An edition of Mysteries in Bamboo Village
(2015)
Mysteries in Bamboo Village
by Opeyemi matthew adejobi
- 0 Ratings
- 0 Want to read
- 0 Currently reading
- 0 Have read
Share
×Close
Last edited by Opeyemi matthew adejobi
December 10, 2015 | History
This short story portrays series of committed crimes on Human trafficking, rape and domestic violence, in a small village called Bamboo. These tragic moments occur as a result of a lack of leadership. With no one to control the affairs of the people, it gives rise to local terrorists, in horrifying the lives of the Masses…
Buy this book
Showing 1 featured edition. View all 1 editions?
| Edition | Availability |
|---|---|
1
|
aaaa
|
Book Details
Table of Contents
Mysteries in Bamboo Village
An
Opeyemi Matthew Adejobi
Tale
This story is entirely fiction. The names, characters and Incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s Imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the Author of this work.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author.
© 2015 by Opeyemi Matthew Adejobi. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 1
CHAPTER 2 5
CHAPTER 3 13
CHAPTER 4 15
CHAPTER 5 21
CHAPTER 6 27
CHAPTER 7 29
CHAPTER 8 38
CHAPTER 9 41
CHAPTER 10 51
CHAPTER 11 61
CHAPTER 12 65
CHAPTER 13 68
CHAPTER 14 74
CHAPTER 15 77
CHAPTER 16 82
CHAPTER 17 87
CHAPTER 18 90
ABOUT THE BOOK
This short story portrays series of committed crimes on Human trafficking, rape and domestic violence, in a small village called Bamboo. These tragic moments occur as a result of a lack of leadership. With no one to control the affairs of the people, it gives rise to local terrorists, in horrifying the lives of the Masses…..
CHAPTER 1
From the moment that you discover you are about to rise up from your sleep, different prayer requests begins to repeat in your mind.
To the almighty father. “God kindly extend the morning period, so that we won’t be awake on time to experience that tragic moment, because of those that will take our dear lives away, at this the moment of war.”
This keeps ringing into Kakure’s ear; as he is having his bedtime rest, inside an unknown tick forest at the edge of Bamboo Village. Each day, the people migrate away from Bamboo Village, to a new location. The Village has no leader, no one to set rules for its people or control its affairs. Now many make the rules and give orders, which means that the sins of mankind keep increasing every day. Corruption never ceases. Terrorism has found its way here and is taking human life. Underage females are sexual harassed, and taken away from their family, as a result of human trafficking. Being taken to the city of nowhere with no hopes of return to their mother lands.
Kakure, is a true son of Bamboo Village, born here, most likely he will live out his life in this small plot of land. He feels and tastes the aroma of something wet and salty, in his mouth, as he is dreaming, which shakes him from his sleep. To his horror he finds it is the urine of a mad man. Shock fills him as he blames himself for falling so deep into sleep. The man takes to a run with a lunatics smile on his face, and a maniacal laugh as he sees Kakure’s enraged face. Knowing urinating on the young man who was at his morning rest was despicable, but caring none.
Kakure shouted, “Don’t run! Come back so I can cut that wasted thing off roast it in the fire and shove it down your throat!” He keeps mumbling obscenities under his breath as he hears the sound of a gunshot from the other side of the forest, followed by the cry of the laughing mad man that just left his presence. He ducked into the cover of the trees, stumbling and falling over what he thought at first was a large branch. Looking back, he found it was the body of the man, shot dead, by the so called terror boys of Bamboo, who had been pressurizing human lives.
Without wasting time, Kakure rushed further into the bushes, to hide himself deeper until everything dies down, before attempting his escape. The sound of the gunshots keeps drawing closer to his location, he slowly makes steps to move. Discovering a large rock ahead of him. If could just hide under it, from those terrors taking innocent human lives.
At last he manages to get himself safely to the rock. His heart stops at the sight before him, thousands of bodies scatter the ground. The smell of blood permeates his senses as he muffles his cries of agony, seeing parts of his family in the mass. He knew he has to survive, he has to find a way to keep himself safe. He peers under the rock finding more bodies. Desperate as the gunfire was almost on top of him, Kakure slides under the rock, pulling the corpses over him. The smell of the putrefying flesh making him gag and he pulls his shirt up to his face to hold back the bile that has risen into his throat.
The terror group, who has been gunning down so many, arrived at the rock side. Kakure pulled himself in deeper beneath the rock as they sprayed the whole place with bullets to confirm there was none left to challenge their authority. Kakure didn’t bother to come out from where he hid. He shook in fear and disgust as the bullets sprinkled everywhere as if it was anointing rain fall. In seeing that there is no one left to challenge them, they depart, heading back to their location.
Once he was sure they were gone Kakure rushed out from beneath the rock. His eyes tearing form the stench and his sorrow. He wept bitterly, as he gathered the bodies of his family members burying them along the rock side, before they could start to decay, although some of them were rotting already. Kakure kneeled down at the front of the corpses he buried, and said prayer.
“Father of everlasting goodness, it has pleased you to call to yourself our dearly beloved Grant them a share in your eternal happiness. We would have loved to have them longer with us but our ways are not your ways. Where they have gone, we too will follow when it pleases you. To you, life is as endless as the skies and death is only a horizon. Lift us higher Lord, that we may see, that beyond the gloomy darkness of death lies the glorious dawn of immorality that awaits those who put their trust in you. For ourselves we ask for grace to keep our death ever in mind and lives as befits those destined for eternal glory. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen’’
This was his prayer to his loved ones lost. The corpses were covered with sand. He stood up and continued the journey of his life. No one to call on, his entire family has gone to the Ancestors, through the attacks of the terror groups who have claimed innocent lives, and taken over the whole city in other to achieve their own nefarious goals…
CHAPTER 2
She groaned like an animal about to give birth, as Kakure approached. She was in pool of blood, another victim of the Bamboo boys. Left alone to suffer and die, having escaped after being raped and beaten repeatedly by the group, including their cruel Chief Leader. They had managed to shoot her, hitting her leg, if Kakure had not stumbled upon her that faithful afternoon death would have surely followed. If not from the blood loss than surely from infection.
Kakure tried to rouse her, but she was too weak, scooping her up he carried her on his shoulder to a corner of the bush, for proper treatment. Using what foliage he could gather he made an enclosure in the forest for their safety, hoping it would hide them at least until the terror attacks settled. His plans to relocate to another place entirely or move back to his former home in the village in Bamboo were now stunted by the finding of the woman.
Darkness crept closer as the thunder began, a sure sign of heavy rain fall. Kakure wrung his hands, worry filling him over his situation, and the woman who is still unconscious, he hopes she recovers soon.
The heavy rain began to fall and the wind joined it, blowing away the shield he had tried so desperately to hold on to, not wanting the woman to succumb to the weather he uses himself to cover her, trying to keep her dry. The violence of the rain and the wind blew away some of his belongings but he held her close, this unconscious woman he did not know, but felt he had to help, with all the terror going on someone had to try and do good.
Once the rain moved on the cold swept in, Kakure put himself against the body of an Orange tree while he still cradling her in his lap, as sleep finally takes hold of him. Some hours later the cold lifts and she coughs into Kakure’s arms, a positive sign of her regaining her health. Kakure wakes with a start, excited to see the beautiful stranger coming back to life, as she raises up her head from his lap, in question.
Pushing herself up quickly and with some pain she demands to know who he is and how she came to be in his lap in some strange forest.
Quickly and calmly he narrates the whole genesis of the incident to her. This calms her as she realizes he means no harm. She tells him her name is Shode and reveals the tragic details of her captivity among the Bamboo Boys
His heart wrenches for her, his suspicions confirmed. He puts out his arms to her and she embraces him, they agree to stay together, as they walk around the rock side to have their rest, before the sun starts shining for the day.
They hold hands to commit their days into the hands of the almighty one. “Through the most pure heart of Mary, we offer you the prayers works, and suffering of this day for all the intentions of your divine heart. Lord we shall have this day only once, and it will be gone. Help us to make use of the grace and opportunities that will become our thoughts, words and actions of this day, may it be pleasing to you. Amen’’. They both pray.
This daily prayer is a tough task for, Kakure and Shode, as they slowly starve. It has been days, and they have resorted to rotten fruits, and take to the drinking of water from the stream that is polluted by the bodies abandoned during the tragic attack by the Bamboo boys.
Shode suggested that, they split up to find food, because neither of them have had anything substantial since before the disasters started. When they reached the town it seemed that all the villagers had gone to meet their forefathers, or were possibly like Kakure and Shode running. The petrified pair swallowed hard, the odor of the dead was strong as they moved along silently in search of any food they could find and easily carry off with them. They had to be silent and carful for just a few kilometers away from their location was the terrorist camp. While looking for food of their own Shode and Kakure could see the Bamboo boys as they all sat down in the camp, they seemed to be having a riotous good time, passing around bottles of alcoholic drinks, stolen from the people they murdered. On a spit over a large fire they are roasting some bush meat. The starving pair were amazed to see the leisurely and happy life they seemed to have, but in keeping with looking for food they doubled back, knowing that getting any closer to the Bamboo boys would be suicidal.
They looked at each other faces, as they relocated back to their hide out, not finding anything of use, their hunger gnaws at them as rub their hands all over each other’s bellies. As the night wanes on, Shode gets to thinking, she reveals her plan to Kakure in a whisper to his ear. Shock fill him as he thinks of what could happen to Shode if she were to be caught going back near the location of the terrorists groups. Was food really worth losing her?
He wasn’t going to let her go alone, together they crept back toward the camp of the Bamboo boys. Just a stone’s throw from the Bamboo camp, they come across a large dog that has been trapped and killed by the boys, they look at each other and do not hesitate in taking the hulking animal and making a run back to their little sanctuary. Not realizing they’ve been heard.
The Bamboo boys hearing the strange footsteps cock their guns and rush to the edge of their camp to search for the invaders of their paradise. Some of the men were confused to find their trap missing, but the others concluded that it was triggered and that someone or something carried off what ever had been trapped.
It came to their minds that they could track the tripe with the traces of the animal blood on the forest floor and the human footsteps around the trap. The heavy rain making it a simple enough task, they moved silently step by step, retracing the steps they could find, to locate the thieves.
Shode and Kakure crossed their legs leaning back as they enjoyed their first meal in a very long time. Having made a fire they roasted the bush dog roasted spicing it with some Saint leaf they found growing in the bush, and little green Chile, they can identify the aroma, but they can’t taste the salt in it, they eat like escaped convicts, voraciously leaving little on the bones. Filled to satisfaction, as they left the meat, to roast, the flame having died out, but the smoke ebbed nicely and would give a good flavor to the leftover meat. Little did the pair realize that the smoke also signaled to the Bamboo boys their general location as they continued to track.
