One Life Well and Truly Promised Page 5
“Oh Tunde,” she exclaimed as she approached closer. “It’s fantastic! You have to try!”
Akintunde blanched, his relief turning once more to fear and apprehension. He shook his head. “No,” he replied but did not retreat from her.
“Come Tunde, it’s not dangerous,” she reassured him as one jumper after another launched their bodies recklessly into the air and splashed safely down into the water. Akintunde felt a sharp fear for every one of them, but was also slowly becoming tempted to try.
“Come, let’s jump together,” Akhila implored and pressed her body next to his. Suddenly Akintunde felt warm all over and for some inexplicable reason, nodded in agreement. Akhila squealed in pleasure and led him to the far bank.
Akintunde climbed from the water like someone doomed and followed Akhila up the rocky bank in a slight daze, as if his body was operating independently of his mind. He did not want to jump from the ledge. He knew it, but nonetheless he soon found himself gazing out over the river and into the forest beyond. There were a lot of jumpers ahead of him; everyone chattering excitedly, so Akintunde did not panic when they reached the summit. Akhila smiled at him.
“It’s great, Tunde,” Akhila assured him and grabbed his hand and held it tight. Her touch felt wonderful and Akintunde focused on the feel of her hand and the sound of his own breathing as he waited. There was no turning back now. Every so often a young boy or girl would make the climb only to lose heart when it was their turn to take the plunge, but there was no easy way down. The cowardly had to worm their way back past those climbing to jump. It was a painfully slow process where the disheartened faced ridicule from all those going in the opposite direction.
Akintunde knew he couldn’t bear such shame. He would just have to gather his courage and leap. He was confident he could do it, but the line was moving surprisingly fast and before he had time to focus, Akhila pulled him up to the very edge.
“Wait until Dyla swims away,” she warned smiling down at the water. “We don’t want to land on her.”
Akintunde’s grip tightened on her hand as he gazed wide-eyed at the water below. At first the surface remained unbroken, but then the smiling Dyla surfaced and moved off down river.
“Our turn,” Akhila said excitedly. “We’ll go together on three,” she said ignoring the pain in her hand as Tunde squeezed harder.
“One, two, three!” She screamed with excitement and jumped just as Akintunde wrenched his hand from hers. Akhila felt a moment of shock, but then she hit the river and was under. When she surfaced she shook the water from her eyes and gazed up at Akintunde’s panic-stricken face.
“Come on!” She yelled up. “Jump Tunde!” She slowly floated down river, watching as her best friend stood frozen on the bank above. “Come on Tunde,” she whispered once she was clear, feeling her own bout of fear. She could hear the children behind him encouraging him to leap, but their support quickly turned to derision as Akintunde stalled on the edge of the rocks.
“Jump Akintunde!” Akhila implored and suddenly he was falling through the air. Rafiki, their old enemy, had rushed forward and shoved Akintunde off the edge. Akhila watched in horror as Akintunde waved his arms about wildly in an effort to right his body, but the bank was not all that high and there wasn’t enough time. He hit the water face and chest first with a loud, wet slap. From up top, a group of boys howled with laughter as Akintunde sputtered to the surface. His face was etched with pain, his skin already turning red. Dazed as he was, he made no effort to move out of the way of the next jumper.
Akhila began to swim quickly toward him, but Moya, an older girl reached him first and pulled him to safety. Rafiki jumped, followed by his cronies as Akhila paddled her way back upstream to Akintunde’s side.
“He’ll be all right,” Moya said with a stunning smile. She was a nice girl, seventeen years old, an adult already, though not yet married. She handed Akintunde off to Akhila and quickly rounded on Rafiki, who was swimming away from the landing area.
“Why did you do that? He could have been hurt!” She shouted aggressively, not in the least afraid of the bully, though he was slightly older and a great deal larger.
Rafiki stared at Moya in shock. He was half in love with her, and could hardly believe she was speaking to him. “He wasn’t jumping,” he sputtered as if this explained everything.
