Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 16:20:18 -0400
From: James Frederic <JFrederic87@netscape.net>
Subject: Mau Love

The usual restrictions apply: please read no further if this type of story
isn't to your tastes, or if you're under legal age. This story may not be
reprinted anywhere without permission. The entire contents are copyright
2003 by James Frederic; All rights reserved. Comments to the author are
welcomed at JFrederic87@netscape.net. Please visit my site at
http://si-87.envy.nu/

The cool breeze blew across the sunny field, setting the numerous leaves of
the Baobab tree, and the long grass swaying in the setting sun. Maseru
looked on to the beautiful scenery with sorrow, recalling the events of the
previous few hours. Why did this have to happen? He thought sorrowfully.
Why did they send me to kill him? If only they knew how much I... How much
I... He could not finish the thought, as tears were streaming down his face
in unwavering lines a hand slowly crept along his shoulder, and a voice
spoke briefly in his ear.

"Hey there love, what's the matter? You rarely ever cry." Maseru only
closed his eyes and continued to weep deeply. The hand continued to rub the
chocolate brown skin of his shoulders while a second hand began to softly
rub the other shoulder. Maseru opened his eyes briefly to stare at the
light pink flesh of the hands working over his shoulders in a light
massage.

"Ah, there are those beautiful brown eyes," The voice cooed, while using
one hand to hold Maseru's chin and steer it gently towards the other face.
"Care to talk? It helps to get things out you know." The voice continued,
while an accompanying pair of hazel eyes gazed into their brown counter
parts. As hazel stared into brown, the two pair of lips slowly embraced
before returning to their former positions. Maseru slowly let out a large
breath and tried to speak clearly of his tragedy.

"Th, they ordered me to kill, to kill; oh god I can't say it." Maseru
chocked out before collapsing into tears again. The man looked onto Maseru
with apathy before speaking softly.

"So, the Mau Mau have ordered another assassination huh?" He asked softly,
"But why did they want you to do it? Why not Omari? I know you hate
killing, but why is it a problem? You have no choice, it's kill or be
killed, easy as that. Just like the law of nature."

"Because Jason," Maseru broke out in a cry of sorrow, "Because they ordered
me to kill you."

"I see," Jason commented unemotionally, "Well, I may not know much about
the Mau Mau, but I do know that if you fail to kill your target, you die
yourself." He contemplated this for a moment before continuing. "You know
what you have to do then. I will not let you get hurt, I love you too much;
and if that means I have to die, than so be it. I would rather die than see
you get hurt." Maseru looked up abruptly before collapsing into the arms of
his lover.

"NO," he exclaimed tearfully, "I won't kill you, I can't! I love you too
much. We could fake your death, or try to escape into the United States,
but I won't kill you Jason, I never could." Maseru continued to sob
relentlessly as Jason shed a few tears of his own.

"No Maseru, they would find out, and kill you anyways for lying, and you
know we can't go to the United States. You're black, they won't let you
through, even if you do have a passbook, you know that Maseru." Jason
continued to comfort his lover, rocking him back and forth softy while
whispering reassurances into his ear.

After falling asleep in the dying sunlight, the two lovers rested
thankfully. Maseru's eyes however, were screwed tight, and his features
portrayed a grimace. As he dreamed of the day's earlier events, a pair of
daunting eyes looked onto the two with malice before disappearing back into
the void once again.

"Maseru, we have a new target for you," An old voice said, slightly
crackling. "From the news reports, we have reason to eliminate one of the
members of the white political extremist party."

"Why don't you have Omari do it?" Maseru asked uncaringly, "He has more
experience than I do. Why not send him?"

"Because Maseru, you are more suited to do so. You already know this man,
and have the opportunities to kill him."

"Oh, really?" Maseru questioned, barely paying attention to the tribe
leader, Tiko.

"Yes," Tiko replied irritably, "His name is Jason Goldman, and you will
have killed him by next week. Do I make myself clear Maseru?" Maseru looked
up suddenly, his eyes wide with fear and apprehension.

"Wh, what?" Maseru asked, his voice starting to crack up like a brittle
branch underfoot.

