Savages

Savages

Written By

Roger B. Domian

January 1979

Many rugged pebbles, rocks, and boulders stretched out among the barren wasteland giving an unearthly presence of loneliness and a feeling of prehistoric periods. A land which had once held the presence of civilization. A land once of war, of nuclear disaster, and of total destruction. Many people had felt the icy fingers of death among them. A few survivors living now to this day survive on what little they have. Like the humans they were, like animals, like savages.

A large manmade Mountain stands amongst the dry area alone and insignificant. Silhouetted against the rigid mountain against a yellow white sunlight sits an old rocker. Out of shape as if leaned upon without care, and certainly not an instrument of comfort, for rusted nails and sharp splinters protrude
from the cracked slats which barely support it together. Never mind the age or the birth of the old rocker for it does suit its purpose well.

At the foot of the towering monolith standing alone, a cracked blackboard supported by an uprooted tree stump. The emblem of The Mickey Mouse Club, curled and cracked on the lower left hand corner blends into the remaining chipped centerpiece of the blackboard. Split partially down the center and causing a separation of two oddly written names is a crudely drawn line. On the left, the name spelled 'Benzen'. Below the name is drawn a crooked star like object. On the right side, the name 'Frendrek' is written, This name is scribbled out and barely visible.

Over the hill in the distance led by a large, pompous man, crowded a small group of men and women. All of them clothed in rags that were once clothes, or in fact, uniforms worn by the fighters of World War. World War of the past, not of this present era of time. The leader, a heavy set man, short and bald with a charcoal black beard protruding from his stout chin leads the crowd to the mountain. His moon white complexion is seeded with a black hairy coverage, exaggerated especially on his thick chest. A wooden spear held aloft his right hand for support of his overweightness and his poorly bandaged deep gash wound on his right knee. A wound of a battle of not long ago. His name was Benzen.

The group surrounded the mountain and watched and waited. Benzen limped to the foot of the rubble and proceeded to climb. To climb to the ancient-sitting apparatus at the top of the monolith. Small rocks and stones of numerous shapes and sizes tumbled down the tower as Benzen's feet slipped. He grasped hold of a small crevice in a large boulder to support his weight, and as the anxious faces of the crowd below watched in desperation, Benzen reached the top, staggering a bit, then stood and looked out among the land. His land, like a King of his time - the owner of the world.

He lifted his spear and brought it down briskly against his chest. The many below yelled to their King towering above. Fists raised, women jumped, and others called out and praised his name. 'Benzen' they yelled, 'Benzen'. A large grin cracked into a smile on Benzen's face exposing his yellow and
black teeth, chipped and broken. As he backed up a step and plopped himself into the old rocker the people below became quiet and also sat themselves onto the rugged land. Benzen reached into his ripped jacket with his left hand and pulled out a bent and rusted horn - a bugle. He raised it to his
lips and blew into it. Out from the old instrument came a sound which both squeaked and roared at the same time. The dissonant note was played once and halted, but its echo rang on across the land.

A male member from the crowd, a tall thin boy with long straggly blonde hair, stood and walked to the cracked blackboard, then proceeded to wipe it clean with some spit and the sleeve of his coat.
He wore army boots which barely strung closed for the laces dragged along the ground as he walked. His slashed pants were barely seen under his long army coat which held a Corporals patch hanging by a few threads on his left sleeve. He finished erasing the board and glanced up to the top of the monolith. Benzen stood up again, raised up his spear and yelled out the name 'Lauray'.

Lauray, a large muscular built man, stood up from the crowd and took a few steps towards the monolith and stopped. He barely wore a thing. His body was clothed only with a blanket around his waste and wrapped through his legs as if a large diaper. He was huge and had a massive chest which was covered by tiny black hairs jetting down towards his abdomen.

Benzen lowered the spear and looked towards the boy at the blackboard and nodded. The boy pulled out a fairly large piece of plasterboard from his coat pocket and wrote down the name Lauray on the left side of the board.

Benzen looked again to the crowd raising his spear once more. This time he called 'Tombzen', and from the crowd arose another male. Short and younger than Lauray but he was still well proportioned with muscularity. He was bare foot but wore one ripped sock on his left foot. He wore an army jacket which had no sleeves along with a pair of ripped blue jeans. He approached the
monolith and stood to the right of Lauray. Benzen nodded to the boy and he wrote Tombzen's name down on the right side of the board. Tombzen and Lauray turned to look at one another and held out their hands to shake. As they're hands met the strength increased, the grips grew tighter, and they stared deeply into each other's eyes.

