Under magma
1108 Words
“C’mon Lhab, faster, you are slow as the food roots” Lhab turned to the boy speaking “why don't you do it Nar”
Nar replied in laughter “Oh no, I shall not touch that until the sky becomes touchable ”
Lhab replied with a higher voice “If you do not help me now, I will send you to the sky with what I hold”.By that Nar started helping Lhab.
Two lads, Nar and Lhab. Lhab was a man in his early youth and Nar was a young boy. They were collecting the village crab and garbage. Sending it to the sky, that is made of magma, after they are done.
They collected all the crab and threw them from a hill that if you jumped from, you could touch the sky. But it will be the last thing you will ever touch.
They walked to a small lake that was filled with drinkable water. The water was coming from a c***k in the volcano's wall. It was the only source of water, still, has been sustaining the village and more. The village drinks, bathes and grows their food with this water during the Magma and Rock periods.While both Nar and Lhab were bathing in the lake, they saw another man about Lhab’s age. The man was looking at the hole in wonder, giving his back to them. Nar asked Lhab “Who is this Lhab”
Lhab looked up and replied “who”, Lhab looked at the boy and slightly closed his eyes. He answered “Yeah, that is Gahanam ”Lhab smiled “He is not very sane in my opinion. Do not talk to him, will you? Not that he will anyway” Lhab told Nar with a shrug.
Gahanam was a man in his early youth with dark, curly and crunchy hair. His skin was brown and so were his eyes. His body was rather slim but still shaped well, he looked weak but he was strong and could bare a lot. Compared to many men of his age, he was short and not considered the prettiest. His face had few red spots. His beard was black and incomplete. No hair on the cheeks nor connecting his beard and mustache.
Nar and Lhab returned to the village. A place that was full of houses made of mud, stones, and ashes. All the houses are closely built and connected to fit the people. Everyone was walking using only their feet, no horses,camels nor donkeys to ride on. The light of the sky was lighting the village. The villagers were of different colours and names.
An old woman was talking to Lhab, with Nar to his side “Have you done what you have been told”
Lhab replied “yeah, it's all in the fire now mother,” Lhab continued “Nar wants to play rock in the fire. May I take him”
Nar put his hands together “Please, we will be careful”
Lhab’s mother smiled at Nar “ You may if Nar’s mother granted it”
Lhab said “Goes without saying, thanks. See you after a fallen rock”
*****
The village had leaders with councilors. Hakeem, the eldest in the village and ruler. Hakeem was of dark colour, while his hair was white and bright, yet just like Gahanam, it was curly and crunchy. His eyes were green. His face was bald and almost his head. He wore a black cloak, and on his chest was a medal of pure Hadeed.
He gathered his comrades to discuss the village necessities. Hakeem was sitting on a cozy couch while the rest were on the floor on cushions made of leaves: two on each of Hakeem’s sides.
On his right, was an old man, slightly younger than him. The old man had a long white beard and he was bald. Besides the old man, was a middle-aged man, white and bald with few facial hairs.
On Hakeem’s left was a man in his late youth. He had a strong build. His hair was soft and black. By him, was an old woman, covering her head with a cloak. She was the only one beyond Hakeem, that was sitting on a chair, made of what they call ‘Growing stones’.
Hakeem asked the bald man on his right “Zjaar, How many growing stones have you chopped”
Zjaar hand was leaning on his thighs, he sat properly respecting Hakeem “This week we have chopped over twenty, unfortunately, two of them were unable to stable a house, so we had to burn them”
Hakeem was disappointed, the village was growing and their resources were not. They need shelter, he continued “And the Hadeed extraction”
“We have found another mine in the walls, master. It is more than we need for our weapons” Zjarr continued “If I may master, why don't we use the Hadeed as shelter instead of weapons which we do not use.”
The old man on Hakeem right nodded, his palms were on his thighs. Sitting with his back straight like a young man “I agree with Zjarr. Perhaps we should reconsider the role of Hadeed in our lives. There is no danger here after all, at least not yet or that we know of” he looked at the other councilors.
Hakeem held his hands together, resting on his cane “No” he said with a soft voice still definitive.
Zjaar interrupted “Why not my master” Hakeem looked at him dead in the eye, Zjaar crawled into himself “Sorry, for interruption master.”
“Let us put it to a vote master,” the young man on Hakeem said .
“No need, we can reach a middle ground. Zjarr, start using Hadeed as shelter. However, only the walls. Use the leaves as a roof. For every man in this village; we need an armor of growing stones, a shield, and a sword both of which are made of Hadeed.”
“Yes, master.” Zjaar bowed. Hakeem permitted all to leave. So all did, but the woman stayed.
“You can not put all the burden on you,” She told him, shaking her head and holding her hands together.
He answered while pouring water to himself “Of course I can. I am doing it right now” he smiled.
She opened her mouth, but he raised his hands “Look, Namira. I know your concern is of the village and the people. But no use to let it out in the open. Finally, years have passed and only two know the truth of here,” he lowered his voice and continued “and there.”
Namira raised her eyebrows“Those two will die eventually. Then, the secret will die with them.”
“Exactly” Hakeem was drinking his water, he could hardly swallow it “the less who knows the truth the better.”
Namira’s face did not agree, yet she could not further argue, as she knew there was no use of it, and so she left. Hakeem sat on a couch and heavily coughed.
- Writer
