Say Walah

21: Unexpected Guests

As I dragged the woman along the pathway, her constant struggling grated on my last nerve. I whirled around, exasperation clear in my voice. "Would you stop being so annoying? If I leave you here, you'll end up in worse trouble!"

She didn't say a word as if she understood, but the glare she shot back at me could have curdled milk. She snatched her hand away from my grip, and before I could react, she took off like a startled antelope.

"By the gods," I muttered, watching her sprint away.

I started after her, my longer strides eating up the distance between us. But just as I thought I'd catch her, she'd put on another burst of speed. It was like chasing a shadow - always just out of reach.

Finally, after what felt like chasing her halfway across the village, I managed to close the gap. Without ceremony, I scooped her up and tossed her over my shoulder like a sack of yams.

She immediately started pummeling my back with her fists, each blow punctuated by what I assumed were colorful curses in her language. I weathered the storm of her anger, trudging along the path back to the village.

People stared as we passed. Some pointed, others laughed outright. I heard one old woman cackle, "Ah, Orji! Is that how you court women these days?"

I gritted my teeth, feeling my ears burn with embarrassment.

As we approached the village square, just before the vigilante post, she managed to land a resounding slap on my face. The sting made me pause, and I noticed her frantically pointing at the post. Suddenly, I realized - her friend must still be there.

With a sigh, I changed course and headed for the post. There, leaning against the wall with that insufferably smug grin of his, was Amadi.

"Well, well," he drawled, eyeing the woman still perched on my shoulder. "You finally went to get her. I knew you couldn't resist playing the hero, Orji."

I scowled at him. "Shut up and give me the other prisoner."

Amadi's grin widened. "As you wish, oh great savior." He called out an order, and soon the other woman was brought out.

The moment she appeared, the woman on my shoulder renewed her struggles with such vigor that I had no choice but to let her down. The two women ran to each other, embracing and weeping, speaking rapidly in their language.

I nodded at Amadi, who waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Don't say I never do anything for you, Orji."

Rolling my eyes, I turned to leave. I'd done what I came to do. It was time to go home and forget this whole mess.

But before I could take more than a few steps, I heard quick footsteps behind me. I turned to see the woman I'd just rescued from the vigilante post running after me.

She stopped, slightly out of breath, her eyes darting around as if searching for a reason to trust me. Then, as if making a decision, she said in our language, "Thank you."

I blinked, surprised. Even her companion looked shocked.

For a moment, we stood there in awkward silence. Then, not knowing what else to do, I simply nodded and turned away again, my mind reeling.

I was barely a few paces away when I heard quick footsteps behind me again. Turning, I saw the woman - Rimi, as her companion had called her - hurrying after me once more.

"Rimi!" the other woman shouted, her voice laced with concern and frustration.

Rimi ignored her, focusing on me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. She pointed at herself and her companion, then at me, struggling to piece together words in our language. "Me, sister... follow," she said haltingly, then gestured vaguely in the direction I had been heading. "Home?"