Suddenly Benzene horn sounded out again, interrupting the two as they looked up. As Benzen lowered the horn and put it back into his coat the two below parted from one another and stood four feet apart. Benzen's hand emerged from his coat, this time clasped around the hand grip of a weapon. A gun, a gun of once their present time - a laser pistol.

Benzen raised it above his head and looked below at the two chosen men who anxiously waited for the next move. A hush fell over the fidgety crowd as they too watched and waited. Benzen took a stop towards the edge of the monolith and with his deep voice yelled 'May Man Best Win'.

Benzen lowered the gun to his waist, and as if nothing, carelessly tossed it down. It landed in the rubble behind the two men as they immediately ran in pursuit of it.

Tombzen slightly ahead was tackled by Lauray causing him to crawl to the weapon. Tombzen got up and ran to the clawing Lauray and kicked the laser from his grip. Lauray grabbed Tombzen by the legs and wrestled him to the ground, moved onto his chest, raised his fist and brought it down onto Tombzen neck. Lauray then rolled off Tombzen and gripped the gun tightly in his hands. With his eyes glued to the weapon Lauray rose to his feet. Tombzen rubbed his neck and saw that the weapon had its owner and arose to his feet staring at Lauray, almost expecting the loss.

Benzen then threw down his spear to the two men and it stuck into the ground a few feet from Tombzen. Lauray looked up and met eyes with Tombzen who backed away grabbing the spear. Lauray's arm straightened and aimed the laser towards Tombzen.With nothing on his mind but survival, Tombzen started to run towards the wooded area with spear in hand. Lauray pulled the trigger of the laser and it shot an orange red glow which hit a nearby tree Tombzen had just passed.
Lauray looked up at Benzen and held up the laser.

"Man best win?" he said as he then lowered the gun and started to run after Tombzen.

Benzen took a couple steps back and plopped himself again into the old rocker. From the distance the sound of the laser pistol echoing throughout the canyon rang once more.

Many hours had passed and the sun was setting, illuminating the land with a fiery orange glow. Benzen slept in the old rocker snoring heavily along with the sleeping bodies of his flock surrounding the mountain. The snap of a twig cracking did not awake them as the staggering footsteps of one of the warriors approached with the laser and spear. Nor did the clearing of his throat awaken anybody. The hand of the warrior grasped the laser gun tightly and raised it above his head. He pulled the trigger setting off a glow to the sky. Benzen awoke immediately and looked down at the
winning survivor. It was Lauray, breathing heavily and dripping blood from a gash in his chin.

"Lauray Man Best!", Benzen yelled as everybody stood up and cheered. Benzen started on his way down the mountain to greet Lauray. The thin boy at the blackboard drew a star underneath Lauray's name similar to that of the one under Benzen earlier. He then proceeded to scribble over Tombzen's name with the broken plasterboard.

Benzen reached the foot of the mountain and started to walk towards Lauray as a hush fell over the crowd. Benzen smiled at Lauray and reached into his coat and pulled out the rusted bugle. Handing it to the proud winner he slowly turned, took three steps, and knelt down with his back to Lauray. The crowd started a chant repeatedly 'Man best Lauray', starting quietly at first, and slowly gradually speeding up and gaining in volume. Lauray raised his arm and pointed laser weapon towards Benzen. The chant was now a yell that was reaching a crescendo as Lauray's finger pulled the trigger sending a fiery glow to Benzen's back who let out a horrible yell. His jacket was immediately engulfed in
flames as Benzen dropped over like a fallen tree. The crowd cheered, praising Lauray as he placed the laser pistol in his wrappings. He raised the spear up over his head in triumph and started to lead the people towards the hill which they had previously crossed in early morning leaving the burning body of Benzen to lie in the rubble at the foot of the mountain. For this was their savage life.

A year passes.

The monolith still stands within the rocky area. Nothing has changed since except for the dehydrated bones of Benzen laying along the ground. From over the hill a group of people is led by Lauray,carrying the spear walks proudly across the land. The gash in his chin has become a crooked scar covered by small patches of his beard.

The people were led to the man made monolith and watched as Lauray proceeded to climb. He reached the top much quicker that Benzen had, probably because he was younger and still in better shape. The process of the game proceeded normally as every other year. A different young boy was called by Lauray's bugle to erase the blackboard. Following that, Lauray stood and called out the
first of the new warriors.

"Jakib!" he called.