Seeing the smoke the Bamboo boys, zeroed in on them, taking swift action, storming the couple’s little sanctuary. Terrified they drop the food and cling to each other for comfort.
Bamboo boys were amazed, to see their trapped animal being eating by the two, Shode who they recognize immediately, they were surprised to find her alive. It also rang occurred to them that Kakure was their captive as well before he escaped, which had led them to murder his family. They smiled and laughed at the idea of having them back in their hands once more. Kakure and Shode were torn from one another, Shode screaming as their faces were covered with back cloth and their hands bound, before they were forced to walk back to the terrorist base camp. The Bamboo boys taking the meat for good measure.
As they moved it occurred to Kakure and Shode that they were being taken to a destination they didn’t know, that the Bamboo boys took them as hostages, in order to use them as a means of making money. And for God knows what other amusements they could sickly think up. When walking became an issue for them they were dragged into the new territory. They finally stopped and a putrid stench filled Kakure’s nostrils. Like metal and rotting flesh, it was like the stench of the large rock when he had found all of the bodies. They were unmasked and what they saw made Kakure and Shode vomit. The camp was surrounded by the heads of the dead. Those innocent citizens hung, as flies passed over rotting skulls, some picked on spikes others just tossed into heaps in various stages of decay.
This increased the fear in them, for they knew it was a real possibility that they too could soon become a part of the display. They are dragged covered in filth to a caged and dumped inside without a word as the Bamboo boys laugh at them.
They cling to each other once more, taking solace in the knowledge that they are at least together in this hell of a world they live in now, with no means of freedom.
As the night draws closer they think that they are to be left alone in the cage, as they settle they hear the Chief of the Bamboo boys call for them to be brought out. For a moment the hope of freedom fills them. The leader looks them over as they are held tightly in place. He smirks at Shode as if remembering something cruel and aggressive, he takes a lock of her hair sniffing it, his smirk growing larger, and Kakure struggles toward him. The leader’s eyes sail to him and his orders are clear. They are to be hung on the crosses for the night.
The Bamboo boys laughed dragging the pair who pleaded to deaf uncaring ears. The lightning had returned calling back the threat of the rains. Kakure’s fear increased for the rain sign, this made them plead for their release from the in heavy sobs. Being out on the cross would leave them exposed to the elements. To the animals of the night. TO be food for every hungry insect the dying rain would pull form the earth. For the predators that stalked the vast jungles. By morning they very well could be nothing more than heads on display, like the others.
They were both thrown to the crosses, strung up and fastened to its hard surface, left outside alone, as the Bamboo boys go inside the main building to rest, not caring about the listless cries of Kakure and Shode.
A miraculous wind started blowing everything around the place, as the heavy rain fall started in the middle of the night, making movement a living hell for Kakure and Shode, as it beats down on them, she is screaming for help. Her voice becoming hoarse, as Kakure struggles against the ropes. The wetter they became the looser they seemed. It was possible they could be their own rescuers this night. Then it happened, the roped dropped and Kakure fell to the ground. Quickly and silently he moved to untie his companion his plan was successful they would survive.
Thunder lit up the camp, and the silence that followed gained the attention of the Bamboo boys, who could no longer hear Shode. They looked outside seeing that their hostages were missing. In the heavy pelting rain they approached the crosses finding the loosened ropes and no other sighs of them. They are confused, and rush back inside to protect themselves from the heavy rain, until day break, as they could not keep searching for their escaped hostages.
CHAPTER 3
Kakure and Shode, moved to another location hoping not to be found again. They settled into an abandoned building a few kilometers from their first hideout. Their relationship grows and they for the first time in a long time that they feel almost safe. Believing that they may be able to stay here for quite some time, not realizing that danger was just over the horizon.
The Bamboo boys worked their way back to Kakure and Shode’s first hideout. Not finding them they grow frustrated, but decide that waiting for them is worth a try. They spend several days staking the area out, working in shifts never leaving the place unattended. Kakure and Shode, never show back up. The Bamboo boys livid over losing two hostages retrace their steps and recheck the towns and village. Finding only the devastation they have left behind.
Everywhere seems to be in silent, not a single human passes by, most of them have been killed, and those that still live have run off to another location as far from the village of Bamboo as their feet can take them.
The Bamboo boys are still tearing through the place, in order to search for their escaped hostages. The pair will always have it in their mind that the so called boys will not be at rest until they discover their hide out, but they never realized that would be so soon
Happy and alone in the empty corridor of their new hide out, Kakure took Shode into his arms kissing her. She kissed him back with urgency, wondering what had taken him so long. They settled to the ground when the doors tore open and the Bamboo boys filed inside.
Immediately they stood up in shock, as they saw the unwanted arrival of the entire Bamboo boys camp in their midst. Shode screamed aloud for help. The entire gang of Bamboo boys and their main boss, burst into laughter seeing their escaped hostages acting like a fool kids, especially Shode as she keeps screaming. The leader chuckled. Telling her no one is left to help and she should stop making such a nuisance, in their presence.
CHAPTER 4
They had been captured, taken back to the base camp of the Bamboo boys, they knew they were to be caged like wild animals. They knew that the possibility of them being sold off as slaves was a real possibility. This was something they had been taught growing up. This was their biggest fear, as they were pulled separated, each thrown in to their own cage. No longer would they have the other’s touch for comfort. Kept across the camp at a distance there would be little way to even communicate. The Bamboo boys jubilate for the victory they have made, in getting Shode and Kakure back. They laugh and tease Kakure as they lay hands all over Shode before dropping her into her cage.
Within the cage Shode is ill. She has begun throwing up at regular intervals. A sure sign, among others that she has until now ignored that she is indeed with child. She calls for mercy. For the terrorists to let her and the innocent with her go. That it shouldn’t have to suffer their crimes. Immediately their chief overhears her lament, rushing her cage to challenge her remarks. Telling her that she made no dent in their cares and that her problem mattered very little.
Kakure barked back, and gave response to their master, before one of the boys responded to him, with a swift dirty slap with the butt of his rifle through the cage. Knocking Kakure into a stupor as he was told to mind his own business.
Shode wept for the life inside of her, and Kakure was full of pity for the both of them, but the Bamboo boys never showed any sign sympathy to her as they pull her from the cage to continue with their torturous deeds, taking her screaming away. Kakure tries to call out only to be knocked out by the slamming of a rifle into his head once again.
Night is drawing near when Shode is dumped back into her cage. Only Kakure’s imagination can work things out till day break, as he cannot see or hear much more than her crumpled form and sobs. Then it occurs to him, What if the heavy rain fall comes up again?
Realizing they are alone, he calls out to her. She sniffs as the lightning strikes overhead, but answers him weakly. He shows his concern, but she assures him it is not as bad as it seems.
Some of the boys have gone hunting in the forest to track more bush meat down, while others have stayed back to look after the so that they won’t make any attempt to escape again. Kakure and Shode’s fear grows, not knowing what could happen to them in the overnight, having never been in a cage like this before, they try to speak but the boys are near and they can do very little more than smile and wave.
A Few hours later, the hunting party returns with meat. They make a bon fire at the center of the large as they eat and drink, making fun and generally enjoying they never bother to give a care to their hostages. The two of them having a relentless hunger, slowly being driven worse by the smells of the roasting foods around them
Shode wept silently clutching to her belly, feeling pains because she has not had anything to make her or the child feel strong. Once the boys go inside the house, leaving only Kakure and Shode outside in the cages she and Kakure sing the song of sorrow together, she bobs and weaves in her place so that he can see her in the darkness that surrounds them in the camp.
The thunder strikes again, and they could see each other’s terror filled faces. For there is no place for them to hide, which will mean they will be beaten by the rain fall, knowing that if care is not taken, the heavy rain may wash away their cage, drowning them. Or perhaps the heavy rainfall will bring hungry reptiles, something they had both witnessed before. Both very real dangers.
The rain dropped little by little, not pouring as they had feared. It’s not an easy task as the temperature drops and they start to shiver and freeze like a frozen food from the freezer, they keep shivering inside the cage as they rain keeps falling. But they endure. Holding to themselves and singing though the night.
In the morning the pair is exhausted, muddy and starving. Oshakuro, the leader of the Bamboo boys, orders his boys to give the hostages some water to drink, as the day breaks, in seeing them looking half dead in the cages. He is doing this so that they do not lose their value.
Immediately his boys go to the cages finding them sleeping in the muck. Thinking it funny the Bamboo Boys poured filthy water down over them. They shook to life standing on shaky legs and grabbed the water like they had never seen it before in their life time.
Oshakuro felt a twinge of pity for the two hostages, as he ordered his boys to get them something to eat, before he left them alone, the boys ignored this closing up the cage and going back to their days activities.
Kakure managed to whisper Shode’s name so that the boys will not harm him for it, quickly Shode looked up to see Kakure as she was called, and they both waved their hands at each other from their cage. Shode could barely stand upright, she bent a bit in responding to Kakure’s silent conversation from his cage.
Another strenuous task began, as the sun’s heat began to bake the hostages in their cages. The much and mud drying hard to them, making them uncomfortable. They could see the Bamboo boys and their Chief gathered together for the daily meeting, in the camp, as the meeting is going on, Shode screams out from where she is kept.
Without wasting time, the men rush to see what could be making her cry out as though she were dying. Oshakuro ordered his boys to open the cage, and drag her out so that they might see what the fuss was about. In order to find out what is wrong with her they lay her down outside the cage, seeing traces of blood all over her clothes. She keeps screaming that she is in pain, telling them that she was bitten by some unknown reptile inside the cage. They are confused as they cannot find any trace of the animal. Shode, is checked and while she is bleeding a sure sign of injury they still cannot find any cause for the injury. After treating the wound the Chief decides that it is best to keep her from further harm, so they dump her into the cage with Kakure, before going back to settle down for their unfinished meeting.
Now she is back with Kakure, their plan to reunite worked. Unknown to the Bamboo boys she injured herself with a sharp object on the cage house floor, using it to make the marks on her body, so they would have to move her back to him.
The Bamboo boys decided to surprise the two hostages with a special meal. They thought it was to be something tasty, but they opened the package finding it was only cassava flakes, and they have no other choice but to take them.
CHAPTER 5
As the sun rose on a beautiful morning, in Bamboo village, Kakure and Shode awake, only to set their eyes on another set of hostages, which the Bamboo boys must have brought into the camp overnight. This is more of a nightmare to them, knowing that they are now not the only ones left to suffering the terrorists cruelty, every day of their life in Bamboo camp.