"You heard me Maseru, you will kill Jason Goldman, or be killed
yourself. Do I make myself clear?" Tiko asked loudly, not waiting for an
answer before leaving the clearing. As Maseru watched him leave, he
suddenly burst out into tears and began sobbing uncontrollably on the soft
ground on which he sat. After a long while, a slender white hand worked its
way onto Maseru's shoulder, and a loving voice asked.

"Hey there love, what's the matter? You rarely ever cry." As the voice rang
out in Maseru's head, he awoke form his dream to find a pair of hazel eyes
boring into his.

"Morning Maseru," Jason whispered softly, while nibbling gently on Maseru's
ear. Jason slowly pulled back after a while and sighed dejectedly. "I have
to speak at another political standing at the capital today. Mr. Horner
will not accept it if I'm late again. Considering the reason I was late the
last time, he would not appreciate it.

"Why do you speak for him?" Maseru asked curiously, "He only uses you, and
you don't really even feel like that. If you actually meant half the things
you said, you certainly wouldn't be dating me, that's for sure."

Jason only smiled and kissed him firmly on the lips before replying. "It's
not that simple honey, I have a lot of respect in town. There are a lot of
benefits to being an extremist. Even though I don't agree with it, it can
be useful." Maseru smiled, not understanding, but agreeing with him anyway.

"By the way, why do you call us the `Mau Mau?' We're called the Land
Freedom Army. Why did you people come up with such a silly name? It's not
even in our language." Jason pondered Maseru's response and answered
offhandedly,

"I guess it's our way of `demonizing' you guys."

"Ok, well that's ok I guess. I have to go as well. If I don't show some
progress on your case, they'll get suspicious." Maseru finished his
sentence slowly and looked sadly onto the ground. As he began to get up,
Jason quickly reached his arm out and stopped Maseru.

"Where do you think you're going Mr.? I have yet to get a good-bye kiss."
Maseru smiled faintly and turned to face Jason. The two kissed passionately
and embraced tightly before parting. As Maseru left the clearing, Jason
headed the other direction; quickly making his way to the car now parked a
few yards away. As Jason approached the car, he saw a familiar face smiling
knowingly at him through the window. Oh no, Jason thought
sarcastically. Just what I need, interrogation and presumption. "Hello
James," Jason said placidly.

"Hello Jason, I expected to pick you up last night, but after waiting for
an hour I decided you were probably `preoccupied.'"

"You sick pervert," Jason said chuckling lightly. "Maseru and I did nothing
last night. I found him crying, and for good reason too."

"Oh, and what was that?" James asked, clearly not believing his friend.

"The Mau Mau have ordered him to kill me," Jason replied,
downtrodden. James's face quickly turned into an expression of sorrow and
worry.

"Oh god Jason, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. What are you two going to do? I
mean, something has to happen. If you don't die, Maseru does, if Maseru
doesn't die, then you have to. It'll be impossible for Maseru to escape the
Mau Mau, and if he fails to kill you, he dies himself." Jason looked down,
his smile already well beyond his face.

"I know James, I know. But it's so hard; neither of us knows what to
do. One of us will get hurt unless we escape to the United States or
something." James looked thoughtful, and replied slowly,

"You know Jason, Uganda is a free country. You could escape there and ask
for asylum. From there you could take a plane to the US." Jason sighed
deeply and replied sadly,

"No, that won't work. Maseru doesn't have a passbook, and the government
won't let him leave the country without one. I have to come out here to
visit him because he can't go into any white townships." James thought for
a brief time and said unemotionally,

"Well let's see how things play out then, shall we?"

Maseru watched curiously as Omari ran towards him, his face a display of
worry and terror, his white-collared tee shirt waving in the wind. Maseru
always wondered why the LFA wore the clothing of white people instead of
their tribal clothes, but he never thought to ask. This did not seem like
the time to ask, either.

"Oh god Maseru, you have to get out of here now! They know, and they're
thirsty for blood." Maseru drew furrowed his brow and asked curiously,

"What do you mean they know? What are you talking about Omari?" Omari
paused to catch his breath, then resumed his fast paced explanation.