“You should have given him more time,” Moya continued pushing closer to Rafiki, who actually backed away from the beautiful young woman. He was a bit panic-stricken by the way the conversation was going. He wanted Moya to like him and not be angry with him.
“He wouldn’t have jumped,” Rafiki insisted, and in the background Akintunde knew what he said was true. He wasn’t going to jump…not if he stood there all day.
“You should still be more careful,” Moya added as she moved off. “Act your age.”
Rafiki colored, wanting to say something more, but Moya’s back was already turned as she swam quickly away. A boy near the bank laughed, but then fell silent under Rafiki’s gaze. In the silence that followed Rafikiturned and glared at Akintunde, his accusing eyes filled with hate.
“Let’s go back up and jump again,” Rafiki suggested quietly and began to move toward Akintunde. Akintunde’s eyes widened in fear and without hesitation he bolted in the opposite direction, swimming as fast as he could.
Rafiki chased after but only for a moment. Akhila quickly moved in his way.
“Let him be,” she insisted and Rafiki came to a stop. He thought about pushing past her, but his target was already too far away and moving too fast.
“Coward!” He yelled with a laugh and then turned back to his friends, ignoring Akhila. “You won’t always have the little princess around to protect you!” He added as he moved back to the path that led to the ledge above.
Akintunde continued retreating; it was a habit born long ago on the day he’d fallen from the tree. Both he and Akhila had faced unmerciful harassment from the older boy and his hulking friends. In an odd way Rafiki was the reason they’d grown so close. The constant need to be on guard and always watching the other’s back enhanced their friendship in ways that might never have happened otherwise. They helped one another, protected one another, and had quickly grown into an inseparable pair.
♀
Ilana and her husband Bahari sat on the porch drinking hot spiced wine while their daughter played in the melting snow with Akintunde. Both were enjoying the hot liquid and the unseasonable weather. The sun felt warm and strong on their faces, and it was good to get out after the long, snowy winter. Spring arrived several weeks back but today was the first truly warm day of the season. The snow, which was in places waist deep, was finally beginning to melt.
Ilana had Oda open the shuttered windows to let in the fresh air, despite the fact that it was only a few degrees above freezing. Even so, after the most recent cold spell the air felt delightful.
“It will be good to be rid of this snow,” Ilana stated and took another quick sip of her hot wine. The winter had been hard on the village. In all fourteen citizens had died, most were old and at the end of their lives, but Callon, son of Puta, the metal smith, and Beena, the granddaughter of Laurzinda, had both died of the burning sickness. Though she tried her best, in the end there was little Ilana could do but implore the gods, who at times could be very stubborn and merciless. Luckily her family had passed through the cold times unscathed.
Akhila’s throaty laughter echoed off the garden walls and drew Ilana out of her morbid thoughts. She and Akintunde were busily building a snow fortress; compete with walls and secret tunnels. Tunde was currently digging himself out from a tunnel collapse, much to the amusement of their daughter.
Ilana glanced at her husband, who was just finishing off his third cup of spiced wine. His cheeks were flushed and there was a vague smile on his face.
‘Now’s the time,’ she thought and took a quick sip of her own drink. She sighed as the warmth sank pleasantly down into her belly.
Bahari grunted and poured himself another cupful of wine. “Yes, Kayo will make a good match. He’s young and strong and will tie Susa ever more tightly to Awan.”
Awan was the powerful city-state located down the mountains to the southwest. Over the years of his rule, Bahari had worked tirelessly, forming close alliances with the larger community’s surrounding Susa, as well as with the province center Dur Untash. He’d already given a daughter to leading citizens of both cities, but Kayo was the son of Nahrtra, the chief warrior of Awan.
Of course Nahrtra might reject the match, which had not yet been proposed. Akhila was still a year from the age of promises and Kayo was just a young boy of thirteen. Even so, Bahari was confident. Akhila was an uncommon beauty and had much of Ilana’s look about her. Nahrtra would approve, he was sure of it.
