Though the Sky Kings could be generous, they weren’t forgiving.
The men sat on the dirt floor, silent, heads bowed, not one of them daring to look him in the eyes. They had arrived last night, all nine of them crowded into Jidda’s old white Toyota and telling the same story. A man had flown a drone into the camp before killing the rest of the men and taking their female captive with him.
Samuel walked down the line and back again. “The first person to tell me how one man got the better of you will live with no punishment. Who will it be?”
No one spoke, nervous sweat beading on the men’s foreheads.
“Can none of you even look me in the eyes like men?” He motioned for Akunna to step forward with the ropes. “Last chance.”
Cowards.
Each one was gambling that he wouldn’t be chosen.
“Take Mobo.”
Mobo’s eyes went wide. “No, sir! No! There is nothing more to tell!”
Akunna and Joshua dragged Mobo to his feet, Joshua holding him while Akunna tied his elbows together behind his back, making sure the ropes were tight enough to cut off Mobo’s circulation. Then Akunna threw the long end of the rope over a beam and hoisted a screaming Mobo off the ground, suspending him there. The technique, calledtabay, was excruciating—and effective.
Mobo writhed. “There’s nothing to tell!”
Samuel walked up to him, looked into Mobo’s contorted face. “How could one man kill sixteen of you? Did you not have weapons?”
“Yes! At first, we could not see him, only the drone. It flew through the camp. I’m telling the truth! Please let me down!”
“A drone flew through the camp, and what did you all do?”
“I was surprised! We all stared at it. Some of us shot at it. Then this man started shooting. He shot from the forest. Automatic weapons. Men fell. Jidda. Peter. I ran. I hid. I beg you! Don’t do this to me!”
“A drone came out of nowhere. You stood there like idiots, not realizing that an attack was coming. Then, when the bullets began to fly, you ran?”
“Yes. Yes! I was afraid!”
“Did Jidda not give you orders to follow? Did you disobey him?”
“He was the first to die. Then Peter.”
That explained some of it. Men were like sheep without a leader.
“You said the drone came first and then the bullets. What did Jidda command you to do when he saw the drone?”
“I … I didn’t hear!”
That split second of hesitation gave Mobo away.
Samuel turned to Akunna and Joshua. “It’s cold in here, don’t you think? Let’s light a fire beneath Mobo to keep him warm.”
“No!” Mobo screamed, kicked. “I’m telling you the truth!”
“I don’t believe you.” Samuel stood back, ignoring Mobo’s pleas as Akunna piled up kindling and bits of wood beneath Mobo and ignited it with a lighter.
“Peter killed Jidda! Peter killed Jidda!” Mobo shouted the words, then lapsed into screaming.
Samuel had to laugh. The fire hadn’t harmed Mobo yet, and still he carried on as if he were being butchered. “Why would Peter kill Jidda?”
“For the woman! Peter wanted her. Jidda would not share. I told you everything! Put the fire out!”
Samuel nodded to Akunna, who kicked dirt over the flames. “Jidda wanted to keep this woman for himself, and Peter shot him to take her.”