Read The Apex Book of World SF 2 for Free Online Page B

a smoother, though still uncertain, rhythm.
    "Will he live?"
Osati asked.
    "Maybe, I have done
all I can. How did this happen? This wound was not caused by an animal." It was
a single, deep, horizontal slash. A machete?
    "It was those Hutu
bastards," Osati spat. "I swear by my ancestors they will pay for this."
    The oath made Katulo
flinch. "What happened?"
    "They attacked us
for no reason. We were at a rally in Bujumbura." It was because his passion lay
in politics that Osati had left Katulo's tutelage. "Some Hutus were watching us
and laughing. We ignored them. After the rally Chama, Dengo and I were walking
back here alone and they attacked us."
    "Where is Dengo?"
    "He is coming. I ran
here carrying Chama. "
    "You ran here all
the way from Bujumbura?"
    "We were about half
way."
    Still, that was a
two-hour walk without carrying a wounded man in your arms. Katulo now noticed
that Osati was covered in sweat and blood. His lips were parched and his
breathing was irregular.
    "Sit, I will bring
you some mango juice."
    "I have no time. The
people of the village must be awoken."
    "Why?"
    "They nearly killed
him. You said he may die."
    "And rousing the
village will do what? Impress the ancestors so much they will help Chama?"
    "You joke about
this?" Osati's disgust was unconcealed.
    "If your friend
lives it will be because of me. Do me a favour in return. Let your anger cool.
There is nothing you can say tonight that you can't say tomorrow. After the
wedding…"
    "After this, the
wedding will be cancelled."
    "Love is a good
reason to postpone anger. The opposite is not true." His words were just
aggravating Osati. "Please, hold off. After the wedding I will go to Bujumbura
and speak to Minister Kalé. With his help we shall apprehend the ones who
attacked you and deal with them. You, Dengo and Chama will all testify."
    "Kalé is one of
them; it's a waste of time."
    "Kalé and I have
been friends three times as long as you have been alive. Kalé is wise and his
word is respected among the Hutus."
    Osati dipped his
head but he was clearly insincere.
    Katulo sighed. "I'll
tell you how he's doing at the wedding."
    Osati left without a
word of thanks.
    "This is called an
anaesthetic," Katulo said as he put the half-empty bottle back into his
operating bag. "It dulls the body's responses to pain."
    "You want to teach
me now?" Eyo was flustered. He was looking out of the window.
    "What better time is
there to teach?"
    Eyo pursed his lips.
He shifted uncomfortably. "It…it's late. I'm tired."
    "What is the truth?"
    "I told you…"
    "The truth might
change my mind."
    "I want to see what
Osati does. I think he will wake up some people and they'll talk about this."
    "I should have
known. Learning is more important. Long ago healers used to have to rely on—"
    "You can teach me
any time."
    As good as he had
been at soothing people, Osati was better at working people up into a frenzy.
Katulo didn't want Eyo to be exposed to that. He tried a different approach. "Have
you ever seen a Waking?"
    The question took
Eyo by surprise. "No, of course not. I am not yet sixteen."
    "I will let you go
now, no teaching, and if you go straight to bed, then tomorrow, when all the
other children are sent away, I will make sure you can stay and watch."
    "Really?" The idea
of watching a secret meeting paled in comparison to the chance to see a
mystical ceremony.
    "Do you promise?"
    "I promise." Eyo's
index finger mapped out a cross shape over his chest.
    Katulo knew that Eyo
had no idea what the origin of that gesture was. The worship of that tortured
white saviour had faded from Burundi. "Good. You may leave."
    Katulo continued
cleaning up. He got out an old rag and mopped up the blood. When he was
finished, he threw it and Chama's rent shirt into the dustbin. Finally, he blew
out the gas lamp and returned to his house. It took a long time for him to get
back to sleep. When he finally managed, he dreamt.
    2
As with most young
boys, obedience did not come