Cupid's Arrow

December 11, Alive

Continuing from the events of Dec. 11.

I woke up in a the dark. My lungs hurt, and my eyes stung, if this was what it felt like to die I had a few words I'd like to have with the creator. This was not pleasant nor fair if you asked me. Then I noticed in the dim light that I was in a hut on a woven mat. I remembered my last few moments and couldn't piece together how I had come to be here. I began coughing, my abused lungs trying to rid themselves of the last vestiges of the smoke. Someone stepped through the hide covering that served as a door and I was blinded for a moment. As I my eyes cleared I saw the village chieftain. He was looking at me probably just as curiously as I was looking at him. "I don't understand," I knew he wouldn't comprehend my words but it helped me to feel better at least. He replied with one word, "Scott." My ears perked up, maybe he had saved me?

The chief opened the flap of the tent and waved in another person, my heart dropped a little whoever this was, was not Scott, this individual was a smaller woman, she had jewelry up her neck and bangles on her arms. When she spoke I jerked upright, "Chief say you can't speak right." My heart leapt into my throat, "Oh my gosh, thank you! I thought I was dead, can you tell me where I am, can you tell me where Scott is? Can you explain any of this to the chief I mean no harm..." I trailed off as she lifted a hand, "Speak little, slow." All of her words were accompanied by hand gestures. I sat up and took my opportunity at life. "I look for Scott, mean no harm." I also tried to have each word punctuated with a gesture.

She nodded her head, "I Nya. You look Scott, Chief Imbawa send runner for me, so we speak." As she or I spoke I realized that she also spoke to the chief, she was a translator. Oh, thank cupid I was saved! We bantered back and forth, I quickly learned to use small words, and that it was easier to explain with gestures. Nya spoke to me similarly. The Chief sat quietly, asked questions to Nya that she pieced together in a language I could understand. It still took some convincing. However, the chief believed that I was not a devil. They even brought me back my things. The pack and the tent are a little charred on one edge, they were going to burn my things with me. The journal smells like smoke as well but at least I am not dead. As it turns out I owe my life to Scott. This man that I hated with every fiber of my being at my last second was actually my savior. Scott has been to this village before, he saved the chieftain's wife. She was ill and Scott used his medical knowledge to help her. Once again though, he has not been here in a while.

Life is looking up though. The village is going to help me to find him. I explained that it was very important and that his village was in need of him. While it was mostly a lie I made it more of truth inside my head so I did not feel as bad. The chief is going to send his greatest warrior, his greatest hunter, and Nya with me to find him. They will go as far as the next village at least so that I will not have the same trouble as I did here. I am so grateful. Perhaps I will not fail. I've been smiling more lately, and there's this feeling inside my chest, I've read about it. I've never experienced it. I think that it is called hope. Maybe, just maybe I still have a chance at succeeding.