The Silent Thief

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               The king of the natives gulped. He looked down at the spear angled at his throat. Everything around us was silent.

“What is this agreement you speak of?” He asked raising his hands.

“Let me and my men go now, and we will not harm you,” said the captain with such authority in his voice. Here he was, his own men tied up and many natives surrounding him, yet he could still stand brave.

“I could order my men in a second to kill you, yet you still dare threaten me?”

 “Yes.”

I knew we were dead when the king lowered his hands signaling his men. They stepped forward ready to kill us when suddenly a very familiar arrow flew by. Jabari, I thought instantly. The arrow penetrated a native’s bracelet and stuck into a tree leaving his arm unable to move. More arrows flew until all of the native men were stuck to huts, trees, or the ground by various things on their body including their loin cloths. Jabari walked out of the forest holding his bow and quiver of arrows. He walked straight to the king and I saw a tear role down his cheek.

What? I thought confused. They hugged.

“My son, you have returned home,” the king cried out loud.

Could my life get any more complicated?

Captain James lowered his spear obviously as confused as I was. I then remembered that my mask was not on, so I quickly scurried over to the side looking for it. A hand touched my shoulder and Sir William knelt down handing my mask to me. I pulled it on then asked him, “My key please?”

“Allow me,” he answered pulling out the key and locking the mask. He tucked it back into his pocket. “Another time,” he said noticing me glaring at his pocket. I wouldn’t fight him for it now, too much was happening around us.

“Father,” said Jabari to the king, “these men are not the same men who came and took me away. They saved me from the other white men. They are my friends,” he said touching his chest with his fingers.

 The king smiled even more and raised his staff yelling, “The yellow and white ship has not come to plague us again, but good men are in our village!”

The natives began celebrating and cheering. My head snapped up to look at the king instantly. What did he say about a yellow and white ship? I tried making my way through the cheering natives toward the king. When I reached him he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and exclaimed, “You, my friend, are a talented man!” He went back to cheering while squeezing me tightly.

“My lord, er King, er Sir?” I asked trying to get his attention. I wasn’t sure what I should call him.

“What is it?” He said smiling at me.

“May I ask how many years ago was this ‘plague’ of the yellow and white ship?”

 “Yes, well, let me think,” He answered scratching his chin then shouted again, “Twelve years!” He chuckled then ran to cheer with some other natives.

I went back to stand out of the way of the jumping natives. Captain James walked up to me.

“We have to leave. It’s already daylight,” he said adjusting his hat. The sun was rising above the trees; its light revealing the village around us.

“What about Jabari, Captain?” I asked searching for the tall African man.

“It will be up to him if he’ll want to stay with his father or not. I would miss the man though.”

The natives started to calm down. I spotted Jabari talking to his father. The king’s eyebrows were knit tightly and his lips were pinched into a line. Jabari was moving his hands like he was explaining something to his father. Finally they hugged and Jabari came to the captain.

“Captain, I wish to stay with you,” he said bowing his head.

 “Alright then, gather the crew. We are to leave in five minutes. I’ve had enough of the island,” Captain James said before turning away. While Jabari shouted out the Captain’s orders, I needed to find the king again.

“I will miss you, little talented man,” said the king when he spotted me. He picked me up and hugged me tightly. “Watch over my son, or maybe my son should watch over you,” he said to me.

 “I will,” I replied before finding the courage to ask, “May I ask another thing, what is the Fog, and about the yellow and white ship—”

“You must ask my son! I was not taken by them, as you can see; I have been on my island. And for the Fog, it lures men by the desire of their hearts,” he said before winking at me, “Women,” he shrugged his shoulders, “or whoever they love. For instance, they smell and see in their minds a woman. It may be their wife, daughters or whoever, and it draws them to it. It makes them do whatever it pleases because the man love the woman, you see.”

 I didn’t quite understand what the king was saying except for men loving women. That part I knew well.

“I do know one thing about the crew on the yellow white ship though,” the king said interrupting my thoughts, “There was a man. He stole the Fog. When that man gave his crew the Fog, they believe they were killing our people for the women they loved, for the people they loved. Love is a strong thing and can drive a man crazy. That is what the Fog does.” The king touched my shoulder. “God look after you, my friend. Go quickly now, your ship is leaving you,” he said pointing above the trees at the sails of the ship moving.

I cursed under my breath and started running. I yelled back, “Thank you.”

When I reached the beach, the ship was far out at sea. I looked to my right seeing the row boat. I dragged it into the water and started rowing furiously.

 “Those idiotic men!”

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Yay! They're still alive! Please comment and I will post sooner. If no comments come, so be it, but I also have a schedule now. I will post new chapters on Thursday.

God bless you,

Robin

P.S. If comments or votes come in, I will post more than once a week. Picture of Jabari on the right. ;)