There are new cages for the hostages, Kakure and Shode realize that something must have been added to the cassava flakes they had eaten. Making them sleep so deeply that they did not wake form the sounds of the hostages arrival. Now they are more confused, because the new hostages are all female. Shortly after this, Oshakuro arrived addressing all of them
They’re told to comply with their rules and regulations. Failure to do so would make their lives a living Hell. That any attempts at escape would be met with dire circumstances.
The new hostages, terrified and crying were taken to their cages, dumped inside haphazardly. They were confused as to why they were still alive at all, as so many had been murdered during the in-house war, in the city of Bamboo, by Oshakuro and his boys.
The night drags on as most of the hostages panic, not knowing what will happen to them, knowing that they are female. They are curious of the pair kept so closely together. Each girl is underage, taken from their family. They will pitch a good price.
Ordered by Oshakuro, some of the Bamboo boys gathered in a corner, preparing the meal, both what the hostages will feed on, and for themselves, as the meal is getting ready, another set of Bamboo boys, are busy dishing it out for the hostages. Some ate ravenously, while others refused to eat out of fear of what may be added to the food.
Kakure was taken out of the cage, late in the evening, fear surged in him. Shode sits up, unknowing of what’s to come. Oshakuro orders Kakure to join the Bamboo boys. Kakure stares blankly at him. He doesn’t understand why they would want a hostage to join. Kakure burst into tears, and telling him that there is no way that he could join them, that he should be spared such a request. He did not know how to kill, or how to fight in a war. It was not in him to do either.
The men laughed and mocked him as he cried. Oshakuro told them to shut up, telling Kakure that he would join them or his companion would suffer
He looked back at Shode his tears of fear becoming tears of sorrow, seeing her in that cage, he accepted their offer, to protect her.
He was forced to swear an Oath to never betray them for anything or anyone. This he did so swear.
They all celebrated the new mogul joining their team, as they drank fresh palm wine and ate some pieces of roasted bush meat. They bathed Kakure with some palm wine, pouring it all over his body, before he was locked back into the cage again, only now he was put into a single cage, away from Shode, who managed to wave her hands to him, pity filling her.
At exactly 1:30 in the morning, while the hostages were deep in their sleep, Kakure stealthy keeps his watch. Not letting on to the oy that he is awake. Two of the Bamboo boys step out of their camp silently, the while others are still sleeping. No one seems to know their plan, until they walk straight Shode. They open her cage and she wakes, instantly standing. Shock and fear ripping through her as she sees the two men. Ropes and tape in their hands. She tries to scream but they are on her quickly sealing her mouth with the taps and tying up her hands.
Kakure’s mind races he knows what these monsters are about to do. He was going to shout out to wake the camp. Then he remembers the Oath he had sworn to not try to hinder any of the team’s plans. This made him keep quiet. All he could do was watch as the nasty scenes unfolded before him.
These boys, pulled Shode to the ground, using their knives they cut the panties from her body. Her muffled screams awoke some of the hostages, who were so frightened by what they were seeing that they stayed quiet as well, unable to take their eyes off the tragedy of Shode.
The two Bamboo boys, named Panke and Jode, take their drunken satisfactions out on her in a series of forceful grunts, one and then the other, leaving her broken and bleeding when they were finished.
Kakure’s anger pumps inside of him but there is little that he can do, he can hear the other women crying, knowing that it was to be their fate as well. They turn away unable to stomach the scene any longer. The two wicked souls, never knowing that they’ve been watched by the other hostages, as they committing their crime, clean up the whole mess so that nobody will suspect their wrong deed. Shode is unconscious in the cage, they laugh at her as they redress her, not really caring hat she was still covered in their filth.
The boys on their way back to the base camp meet Oshakuro, standing at the entrance. He demands to know what they were doing. At first they are both shocked, but come up with a lie, by telling their boss, that they are both coming from hunting inside the forest. Oshakuro was surprised to not see any traces of hunting from his boys. He can only see some blood stains, but nothing to show for what they had hunted, he is still curious as he moves closer to them both. Looking in anger straight into their faces, asking them to speak the truth about their hunting in the middle of the night.
They were not about to unveil the secret of their late night hunting, seeing the anger of their boss, without wasting time they pointed their finger straight to the direction of the hostages in the cage. Oshakuro still not understanding what they are trying to prove to him moves closer to the hostages. Hearing strange sounds. He quickly rushes down to see what is going on calling the attention of other Bamboo boys, in order to figure out what is really going on with the hostages All gathered and rushed to the scene, except for Jode and Panke, who knew the offence they had committed.
On getting to the scene, they found Shode in pool of blood, quickly she dragged out of her cage, and she kept pointing to the direction where the two of Bamboo boys who raped her were, saying to everyone that, they did it. No one seems to understand, but Oshakuro began to suspect the two boys he met a few minutes ago, this made him call for them. They were dragged to the scene, immediately they began with the false accusation that, Shode was about to escape, that thy found her while they were on the way to go hunting, which made got her injured.
The hostages screamed that it was lies that the men had brutalized Shode. Oshakuro never believe any of these hostages’ words, because there was nothing to show for proof. He landed Shode a dirty slap on her face; all while she pleads and cries that it is truth as she is thrown back into the cage.
The two boys were both blamed for not informing others when the scene occurred, at the same time, they were been commended for the good work done, by not letting Shode to escape.
Now Oshakuro, warned the hostages, that none of them should make any attempt to escape the camp, if they did, they should considered themselves dead.
CHAPTER 6
Some families are still in Bamboo, having hidden well they sleep. Taking the time to rest before moving to the next hideaway. The Bamboo boys are closing in and they know that if they do not move soon it will be too late. Shodeke is father to one such family. He worries for his two wives and four daughters, knowing full well what capture would mean for them. The sun is barely risen as they pack their few belongings into the rickety old lumber truck, hoping that it is not too late to move along. As he puts the key in the ignition they hear the nightmarish sounds of gunfire on top of them. Running from the truck they head for the safety of their hideout only to be blocked Oshakuro of Bamboo boys. He holds a rifle on them, ordering them to put their hands too their heads and walk back toward the truck.
They did as they were told, Shodekes pleading for their release as his wives and children cry. They are shoved into the back of the truck, held by a group of the Bamboo boys. Oshakuro and his boys ignore their pleas as they head on their way, taking them towards the base camp.
As the truck climbs the hills and slams into potholes, Shodeke’s mind is twisted on survival. As they come to a sharp turn he jumps out of the truck one of his wives following to escape. The Bamboo Boys open fire, Shodeke is blocked by his wife, and she falls dead to the ground as he continues to run, the cries of his family echoing behind him. The truck squeals to a stop in the middle of the road. Oshakuro orders half of the boys to go into the bush to find Shodeke while others stayed behind to look after his family.
Shodeke’s family believes he has abandoned them, wasting the life of his newest wife. But they feel no pity for her, as she had not borne him any children, this she was not considered much use to them. Now is has gone to meet her ancestors, disappointment fills them as they sit with guns poised upon them.
Hours went by before the boys emerged empty handed from the bush. With not even the slightest signs of Shodeke, it was as if he had vanished. This increased the anger of Oshakuro, he told his boys to get into the truck as they drove off to toward their base camp once more.
CHAPTER 7
An offence, is going on at Bamboo camp, as the others arrive with the new hostages, Oshakuro sees two of his boys in the cages playing chess and drinking with the female hostages as they approach in the truck. These two had been left behind to look after the hostages not have a party. He growled to himself. The two boys hearing the truck quickly run from the cages locking them up and try to appear as if they have done nothing wrong.
Oshakuro stops them, questioning them. Demanding to know what they thought they were doing. They knew the rules. The regulations. They were not to touch the hostages, they had all agreed to this. These were the same two that had just been accused and cleared of raping Shode not two nights prior. Now Oshakuro was second guessing that decision. He ordered the rest of the Bamboo boys to strip the pair of knaves. This was the final straw. They were stripped down and strung up for all to see. Once they were properly and well hung the order was given to stone them to death. Then their bodies were taken deep into the forest so that the animals could have their fill.
Kakure was full of joy. Seeing these two monsters getting what they deserved for the terrible things they had done. Seeing them treated like common animals brought him much satisfaction. Shode took little comfort in their deaths. She had wished for them to live and suffer for their wrong deeds. She prays that their souls rest in peace
Shodeke’s family watched the scenes in horror, his wife clutching to her children as they are taken by the Bamboo boys and torn from each other’s loving arms to be thrown into cages. The children cry desperately for their mother and her for them. Nothing will change the mind or soften the heart of Oshakuro who orders them to shut their mouths unless they want to wind up like those two boys who they had just murdered and thrown away. This quiets them, regardless of their current circumstances they wanted to live.
They slowly begin to realize that things will never be the same for them as they set eyes on the other female hostages, who give small weak waves of greeting. Shodeke’s wife tries to assure her children that their father will surely make search for them, finding them no matter where they are. The children do not believe her. They think all is lost. She knows her husband, he is a great hunter and knows all the ins and outs of Bamboo Village.
Night is coming near as Oshakuro and his boys are on alert. They believe that Shodeke the escaped hostage will show himself, looking for his family. The boys have surrounded the camp, their weapons at the ready to take down anyone or anything that may come near. Oshakuro is busy making calls, trying to find a fast and cheap way to transport the hostages out of Bamboo Village.
Some of the hostages hear the phone conversations and realize that they are to be sold off, that they are to become a human trafficking statistic. They cry for their situation, and tell the others what they have been hearing, they are all fearful, not knowing to whom they might be sold.
Kakure, is now the domestic servant for the whole camp. Since his capture they have been slowly letting him out of his cage letting him fix the meals for the women and the men alike. These terrorists calling themselves the true sons of Bamboo Village. Every part of him wants to escape, but they do not trust him, his feet are chained and he can only walk as far as the cages just outside the edge of the base camp. The only good that comes from his open captivity is that the women are eating, no longer fearful that anything is being done to their food. If Shode trusts him then they would as well.
It is well past midnight when Oshakuro left the confines of his private building, heading straight for the cages that held Shodeke’s family. He inspects each of the sleeping women in turn and settles on one of them. As he unlocks the cage it wakes the mother and another of the hostages, they think that he has come to take them to their seller. They could not be more wrong. He pulls the young girl up from the ground and tosses her toward the boys who are with him, telling them to take her to his house. Shodekes wife and other female children plead to Oshakuro to please show mercy to them. Not to take their family away, the noise quickly rouses the others who all begin to make similar pleas for the young girl. Oshakuro laughs as do his boys as they leave the women crying out for the girl. The boys take the terrified young woman to Oshakuro’s house dumping her on the floor with a snicker. They are glad to see the master taking an interest in this new blood, wanting to have a little fun.
Oshakuro locked the door and the windows, so that no one would disturb them for the night. His plans for the girl bringing a curt smile to his wicked lips. He asks her name looking into her young face.
