Chap 1 - For The Name of Love
Copyright @ 2021 by Michael-Paul Harper
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FLASHBACK:
In ancient Ethiopia, a village sits on the Guga ridge under the blanket of night.
Attacking serpentine shadow CREATURES trail fire in their flight on the mountain. The swarm number in the thousands. They are the size of a person without a solid form, no precise shape like smoke.
The creatures roll in like a fog. NOAM (29 yrs old) hair cascades on her bowstring hand as she pulls a notched arrow.
NOAM
(in Khoisan)
Launch all arrows!
The rising tide of repugnant serpents slithers up the hillside to meet spears and swords. Battle cries mix with death screams.
ENOSH (24, caramel skin tone) spins his index finger like a tornado to slam the finger into his opposite palm. In a single word unheard in the din of battle, the Air Elemental LAUNCHES toward the stars.
The creature with a wicked twinkle in its eyes SPLINTERS as confetti. Fireworks of attacking and dying Fire Elementals highlight the birth of an army of Air Elementals.
The Air creatures number the stars. They coagulate into a hurricane-sized beast above the inferno forces. Enosh launches the Air into the Fire.
Shouting of fighters reverb in the air. Fire and smoke blankets the mountain top.
Enosh spots a band of warriors encircling Noam. A blade embedded to the hilt in her chest. He reaches for it when the dagger twitches to SLIDE to him. He withdraws to witness the blade sink in.
ENOSH
(in Khoisan)
A leech-blade.
Wrath coats his eyes.
Magical energy ERUPTS within him and his staff. His hands, his feet, his mouth, his eyes ignite in power. Enosh clears the mountain of Fire Elementals and Shadow Serpents with tectonic FORCE.
Inside Enosh’s hut, bamboo and clay thatched walls curve the space. A fireplace sits within the center of a pit. Noam lies on a bed of blankets. An ELDER WOMAN (71 yrs old) sing-song chant a prayer over Noam.
The leech-blade removes itself from Noam’s body. Noam inhales deep. Her closed eyes GLOW. The dagger hovers for a moment to point at the Elder. She flinches as it aims.
The dagger BURSTS out the hut. The blade hurls faster than a laser.
The Elder yells with elation. Four children spill into the hut to watch the commotion. They join in the heart-filled joy. Noam beams with delight. The children rush out of the hut. Laughter and jubilation become contagious in the village.
Noam goes to start a fire. Looking at the flames, her hands shake. Her eyes flicker to anti-freeze green. The leech-blade spot blossoms into a black and yellowish-green jagged web.
Noam drops a cookware piece. The Elder comes to help. That’s the last help she will ever give, as Noam reaches lightning fast with a hand and SNAPS her neck.
END FLASHBACK.
Two horizontal stone circles sit equidistant in the village center. PEOPLE gather as the left circle burst into a fountain of fire that does not burn. The right circle burst into a water blossom without soaking the ground.
Everyone’s hair strands rise. Water, earth, fire, and air braid themselves vertically into an elemental ring-shaped gate. An incredible aurora shimmer with an ethereal display of colored lights from within the ring.
A deep rumbling builds as the event horizon billows towards the people. Everyone awaits a dignitary’s arrival.
The village gathers in the clearing, jostling one another. Excitement everywhere.
A wormhole, for lack of a better term, swoosh into existence. In the center, a man’s silhouette comes through. His first step transforms him into Enosh. His skin is filthy from battle.
NOAM steps to welcome her husband. In the background, the Elder lay on the ground. Her neck bent at an odd angle. Noam behaves normally.
NOAM
Welcome back, my love.
ENOSH
I see you’re up.
They kiss with passion. Tears streak his face as they hug. The remaining Tribal WARRIORS, coated in grime and sweat, exit the portal after Enosh. Their feet sparkle with each step. Hard-fought victory etched on their bodies.
Villagers welcome the rerunning heroes. Chatter sings in the air. Children unbound in frenetic energy.
TAYE (24, male), FAIZAH (19, female), MAZAA (41, female), AIDA (38, female), FISSEHA (22, female), NYALA (20, female), and three other warriors regain strength from the excitement.
Nyala embraces a GIRL (12) against her cinnamon skin. Her smile is contagious to the child.
