REGIME (English Version)

Chapter 9 - Reunion

I woke up on the riverbank, vomiting all the water I had ingested. It was a horrible sensation, as if I were about to cough up my lungs out of my chest.

- Becca?

When my consciousness is fully regained, I remember how I ended up there, so I get up in a panic to find my lover who had been shot before we jumped during our escape from prison. But this moment of euphoria was quickly interrupted as soon as I stood up.

I noticed my right leg was completely destroyed... I didn't feel much upon realizing it, but I was very scared and sat down. The bone of my shin was partially exposed. There was no bleeding, the blood was dry... but I could see the dirty and wet nerves and muscles.

I felt tremendous anguish, not only because my leg was screwed up but mainly because I couldn't find Rebecca in that state. It was when I decided to ignore the pain that was becoming worse and worse and leaned against the trunk of a tree to get up and have a better view of where I was.

I was alone in the place, which was good. There was no sign of human life nearby... but I needed help to find Becca. She had a terrible wound in her abdomen, and if she were still alive, she wouldn't last long.

Slowly but with great difficulty, I started to move uphill. The place had a slight elevation before the earth kissed the riverbank, but when I reached the top, all I saw were more trees and rocks. I hated admitting that I was lost. I looked up to gauge the time through the Sun, but all I could see was my vision gradually blurring. I was sweating cold, and a strong sleep suddenly tormented me... but I decided to fight for a few more moments of life... just to know if Becca was nearby.

I took a few steps, and just when I thought I could make it, a stab at the wound surprised me and made me fall to the ground.

I didn't faint right away... I remember I still managed to raise my arm and try to crawl, but slowly I accepted that it was my end.

Or maybe not...

I woke up lying on a kind of cloth stretcher. I was being carried by four women.

My only reaction was to raise my head slightly to see where they were taking me, and I was scared... it was dark, the path had masks, animal heads, and torches on wooden poles. Anyone in my situation would be desperate, but when I looked ahead, I also noticed that the wound on my leg was covered by large leaves, and I could feel a soothing coolness on my injured skin. For this reason, I figured they cared for me and wouldn't harm me.

We arrived at what seemed to be a hidden village. They led me to a hut made of wood and leaves. That's when I noticed their attire; they barely wore clothes, only a few adornments made of feathers, leaves, and animal leather.

- Bitxie Ktak Sá Urlá - one of the women speaks in an unknown language, and then I am left on the ground.

- Kadzje... tahm xedag mura? - Another older woman turns after we arrive and responds. I would love to know what they were saying, but I could quickly see from her facial expression that she was not pleased with my arrival.

Then the woman squatted near me and began to examine me. She rummaged through my hair, looked inside my ear, and widened my eyes as if I were a thing.

The other girls were still there, and as they talked, they seemed to be justifying why they had brought me through their gestures.

- Gzuta? - The lady who was near me seemed to be asking me something, but I obviously couldn't understand.

- ...???

- Gzuta... Gzuta xrezan?

- S...sorry, I...

- Oh, zjaqe dzan badar! - After I spoke, she turned her head to the other women who were there and gestured as if ordering them to do something. Shortly after, the girls left the hut, and the lady got up to pick something up from a table and then helped me sit up. She seemed concerned about me.

- Dzaní! - The old lady offers me what seemed to be a black tea in a shallow clay container. I didn't accept it at first, but the lady insisted and put the drink in my mouth.

It wasn't bad; it tasted like boldo tea.

Moments later, the four women who had left returned accompanied by Rebecca, she seemed scared, but her expression changed when she saw me.

- Ise! - Becca comes running to hug me.

- Love! I can't believe I found you!

- The girls probably recognized the language we were speaking and deduced that we had something in common. Thank God I found Becca in good condition.

- Wait... your belly - I look at Becca to see her wound, but when I lift her shirt, there was only a leaf glued with some kind of gelatin to her skin.

- Are you... okay?

- Yes! After we jumped into the river, I didn't see anything else. But I woke up in this village and was already feeling much better! At first, it was strange, but the women here treated me really well.

- Women? Are there no men here?

- No... I only noticed the presence of women.

- Wow! That just keeps getting better! - I joke and we laugh. Then Becca puts her hand on my face and looks at me with a smile and a loving gaze.

- I thought I'd never see you again.

- Apparently, we're not going to part so easily - I smile back at her, then the lady calls our attention.

- Dje tzzang! sin budangkia!

- She wants to show you around - Becca speaks as if she understood what the woman said.

- You already speak their language?

- You get the hang of it...

I was introduced to the place. It was magnificent! All the houses were made of natural materials; there were several facilities with animals, training grounds with spear targets, bows and arrows, and so on.

Everything seemed very happy and harmonious; the women walked freely, and the society was completely composed of women. They all shared their tasks, from taking care of the animals, gathering food, building weapons, houses, tools, etc.