CHAPTER 5                   THE FIRST LEARNING

Kui was intrigued. She was in what seemed like a vast cavern chiseled out of rock! There was a bed of logs at the distant left of the cavern and a fireplace, but she could not see an opening to release the smoke. The only seating she could see consisted of logs hewn with a rough bevel. She went around touching one item after another in amazement. The old woman watched her with amusement. Kui could see many types of herbs, dried and tied together with twine and hanging from a branch that had been cleverly wedged horizontally across the roof. She could recognize none of the herbs.

 The old woman moved from near the door to one of the logs, gathered her skirts and sat down grandly. You could have thought she was seated on a throne in a gilded palace rather than on a log in a cave, in the middle of nowhere. She could see all the unasked questions on Kui's face. Before Kui could speak, the woman tapped her staff against the ground, her expression suddenly serious.

 "Why do you think you are here child?" She asked in her oddly singsong voice. Her eyes trained on Kui made her feel like a young child being addressed by her mother. Anger suddenly flared up in Kui. She was not a child, and she would let the old witch know it. She lifted up her chin, her shoulders, and met the other woman's gaze. "You have brought me here, so you tell me."

 The old woman looked at her for a while, and then shook her head. "So much to teach yet so little time." Her face took on a dreamy look, her eyes staring as if into the future. "Nothing is as it seems child, nothing is as it seems. Tell me child, what do see before you?" Her attention had shifted back to Kui as she said those words. Kui hesitated, unsure of what the old woman wanted. "I see you, an old woman," she said unsteadily.

 "Yes, you see me…. mmmmh, and what about now?" The woman seemed as if to turn and suddenly an old man stooped and holding on to a cane stood there.

Kui jumped back exclaiming in shock. The old man spoke. "What do you see now child?" Kui was speechless. The old man made as if to turn and once again the old woman was there. "Let this be your first lesson that nothing is as it seems."

 Kui was bewildered and shocked. She couldn't believe what her eyes had just seen, a woman changing into an old man, something for the story's told by her grandmother. The woman watched her keenly. "Experienced seers can shift into the character of their choice, even into animals, but it takes considerably more strength to do so," she said.

 "A great battle is coming and you must be ready or your people will be exterminated. The war shall be fought on the physical as well as spiritual realms of existence and you must be ready." She turned and looked at the fireplace her face becoming dreamy once more. "The people of the south come even now, great warriors and bloodthirsty too‖ her face grimaced at this last. They have their own medicine people who are dark, often dredging up evil and using it in warfare. It is our duty to stop them or cease to exist."

 She turned to Kui determination plain on her weathered face. The girl looked stunned. The lady pondered. Had she told too much at once, she wondered. But no. It was not too soon for the girl to know. "There are two others who will assist us in facing them, but we together are still weak. You have learnt nothing…as yet."

 "Who …. who are the others?" Kui asked shakily. "No need to know them now. It is enough that you will know them at the right time. Yours is to learn as fast as possible, and your training begins now. Oh, and one more thing…. from now on you will call me mother." Kui's face lifted up at that. Surely this was not the way to address people other than her real mother? But the old woman was looking at her sternly as if waiting for some disagreement. Yes.… mother. The word did not roll off her tongue easily.

 The old woman did not waste time. Kui was immediately put to work and a lot of learning. Over the next few days, she was taught about different types of herbs, where to find them, what each type was used for, how to make poultices, mend broken bones, and sew gaping wounds. She was required to memorize the names of the plants from which the herbs came and most of all she was thoroughly worked. Fetching water, and gathering berries and edible plants was her duty. A full moon passed in these activities, time that to Kui, seemed like twelve moons. Exhaustion was her constant companions, why, she suspected that her once ruddy and well-shaped appearance that so distracted the men was disappearing.

 She wondered about her lover Mukwa Njugu. Had he arrived back safely from the raid? Not knowing was painful in itself if one did not add the fact that she had not seen her parents and family for a full moon now. Often, she cried when she thought about this, but did not let the old woman see it.

 On one day, a moon after her arrival at the cavern, the old woman did not let her go to the forest for the never-ending hunt for edible berries and fruits. Instead, they sat down on woven mats on the cavern floor.

