I warned you chum

Like an unexpected deluge when the heavens suddenly split sound of several drums broke up in the stillness of the night cutting through its silence in a consistent rhythm music and dance were the main attraction of the secret Cult this music was what lured most boys into the fold rather than the violence they were so much associated with it was more like people who were lured to church to partake in praise and worship rather than evangelism. here the boys been initiated were privileged to hear it at close range but they were not yet permitted to watch The choreography.

several baritone voices accompanied by different instruments then rented the air in a strange and terrific song this particular number proclaims the greatness of the Redbeard confraternity over its adversaries and it was meant to announce to others the confraternity's possession of the territory the way a lion would demarcate its territory by it urine this song was really queer and sinister and it seems to awake all the senses the feet of the dancing beards moved swiftly to the passionate rhythm of the song which rose are fell like The Tempest of the wild Atlantic.

Billy sat motionless breathing in quick gasp and wondering what will happen next all his senses were alert but his mind could not help drifting the other things that was agony in his heart as he thought of Sandra if he died suddenly as a consequence of this initiation she would probably mourn him for a few weeks only to forget him later and start another romantic life with some other guy. The thoughts that ached him most was that he had not even slept with her could she really be a virgin? his disarrayed mind mocked his mind then drifted next to Stanley probably he thought Stanley will be very pleased if anything went wrong with this initiation Billy thought you could see the sneer on his face as he said* I warned you chum* to hell with Stanley he told himself the Jackal confraternity might Really be the right place after all but for Christ sake how could he just continue to follow Stanley's footsteps; make him feel that he knew better? He had to show that boy that he had arrived and on his own.

his mind then drifted to his immediate family and how they would be weeping for him but for god sake he was not going to die so why should they weep? he then thought of mouse Shaun and jayfly. The guys he had banked on for his present night had disappointed Billy's drifting mind was suddenly anchored by the weird laughters of the roving party of beards as they danced towards his edge of the field and brought their music to an abrupt halt just beside him Billy thought that his heart stopped with the music. Violent as it sounded it had been more comforting than the eerie silence of the night that followed the centre of the field came a lone voice shouting out an instruction to the blindfolded boys. * lag flat on your bellies on the exact position that you are sitting no shifting*

* fast on your bellies* the other beards roared Billy fell on his belly and stretched out his limbs the thud of several bodies and brief contact with nearby fleshes made Billy realise that other boys had yielded to the instruction just as himself he heard the quick dispersal of the footstep of the clustered beards as he imagine that he saw dark shadow diffuse into the field. A few minutes later he was conscious of a huge bonfire being lit somewhere on the field is it cracked loudly and radiated caressing warmth to break the spell of the chilly night the soil water plus the dew that has resulted in the itching of Billy's buttocks now rose to his thighs belly and chest and the itching resumed menacingly. Billy attempted to tuck his head under his body and scratch but instantly a hard-knock descended on his head and he complied immediately he heard the beard who had inflicted the corporal punishment stifle a chuckle and he was convinced that the voice was no others but mouse.