Adus had a new friend. His eyes surveyed the perimeter of the pastureland as he drove the cattle in. He lingered back to chase the errant goats out of the bushes into the clearing. He wanted them where he could see them at the very least. His mother had given him no rest about this issue.
“Be careful with the goats. They gave birth recently so there are many young ones that can be carried off easily. Mama Kala’s livestock was stolen just this past market day and she is a widow.” She said frowning anxiety clear as she stirred the pot behind the hut that morning. “ Chei..!” she hissed, “what is this village coming to…. and don’t let me hear about you being seen with that boy Dan!” She said suddenly grabbing his ear and pulling firmly. “He is a known chicken thief and I do not want him to teach you his bad behavior. You have been warned.” She finished with a meaningful glare at him, before she sent him off with his sweet potatoes for lunch.
He didn’t do it while she was watching but immediately he was out of sight, he scowled insolently at the memory and treatment. She was such a nag. He didn’t know why she insisted on warning him like so everytime time when she knew he would do what he wanted anyway. In two planting seasons, he would be old enough to become a warrior! Was he not old enough to choose his own friends? And besides, would never understand this but Dan was very enjoyable company and he knew many things the likes of Kala (The nice, somewhat naive neighbor boy who was currently falling out of favour with him as a best friend) would never know or hope to understand.
“I’m going to do what I want!” He thought with a childish pout, not realizing that that’s precisely the reason she was so insistent on it. She understood her son’s stubborn foolishness, and doubtlessly worried about it every day. Adus was not the sharpest tool in the shed, and was prone to being influenced by his friends. Ah! His mother was indeed worried.
“Adus!” A familiar voice called out from the tree line on the opposite side of the clearing. He looked up and saw a figure laying down, waving at him. He waved back with a toothy smile at the “devil”. He hurried the goats roughly, swinging his stick a bit too hard at the trailing ones before eagerly flitting across to where Dan lay sprawled.
“You’re late…” Dan began even before he could greet him properly, his characteristic bilious expression firmly in place. Adus’ greeting died in his throat, his stupid ecstasy shot down in an instant. Adus started to mumble an explanation but Dan interrupted him, sitting up now.
“Do you have food?” Adus nodded obediently. Dan gave him a wordless look and Adus hurried to comply. He pulled his potatoes out of his bag, but before he could give him a share of it Dan grabbed the whole bag and placing it beside him on the other side, began to eat without a word. Adus looked on blinkingly, but said nothing his mood dropping further. He sat there submissively ignoring the predictive hunger pangs foreshadowing a long meal-less day ahead as he knew that even if he wanted to, the potatoes Dan had just taken from him were not his anymore.
Dan was older and of a larger stature than he was with a worldly air about him and so he found himself clamouring to get his approval. His new friend hadn’t always been so sullen. He had been nice at first, he thought dejectedly. Taking the last bite with a single toss, his “friend” lay back down with a satisfied sigh. Adus was now afraid to even say anything. He resolved to wait for Dan to start talking first and after a short wait he did.
“I have some friends coming to see me today. I will allow you to meet them.” He said offhandedly, spread out on his back with an arm across his eyes. Adus perked up at the thought, thinking it would be something to do out of the usual. Surely they would all be exciting company just like Dan.
“What time?” he asked blithely, his dense expression back. Dan didn’t answer. His mood dipped a little again, but at least he had something to look forward to, so he remained chipper.
As the noonday sun got hotter, Adus began preparing to take the animals down to the river to drink. He watched them enviously as his stomach growled. They had eaten their fill and looked blissfully satisfied. He tried to ignore it and got up to proceed but was stopped by a firm grip on his arm.
“Where are you going?” Dan asked his face taut. Adus looked back at him, bewildered.
“I’m taking the animals to drink.” He answered dumbly.
“No!” Dan said firmly. Confusion clouded Adus’ face.
“Why?” He asked but before Dan could even answer they heard movement in the thicket. It sounded like the footfalls of a large number of people. Adus raised his eyes and peered into the shadows, squinting as his eyesight adjusted to the contrasting darkness under the trees. His eyes widened once he saw them. The shadows stealing round, barely out of sight. A sense of alarm washed over him and seeing this Dan was on his feet in a flash his hand firmly clamped over Adus’ mouth.
“Be quiet or I’ll hurt you.” He hissed. Out of the bushes emerged a group of men Adus had never seen before. They were big and menacing. They looked at him with thinly veiled hostility as Dan silenced him. Adus felt tears prickling in the back of his eyes as it dawned on him what this could be.
They spoke to each other in a foreign language and, one of them coming forward to secure Adus, called Dan over to them, speaking in low tones out of earshot. Adus barely managed to bite back his sobs as they led him into the forest for a long long distance. They led him up to a sturdy tree and produced some ropes. Stuffing his mouth painfully full with leaves, they tied them in place with a biting cord of rope around his face before securing him with his back to the tree and his arms behind him at a painful angle.
Adus wept with horror at the realization that they planned to leave him there. But he was too afraid to resist as there men were armed with sharp spears and looked to have no qualms putting an end to him. As they left, Dan looked back at him with pity in his eyes and said with a bitter smile.
“If luck is on your side, they will find you before the animals do.”