"You and Jason, they know about you two. They know that you're lovers. One
of the tribe members was looking for you last night, and found you sleeping
in Jason's arms. They came back and told my father. The whole tribe is
ready to skin you alive." Maseru's face slowly turned form confusion to
fear as Omari explained.

"The whole tribe knows, oh no, this can't happen. My life was so happy, I
had Jason, the LFA were leaving me to my devices, life was perfect. Why did
it have to go so wrong? If I know your father correctly, Tiko is out for
blood, mine and Jason's. What am I going to do?" Maseru sobbed
hopelessly. Omari was about to reply, when his eyes widened in fear, and
shoved Maseru to the side. An arrow flitted past Maseru's ear as he
stumbled uncertainly away from Omari.

"Oh no! It's an ambush, run Maseru." Omari shouted fearfully, "You don't
have much time, get out of here now, I'll try to hold them off." Yet
another arrow nearly crossed paths with Maseru as he began to run in the
direction of Jason's car, desperately hoping that he was still there. James
looked behind Jason for a moment, and spotted a panicked Maseru running
frantically towards them. Jason followed James's gaze and frowned
worriedly.

"Something must be wrong, get in the other side and I'll start up the car,"
James said quickly, turning the key, and starting the car. As Jason began
to speak, an arrow flitted past Maseru and stuck into the chrome finish of
the car, inches away from Jason's thigh.

"It's an ambush, GO!" Maseru shouted, pulling hardly on the door handle.
Jason followed his lover's body into the car, and slammed the door
abruptly. The car screeched off as more arrows hit the chrome, only a
select few actually denting it. Jason looked into Maseru's eyes and asked
knowingly,

"What happened honey? Why were they shooting at you like that?" Although
Jason already knew the answer, he felt justified asking the question.
Maseru looked away pitifully and answered shakily,

"They found out, about us. One of my tribe members spotted us sleeping last
night. They want me dead now." Maseru looked down sadly and began to recite
something from memory. "I swear that if I am sent to cut off the head of a
European or any of enemies and I return without doing it, due to fear or
cowardice, let this oath turn against me." James stared ahead onto the
road, but asked placidly,

"Hmm, that part of the initiation oath?" Maseru looked out the window, and
replied calmly,

"Yes, there are seven oaths. As we take each oath, we eat a piece of goat
meat." Jason followed Maseru's gaze out the window and asked, changing the
subject,

"So, what do we do now, how do we get Maseru into town, and where do we
keep him? He has no passbook, and no one will let a Bantu with no job stay
in town."

"Easy," James replied, as if it was clear as day, "We hide him in the
trunk, and if anyone asks in town, he is a new servant who doesn't have his
papers yet." Jason looked apprehensive, but assented anyway,

"I guess that will work, but it's only temporary; we can't keep him there
for long. And what about you Maseru, how do you feel about all this?"
Maseru looked pensive for a moment before giving his response,

"I don't want you to get in trouble Jason, nor do I wish to burden your
friend. I could just stay outside the township, and wait for you." Jason
looked doubtful, but it was James who spoke first,

"No Maseru, that won't work, they'll clear you out. This isn't your
homeland, and white township or not, they won't even let you stay on their
land. You're better off staying with us." Maseru looked unsure, but quietly
agreed anyway. Jason, sensing his uncertainty, held his lover's face gently
in his hands and began to speak quietly.

"We're going to get through this Maseru, don't you worry. I won't let
anyone hurt you. I love you too much. Let us do the worrying, you just try
to look as nonchalant as possible." James interrupted, pointing out the
fact that they were nearing the city.

"Get what you want in now guys, we're almost there." Maseru and Jason gazed
into each other's eyes, and brought their lips together, closing their
previously open orbs. Before they drew apart, they hugged each other
tightly, and separated to the opposite sides of the car. As they approached
the guard station, a man wearing the uniform of the government's military,
adorned with a British flag waved them down. Jason rolled down his window
as the guard approached, and looked into the car.  "What do we have here,"
He asked somewhat sadistically as he noticed Maseru sitting shyly in the
back. "A Bantu, eh? Where's his passbook?" Jason looked at the guard, and
replied calmly,

"He's lost them. He is a new servant for my friend here. The Bantu's
records were destroyed when his house was burned down by the military." The
guard looked cruelly at Maseru and said uncaringly,

"No passbook, no entry. He can't enter here without records." Jason looked
furious at this point, but focused his anger into more convincing reasons.