“Perhaps we should keep Akhila close,” Ilana continued softly as she watched the youngsters begin repairs on the collapsed tunnel. Bahari frowned.
“We are not getting any younger,” Ilana persisted, “and it would be nice to have a daughter close by to care for us in our old age.”
“We have Alleia,” Bahari argued. They needed a strong connection to Awan, in recent years the Sumerians were getting bold in their attacks up the mountain. True Awan sat between Susa and the Lowlanders, and Dur Untash was a much more enticing target, still the threat existed and Susa would not fare well against an attack. The protective walls, which were started in the time of Bahari’s father, were still not complete and wouldn’t be for the foreseeable future.
“You’ve tasted Alleia’s cooking,” Ilana chided, “you truly want her fixing your dinner when I get too old.”
Bahari grimaced. Alleia was the wife of their eldest son Atol, and while she was a vision to behold, her domestic skills left a bit to be desired. “And you believe Akhila will be any better? Akintunde will likely be the better cook for all the interest she shows in the kitchen.”
Ilana smiled. Bahari was obviously thinking of Akintunde as a possible mate as well, it reinforced her belief that they should be paired…that they were destined to be together. She shrugged and took another sip. Bahari followed her example.
“They’re happy together,” she added, nodding to the two oblivious children. She thanked the gods that Akintunde had fallen on his left arm. It had never healed properly and the boy could no longer straighten it completely, but it did little to interfere with his slinging…he was by far the best young slinger in the village, second only to his father and may one day even surpass him. It was a valuable skill to possess, both in hunting and warfare, plus it added prestige to his name; such would not be the case if he’d injured his right arm.
The children laughed together in unison.
Bahari grunted again. He would never openly admit that his daughter’s happiness mattered to him. He loved Akhila’s smile; he loved her laugh…and he loved the idea of keeping her close. He was sure that any children she bore would be exquisite, no matter the husband.
“I will think on it,” he said gruffly.
Ilana smiled inwardly and filled his cup one more time.
Six months later, like a flower garden planted from seed, the idea finally blossomed in her husband’s mind and he negotiated with Hiral over the possible match. Of course Nari and her husband quickly agreed and soon the entire village was buzzing about the pairing. In a culture of arranged marriages it was somewhat rare for the prospective mates to know one another, and for friendship or even love to exist between the two was practically unheard of.
It was quickly clear that the majority of the village approved heartily of the match; after all few could remember a time when Akhila was present without Akintunde by her side, and vice-versa. They were two halves of the same coin, Akhila the moon to Akintunde’s sun;or as most would attest, the other way around. Of the two, Akhila was clearly the leader, Akintunde just reflecting the bright light that emanated from her. The one thing everyone could agree on however, was that the two belonged together and such belief made the announcement celebration all the more festive.
The only villagers that seemed reticent were Akintunde and Akhila themselves, and at the celebration they carefully avoided each other, acting shy and slightly confused as the entire village congratulated them on their good fortune.
Ilana watched the pair closely, wondering how long the announcement would create an uncomfortable barrier between the two. It broke, however, even before the celebration was complete. It was then that Ilana knew she’d been correct. The two were destined. This life was for them.
Chapter Three
Akintunde and Akhila
3824 B.C. Three years later.
The sweet smell of river grass filled his nostrils as the weight on his upper back and neck forced his head down against the soft earth. Akintunde, his eyes closed tightly against the dirt and sand, struggled to free himself but was beginning to despair. He squirmed and fought to no avail until suddenly his right hand pulled free from beneath his body and he was able to shift his weight. The bank of the river was not steep, but the incline was enough to pitch his opponent off momentarily. Akintunde instinctively reached out and grabbed a firm, bare leg, and with a smile he pulled it tightly to his chest. A cry of surprise rang out in the late afternoon air and the two bodies began to tumble down the grassy slope.
Over and over they rolled, each grappling for any advantage as they fell, until finally they hit the flat sandbar at the bottom of the hill and came to a stop. They were side by side for a moment, each trying to rise while holding the other down. Akintunde fought hard but Akhila, though no longer taller, was still a bit stronger. She was soon sitting on his chest and smiling down at him in victory.