“Tondo.” She replied her hands pressed together in prayer as she begs him not to hurt her or her family. Begs to be allowed to go back to her cage. He does not lose his smile as he kneels down to her, telling her that he has no plans to harm her, if she is cooperative and composes herself.
She agrees to do this so long as no harm comes to her or her family. Her attempts at bartering anger Oshakuro. He moves closer to her and she backs up. He takes another step, she backs up again, until she can no longer move, now wedged between him and a wall.
She begs him not to hurt her. Reminding him of his promise not a moment ago. He laughs reminding her of hers which she has clearly already broken. Tears stream down her already swollen cheeks and he orders her to take off her clothes.
She gasps, swallowing her sobs in terror, as he begins to unbutton his shirt with one hand brandishing a knife in the other. He leaned into her. Telling her that she had better do as she was told. Knowing that he meant serious business, she choked on her sobs as she disrobed. She tried to leave her underwear but he showed the knife again and she took them off as well. She kneeled trying desperately to cover her breasts and lower parts with her hands as he laughed at her modesty.
She shook as she wept, pleading for him to let her go, refusing to lay down for him. Admitting that she was a virgin. That no man had ever seen her body uncovered. Nor touched her skin.
This made him laugh harder, as it excited him to know that she was still fresh, he tells her to lay down again and she still refuses. He reaches out grabbin her by the neck, squeezing, she screams as he holds the knife to her telling her to be quiet. Stubborn and terrified she cannot quell her fear and screams out again.
The sound of her cries wakes the other hostages, and those who are awake already still cry for Tondo’s safe return lament as they realize what is happening, and fear who may be next.
Inside the house, Oshakuro and Tondo, are still dragging the matter, immediately he raised up the knife to scare Tondo, quickly she surrenders and whispers a submissive yes to him. A wicked grin crosses his face as he pries her tender legs apart and mounts her. Taking out his need on the crying woman, roughly and without a care for her frailty. She bleeds curled up crying as he leaves her on the floor to recuperate. He takes her clothes to clean up the mess ordering her to stand. She pulls herself from the floor thinking that he is finished with her. He has other plans as he has swelled once more he throws her over a chair taking her like a hungry lion. Satisfying his need a final time before throwing her naked from the house out into the yard for all to see. He tells the boys to lock her up with Shode before going back into his house for the rest of the night to rest.
Once the boys leave the broken woman alone with Shode Kakure appears with her clothes, he had managed to grab them when none were aware. He gives them to Tondo who is thankful she will not have to stay in such a shameful way.
Suddenly as though from the nothing a burst of light and the sound of gunfire screams through the air. Shodeke and his fellow hunters rush into the camp, without knowing that they are surrounded by the Bamboo boys. His need to save his family is his only thought as he and the hunters with him go running into the camp their guns raised. Without wasting any valuable time, an order of fire was made by Oshakuro, they did not hesitate. They opened fire and the hunters and Shodeke were caught in the crosshairs easily taken down without firing another shot.
Then men lay dying as Shodeke’s family sobbed, their father being taken down like a rabid animal, having never set eyes on them again.
Oshakuro told his boys, to gather the dead, and set them ablaze before disposing of them properly in the forest, he reminded them that the heads must be left behind so that they can be hung at the entrance of the camp, as it was their logo, the way it been done whenever they killed.
Shodeke’s family was devastated at the treatment of their father and husband’s remains as they tried to console each other in the cages. Turning from the sight as they took the steps to desecrate the body as they were ordered.
Oshakuro, walked down to the cages where Shodeke’s family was kept, having taken Tondo back from the cage with Shode, he threw her in with her mother. Who upon his leaving shouted to him that he would surly pay and be sorry for all of his devilish deeds. He laughed as she continued to scream at him. Her words near to taunts. Having a mind that no woman would ever talk to him in such a way he turned back on his heel. Ordering that she be pulled from the cage.
He ordered the boys to tie her up and beat her until she learned to speak softly and know her place. She was strung up as Oshakuro walked back inside the house, leaving his boys behind to deal with her. As she was beaten her children try to plead on her behalf. Moaning and crying for them to stop. They pray for her soul, as they do not know how much more brutality she can take, as she continues to scram and moan. She calls for help and continues to cry out for her dead husband making them hit her harder still. She screams accusations and curses the Bamboo boys and their leader. To silence her they pull her down from the cross, strip her and gag her before putting her back up to the cross
They beat her with a large plank, bruising and braking her body. She goes silent as the gnashes in her body are too deep. She’s bleeding to death. The boys not much caring and wanting to further humiliate the woman pull her down and drag her now lifeless body to a far off corner of the darkness where the six boys take their time defiling her further, covering her with their filth filing every orifice with their hungry parts. When they were finished they dumped her body like some left over and rotten animal to be discarded without a care before going back to join the rest of the boys.
The Shodeke children wept in their cages. They shook the, in anger. The boys thinking they could scare them told them to be quiet or they would end up like their parents. The young women surprised the men. Telling them that they would rather be with their parents. That death was better than living in the Hell that these supposed true Boys of Bamboo had created. Since Oshakuro murdered the good and kind leader of Bamboo Village making himself the new leader all that the people have known is fear and death.
Before they had rules and laws a constitution. A good home and good things. Now it was all terror and death at their hands. Better to be dead. The women did not care what the reaction would be. They would say their peace. They had already made their peace with the all mighty.
The Bamboo boys looked at the ground unable to say anything at the true word of these young Shodeke women.
CHAPTER 8
It is early morning in the Bamboo boy’s camp, the cock’s crow awakens all and the hostages are surprised to find they are being fed at this hour. Oshakuro majestically emerges from his home, holding a pipe in his hand drawing little puffs of smoke off of it, a wide smile on his satisfied face. Then his smile turns to a grimace as a foul odor wafts up into his nostrils. He calls one of the boys to him and makes him look around for the stench. The boy reports that it is coming from the now fly ridden body of the woman they accidentally killed last night, and dumped at the edge of camp. Not stunned by the news Oshakuro orders them to get the body to the river or to toss it deeper into the forest so the smell doesn’t’ scare away their honored guests that were coming that day.
Kakure was ordered to clean up the camp, while the Bamboo boys took to taking the hostages from their cages. All were to be sold except for Kakure and Shode. They were to be allowed out of the cages to help in the day’s activities so long as they obeyed the rules. If they did not a bullet awaited them.
A white bus without a registration number sped into the camp. These Oshakuro’s, guests. From the van step two large men and a well-dressed and arrogant looking woman. The woman tosses her hair back with one hand as the other holds tightly to a briefcase. Oshakuro greets them happily before taking them around the camp to show them the women. The Bamboo boys have them well prepared. They are tied and gagged so that they cannot spout off their mouths as they had been known to do. They are well fed and appear to be mostly healthy which seems to please the well-dressed woman.
They get down to business, she hands the briefcase over to Oshakuro, and he orders one of his boys to open it. Revealing the large sum of money inside, payment for the women. The men smile at the sight. The women weep, knowing there is nothing that they can do to get out of this terrible situation, as they are herded like sheep to the slaughter on to the bus. Oshakuro and his boys come together exchanging happy farewells before they climbed back into the vehicle driving off into the mid-day sun.
The other hostages are gone, all that remain are Kakure and Shode. Wanting to celebrate without having to worry about them Oshakuro orders the boys to lock Kakure back up with Shode. He is dumped into the cage and the embrace. Having been so long from each other these past few weeks. They watch as the Leader and the boys frolic in their joy. Drinking and carrying on. Jubilant over their success.
CHAPTER 9
For nine excruciating months the Bamboo boys hold on to Shode and Kakure. Now she is ready to have her baby. Inside her cage all alone she cries out in pain, none of them, not even their leader, Oshakuro know how to birth the child. When Kakure tries to help they threaten his life, their plan is to let her die birthing the babe, so that they may sell it, babies are a high commodity.
She can no longer bear the pain, as she cries out to her deceased parents with the last bits of her energy. Thunder sounds and the heavens open up to a downpour, forcing the Bamboo boys to lock Kakure up and run inside. Just as Shode is about to give up, thinking that she is going to die, before the baby comes, she looks up, seeing the spirit of her parents. The pain lessens as they touch her, the delivery goes more smoothly, even with the rain. As the child passes the skies clear and the sun shines brightly upon them, as though the rains had never come. Kakure having witnessed the miracle is full of joy as the baby seems to be fine, as is Shode.
Now the Bamboo boys all burst out from their chambers, expecting to see them all drowned from the sudden hard downpour, only for them to find to their disappointment that Shode and the baby are just fine. Oshakuro ordered his boys to take the baby from her in the cage, immediately she sees the Bamboo boys coming over to her and she holds the baby close, staring them down with venom in her eyes.
The men seeing this act of determined protectiveness pause, looking to Oshakuro. Kakure is glad to see that she is still willing to fight even after all these long months. Oshakuro smiled and told his boys to leave the poor mother for now, then turns his attention to Kakure. Oshakuro has them pull him back out and they put him to work on the old lumber truck they got from the late Shodeke’s family. So long as it’s working they have it for their own use around the village of Bamboo.
Oshakuro, gathered all his boys as they discuss how to carry on another operation. Searching for others to take as hostages, the money wasn’t enough, they always needed more. The group of the boys went out scouting leaving two behind to take care of the day to day activities as they still felt they could not trust Kakure.
Kakure was dumped back into his cage as he had done all they trusted he could with the truck for now. They would have to find parts if he was going to repair it to their satisfaction, it ran for now that was all that mattered, as they loaded up to hunt for their human prey.
Shode managed to request some warm water from one of the Bamboo boys left behind. Pleading to have it to bathe the baby. The two left behind are not as cold as the rest. They assist Shode in bathing the baby and also give her and Kakure some solid food to eat. These two boys never do as they are told by their boss Oshakuro, they did things in their own way. Helping the two hostages, but they warn them about letting on that they have done so, saying that assistance can easily become hindrance.
Oshakuro and his boys moved from one community to the next searching for available people to capture as their new hostages. They moved along as they saw a parked vehicle at the road side, they pull up slowly to see what is going on. Finding a young lady standing at the front of the car while the hood is raised up. They park their truck and approach. The young woman called Fante is put off by the strange faces, she steps away from the car only to be called back by Oshakuro. He asks her what’s she is doing at the side of the road alone, with the vehicle. She explained that her husband and she were on their way to visit their uncle, who lives in Bamboo village, but their vehicle broke down on the side of the road. So her husband Feli went to fetch a mechanic leaving her with the car.
