Starlight in the Ring Read Online Free Page A

rocks, expecting to find the herd of cattle.
    “Ouch!” I scream, as a thorn pricks my face, tearing my skin deeply diagonally. The blood flows down my left cheek, justbelow my eye. I wipe it off with the back of my hand, feeling very hurt without imagining the bruise I have. It would have been worse if it had pierced my eyeball.
    I lean over the fence, exhausted and confused. My heart throbbing loudly, I fear the worst. “I’m responsible. What will I tell Baas?” I say to Rita, who is also panting from tiredness. “Shall we go home, and continue searching tomorrow?” I’m deeply stressed and confused. It’s hard for me to make a firm decision and stick to it, as a similar memory bombards my thoughts.
    “No, we can’t go home without them. Where will I run to?” I’ve tried very hard to forget about this terrible incident over the past three years, but it is impossible. It’s stuck to my mind. Whenever I think about Baas’ reaction when angry, I remember what he did to my friend, Raymond Barton. Then, sadness and fear engulf me. Tears start flowing, and I weep uncontrollably.
    On that day, Baas Jimmie waited until we put out our lamps, leaving our house dark. He was certain we were all asleep. However, he was wrong. I wasn’t. Lying still, with my head covered with only a small opening left just for my eye to see what he was doing, I watched every move he made.
    Trying to be still by breathing gently was difficult. I couldn’t continue for any longer. It got better when I opened my mouth. However, the more I tried to suppress my breathing the louder my heart pounded. Could he tell I was awake? Just in case he looked at me, I lay motionless like the dead, giving him no chance to be suspicious. I was like the other children in the room.
    My Baas trod carefully in silence, trying to locate Ray, the oldest of us all at that time. This task seemed difficult for him. There were many children sleeping on the hay mattresses on the floor. Someone was snoring loudly. Baas uncovered their heads simultaneously. He stood above Ray’s head calling, “Ray! Ray! Get up… now!”
    “Hmm?” Ray replied in a slurred tone, clearly still in deep sleep, turning over to face the other side. I felt a chill slip downmy spine. Afraid to move, I held my breath. My eyes blurred with tears. To gain visibility, I wiped them off gently with the corner of my blanket that I held tightly onto.
    “Bloody hell!…Why are you here when my Daisy isn’t? You’re happy to enjoy your sleep, at my loss? No boy, you can’t, get up!”
    There was silence for a moment. Ray delayed, probably still recollecting his mind from the deep sleep. And then he tried explaining, “I’m sorry, my Baas. I went all over, searching…” Before he finished his sentence, Baas Jimmie interrupted him, completely ignoring his lengthy explanation.
    “Shut up, lazy boy… ignorant boy!” shouted Baas Jimmie.
    Ray, complying with the order, kept quiet for a while, and sat up, holding on to the blanket.
    “I’m sorry, Baas!” he bleated eventually, staring at Baas Jimmie, caught up in a trap. Baas uncovered his blankets, leaving him naked.
    Poor Ray had no clothes on, but I couldn’t tell at first, as it was usual for all of us children to sleep half-naked or naked. I heard the whip-sound as he whacked him - one lash - two lashes - and three lashes, all on his bare body. He resisted for a while. It must have been difficult to endure such pain.
    “Aaargh, my Baas!” Ray finally screamed in agony, staring at him motionlessly, with his tearful eyes.
    “Silly boy!”
    Baas Jimmie yelled, waking my parents and other children up. His loud noise disturbed the whole house. My parents put their lamp on, illuminating the living room brighter than his bouncing flimsy torch-light. I saw them standing by their bedroom door, my mum hiding slightly behind my dad, with nothing to say or do. They couldn’t dare to challenge Baas Jimmie, not even in their ‘own’ home.