh, frigging idiots, they need to sit down and shut up, I mean, the last thing they wanted to do was tease me. I shot them the crossest look I could and went over to me desk and sat down. Anger welled up in me, but I did not know if I was angry at them or at meself. When I became a teacher I knew it would be hard for me to be accepted into they little fraternity, I mean, I was young, fresh out of college and was sometimes too anxious to prove meself. It was the late seventies and despite the growing awareness of culture on the island there was a small movement of so called intellectuals trying to distance the people from the culture that was such a prominent part of they ancestry. For years I struggled with meself feeling caught between the modern world and the world that me grandmother loved so much.

I tried to block out the laughter by reading the titles of some of the books on me desk, but peace of mind evaded me as they laughter filled the room and spilled out into the hallway, finally they got up and left the room not saying a word to me and I sat there scratching me head profusely. After a little bit I stopped scratching and sat there staring at the wall in front of me, suddenly me whole body tingled and I turned round and saw Alison standing in the door, she had that familiar suspicious look on she face she eyes almost as black as the nail polish on she fingernails
“Shouldn’t you be in class right now?’ I asked, she did not respond she just looked at me like I was a dead man on display in a church, then in a voice deeper than you might expect from a girl five feet and an inch.

“You saw she, din you?” I looked at her trying to keep me face as expressionless as possible.

“What on earth are you talking about?” I asked but from the moment I said the words I knew I had not fooled the bloody girl.

“You saw she, Ah could see it in you eyes,” She insisted stepping into the room with surprising speed and grabbed hold of me wrist, goose bumps formed all over me arm as I vividly remembered the woman in white, Alison tightened she grip bringing me back to reality

“Ah heard you talking to Mr. Hopson dis morning,” she said determined to convince me that some evil was lurking in me backyard, I tried to pull me hand away but she fingernails dug into me flesh and a thin line of blood rolled down me wrist, I stopped struggling for fear that she nails might go deeper into me skin and for a moment I forgot that I was the teacher and she was the student.

“Yes, I saw a woman in my yard but it could be anyone playing a joke on me.”

“Wha was she wearing?” Alison insisted, I reached over with me free hand and unwrapped she fingers from me wrist, damn girl should to be thought she place.

“Listen here young lady; get back to your class before I take a belt to you.” Alison stepped back a far away look in she eyes she lips moved but at first no words came out, she just stood there like she was in some kind of trance as she small button shaped nose twitched and she thin lips quivered.

“Yeah, me muma told me bout a oman like dat. She say dat de men and dem who see de woman act just like you, Ah could see it in you eyes, Ah could see it on you face. She have you bazody” I wanted she to continue talking so I could find some reason for the way I felt after seeing the woman in white, but I could see in she eyes that she was drifting into she own thoughts. I was disgusted at meself for wanting to listen to her, hell I knew better than to sit there and let some obeah child bully me but suddenly she stepped towards me the black part of she eyes rolled round with excitement.
“De La DiaBlesse visited you for sure,” she shouted she voice echoing down the hallways and into the classroom, I placed me index fingers on me lips as a sign for she to lower she damn voice and it worked because she continued talking in an erratic whisper.

“Listen to me, if you don do sumting now you doomed, she go come back, take you away and dat go be de end of dat.” She stood there waiting for me to respond but I was looking down at the thin stream of blood running down me arm. She did not wait for me to answer she just went on talking.

“You mus seek help, me Muma could help you.” She was looking into me eyes and I could see the reflection of the room behind me, I lifted me arm causing droplets of blood to speckle the desk. Her expression changed, small lines appeared on her forehead.

“Why you fighting dis?” She asked attempting to grab me wrist again. “Protek youself man, come see me Muma.” I was light headed from lack of sleep, a surge of heat rushed through me and I almost fainted.

“O. K, that’s enough, you get to your class right now,” I said and pointed towards the door and she backed out of the room slowly she jewelry clinging as she went. She disappeared through the door still looking at me leaving a slight scent of musk in the room, I looked up at a picture hanging on the wall above me desk; it was the depiction of a colonial family. The youngest child was holding a candle in she hand, she father resting a protective hand on she shoulder, two older children stood in front of the family their expression showing their displeasure with being in the picture. Off to the side and a little to the back was the mother, as if she was a separate entity from she family, I looked at the father; his stern face and muscular build overshadowed the rest of the family.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, La Diablesse installment chapter 2

Ahhhh yes, Ian is feeling like something strange and frightening is going to happen to him, What count that be, damn that woman in white, dame that devil woman.

Moko Jumbies

Carnival

Moko Jumbie (From the novel Obeah)

Henry reached down, picked it up and charged at the nearest attacker. He knocked the man to the ground and swung his machete. The man rolled out of the way and the machete hit a rock sending sparks into the dirt. The attacker got to his feet and rushed at Henry. He side stepped and swung the machete, hitting the man in the back of the head with the dull end of the machete. The man stumbled and fell, but before Henry could make sure the man stayed down another attacker jumped on his back. Henry spun around sending the man flying through the air. He landed on a tree trunk with a thud then fell to the ground and lay still. Henry turned to find another attacker, but stopped when he saw Akosua, machete in hand, battling one of the attackers.

The man was a good half a foot taller than her, but Akosua was quicker. The man swung his club, but Akosua ducked under the blow then she kicked him as he tried to raise the club. He stumbled back and growled angrily. Henry started to go over to help her just as the man charged. His mud covered body almost made him invincible against the ground. Akosua sidestepped and as he went by hit him in the back of the head with the handle of the machete. The man stumbled, fell, and then bounced off the ground. He stood up and looked around as if confused. His dead eyes scanned the scene, a surprised look on his face. Someone blew a conch shell and more attackers rushed out of the jungle. Akosua and her warriors fought hard, but they were over powered. The Attackers formed a circle around them. Slowly they began to close the circle, their clubs held above their heads. They were in arm’s length of Akosua and her warriors when the jungle’s floor moved, and trees popped and cracked. The attackers stopped and looked around. Trees were pushed aside and men about twelve feet tall stepped out of the jungle.

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