Chapter 7 — The Debt Is Settled

Dande and Luba raced through the forest. It was already dark, and it took all their focus and attention to keep from tripping over roots. Both were used to long night marches. But a march and a sprint were different. They had barely slowed their pace. Now exhaustion was setting in. At their full strength, it would have been easy for them to vault over roots, boulders and branches. But they had pushed too hard and too long. Dande's muscles complained with every step. He wished that their horse had survived. It would have helped them plenty. He did his best to ignore the pain. Luba, being smaller and lighter, had less difficulty keeping up the pace, and soon, she overtook him and led the way. Her keen eyes helped them avoid many accidents. Dande focused on her feet. Where she jumped, he jumped. Where she twisted, he turned. Where she sidestepped, he skirted. But eventually, his legs gave in. Spasms shot through his calves. Every step was a nightmare. He steeled himself and continued, but he stumbled often. Luba noticed him and slowed down.

“Don’t slow down,” Dande said. “Keep up the pace.” He was out of breath, and it took all of his strength to speak.

"You are going to get hurt.”

"No, I will not."

At that moment, he misjudged his step and set his foot upon a rock. His ankle twisted and he tottered. His training kicked in. Any effort to maintain his balance would make things worse. Dande threw out his arms and fell on his buttocks. It was a hard fall, and he groaned at the impact. Luba stopped.

"Are you alright?"

Dande sprang to his feet, and placed his weight on his ankle. It ached slightly, but would hold.

"Let's keep going."

Luba nodded, and set off at a quick walk.

"Why are you walking?”

"If we get hurt, there will be no way on earth that we will be able to find Zugi on time.” Dande said nothing. She was right. He had failed his father and had failed Chenzira. He did not want to fail Zugudini as well.

They walked in silence. Luba took some cassava out of her pouch. Wordlessly, she handed a piece to Dande. He took a big bite, suddenly aware of how hungry he was. He had never tasted anything so good. With each bite, strength returned to his body and hope returned to his soul. But a wave of despair beat it back: was he on a fool’s errand? Was he too late to save Zugi? In the silence of the dark, punctuated by their footsteps on the undergrowth, the two feelings battled in his heart.

"Tomorrow is the solstice," he said. "We have to find her by daybreak. Otherwise we’ll be too late.” They were cutting through the bushes now. It had been some hours since the path had all but disappeared. First, they had followed what seemed to be some kind of track, hoping to come across human footprints. But all they saw were the marks of buck. Dande was grateful for Luba's sharp eyesight. In the dead of night, beneath the dark canopy of the forest, there was no way he would have been able to make out anything on the path. Luba said nothing. She was well aware that they did not have much time.

"Do you know where we are going?"

"No," Luba said. “Keep your voice down. We do not want to be seen or heard."

“There is nobody in these parts. We are lost — Ey!”

He rammed straight into her, and stumbled back. She stood stock still and brought a finger to her lips. Dande didn't say a word. He watched and waited.

"There is someone nearby," she whispered. She sniffed the air twice, then crouched. Dande bent low beside her.

"Not far from here," she whispered. "A group of people. Not many, but not few either."

"Soldiers," Dande said. He clutched his spear tighter. "That would mean we are on the right track."

“No. I don’t think so. There are women with them. And horses. We can steal two.”

“Why not just ask?”

“Do we look like we’re in a place where people ask for things?”

They crept along, padding through the bush like predators. They could see little in the dark, but Luba's keen smell and sharp hearing guided them along. After what seemed like an eternity, she stopped and stood as still as a statue.

She pointed straight ahead. Dande saw nothing. It was too dark. But he caught snatches of whispered conversation, the clinking of gourds and the whinnies of horses.

"Those are no soldiers," he whispered. “Soldiers would have fires going.”

“Likely they’re outlaws and don’t want to be seen.”

"Let's go around them."

“We need their horses. Look!” She pointed at a spot directly ahead of them. A small flame had just gone up, and was now being carefully hidden by some bushes. The momentary flash of light was enough for Luba's keen eyes to see a face behind the fire.

