Chapter 3: Five Become One Part 1
In this episode: On the way back from the village, Micha and B’ani find Maru dumped in a ditch and severely beaten. They use their skills get her back to the Training Compound. Galen stays with Maru while B’ani, Micha and Sentar go to find the thugs who beat her and teach them a lesson.
Evening Sounds
On the Road to the Village
It was almost sunset when Micha and B’ani left the village and started back to the training compound. The raised dirt road was more than wide enough for several people. Deep gullies were cut on each side to take the rain. On one side of the road, there was an orchard. On the other side, a field of barley.
B’ani had a long staff across her shoulders with two bags of rice on each end and a bushel of green vegetables on her back. Several small bags hung across her shoulders.
Micha had a long staff across her shoulders with oranges and potatoes on each end, a long bag of peanuts wrapped around her neck, and a bushel of noodles on her back.
B’ani slowed her step. “Wait just a minute, Micha. I need to adjust these bags. We got a lot today.” She bent her knees to lower the bags to the ground and took the pole off her shoulders.
Micha put her bags down too. “Enough for several weeks if we’re careful. What do you think, 40 minutes?”
B’ani shook her head. “I don’t think it will take us that long. Besides, it’s going to be dark soon. I’d rather not be out here. The crickets are already making a lot of noise.”
Micha laughed. “You should hear them at midnight. They keep me awake sometimes.”
They both chuckled.
B’ani sat down. “The market was so crowded today. It’s nice to be out here where it’s quiet.”
Micha grinned. “You just complained about the crickets.”
B’ani smiled. “You know what I meant.”
Micha looked puzzled. “No, I don’t. You sound like Master Tai.”
B’ani laughed. “Think about what we were listening to in the village. So many people talking all at the same time. All going here and there with their different activities. So much noise! Compare that what we can hear now. It’s so quiet all we hear are the crickets.”
Micha smiled at her. “Ok. I take your point. “Wait… Listen. What’s that?” She stood up and looked around.
B’ani stood up and turned her head from side to side then pointed toward the orchard. “That way!”
Hold on
In the Gully Beside the Road
Micha and B’ani ran to the edge of the road and looked down into the gully. It was easily a ten foot drop. The sides were not solid. They slid down and stood up.
Micha looked at B’ani “Which way?”
B’ani closed her eyes, lowered her head, and slowed her breathing. She looked up and pointed to a cluster of tall weeds. “There.”
Micha got there first. “It’s Maru! She’s barely breathing.”
Maru’s face was cut and bloody and so swollen she looked like she had no eyes.
“Micha,” Maru said. “I can’t move. I’m hurt.”
“So I see. Shussh. We’re here,” Micha said gently brushing Maru’s hair with her hand.
B’ani knelt down next to Maru. “Oh no. No!” Tears streamed down her face. “Maru, who did this to you? What happened?”
Maru turned toward B’ani and passed out.
Micha looked at B’ani. “One of us has to go get Galen.” She took off her outer tuinic and put it over Maru.
B’ani shook her head. “No. We need to get her out of here.”
Micha nodded. “Ok. Go hide the food. Bring the poles.”
B’ani nodded. She used her skills in the Ancient Arts to make herself light and quickly climbed up to the road. She buried everything but the small bags, noodles, and vegetables. Then, she picked up the poles and mostly slid back down to where Micha was sitting with Maru. She took off her outer tunic and put the poles through the sleeves. Then, she picked up Micha’s tuinc and put the poles through it so there was an overlap. She tried to separate them. “That will hold.” She looked at Micha. “How do we get Maru up to the road?” she asked.
Micha looked at B’ani. “When you went up, how long before you started to slide?”
B’ani shook her head. “Before my weight reached half. It’s sand.”
Micha nodded. “Come here and sit with Maru. I need to take a look.”
B’ani curled up next to Maru on the ground. She wrapped her arm above Maru’s head and leaned over her to keep her warm. “I got you, sis. I got you. I’m here. I got you,” she whispered.
Micha returned. “I tried a couple of places. It’s all the same,” she said. She looked at B’ani and then at the top of the slide. “Take the stretcher up to the road and come back.”
B’ani got up. “What are you thinking, Micha?”
“I’m going to carry her,” Micha replied.
B’ani looked at the sides and shook her head. “I barely made it. We have to find another way. With Maru you won’t make it. You will both fall.”
Micha stood taller, squared her shoulders, and looked hard at B’ani. “You will be behind us. You are nimble and strong. You will not let us fall,” she said with determination, as if it were a indisputable fact.
B’ani took a deep breath and nodded. She took the stretcher up and returned quickly.
Micha knelt down next to Maru. She gently moved her arms so they crossed her chest. “Maru, I need to pick you up. Try to be small and light.” She slid her arm gently under Maru’s back.
Maru winced. “Other side… hurts.”
Micha moved to Maru’s right side. “Ok?”
“Ok,” Maru said as her head dropped against Micha’s shoulder. She passed out again.
Micha tucked her arm under Maru’s knees, pulled her close, and stood up carefully. “Rest on me. I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” she whispered.
Micha looked at B’ani.
B’ani nodded.
“Let’s go,” Micha said. She took a deep breath and settled her weight, blending it with Maru’s to center through both of them. She looked at the side of the gully where B’ani had been. She could see the trail. She took another breath. She left almost no footprints as she went up the side. She reached the top with Maru safely cradled in her arms.
B’ani was just behind them. “How did you….?”
Micha smiled. “Same as you. Maru helped. Let’s get her settled.” Micha’s knees wobbled and her arms shook as she knelt down to gently lower Maru onto their makeshift stretcher.
B’ani looked at her sideways. “No, you did way more than me.”
Micha stood up and pointed to the small bags, noddles, and vegetables. “We need to bring these or we’ll lose them.” She set two of the small bags across her shoulders and picked up the noodles. Then, she knelt down and took hold of the poles in the front.
B’ani nodded. She picked up the vegetables and put the other two small bags across her shoulders. She knelt down and took hold of the back. “Ready.”
They stood up together.
Micha turned her head to look at Maru. She looked at B’ani and tightened her jaw. “Let’s go.” She set a quick pace.
Maru began twitching back and forth as they ran.
“Micha, not so fast. It’s too bumpy for her,” B’ani called out.
Micha slowed down. “Shift her weight to your shoulders. Let your arms take the bumps. Keep your elbows in and your shoulders down.”
B’ani adjusted her arms and looked down at Maru. “Much better.”
Micha took a deep breath. “Good. Can we pick up the pace?”
“Yes,” B’ani replied.
They ran faster.