Beneath the Darkening Sky Read Online Free PDF

rumours and lies about us. She
says that we are bad people.’ I feel Pina sob. He pokes at her mama’s face with his boot. ‘Do you not understand? Are you so stupid?’ he yells. ‘We are freedom
fighters! We are overthrowing the corrupt and oppressive government so that you can have freedom! Is that what bad men do? No!’
    A soldier hands the Captain a megaphone and he walks slowly down the street. ‘Bad men,’ he continues, ‘lie to you. Don’t you understand what has happened here? The
government told you lies, they brainwashed your husbands and fathers. That’s what they do. They steal your minds from you! It was those men we killed last night. We have come like gardeners
to pull out the weeds that are choking you!
    ‘This is why we take your sons. We are taking them some place safe. Away from the government, which will only corrupt their minds with propaganda. Brainwash them! Turn them all into agents
of oppression! Your sons will be our soldiers. Will they not protect you? Will they not fight for you? We are your army!’
    He turns back and walks towards Pina’s mama. ‘This woman is not one of you. She too has been brainwashed. She too is an agent of oppression. Now, I understand we are called
“rebels”. We do not look as powerful as the government, I know. Many of you fear the government, and fear what they would do if you joined us. So we will show you that we are strong and
that you do not have to fear your oppressors!’
    He spins around and kicks Pina’s mama in the stomach. She curls up into a ball.
    ‘See? Where is the government to help this woman? Your oppressors do not even help their own agents! Attack one of our soldiers and you will see just how different we are!’
    The Captain puts down the megaphone and looks around him, waiting to see if anyone comes out. No doors open, no windows either. The Captain adjusts his beret and nods to his men. Both slide
their gun off their shoulder. Using the wooden ends of their guns, they beat Pina’s mama.
    Pina’s scream is warm against my hand. I have to hold her with both my arms to keep her from running to her mama. I turn Pina’s face away so she can’t see and then I close my
own eyes really tight but I can still hear. Every time they hit her, the cries are a little weaker. Between hits, she sobs. I wonder whether they will beat her to death.
    ‘The government does not help her!’
    The hits are thuds on her skin and I think I hear a break.
    ‘God does not help her!’
    How can I convince Pina this is not her fault?
    ‘Because God is with the revolution!’
    The thuds stop and I open my eyes. Pina’s mama lies in the street, bleeding. Maybe she’s sleeping. Looming over her, the Captain gives her a little kick. He rolls her over with his
foot. I see her cough. Pina stops screaming. She collapses, and I have to sit down to keep my hold on her.
    ‘We did not come to kill you,’ the Captain says quietly. Everything else is so silent. ‘We came for some goats.’ Then he looks up at his soldiers. ‘Who will get us
some goats?’
    I get up, still holding Pina’s arm. ‘We will!’ I say, loud. I pull Pina up, whispering to her, ‘Your mama’s okay. They won’t hurt her any more if we get them
the goats.’
    ‘Yeah,’ says a soldier nearby. ‘Bring us good ones and maybe we’ll let you have some for dinner.’
    I know they won’t, but it doesn’t matter, we’re going. Pina’s eyes are locked on her mama as we go. We have to keep moving. They like hitting people. For a moment, Pina
doesn’t walk and I kind of drag her.
    The goats are in a little pen that’s made from whatever was lying around, to stop them getting mixed up with the cows and starting fights or getting hurt. It’s easier to pen up the
goats than the cows. Once we’re in the yard, Pina lets go of my hand and runs to the pen. She starts pulling on the first goat to get it out, then another. She grabs her stick, which is
leaning against the pen,