"Let us through," He exclaimed angrily, "I bought him so I could put him to
good use on my manor. And if you keep us here any longer, I'll personally
see to it that your life becomes a living hell!" The soldier looked
surprised at Jason's outburst, and closely inspected him, finally
recognizing who he was.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't realize it was you. You're Jason Goldman, aren't
you?" Jason nodded his head slowly, but the soldier continued without
noticing. "Wow, I'm really meeting the real Jason Goldman. I've heard your
speeches on the radio. You're amazing. Ok, I'll let you through this once,
but make sure you have his papers this time. All I need is your signature."
As the guard handed Jason a slip of paper, he signed it with the also
provided pen. They drove off, failing to notice the soldier staring at the
signature with awe. Jason sighed, and spoke out annoyedly,

"God, I can't believe those people. How can they be so narrow? I just don't
get it. Why do they feel justified hating people just because of their skin
color? I could never imagine hating you Maseru, just because you're black."
As he commented on this, he took Maseru's hand within his and squeezed it
lightly. Maseru smiled, and laid his other hand on top of Jason's. James
looked back and commented softly,

"Were in public now, you might want to lay off for a while." The two
lovers, knowing he was right, drew their hands back, and placed them in
their respective laps. As they drove through the largish industrial city,
they finally reached the nondescript building of James's news station; the
three got out and headed for the small iron door placed in the wall. Many
people commented on the presence of Maseru as they walked through the
building.

"Don't worry," James whispered into Maseru's ear, "This newspaper is very
open and non-racist; you won't find any people here who disagree with
you. Maseru visibly relaxed after hearing this, but was still somewhat
tense.

"And what about us, what would they think of Jason and I?" Maseru asked
tentatively. James pondered the thought for a moment, and replied to the
best of his knowledge,

"I can't speak for everyone here, but you would probably be better off not
sharing it. These people have nothing against blacks, not gays.
Homosexuality is still frowned upon these days." Maseru looked slightly
disappointed, but hid it well. What the three did not notice however, was a
rather gruff looking man standing not three feet away from them, obscured
by a doorway. As he turned away, he scribbled something on his notepad. The
day continued on, and Jason left Maseru and James at the news station for
his political speech. After he returned, Jason and Maseru said their
goodbyes to James, and proceeded to head to Jason's home. The following
night was spent enjoying each other's company, and sleeping until the late
afternoon. The two were awoken by two police officers furiously breaking
down the front door. Jason heard the commotion downstairs and quickly
ushered Maseru into his walk in closet. As soon as he closed the closet
door, the police officers burst into the room, their guns pointing directly
at Jason.

"Jason Goldman, you are under arrest," The first officer shouted, advancing
on Jason. Jason looked at them confusedly and asked `innocently',

"Why am I under arrest officers, I have done nothing illegal." The second
officer looked at Jason with pure malice in his face and shouted furiously,

"Liar, you are getting what you deserve faggot. Now come with us, or do we
have to beat you?" Jason, realizing it was futile to argue with them,
placidly followed into the awaiting police car outside. Maseru, hearing the
whole thing, burst out of the closet and into tears on the floor. Hours
later, James looked at the remains of Jason's front door and called out to
anyone that was home. Maseru came down the stairs, his face flushed, and
his eyes red and puffy from crying. After an explanation and consolation,
the two set out to the police station where Jason was no doubtedly kept.
After reaching the police station, Maseru was instructed to stay in the car
while James went in and checked on Jason. After an hour or so, James
returned, his face crestfallen. While getting the car, he explained what
had befallen Jason.

"He's going to be tried under the immorality act. They assumed that he had
had sexual relations with you, so they have free reign to prosecute him."
Maseru looked distraught, and asked timidly,

"What's going to happen to him? Will he be alright?" James looked at Maseru
and replied as best he could,

"Jason will no doubt lose the trial. The best we can hope for is that he is
let off easy. That however, is unlikely." Maseru looked highly distraught,
but continued his questions.

