Free Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton

dream I arrived, or am I dreaming now? Soly and Iris are beside me, hugging potato sacks. Next to us, a granny with three kids lets the baby suck her thumb.
    There’s a rumble. Mama was right. There’s going to be astorm. A crack of lightning. Thunder. No, it’s not that! It’s rocket fire!
    The granny turns to me. Under the light of a green flare, I see the face of a crocodile. Dead eyes. A wall of teeth. This isn’t a granny. It’s General Mandiki.
    Mandiki pulls his thumb from the baby’s mouth. His thumb is a machete.
    A missile explodes against the flatbed. We fly through the air. Crash into a ditch. The potato sacks split open. They’re full of human heads.
    Mandiki stands above us. He swings his machete.
    â€œRun!”
    Â 
    I sit bolt-upright. I’m on my mat in Auntie Lizbet’s room. A nightmare. I’ve had a nightmare, that’s all. Thank god I didn’t scream. Granny and Auntie Lizbet would’ve taken me to a spirit doctor. But why am I dreaming about Mandiki? Of course. I slap my forehead. I saw the general’s picture with the bodies in The Rombala Gazette . Mr. Selalame is right. Dreams are about the present. My mind was on our trip.
    I reach out in the dark and brush Iris and Soly’s shoulders. We’re safe. I smile at my silliness. My nerves, my nerves. I’m such a coward.
    It’s a good thing we’re here. I need the rest. I do. I really do.
    I lie down again. Float into the night.
    Â 
    Roosters crow. Somewhere there’s roosters. Oh yes, there’s roosters across the way at Nelson’s. Maybe Granny and the aunties have some too. I cover my head with my pillow. Drift off again.
    I blink. What time is it now? The shutters are closed and the curtain across the bedroom door is drawn, but I can feel the sun’s up. Soly and Iris are out of bed. I hear the rattle of dishes. They must be having breakfast.
    I hear Auntie Lizbet. “What we say is ‘please.’”
    â€œâ€˜Please,’” Iris mimics.
    â€œGood girl,” Auntie Lizbet says. “And then we say, ‘thank you.’”
    â€œThank you,” Iris repeats. “Thank you, Auntie Lizbet, for teaching me ‘please and thank you.’”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” There’s a twinkle in Auntie Lizbet’s voice.
    I can’t believe it. Mama taught Iris “please and thank you.” I taught her “please and thank you.” She’s such a little brat, pretending we didn’t. Oh well, if it puts AuntieLizbet in a good mood…
    I roll over.
    â€œChanda?” Soly’s in the doorway. “Chanda, are you still sleeping?”
    â€œI was.” I rub my eyes.
    â€œCan I play with Pako?”
    â€œWho’s Pako?”
    â€œNelson’s brother. He’s nine. Granny says it’s all right. Is it?”
    â€œIf Granny says so.”
    He gets his lunch box from beside his pillow. “I’m going to show Pako the map.” A few minutes later I hear the two of them outside my window. “When I grow up, I’m going to work at the Kenje River Safari Camp with Mr. Lesole. It’s the red dot near the mountains. Mr. Lesole’s a big boss there and he’s my friend.”
    â€œAren’t you afraid of lions?”
    â€œWell…” Soly replies carefully, “I wouldn’t walk up and pet one. But Mr. Lesole says they mostly hunt at night. I’d be in bed then. And you get warnings. If a lion’s around, the impalas get jumpy. And anyway, unless they’re old or sick or starving, they stay away from people. Mr. Lesole says our meat’s not as tasty as antelope or porcupine.”
    â€œHow does he know?” Pako laughs. “Is he a lion?”
    â€œDon’t be stupid,” Soly sighs. “Want to play Hyena Hideaway?”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œA game. First we need some stools and benches…”
    Â 
    By the