A Lion in the Sudan

Part title

If I stabbed him now, would it be a good thing?
He thought, looking at the back of a long robbed man  that seemed lost in thought.
He loathed the man. That man stood on the edge of a cliff and was lost in thought,
This was a paradox he had noticed in this one. That man had a fearsome reputation
as a warrior and as a leader. The whole of  the Sudan trembled at the mention of his name yet often he seemed perturbed by heavy thoughts and frequently was in that trance like state .
The man was often prone to reverie.
He loathed that man but there was an aloofness and a piety that wafted from him
that was akin to that of the learned ones of his village. The man was part warrior and part spiritual leader more like a wise man than an Iman.
He could stab him or shoot him. That thought was probably the course of action that the Gods wanted him to take . He was tempted to do it. The Gods wanted this tyrant to fall. Many tribes
would rejoice if that man was to die. He personnaly did not fear the columns of White men much.
He doubted that they would be much of a problem but this man he feared and loathed.

-Kankan,

A soft voice said startling him. It always shocked him that the man had such a soft soothing voice, it did not convey the violence and evil that resided in the man. It belonged to a pious man. Oh how he hated that man and he hated the name by which he called him.

-Yes, Faama

His chief was still looking over the horizon. His thoughts seemed to be far away. He was contemplative  .

-What is the latest news from the Americans ?

The Chief always referred to the denizens of neighbouring Liberia as *Americans*.
He did not consider them as being part of any of the tribes. Liberia was an oddity in his mind
a creation of the Imperialists but he still relied heavily on the communication lines and the accords with Freetown

-The news is positive Faama, The goods should arrive in Kankan in half a moon cycle's time barring any problems or any raid.

The chief nodded . His gaze still lingered over the horizon

-You and I believe in different Deities Kankan. I believe in the One whereas you believe in the many .I am shrewd enough to know that your heart does not belong to Allah despite your conversion but I will ask you to pray, Pray to your Gods and I will pray to mine . If we do not win here  we are done for and French rule will hold sway.

Kankan noted. He should kill the man and the Frenchmen be damned. His Gods wanted it.
he wanted it . But the man in front of him seemed like a shell of a man one that was plagued by dark thoughts.

-You loathe me Kankan. You cannot hide the truth from me . I see it in your eyes , I hear it in your voice. I am hated by many heathens such as you and also many men of the Faith , of Allah. Men of worth are measured by the hateful glares of their audience. I believe Allah is with me and am therefore unperturbed by those glares.

The Chief turned around and looked straight into his eyes. There was power in those eyes.
There was a peace tinged with madness.

- You loathe me and fear me but you should fear the Frenchmen more. I learned that the hard way at Keniera. It was only by the Grace of God that we were able to beat them during that siege.
The British have sold us many of these riffles but I am well aware that the quality is probably not up to par with those the Frenchmen wield. IF only we had these weapons Kankan , imagine, no power would stand in our way.

Kankan agreed with him on that. The French troops had fearsome weapons and their discipline was second to none but he did not fear them. They were not hard men and a man had to be hard to suffer the pleasure of the Gods

-Are the Mines protected? the Chief asked

-Yes Faama, The French columns are approaching . They should be here within the hour

The Chief  noted and looked up in the sky.

- You see Kankan the sky. It is blue and reddish , huge and fearsome. It is beautiful.
The birds fly amongst the clouds and heavens and they are free. They do not have
the burden of destiny to lessen their stride. I am afraid . Is it Allah's will that I defeat these Frenchmen. Will I, will we ?Are the units ready ?

-They are Faama, 10 units of Sofas with riffles. cavalry has also been deployed as we planned.

The Chief nodded. He walked towards him and grabbed him by the shoulder.

-Pray to your Gods  Kankan and I will pray to mine. The Frenchmen are coming towards
the Buré Gold Fields. They want to starve us out. Let them come. We might die today but as my name is Samori we will  make them bleed for every step they take.

Kankan was caught by that gaze. There was steel there, fear and resolve and glints of tranquility  and madness . He loathed that man , and Loved him....

A Lion in the Soudan, Dramatization by Alexis Saunders aka Alseny Janneh