"Today I will make a beginning to teaching you how to develop your psychic well and eventually how to tap it," The old woman said. The two sat cross legged, facing each other, hands on laps.

"Feel the area just under your navel, and close your eyes. We shall practice on achieving the oneness. Concentrate and clear your mind." Kui closed her eyes. This voice droned on and on, and then seemed to grow fainter and fainter.

 The new day dawned with backbreaking work and whips. Three Maa-rati warriors had been set to guard us and see to it that we were worked hard. Our first task was trampling a mixture of cow dung and clay to make the materials the Maa-rati used to make the walls of their mud huts. We were required to dig the soil out of a hill side, carry it in bowl like metal containers to the nearby trampling yard. Here the soil was mixed with cow dung and water and thoroughly trampled to a thick paste. It was then borne to the huts where it was smeared on the sides. It was back breaking work. And the Maa-rati enjoyed in applying the whip on any of us who seemed not to be showing sufficient enthusiasm. Which was basically all of us.

 No food was brought to us throughout the day. We toiled in bad spirits. Towards evening a meal was brought consisting of maize meal pottage and a few pieces of meat. Water was in plenty to fill the excess space in our stomachs. We were then taken back to their sleeping quarters under guard.

 This village did seem to have a large number of people. The village children had quickly grown bored with us after the first day and none now seemed interested any more. The village women on the other hand would cluster in small groups and watch us from a distance. They were clad in long skins that reached their ankles and tens of hoops of beads at their necks which undulated as they walked. They would come mainly around the midday hours and giggle as they whispered to each other and pointed at us. Sometimes the warriors guarding us would chase them away, but they always came back at about the same hour. Two of them brought us food, so we could observe them at close quarters. They never spoke to us or the warriors guarding us, but went strictly about their business.

 On the third day of our captivity, we had an important visitor. Just before midday, Lengoibon the nasty Maa-rati warrior came flanked by about forty spear wielding fierce looking men. Our guards bowed and deferred to the big warrior, moving aside to give him space. He approached us striding purposefully. Drawing his knobkerrie from the rawhide thong at his side; he used it to prod Kanyonga distastefully and contemptuously. We all stopped doing whatever we were doing and watched. Kanyonga was muddy all over from the work he had been doing.

 He was prodded once, twice and then he stood up from his stooped position. The Maa-rati warrior spoke in his rapid dialect gesticulating with the knobkerrie in reference to all of us. Tension filled the air. I was even tenser because I knew Kanyonga. The man ran his affairs as if he had a death wish. I saw the muscles in his calf bunch and I smelled trouble. A tic began on his cheek and I saw disaster. My eyes sought out our regiment commander but I was blocked by several of my sword brothers.

 Kinyua translated as fast as possible, albeit in whispers. "Commander, he says that vermin such as we are should have been dealt with the first day we were captured, but no matter, the work we are doing is all for the best, but if it were solely up to him, we would be feeding the carrion birds now." The man paused and surveyed us with malicious satisfaction. He prodded Kanyonga a third time and all hell broke loose.

 Kanyonga's hand snaked out, seized the knobkerrie and pulled it out of Lengoibons hand. He reversed it and sprang at Lengoibon. Give the Maa- rati commander credit for in spite of his surprise, he sprang backwards, hand drawing his short sword in the same instant. Sword met knobkerrie with a clash, spears whirled and warriors moved towards Kanyonga. A shout from Lengoibon stopped his men. The two warriors danced intricately, bellows of dust going up as they skid and strove for advantage.

 War whoops from the warriors shrieked in the hot air. They surrounded the dueling duo, some jumping high in the air in excitement. Kanyonga and Lengoibon paced in a narrow circle like stalking panthers, faces knit in concentration. Lengoibon's face set in an ugly sneer. All of a sudden Kanyonga moved in, knobkerrie sweeping in a vicious arc. Lengoibon's blade met it in a thunderous crack. The two weapons clashed again several times, with Lengoibon on the defensive. He seemed to be measuring Kanyonga's skill. His blade suddenly sang out, causing Kanyonga to stoop hurriedly, at the same time Lengoibon's knee came up. Kanyonga took the blow on his shoulder, being propelled several meters backwards. Lengoibon was right there with him, his blade whistling swiftly, aimed at the neck. Kanyonga 's knobkerrie blocked the blow but simultaneously Lengoibon 's other knee knocked him on the other shoulder.

