Gorilla Dawn by Gill Lewis

Author:Gill Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

imara

The White Lioness arrived the next morning, while Imara was serving mealie porridge for the men. Imara watched her shaking out her mane of golden hair. The Black Mamba was waiting for her, his shirt billowing in the downdraft from the rotor blades. Imara held Kitwana close to her body and felt the demon squirming deep inside, squeezing the breath from her lungs. The White Lioness had come for her prize. She had come for Kitwana.

Imara looked for Bobo among the men. Bobo hadn’t come for food. She could see him sitting by the Black Mamba’s hut, his arms wrapped around a gun, staring into space. He had become the Black Mamba’s favorite. He was now the Black Mamba’s guard.

Rat joined the end of the queue of men lining up for porridge. He waited until he was alone with Imara and then pushed his cup in front of her face. “More,” he demanded.

Imara scraped the bottom of the pan and spooned the last of the porridge into his cup. Rat was watching her, a smirk upon his face.

Be careful, whispered the demon. He comes to taunt you.

Rat nodded toward Bobo and pulled a sad face. “Your gorilla boy does not love you anymore.” He sighed and shook his head. “And soon you will lose your baby, too,” he whispered, poking Kitwana in the stomach with his finger. “The White Lioness will take him with her.”

Imara drew Kitwana away. She felt the demon claw at her inside. Don’t say anything. Don’t rise to his bait.

Rat leaned forward. “You don’t fool me, Imara. See, I am not afraid to look you in the eye.” He stared at her. A triumphant grin stretched across his face. “You have no powers. The Black Mamba will find that out soon enough, and then he will treat you just like any other woman.”

Imara closed her eyes and felt bile rise inside her.

The demon raged inside. This is your fault, Imara. You let me out and showed your weakness. I warned you what would happen. I warned you!

* * *

“Imara!”

Imara looked up. The Black Mamba was calling her from his hut, the White Lioness standing beside him.

“Imara, come here.”

Rat followed close behind as she made her way across the camp. Kitwana gripped tightly to her, burying his head in her arm. Imara glanced briefly at Bobo, but he didn’t even seem to see that she was there.

“So,” the White Lioness purred, bending down to look at Kitwana, “the Black Mamba has kept his word.”

“See, he is a healthy gorilla,” said the Black Mamba.

A frown crossed the White Lioness’s face. “I had wanted a girl, but no matter.” She ran her fingers through the gorilla’s fur. “He will do.” She smiled and held her arms out, palms upturned. “Here,” she said to Imara. “Let me hold him.”

Imara felt the Black Mamba watching. She tried to peel Kitwana away, but he clung to her, gripping with his fingers and toes.

The Black Mamba reached out and pulled Kitwana away from her.

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