Induna - General

[Kugelan Free State]

Matapo, Ndbeleland

The flies buzzed and hummed over the crusted blackened blood of the two young men, their eyes were covered by a misty film and their mouths hung open; among the bruises and cuts around their bodies hid the killing blow's which had struck savagely; opening up their bellies allowing the contents to spill out onto the parched veld.
The thin flesh of their wrists no longer oozed from the cruel plastic bonds which had bitten into them.

'They are young Nkosi, they are before their ugutomba'​

Three Aged men as ancient and twisted as the Baobab looked down at the slaughter ground before them, they were of the Ndebele people. The tallest of them was once a giant of a man, his skin as black as the hide of the buffalo and famously as strong and wise as the mighty ox, his name Benagula was widely known and respected. It was too him that the others looked and spoke when in need of counsell for he was an Induna; the last great General of the Ndebele people and his heart hung heavy in his chest at the sight of the slaughtered young men

"u kulile"​

Whispered the Induna as he turned from the bodies

"make sure you bury them deep Joshua, do not let the foul carrion eating hyena dig them out again"​

"yes Nkosi"​

The two Ndebele with Benagula nodded, Joshua; the senior of the two men looked saddened, they would dig the graves themselves.
They watched as their Chief walked away, across the parched ground. Disapointment gripped their minds like wild demons as both strained not to shout aloud the words that they knew they should not utter.

"But this was the shona dog who came like a jackal Nkosi"​

Joshua looked with disbelief upon his younger friend who had shouted after the Induna. He too had wanted to cry out for the world too hear.

Great Induna benagula knew only too well this had the stink of the Shona tribe upon it, the wickedness and foulness grown more potent over the generations.
He knew the boys had been killed for sport.
An Induna could not ignore the shouted wisdom it would not just do him dishonour but the entire Ndebele dishonour, had it been left unsaid peace could have prevailed then no one else might die but now Justice must be saught and Samson Karmay had been the great trumpeter whom would sound the first cry in the furious bloodshed that must now begin.

Benagula visibly slumped as he heard the words shouted by his brother tribesman, he did not turn or acknowledge he continued through the long grass.

 

[Kugelan Free State]

Rellsburg club
Havershaw

Smoke hung thick around the grand drawing room of the club in Havershaw, the stinkwood panelling and impresive cases full of leatherbound volumes none of which had been read in many years all gave an Ambience to the Rellsburg that made it the favourite huant in Havershaw for the rich and powerful.
The rich aroma of native tobaco hung like a fog over the head of a solitary grey beard whose whiskers and fingertips were stained yellow by constant pipe smoking, age had won the war over Sir Arthur Ambleyn but it had not dulled his mind, he looked with faded blue eyes at the younger man infront of him.

These arent your modern variety of scallywags and subversives James, some of these men I have known for years​

Sir Arthur paused for effect

If my Ndebele are missing something must be brewing, and I have 20,000 head of cattle on the Kugela which are now left with no one to tend to them​

Major James Archibald listened with patience to the aging cattle King, he had little time for the understandings and nicities of the past, he had grown up quickly during the last uprising and had learned how to shoot to kill and how to lead men against the tribes.
But Sir Arthur had power and friends, other grey beards whom now held the balance of power in Bambesia and whom had inherited their farms from their fathers who had needed the tribes too work the land.

 

[Kugelan Free State]

Primus Kraal
Ndebeleland 6:01 AM

"Its the Killing hour bro"​

John Paul joked as the suns rays broke over the top of the mopani forest which ranged across their eyes.
Josiah glanced at his brother with an akward grin, they were penned in with their cattle the forest on one side and the great Kugela river to their backs, John Paul referred to the hour of Dawn that was traditional for the Ndebele warriors to attack for a man whom had served in the last uprising like Josiah it was not a welcome joke, he passed an uneasy smile at John Paul.

"We should be moving on soon, the herd needs to be up at the dips by noon"​

Josiah refered to the bi-anual dip which the cattle were put through to kill off the skin bourne pests that could cause infection in a prize steer and render it worthless for meat.
Josiah began to load away the evenings debris into the company land rover, empty flasks of coffee and food wrappers, soon he'd be off shift and would be able to sleep, though he was not sure that he would.

Two days ago farmers had discovered a grim field of rotting bodies; there were eight of them, three Ndebele and five Shona.
Bullet wounds had blistered the dead flesh and although many empty cartridge cases could be found; no guns, they were prized too heavily by the tribesmen. Tribesmen whom should have been out here, tending the cattle; leaving Josiah and his compatriots to tend the sick animals at the kraal

The farmers were worried as it was only a matter of time before one or other of the tribes decided to attack the settlers farms. It had always happened this way before one or the other would gain the upper hand over the other and then they would go on a bloodlust forgetting the awfull retribution the Scouts would wreak upon them when they did.