 Kanyonga was winded. The knee blows were having an effect. A disadvantage of the knobkerrie is that it doesn't have a cross guard. Lengoibon's blade licked out and opened a gash on kanyonga's fore am. The knobkerrie faltered and in that moment the blade clove the warrior nape to stomach in one slash. Kanyonga dropped in a squirming heap.

 The Maa-rati warriors jumped in screaming whoops of glee. Lengoibon stepped on the back of the squirming Kanyonga. A fury filled me such as I have never felt. My blood sang, promising instant vengeance. It spoke to me, as it sometimes does, asking, nay begging for a killing. My ands clenched and unclenched unheeded. Veins stood out on my neck, testimony of the battle within. My fellow warriors looked at the scene grimly. I knew what was going on in their hearts. They were about to explode into sudden suicidal violence. I knew in spite of my mad anger that I could not allow this to happen. It would only end up in more needless death. And for what? Everything had its time. Before I could make my move, our regiment commander spoke up, gesturing at Kinyua. "Tell this Maa-rati dog that we are not causing trouble. Tell him my men shall hold themselves with decorum."

Kinyua translated rapidly. Lengoibon seemed surprised that one of us spoke their tongue. He stared at Kinya shrewdly, then smiled in satisfaction, gave Kanyonga's body one kick and then spoke some words to one of our guards. Kanyonga's body was carried bodily by two warriors and they headed out to the plains. Lengoibon swiveled on his heels and trotted out followed by his men. It appears the action had created quite an audience. Old men and quite a number of women and children of all ages and sizes were observers. They were chased away by the Maa-rati guards and we were pushed to continue work.

 That night we ate and rested in morose silence; every man lost in his thoughts. Suddenly Kwaria Muniu stood up as if stung by a bee. "I swear by my ancestors! ... YES! By my ancestors! That I shall personally avenge the death of Kanyonga! And may I never see my kraal again if I don't!"

 "Aaaaae" the rest of us intoned.

 "Thaaaaai Thathaiya Ngai Thaaai,"

"Thaaaaai Thathaiya Ngai Thaaai," we responded.

 "Thaaaaai Thathaiya Ngai Thaaai," by Muniu

"Thaaaaai Thathaiya Ngai Thaaai," We responded.

 "Thaaaaai Thathaiya Ngai Thaaai,"

"Thaaaaai Thathaiya Ngai Thaaai," We responded

 He sat down slowly. That was a most solemn oath he had sworn. I made my way to where Mukwa Njugu was seated. Back against the mud wall, eyes closed. "My body grows stronger" he murmured as soon as I had settled myself against the wall. "We must escape," I began, "We cannot take this anymore, I --..."

 "Not yet!" he interrupted. "As matters now stand, they are like a rooster, crowing on an anthill. Let them grow hoarse first." He murmured.

 Sleep did not come that night. But there were more surprising things in store for us the following day.

We began hearing noise of ululating women at dawn. We heard the sounds of iron implements being struck and whoops and warlike screams. As we were led to our work station, one of the warriors came to brief our guards. Kinyua translated. "Commander, I hear that one of their regiment commanders called Lerionka has arrived with much booty." The warriors say that this Lerionka does not see eye to eye with Lengoibon."

 We contemplated this information. Perhaps it was all for the best. If this warrior was at loggerheads with Lengoibon, maybe he could be on our side. After all, the enemy of your enemy is your friend.

CHAPTER 6 AMBUSHED

Lerionka's warriors were met with much ululation and feasting. He had much booty and he saw to it that portions were sent to the battle leader, Muguto and a portion kept for the seer, Samut.

The people welcomed him with screams and whoops of happiness. But his sister Nelaisa capped it all by bringing him sour milk to drink. He took two very huge gulps to more screams and laughter as some dribbled onto his chin. Afterwards he retired to his hut to rest. He intended to rest a little and then go to pay his respects to the chief and battle leader. But even in his hut, warriors and prominent women came to hear the stories of the adventures his men had been up to.

