Excerpt
andlt;bandgt;andlt;bandgt;Brazzaville, Congoandlt;BRandgt;1978-87andlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;bandgt;CHAPTER 1andlt;/bandgt;andlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The grass reached all the way to the sky.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;I moved through it, a ghost, a whisper.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To my left, the stuttering swishes of the other hunters assaulted my ears and I cursed their clumsiness.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The sky was clear, hot, bright, and I wiped tiny beads of sweat away from my forehead. I parted the grasses for a better view.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;There, in the distance, approaching the Djoué River . . .andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"Shhh," I said, but no one could hear me amongst the clattering of feet and murmuring of mouths. "Shhh," I said again, muscles tensed, focused on the prey not ten feet from me. It stopped and cocked its head.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Silence.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;We all watched as it slowly pivoted, smelling us, hearing us, sensing our presence in the air. My stomach growled.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The monkey turned and ran for the river. Its tail was rigid, stiff, a finger pointing at us as it sprinted away.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The grasses exploded and we all charged the fleeing animal, tiny spears held high. Blood pumped in my ears. The ground disappeared under my feet as I pulled away from my friends. My mouth opened and a joyful howl erupted.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The monkey reached the river and spun to its right, sprinting along the bank.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;I raised my arm high and pushed my legs even harder. Tiny clouds of dirt sprang up with every step, and I squinted my eyes against the dust, sweat, and sun. My world narrowed to this moment. I could hear the breath filling my lungs.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The monkey turned its head as it ran and we locked eyes. I smiled, delighting in the fear that crossed its face, reveling in the power that surged through my limbs.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Five steps.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Four steps.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;I raised my stick high and issued my best approximation of a battle cry, the one I heard the men in the village make when they returned triumphantly from the hunt.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Three steps.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The monkey was nearly in arm's reach, and I could make out the streaks of mud coating its fur, the sheen of moisture across its arms. Time slowed and I watched the muscles coil and release under its skin.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;In this moment, I felt alive.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Two steps.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;I reached out my arms and grazed the tip of its tail.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;It moved even faster, pulling away from me.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;One step.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The monkey leaped, spinning toward the jungle, and my hands grasped only air. I turned back toward the grasses to avoid falling into the river. The other kids would never let me hear the end of it if I came back wet.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;I stopped, breathing hard, panting in the thick heat. The other kids arrived, wheezing, smiling, laughing.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"You almost had him, Tchic!"andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"That was the closest ever!"andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;I smiled, happy because I'd seen fear in the eyes of the prey. I didn't catch it on that day, but I knew that I would. It was inevitable.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"Come on," I said. "We don't want to miss dinner."andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;•