 

[Kugelan Free State]

1896​

too the wagons lads!​

A single fat kariboo stork slouched and hopped its way with its unsteady gait through the crowds of black vulture's and blacker crows as they gorged themselves on the feast which had been laid before them by the Shona assegais, among the fallen the tiny sandals and wooden toy gun of Piet van Leroux beside him lay his entire family.
Garrick Robertson had already had too run his bay mare hard through the early morning to escape the risen Impi's of Shonaland commanded by their King Hlobi at his order the warriors had massed at his kraal at Gurendaang and from their had attacked all the white farmers in the surrounding countryside many hundreds of miles had been scaled by the bloodthirsty hordes, and when Garrick saw the remains of the Van Leroux family his heart had sunk to knew depths the Shona didnt regard the young as anything other than the fture soldiers of the great white king over the sea.

Garrick had known the family, little Piet had been a regular down at the mine and would often join in with the cups of coffee eagerly awaiting the stories he would be told by the well travelled miners.
the only thought Garrick could muster now was a deep sorrow and an aching lust for revenged blood
He had ridden hard and not met another living soul his heart twinged when he thought of his own dear Maria at Havershaw, he hoped boyond hope that the garrison there had time to laager the town before the massed beplumed ranks attacked Havershaw in force

His day was hard as he struggled to keep his wits about him twice he had rested each time he had to run for his life when maruading Shona's had found him, his trusty Webly had kept them at bay, the power of Gunpower still struck fear into the most bloodied of the warriors.

as he rode further west he took a deep sigh of releif as he noticed the white and red ensign fluttering still on the breeze above the fledgling city of Havershaw small figures of men could be made out on top of the laagered wagons with the menacing lee metfords and mausers raised like thin sticks by their sides.
Anger was suprise dominated any emotion that Havershaw felt as a whole 3000 settlers trapped behind the sandbags and wagons most of the men were armed but ammunition was limited and good horses were scarse Garrick knew that King Hlobi had 30.000 men in 12 impies under his command
sitting and waiting would see the Settlers die in a bitter war of atrition.

 

[Kugelan Free State]

1896

Havershaw with its tiny population and with only 2 other similar towns holding out across Ndebeleland could not hope to win if it came down to a run of the mill battle.
With less than 1700 men able to bear arms they were outnumbered.

Guns and Ammunition were not in short supply but neither could they afford to lose any, 2 maxim guns were the lynchpin of the towns defenses
A council of leading free-holders and officials had elected themselves leaders during the duration of th crisis, not being a land owner or an official garrick was subscripted into the defense of the town, there was little else to do for a miner and one time huntsman.
Times became harder as food began to run out and the usual comforts of civilisation disintergrated before self interest

The Garrison had perhaps one chance the Shona had begun fighting the Ndebele and were once again trying to push them from the land more blood had been shed but the attentions of Hlobi's warriors was kept away from Havershaw
A flying column of horsemen was recognised by all millitary men as the only way in which the people of Havershaw could strike out from their laager and attack the Shona warriors

 

[Kugelan Free State]

Present day

Benagula crept slowly through the undergrowth of the forest his eyes keen and aware, sweat covered his body and made him gleam in the early morning sunshine. With him his Impi moved slowly, cautiously, they knew the Shona dogs were abroad in these woods and they must be like the Leopard as they stalked their prey.

Benagula flared his nostrils, an alien smell caught his attention and made him bring his hand up sharply, this was the signal for his Impi to stop where they were, he sniffed the air again and squinted his eyes in concentration, he had smelt this smell before; Common Toothpaste, the White soldiers never learned how to live with the forest.

 

[Kugelan Free State]

Matopo hills forest

Major James watched patiently through his field glasses, he knew trying to mask his presence to the Tribesmen was a simple waste of time. They would know he was here and he knew that they feared him and his men the Legendary Robertson's Scouts.

The Scouts had the best of whatever the Free state could afford in terms of equipment.
This Detachment was a small company of 26 men, among them; 4 Ordinance specialists whose job was to search for land mines and bombs, 6 distinguished snipers and a plethora of other skilled units.

It came from the east, a hailstorm of bullets inaccurately aimed, fired from old ak-47's.
It was said that the tribesmen were still afraid of firearms and would close their eyes when pulling the trigger, thus making their fire sporadic.
Major James knew this wasn't true; he knew that half of his best snipers were from the tribes, they had the aptitude for the gruelling waiting game in the forests and were not afraid to pull the trigger when the time came.