 Nelaisa laughed as she saw the people stream into her brother's hut until it was bursting at the seams and everyone had to come out and sit in a rough circle on three legged stools. Kiptagich, his chief warrior told the story more than Lerionka although he interjected now and then. When he reached the part about the warriors they met in the forest and shared meat with, one of the Maa-rati interrupted to state that they had prisoners that had come raiding. This news surprised Lerionka and they were silent as the warrior narrated how a group of unknown warriors came and even managed to secure eight of the women before being overpowered. Fortunately, the warrior said, Lengoibon's regiment returning from a nearby raid had been able to quell the attack.

 At the mention of Lengoibon's name, Lerionka's face went grim. He recalled that neither Lengoibon, nor any member of his regiment had turned up to welcome him home. He knew that Lengoibon hated him and he did not care. A sudden smile split his face. Lengoibon was jealous that Ntalei, the chief's daughter preferred Lerionka rather than him, though he was senior. The thought almost caused a chuckle from his lips. He brought his mind back to the present.

 "When do I get to see these raiders? Ntaramei? Kiptagich? Join me, let's go and see these raiders," The named warriors sprang to their feet as did the rest of the people and they all headed towards the trampling ground. Members of Lerionka's regiment came at a quick trot and surrounded them, spears gleaming, shields up, blades and knobkerries thrust into rawhide thongs at the waist.

 Within just a few minutes they came to the mud trampling area. Lerionka could see men spattered with mud from head to toe, some carrying water others trampling the mud. Whips whistled with a will as the warriors guarding the men saw themselves observed.

 Lerionka looked more closely. Something about these men looked familiar. "Stop whipping them!" He shouted at a warrior. Aah yes…very familiar. Ntaramei and Kiptagich paused too. Lerionka looked sideways at his two warriors and saw what he suspected confirmed in their faces.

"Where is your commander?" he asked Kinyua.

 Muniu stood up from where he was, bent with exhaustion and looked at the warrior proudly. Their eyes met and held. Lerionka looked at Kinyua and gestured for him to translate. "How did you come to this great

Warrior?" he asked. "We raided the wrong village," the other replied…after which he broke down with uproarious laughter. Lerionka laughed as hard, holding his ribs. The two commanders exchanged experiences for some time. Lerionka ordered that the prisoners were to be allowed to bathe, to be fed properly and not to be worked like pigs until the seer came.

He was just about to leave when in the distance Ntaramei raised everyone's attention to the fact that Lengoibon's regiment was coming. Indeed, the huge warrior's regiment could be seen trotting up. He himself was flanked by about fifty warriors, fully armed. They stopped five paces from Lerionka's men. Lengoibon came on unperturbed.

 "Who said that these vermin could stop working?" he roared, pointing at the prisoners. Lerionka turned to face him with a smile. "I did, and what is more, from now on they will be fed like any other, they will have regular baths and will be treated with respect, as warriors!" This last was said with cold force.

 Lengoibon's face went black with fury. He looked like he was going to explode. Suddenly he seemed to let out a breath and calm returned to his face. "You are baiting me but I will not rise to the bait son of Lotodo. Know this however, that before long, my spear will taste your blood." Lerionka smiled even more broadly. He knew what ailed Lengoibon.

"And you think after you've done it Ntalei will be yours," he said quietly. Lengoibons face took on its usual furious look. He turned and trotted off followed by his warriors.

 After seeing his instructions regarding the prisoners were carried out, Lerionka and his men also left.

 The next day he woke up early. He felt giddily excited. Today he was going to take a gift to Ntalei. The thought of seeing a smile on her pretty face filled him with excitement. The gift itself had been plundered from one of the mountain tribes. It was a cotton shawl, richly embroidered. He wrapped it securely and slung it on his back. He took up his shield and spear and left. A few minutes later found him near Loshorua's house. He hastened his steps. The chief's manyatta was on the other side of ollolua hill. As he passed through the bushy area near the hill, a feeling came to

him that he was being watched. He glanced back but saw no one. Just before he rounded the hill, Lesenge, a warrior of Lengoibon's regiment stepped out of the deep grass fully armed. Two other warriors of his regiment flanked him. They did not look like they had come to chat over some tobacco.