“You’re mine again,” Akhila taunted, holding his wrist tightly, pressing them into the hot, white, powder-soft sand. Just because they were now promised didn’t mean she was going to take it easy on her friend. At fifteen he was now slightly taller, but she was still stronger and much more aggressive.
Akintunde bucked his hips in an effort to throw her off, but Akhila remained steadfastly on top, laughing, before suddenly bending down close. At first Akintunde thought she was about to spit in his mouth, so he thrashed his head from side to side in an effort to avoid the slimy indignity. But Akhila just waited, hovering close, and when Akintunde finally stopped squirming she bent down and planted her lips directly onto his for the second time in their young lives. Akintunde’s eyes flew open, but Akhila’s were closed down tight. Her lips were soft and warm and she kept them pressed firmly against his. Akintunde went completely still, as if paralyzed, and then Akhila’s mouth parted ever so slightly and her moistened tongue flicked against his lips. Akintunde felt a flood of warmth in his midsection and then an odd twitch in his groin. He flushed with embarrassment and with all his strength thrust his hips and body upward again. This time he managed to throw Akhila off into the sand next to him.
Akhila laughed happily, though inside she was a bubbling cauldron of emotions. Ever since her Moon Day celebration, now six months past, she’d been thinking of her friend Tunde in a different way and it confused her; she felt out of control and unsure of herself for the first time in her life. She feared she might be going crazy. Her actions were completely unpredictable and she really had no idea from one moment to the next what she was going to do. Just the other morning she’d blurted out to her mother that she was in love with Akintunde. Her mother just smiled and nodded, as if she’d known this all along. But how could her mother know? She was still unsure of her true feelings, even after her declaration…and now, before she’d even realized what she was doing, she’d held Tunde down and kissed him.
“Why did you do that?” Akintunde asked angrily, and watched the smile fall from Akhila’s face as a shadow drifted behind her eyes. She scowled for just an instant then once more broke into a wide, confident grin.
“Because I wanted
to know how my future husband kisses,” she answered with a shrug. “We’re only two full moons from marrying you know,” she added, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but then she hurried on in an attempt to cover her emotions. “I saw Natine with one of the Upper Garden whores in the alley behind my house,” she explained with a laugh. “They were kissing and groaning. It was funny,” she continued in what she hoped was a lighthearted manner. For a moment the two just stared at each other. “I don’t know how the whores do it; Natine is so fat…and hair grows from his ears.”
Akintunde considered that a moment. “Maybe he kisses well,” he suggested and they both tried to image the fat baker with this special skill. All the while Akintunde was very aware of his own lips, which were still burning from Akhila’s recent touch.
Akhila shrugged her narrow shoulders. “Maybe,” she replied skeptically and then laughed again. “I wanted to try it, but I didn’t want to kiss Natine.”
The two youngsters let the implication of her statement hang in the hot afternoon air for a moment, each ignoring it in their own way. “Since we’re to be married, do you want to try again?” Akhila finally asked hopefully. It was really all she wanted to do, but she’d never admit it, especially to Akintunde.
Akintunde frowned. Akhila was Akhila, and the gods had put her on this earth to race, to wrestle, and sometimes as a target for the mud-balls launched from his sling. He was still growing accustomed to the fact that she would soon be his wife.
She was a friend, a true friend, but even so, thoughts of kissing her were new to him and had only recently crossed his mind late at night, when he was alone in the dark. It was not something he considered during daylight hours…until now. He stared at Akhila for a moment, his eyes helplessly drawn to her mouth and lips as she waited expectantly. Her large eyes stared back at him and they sparkled in a way he’d never noticed before. In fact, her face had suddenly taken on an entirely new dimension. Her cheeks now looked soft when they never had before, and her jet-black hair glistened in the sunlight like a thousand little fireflies were caught in the strands. She was still Akhila, but somehow different, somehow she’d turned beautiful overnight, and the change caught him unsuspecting.