The Purlieu Experiment
Chapter 3
Copyright 2015 & 2021
On the third year after Chiku was born, Halisi cycled again. A year later Halisi gave birth to the male heir that Farasi wanted.
With the birth of Heri, their lives changed. Heri had everything a prince could want, but Chiku had to settle for the gift of life from her grandfather. As long as Heri lived, Chiku would be safe. Farasi had no interest in Chiku. In fact, his only interest in Halisi appeared to be the fact that she was raising his heir to the throne.
Donte felt relieved by the idea that he was now free to leave Nyambani. At the same time, he didn't know if he wanted to leave. Now that he would no longer be forced into a relationship with Halisi that neither of them wanted, they could both enjoy their life on the farm with the children. He wanted to be a father to his children, but he also wanted to go home. This was the cost of revenge – lives hanging in limbo because of one emotional decision.
He had been only seventeen when he exchanged vows with Liana, and she only sixteen. By the time she was seventeen, she had a baby to look after, and a mate who wasn't yet a man. She had only been twenty-one when she died, and he only twenty-two when he came to Nyumbani. A person did a lot of growing up in hard times, and he hadn't really known any until Liana died. Here in Nyumbani, he had been forced to grow up, not merely grow older. In fathering children, he had created a responsibility. His children needed his influence – especially Heri. Chiku needed his protection, Halisi needed his help with the farm and the people of Nyumbani needed his assistance in hunting. He didn't know how much longer he could stay, but he accepted the responsibility.
He had never received one reply to all the letters he had written to his family. He could only think of two reasons for that. The first was that his letters had never been delivered. He could imagine Farasi doing that and thinking the less they knew about what was happening in Nyumbani, the better. As far as he knew, Farasi had kept his bargain not to raid in Bergen or Libertad. If raids had been conducted in other colonies, he was unaware of it. The second reason he considered was that Farasi was intercepting any letters addressed to him.
Perhaps that would change if Farasi realized he was staying because he wanted to stay, and not because he was a captive. He had been in Nyumbani for five years. A few more wouldn't matter to him or his family, but it would make a difference to Halisi, his children and the farmers near them. There were so many things they wanted to learn from him – and he wanted to teach them. He owed them. They had taught him the art of loving his enemies until they were no longer enemies, but friends. For now, Nyumbani was home.
***
Donte didn't know when Farasi started raiding other colonies, or even if it had ever stopped, but he became aware of it the day he took Halisi and the children to the main colony. Farasi had requested to see his grandchildren. The request to see both made Donte suspicious, so he decided to go with them. Farasi had never expressed interest in Chiku before. Why now? He was acutely aware that he now had only one way to ensure her safety. He didn't want to die, but he'd give his life before he allowed Farasi to harm her. He had decided that if he felt Farasi was going to harm her, he would terminate the King – which would result in his execution.
When they arrived in the colony, he sensed fear and anxiety. A crowd had gathered at the execution area. He lowered Chiku to the ground beside her mother and ordered her to stay there while he investigated.
As he broke through the crowd, what he saw made him gasp in horror. A woman knelt beside the beheading block; her long red hair pulled to the side, exposing her neck. Her eyes were a deep green and they expressed terror as they found his face.
Donte signaled the axe man to wait and sprinted to find Farasi. He found the King talking with his officers. Donte spoke to him without being acknowledged.
"You can't do this, Farasi. This will bring more suffering to your people. Lockfowk will retaliate."
Farasi gave him a lofty look. "You will address me as Monomi and you will speak to me only when you are asked to do so."
Donte had never called him Monomi and he wasn't about to do so now. Monomi was a term of respect for a Mascot in high command. He had no respect for Farasi.
Donte looked him in the eye. "If you do this, you will betray your colony. Let the woman go. What harm can she do you?"
Farasi glared at him. "You may go home now. You are no longer welcome here. This is none of your concern."
Donte looked at Kafil. "It is of concern to anyone who cares about Nyumbani – or Mascots. That woman is a Mascot. If you kill her, you will bring retaliation to your people."
Farasi grunted and waved a hand in dismissal to Donte. "Go home now." He turned and looked at the guard.
If he left, this woman would die; and possibly Chiku. He knew what he had to do. The parliament would have removed Farasi from power if they had stayed. Someone had to do something, and it had to be done before he could signal the axe man to continue.
Donte balled both hands into fists and prepared to put all his strength into one killing blow. "Farasi!" He yelled, and when the king turned, he hit him on the chin with both fists at once. Farasi's head snapped back and his neck popped with a grating sound as the vertebra broke. He dropped to the ground, staring up at Donte with a surprised expression – as if wondering why he would betray him.
Donte felt no satisfaction as he watched Farasi die. Maybe he should have left as Farasi said and returned with help, but there wasn't time and he didn't dare leave Chiku to the mercy of this monster.
A hand gripped his arm and he turned to find Kafil standing beside him. Kafil's grip was surprisingly gentle as he spoke.