"It's the runaways," she said. "The slaves we freed."

Dande's mind raced back to the events of that fateful night. It seemed so long ago now. He had killed Barwe Tonga soldiers as they fought Luba and Zugudini in their attempt to free the runaways they were transporting back to the capital.

“These people we can ask,” Luba said. “Mwari knows they are in our debt.” She edged forward, but Dande grabbed her arm.

"What?"

“These are runaways.”

"So what?"

"They are criminals."

Luba clicked her tongue in disgust.

"Now is not the time to have this conversation. We can talk about it after we get a horse and have rescued Zugi."

She pulled her arm out of his grasp, and marched towards the encampment.

"Friends," she called out in a loud voice. “I know you are runaways. We helped to free you some days ago. Me and my friend. We are tired and we need your help.”

There were gasps of alarm and hurried footsteps. An unseen hand lit a torch, and hoisted it high. It cast a faint glow on the surroundings. Dande came up behind Luba, spear clutched tightly in his hand. A man held a flaming torch aloft. Behind him stood a group of about twenty men and women. Some of them were armed with spears and knives. Others brandished tree branches. A few held bamboo reeds to their lips. Luba raised her hands, and showed her spear.

"I mean you no harm.” She let the spear fall to the ground. "And neither does my friend. Dande, come out and drop your spear.”

Dande didn’t move. Had the dwarf woman lost her mind? There was no way on earth he was going to part with his spear. These were runaways. Desperate men and women. They were hiding in the forest like animals. He could not trust them. If it were up to him, he would have turned around and left. He was about to do so when the tall man with the torch spoke.

“If your friend doesn’t drop his spear we will fell him where he stands.”

“Dande,” Luba said. “Please.”

Dande hesitated. Luba turned to face him.

“Drop your spear now.” She spoke in a tone that broached no debate. He let his spear fall and stepped forward. Luba turned to the tall man.

“We have met before," she said. “I mean you no harm.”

“We will see.” He brought to the torch to Luba’s face. Dande came up beside her.

"It's the dwarf woman," a man behind the torch-bearer said. "She and her friends released us. That man with her killed many.”

"That is correct," Luba said. "We need your help."

"Where is the other woman?” the torch-bearer said.

“Captured by our enemies. They mean to put her to death. That is why we need your help. We don’t have much time.”

The torch bearer turned to the men and women bunched behind him.

"Put your weapons down," he said. "They are our friends."

The men and women relaxed and let down their guard.

"My name is Hinga," the torch-bearer said. He stretched out his hand. Luba shook it.

"I am Luba. That is Dande."

The torch bearer reached his hand towards Dande.

“You are a brave warrior.”

Dande simply stared. He was not going to shake his hand. Hinga frowned and shot a glance at Luba.

"He is just tired from much running,” Luba said. “We have been on the trail of the Vana Va Lungundu since dusk.”

Hinga inhaled sharply.

"What do you know about them?" Dande said. He stepped forward. "Where are they?"

“They are everywhere and nowhere,” Hinga said.

“These are men, not ghosts,” Dande said.

“They have been moving a lot. Different groups. Searching for someone or something. But not us.”

“Where did you last see them?”

“Not far from here. We have watched them closely,” Hinga dropped his voice. “We have reason to believe the Vana Va Lungundu are actually Barwe Tonga.”

“We know that already. Just tell us where you last saw them.”

Hinga’s eyes widened. “You know of their treachery?”

“They took us prisoner two days ago. We escaped. But one of us fell. And the other was captured. She it is that we want to rescue.”

“You will not be able to help your friend, if they have her. You cannot beat them in open battle.”

Dande's nostrils flared. They were wasting time. Did the man want to help them or not? He clutched his spear tightly and stepped up to Hinga's face.

“You’re a slave. What do you know about battle?”

Hinga stiffened at the word.

"You would do well to remember where you are. And whose help you seek."

"Men, please," Luba said. She stepped between them and pushed them apart. "This is no time for us to fight. We just need two horses, and for you to point us in the right direction.”

“Your friend must apologize for what he called me.”

