NOW it had happened that while the ships were still on sail, just a while before they docked at shore, a group of men of same language had some talk among themselves.
The men were from some other nation in West Africa, where they were captured, too.
This group of countrymen stuck together through the long sail. So they had enough time to talk and plan.
Then, although the folk seemed somewhat caged by their situation, they seemed to have some freedom.
Well, this freedom was the fact that they alone heard themselves. So even if they screamed their words and talked all day, no one would know what they said.
So, like every one of the captured ones, the men didn’t want to fight the war, too.
Still when they saw how long they were journeying on sea, they knew it’d be impossible for them to flee back.
So in a bid to get back home, the group schemed something else. And that thing was what brought Moro down.
Now, after the ships reached the docks and people filed out as commanded, the schemers began their move.
The line was a long peaceful one. And those folk had ensured they followed themselves on the long line.
So when the men filled out, their leader suddenly called out to the rest of them. It was in their language.
He yelled out in a single breath. ‘Now!’ It seemed what he said meant that.
For suddenly, as soon as he cried that word, several hefty fellows fell out of the line in all directions.
They raced up to the British soldiers like a quick wind. Then they struggled for their arms—some double barrel guns.
The struggles went on for a small moment as several of those young men seized the guns. They knelt the soldiers down and made to take control.
There were only few of them who still struggled to seize theirs. So it seemed their plan was going well.
But there were several more British soldiers with the trucks. Standing there to get the recruits to camp.
Some of these men were standing in the trucks. So they easily saw the commotion far behind.
So, some soldier in the trucks cocked their guns; while others signalled for everyone to go down.
Those one trying to get everyone down struggled a lot. They said things in English which no one responded to. Then they gesticulated and waved broadly.
They wanted to protect much people from whatever trouble might be looming. So they demonstrated till a lot of people laid low.
In that meantime, Moro was lost in his thought; so he didn’t hear the safety call, and had no idea what was happening.
The forty-five-year-old was then figuring his captor’s next move and all. He was too gone on that island to hear what was near.
Now as the truck soldiers aimed long-range barrels at the newly armed group of men, the latter seemed to have run out of guts...
For they did nothing, but dropped all weapons.
Yet just while the soldiers were about to halt, too, the leader of their opponent called to his men. He shouted the same word he said the first time.
Suddenly, his boys were up again with arms pointed at their foes. This time, it was at those who aimed at them.
Incidentally, the soldiers didn’t find the patience to peacefully quell the thing. For their opponent fired a first shot, but it missed the mark.
And then they opened fire on the militia group.
By then Moro was down. For the first bullet flew his way. It passed by his side, and knocked him out in shock.
He didn’t die. But that young group fell.
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