A man sat in the room alone.He wore an old combat than was torn all over.Obviously from war. The only things that were visible to his eyes were the holes made from bullets and the rubbles from the mud-walled house.Remains of bullets from his magazine were scattered all over the floor. He still heard the loudness of every gun shoot. The warmth of his gun's nozzle couldn't give peace.
Slowly I could see the him rise from the stone on which he sat. As he stood,all he felt was pain.I could hear him say ,"If I pull this trigger will everything be alright? Will I find the opportunity of rectifying my wrong counts by this? What of the hungry school going children I shot? They had tears flowing down there faces.I can't change my past.All I did was to follow orders from a man we knew as the general. But I can change the future!
The soldier man's name was Sam. He couldn't find any reason to blame himself.Slowly he moved to a wall nearby and pipped through the holes. Women carrying heavy loads on their heads walked at lighting to escape from the war tone region.They chanted war and freedom songs as they matched in a single line.Each at low tone but in unity made harmonious choruses .As they moved it became louder.They are fugitives of their own home. They seek political asylum .
Down in his heart and deep in his thoughts he saw an image of his beautiful Samantha and that of his daughters.I can choose my friends but not my family.He recalled the countless letters he wrote to her.Sent them through the general and never got an answer. He continued writing.Family was all that mattered to him.It came first.They've have been married for seventeen years and in her arms the world was light. He believed it is true birds of the same feathers flew together.He couldn't wait to see them.
A young boy who was observing finally made up his mind to go meet the soldier.He was covered by blood allover.Some part dry,others were of blood. Sam did not hear as he approved till the door to the "hell house" flew wide open. His shoulders were low. He meant no harm. The soldier man turned and pointed a gun to the young boy.He hit him by the gun. The boy groaned and fell to the ground in agonizing pain."I mean no harm",The little one said.Tears flowed from Sam's eyes. Saul supported himself to the nearby wall and tried to lift his tiny light body back to his feet. He was in great pain .
"I saw you aiming towards my innocent mother. You shoot her more than I can remember and now am an orphan.You made me! She was my only friend and family. The only clansman I had.You killed her!She had surrendered and I could hear her cries from where she hid me begging you not to take her life. Is this freedom! Even though she was young and brave it did not mean she was different.She looked at me and said son, "Is this the end of our suffering?" She witnessed change of power from one fool to another,one lier to another and lived through the walls that she didn't want me go through. She saw injustice,corruption,brutality ,abandonment on law and every kind of suffering you can think about.
You raped my grandmother and called her a prostitute.You and your race,your ilk.Now my African land is filled with coloured babies.You whipped her occasionally. I promised myself not to kiss any frog. Now what is to become of me.I know nobody,no one. Only you who took my mothers life.It's better to be alone and happy than to be with someone I can't trust . I plead of you to take me with you anywhere you go.Don't let me be a victim of your brutal brothers.Rectify your wrongs with this one right.Adapt me.Here is a chance to clear you conscience."
Saul said those words and finally lifted up his head.Sam's eyes were filled with tears. He is a soldier,they never cry while at battle.He has a soft spot.He threw down his gun and walked towards Saul, held his hands and hugged him tight."From now your my son and I call you Themba.From today your name will be Themba.You'll go with me to the white land but you'll bare an African name.The color of your eyes will forever be African."Sam lifted Themba to his shoulders and went off with him,to his land.
As they walked down the road each mans focus was on them.They were rare.Never was a white man seen associating so close with a dark man. They judged them knowing nothing. They didn't not want to get a glimpse of what transpired. There rumors like flash reached every ear.A new era was yet to come! The two are cursed.The dark boy has betrayed his people.He's a traitor. Those words hurt Themba as he could understand his people's language. For some reason Sam noticed and became his source of relief,advising the young man.
To Themba, Sam was a man he was each morning in his mirror. He was finally going to the other side,where he believed the pastures are greener. His dream of boarding the birds of the air and the ships that docked at the shores was yet to be reality. He could not stop smiling inside his heart for he knew if he let it broad then he might be left behind.Fear reigned in him.This was a chance he was willing to grab by the hand.He did not know why but for some reason his soul was taken to a place he cannot tell.They boarded the ship.