THE BURNING HEART

Chapter twenty-seven

It has been two weeks and three days, after the Vomaah's demise.

The citizens of Tunisiany especially youths, took to the streets, wearing black, while some groups wore red with vomaah's banners and pictures singing and mourning their president.

The whole working places, shops, and hotels had been closed down, since his confirmed death. Many were mourning and lamenting on the tragic death of their president. Despite, the unnatural cause of his death. Citizens kept mum on the issue but lamented and mourned the death of their first military president who was the cause of the country's excessive success and comfortability of the citizens' living.

Inside the Smittian mansion.

Ma Smittian, Brandon, Herta, and Supriya sat inside the living room as many from within and out of the country came paying their condolences on the demise of the president.

After, the last person left with their entourage. Spriya looked at her father-in-law and Grandmother in law. She spoke softly " Dad, mum, grandma, it has been one week since the identification of my husband's corpse, and next tomorrow is his burial. What about the investigation? How is it going? does it mean we can't find out the culprit behind my beloved husband's demise? Dad, according to the news. We all know, it was a pure assassination. "

Brandon looked at her softly and sighed " My daughter, let's look into these matters after his burial."

It is not that he doesn't want to investigate on the matter but some matters are better left unattended till after his burial. He has his own suspicion that the corpse did not belong to his son.

It was a well-planned assassination. He knew very well, those that are responsible for his son's demise.

It is not a new story, of how military men kills themselves for power during military rule. Even due, his Friend who has taken over the government, has been cool and pretending to be innocent. To him, he is the main suspected culprit of the killing game. He looked around the quiet villa.

Indeed, the place has quietened down, since the incident with his father.

He bent his head slightly hiding the flatter of emotions in his eyes.

The death of his beloved son has caused a lot of tragedy. He remembered when he warned his son about taking the leadership of the country.

He only shakes his head replying " it is my responsibility to look after, my country. Only death can stop me."

He suddenly stood up and strode out without any word.

....

Somewhere in the Southern District

Inside a big district of military office.

"How is your departure preparation ongoing?"

"Sir, I will be departing today which is, his candle night. I will be able to hide among the mourning congrats."

The young man opposite him who was in his camouflage uniform nodded his head.

His position was written beside his left breast.

" Make sure, you don't make mistakes. There is your last chance to redeem your sins. The eyes might be on you, so be careful and stay neutral. Do you understand ?"

"Yes sir!"

The young soldier stood up and saluted him in assurance before leaving his office.

The Colonel closed his eyes and leaned backward towards his leather swirl chair.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

He remembered vividly his agreement with the unnamed red-haired woman.

He could still remember the surprised and confused look on his wife's face after, being hypothesized .

The way she jumped and hugged him. Their reconciliation was beyond his imagination.

Undue, after everything she refused to release her until he fulfilled his own line of the agreement.

He opened his eyes, smiled, and said determined " I must fulfill my own line out of the agreement and I must see to its success."

He stood up and strode out of the office.

.....

In the deep night, flooding with a street light. The glorious beautiful breeze of summer which should have warmed the hearts turned into the clergy of elegy.

The supposed night of joy turned into a night of elegy. The singing of elegy and murmurs has become the food of the night.

Candles sparkled with lights as citizens walked around the cities in the deep night singing elegy with his pictures.

In each corner of Tunisiany state, citizens that were unable to come gathered and stayed in different streets to celebrate their own candle lights.

In Somatina City and street. A great group of citizens gathered together wearing a white t-shirts bearing his pictures with candles in their hands.

It was a celebration that will be remembered in the country even in years to come.

Despite this, it was a military rule. Citizens were allowed to celebrate and pay their final last respect payment for the deceased great first military president.

Spriya held a lighted candle in her palm with Danvers and Junya beside her while Ma Smittian, Herta, and Brandon were behind them, as they walked on the streets with lighted candles on their palms putting on white t-shirts bearing his picture while many prominent and non-prominent citizens followed behind them with light candles, as they walked around the small place of his growth and origin.

The singing of elegy could be heard in all corners.

"Parting to thee o' ocean, walking down the lane. In the dessert mountain. 'Til' we meet again.

"Goodbye glorious hero, walking down the scope. In the narrow way of heaven 'Til', we meet again.

"It's tragic that you gone ' resting with thy father ' Til' we meet again in the glorious place.

" We watch as thy parting wave of boat drove thee away ' Til ' we meet again."

"Goodbye greatest hero....."

The continuous songs were heard as they walked around with the lighted candles on their palm.

Despite the tight security in the environment. A young man in the same uniform as others slipped into the crowds with a lighted candle in his palm.

He joins them as they walk around and sang.

.....

In the southern district.

The young Colonel in his late thirties stood behind the curtains as he watched the views of the city. The quiet city was surrounded by streets light.

From the far view of the city, he could still see and hear distant voices singing with lighted candles sparking on the streets in the deep night.

A tear escaped his eyes. He closed the curtains and sat down on the swirl chair.

He smiled bitterly, he could still remember his cold but smiling and sincere face the last time they met.

He was a worthy in-law and a good leader. It was still a great shock to him when he heard of his assassination by the military men. All of them know even without investigation the suspected culprit behind his death.

He looked at the person on the screen of the computer and smiled meaningfully. He has successfully slipped into the crowd.

....

Somewhere in Flareless nie city

Sungal closed the curtains as he looked down at the buzzing city filled with people mourning Vomaah. He snorted and throw the metal cup forcefully on the ground.

He sat down on the chair and complained in an agitated voice.

"I can't believe that these stupid people will care less about their lives. They all left their home to mourn that loser! He has already disappeared but people still care for him. I think we should destroy his image in people's hearts."

Hue slowly sipped his coffee before raising his eyebrows " Sungal, I think you should cool down. They are just paying their last respect. They will begin to forget him sooner or later. Moreover, we should lie low. I think his family are suspecting something. At least, for the next six months. We need to lie low." He emphasized "We might be strong but the family has a strong military background. His grandfather's friend was a big military leader and so were his grandfather and father. I don't think we will be able to win a war now against them now and if I may remind you they have a lot of military connections outside the country which you and I, don't have."