The Wrong Enemy

A metaphor for everything that is wrong today.

On the Makgadikgadi Pans, life has always been difficult.

To the North, the Nxai Pan demarcates from the other tribes by a single road with a single broken stripe. Running forever, in both directions, this path keeps them on their side and us on our side.

My mother told me this when I turned 8 days old.

For two months, we walked South. During the night, we all are guided by the lights from the Sky Tribes. Mother told me no one has ever seen them, yet all tribes wonder about them. They are of the First Tribes. They have a social order and a language all of their own. The Sky Tribes have never hurt us and never will. My mother promised me this.

We came as far as the Nwetwe Pan and found the Forever Stream the Elders spoke of. Large enough for our entire tribe, we gathered by the edge to drink and bathe. Despite the heat, the edge remains cool; the dust from walking, the insects from the days outside, all wash away within minutes in the stream. Our tribe rarely may find a beast here, yet vigilance is the norm. I require protection. In the future, I will be the protection.

All I have to do is live long enough to see that day.

My mother speaks of the wisdom of our tribe’s Elders. Protection lies further East, toward the Sua Pan. The grass is green and lush and the Tribe of Horns will lag behind us. I ask my mother to describe this tribe. I want to learn.

She tells me that the Tribe of Horns is of equal size as ours. “There has always been an uneasy truce between our tribes. They can be trusted; unfortunately, they lack the stripes that we have, so be wary. They are also known for erratic behavior that alerts the Beasts with Teeth. Since we share the paths and rivers with them, we must watch for these beasts as well.”

I asked my mother, “What will I do if the Beasts with Teeth come?”

She answered in a single word, “Run!”

Two weeks at the Sua Pan, the Tribe of Horns arrive. One day later the Beasts with Teeth arrive. They are few in numbers, but ferocious in might. While the Sky Tribe helps us steer a true course to food and water, it also steers a similar course for the beasts to their nocturnal meals, mainly Stripes and Horns.

On the 5th day at the Pan, the Beasts with Teeth came from all sides. I lost my mother in the melee. I was not large enough or strong enough to save her, but she saved me. I ran as she ordered. I ran with the Horns. I ran with the Sky Tribe. I kept their King, the largest of the night stars, in my sight as I fled.

I could not look back.

But, I would return, much bigger than I am today.

And things will be much different.

It would take three more years before I came of age. The Elders of the Tribe of Horns relinquished responsibility for my upbringing to another Tribe of Stripes. They raised me, fed me, and educated me in all aspects of adult Stripe life.

To all they gave to me, I am grateful.

But they could not give me my mother back.

And for that, I departed quietly one night.

I had beasts to find.

When this Tribe of Stripes began their migration South, I crossed the striped path, heading North. I sought allies for my vengeance on the beasts.

What I found were beasts worse than those on the Pans.

These moved in chariots of thunder. They ran in herds of millions. Their fangs and claws killed at distances. And their young ate everything they touched. The damage they caused mimicked the locusts of my second year.

As I stared agape at their destructiveness, they struck my hindquarter causing me to bleed. Not enough to cripple, but enough to draw attention and more attacks.

These were not Stripes and thus not allies. I quickly moved back across the striped path to safety from them. I found no assistance from the North. I am fortunate the Beasts with Teeth have never found assistance from them either.

The next day, I nursed my wounds before I set off on my path of revenge.

My trek lagged a Tribe of Horns. I remained discreetly at a safe distance and always downwind. I wanted to kill a Beast with Teeth in the same manner they killed my mother, namely surprise. Armed with a lethal kick and a nasty bite, I could kill one. I will kill one. I have to kill one.

The next morning, I had my chance. I viewed a Beast with Teeth of similar size and similar hindquarter wound.

He was also alone.

Now was my chance. I broke cover and charged. The Beast with Teeth took a defensive posture with claws and jaws fully exposed. He did not run.

I ceased my charge, just a few lengths from his weapons. I should have attacked, but I didn’t.

Today, for the first time, I listened.

This beast wanted to parley.

He told me of the striped path to the North and the tribe that lived on the other side. He then explained he has seen similar striped paths to the South, West, and East. On the other side, more tribes of them lived. Each year, their young multiply in numbers. Eventually, they will number more than the Sky Tribe.

And the area, our area, between the stripes, will get smaller each year.

Until it is gone forever.

And with that, he saw my wound, licked his own, and walked away.

My fury was with the wrong enemy.

I was boxed in among the Pans.

Time was no longer on my side.

Or with any other tribe.