Twenty

The refugee camps around were swelling, and as their numbers mount so the problem of finding home for them. Others had been crossed to avoid them having access to the barracks anymore. The large sentry on duty, questioning and molesting them, challenged these escapees and brought them down. General Kofi's armies were busy invading other families, capturing their young men and enforcing rules on those regions. He was a sanguinary mortal who never compromise to war. He could fight until everyone had died. He had planned the final attack to the east, the region that was ultimately pillaged by the invading army - The target of the war. The remaining warlords from the opposing group in their large numbers could not stand it further. They had flown abroad in a single night with their families. The center was managing with few old hands and new recruits. The killing and maiming were all too visible that the first and second world termed it 'an atrocious acts of brutality'.

The war had lasted for eighteen months apart from the earlier times. The eastern zone - a remote and inaccessible region was at the risk of invasion at any moment, with salvo explosion in the same direction. Just few villages were left untouched.  Vehicle who took the citizens to this war torn area was so cramped that it was hard for many to cope and they sent news of capture to the fearful citizens. The closeness of which they sat and the heat of the climate added to more death of people and for the other survivors each hardly had a place to turn to and almost suffocated. Their scrawny necks showed how hard the hard times of war had beaten them. In the appalling unhygienic conditions, disease flourished, epidemic of dysentery, kwashiorkor and small pox were frequent and mortality was high.  The loss which were many and which cannot be replaced was no longer considered at this time. It was really awesome to see these men, young and active, all of a sizeable age and height loosing their most precious possessions and life.

The last attack before the final recapture was fearsome and cruel-some. Homes would be broken into. There was stealing, and sometimes the women were raped. If the villagers were warned that the soldiers were coming, they would take their daughters out and hide them in the haystacks in the fields so that they would be safe. The troops had penetrated deep into the enemy territory.  This final attack though as it was always known were concentrated and targeted on the easterners. There may not be reason to make people continue believing the war to end; besides, it will not make any difference. Men had died in the largest number ever known and their wives captured. There had never been a war like that. No. Never will again would such be fought. Pain and sorrow, hissing noise and regrets by these men who killed without conscience as they marched with determination over the bodies of their fellow men, some their fallen comrades, others their enemies. Isala had seen the impact of this massacre as he saw many comrades in the profession being wasted away. He wept in the secrecy of the night about the death of his military colleagues.

At one of the nights, they huddled together watching the thick darkness that enveloped the earth. There was no talking, there was no smoking. Everyone was tired to the bone, yet Kofi wanted them to fight more. The night was dark, hot and airless. Somehow it looked at though that life had deserted the world. They had all lost the thinking for the world they had lived in. These men who had fought and fought with weak and strong hands in many regions and parts were weary and soon fell asleep in heir numbers beside a campfire, knowing that many others would guard them and to their best knowledge, the weaknesses of the other groups would not make them fear to sleep. It was pleasant to be in the open air again in a cheerless night and nights free from scorchy sun, terrible gun booming and drizzling of the rain. It was a thickened silent night of many noises of insects and displaced troubled birds. Mosquitoes and blood sucking insect attacked and bite without mercy and almost everyone was scratching and yet in a judiciously silent manner.