Chapter 95

CHAPTER 95

NONE OF US got any sleep that night.

At first light, I was standing at the edge of the mine when the workers started moving up in small clusters from the tent village. Even from a distance, I could see that they were terrified. Women stayed behind the men. Children huddled behind their mothers. They'd obviously heard the shots and explosions from the night before, and they had no idea what was waiting for them up here. But apparently, they were even more terrified of not reporting to work.

The edge of the compound was lined with bodies, covered in canvas tarps. There were still dark bloodstains on the ground and bullet marks everywhere. The platform overlooking the mine was practically in splinters.

Kira stood beside me with a bullhorn in her hand. Blodgett, Marley, Harper, Fenwick, and Tagaloa stood behind us, arms folded. No weapons, for once in their lives.

Kira put the bullhorn to her mouth and pressed the Talk button. Her words echoed across the compound. "Njoo hapa!" she said, "Please, come here!" Then, " Usiogope! Don't be afraid!"

I noticed the pretty young Black woman at the head of the crowd. Tall and regal. She couldn't have been more than eighteen. I knew it had to be Vanda. Kira had told me all about her. The crowd followed her right over to where we were standing.

Kira put the bullhorn down as the workers formed a semicircle in front of us. Men, women, kids. Maybe two hundred in all. I could see that some of them avoided looking at Kira, and I understood why. They were still worried that she was a demon.

Kira put her hands on Vanda's shoulders and turned her around to face the other workers. "You all know Vanda," Kira called out. "She will translate." Vanda let out a nervous breath, then nodded firmly.

"The mine is closed for the day," said Kira. "But you will all still be paid."

As Vanda called out the translation, Marley and Tagaloa dragged a huge chest out in front of us. The chest had been liberated overnight from the command tent. It was overflowing with money.

"Tell everybody to line up," said Kira.

"Kuunda mstari!" Vanda called out, making a column shape with her skinny arms.

The semicircle collapsed into a single-file line. I could hear the workers mumbling. But nobody left. Frightened or not, they were all desperate to collect their fifty-cent wage.

Kira beckoned the workers forward. She reached down into the chest. Into each worker's hand, she placed a thousand dollars in cash—about five years' income. I saw mouths gape in disbelief. A ripple of excitement started to run down the line. When it reached the workers in back, they leaned out and craned their necks, looking forward with wide eyes.

As each family of workers collected their money, some of them started hopping and dancing in the dirt, waving the bills in the air or stuffing them inside their shirts. I heard shouts of "Asante, asante!" Thank you, thank you! Then, "Asante, Shaba!"

When all the other workers had been paid, Kira turned to Vanda. She handed her a thousand dollars—then another thousand. "Kwa mwanao," said Kira softly. "For your son."

Vanda wrapped her long arms around Kira's shoulders. Tears were streaming down her dark cheeks. Then an incredible smile broke through.

I'm not sure why Kira assigned the next part of the speech to me, but I was more than happy to give it.

I asked Vanda to quiet the workers.

She wiped her eyes and clapped her hands together. "Nyamaza!" she called out. "Nyamaza!"

The shouts and celebration instantly settled down. The workers clustered around us again. Vanda nodded to me, ready to translate. She had no idea what I was about to say.

I cleared my throat and pointed toward the pit. "Tell the workers that this mine now belongs to them."

Vanda blinked. She hesitated. I nodded. Then she called out the words, clear and strong. This time there was only stunned silence.

I had more.

"All the profits from the mine will go directly to the workers," I said. "And from now on, the person in charge here… will be Vanda."

Vanda looked at me, then at Kira. Her mouth hung open. Kira grabbed Vanda's arm and squeezed it. "You're the boss now," she whispered. "Speak up. Tell them!"

She did.

The crowd started chanting her name. "Vanda! Vanda!"

"Hours will be shorter," I called out. "Your children will go to school every day, not to work." I turned to the five giants behind me. "And if anyone bothers you, these men will handle it. They are not your supervisors. They are your protectors."

Vanda translated it all. Gleeful shouts burst from the crowd. Women rushed Vanda and smothered her with hugs. Men gave her enthusiastic pats on the head.

I watched as one of the smallest kids approached Marley. He lifted his eyes as if he were sizing up a mountain. Marley grunted, then reached down with one hand and swung the kid up until he was straddling his thick neck. The kid stuck his arms straight up into the air as if he'd just scored a goal. The crowd cheered.

I looked over at Kira. She was smiling at me. I felt a sudden rush of pure joy. I thought I'd never see that smile again. I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. Then I leaned down and kissed her, long and deep. Right there in front of everybody.

The cheers got even louder.