Chapter 3: The first day with Tembo Ndovu

Lily---We rode in the back of that truck for over six hours before we arrived at a gated compound. The gate guards were mere children! They whooped and hollered as the trucks with the new arrivals pulled in.

I was taken (still naked and hands tied behind my back) into an office of some sort and told to stand and not to move. The young soldier who had cut my clothes off and licked my neck was left to guard me. When the door shut, he immediately ordered me to spread my legs and stand still. He walked behind me and pulled me close to him. As his hands played across my breasts, his fingers pinched my nipples. He again licked my neck and I felt his lips kissing my ear. He was careful to not touch me too hard, I imagine he did not want to bruise me. His fingers played across my nether lips and my clit. I was too scared to resist. It was not long until my body reacted! I was dripping wet when he inserted two fingers inside me. I was on the verge of having a climax when he suddenly stopped! We both had heard a vehicle pull up in front of this headquarters building. He rushed over and picked up his rifle as the door opened. I was bent over and gasping for breath as Tembo entered the room. It was obvious what had been happening.

Tembo looked at the soldier.

“You were told to guard her. I did not give you permission to touch her.”

He ordered the two men who had come in with him to bring me and this young soldier outside. I stood in the shade while the men stripped the shirt off the young soldier. They tied his hands to a stake in front of him and Tembo screamed for everyone in the compound to watch.

“This is what happens when someone touches my property without my permission.”

He was carrying a whip with many strands in his hand. With all his might he started whipping the naked back of this young man who started screaming and begging for Tembo to stop!

I could not stand to watch! I am a doctor and what that young soldier had done was partly my fault. I should have stopped him!

Without thinking I ran over between Tembo and the soldier.

“Stop! You are killing him! This is as much my fault as his...”

Tembo slapped me so hard I almost blacked out. I was lying flat on my face when I felt the first blow of the whip. I screamed and tried to get up. It was no use. The whip fell again and again. I do not know how many blows I received before I blacked out. I woke lying face down on a bed with Nala cleaning my wounds. I tried to raise up but I could not.

“You will learn to not interfere when Tembo is punishing one of his men. If you don’t, you will not last long here.”

The door opened and in walked Tembo. He started talking like nothing happened.

“They say you are called Dr. Lily.”

My throat was so dry from screaming that when I tried to speak no words came out.

“Give her some water.”

A glass with a straw was put in front of my face and I sipped. He continued.

“I have brought you here to be my doctor. As long as you make yourself useful, I will keep you and you will enjoy the privileges of being my slave. If you cause any more problems like this morning, or you try to escape, you will be whipped again then sold at the slave market in the capital. Do you understand?”

“Yes Sir!” I managed to say.

“Good, Prepare her.”

I had no idea what ‘prepare her’ meant.

My hands were tied to the bedposts and my legs spread and tied also. My back was aching from the whipping as Nala’s strong hands pressed me tightly to the bed. Then I felt it. A burning on my left butt cheek. I screamed over and over. I could smell burning flesh! My flesh! Then it was over. Some type of leaf or bandage was placed over it. Through tear filled eyes Tembo appeared still holding the branding iron.

“That marks you as mine. No one will dare touch you without my permission.”

He turned and left the room.

The girl Nala, stayed with me for a week helping me and changing the dressings on my wounds. It was two weeks before I saw Tembo again. I was totally terrified of that man. I realized I was his slave, his property. I vowed to make the best of it. I wanted to survive!

A month later my wounds were healed. My back is going to be horribly scarred for the rest of my life. That brand, his name in all capital letters on my ass, I will wear until the day I die.