Once Upon a Time in Shara

[Arette]

Mandla was keeping a short break from weaving a basket and trying to think how long he had been in this village already. Males were not allowed to learn anything beyond simple chores but because they were considered so low in worth and even stupid, some women weren't that careful when speaking around them. Mandla had learned from the other males that women they measured time somehow other than from movements of the sun and the rain season and had strange names for these periods of time. They didn't understand the logic behind the naming but they had taken the concept of a longer period and applied it to children's growth: there was birth year, walking year, nursing year and last weaning year. Since every man left their home village when they were about as old and stayed there only as long as it took the woman who had chosen them to give birth a child and then that child to be weaned, it was a good measurement.

 

The woman who had chosen Mandla for herself was Zuultah, the most respected Ayyiad in the village and unlike some women, she did not share him with anyone except with Nelisiwe, one of her daughters. Mandla's heart constricted at the thought of her; Nelisiwe was so sweet and kind even to the males unlike some other women in her position. Some of those who - to their mothers' dismay - could not use juju vented their anger to the only other things in the village who stood lower in the pecking order, the males. It was cruelty from Zuultah to make him lay with Nelisiwe because they cared for each others and it made him hate being with the older woman even more. But she did it for practical reasons.

 

Ayyiad who knew juju did not breast feed their children and that task fell for those Ayyiad who could not utilize mana. Nelisiwe had gotten pregnant before Zuultah but since the male her mother had birthed had demanded so much milk, poor Nelisiwe had been forced to wean Sipho, her own child, too early. Despite her best efforts, the baby had died and now Nelisiwe spent her love on Thulani who was on his weaning year... a sign that soon Mandla would be sent to some other village and he would never see Nelisiwe again.

 

Zuultah had been angry that both children were males but they had their uses as they could be traded to other villages. And even though Mandla seemed to seed only males, she continued to use him because she enjoyed taming him. Mandla wasn't like most of the males who had resigned to their lot or, even more despiseable, like those who tried to curry the favour of the juju Ayyiad by betraying other males. There was fierce anger and temper in him and he found it harder and harder to contain as Zuultah continued to torment him. And today was that time again, it seemed.

 

Mandla's friend Bheka was cutting fruits with a dull stone knife which was the only kind of tool males were allowed to use so they wouldn't hurt themselves and others. He nudged Mandla and they both watched Nelisiwe approach holding Thulani against her hip. When she saw Mandla, she was unable to hold her usual serene face and he was on his feet before he even realized it. He almost embraced her before he caught himself and cast a wary look at the other men who were seemingly focused on their chores. Three of them beside Bheka he could trust with everything but there were those who carried tales to the Ayyiad, especially the younger men who had not yet realized that their mothers, sisters and aunts would never care for them because of one extra part between their legs no matter what they did.

 

"What is wrong, Nelisiwe?", he asked gently and the woman burst into silent tears. Mandla clenched his fists helplessly and was forced to just watch her pain without being able to do anything. Thulani sensed the unease of the only mother he had ever known and would have joined the chorus had Bheki not taken him. Mandla gave him a greatful look and resigned to wait for Nelisiwe to be able to tell what was the problem. Not that he could help, he thought bitterly. He knew at least part of the reason why Nelis, his secret name for her, was here: Zuultah always sent her daughter to bring the summons to her bedchambers. But it had never made her cry before. Finally she was able to whisper that Zuultah had told her it was time she started preparing herself to feed another child and that she should lay with Shaka instead of him. Cold rage overcame Mandla at the thought of Nelisiwe with that spineless bootlicker but the frightened quiet pleas and pats brought him to his senses.

 

He hated himself for knowing that there was no way out for them. Running away was nigh impossible since neither one of them had been outside the village walls and Ayyiad would be recognized by their tattoos. Still, Nelisiwe was starting to loose her hope and will to live and he would be sent away soon. As he dragged her along to escort him, he promised her in a low voice that he would make it better somehow. He would even speak to Zuultah and beg her if need be even though it would hurt worse than any punishment he had ever gotten. It seemed to ease Nelis a bit and Mandla was almost angry at her for putting all her trust on him. She should do something herself too, like threaten Shaka the coward. But that was not like Nelis, he decided with a sigh and that was maybe why he liked her so much; because she was as different from juju Ayyiad as one could be. Nothing like that was witholding him back, though, he thought with a nasty grin. He knew how to hit a man to spots where it would not show. But that was a last resort for it was important that men kept together even if stone heads like Shaka ignored it.

 

Mandla walked a familiar route to Zuultah's large hut and her bed chamber where she was already waiting for him. She radiated power even when she lay relaxed on a divan and despite his intense feelings of dislike, Mandla could not but help but find her beautiful. She was short and plump and years were showing on her dark brown face and hair and many pregancies had left their mark on her body. But she knew her worth and her position and never let anyone else to forget it either. He had seen from the moon's phase that this was a time when she was fertile and knew that he would be required to actually enter her and not just relief her with his mouth and fingers like she other times wanted. Zuultah never let him have any pleasure with her save once or twice a month when she mounted him. This would likely be her last child and maybe that prospect would make her more favourable. That and his skill in pleasing her, a thought that made him uncomfortable. It may be the only way but he still did not have to like it as it took away his own worth.

 

The older woman spread her fleshy thighs and beckoned him forth. As he plunged his mouth into the dark folds of her womanhood, he played with the thought that he would take the small piece of flesh that was her place of pleasure between his teeth and just pull. Such a savage little movement and she would never feel that joy again. It was so very tempting but he was stronger than that. And even if he would abase himself with her, it was for Nelis and a good cause. If only he could convince himself that it was not shaming. Zuultah enjoyed it far too much and even more later when he would plead her.