It Means Freedom

Chapter 2

~° My secret is simply this:
I pray °~

Now, for this particular part of my tale, I do have to give you a little information about these "Kitchen Dutch".

You see, they were the first settlers of South Africa. Speaking a version of German, but they have an entirely different language.
Or atleast, they used to have.

They used to walk with God, following his laws to the letter.
And yet, only a few really did follow his example of Love.

As I made my way to the hotel, night had already begun to fall. Many people already went indoors, while I was sight seeing. I was told that this can be dangerous because of the war, but I brushed them off.

I made my way to my room, when suddenly a loud thud came from the hallway. Peaking my head out, I saw a elderly woman. Now, look, this woman wasn't exactly the one who I would expect to see at a high end Hotel.

Her long dress, smeared with mud and her eyes was sunken in. But what struck me was this, she didn't have shoes on. Infact, her feet was black.

She was sitting on the floor, cradling her foot. Feeling bad, I quickly looked into my trunk and grabbed my extra pair of shoes. "Madame, are you alright? You had a nasty fall, here, let me help you."

She only looked at me with curiosity, but she held out her hand anyway. I lifted her arm and helped her on her feet, placing her in the hallway chair.

I quickly showed her the shoes, "Madame, I noticed you didn't have shoes. I thought I could give you these." She only smiled and I put on the shoes for her, realising it was too big. But she did not mind at all, she only patted me and gave me a thank you smile while trotting off.

The next morning, a loud scream woke me. To be honest, I did over sleep. I climbed out of bed and walked to the window, rubbing my eyes.
Until the scream sounded again, making me look down onto the street.

Some men was harrassing a girl, trying to take something from her.
Just like the woman, she didn't have any shoes and her blonde hair was a tangled mess. I quickly threw open my trunk and put on clothes, bolting out of my room.

I ran to the fight, pushing one of the men away from the girl. " What are you doing to this girl!?" I demanded, but the ringleader smiled a toothless smile,"She has some debt to pay. Her father is in the war, so the debt falls to her."

I glared at the man, until I heard the girl reply in a language I've never heard. "My pa sal terug kom! Ek skuld julle niks!" The man sneered and tried to grab her, which I replied in a punch. "Keep away from her!"
The ringleader only wiped his bloody nose and jerked his head, his lakeys following him up the road.

"Good, you are save for -" I turned, seeing the girl had gone. Not so much as a thank you,only a small thing was left in her place, I picked up a small dirty ring attached to a chain. As I studied it, a man shouted at me to get out of the way.

Whatever this was, it would've been an important role in the events that happened next.

I placed my trunks on the carriage, the Coachman from yesterday checked on his horses. "How are you today sir?" He asked kindly, the horses a little uneasy. " Ah, I am well. Just something strange happened this morning." The Coachman's brow lifted as I walked to him, the ring a little cleaner.

" I saved a girl who was mugged this morning, she spoke in a strange language and dropped this. Know anything about it?" The Coachman picked it up, his dirty fingernails edging the grooves.

"This is a Kitchen Dutch family heirloom. Usually given from the grandmother to the son or son-in-law. Highly valued but utterly useless to you, sir" I only nodded and sighed. So much for seeing that girl again, let alone give her something so valued to her family.

"You ready sir?" He asks, climbing onto the carriage. "Yes, let's go." I climbed and made myself ready for an extremely long ride to Bloemfontein...

Finally, night fell. After riding all day, I have gotten sick of sitting. The Coachman said that it's saver to keep moving, but I am really hoping for one of those rare stops he makes.
"All right sir, I am going to stop for the night. We will continue on in the morning"

I was extremely grateful full. While he lit the fire, I grabbed my sleeping blanket, feeling rather sore. " Will you sleep well tonight?" I asked him, he only nodded and sat next to the fire.
"We can make shifts for those who keep watch?" He gave me a suprised smile.

"You are the best passenger I've had sir." I only smiled and patted him on the shoulder,"wake me when you can't keep awake." And I quickly fell asleep.

Gun shots fired, smoke filled my nostrils. " I woke with a start, looking around me. "What's -!" The Coachman fell to the ground, blood trickling from his temple. Bandits was ransacking the coach, yelling and cursing.  I made it to my feet, until a hand cupped over my mouth.

"If you want to survive, keep your mouth shut and stay low." A soft voice whispered, the hand moved from my mouth to my wrist. I moved around to a cloaked figure, pulling me with suprising strength.

As we made our way through the grass, the person slightly tripped. The person gasped with blood dripping from the footsteps the person made.
"Where are we -" the person snapped, pulling harder on me. "I said quiet! Move faster!"

As we moved, I blacked out. The last thing I remember is feeling the cold air and the distant shouts of drunken men.

Phew! Done and finished.
I just realised I made South Africans sound all mystical 🤣
Nah, we are just really stubborn and like cursing.

I hope you guys like this chapter,
Just remember: English isn't my first language and I have been told that my Grammar needs alot of work.

Just bear with it and point out big issues you guys see, I woul really appreciate it.

Comment and Like!
Wuvv ya!

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