Two Moons by J. Raymond Ractliffe - Chapter 7

Two Moons is a new novel by J. Raymond Ractliffe that explores the inner spirit life of Africa, her people and their powerful faith in the world of the Unseen.

The Mark of the Two Moons
Chapter 7

Jeremy stirred finally under the withered tree. The cool of the coming night had crept into his bones and made him shiver. Pain from every muscle greeted him as he looked over and saw Konjaru slumped against the stone. The newest of the night stars had already come out and little of the day remained on the horizon.

Jeremy heard a faint rustle beside him, he looked to see the Old Woman sitting by the tree, her small silhouetted clear against the coming starlight. A soft smile on her lips peering at the sky. Majura seemed to be barely breathing, concentrating on her thoughts and daydreams far away. She seemed not to have noticed that he had stirred but continued to look out over the plains and valley.

Jeremy lay for a while, feeling his mind find its foothold against the dreams and blood of a charging rhino that still overshadowed his awakening. The thunder of its hoofs and blowing earth still echoed in his tired heart. No mortal man is fearless before a rhino's charge. Poor Matthew had had little chance to steel his young blood against it. Konjaru began to surface from his slumber and dreams.

 "The boy sleeps now, the blood has stopped." Majura said to the open night sky without looking at either of them. "He is by the fire now, sleeping and will be there in that place until the new sun has come.”

Jeremy quickly looked at Konjaru who in the haze of early night translated to him.

"Thank God Konjaru" he said out loud. "Tell the Old Woman that we are very grateful for what she has done. How is he now? How much damage is there to him? Will he..."

With a small hand now held up between them, Majura silenced the words of fear from Jeremy, they were falling from him now as water turns and rolls over stones in the river.

"The golden boy has missed the coldness of death. The long horn did not cut as deep as feared nor taken his spirit. The bright blood is no more, but the sickness that came from his own body had turned his blood hot and fevered. Warm broth filled with spirit medicines from Ngai have turned the churning winds that flow within and will bring back his strength. Now we must wait until he has returned from his place of storm fevers. It can be many days."

Konjaru translated to Jeremy, who nodded in quiet approval as he listened to the Old Woman. His shoulders once again slumped in relief, the day's fears now clearly at an end.

"You can stay here until the stars go, then you can go to your home. He will not be going back with until the fevers have gone. This one," as she pointed to Konjaru, "he will stay until you return. His time here is not complete."

Jeremy heard this, frowning. "I can't leave him here" he thought. "I still have to try and get him back to Doc Thompson, make sure the stitches have been put in right and see that whatever she had used to dress his wounds, won't make him worse.”

He turned away briefly trying to think but the weariness was clouding his mind and he was unable to concentrate.

They had started off in the morning walking from the house on their hunt. Claire would be worried sick at their not returning before nightfall. Too many men not returning home at night after a day out on the never made it home to be warmed by their fires. Fresh mounds on hills with tall marker stones the testament to a day's tragic end.

Little he could do about it now. Strike out at first light. They had carried Matthew for long miles before reaching this place. That, and the distance travelled before the clash, it would take the better part of the day until they would see the tall trees surrounding the Blue Barn rise from the horizon.

"The boy will leave here after the hot blood has gone.” Majura spoke clearly now to them both. After Konjaru had spoken her words, Jeremy realized that to argue with her would be a waste of time. He would have to trust that all was well and pray the healing of Matthew would follow quickly.

Wearily, Jeremy turned back to the spot of his earlier rest, to find solace somewhere in the night and rest his spirit.

"You can go now.” Majura pointed to one of the crumbling huts.

Majura rose from her stone and began her shuffled walk back to her fire. Her day was done and the warmth of her fire and the visions waiting in the smoke now filled her mind.

Both Jeremy and Konjaru rose as one and made their way to the side hut. As they approached, they saw the gentle glow of a fire that had already been prepared for them. The firelight rose through the strawless roof and through sagging mud walls. Two bowls filled with strong aroma rested by the stones of the fire. Without the need to bend low to enter the doorless hut, they came to the side of the fire, each picking their spots to fold themselves into the earth. They sat cross-legged, silently drinking the warmth. Bowls put to the side, they each slumped each against a wall and gave in once again to the warmth of the fire and fullness of their bellies.

The day was now slipping from their minds as they let their hearts wonder to more gentler springs. Night mists folding over their eyes, closing them from the day. The last they saw was a golden fire burning against the now dark sky filled with bright African stars.

The grinning spirits that watched from the shadows in the hilltops and under the burned great stones nodded their silent approval.