"Come with me, Donte."
Donte walked beside him, fearing his weak legs would collapse under him. He felt nauseated. He felt no remorse for killing Farasi - no sympathy for Farasi at all. And yet, he felt shame for his betrayal. Farasi had trusted him. Everyone trusted him. The fact that he had been allowed to be so close to Farasi was proof of their trust. One other thing troubled him deeply. It was bad enough that he had killed a person in front of his children, but he had killed their grandfather - Halisi's father. He had tried to teach his children by example rather than simply his words. What example had his actions given them today?
He glanced at Kafil. "Don't let them kill the Lochfowk woman. It will bring disaster on your colony. You must set her free."
Kafil frowned. "This is all you ask?"
Donte hesitated before responding. "And that you don't let my children watch my execution."
Kafil stopped; his expression a mixture of surprise and confusion. "You do not ask that we spare your life?"
Donte met his gaze. "Would it do any good?"
Kafil shook his head. "I suppose not, but this is certainly not something I will enjoy."
Hopefully no one was going to enjoy it. Kafil said nothing more until he took Donte to a room with no windows.
"The Lochfowk woman has been spared for now. Halisi and the children will be hidden in a safe place until we know who will be in control. I must even hide you to assure that the council decides your fate instead of those loyal to Farasi. It is difficult to determine which members of Farasi’s raiders can be trusted."
Donte considered his words. Farasi's death didn't assure a sudden shift of power. In fact, things could likely get worse before they got better. While alive, Farasi had maintained control over the raiders. At this point, power would go to the strongest. Although Kafil was only in his early twenties, he had the backing of some influential people. While he had often sided with Donte on issues, he had never given Farasi reason to regard him as an enemy. In fact, Farasi appeared to admire him.
Kafil pulled the door shut and bolted it.
***
Donte dipped the quill into the ink and paused over the blank sheet of paper. He glanced up to see if the guard noticed that his hand was trembling. The guard had turned away, probably trying to give him some degree of privacy. In spite of what he had done, he was being treated with the respect any Mascot might expect from colonists.
He was not being forced to write the letter. In fact, it was his idea. He understood and accepted the consequences of his decisions – all of them. Thirty years ago, if one Mascot had killed another, the decision about punishment would have been left to The Parliament, but Purlieu had been left to rule as best they could. Since Donte had killed the ruling Mascot in Nyumbani, it was up to a council of colonists to decide whether their colony would continue as a monarchy or reform with another kind of government. If they chose to form a government where colonists ruled, they would be the first colony on Purlieu to do so. He’d like to see how that worked out, but that wasn’t going to happen.
He lowered the quill and began writing to his grandfather.
"I murdered Farasi today. I did it with the full knowledge that I would be executed. I came here with the intent of killing those responsible for the death of Liana and our children. Those men were executed at the orders of Farasi within two weeks of my arrival. Tomorrow I will be executed for my crime. This is something they must do. I bear them no animosity and I ask that there be no retribution from you or Dad. The Nyumbani need time to reform their government so that they can live in peace with other colonies."
Farasi was dead now and his raiders had been scattered. Being a Mascot didn’t exclude Donte from human emotion. He was frightened - more so than he had ever been in his life. He remembered in vivid detail the accusing eyes of the disembodied head that had rolled to his feet during an execution six years ago. Almost as much as death itself, he dreaded the public execution. The execution of the only fertile Mascot in Nyumbani by colonists and in the presence of the entire colony might give the colonists ideas about eliminating all Mascots. Halisi and his children were Mascots.
The men Farasi had ordered executed six years ago had deserved their fate. The woman captive they held now did not. Farasi's last raid had been on the colony of Lochfowk. Donte knew little about that colony except they had remained isolated after the departure of The Parliament. Being isolated had not made them impervious to Farasi’s raids. Kafil had told him that, in the last year, the raids had resumed. Before, they had only brought back food, equipment and equines. This time they had brought back a captive – a woman Mascot. They had raped her repeatedly last night and brought her out for a public execution this morning, as though she were a criminal. Farasi had finally gone over the edge of insanity, into full tyranny.
It had not been Donte’s intent to free the Nyumbani colonists by assassinating their King. As a captive Mascot, he had stood by and watched for six years, silently praying for a revolution. No telling how much longer he would have refused to become involved if Farasi had not decided to execute the captive.
Donte dipped the quill again. Grandfather and Dad had a right to know about his children.
"I have a daughter and son here. I hope one of them will eventually rule and bring peace - and that my death will eventually have some value.
Donte."
He folded the paper and placed it in the envelope. He stood and handed it to the guard. "Please make sure Pieter gets this."
The guard nodded. "We will send someone tonight." He left the room.
It wasn't the first time Donte had tried to send a letter to his family, but this time it was in the best interest of the Nyumbani to make sure the letter was delivered to his grandfather.
After the guard left, Donte sat on the cot and cradled his chin in one palm, his elbow resting on one knee. He imagined the look on Pieter's face when he read the letter. A lump grew in his throat. He had failed them.