“You want me to apologize for telling the truth?”

Hinga’s eyes shone with fury. Dande turned to Luba.

"I will not accept help from slaves. Let us go.”

A wave of anger washed over Luba. She couldn’t believe her ears. She shoved Dande back with all her might.

"What in Mwari's name is wrong with you?” she yelled. “Have you gone mad? We have spent all of our strength running. If we do not accept their help, we will not find Zugi on time.”

“We will find her if we leave right now. The men are near here. We can find them.”

“And once we do, what do you expect to happen? We will be too tired to fight. For Zugi’s sake, put your pride aside.”

Dande breathed hard. Hinga stared at him.

“Apologize.”

“You made me kill my own brothers, and you want me to apologize? You are in our debt.”

"Nobody forced you to help us that night.”

“I was not helping you. I was helping my friends.”

"That doesn't matter, Dande,” Luba said. “Just apologize and we can get the horses and be on our way.”

"You don't understand, Luba. You want me to apologize for saying the truth to a man who made me an outlaw? I will do no such thing. This mission started to unravel the minute we laid eyes on them. They have been our undoing. I will not apologize.”

He spun around, and walked to where his spear lay. He picked it up and marched back to Luba.

“Let us be on our way,” he said. “We have wasted enough time.”

“He’s right,” Hinga said. “You two should continue. Imagine that you never saw us. Mwari be with you.”

Dande nodded and trudged off. Luba screamed in fury. She followed him, grabbed his arm and spun him around.

“Can you stop being such a fool? Give me a minute and I will solve this.” She turned back to Hinga. “Please ignore my friend. He has been running too long and too hard on an empty stomach. I am afraid he is losing his mind. If you can spare two horses.”

"I will accept no horses from runaways,” Dande said. “I will not associate myself with them in any way."

“Why?” Hinga asked. “You think we’re beneath you because we’re slaves?”

The question hung in the air, unanswered. Luba turned from Hinga to Dande. She simply couldn’t understand the stupidity and the pride of men. And to think that women doted on them. This was why she preferred to live her life free of any entanglements. But now she was stuck with this one, and she had to try and placate him.

“Dande, please.”

"We are wasting time," Dande said. "Let us go.”

"Will you at least let them point us in the right direction?" Luba asked.

"I had already asked him to do that."

Hinga stared at Dande for a moment. Then he nodded.

"They have spent the past two days on the southwestern edge of the forest," Hinga said. "If you go that way, you will find them eventually." He pointed to his left.

"Go that way and soon you will find a path that they used. It is well trodden. I would stay off of it if I were you."

Without a word of thanks, Dande spun around and marched out of the camp.

"Thank you," Luba said. "And forgive my friend."

"He saved my life," Hinga said. "Though he doesn't remember it. My debt to him is settled."

"Mwari go with you."

"Mwari stay with you."

Luba followed Dande through the dark thickets. Although she didn't say a word, he could sense her anger rising off of her like waves of heat off a bonfire. He was grateful that they had to move quickly and quietly. But, as his muscles ached and screamed once more for relief, he found himself regretting his decision. He had let his pride get in the way of their objective. But he had been right. Accepting help from criminals? That was inexcusable. He had already overstepped the mark by helping them escape. Because of them he had spilled the blood of his brothers, the Barwe Tonga. There was no excuse for the crimes that he had committed. Maybe he could deny any wrongdoing. After all, only one man had escaped. Dikarai. If he had gotten back to the city, and if he had reported what happened, if they believed him... But those were too many ifs. He would cross that bridge when he came to it. For now, he needed to rescue Zugi and get back the drum.

He was exhausted now. Every step cost him tremendous effort. Luba was also slowing down. They were now crashing through the forest, too tired to have a care for where and how they placed their footsteps.

"We have to stop," Dande said. "I need to rest."

Luba said nothing. She kept going, without breaking stride.

“I said we have to stop.”

Luba stopped, spun around and faced him.

“We can rest,” she said. “But if we fail to save my friend, I will slit your throat myself.”

Dande lost his cool.

