Excerpt from Mpuku

CHAPTER NINETEEN

    The sun took its place. It was the center of attention as we stood in rows according to rank. “The time has come,” Abraham’s voice echoed. Sweat rolled down his temples from under his dark green hat. “Tomorrow-” his chest filled with air. “Tomorrow, the first group will be sent out to take back what is ours. Our cities, our government, our country. Many of you have been loyal for a very long time; living among the enemy for years. Learning their ways, compromising your integrity, yet never giving them a chance to break you.” His eyes scanned the group. “You have done well. You have served your comrades well.”

After months of intense training, I could now stand next to Blessing. She listened intently to Abraham’s speech. Jack stood with the other first rank soldiers standing on both sides of Abraham. He was wearing army fatigues with a rifle hanging from his shoulder. Thomas was standing next to him, arms folded across his chest.

“Some of us, some of you, will not return.” He swallowed. “But because of you our children will have better, know better, and live better,” Abraham declared as everyone erupted in cheers. “Tomorrow we fight, we fight, we fight! Fraternite, d’unite, de paix” He jumped off his crate as the cheers “We fight” grew louder and louder. Everyone began jumping and cheering. I felt a burst of energy shoot through my body and I jumped and cheered along with them. 

The air was cool and damp and the sound of jungle birds echoed through the trees. I shook Blessing.

“Come on, it’s time.”

The first group was going into the city. I didn't know how many there were, but it looked to be about two hundred men. They were carrying rifles, pistols, and grenades. Jack, Thomas, and Caleb were among them. And there was Kinshasa standing with them. He seemed so much bigger before Abraham had come, but now he was just another man-soldier. They had been training for this for a lot longer than any of the rest of us. Some of their group would stay behind and lead the rest of us when the time came.

We watched them as they began climbing into the back of a row of concealed trucks. Blessing ran up to Thomas and threw her arms around him. I looked away when he kissed her. I felt a lump form in my throat. Other girls followed and hugged and kissed their boyfriends. Bena went to Jack and hugged him and then hugged her other friends in the group. I melted into the background unable to move forward and say my goodbyes, my be safes, my return to us safely. 

There were no tears. Just goodbyes.