My story

[shamushre9]

Bi Paa Ren Shil Paut

Madjet turned to look. He could see the heads of people in the procession parting into two lines. Coming up the center towards them was some type of vehicle. It was sell-let. He could make out a man standing from the vehicle, waving people to either side.
"Please, can we get through?" One side, please." The silhouetted man barked. The vehicle moved slowly through the procession. There werent many gas powered vehicles in NawurHaru. Most people walked or biked to and from work or school. The air and people stayed relatively clean and healthy for this reason. As the vehicle reached the family, Madjet could make out three people. Aside from the barking man, there was a driver in the front seat, and next to him in the passenger seat was the female elder from the Triad, Nazdirt Qemamu. She didnt look very good.

"i think thats Qemamu..." Madjet said lowly to his brother, Aker.
"Qemamu?" Aker said astonished. They stepped aside to let the vehicle pass. Aker and Madjet peered into the vehicle from the darkness. Nazdirt Qemamu looked back from her seat, obviously somewhat bruised and battered. The vehicle crept forward as the barking man continued to signal with his hands for people to move to one side.
"Excuse us! Excuse us, please!"
Madjet wondered how long the man had been doing that.
"We'll still fight for you Nazdirt Qemamu!" Aker suddenly burst out over the barking man. Nazdirt Qemamu turned and said soemthing to the vehicle's driver. The vehicle crept a few more feet and then stopped. The entire road was silent for a second, except for the sounds of the vehicle's engine. Even the trees stopped rustling.
"Who said that? You there. Come here." The barking man said, singling out Madjet.
"Actually, it was me." Aker fessed-up. "But, this is my brother."
"Both of you. Come here." The man replied. Madjet signaled with his head for Tamara to follow him with Ari as they began to walk to the side of the vehicle. The passenger-side window rolled down when they all reached the side. Nazdirt Qemamu stuck her head out of the window.
"Which one of you shouted that to me?" She asked. her voice was strong yet wavering. Her face was wrinkled by time and anguish.
"That was me, Nazdirt Qemamu." Aker said lowly. The elder stared at Aker for a second without breaking eye contact. Then she spoke.
"Take a look at my face, my son. Take a long... hard... look." Qemamu said with a heavy heart and equally heavy words. At closer inspection, Madjet could see that she had cuts along her brow and a gash around her hariline. Her bottom lip was puffy and swollen, and her left blacked and swoll almost to the point of closing. "the Tuta did this to me. They've down worse to others. They have no regard for life, for men, women, or children. They aren't like you and I." She paused. "I thought we could take them. I thought we were ready. Hmph!" Qemamu was looking at the ground now. "If only i had known... If only we had acted sooner."

"Asmuhnee, Nazdirt Qemamu. My brother was only trying to express his love for you and our people. He meant no disrespect." Madjet interjected. Nazdirt Qemamu raised her head to look at Madjet.
"...I know you..." She said slowly. "Your name is...Madjet?"
"Tua', zi kalun." Madjet answered puzzled. Nazdirt Qemamu let out a short chuckle.
"I remember when you were this little." Qemamu held her thumb and pointer fingers close together. "Your father worked along-side me for a long time in Sedjet Hall." she explained. "the you must be Aker."
"tua'" Aker responded. Qemamu chuckled again.
"Look at you two. two grown men. And who is this?" Nazdirt Qemamu was pointing to the little girl on Madjet's back.
"This is my daughter, Sahura. And here is my wife, Tamara, and my son, Ari." Madjet directed them to the vehicle window.
"And another on the way, I see." Qemamu smiled at Tamara's belly. "So you understand what's at stake. Please, dont mistake my words for anger. I appreciate your passion... but now is not the time to fight. If we can help it at least. We must make it to the Mir as soon as possible!" Qemamu exclaimed strongly. Her words were muffled by the sound of fast approaching footsteps.

"Hold up! Wait! Someone hold that vehicle!" A voice called from the rear of the procession. The man was running. "Hold that car please." The man appeared from behind the ranks of people. he wore all black sneaking fatigue, a pistol on his waist. The symbols on his vestment showed this was a man of high rank, a captian of the mobile infantry. He jogged to the side of the vehicle where Nazdirt Qemamu was, almost pushing Madjet and Aker aside. The captian too a second to catch his breath.
"Utcha Nazdirt...Qemamu. Im Captain Montu...Hetep...Sekhemwy." The captain gasped for air and saluted simultaneously. "Second Battalion, 9th Division of the Mobile Infantry." He continued
"What's your report, captain?" Qemamu asked anxiously.
"The Tuta, they have re-grouped and are advancing very quickly up Tarug Khons." Captain Montu spoke very quickly and sharply. He relaxed his salute but his body and mind were still at attention...

more coming.