For the first time Pandion noticed that the village was situated in a very picturesque spot; the houses were big and convenient, the streets wide.
Without realizing it Pandion compared the people here with the poorer inhabitants he had seen in the Land of Nub and with the poor people of Tha-Quem, the Chosen People of the Gods, on whose faces moroseness and indifference had left their stamp. There was something debased in bodies that had become exhausted with heavy toil and constant undernourishment. The people here were different; they walked with a light and easy freedom, even the old people retained their graceful bearing.
Pandion’s thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a young man, muscular and broad-shouldered, wearing a cap of leopard’s skin. He looked at the foreigner in an unfriendly manner, stretched out his hand with an imperious gesture and touched Pandion’s breast. Pandion stopped short in amazement, and the young man stood still in front of him, his hand dropped to his belt, in which he carried a broad knife, and took stock of the stranger with a challenging glance.
“I’ve noticed that you’re a good runner,” he said at last. “Will you compete with me? I am Fulbo, known as the Leopard,” he added as though the name would explain everything to Pandion.
Pandion answered him with a friendly smile and said that he had once been able to run much better and had not yet been able to reach his former standard on account of his illness. In response to this Fulbo showered him with malicious taunts that made the young Hellene’s blood boil. Pandion did not know any reason for the young man’s hating him and, with his arms akimbo as a mark of disdain, agreed to the contest. The opponents agreed that the race would take place that evening when it became cooler.
All the young people and a few of the elder ones gathered at the foot of the hill, on which the village stood, to watch the contest between Fulbo and the foreigner.
Fulbo pointed to a tree that stood alone in the distance; it was no less than ten thousand cubits from where they stood. The one who first ran to the tree, plucked a branch and returned with it would be considered the victor.
The signal to start was given by a handclap, and Pandion and Fulbo started out. Fulbo, trembling with impatience, immediately sprang forward in a series of long bounds. The youngster seemed to spread himself out and fly over the ground. The youths present encouraged him with shouts of approval.
Pandion had not fully recovered and realized that there was a danger of his being beaten. Still he was determined not to give way. He set out to run as his grandfather had taught him in the cool hours of morning on the narrow strip of seashore, near their home. He ran on, swaying slightly, making no sudden spurts and carefully reserving his breath. Fulbo was soon far ahead, but the young Hellene moved at a regular pace, making no effort to overtake his opponent. His chest gradually expanded, taking in greater quantities of air; his legs moved faster and the spectators, who had at first been sorry for the stranger, now saw that the distance between him and Fulbo was decreasing. The African looked round, let out a shout of anger and ran still faster. He reached the tree four hundred cubits ahead of Pandion, leaped high into the air, snatched off a branch and immediately turned back. Pandion passed him near the tree and as he passed noticed Fulbo’s stertorous breathing. Although Pandion’s own heart was beating faster than it should, he decided that he could count on victory over his far too hot-headed opponent, who knew little of the rules of running. Pandion continued to run with his former restraint and only increased his speed when a distance of no more than three thousand cubits was left between him and the spectators. He soon overtook Fulbo but the latter, gasping in huge quantities of air through his wide-open mouth, again leaped forward leaving the Hellene behind. Pandion did not give up. Although there were dark patches before his eyes and his heart beat faster than ever, he again drew ahead of his opponent. Fulbo was now running wildly, seeing nothing before him; unable to choose his road, he fell. Pandion ran on a few cubits, stopped and turned back to his fallen opponent to help him to rise. Fulbo pushed him angrily aside, staggered to his feet, looked Pandion straight in the face, and spoke with great difficulty:
“You — won — but — look out!… Iruma…”
In an instant Pandion understood everything and his feeling of triumph at his victory was mingled with an uncomfortable feeling of having insinuated himself into something that was not his and that was forbidden him.
Fulbo walked heavily away, his head hanging morosely, making no effort to run. Pandion returned leisurely to the finish and was greeted by the spectators. But the feeling of awkwardness did not leave him.
As soon as Pandion found himself alone in his empty house, he began to long for Iruma. The meeting appointed for the next day seemed very far away.
The hunters returned that evening. Pandion’s companions came home tired, loaded with the spoils of the chase and full of their adventures. Cavius and Kidogo were overjoyed at finding Pandion quite well. Jokingly, Kidogo suggested wrestling with the Hellene and soon Pandion and he were lolling in the dust, their bodies firmly locked in each other’s iron grip, while Cavius kicked and cursed them in an effort to get them apart.
The friends took part in the general feasting that had been arranged in honour of the returning hunters. The warriors, intoxicated with beer, tried to outdo each other in boasting of their exploits. Pandion sat apart from his companions, his eyes fixed on the glade in which the young people were dancing, striving to get a glimpse of Iruma in the procession of dancing youths and girls.
One of the chiefs, swaying slightly, rose to his feet to make a speech of congratulation, accompanying it with graceful gesticulations. Pandion could only catch the general sense of what he was saying — he praised the newcomers and regretted their early departure; the chief proposed that they stay and be accepted into the tribe.
The feast ended late at night when the hunters had eaten their fill of the tender young giraffe meat and the supplies of beer had given out. On the way home Kidogo announced that the former slaves, of whom twenty-seven were left, would next day hold a conference on their future plans. Kidogo had found an opportunity to talk to nomad hunters he had met in the forest. They were well acquainted with the region to the west of the village and told him which route to take. A great distance separated them from the sea and Kidogo’s home, but he now knew that even if they travelled slowly they would get there in three months. What could ‘hinder them now, experienced as they were in battle, and strong in their friendship? Each of the twenty-seven was worth five warriors! The Negro threw back his shoulders proudly and lifted his tipsy face to the stars; he threw his arms round Pandion and added:
“Now my heart is quiet. You are well — we must go! To the road — tomorrow, if you like!”
Pandion did not answer. For the first time he felt that his desires did not coincide with the aspirations of his comrades, but did not know how to be hypocritical.
Since his meeting with Iruma that day, he realized that the sorrow that was eating away at his heart was due to his love for her. The girl in the full bloom of her youthful beauty had come into his life immediately after the cruel years of slavery, when he stood on the threshold of liberty!
Was, then, this not enough for him who had but recently lain in a dark hole of a prison, clinging to the faintest hope of liberation? What more could he want, in the world and in life, when love called on him so imperatively to remain in that place, in the midst of the golden plain? The secret urge, which he tried to hide even from himself, to remain for ever with Iruma, grew stronger in his heart of hearts. He struggled against himself in an effort to test his love for her. The trustfulness of youth led him unnoticeably into the land of dreams where everything was so easy and simple.