The grass moved approaching Yousafer and Yuray. The two watched the thing moving quickly heading towards them.
You will not escape again! Suddenly a fat rabbit jumped panting. As soon as it jumped, an arrow pierced its neck, collided with a tree, and fell to the ground motionless, dead. Drops of fresh blood scattered on the yellow grass, and began dripping slowly towards the ground.
Yousafer and Yuray turned towards the direction from which the arrow came.
I hit it! I hit it!
They heard a voice coming from the tall grass.
And it was but a moment until a young man emerged with a cheerful face, his green eyes glowing with a bright light, and he was excited because of his hunting of the rabbit.
Laughing in a loud voice: Hahaha! His laughter began as if it was the echo of the forest itself repeating it, a mixture between the innocence of a child and the vitality of the wild.
But as soon as he noticed the two people looking towards him, he fell silent immediately and his face turned red, and astonishment covered his features.
He immediately took out an arrow from a hairy brown leather container behind his back, then put the arrow in the bow and waved his hand towards the two. He examined them a little and asked: Who are you?
The young man seemed to be the same age as both Yousafer and Yuray. His clothes consisted of white-spotted leather covering his upper half, and hairy leather resembling the container behind his back covering his lower half.
His curly brown hair was filled with pale yellow tree leaves, as if a long time had passed since he washed it. Threads of light that sneaked between the trees played on his hair, making it look as if the autumn leaves had turned into a crown of faint gold on his head.
The young man showed great caution while staring at them, waiting for an answer to his question.
Yousafer looked at the calm Yuray with his closed eyes, so he also turned his face towards Yousafer.
Yousafer spoke annoyed: What is wrong with you, you bastard? You point your arrow towards me! Do you want to die?! Is this how people ask?
The boy hesitated a little, then a trembling voice came out of his mouth: I asked a question... Answer it.
Who are these? Are they affiliated with the factories? The boy thought while his hand trembled.
Yousafer looked a sharp look at the boy, and his lips curled in a sarcastic way: And what do you think? That we will tell you the truth?
The boy felt a heaviness in his heart, and could not reply to Yousafer's words because of his strange look.
Then he took two steps back trembling, while still pointing with his bow, forgetting the rabbit he hunted, and decided to retreat.
When Yuray sensed the boy's fear, he wanted to reassure him, for he might be their guide to return to the correct path, so he said calmly: We are just passing through here, do you have a problem? Have you not seen travelers before?
The young man fixed his gaze on Yousafer because he made him feel a shiver down his spine, but the other boy's words lessened the intensity of his heartbeats, then he spoke in a faint voice: Are you two from outside the forest?
Yuray grabbed his bag behind his back then raised it in front of him: Look, all our luggage is here.
You are not from the factory supervisors, are you? The boy wondered again.
Yousafer's left eyebrow raised in astonishment: Factory supervisors? Are there factories in this forest?
The young man looked at Yousafer's reaction so he relaxed a little, and lowered his bow directed towards him, but remained cautious.
The boy clenched his teeth and gathered his courage and spoke: Can I see your wrists?
Yousafer knew that the boy did not trust him completely, then he approached a step forward, but the young man in front of him retreated a step back.
The boy raised his hand: Stop! Show me your wrist from your place.
Yousafer smiled, then looked at his hands: Which wrist do you mean of them?
The young man pointed: Your left wrist.
Yousafer grabbed his sleeve and pulled it back: Here it is, what do you want to see?
The young man stared well at Yousafer's wrist then looked towards Yuray.
Yuray understood him, and pulled his white robe back as well.
Features of relaxation appeared on the young man's face, then he bowed slightly apologizing: Sorry for pointing the bow towards you, I thought you were from the factory supervisors. Those scum come to hunt in our area sometimes.
Although he did not trust the two completely, he relaxed a little after knowing that they are not from the factory supervisors.
And in that moment a faint smile appeared on his face, because he had not seen anyone pass through this forest before. That smile seemed like the shine of the sun between the tree branches, carrying a feeling of simple joy amidst hidden sadness.
Where are you coming from, and where are you going? The young man asked.
Yousafer stared at the pale yellow leaves falling from the trees then said: As you see, we lost our way because of this tall grass. I think we went off the road and we were searching for it.
The young man contemplated Yousafer's words then coughed lightly: It is your good fortune that you met me. Do you wish to go with me to the village?
Yousafer looked at Yuray, who in turn turned his face towards him, then smiled a faint smile and nodded his head: Alright, lead the way.
The boy walked towards the dead fat rabbit, pulled the arrow from its neck then carried it over his shoulder, and went to another tree and pulled the arrow that almost hit Yuray, then said: Let's go.
