Nirvana Effect

71



Nockwe ran with his wife away from the shore. In the chaos, Nockwe eluded the Onge. A fight had broken out by the firelight. Some were taking Nockwe’s side.

Nockwe held his wounded wife to him. The life was running out of her with every pulsing of her veins.

He sat down with her on his lap behind a lean-to. There were boys running back and forth, confused, but no one saw the chieftain and his wife.

“Bri…” said Nockwe. “Bri…my angel, you are so strong.”

He stroked her hair for the last time. Her eyes started to empty. She managed a weak smile. Pain gripped her tense face, but there was a smile.

“I love you, my chieftain.” Two tears ran down her cheeks. Life left her body. He closed her body’s eyes.

“So long, my love,” he said. He held her tight. He knew it was just a body, now, it was not Bri’ley’na, his beloved. He knew she was gone now no matter how much he remembered her. She had gone on to the world after. He knew she would go to the heaven of warriors and hunters, even though she was female. He would see her there.

He cried, though there was no time for it. He gripped her body one last time, then laid her down under the lean-to. She was a casualty of war, a war just begun. There was no time for a burial.

For that, he hated Mahanta and his wretched priesthood even more.

Nockwe ran back into the crowd for the white man. All were looking for the chieftain, but no one saw him. The fighting had moved even closer to the sea.