Cheetalope: Part III

Part I
Part II

Part III
For three days Musoke hangs by his horns and tail in the jungle trees. Whenever he tries to struggle, the ropes pull at his horns and pull at his tail, hurting Musoke.

At sunrise on the first day, Musoke cruses the Elephants. He curses them for leaving him, for hanging him, for punishing him, for judging him, for watching him. Musoke curses them for every reason he can think of. Amid all this, one of the elephants comes to Musoke and speaks to him, but Musoke's curses are too loud and strong, drowning out the elephant's voice. He does not hear what the elephant is saying.

At sunrise on the second day, Musoke curses his mother. He curses her for dying, for raising him as she did, for letting his siblings die, for causing him to be different and alone. Musoke curses her for every reason he can think of. Amid all this, the other elephant comes to Musoke and speaks to him, but Musoke's curses are too loud and strong, drowning out the elephant' words. For the second time, he does not hear what the elephant is saying.

At sunrise on the third day, Musoke is weak, having been tied in the trees for three days with no food or water. Musoke begins to curse himself, but cannot think of reasons to, and his voice is weak. On this day both of the elephants comes to him. As low as their voices are, Musoke's is lower, and he hears the elephants' words as they spoke in turns.

"Musoke, your mother and her protection are gone from this jungle island. You are on your own and there are things you should know.

"When she spoke of the day you were born, your mother told you about the beginning of the day and she told you about the middle of the day, but she didn't tell you about the end of the day. At the end of the day you were birthed, and for the second time her belly was torn.

"You, moments old, did what was natural and reached out to her. In doing so, you healed her wounds. Without you doing that, she would have died. Without her, you would have died, too, no mother to care for you. That day ended with both you and your mother alive.

"So now you know the beginning of your life, and you know the middle of your life, but not, yet, the end."

Musoke hears all these words, and says nothing as the elephants leave again in the morning mist.

All through the morning, all through the mid-day, and all through the afternoon Musoke hangs, silent and still, in the trees.

Near sunset an elephant appears again, but this elephant Musoke has never seen before. Riding on this elephant is a man, and Musoke is frightened.

The man is frightened and shocked, too, by the creature hanging by horns and tail in the trees. "What are you?" the man says.

"I am Musoke. Please, please cut me down."

"I am busy seeking and you are a stranger. Why should I cut you down?"

"What are you seeking?" Musoke asks. "I have lived in this jungle my whole life; I can help you find it."

"I seek a medicine root," says the man. "My wife is hurt and her wounds are grievous."

Musoke cries out. "I can do better. I am a healer. Cut me down, take me to her. I can heal your wife."

The man thinks on this, then pulls something out of his pack. "Eat this, Musoke. Eat this before I cut you down, so I know you will not eat me or my wife."

Hungry from three days in the tree, Musoke eats and quickly falls into a drugged sleep.

Part III.V

Musoke wakes to the sharp jab of a spear poking his side, or perhaps the pained cries of a woman. He finds himself in a cramped cage, surrounded by many men with spears. "Wake and heal my wife, Musoke." The first man jabs him again.

"Sir, it is my tongue that will cure her, I cannot help from here."

After a moment of speaking together, the men put a tight rope around Musoke's neck, and hold the points of their spears to his sides. Musoke is led to the wounded, crying woman. "You know what this rope and these spears mean if you try to hurt her."

The man says more words, but Musoke does not hear them. He is now at the woman's side, and recognizes her. Musoke not only recognizes her, but he recognizes her wounds: claws, teeth and horns. Deeply moved, Musoke bows his head and licks the red, burning slashes in her skin.

At the touch of his tongue, the infection subsides. As Musoke continues, gingerly bent over the woman whose cries have subsided, the gashes begin to close, healing very quickly. The men with the spears watch on, the sharp pressures on Musoke's side gradually lifting.

When the last wound is nearly closed, one of the spearguards grabs the rope from the first man. "Come now! Come quickly to my son!" Musoke's head is wrenched around, the rope pulling tight around his neck.

"No," Musoke growls. "I owe you nothing." He digs in his feet and will not walk.

"Perhaps you would like to owe me your life." No longer trying to drag Musoke, this man prods him again with a spear. The other men stand around, watchful, helping neither.

"I can help no-one if I'm dead."

An elder spoke up. "Then we shall keep you under lock and key."

"I will help no-one if I'm kept prisoner. Not your son," Musoke looks at the man holding the rope. "Not your mother," Musoke looks at another man. "Not your brother, not your daughter, not your friend." Musoke looks around at the other men. Even starved and hurt from hanging in a tree, he still had his pride. "If you want help, I need freedom."

The men, finding it best not to argue with a powerful and dangerous creature, put down their spears and put down the rope holding Musoke captive.

Followed by each villager who saw him, Musoke pads from house to house, helping the sick and wounded. The stars are thick above when he finishes this work, and all men, women, and children in the village watch Musoke. When he reaches the edge of the jungle, he turns.

"When you need me, come find me. If you find me, I will help," Musoke says.

The men stop following with their feet and follow Musoke with their eyes until he disappears in the darkness.

Behind the men, the elephants smile.
the end