From the crowd emerged a man built similar to that of Lauray. A scar covered his left eye partially closing it, making it impossible for him to see to the left without turning his head. He wore a ripped shirt and shorts which had a ripped pocket on the right side exposing only the inner lining. He took a few steps towards the mountain and stopped. Lauray nodded to the young boy and Jakib's name was written on the blackboard. Lauray then called out a second name. 'Peder'.

The crowd became quiet and glanced around waiting for the next chosen one to rise but no one did. Lauray called out the name again, louder this time thinking the one had not heard him the first time. No one rose to answer. A soft whispering sounded throughout the crowd as they looked to a reluctant man sitting close to a woman. Jakib turned too, to see what was keeping his challenger. The women looked down to the man called Peder with both sadness and anxiety in her eyes.

Peder was a tall thin blonde man with not much of a build. He wore a vest and blue jeans ripped and full of holes. He was a quiet one of the 'tribe'. Keeping his secrets alone to him and his women.

"Peder?" Jakib called waiting for him to come forward.

Peder raised his head and looked towards Jakib but continued to sit. Lauray angrily called down to
him. "Peder make ready for the game!"

Peder stood quickly and yelled, "No!"

A mumbling of words was heard throughout the crowd concerning the situation.

"Games bad, make nudding!" Peder continued.

Lauray glared down to Peder and yelled, "Games always from beginning!"

"No!" Peder answered back. "Games not always from beginning! Games start when older brodders and sisters destroyed years ago. Games are killing. Games make death. Death not good."

"Death fair for loser of game!" Lauray yelled. "Life, for winner. Games are fair, you play."

Peder backed away saying, "No, me not play. Games not fair. We must end games and death. Must live!"

"Living, for winner of game. Always from beginning." Lauray finished as he reached into his wrappings and pulled out the laser pistol raising it above his head. Jakib prepared to catch the falling gun.

"No!" Peder yelled. "It's wepon for death!"

Lauray ignoring Peder yelled out, "May man best win".

Peder glanced to the blackboard and saw his name being written on it. The feeling of fear entered
Peder's body as he watch the pistol fall and land gently into Jakib's waiting grip without any distraction.

"Stop!" Peder cried. "I not play your death game".

"Must play, or Peder death.' Jakib said to him as his arm pointing the gun at him. Lauray threw his spear down to Peder and it stuck into the ground behind him.

"No!" Peder yelled backing away. Jakib pulled the trigger sending a laser a foot in front of Peder. He jumped back as the ground ahead of him exploded and flew in pieces into the air. Taunting him even more, Jakib fired again at Peder's feet making him back up to the spear.

"Peder must play now." Jakib said as he pointed the gun to Peder's chest.

With no other choice Peder grabbed the spear and started to run to the wooden area. Jakib looked up at Lauray and smiled and said, "May man best win." With that he took off towards the woods.

Lauray smiled confidently watching Jakib run towards the forest and into battle as he made himself comfortable by sitting in the old rocker.

Peder tired easily. He had only started running a few minutes ago and already he was breathing heavily and tripping over his own feet. Or maybe it wasn't that. Maybe the reason for his constant clumsiness was caused by fear and panic. Panicking of the fear that he may soon die. His pursuer armed with a laser pistol and he with a simple spear, for what good would it do him. Maybe he
should have tried for the gun after all. If he had the gun maybe this may not have all been taking place. He could have stopped the game before it had started. But it was too late for those thoughts now.

Catching his breath he stopped and fell aside a large oak. What could he do? He had to think of how to survive. He looked to his left and right and saw that he was surrounded by trees. Trapped by nature in its own way. The sudden crackling of leaves made him quickly turn his head in fear. Jakib was close. He had to talk to him, convince him that the games were wrong and had to be stopped! He might listen, he was understanding, in a way, and Lauray wasn't around to make him think differently.

Peder got up and hid himself behind a large oak. Jakib moved down the path looking around cautiously and passed the tree. Peder stepped out and called Jakib's name. Jakib immediately turned and shot the pistol. The glow exploded on the side of the tree and sent pieces of bark flying. Peder quickly jumped behind the tree.

"Jakib, wait!" He called out. "Do not kill."

"Must kill," Jakib answered, "it rule of game."

"Stop game'' Peder pleaded. "Game for killers. We not killer, we friends. When me you hunt togedder we not kill, member? Why now kill?"

"It rule of game." Jakib answered "You run now. No make easy, make challenge. Now you go, or death now."

"Yes' Peder said, "death now. Then what?"

Jakib answered proudly, "Then me leader."