Yousafer and Yuray followed the young man's steps who seemed fast, but the two were not less than him. The sound of their steps flowed with the creaking of branches under their feet as they advanced quickly. The boy turned his face towards them: My name is Helmo, what are your names?
I am Yousafer.
And I am Yuray.
By the way, the factories you spoke about a while ago, what is their story? Yousafer asked.
As soon as Yousafer asked, features of sadness appeared on Helmo's face: When we reach the village I will tell you.
Helmo led them between the trees that are becoming bare at this time of the year.
And after they walked for half an hour, the village houses appeared in front of them which resembled mushrooms, but very large in size, and every house different from the other in color.
A stone road extended between the rows of houses. Both Yousafer and Yuray noticed some demolished houses, but the surprise was that they did not see the village inhabitants despite venturing inside it.
A strange silence they felt, for the village at this moment was completely empty. The air was heavy with the smell of old wood and faint smoke coming from the houses.
Yousafer wondered with curiosity while looking at Helmo: Where are the village inhabitants?
Helmo answered: That is why I told you I would tell you when we arrive. As you see, the village is empty because all the inhabitants work in those factories, while the rest are hunting in the forest.
But sunset has approached, when do they finish?
Helmo answered with sadness: No, they are still at work as long as the sun has not set. Every day is the same thing, they start from sunrise and finish at sunset, there is not a single day for rest.
And who stands behind these factories? Yuray asked.
The sound of the wind rose suddenly between the houses, while Helmo answered with despair in his eyes: And how would we know? Those bastards threaten us! You have seen those demolished houses... their owners died because they did not endure this tyranny and their houses were demolished.
This act made the other village people terrified, and they could not do anything. We waited for the army members for a long time, but no trace of them appeared since this incident occurred, although they used to come here sometimes.
Yousafer scoffed inside his mind saying: You will die while you are waiting. Then he asked in a loud voice: Was this village like this from the beginning?
Helmo replied: No, this village was prosperous and bright, full of life. Merchants used to come three times a month, exchanging many goods and other things, but suddenly they stopped coming month after month, and with every month the village deteriorated, but it was still full of vitality.
When the village chief saw that the merchants no longer came, he sent a person to investigate the reason, but as soon as he went he did not return. So another person was sent, but he also did not return. Our chief sensed something, so he did not send anyone after that, and we sufficed with hunting animals and fish to satisfy our hunger.
But one night a black carriage came, and with it several men. The village people thought they were the merchants who returned, so the people rejoiced because the village would return as it was when the merchants used to come, they rejoiced a lot that day. Helmo stopped while sadness spread on his face.
And what happened after that? Yuray asked.
The village chief invited those men to his house, and prepared a feast for them. But a long time after they entered, we heard noise and sounds of breaking coming from his house.
The people headed quickly to see what was happening, and immediately upon entering they found our chief lying on the ground full of wounds, and his old wife unconscious.
No one was able to move because a sword was on the chief's neck. In that situation, they imposed on us many things to keep our leader alive, and among the matters imposed on us was hunting in specific areas, and working in those factories without grumbling or talking.
Everyone who spoke, they take his children to work as well. Those scum, children who did not exceed twelve years of age work for them! What world is this?! Many children died as a result of fatigue and illness because of the work.
Parents when they saw their children dying revolted in the face of the factory supervisors, but what awaited them was nothing but death and the demolition of their houses.
When Helmo started speaking, he forgot completely that he was speaking with strangers, and because his heart was full, he wanted to let everything out.
Both Yousafer and Yuray listened to Helmo's words without missing a thing, and began looking at each other because of the boy's non-stop talking.
Yuray sighed and asked with astonishment interrupting Helmo: Why didn't you leave this place?
We cannot leave, for we are besieged here, and there are also some people imprisoned by them, they did not leave us a chance to leave.
The bastards... we are in their view less than animals, we work only to eat, even their dogs they treat better than us! What injustice is this that we live in? Do we not deserve to live freely? Eat when we want? Work when we want? Sleep when we want?! All our rights we were deprived of!
Helmo was speaking, and with every word he uttered a great weight was coming out of his chest with it. He wanted to tell, to let out what is in his heart, he did not find anyone to listen before for everyone knows, but now his words eased his suffering even a little.
As soon as he finished his words he heard a voice from afar: You said many things, you bastard!
Helmo's gaze directed at that moment towards the voice, so the blood froze in his veins when he noticed the person coming towards them with confident steps full of pride, and a look of contempt on his face.
End of the Chapter.