 "So! Lesenge, Lolkiek and Mataiya, you have become the hatchet men of your commander Lengoibon?" He asked, a small smile playing around his lips. It did not reach his eyes. The warrior known as Lesenge approached at a quick walk. He spat. "Too long you have become a thorn in the foot of our commander. Scream for help now, shout! We shall wait!" he said contemptuously, ""or run…!"

 Blood boiled in Lerionka. The killing rage was on him. He knew it was wrong to enter combat in a rage, especially one in which he could not escape unharmed, but he did not care. He transferred his spear to the hand that held his shield and drew his sword. Always use the unexpected technique, his mind thought grimly. Then he approached the warriors at a run.

 Lesenge and his companions were surprised that Lerionka did not run away in spite of the odds against him. Lesenge cast his spear powerfully at a distance of less than six paces, but Lerionka deflected the sharp point with his shield. Lesenge then drew his knobkerry and waited to counter Lerionka's attack. The two other warriors moved to each side intending to box Lerionka between them.

 Lerionka saw their move knowing the only way to escape death was to destabilize them and keep them in one line like hooked fish. He pounced on Lesenge starting a wicked slash on the man's neck. Lesenge's knobkerrie rose up to block, but at the last moment. Lerionka reversed the stroke and brought it across Lesenge's thigh. A shriek of pain burst from Lesenge's mouth as his leg gave way below him. Lerionka did not pause. A wild thrust from Mataiya he took on the shield, but Lolkiek 's thrust got him on the left, just below his waist. He felt the blade go in, and realization came to him that he would have to finish this battle quickly or bleed to death.

Mataiya feinted to the left and then thrust to the right. Beside him, Lolkiek came in for the killing blow. Lerionka pretended to be hurt more seriously than he was, hence leading Lolkiek deeper than he would have gone. Lerionka exploded upwards with a slash that took Lolkiek's arm at the elbow. A scream of pain and rage came from Lolkiek as he cradled his sliced arm. In the same instant, Mataiya thrust his spear in. Lerionka took it on his shield, pushing the other man a few steps backwards. Dust rose, spattered with blood as the men panted and groaned. Lerionka knew he was bleeding profusely. He knew he could not last much longer. Yet he emptied his mind and gathered his strength. Pain, he pushed to the distance. Fatigue he banished from his mind.

Only he and Mataiya were standing now and he with a grievous wound, spilling his life's blood on the thirsty soil. Lerionka's shield seemed to weigh a tone so he cast it aside. Mataiya saw his opportunity and went in, shield held high, spear ready to cast. Lerionka went down suddenly, leg level, his blade lashing out. The edge came into contact with the ankle, sawed through bone, sinew and tendon and out the other side. Mataiya gave a startled squawk then a prolonged scream as he tumbled up and over Lerionka.

Lerionka lay where he had fallen, too weary to stand. He could feel himself bleeding, could feel himself losing consciousness. He struggled to keep his eyes open. He sensed movement. Yes, they must be carrying him somewhere. He wondered idly whether he would get to see Ntalei today. He missed her. He wanted to see Ntalei. He raised his head to ask if he could see Ntalei. Then darkness took him.

Lerionka opened his eyes. His side was on fire. He could see his sister Nelaisa's worried face off to the right. Ntaramei and Kiptagich wore grim faces to his left. He could see a few more warriors of his regiment at the door, eyes wild, scanning the outside, as if they expected a spear to come flying into the manyatta any moment.

"Oh, Lerionka I was so worried!" Said Nelaisa when she saw he was awake. She moved forward to cup his face with a hand. "We were so worried."

"I will survive, it was just a scratch" he muttered, sorely.

Kiptagich scowled. "We thought you had chosen to desert the regiment and visit our ancestors early." Ntaremei nodded agreement, his mouth smiling crookedly.

"And miss the opportunity to cross swords with Lengoibon?" Lerionka shook his head. Some voices outside the Manyatta took his attention.

Muguto the battle leader and chief bent low and entered the Manyatta. The two warriors stood respectfully, but Muguto gestured them to sit. He squatted next to Lerionka. "You had given us a real scare son of Lotodo? he murmured. "But I should know that you're made of sterner stuff, just like your late father."