"How did they find out, we didn't tell anyone." James at least did know the
answer to that question.

"Apparently someone at my work overheard us talking and reported it to the
police. They were only too happy to arrest him from there."

James finally pointed out that the police were looking for Maseru as well,
and they should leave soon. As they sped off Maseru looked back onto the
decrepit building and whispered softly,

"Please my love, be safe." The trial came and went, and Jason became
banned. He was removed from his job, and placed in a small manor outside
the city limits under constant surveillance. James frequently visited
Jason, and brought him news of Maseru, who continued to live with James,
unhindered and unnoticed by the police. Finally, two months later, Jason
began to speak with James of his plot to escape.

"We could escape to Ethiopia. It's a free country, and they could grant us
asylum, and a plane to the United States. You could meet me on the field a
mile from here. While I go on my morning walk, I could meet you and Maseru,
and we could drive to the border. From there we could sneak across at
night." So the plan developed, and a month later was carried out.

The fateful morning the plan was to be carried out, Jason stepped out his
front door and walked along the path next to his house as he always did. As
he was walking, Jason was painfully aware of the cold stared emanating from
the guards. Luckily, he had been let off easy at the trial. His lawyer had
argued that the police had no proof that Jason had had any sexual relations
with Maseru. They however, could not prove that he and Maseru were not
boyfriends. He was banned for seven years, and the police set out a search
for Maseru. The police however, did not find him. James's house had an area
built into it where people could hide. Much like the houses the Jews hid in
in the holocaust. Maseru stayed with James, and had not seen Jason since
the morning he was arrested.

Jason continued his walk, ignoring the comments he heard every morning. The
guards used to taunt him, but soon grew tired of it when he would not
retaliate. Jason walked along the trail, passing the point at which he
usually turned back. After walking for another fifteen minutes, he reached
the road, and spotted James's car resting on the other side. Jason observed
his surroundings, checking for anyone who might stop him. From what he
could see, there was no one lurking in the tall grasses, nor hiding in the
gnarled branches of the lush trees. Crossing the dirt road, he reached the
car, and noticed its occupants. James sat in the front, his hands on the
wheel, and his lips upturned in a smile. Maseru sat in the back, his smile
nearly blinding. As Jason opened the door to get in the back, Maseru
pounced on him and exclaimed happily,

"Jason! It's really you. I missed you so much, I'm so glad you're alright."
Maseru finally finished speaking, and took Jason's face in his hands and
kissed him passionately. James only smiled, watching the two kiss heatedly
in the back, thinking of him and his boyfriend, who lived in America.

"Okay you two, that's enough, I don't need to see you two playing tonsil
hockey when we need to go." Jason and Maseru separated reluctantly, and
smiled at each other before saying softly,

"I love you." James looked out the window, checking for any police, the
proceeded to back the car out and drive towards the border between Kenya
and Uganda. After parking the car a short distance from the border, they
headed into the dense forest overlooking the guard lines and rested
peacefully. As Jason and Maseru slept lightly in each other's arms, James
kept a constant vigilance, making sure no guards ventured into the
woods. After night fell, the guards left their posts, and were replaced by
a sparse range of replacements. James woke the two lovers up, and directed
them to a grassy hill unnoticed by the guards. The tall grass provided as a
cover across the border. After they reached the other side, they ventured
back into the woods again, coming out at a road about a quarter of a mile
away from the border. Jason and Maseru embraced tightly, and exclaimed
cheerfully,

"It worked. We're in Uganda, no more Kenya, no more ban, and no more Mau
Mau." After resting for a short bit, they continued on their walk, finally
getting picked up by a large truck heading for the capital. When they
reached the Ugandan government, they asked for asylum, leaving out the fact
that two of the three were lovers. After a period in Uganda, in which they
were asked about their experience in Kenya, they were granted a flight to
the US. Life after was calm and peaceful. James and Maseru lived together
in Washington, while James published a book about their experiences in
Kenya with his boyfriend, and helped Maseru to publish a book on his
experiences with the Mau Mau.