The Land of the Rising Sun Chapter 3: A Shred of Fear – The End Before the Beginning

Chapter 3: A Shred of Fear – The End Before the Beginning...I had slept for about four hours, I assumed, when I was startled by a gunshot and the sight of Biafrans retreating. Then I realized that I, too, had to run. I forgot about my waist, although I didn't feel any pain. It was already morning, and the Nigerian soldiers would find us easily. We ran as far as Ikwuano, where we hid in the bushes beneath the Okpuachi tree. We were lucky to find our soldiers, but they signalled for us to remain silent because they wanted to take the Nigerian soldiers by surprise. Then the saboteurs struck again, and the Nigerian soldiers went into hiding. When our soldiers launched their ambush, rounds and rounds of our Ogbunigwe rained down, but all they hit was an ammunition vehicle. We heard a loud explosion, and, thinking we had triumphed, some people came out of hiding. Then it rained. It rained bullets. It rained human bodies. Biafrans fell like chickens. A stray bullet struck my arm, and we were ordered to stay low. Right before our eyes, our able-bodied soldiers were cut down. The Nigerian soldiers, having spotted us, ordered us to come out and say, "One Nigeria." For a brief moment, we felt relieved. I staggered out because of the pain in my arm. Then the gunshots began again. I had to duck. Hundreds of people died on the spot. At that moment, I realized that the war would continue even in my absence. As if that was not enough, the Nigerian soldiers claimed that some of us were still alive. They began sorting through the bodies, killing anyone who showed signs of life. I was examined and pronounced dead, so they threw my body into the pile of corpses. They continued sorting. Then, all of a sudden, another dead body landed on top of me. I let out a squeak. I knew I shouldn't have. I had been discovered. It was the same soldier from the camp—the one who had taken advantage of me. He said many things, trying to convince me that I should never have escaped, but I remained stubborn. I spat in his face. He smiled and stood up. He kicked me over and over again, demanding that I surrender. Instead, I repeated the sixth line of our national anthem: "Then let us die without a shred of fear." He thought I was mocking him. Still staring into his eyes, I slapped him across the face and shouted, "Kill me already!" He stepped closer. He placed his gun against my forehead... ...and fired. Blackout followed immediately. The colours disappeared. The sounds faded into silence. But if you think this is where my story ends... ...then you have not heard how it began. To understand why I died without a shred of fear... ...you must first know how I lived.

Other insights from Divine Miracle

Referral Earning

Points-to-Coupons