Oshakuro claps his hands, saying that Fante is a good narrator, before he orders his boys to her toss her inside the truck. Fante at first was confused not sure she had correctly heard Oshakuro. Then as they approach her she tells them that they had better stay away. One of the boys smacks her hard, and she instantly sees stars. She screams for them to let her go as they drag her toward the truck. She made to reach for her cellphone trying to dial for her husband, but the phone was knocked form her trembling hands as a black cloth is forced over her head and she is slammed into the truck. They would continue their search for more hostages.
Sometime later Fante’s husband returned to their car, he had been unsuccessful in finding anyone let alone a mechanic to fix the ailing car. When he did not see her he first thought she was playing with him. Hiding to tease him. But after looking all around, he could not find her. He screamed for her, but got no response. Afraid that something may have happened he pulled out his cellphone and called his wife’s number. Then he heard it. The sound echoing. At the base of the front tires was her phone, just ringing.
He slid to the ground both phones in his hands. He felt hopeless, as he stared at the ground before him, he could see footprints in the ground and tire tracks that seemed to sidle up beside their car. Terror filled him as he remember what he had been told by a stranger about the goings on in Bamboo. That the situation with the terrorist group was becoming worse, that many had been forced to flee the city for their lives. Those who had stayed or couldn’t get out were in hiding, trying to keep out of the group’s way so as not to wind up being captured.
He stood up adjusting his belt, walked to his car and locked it up as he proceed on his journey in searching for his wife. He would follow the deep truck tracks, perhaps he could figure out its location and find a way to get her back. He moved along the road side retracing the vehicle tire tracks to see where exactly it stopped, he continues this for some time, but grows tired. He sits on the side of the road for a time before he continues on his search.
Oshakuro and his boys reach another village on the far side of Bamboo Village, somewhere far away from their camp. They never knew that such places existed in Bamboo because they were always on foot. Now thanks to Kakure they had a truck that could get them around. They enjoy the freedom of movement, not realizing that they may have finally stepped in to the wrong part of the city. They stopped to search for people around the community area, and discovered a family living in a clay house. The Bamboo boys surround the house, the family inside unaware. Mistakenly the head of the family peeps through the window to spit out only for him to discover that the whole house has been surrounded. Quickly he slams shut the window, but it is too late as Oshakuro collects one of his boy’s guns and sprays bullets at the clay house taking out the door and the windows, not caring for the lives inside.
The family runs out of the house, there are three young girls and their parents, Oshakuro smiles as he orders the family at gunpoint to their knees. With nowhere to run, they comply, the parents pleading for their lives. Saying they will give them anything to be spared.
Oshakuro likes the sound of this. He turns to Dalo, the head of the family, telling him that he wants his three daughters and his wife. That in return for them he would spare the man’s life. Immediately he stands, shouting no into Oshakuro’s face, stating that he will never give them up to these monsters. He spits in Oshakuro, face. Filled with rage at this show of defiance, Oshakuro removes a dagger from his belt side and stabs Dalo to death in front of his family, to confirm that he is dead he orders his boys to put two bullets between the man’s eyes.
Now that Dalo has been murdered his weeping women are covered with black hoods and shoved into the truck with Fante. The group goes into the clay house to be sure there are no more people hiding inside. Satisfied that there are none they stop and have a drink. Having found some palm wine in corridor, while searching the house. They leave the tied up hostages alone in the truck. With their heads covered and hands and feet bound they were not concerned about them in the least.
Fante’s husband having diligently followed the tracks of the truck finds himself face to face with a vehicle stopped outside a clay house. Near to it are a group of men having a glorious time drinking and carrying on. He assumes that this is exactly the size of the truck tire he had been searching for, which means that that it could lead to his wife. Silently and cautiously he moved closer to the truck, finding his wife was tied up in the back with several others. He tried calling her name but she did not seem to hear him. He attempted to pull off her hood just as one of the boys got up to urinate.
The boy spotted him and opened fire, the rest of the group showing up to see what the commotion was. They approach the side of the truck to see the unknown intruder, laying in the dirt seemingly dead. They commend the effort and braveness of Ramka who shot the stranger dead, without wasting much time, they get into their truck and drive out of the village leaving the body where it fell.
Once the sounds of the truck were long gone, Fante’s husband sat up. The bullet having only hit his leg and his shoulder. It hurt like the devil but he would live long enough to get word to his family. He had a signal on his cell phone, he managed to get into contact with a relative outside of the state, explaining the situation in Bamboo in a message, before the last of his energy was spent and he passed from this earth.
Oshakuro and his boys were on their way to the camp, with the new hostages, as they proceed on their journey a few kilometers from their camp the truck breaks down completely without any signs that it will again start.
The truck load disembarks, and the hostages are made to sit on the hard ground, the hoods kept over their heads so they cannot attempt escape. They can be heard sobbing from beneath the hoods. Oshakuro checked the truck himself to see what the issue was, it took him nearly an hour to realize it was out of gas.
A still fear crept up him as he knows there is nowhere left to get fuel. What they had already siphoned off was gone and the fuel stations that had been left they themselves had destroyed in their struggle for control of the city. For a moment he feels shame for his offence, as they are now stuck with night drawing near and no fast way to make it back to camp with these new hostages.
They abandon the truck, tying the hostages together, pushing them along like donkey, toward the base camp. These hostages are calmer than the last. Silent in their crying and not prone to beggin or pleading. The hoods are taken off and they are put into their cages, with little fuss. The boys notice that these hostages seem different and comment on it. Oshakuro doesn’t seem to care.
The hostages keep asking themselves where they are, but no one answers that question. The weep for the love ones they have lost, they keep quiet in respect of the ones they lost, and also pray for their forgiveness for trying to survive.
Oshakuro walked toward the cage of the new hostages, welcoming them to his camp. He explains to them that so long as they obey and do not try and escape they will come away relatively unscathed. If they break rules well then there were plenty of ways that they could be made to suffer. The Bamboo boys snickered at this threat. When he was finished laying the law to them he approached Shode in her cage with the baby. The sight of the woman in the cage with the child put the realization of just how heartless these men really were to the new hostages. Shode stood up from where she sat with her baby in her arms. Glaring at Oshakuro, her heart full of rage and anger. She believes that he is the cause of every calamity in the village. He stands at the front of Shode’s cage, looking at the baby she holds against her breast. He tells her that she will soon know who she belongs to, that now that the baby has come nothing will stop his plans. He smiled in his wicked way blowing smoke into her reddened face before walking away. She eases like a snake back to the ground with her. Rocking and cooing at him. Regardless of the darkness around her she had her moments of light. Oshakuro appeared at Kakure’s cage, and repeated his threats to Shode to him as well before he leaves to return to his boys under the coconut trees in camp.
CHAPTER 10
Fante’s older brother with two investigators arrive at Bamboo Village, the message they received from her husband leading them to come out to the cursed land. In reaching the village they find nothing, not one living soul to aid them in finding out what has happened. What they do find frightens and horrifies them. Bodies, skeletons left to fester and rot, left for the vultures to feed upon. They stumble upon the couple’s car, they inspect it further hoping to find some sign of them, but find it locked up and empty. They took to doing as the message pleaded to follow the truck tracks. The heavy rains and mud helped, the truck left deep impressions.
The CID pick up van follows the tire tracks, at first they used their siren, but then thought better of it. Announcing you are coming to a band of terrorists may not be the best course of action in these cases. They find the clay house, and in doin g so they find Fante’s husband, in dead on the ground. They quickly rushed to him, but it was too late, one of his eyes had been removed by vultures. An investigator removed her mobile phone from her pocket, in an attempt to contact an emergency rescue team, to come to the location, but as she did she found she had no reception.
They each in turn tried to get a signal, but none of their phone seemed to connect. They tried to search for Fante’s husband’s phone. He had managed a signal out here, but to their dismay it too was dead.
They are confused and don’t know what to do, they do not wish to spend a night in the village. Especially because the investigators are female. This is the worst assignment they have ever had in their two years on the force, they have never had to deal with anything so gruesome. They keep trying to get into contact with those who can help them, but eventually the batteries on the phones begin to go, and they are left with no other choice but to go in search of something to cover the bodies with, they find some cloths inside the clay house and wrap up the body of Fante’s husband and the Dalo, as they had found him tracing the perimeter. They put them in the back of the van and continued on their way. Not looking much more for Fante, their intentions being to return with more investigators in the morning.
Tragedy has a way of finding people who want to help. Their vehicle stalls on the road, smoke ebbing from under the hood with an awful smell. It was overheating and they needed water to lubricate the radiator. Fortunately they packed water, but had to wait for the engine to cool some before adding it. The trio took this moment as an excuse to get out of the van and away from the smell of the bodies in the back. They sat down at the side of the road on the ground leaned against the van. The two investigators are starving, but they did not pack any food. They did not plan to be so long gone. Sitting and waiting they begin to doze off. The moments of relaxation all they needed to slough off the stress of the tragedy that was wrapping around them so tightly.
A scream wakes the investigators from their dozing, a poisonous snake, had crept up on and bitten Fante’s brother. They called his name several times, trying to revive him, but there was little they could do. The poison was fast and they watched in horror as he died. They try and shake off the shock, as they retrieve their guns and the water. They fill the radiator, and heave the man into the back with the other bodies, now they have three dead men with them. They each shed a quiet tear for the man as they continue their journey back to civilization.
They only get a few more kilometers when the van breaks down once more. Now it won’t start, they attempt to push it, but with the three bodies, it was next to impossible. They are stranded and in the dark they are not going to be able to find their way. Deciding it is safer to bunker down in the van for the night, they keep their weapons on them and lock up the van, hoping that they will not be discovered, in the morning they would begin the walk back to their destination.
Bamboo boys burst into the community in the middle of the night, for their daily hunting task they hunt humans, while they hunt animals in the night, so as to have something to feed themselves and the hostages. Hearing something strange in the darkness the Bamboo boys follow the rhythmic noise to the CID van. Finding two snoring women inside. They notice a strange and foul smell, but are more interested in the women. The six of them surround the car, excited by the sight of tow suck lovely looking ladies. They drop their weapons and the conversation starts. What were they going to do with these two? Should they go straight to the base camp? To their leader to figure out what to do with them. Then one suggested that they have a romp first, before the boss had his decision and they may never have the chance again. The boys seemed to like this idea they manage to quietly get the van unlocked and open the door. As soon as the door opens the women awake. But tired as they were they do not realize what is happening all at once. By the time they do recognize that they are surrounded by unknown faces and reach for their guns they find that they have already been disarmed. The Bamboo boys force them out of the van and on to the ground to their knees
The investigators trying to buy time start to question the boys. Asking them who they were, what they were doing bothering them in the middle of the night.
The boys rebutted with their own set of questions, who were they and what were they doing in Bamboo Village at night?
The investigators already suspect that these are the terrorists that have been causing so much chaos in the city, they continue to try and stall by giving vague answers. Unfortunately this angers the Bamboo boys, who believe that the two women are up to something. Their answers not coming straight as they should. The boys picked up their weapons and the women began to tell them what they wanted to know. Who they were why they were there. They told them about the bodies in the back of the van.
