Explorers Of Gor

What Occurred In Nyundo, The Central Village Of The Ukungu Region

"Where is Aibu?" cried Kisu.

We stood in the clearing of Nyundo, the central village of the Ukungu region.

Mwoga, spear in hand, a shield on his arm, came out to greet us. "He is dead," said Mwoga.

Tende, behind Kisu, cried out with misery.

"How did he die?" asked Kisu.

"By poison," said Mwoga. "I, now, am chieftain in Ukungu."

"My spear says it is not true," said Kisu.

"My spear," said Mwoga, "says that it is true."

"We shall, then, let them decide," said Kisu.

Small leather strips customarily sheath the blades of the spears of Ukungu. Both Mwoga and Kisu had now removed these tiny strips from their weapons. The edges of the blades gleamed. Each man carried, too, a shield. On the Ukungu shield there is, commonly, a tuft of feathers. This is fastened at one of the points of the shield. When the tuft of feathers is at the bottom of the shield, the shield being so held, this is an indication that the hunter seeks an animal. When the tuft of feathers is at the top of the shield, the shield so held, it is an indication that the quarry is human. On both the shield of Kisu and Mwoga the tufts were now at the top.

"I would make a better Mfalme than Aibu," said Mwoga. "It was thus that I had him killed."

The fight was brief, and then Kisu withdrew the bloodied point of his weapon from the chest of Mwoga, who lay at his feet.

"You fight well," said Bila Huruma. "Will you now see to the slaughter of those who supported Mwoga?"

"No," said Kisu. "My quarrel is not with them. They are my fellow tribesmen. They may remain in peace in the villages of Ukungu."

"Once, Kisu," said Bila Huruma, "you were little more than a kailiauk, with the obstinacy and crudity of the kailiauk's power, quick to anger, thoughtless in your charges. Now I see that you have learned something of the wisdom of one worthy to be a Mfalme."

Kisu shrugged.

"Proceed with us further to Ushindi," said Bila Huruma. "Msaliti is gone. I shall have need of one to be second in my empire."

"Better to be first in Ukungu," said Kisu, "than second in the empire."

"You are first in Ukungu," said Bila Huruma, naming Kisu to power.

"I shall fight you from Ukungu," said Kisu.

"Why?" asked Ella Huruma.

"I will have Ukungu free," said Kisu.

Bila Huruma smiled. "Ukungu," he said, "is free."

Men cried out in astonishment.

"Clean now the blade of your spear, Kisu," said Bila Huruma. "Put once more upon it the sheathing strips of guarding leather. Turn your shield so that the feathers lie again at its base."

"I will clean and sheath my spear," said Kisu. "I will turn my shield."

Kisu handed his weapons to one of the villagers. He and Bila Huruma embraced.

It was thus that peace came to Ukungu and the empire.