His face took on a serious expression. "I have summoned Lengoibon to explain this matter. It cannot pass". "My liege, I will survive," Lerionka said. "He did try to kill me but my forefathers did not allow him to succeed."

Nelaisa could not leave it at that. She seemed to be bursting. "My liege, Lengoibon has been after my brother's blood for a long time, and yesterday he almost succeeded. Had we not been informed by Kimincho's son that Lerionka was in a fight, he could easily have bled to death!" She closed her mouth, breathing heavily in silent fury.

Muguto shook his head slowly. "Eldest daughter of Lotodo, I am aware of what has happened. These are evil times, and the elders will pass judgment." He stood. "Get well quickly, we need you," he said as he left.

Regiment commander Lengoibon Ole Sakuda was summoned before the Maa-rati council of elders at dawn the following day. He arrived promptly flanked by two of his assistants, all unarmed but for their knobkerries. He was accused of sending members of his regiment to waylay and do foul murder of Lerionka, a son of Lotodo, a regiment commander. Predictably he denied the charges, saying that the affected warriors had acted of their own accord. Since the culprits were conveniently dead, the elders had no choice but to release him. But Muguto gave him a thorough tongue lashing. If such a thing happened again, he would hold Lengoibon personally responsible. Lengoibon left, a smile on his face.

Days passed. Lerionka healed slowly. The prisoners had recovered their

strength after being fed regularly according to Lerionka's instructions. The diet of the Maa-rati was mainly meat and milk, and this added flesh to the warriors. Of particular note was Mukwa Njugu. He had fully recovered from his injury and was back to his old self. The swelling was no longer evident, but a small scar remained where he had been struck. The warriors were no longer whipped as they worked but they were still guarded. Five days after Lerionka's fight, scouts reported that the seer had been seen returning. He was in fact mere hours from the village. Everyone turned out to welcome him home. The prisoners had been told that the seer was even more important than the chief, and was held in very high regard by the Maa-rati. No important decision was made by the Maa-rati without his say so. He was called Samut, and his father, and his father's father had all been seers. It was an inherited position, they were told.

The delegation welcoming the seer home returned at around noon. The people were so many that they filled the cattle paths and manyattas. Warriors had slaughtered five bulls and the meat was being roasted on open spits. The women had boiled and stewed and otherwise prepared so much meat and milk that even the dogs seemed bloated.

The seer did not waste time on arrival. He immediately summoned the regiment commanders, the chief and important elders, and surprising everyone - the prisoners. No one had told him about them and everyone was confused.

The prisoners were herded to the meeting and made to sit facing the elders. The seer, Samut for that was his name, stood. He was not young. White hair filled his head, but the strength in his wiry frame told of years of living rough and eating healthy.

He scanned his audience carefully, letting his eyes stop briefly at Lengoibon and Lerionka, then at the chief, Muguto and finally one by one, on the elders.

His eyes were steel. He looked far out, into the horizon. "Revered elders, warriors of the Maarati, sword brothers and sisters, I have not much to say, but what I will say weighs heavily over me." He scanned the people again. "The people of Maarati are about to be faced by a bitter war. Warriors…nay enemies from the lands of the south are coming in the

hundreds of thousands, all bent on one thing. To destroy us." He paused.

"We must be ready, but more importantly; we must ally ourselves with other people who share our domain. Together, we must defend shoulder to shoulder, or perish!"

Exclamations broke out. Everyone seemed to be talking at the same time. The seer held up his hands for silence. He waited till there was complete quiet and then continued. "The warriors you captured shall be set free. They will carry this message to their elders. That the Maarati will welcome all those who would stand with them. We must all defend these territories of our forefathers or cease to exist as a people." I have spoken. Uproar broke loose.

The Maa-rati divided into small groups discussing hotly the words that had just been uttered. Some seemed in agreement, others, especially warriors of Lengoibon's regiment were furious. The seer had taken his ease to the side. Now the chief, Muguto stood, raising his spear for silence.

 "Revered seer of the people of Maa-rati, elders, lion hearted warriors, I salute you all".

"The Maa-rati people are not fools to die because of insolence and lack of attending to the will of our ancestors".

He paused and turned to the seer. "Revered seer Samut, the people of Maa-rati will do as you say!"