Six years had only partially dulled the pain, and none of the guilt. Liana had asked him not to leave that day, but he had made the choice to go hunting instead. He would carry that guilt with him until he died – which would be tomorrow morning.
In a way, the idea of execution was a relief. He was emotionally and physically exhausted. No matter what he did, it seemed to result in suffering for others. He had been unable to reach Liana and Bjorn in time to save them and his actions today would result in abandonment of Chiku and Heri. With all the attributes of a Mascot, he still couldn’t even protect his children. As with Farasi, everyone would probably benefit from his death.
As frightened as the colonists were of Farasi, they were even more frightened by the prospect of retribution by other colonies for what Farasi had done. Hopefully that fear would lead to the release of the Lochfowk woman. She had done nothing to them.
The Nyumbani were not bad people. They were simply conditioned to obey their leader. Even now, when they had the opportunity to change the laws, they felt morally bound by them. The law of their colony dictated that violence was punishable by death. He had committed a violent act, even though he had done so to prevent more violence.
That evening, the guard brought him food but he couldn't eat. Later Halisi and the children visited him one last time. Donte knelt on the floor and Heri and Chiku darted across the room into his waiting arms.
"Baba!" They both screamed.
He took each of them in an arm and stood, uncertain what to say.
Halisi met his inquiring gaze. "I told them you were going away."
He nodded; a lump growing in his throat. They would think he had abandoned them. What else could they think? Heri would be confused, but he'd get over it. He probably wouldn't remember who his father was. It would be different for Chiku, though. At five, she was unusually aware - even for a Mascot.
Chiku put a hand on each of Donte's cheeks and turned his face to hers, searching his eyes. "Please don't go away, Baba."
He closed his eyes and held her close, enjoying the softness and warmth of her little body one last time. "I love you, sweetie." He whispered to her through a constricted throat. "I don't want to leave you, but I must." He released her and pulled her back so he could look at her tear-stained face.
"I want to go with you," she said, her large brown eyes begging him to relent.
He gazed into her eyes. "I need you to be strong. Mama needs you."
"Will you come back?" She asked.
He shook his head. "I cannot come back. I have done something bad."
She sniffed. "You hit Babu and knocked him down?"
Some day she would know he killed her grandfather, but right now it was best that she thought he only knocked him down. Hopefully, she would understand when she was older.
Halisi came to his rescue. She held her hands out to Chiku. "Come to me now so Heri can say goodbye to Baba."
Chiku reluctantly went to her mother and Donte hugged Heri close, kissing his cheek. Heri's eyes were not quite brown and not quite dark blue. Farasi had been delighted that he favored Donte.
Donte released Heri and let him sit on his arm as he turned to Halisi and Chiku.
"Thank you for bringing them to see me. Are you being treated well?"
She met his gaze. "Kafil sees that we have everything we need - and more. We are safe and comfortable."
Donte nodded, his throat constricting so that it was difficult to speak. "Tell him I am grateful."
Her dark eyes implored him. "Why, Donte? You didn't even know her."
For a moment he looked into her eyes. In six years, had she learned nothing about him? He sighed. "I felt it had to be done, Halisi. I'm sorry for you and the children, but I still think it was the only way. At least now Chiku will be safe."
She glanced at Chiku. "He wouldn't hurt her now. He loves...loved her."
He didn't argue. Let her think of her father in any way she wished. Farasi would no longer be a threat to any of them.
He set Heri on the floor and took Chiku from her arms. Lowering Chiku to the floor, he turned to Halisi and reached out his arms for her. For a moment she hesitated. She had never hugged or kissed him and it was clear that she wished things to remain that way. Finally, she shrugged, probably unable to refuse the last request of a condemned man. She took a step toward him and he pulled her into his arms. He didn’t want to leave her thinking she meant nothing to him, even if he meant nothing to her.
"I admire you, Halisi. I'm sorry I came between you and Kafil."
She studied his face for a moment before responding. "You gave us time together. It was more than we could expect from you. You have been a good father to…our children."
He pulled her close and kissed her lips. At first, she was stiff in his arms, but finally her lips responded and she hugged him. He released her and stepped away.
"Goodbye and good luck," he said.
"Goodbye." She lifted a hand, paused, and dropped it in an awkward gesture. She probably intended to wipe her lips with the back of her hand but thought better of it.
After they left, he stared at the door. Everything he had lived for in the last six years had walked out that door and left him in a vacuum. At the moment, he welcomed death as an escape. He was almost 30 years old and his existence had amounted to nothing. Ultimately, his life had cost that of his mate and children. In six years, Halisi had developed no feelings toward him and tomorrow he would abandon his children in death. He had robbed his father and grandfather of their only opportunity for future generations. He was a dismal failure for a human, much less a Mascot.
He stretched out on the cot, hands behind his head, thinking about Liana and Bjorn. It startled him to realize he could not picture either of their faces. It had only been six years. How could he forget?
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