The boys were so surprised to hear what the two women came to do in the city of Bamboo, as they never dreamed that they would be dealing with investigators. Their thoughts had been that with the guns they were lady robbers. They checked the van to confirm the women’s story. Of course the bodies were there and stunk something awful, they quickly closed the back, because of smell. They went back to the two investigators kneeling down in the dirt.
With mischievous smiles the Bamboo boys ordered the two of them to undress. The women laughed hearing such nonsense from them. Thinking that surely they were joking, they looked at each other and smiled. They asked the boys that what are they going to do to them if they don’t take off their clothes, and why will they want their clothes to be taken off in the first place, for what reason would they want that to happen? The boys ordered them once more threatening them with death, if they did not comply. One of the boys shot into the air making his point for the group. This scared them. They rapidly began to disrobe. Too frightened to not do as they were told. They stripped down to their undergarments. Then the boys told them that those too must go and the women hesitated. Pleading that they stop this. That they not be forced to do this. Tears stained their cheeks as they still refused, telling the boys to do their worst, as they were not going to cooperate any further.
Swiftly the boys moved closer to the two women, they were held standing upright as two of them brandished pocket knives. They thought they were to be murdered, but the men simply used this opportunity to cut the undergarments from their trembling bodies. Using the cut pieces of cloth to gag them so they did not have to listen to their pleas any longer.
Two at a time they violate the women, satisfying their lustful urges. The women finally unable to hold on due to the brutality collapse. The boys at first think they have passed on, but they pour palm wine over their filth covered faces and the women cough to life. Finding themselves naked on the ground they cry begging for the men to stop. The cloth they used to gag them is removed and the begging becomes clear as they pray for freedom, only to be mocked and spurned. The boys put them on all fours making them parade around carrying them on their backs like horses. They have no choice, being told it was this or another round of internal violations and then death.
The boys rode the women around the place for a while, spanking them with a large switch, then becoming bored with the spectacle, as one of them collapsed from exhaustion they gave them back their clothes and made steps to lead them back to the base camp. Setting the van a blaze with the dead bodies inside before commencing. The women cried softly for the injustice as they were dragged like animals into the night.
The night was late when they arrived at the camp. Oshakuro was at first irritated by the time, but when he set eyes on the new hostages all was forgiven. The other boys left at camp were on alert watching for any trespassers, but were glad to see more women to add to the cages. Oshakuro smiled sickly as the women were led to their new homes.
They were dumped into cages and the boys regaled the boss with how they had come upon the women. Never telling about their little party before their return, the women did not say a word. Their spirits broken and defeated as they collapsed to the cage floors.
Some hours later the investigators regained their senses, realizing that they are locked in cages. The other hostages explain to them that there is no way to escape, that they too will be sold off to someone else. That any who come into Bamboo camp never leave unless money is exchanged or they die.
This shocks the investigators, hearing such hopelessness from their fellow women, which triggered them to question the others, on what reason were they kept in the cage to be sold out? The response to their question was that the so called Bamboo boys are doing this, in order to generate funds. They sell any females they can capture around Bamboo village. That this had been goin gon since the in house war that swept most of the people of Bamboo village away. Some were able to migrate out, those left behind were murdered by the Bamboo boys, or like those present captured trying to escape the city. They immediately kill any male captured with the females, in case they may be of a threat to them in the future. Many having been gunned down or burned alive.
In hearing this tragic news, investigators blamed themselves for getting into such a dramatic assignment, as Bamboo village, and letting themselves fall into the hands of the Bamboo terrorists. They recalled their own sad story those who could hear them, explaining that they had been sent into the city of Bamboo, looking for Fante and her husband.
Quickly Fante herself spoke up, cutting the conversation letting them know that she was the woman they were sent to find. She explained how she came to be taken and added that much like the investigators she too was gang raped by these boys pretending to be men. Fante is frantic as she keeps talking now she is demanding to know what has become of her husband. She knew he didn’t know what happened, she knew he had informed the authorities, and the family. But where was he? She grabbed one of the investigators by the shirt, again demanding to know what has happened to her husband.
The Bamboo boys unaware of the conversation underway see this display of apparent aggression and believe that a fight is about to break out between Fante and the two new hostages. They run to the women and using a wide plank slap them each on their bottoms as a warning to behave themselves. They settle down to a calmer discussion. One in which the two investigators tell Fante to prepare herself, they recount the series of events that led them to finding her husband’s body. That they followed the message and that by the time they arrived he had been long since dead and there was nothing they could do.
Fante collapses hearing this news. The women call out for water to revive her but they are ignored. With no other means of helping one of the hostages drops trawl and urinates on Fante, this rouses her and she commences weeping. They huddle together, trying to console her, before finally dosing off for the night.
CHAPTER 11
The sun set on a beautiful day, in the city of Maroro, where the female hostages have been sold for prostitution. They had been given close supervision so as to be sure that they do not try to escape or tell relatives where they are within the city. One of Shodeke’s daughters by pure happenstance was put to a relative. The shock of their relation was much, as during their sexual encounter a birthmark was discovered by each that was the same and in the same location on the shoulder. This led the two in to a strange and revealing conversation. It was found that Babingo, the latest counselor in town was the elder brother to Shodeke. Making him uncle to the young woman. He left Bamboo village a few years prior to pursue his career in political science, in the city of Maroro. That he made his way by becoming a counselor, he shamelessly told Tondo that he is used to paying for sex outside after work, before he resumed back to his family at home. Tondo sobbed out her own story, when she was questioned on what brought her to prostitution here in the city of Maroro. She narrated everything in detail, from their capture to the death of her parents and their eventual sale to the arrogant woman.
Babingo was shocked and speechless for the tragic news he heard from his niece. He tried to ask for her forgiveness because what they have done is an abomination. But what was done was done and neither was aware at the time. They try to figure out a way to help the situation in Bamboo, Babingo gives her some money for her services so as not to arise suspicions. There is a group of people who handle her, take the money she makes, and keep track of her dates. They both leave the motel like the perfect strangers they had entered as, but Babingo has gotten all the details from his niece on how the plan will go, in order to help the masses in the city of Bamboo, before it is too late.
This was an exciting moment for Tondo, the daughter of Shodeke, as she met with her uncle Babingo, she kept this to herself, only telling with great joy her sisters what she has discovered. They were shocked to hear the sad news, of her sleeping with one of their relatives, yet at the same time they are full of joy’ They have made contact with someone in a high class position, who will help them out of the dirty job they are forced to perform in the city of Maroro.
So that they won’t be suspected of any wrong doing they quickly end their chat and return to their places on the street, waiting for customers to show up and pick them to satisfy their heated pleasures, while the girls manage to struggle to pretend to enjoy that which they certainly do not wish to be doing.
Babingo, finds it difficult that he really slept with one of his younger brother’s daughters, he regrets the actions he took, without wasting much time he quickly rushed down to the station with his security men, to make a report concerning the tragic incidents going on in the city of Bamboo. His hopes are to summon the state security that are close to that location, for immediate action to take place. After his statement he returned home with a sad look on his face, he was questioned by his wife, who wanted to know what was wrong. As it was unusual to see him so down. He explained that his younger brother in the city of Bamboo and his wife are both dead, as a result of terrorism in the city of Bamboo, leaving out how he found out, as he was too ashamed to tell the whole of it. In hearing this, it wrenched the heart of the entire family. As his wife questioned how he came to know all of this, since he has not been traveling to his home town, in Bamboo.
He lied again, telling them that he found out in the office, from one of the state security officers, who brought the report in. He does not mention his nieces, only remarks that he needs a bath, before he rests for the day. He does this to escape their questions, he had not been prepared for them and was afraid he may not be able to keep his lies.
CHAPTER 12
The Bamboo boys, gathered all the hostages in the cages, using a white substance to place numbers on their foreheads. The hostages are still in bondage their hands bound their mouths gagged. At this moment a bus arrived at the base camp. Three hefty men with a briefcase emerge. Two of them Kakure recognized from the last time, although the third man was new. He wondered what had happened to the woman.
There is nothing these hostages can do to help themselves they have no one to save them, no family to speak of any longer. Kakure, the only male among the hostages, knows there is nothing he can do because the Bamboo boys have instilled too much fear in him, telling him he will be killed should he step out of line. Immediately the money is handed to Oshakuro, the leader of Bamboo boys, in exchange for the female hostages. The women are hooded once more and pushed forcefully into the bus. The hoods are a precaution so that they cannot tell where the camp is from there new destination.
Kakure is thrown back into his cage as Shode is torn from hers, being dragged toward the bus. She screams like a banshee, saying she is not going anywhere with these monsters. They pull the baby from her arms and beat her into submission, before throwing her like a rag doll into the bus, which takes off as soon as the doors shut. The baby is tossed into the cage with Kakure. Who scoops it up and stare bleary eyed at the bus as it disappears over the horizon.
The day was cause for much celebration, as Oshakuro calls to his boys in the camp, while they all sit to have a bottle of fresh palm wine and roasted bush meat. The little baby boy abandoned to Kakure to take care off never quiets as he cries for his mamma. His stomach is empty, Shode is no longer there to nurse him. Kakure not knowing what to do looks to the heavens, in an attempt at communicating with the ancestors of their land to come and render their support for the innocent child that was left to him. To aid him in taking care of the poor unfortunate baby. He cries as the baby cries, petting the child’s head.
Bamboo boys never bothered about the voice of the little baby they had tossed into the cage or the poor guy with him, their only concerns are for the refreshments they are having under the coconut trees. They mock Kakure as he walks the cage, singing with Shode’s baby in his arms, to make sure he keeps quiet, but he will not keep still, he is hungry.
While sitting down to his refreshment, Oshakuro ordered one of his boys to check Kakure and the little baby, to find out what the noise was about. When they approached Kakure pleaded for the baby to be fed a proper meal instead of allowing him to suffer for not being with his mother. A bottle of fresh palm wine was given to Kakure, by one the Bamboo boys that was sent by Oshakuro. He handed it to him telling him to give it to the baby. Kakure scoffed saying you cannot give alcohol to a baby.
They returned to Oshakuro, telling him what they were told upon visiting the cage of Kakure, they gave the message about food. Oshakuro smiled to hear the funny response they got from him, saying he will rot in the cage with the baby, while they continue with their refreshment.
CHAPTER 13
As Bamboo village lacks so many things within the community, another state security agent, arrives in the village, to rescue those who are in bondage at the hands of the Bamboo boys. This was not to be an easy task. As there were many challenges, no one to help them find the terrorists for one, a lack of communication was another problem. Then there was the vast amount of forest to inspect. They arrived in Bamboo only to find nothing to communicate with as they had been warned, they continue with their journey in order to trace where Oshakuro and his boys are hiding their base camp. The information from Tondo reveals everything to them thanks to the influence of her uncle.
