Paris District High School - Yearbook (Paris, Ontario Canada)

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Form IB Form IA II Form en-cial and IC nior Comm Ju

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24 PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK Vengeance is Mine First Prize, Senior Short Story Contest Under the blazing, relentless, equatorial sun, a band of weary, ragged prisoners of war stumbled on. Their bronzed faces were expressionless. A spirit of extreme weariness and depression hovered over all-Italian soldiers and their unfortunate Ethiopian prisoners. In the centre of the group, one dark man only, walked with a firm step, and seemed unaware of his horrible position. This man was Mjombi, follower of God, leader of men. In many countries he had been admired for his fine physique and his handsome face. Gloomily, he reflected on his fate. He, who had been educated in the best colleges of France and England and even his hated enemy, Italy, was to mingle with prisoners of low caste, untutored cow- ards, born by foolish women to provide cannon fodder for Italy. He, Whom the Almighty One had always blessed abundantly would be one of the huge throng of ill-treated negroes. Thus, day after day, the party struggled on. Mjombi's feet burned fiercely at every step. Unlike his comrades, he was unaccustomed to going without shoes or sandals. His feet refused to move, his spirit flagged and he fell in a quivering heap. A great whip fell again and again upon his bent backg blood dripped from his wounds upon the baked ground. Captain Bagnetto swore and Mjombi was forced to rise and stagger on. On and on, day after day, week after week! Heat, hunger, thirst! In his madness, Mjombi cried to his God to destroy him. But a body as strong as Mjombi's could not be destroyed in a day or week by hardships. A miracle of God or violence by man alone could grant him death. And so the days rolled on, slowly and painfully. The Italian body- guard was gradually weakened as one by one they fell by the Wayside, ex- hausted by heat and poor food-and still Mjombi lived. His feet no longer burned-feeling had fled from his broken body. Only mad rage and desire for revenge burned in his fevered mind. The cultured negro had reverted to a primitive savage. Finally the small company, after much wandering, came to an Italian encampment situated in the territory of the Danakil Tribe. With great relief the tired company fell into a deep, profound sleep. In the middle of the night, a swarm of fierce, naked savages swept down silently upon the unsuspecting camp. They cut the sentries' throats, and cautiously slipped into the encampment, ruthlessly butchering those who awakened and opposed them, until they reached the black prisoners. Someone cut Mjombi's bonds. His mind could hardly grasp the situation. Freedom lay just ahead! With a gasp of incredulity he arose and followed the fleeing pack. A general commotion arose in the camp. Someone thrust a rifle into Mjombi's hand. Captain Bagnetto gave his men hurried orders and they rushed after the black fugitives, their courageous Captain Bagnetto at their head. Mjombi's heart was bursting-he had reached the end of his endur- ance. Suddenly he felt a hot point blaze through his weary back. He turn- ed, stumbled and fell, his face upturned. Before his blurred eyes, one face stood out-that of Captain Bagnetto. With superhuman effort, he raised upon his elbow, aimed carefully and fired. Bagnetto fell, contorted by Death. Mjombi laughed triumphantly. Vengeance is Mine saith the Lordg and he fell into a sleep that knoweth no end. Ruth Durham.

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