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“Maulavi Suparima,” Bhoja says.
“Explain yourself,” Suparima says. “Why should I not have you and her executed for this affront?”
Executed? I didn’t do anything!
“He demeaned our people and his position,” Bhoja says, ending with a growl.
“I see,” Suparima says. “A most unfortunate situation. What say you Riak? Is this what you did?”
“I was questioning the prisoner as per the Shaman’s wishes,” Riak squeaks.
Suparima sighs heavily making a tsking sound.
“You see, Bhoja, I cannot fault Riak. Is he zealous? Yes he is. But is that a bad thing? It is what the Shaman expects. Even more than that it is what our people need if we are going to succeed in our noble mission to hasten the next world and assure our place in it. Surely you do not want a repeat of this world?”
“No, Suparima,” Bhoja says, frowning deeply.
He lets go of Riak’s staff that he has held on to this entire time and takes a step back. His jaw is tight and his hands are still balled into fists but he also bows his head and lets this Suparima take the lead. Riak is smiling with a fiendish grin that makes my stomach churn. He looks as if he’s won some prize and whatever that is, it can’t be good for me or Bhoja.
“But,” Suparima says, holding up one finger. “We are the First People. A position in the world that comes with the weight of responsibility, no matter how the end times have tried to bring us low. What, exactly, is it that Riak did which caused this upset?”
“My duty!” Riak exclaims, his eyes widening as he loses that lascivious grin.
Suparima glances in his direction then looks at Bhoja, waiting.
“He threatened her with assault,” Bhoja says. Suparima arches one eye which tugs his tusk up along with it. “Of a sexual nature.”
Bhoja says the last with clear reluctance and disgust. Suparima, I’m not sure if this is a title or his name, nods knowingly.
“I see,” Suparima says. He crosses his arms over his chest and shakes his head making that tsking sound again. “This is most unfortunate.”
Suparima raises one hand and extends two fingers. He makes the slightest of motions towards Riak and the four guards that came with him rush forward, roughly grabbing Riak.
“No! I did nothing wrong. This is what it was going to take. The Shaman said?—”
Suparima closes his hand into a fist and one of the guards covers Riak’s mouth with his hand. The four of them bodily lift Riak off his feet and disappear out the door with him. Silence fills the cell, but it is a hell of a long way from comfortable. This Suparima is powerful. It exudes off of him and there is a clear sense that this is not over. All of us wait for what he will do next.
Surprisingly, Suparima turns his back on Bhoja and me. I dare a glance at Bhoja trying to figure out what is coming next but it doesn’t reveal anything. Bhoja stares at the floor waiting, though his hands have unclenched. I think that’s good. I hope. Moments tick past and I get more and more restless, needing something to happen. It makes my skin itch like tiny feet are crawling all over me.
Finally, Suparima turns around and walks over to stand right in front of me. He looks me up and down with an appraising look. His eyes are hard and cold making me feel like some kind of livestock being evaluated by the one who intends to slaughter me. I swallow the bile that rises in my throat.
“You are unharmed?” he asks.
I try to speak but no sound comes out. I force myself to swallow and try again.
“Yes,” I manage, but it sounds like a croak because my mouth and throat are still so dry.
“Good,” he says. He turns his back to me and walks over to Bhoja. “You are appointed as her guardian. The Shaman does have questions for the aliens, but this is not the way we will conduct ourselves. You will see that she is cared for and her basic needs tended to until I call for her.”
“Yes, Suparima,” Bhoja says.
“Good,” Suparima says, walking out the door. He pauses in the doorway before he leaves. “Do not fail, Bhoja. It would be most unpleasant for everyone if you failed.”
Before anyone can speak or say more he is gone. The other guard that was on the door follows in his wake leaving Bhoja and I alone.
“What was that?” I ask, my voice trembling.
“That was trouble,” Bhoja growls, grabbing my arm and pulling me off the chair.