"To be leader no good." Peder said. "Leader only short time. Then games come, then death and new leader. Then you die for new leader. To be leader, no good."

"To be leader is good!" Jakib threw back madly. "To lead people is good."

"We people need no leader." Peder said. "We do good alone. Be leader for our womans and childrens only. No leader of all."

"We talk no more." Jakib interrupted. "Must finish game. Now, you go. Live. Or death now."

Peder moved out from behind the tree and took a step toward Jakib saying, "Games must end."

Jakib aimed the laser pistol at Peder and said, "Jakib say go!"

Peder thought that all hope was lost. he turned with spear in hand and proceeded to run down the path. Jakib fired at the oak tree and slowly continued after Peder.

In the situation he was in, Peder thought that the whole world was against him, or what was left of it. If only such a weapon as a laser pistol had not survived the great war as it had. For that was the 'main cause of it, for all of this. If only he had convinced Jakib to end the games. He knew he had to get the weapon of death. That was his only chance of survival. He had to get that gun, but how?

On the left side of the road was a low branched tree. Peder stopped and glanced up at it. Something came to his mind. He had to try it. He had to try it and win. For if he didn't, he knew he would die.
He looked to the ground and spotted a fairly good sized stone. He bent down and picked it up. Looking back to the tree he grabbed hold of the low branch and pulled his feet up, gripping them around the branch. Pulling himself up he awkwardly he then sat between the two branches, in the V of the tree, and waited.

He waited it seemed, for so long when suddenly he heard Jakib. Now was the chance he had been waiting for. He kept totally still, careful not to make a sound. Jakib walked up the path. Peder swallowed roughly making a soft gulping sound. Jakib stopped suddenly. Could he have heard it? Peder was afraid but he was prepared for this. He slowly raised his hand and threw the stone into the bushes in the path ahead. Jakib cocked his head and started to walk forward pointing the pistol out straight. Peder signed quietly to himself. Jakib halted beneath the tree Peder was sitting in. Peder wasn't afraid that Jakib would see him for his eyesight was bad on his left side because of the scar. He just had to be careful so as not to make a sound. Jakib seemed to be waiting, for something. Anything.

Quickly and quietly Peder gripped the end of his spear and raised it above his left shoulder. Taking a deep breath he brought it down making a swooping sound. Jakib heard this sound and turned his
head to see the spear hitting his hands and knocking the laser gun out of his grip. He turned to see where it had landed when Peder leaped from the tree onto his back rustling Jakib to the ground. Jakib rolled over pushing Peder off his back. Rising to his feet, he threw a kick to the chin of Peder making a cracking at his jaw as he flew to the ground on his back. Jakib stepped forward lifting his foot attempting to bring it down to Peder's chest but Peder caught his foot and pushed, throwing Jakib in the air and to the ground. Peder stood to his feet and said "Game stop now."

"Not stop yet" Jakib answered. "Not winner yet."

He glanced over to the laser pistol lying on the edge of the path in a cluster of twigs and sticks and started for it. Peder ran and jumped onto Jakib to hold him back and get the gun for himself. Jakib rolled himself over so that he was now on top of Peder and reached for the laser. Peder reached too, but could not see for his face was blackened out by Jakib's coat. Peder felt the fingers of Jakib stretching and grabbing for the gun but receiving nothing but his own hands. Peder felt something then and grabbed a hold of it. Was it the laser gun ... or just a piece of wood?

Lauray was fast asleep in the old rocker along with the many beneath him. The footsteps of one of the warriors weave in and out through the sleeping bodies and stop at the foot of the mountain. He raised the laser gun and shot into the air. Lauray awoke suddenly along with the other people. When
Lauray saw the winning warrior he smiled and started down the monolith. The people around him yelled and started to cry out the winners name.

They cried out Peder.

Lauray reached the bottom and walked to Peder. Peder's expressionless face puzzled Lauray. Why wasn't he glad to be the winner?

"Peder man best." Lauray said proudly.

"No, Peder not man best.". Peder answered back as the crowd became quiet, "Peder just man. Nobody man best anymore because no more games."

Everybody watched quietly and in amazement as Peder continued.

"No more warriors!" Peder yelled as he aimed the laser gun at the blackboard and shot splitting it to pieces.

"No more leader's!" he continued as he shot the laser at the old rocker atop the monolith destroying it into pieces.

Peder then threw down the laser gun in front of him and pulled out a large heavy rock from his vest. He then thrust it down onto the laser smashing it into bits and pieces. He looked up to all and finally said, "No more weapons of death."

The End

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