Mazaa and Faizah stand in hard-fought sisterhood. They laugh at the riotous joy around them.
Iskinder, Ailmayu, Ajani converse with other MEN. Each man answering questions about their travel.
Taye stands aloof. The sun sinks warmth into his chocolate-coated muscles that ache.
Aida kneels to embrace jubilant BOYS. Her chest heave with laughter.
Fisseha and Essien stroll to WOMEN offering fruits and water. Each man flirt in competition for feminine affection.
The atmosphere sings with celebration.
Enosh withdraws from kissing Noam. He gazes deep into her watering eyes.
ENOSH
My elẹwa olufẹ Noam. How I have missed you.
NOAM
As I of you. It took you long enough.
Enosh chuckles.
ENOSH
I’m always eager to hold you.
A wife’s knowing smile crosses her lips.
NOAM
You smell.
ENOSH
You can wash me later. For now, let us rejoice!
He swings her in the air. Laughter bounds between them. Enosh guides her to the clamorous celebration. Dancing erupts as music leaps into the world.
Bonfires sink into embers. The sun claws itself into the dark. Villagers and heroes break away to their huts. A few people couple together for an intimate night.
Enosh and Noam are last to leave the party. Night has fallen.
NOAM
Any plans for tonight?
ENOSH
Wondering if you would like to scrub your man and then let him ravish you until you can’t take any more.
Her smile fills with teeth to reflect the moon.
NOAM
I would not say no to that.
Darkness fills the space within the cozy hut. Enosh lights a torch. He gazes at Noam. She has begun undressing. Enosh freezes.
ENOSH
Noam?
His eyes lock on the Elder Woman’s body.
NOAM
Yes?
She still proceeds to undress as if the world is normal.
ENOSH
What happened?
He checks the aged woman’s pulse on her broken neck. Enosh recognizes the pale of death.
NOAM
Oh, that?
(pause)
I think when the leech-blade flew out it must have struck her?
ENOSH
How could you have been celebrating with her death in our home? Have you told anyone?
NOAM
She is dead. You are alive.
His eyes fill with incredulity. Enosh is torn. To rouse the village or contend alone for the night?
ENOSH
Help me.
Noam feigns not hearing him. She slips off the last of her clothes and lies in their bed space.
ENOSH
(stern)
Noam!
NOAM
She’s fine. Just throw a blanket on her. I need my husband right now.
A horror fuels his expression.
ENOSH
Noam... my sun and stars... what is it that ails you?
NOAM
Nothing but the loneliness of my body for my husband to fill me... caress me... and crave me in the only way a man deep in love can with his woman.
ENOSH
The edge of your lips says foolishness. Elder Woman is dead at our feet. Her body grows colder with the Spirit of Death’s embrace.
NOAM
Cast your worries under the shadows of my bosom. Come, warm your wife from the chill.
ENOSH
Orisha Bunmi, help us.
NOAM
I am not a witch, tricking you is not what you imagine, my beloved. You may kill me now if you truly believe me capable of more than I offer you.
ENOSH
Enough!
NOAM
Oh my sun, I didn’t mean to...
ENOSH
This is where you err, Noam. To believe I would sate my loins with a wife of wonder and enchantment before doing what is right and just. I am with you because the peace I find in you could ever drown the tempest in the depths of my soul.
NOAM
I swear, oh Enosh, my beloved, to never keep shadows of my being from you.
ENOSH
The evil of this world conspires.
(pause)
I shall not repeat the mistakes of my grandfather.
He wavers at the door, facing the night sky.
NOAM
Then by the voice who speaks all things into being, I will scourge a thousand times the universe and forever be a blight upon my husband’s soul for failing you. That the death of an old woman could come between us.
Enosh scrutinizes Noam. His soul is torn between what needs to be done and the love of this woman.
NOAM
Shh. Drink from my lips again Enosh, and know what peace tastes like. In the morning we will awaken from the dream of death and face the sky father together. Tonight, I aim to misbehave with my husband.
She stands baring herself. Enosh resolve crumbles before Noam’s nakedness and wifely charms.
The torch sink to embers as they make love.
The Elder’s dead eyes judge them.
