Judgement

Richard and Ahmed, stood under the tree watching the agitated crowd 'negotiate' with the soldiers and the police. The entire thing looked like a protest gone awry, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

For days there had been rumors that the fundamentalist army was on the march, and that the insurgents were heading towards Azaure.

Richard and Ahmed were both students of the Government college there, and whilst most parents had managed to spirit their children away, a few children of not so wealthy parents had remained behind - left under the protection of the army brigade guarding the town that intelligence claimed the fundamentalists wouldn't attack.

The army brigade stationed there was supported by the local police station, but even combined would barely offer a challenge to the approaching army.

The agitation of the townspeople stemmed from the information that the army brigade was pulling out of the town and taking the remaining students with them, as it was no secret that the fundamentalist army abhorred anything that had to do with schools and education.

Unfortunately for the town, the army reinforcements wouldn't be able to get there in time, and the police were pulling out with them.

So feeling abandoned by their protectors, the townspeople had chosen to confront the army and police over their 'dereliction' of duty, rather than organizing themselves and withdrawing with the soldiers.

Shouts of "but I was born here..." and "why should we give up all we have worked for without a fight." rang out.

"I don't know why they're wasting their time." Richard said to Ahmed nodding his head towards the crowd, adding "It's not like they can't leave Azaure"

"Me kuma, I've been looking at them since" Ahmed replied, "they're not like us, who don't have people who care, or are rich enough to come and get us."

"It is their greed and stubbornness that will kill them." Ahmed said, adding "when it is not like they live in palaces?"

"What are they claiming that they own, and cannot abandon?" he asked.

"Eventually, like water, they will find their level when the time comes," Richard said.

"There you go sounding like an old man again" Ahmed replied with a chuckle - which Richard knew was a coping mechanism that Ahmed used to conceal his nervousness or fear.

There was a crowd of almajiri and other beggars gathered underneath a mango tree, glaring menacingly at the school premises. The hatred they oozed was palpable and in the light haze of the harmattan, one could almost see it snake out like tendrils.

Tilting his head towards the crowd of miscreants and mendicants, Richard shot a nervous glance towards the school gate as he said to Ahmed, "it's those ones I'm more worried about."

Angry cries and loud voices drew their attention back to the crowd of townspeople, as Richard realized that something was off. The crowd seemed to have grown in size even if only slightly, and they had taken on a confrontational stance.

Accusations of "they have sold out the town" and "they collected money to abandon us" were ringing through the air, and people were beginning to brandish weapons.

Glancing towards the crowd of miscreants, Richard noticed they had all gone silent and were watching the growing crowd. Their bodies appeared tensed, like some coiled spring waiting for someone to throw a release. Almost like they were waiting for some sort of signal.

Richard heard the engine of the military truck evacuating the students roar to life, and he sighed in relief. He grabbed Ahmed's shoulder saying, "let's go join the others before they leave us behind".