Dust from the road side increases as everyone in the bus coughs. The van carrying the Bamboo hostages has had an issue, and is stopped on the side of the road. The men have had to get out to make out what the matter is, and see what they can do to fix it before night falls. The women do not know what has happened as their heads are still covered, all they know is that they have stopped.
Upon a complete check of the engine they find that due to a mechanical fault the radiator has blown. They are in a place of panic, as they know they are in danger if anyone should come along and find them with the women in the van. They must put their heads together to find a solution to their unique little problem. The women inside the van are sweltering, and angry, they thought that they had reached their destination but it has been more than an hour and they have not moved or been spoken to, their minds are racing as they contemplate what the men may be up to, not realizing they are stuck on the side of the road with a mechanical issue. One of the men came on to the bus, telling the women to stay calm and quiet. Warning them that to do any different would forfeit their very lives.
The police van that was heading toward the direction of Bamboo village, drove by at full speed, unknowing that they have driven straight past the very people they were sent to find. At first glance the men stiffen seeing the police, thinking that they were going to stop, but the speed at which they passed made it seem quite the opposite and so the fear left them quickly. They returned to the van trying to sort out what they were going to do, just as they were thinking to move the women out the police van returned this time at a slow pace.
It stopped at the opposite side of the road leaving way for other cars to get by if they should come along. The trio of men know that there will be questions, they also know that letting those police officers coming toward them anywhere near the van was trouble they couldn’t afford to have. They walked out to meet the officers in the road, shaking their hands as thought they were good people. The officers responded back in kind, asking if they might be of some assistance.
The men smile and explain that they are awaiting the arrival of some others who are going to help them out. That they are a part of a theater group and that their van broke down but help was on the way soon. The officers told them that they should be careful because of the issues in Bamboo Village. Advising them to stay close and on alert as it was not a safe place to be caught especially with night fall near. The officers have no idea that they are advising their adversaries. That just fifteen feet from them are the very women they were sent to save.
The men thank the officers for their concern and the officers say their farewells before getting back in their van and continuing up the road to carry on their investigation. As they leave the scene, quickly the leader grabs his mobile phone and calls Oshakuro, informing him that police officers have arrived in Bamboo, letting him know that he and his boys should get prepared and be on alert. He dropped is call, while they walk back to the van, checking on the vehicle again. They managed to find in the glove compartment some glue, using it to patch the leakage in their vehicle radiator, where the water is dripping out.
It is getting late as they wait for the glue to set in the spot before they can continue on their journey. They moved on, the vehicle making all sorts of sounds. They worry that the bus may break down again, it is dark already, and they don’t want to be caught in the forest at night with all of these women to transport. They managed the vehicle until it broke down again on the high way, still in the community of Bamboo. This time they cannot fix the issue. Try as they might they attempt to push the bus to the edge of the bush, so as not to draw attention to their dastardly deeds.
On getting inside the bush, they decided to unveil the faces of the hostages, it’s too dark for them to be able to tell where they are, and moving them hindered will take more time that they do not have. As they are taken from the bus the hoods are removed and the women begin to scream believing are not long for this world as they are back in the forest. They believe that they are to be executed.
They are silenced as they are told that they should compose themselves if they wish to continue breathing well at ease. Wishing to live they quieted and followed their captors into the night. The three hefty men in charge of these hostages; scare the women. Their size alone was enough, their threats pushed the issue farther. The women keep quiet as the men communicate in silent code so that the women do not understand their desires. They smile to each other, while they turned back from their discussion, none but they know what they have in mind as they walk around the bus checking the women as though they cared about their dispositions. They ask if they fair well, if they need anything. The hostages never utter a word to them as they waste their time asking different questions, but that is not their primary plan, their plan is to have sex with some of the hostages they have in their custody that night. But they have some trepidations, as the number of women greatly outnumber them, there was a chance that they could rise up and there would be trouble for them. Seeing the hatred in some eyes made them rethink their position and instead the women were filed back into the bus and the three men made sure their bonds were secure before bedding down inside with them for the night.
The officers who are in the environment of Bamboo trying to locate the Bamboo boys could not continue with their search, the bush becoming too thick in the darkness. They had to hunker down for the night to resume their search in the light.
While others slept Oshakuro and his boys are getting prepared to move to another location, since they got the information that there are officers coming into their camp location to raid them all. This made Oshakuro inform his fellow men to be prepared, that they will be migrating to another safe place, before they get caught where they are.
CHAPTER 14
Will there ever be peace and unity in the land of Bamboo? No one seems to know, as tragic moments keep rising in their everyday activities. IT is a new day in Bamboo village, not a single sound or sign of a living being can be detected anywhere in the city. It seems that the terrorist group has succeeded in chasing away or killing anyone who has opposed them.
The Bamboo boys are fully prepared to evacuate the camp. They are able to relocate easily as they do not have any hostages to move except for Kakure and the child taken from Shode. Everything is set as they carry on with their journey to look for a better place. On their way heading out of the camp, they hear the sounds of a vehicle coming toward their direction. Quickly they manage to hide inside the bush, sure that it is the state security come to raid their camp. Their reasoning was correct, as from their vantage point they spied the police van as it drove past them. They moved out of the bush and continued with their journey toward a new hide out, secure in the thought that they would be long gone before the officers made their way back in their direction.
The security officers got to the camp of the Bamboo boys only to find it deserted, their first thought was that they had the wrong location, then they saw the carnage, and the cages. Quickly the police commander contacted the station, explaining the situation, that the boys were indeed gone. That someone must have tipped them off and they had packed up and run. While contacting the station the Area commander urged the officers in the city of Bamboo not to give up on the operation, making sure that they searched the whole village, leaving no stone unturned not hut unchecked. The phone conversation dropped as they continued with their search once again.
They surveyed the camp, finding the remains of many innocent people, in various states of decay. The heads on spikes, hangin heads, putrefied remains of the animals they had been feasting upon. It pained them to see such awful cruelty done by men to men. Seeing all of this it made the officers spread out all over the City of Bamboo, they were determined to find those Bamboo boys.
The sun is up and the three men with the hostages have had a stroke of luck. After sitting for the night, the bus starts. Taking it easy they plan to take off and get out of town before someone comes for them. They got onto the bus and continue with their journey, the vehicle going carefully so that it won’t develop any faults for the moment.
CHAPTER 15
The Bamboo boys found their way to hiding under a large boulder, where there is more space for them to relax. Informants have gotten word to them that the search for them had spread out and beyond the borders of Bamboo village and the city proper. They still have Kakure, and he still carries the baby boy borne by Shode. He is chained so that even as they rested in the shade of the stone he cannot run away.
A thought comes to Oshakuro’s mind, in hiding under the boulder, this thought makes him gather his boys to him to talk in hushed tones so that Kakure will not hear. He called his boys together to plan a way of disposing of the baby, so it will no longer be a distraction. Yes it was supposed to be useful but given their circumstances it was no longer a viable situation for them to keep the often wailing baby. Kakure tries to hear the discussion, pretending to be a sleep. He strains his hearing holding the baby in his arms.
The discussion is still going on, as they hear the sound of the police van barreling toward them. They scramble under the protectiveness of the boulder, picking up their ammunitions of war. They care little for Kakure and the little baby as they chain him down under the rock, while they go after the state security officials to face them once and for all.
The war begins between the Bamboo boys and the state security officials as they exchange bullets. The officers had not planned to kill the Bamboo boys, their aim was to capture them alive for trial and judgement. Lives are lost all of the officers except one who manages to escape, he will report back to the station and report the massive failure. Many of the Bamboo boys lose their lives to the rain of gunfire. Oshakuro and the few of them left, return to their hide out, exhausted and forlorn. Oshakuro is enraged, his new mission is to destroy any who come near their dwelling again.
Kakure is shocked to see so few return, a bit of joy fills the pit of his stomach as he rocks the baby in his arms. This motion wakes the child who begins to wail. The sound turns Oshakuro’s head. Oshakuro looked straight into the eyes of Kakure and then to the baby. He storms to them, ripping the child form Kakure’s arms throwing it into the bush. As Kakure makes steps to go after the child Oshakuro hits him with the butt of his rifle, knocking him out.
Some hours later Kakure awakes, his head throbbing, he doesn’t remember being hit but the blood on his head and hands is a sure enough sign as is the throbbing pain he feels. It is darkness all around him and all he can hear is the baby as he cries and screams. Quickly he stands, feeling at once dizzy, he tries to orient himself, tries to find the source of the crying. The Bamboo boys are gone, they are all alone and he is still chained at the feet. He shuffles forward toward the bush, losing his footing he falls, his legs are twisted up in the chains as he calls out to the baby He knows he has to find the baby before someone or something else comes along. He pulls himself up to his feet once more and ekes out the direction the baby’s cries are coming from, shuffling carefully this time he finds the baby, uncovered under a tree. He grabs the tattered blanket and wraps the baby up, once in his arms the baby settles, the familiar arms quieting him.
As he returns to the boulder he is confronted by Oshakuro and the remaining Bamboo boys, as they mourn the ones they’ve lost. Kakure hadn’t realized they had gone back for their own dead, for a proper burial in the night. He holds tight to the baby in case they may want to harm them again, but they pay him little attention as they continue with their rituals for their dead. Out of thirty-five members they have but twenty remaining, with Oshakuro making twenty-one.
Kakure managed to crawl back under the boulder, while he caressed the baby, silencing him with a meal of cassava flakes water. Safe in his arms the baby doses off and Kakure leans back watching the Bamboo Boys as they continue their rituals.
The bodies have been disposed of, and they gathered again. Talks of their next plan as they held their hushed meeting. Some of the boys plan to give up on Oshakuro’s plans, he wants to continue as they have been. Looking for hostages, but they argue that this was what got their comrades killed. Oshakuro is angered by this statement made by his boys, he smiles in his wicked way and reminds them of their oaths. Like a heavy knock to their heads they realize he would be calling them traitors and their lives would be forfeit to the rest of the group if they continued on in the way they were talking. This made them comply with others in the group it was the only way to achieve their goals and keep their heads attached. They agreed to carry out the assignment given, the discussion ended. The boy’s went to rest, but Oshakuro never sleep as he sat down in a corner thinking on his plans, contemplating other issues bothering his life as a man. After his long time thinking, he then moved under the rock to join other boys to take a little rest for the day. They sleep lightly, in case they are again invaded by the state security officials.
