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SHORT STORY: Of sunsets and forests

Friday August 26 2016
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“Come let’s go, there are thousands of hectares of forest out there. We can get lost… together,” Sean said, while feeling a calmness descend over him as he made up his mind, stood up, and held his hand out to her, asking for eternity without having to say the words. ILLUSTRATION | JOHN NYAGAH |

There was a chill in the air, even though the last rays of the sun created splashes of pretty pastels across the darkening sky. River pulled her shawl tightly around her shoulders, sighing at the beautiful scenery above her.

It had been a good day and she smiled at the realisation that they had won their petition and now the magnificent forest was safe. Rousing herself from her thoughts, she joined the other activists who’d picketed with her, as they loaded up their vans and got ready to leave.

“Riv looks like she’d rather stay here for the night,” one teased as they clambered boisterously into the two vans.

“You’re right, Tom,” River said jokingly, while lingering a bit more to take a final look at the way the trees swayed in the gentle twilight breeze. A few minutes later, she jumped into the driver’s seat of the lead vehicle and drove off with her team.

They drove through the dense forest, as twilight seamlessly blended into night, and they sang songs of victory and celebration. While rounding a corner, her voice high and spirited as she joined in the singing, River suddenly saw a figure standing smack in the middle of the narrow forest road.

Her eyes blinked rapidly as she sought to determine if she was seeing things, but there was clearly a tall, regal, man standing in the middle of the road. She stepped on the brakes hard, sending the activists careening forward while the other van smashed into them.

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Disoriented and shaken, she gathered herself and checked on the others. Suddenly, her window was smashed open, then her door was yanked open and strong arms grabbed her and she drowned in a pungent gas odour.

The last thing she had was a deep voice saying, “Careful! She’s to be taken alive.”

******

River knew it was time to wake up because the warm, hazy dreams were not real. Thoughts of a beautiful sunset made her want to burrow deeper into this bliss, but the memory of shattering glass yanked her awake. She opened her eyes wide and sat up as the memory of her kidnapping hit her like cold water.

Seated a few feet away, his head lolling back as he dozed in an armchair, Sean was startled by her sudden movement. He looked up and looked into beautiful, wild eyes that were looking around nervously. Then she focused on him with an intensity that shook his core. Time seemed to slow as they looked into each other’s eyes.

“I won’t hurt you,” he blurted out, his voice hoarse as he saw her eyes dart to the rifle in his hands.

River stared at the lovely, handsome, dangerous stranger. She tried to talk but her mouth was too dry. As if already in sync with her thoughts, Sean pointed to a bottle of water on a table. River shuffled to the table and quenched her thirst with the cool water.

“Who are you? What do you want? Why am I here?”

“I’m…” but he hesitated because he was not supposed to be talking to her. He should go and inform the boss that she was awake, but he knew it was he who was captive to those eyes. “My name’s Sean, I’m Don V’s right hand man. He…”

“I know who he is, he’s been threatening me ever since I started campaigning to save the forest,” River said, cutting him off.

She studied Sean, with his powerful frame and honest, handsome face.

“But, we already won the petition, what does he think this will change?” she asked, confused.

Sean’s eyes darkened, and he sat back pursing his lips as if to swallow some unpleasantness, “You’re to be an example.”

River felt her heart sink in her chest and felt her spirit deflate. It couldn’t end like this, not after how long and how hard she had fought, she thought, as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

River’s small, sobbing figure broke the last vestiges of toughness in Sean, causing his heart to melt for her. He would throw away all he had, for all he could have with her. He stood up with purpose and went to her, half expecting her to shrink away in fear or contempt, but she allowed him to put a comforting arm around her.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything bad happen to you, I promise.”

It was a statement, strong in its assurance and River believed every word.

“What can you do, Sean? I’m sure he has an army of… of…”

“Men like me?” Sean cut in, a bitterness and hurt coming through his tone.

“Come let’s go, there are thousands of hectares of forest out there. We can get lost… together,” Sean said, while feeling a calmness descend over him as he made up his mind, stood up, and held his hand out to her, asking for eternity without having to say the words.

There was no hesitation in River’s heart or mind as she placed her hand in his.

“Let’s go,” she whispered.

Sean knew daybreak was approaching because he could hear the early birds chirping. They had to slip out in the cover of darkness. It was their only chance. Being second in command and highly trusted, Sean had been charged to guard her in a room that was accessible to the outside. How could a man as ruthless as Don V predict the power of an emotion he was incapable of feeling, an emotion that had forged a bond of loyalty between two strangers?

Sean pulled the curtain open to reveal a large window that had a beautiful view in the daytime. He rattled it gently, and pushed open the rusty hinges, which made a low but distinct screech. They both froze, hearts pounding as they strained to hear any sound of men rushing to thwart their happiness. But there was no sound other than the calls of the birds through the open window, and their slow, fearful breathing.

Sean boosted River through the window and handed his rifle out to her, then agilely clambered out himself, took her hand and they started running. They didn’t stop even as their breathing turned ragged and the burn in their legs turned torturous, spurred on by a growing hope.

As they got to the top of a small hill, they stopped to rest their sore muscles, while taking in the beauty of the expansive forest in front of them. A pale wash of light on the eastern horizon cast eerie but beautiful rays on the tree-tops, and turned the fog covering the rest of the forest iridescent.

River took it all in, feeling at once energised and excited. She turned to look at him and smiled.

“Let’s go.”

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