Without having to give any orders Major James' scouts returned fire. They aimed for the little flashes of light that denoted where an enemy was hiding, most of the bullets expended by the AK-47's were firing well above the level the soldiers sat or lay at. The 6 snipers were making light work of the tribesmen, their precise shots killing instantly leaving no room for last minute heroics.
The Tribesmen knew they were being defeated, they began to close in.
Too many had already fallen and the barrage of fire from the Scouts was enough to distinguish any last traces of hope they may have had.

Major James came upon his enemies like a Djin, in a haze of Camo and gun metal he emptied a barrel into the oncomming foe.

As the sound of fighting died down Major James reloaded his Pistol; an Ornamental Webly .33. He heard the gurgling sound of death beneath him, he looked down into the face of his foe...The Major felt no pity as he looked into the old mans eyes.

"This time, you picked on the wrong part of the woods eh' bro"​

 

[Kugelan Free State]

1896

A good horse can run about 35 mph, with a rider and full tack for short distances, and can comfortably move around the countryside without tiring for a good few hours.
A fit man on the other hand can run about 15 mph for a short period of time it was no suprise then that when 400 men from the havershaw garrison mounted up to begin raiding attacks on the shona impi's they had some initial success.
Quick lee metford breach loading rifles were effective against the tribal assegai and kerees

the scouts were born

 

[Kugelan Free State]

Present Day

Benagula and his brothers lay down on the soft ground as soon as the firing began.
Soon automatic weapons were lashing out infront of them in the woods, Benagula heard the sickly thudding of metal into flesh, and cringed one minute to soon and this death could have been his.

The Shona were being ripped to shreds by the withering fire of the scouts as benagula made his retreat, quickly from the popping alien sound of gunfire. There was no more honour to be satisfied here today not at this butchers market.

_____________​

Major Archibald lowered the bead of his revolver to the old mans forehead and squeezed the trigger, the deathly reaction was instant and dark blood splattered from the wound onto Archibald's chest.

"Du Plooy"​

Shouted the Major, as he plucked a fresh cigar from his breast pocket

"Sir"​

the reply from the Corporal was instant and obedient

"Get on the radio to Vildeburg, the remnents of our friends are heading north east towards the Kengoto gorge, tell Makepeace to get his boys in the air.​

The major knew to follow the Tribesmen would subject his men to potential ambush and they had no hope of keeping up under the circumstances.

"Yes Sir"​

Came the Corporals reply.

"Oh, and Corporal"​

Added Major Archibald without taking his eyes of the corpses of his foes

"Get us some transport out of here"​

The Major noted with satisfaction that his radio man was already communicating with Vildeburg, He aimed his pistol again at a body strainign through the last stages of death.

Another shot rang out.

 

[Kugelan Free State]

It took only minutes for one of the air forces finest Gripen C multirole attack aircraft to climb into the skies.
The Drakensburg mountains behind the oncomming aircraft and beyond them a dark rolling storm gave poetry to the scene that would follow.

The co-ordinates from the Scouts had been clear. 'Rebel detachment aproaching Kengoto, Eliminate'

Flight officer Louis Martins was alone in the big blue, his idea of heaven the Shona could hear Death comming on to them from above, they all knew with instinctive dread what the sound of the F414G Turbofan Engine meant.

Louis caught the position of his enemies as he moved into position, there were 30 or so of the enemy out in the open before the gorge, some were wounded as their comrades struggled with them, trying to reach the unstable looking bridge that would carry them into the Deep Mpani forests and freedom over the other side.

"Target, Splash"​

His Orders from Makepeace had been clear and direct. 'Go in and kill.' and now the mk77 mod-1 bomb fell among the enemy like the wrath of God.
the Fireball reached up high as jellied fuel stuck to everything that it touched and burned at 800 degree's a few struggling blackened bodies managed to heave themselves away from the blast, some going mad as they smelt their own flesh burn away, and some lying weeping on the soft forest floor with the carnage of it all.

This morning they had sung their war song, they had taken the beer pots and gone into the women. this morning they were 100 men. Now they were 7

 

[Kugelan Free State]

Benagula watched the eyes of his men. They should be happy, the Shona raiding party was dead and the white man had done it for them. But the slaughter had reminded them of the daily dance with death that trapped them all. The white major would leave none alive, Archibald was a known butcher of great repute.

It is just as it has been for three generations​

Benagula sighed.
He had remembered the teachings of his Grandfather whom had been a young boy when the Pioneer columns had marched northwards in search of the metal that shines like the sun, and the stones that glitter like water.
They had found some, but with them had come the other men, those who build the railways and took the wood for energy and who mined the earth for all sorts of metals.

Benagula remembered his Grandfathers tales of when the Shona massacred the fledgling communities of white farmers, and in return the white man had ridden his horses in fast deadly raids using their quick firing maxim guns and dynamite to batter the Shona nation into submission.
The bullets and bombs did not discriminate between the Shona warriors and the Ndebele cattle farmers and nor did the white man in his fury.