CHAPTER 16
Journalists, having heard of the crimes committed in Bamboo village arrive to further investigate. Two women and a man, they have gotten information from the state security officials and the women who had been sold into prostitution by the Bamboo Boys. The state officials warn them that going into the community is dangerous, that they should have security with them as a precaution. They do not listen, instead they head off into the village alone to conduct their investigations. Upon entering Bamboo Village they are greeted by the vultures, who slam into the windshield. Causing them the veer off the road, they stop to inspect the damage, unhappy at the event and the cracks now crawling across the glass. They shake it off instead of taking it as the bad omen that they should have, venturing deeper into the city in search of the Bamboo Boys first base camp.
They drive for some time before being waved down by a family on the side of the road. They slow down to see what is going on. They find that this family has been hiding in the city for many months, they are on their way out of the village to another place, so that they do not die of starvation. Before the head of this family can finish his story the journalists hear someone behind them order them to their knees.
Shock and fear fill the reporters as they turn the male tries to speak only to be shot where he stands. He falls down dead before his female colleagues. They had no idea that this was a trap laid for them, the Bamboo boys having spied them as soon as they reached the edges of the city
Oshakuro claps his hands while the two female reporters goes down on their knees, terror gripping them. The Bamboo boys, stay their weapons on the women and on the family that had helped lay the trap. They had been captured earlier and had been used so to a gratifying end, Oshakuro commend the effort of the head of the family for his trickery, then as a reward he put a bullet into his brain. For good measure and so there would not be a fuss later, he also put a bullet in to the families only male child. The blind woman, no longer hearing the voices of her family breaks down into tears, the tragedy of this moment is too much for her as she realizes the bullets were for her husband and child. She is threatened, told that if her sniveling does not stop she will find herself joining her family. She tells them to kill her, better dead than with them. It was a touching moment, but none seemed to pay her any more attention.
Arriving back at the rock side camp they discover that Kakure and the baby are nowhere to be found. The two Bamboo boys that had been left to watch over him, are dead, stuffed under the rock, each had been shot. Oshakuro screams aloud in seeing the corpses of his two favorite boys lying dead on the ground so badly discarded.
They search everywhere, trying to find where Kakure could possibly be hiding himself. He has vanished and along with him has gone some of their ammunition.
Oshakuro ordered his boys to dispose of their comrades in the forest, before chaining down the new hostages. The blind woman and the two reporters keep pleading for mercy. Oshakuro and his boys look at each other and smile, they assure the women that they will release them if they agree to comply with any order given them and any task. The women agree and his smile becomes an all-out grin as he orders the men to chain the women down.
The security of their new camp is far greater than before, a Bamboo boy is stationed at every corner, just in case Kakure attacks their dwelling. They have new hostages now as they have been chained down in the sun. They wait for Kakure, sure he will show up to use the weapons he stole from them.
Darkness falls on the camp and they have yet to see any signs of Kakure. Oshakuro walks to the women smoking his pipe, there is a majestic swagger to his step. He orders the boys to strip the women. This brings immediate screams and refusals from them as they beg not to be disrobed.
They were reminded that they promised to do anything in order to facilitate their release. They bow their heads in shame as the men make moves to undress them. Oshakuro examines each of the women in turn making his choice. He tells the boys to bring the blind woman to the base of the rock and chain her there for him. Satisfied that he has made the right decision he tells his boys that they may take out their lustful needs on the two reporters. The boys like this idea. The women are very pretty, and their bodies are well fed and firm. Not like the half-starved women of the village. They would do nicely, have the stamina to keep up with all of them.
Oshakuro, retreated to the confines of his rock to do what he would with the blind woman while his boys made use of the reporters. Taking turns with them, letting them rest only long enough to find palm wine to pour on to them to revive them. They sobbed, they bled and when they cursed the men hit them to remind them to be silent and do as they promised. When finally the boys had finished they left the two women naked and chained to the ground. Going off to rest for the night. Oshakuro when finished with his woman had her chained up with the other two. The three women left out in the cold for the elements and the bugs to nip and bite at for the rest of the night.
CHAPTER 17
There’s a saying that goes, ‘one day for the thief another for the owner’ which means that sooner or later your evil deed will be exposed, regardless of how long you think you have gotten away with it.
Oshakuro, and the rest of the boys feed their needs and their sights in their camp with the nakedness of their new hostages. The women are uncomfortable, they feel filthy their private parts are exposed for all to see as they are stretched out on the crosses. The two reporters are defiant, the blind woman compliant.
Oshakuro prefers the first two, even as they spit in his face, he plays with their nipples, making them stand on end. He smiles, they were good and strong women. They would fetch a high price. These two were more responsive to the boys and himself, not like the blind one. Her lack of sight making her somehow less. The two female journalists were brought out of their cage, to be punished for their insolence, now they were to be beaten with the horse whip.
Oshakuro now has the time to go through the bags of the journalists, he and his boys were shocked to see the contents of the camera they brought to the city of Bamboo. In scrolling through the images on it, they discovered so many things. They come across the recent interview with the women who had been sold by the Bamboo boys into prostitution. They women told all they knew about Oshakuro and his gangs, going into great detail as to how they had destroyed the lives of the innocent people living in Bamboo village.
It’s getting more interesting to the Bamboo boys, but it irritates their leader Oshakuro. He knows the danger that this will bring. In a fit of rage he destroys the camera and the video, telling his boys to build a pyre at the base of the crosses. The boys do as they are told and the entire contents of the journalist bags were dumped at their feet, the pyre covered in palm wine, as Oshakuro lit a match. The spectacle went up quickly, the women screaming as the smoke and fire consumed them. The smell of charred flesh filling the forest, with their screams.
The blind woman is the only one left but she doesn’t understand what’s happened. She can smell the cooking flesh, and has heard the screams so she is sufficiently terrified, but to what end she does not know. Oshakuro ordered his boys to release the blind woman from the cage and give her clothes to put on, while they asked her to leave of her own free will. It is like a dream to the boys of Bamboo to see their leader change his mind for the first time in freeing a female hostage. To let one go. Then Oshakuro took his rifle and as soon as the woman stepped foot outside the perimeter he shot her in the back and she fell dead. They burned her with the others that night.
CHAPTER 18
The war is about to begin, as Kakure has returned with his little baby boy on his back. He is fully loaded with the ammunition he stole from the Bamboo boys. Moreover he is not alone, having found those who were hiding he has assembled them together and they are willing to make a stand to get back their home form these terrorists. Bamboo village has too long been theirs to command and the people left behind have finally seen and felt enough.
Others come from outside Bamboo, to aid, Security officers, and different investigators are all trooping into the village they too are fully loaded with ammunition due to what they have heard from the people concerning those terrorists who claim to be the face of Bamboo. Different media outlets have also arrived staying with security, to tell the tale and to find out just what has happened to their investigators. This is going to be a long day for the people in the city of Bamboo. An even longer day for the Bamboo boys if they don’t surrender.
Oshakuro and his boys are also ready to bring down the whole city of Bamboo, because they are quite sure that there are still people hiding in their vicinity. They are determined to find and kill Kakure, so that he will not tell their secrets, or reveal their places of hiding. The Bamboo boys line up to receive their orders from Oshakuro on how they are to proceed. He orders them to start by burning down all of the houses in Bamboo. That they are to kill anyone that may cross their paths. They all agree and hail their formidable leader who gives them free reign to do as they please within the city. They whistle and call out as they set to destroy all that they have grown up with, the city that reared many of them. Oshakuro reminds them that they own Bamboo and they can do what they want with it. They move from one community to another, burning down the houses excites them and they sing a song of victory as they commit unspeakable acts
Kakure and the other people in the village see the smoke coming toward them, quickly they grab their weapons and converge on the location of the smoke. Upon arrival they find only the scorching buildings as they groan and crumble to nothing. Kakure knows that it is the work of Oshakuro and his boys, he orders the people to follow him as he tracks the footsteps of the Bamboo boys determined to catch up to them.
From the other side of the village they hear the grunts and cries of a young woman, The Bamboo boys had found her, beaten her and raped her before setting her ablaze inside the outer edge of a hollow cave. By the time Kakure and the others find her she is already dead, the smoke taking her life before the flames
Now Kakure’s anger is tenfold as he tightens his baby at his back, so that he won’t fall down as they are embarking on a war to bring down the Bamboo boys. The villages that are with Kakure run after him as he moves with anger to track down the fiends.
Oshakuro ordered his boys to split into three groups so that they can accomplish their mission in bringing down the entire village and the remaining people who may be hiding within the city. As they are working to do this Kakure and the villagers arrive as do the security officers, thusly the Bamboo boys are surrounded. They look on confused and some are fearful as Oshakuro screams aloud ordering the boys to fire immediately. They raise up their weapons but are advised to surrender if they wish to keep their lives. They are truly outnumbered, outgunned and outsmarted this day. If they were intelligent they would give up now and live to see the next morning.
The security officers ordered everyone to drop their weapons, including Kakure and those with him. All do as they are told, including the Bamboo Boys and Oshakuro, who is red to his ears with anger.
The press barge onto the scene setting up their cameras and microphones to report the goings on live. Oshakuro and his boys were full of disgrace and shame as their wicked faces are splashed across the television stations, as they are been marched by the officers to the village square. Here they are tied up to the large drum at the village’s center for interrogation. To better their situations they give up those who bought the women of Bamboo and forced them in to prostitution. The people called for justice, and the chief gave them what they wanted. Judgments were made on Oshakuro and his group, they were stripped naked while tied with rope to the back of heavy drum and stoned to death by the villagers of Bamboo village.
It took some time but with the order of the chief security officer they find those who worked for Oshakuro. The hostages who were in the city still easily and with much joy give up those who harmed them, kidnapped them and sold them off. Those women sold who survived are found and many are reunited with their families. Even Shode finally locates Kakure and her little baby boy.
Peace has once again returned to Bamboo village and they weep no more, from sorrow. So many things have been put back into place, lost friends and family now locate each other, as they hope that the tragedy that separated them will not come again.
Bamboo village is finally free for the terrorists who have plagued them for many years. The village is once again becoming whole, it will take more work and carful hands but it is on track. The people wish to honor Kakure for his part in uniting the people to stand up against the Bamboo boys. They offer him the place as their leader. He is shocked at this sentiment, and looks to Shode and the baby. Shode nods her approval with a gentle and loving smile as the baby giggles for the first time. Kakure hearing that joyous sound accepts the role with humble thanks to the people of Bamboo Village.
~THE END~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Opeyemi Matthew Adejobi, is a United Nations Volunteer (UNV), Blogger, Author, e-publisher, Journalist, Fiction writer, PR Expert, Photographer, Digital Artist, Film maker, and Fashionista.
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Community Reviews (0)
Feedback?
| December 10, 2015 | Created by Opeyemi matthew adejobi | Added new book. |