The Kiir

They sat unmoving among the branches of a giant Scrip-tree, the foliage hiding them from anyone looking up. There were five of them. Scruffy looking men with stoic, brutal faces. Only their black eyes seemed alive as they watched the river below.

The object of their attention stood looking at the briskly flowing water.

A naked young woman. She had arrived some time earlier. After tethering her steed, she shed her rather skimpy clothing, which consisted only of a short kilt, a strip of cloth to cover her pubic area, and a pair of metal breast cups, hardly large enough to cover much of her ample breasts.

Testing the water with one foot, she seemed to hesitate, but then with a shrug, she dove into the water, her naked body glistening white in the midday sun.

When she hit the water, one of the watchers grunted. His lips parted to reveal brown, rotten teeth. The others nodded and, silently, they began to move through the branches.

Climbing down on the hidden side of the thick tree trunk, they reached the soft forest floor and, without making a sound, two of them moved toward the girl's steed. One took her clothing, and the other one tried to untie the animal.

When the black-coated beast snorted, the girl looked toward the commotion and called out sharply. Then she began swimming toward shore.

Letting go of the beast's rope, the man looked at her and grinned. His companion had already disappeared.

She climbed ashore and looked at the spot where she had left her clothing and her sword, realizing they were gone. "What do you want?" she demanded.

The man grinned, his eyes raking her naked form. They rested momentarily on the thick black triangle below her smooth flat belly then moved up to her large breasts, his attention suddenly on the red glowing object nestled in the deep cleft between them.

"Well?" she said, staring defiantly at him.

"I want you," he said, his voice thickly accented and his words slurred.

The girl laughed, shaking her long black hair. "You want me?" she taunted. "You and how many other men?"

Still grinning, he said, "Four."

Hearing the breaking of a twig behind her, she turned and looked at the two men approaching her. She stepped to the side and watched them coming closer, her body suddenly falling into a fighting stance.

Noticing her position, the two men slowed but didn't stop. "Don't try to fight us," one of them said. "We are five ... you are just one helpless girl."

She took one step backward. The jewel between her breasts pulsed with a steady rhythm that she could feel. "I may be just a girl, but I'm not helpless." She whirled with a sudden movement, her knee came up and rammed into the belly of the man who tried to sneak up on her. He howled and dropped to the ground, his hands clutching his middle.

The other two rushed her and tried to grab her arms. She hit one of them in the face with her right fist, while the ball of her foot smashed into the chest of the other one. Rolling away from them, she came up, but collapsed, as a thrown club hit the side of her head.