The Witness of Usehjiki

pte

year

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le, dim lamp. As unusual as it was to have them all in the same room

r key slots on the top, vertical plank. It travelled into the ground where the foundations of a cage sat. When it was built, they’d ha

he door to the ceiling and down to the floor. The cave was newly dug. And yet, it stank of rotten fruit and forgotten bodies, even though none

n sand; definitely not one of the many, beautiful ones nature had pr

o

of death and decay in a place that such a smell should never have been, the chiefs had kept at it, digging and b

thing to scare a man like Usop. Even though he was the youngest and newest chief in the gathering, he had seen war. He’d fought for boundaries before

when he was underneath the sun. Like his people in Usobo, Usop wore nothing on his body. His black, clans mark stood proudly on his chest,

ike the man who’d just spoken to him, was dressed in sleeveless, woven strings that covered his neck

ey hair was sign of a job well done and Oseki would be damned if he left this earth without ensuring a better fut

conviction of his fellow chiefs, none of them did either. This was a small price to pay if it ens

if he was being honest, he doubted that the mac

he brandished her machete, as

le of which was the triviality of modesty. She stood about a head shorter than Usop, even with the mountain of thick, afro locs atop

down to her legs. Most of the tattoos were made from temporary paint that washed off every time she went

asked, looking to Oseki for an

. They’d all consulted their gods and reported a consensus. They’d all been present at every gathering and come to th

d angrily, as her hands tightened around h

he one Oseki was wearing. But above that, she had one a shawl that was draped around her neck and shoulders. Usually, she would have it over her

d taken to wearing less clothing. And even her less clothing was more

P

the door, the cage and

t cage will hold?

sop said. “Now, the question i

d stop this nonse

insistent, gradually rising till the ground beneath their feet quaked from the impact. The banging got so loud that the other chi

placed one hand on the door, the knocking ceased. Breathing heavily, Oseki steadied hims

for the second. And the third. At last, as he pulled out the fourth key, the knocking b

he turned away. He walked back to the others a

ree stared down at Oseki

ng this?” O

from them and Oseki heard the sound of her coverings as the rustled about. Seconds later, s

, reaching for her but she he

f I can’t even bare this

s chest, just above his clans mark and clamped his lips together as the key sank into his skin. His hand quivere

hand as they both went together. He chose his right shou

,” Elheji said, getting

begun,”

bbing his skin around the key. “We c

ji said, wrapping her shawl aro

hing past Elheji and her hard demeanor. “I

ard you,”

bound to. No men, no women. No one.

eji said, walking out of the cave. “Y

in. Sparing Usop and Oseki one last loo

Usop to move bu

ay for thi

oday,” Ose

and dropped

you have to d

built this plac

ground to pay his last respects. When

do what needed to be done. Usop couldn’t even open the doo

human-sized cage had given them heaps and heaps of sand, above ground. It didn’t matter, anymore. Bec

the cage. Minutes later, as Usop emerged from the cave with the lamp, the last he