“You think she’s not my friend too? Do you understand what I’ve put on the line for this mission?”

“Yes. Everything except your pride."

“It’s not about pride. It’s about right and wrong.”

“Since when is accepting help from runaways wrong?”

"You’re an outlaw. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Dande son of Banga. Call me that again and…”

She didn’t finish her sentence. She spun around and stalked off. Dande followed her.

“I apologize.”

“You should have said that to the person who wanted to hear it.”

"Instead of arguing could we focus on the mission?"

“That’s what I’m doing. You’re the one that wants to talk.”

“Okay, fine. Let’s keep going then.”

They trudged on in silence.

"It's exactly as Hinga said, isn't it?” Luba said. “You're ashamed of associating with us.”

“What do you mean, ‘us’?”

"I'm a runaway. Zugi also. You spent time with us. What does that make you?"

“You two are different."

"How so?"

Luba never got an answer to her question. The bushes around them rustled and parted . Several tall, muscular figures stepped out of the shadows. Even in the dark, Luba and Dande could make out the masks that covered their faces. The men held spears at the ready. Dande and Luba froze. Dande's eyes swept the circle of men that surrounded them. He counted a dozen. There was once a time when he could have risked taking them all. There was a time when he would have succeeded. But not tonight. He was too exhausted. Even as he spun his spear from a throwing to a stabbing position, he knew that the exhaustion in his legs would slow him down. A moment’s delay was the difference between life and death. He and Luba had gotten careless. In their heated discussion, they had forgotten to heed their surroundings and to move with caution. That was what tiredness did. Now, it would all come to an end. In a dark forest, far from home, in the middle of nowhere. And it was all his fault. Once again, he had failed.

"Should we kill them where they stand, or bring them back to the camp?”

"We kill them. Grey Leopard only wanted the girl."

“They humiliated us,” another answered. “They do not deserve a swift death.”

“There is no time for games,” the leader replied. “Our job is to patrol and stop troublemakers before they make trouble.” He raised his spear.

At that moment, a keen whistling rent the air. One of them grunted as a dart pierced his neck. Another swatted one that struck his chest. Another swore loudly as one hit him in his leg. In an instant, they collapsed, unconscious, eve as more darts flew through the air and hit the Vana Va Lungundu soldiers with stunning accuracy.

“Take cover,” the leader shouted. He ducked into the bushes. A moment later he stumbled out and fell onto his back. His hands clutched a spear stuck in his chest. Then Hinga stepped out of the dark. He leaned forward, and pulled the spear out of the dying man. Behind him and around them, men and women emerged from the shadows. Several held bamboo reeds and short darts. They scanned the surroundings for any vana. None were left. Dande and Luba gawked in awe.

"You followed us all the way?" Luba said. “Thank Mwari!”

“My debt to you was repaid,” Hinga said as he looked at Dande. Then he turned to Luba. “But not to you and the other woman.”

“I can’t believe we didn’t hear you,” Luba said.

“The two of you were arguing.” Hinga said. “Some of our women insisted that we follow you until you were safely past the Vana scouts. You need to get moving. You’re not yet out of danger.”

"Are they dead?" Dande asked. He pointed at the men lying motionless on the ground.

"No. But they will only wake up tomorrow, if the hyenas spare them.” He turned to one of the men. “Bring the horses." The man disappeared into the thickets and emerged with two horses. He handed their bridles to Hinga. Hinga handed them to Luba.

"One is for you” he said, "and the other is for your friend. When you rescue her.” He turned to Dande. “As for you, brave warrior, I’m sure you can walk.”

His eyes burned into Dande's. A wave of shame washed over Dande. Hinga noted it, but said nothing. Luba handed one bridle to Dande. She leapt onto the other horse, and spun it onto the path.

“Thank you.” She said. “Thank you all. I will never forget this.”

Dande leapt onto the horse. His eyes settled on Hinga’s steely gaze. They regarded each other for a brief moment.

“You are a better man than I could ever be,” Dande said. “You have my apology. And you have my respect.”

He kicked his horse, and thundered down the path. Luba followed close behind.