1020 AD
Shalbim Al Imam walked quietly back into his office. 1000 cedi. Not much, but close to a months pay. What’s more, he could keep both of those prisoners on the official rolls, and receive rations for them for at least another 3 or 4 months. Free food for the family, the deal couldn’t be beat. Of course, eventually he would have to say they died. Not by an escape, though that might bring him a bonus, that would also cause a review of the prisons security and probably more officers attached to his staff from Timbuktu, no sense in killing the cash cow. No, the two boys would fall sick and die; he had a doctor in the Barril district that did the "examinations" and reports for 50 cedi...

Major Shammel Abber burst in "rioters! rioters!"

A small groan from Commandant Shalbim Al Imam "Shammel, last time there were rioters it was two old women fighting over bread! I have half a mind to send you to Iceland"

"No! Marxist followers! The ship builders on the docks! They are revolting!"

Commandant Imam couldn’t believe this, this was ridiculous. But the impetuous youth had never had a war, and desperately wanted action. On the whole he was a good kid, but couldn't just let things slide. He would have to check things out to get him to shut up. "Alright, lets go. Joshua!" Commandant Imam yelled at his Jew Clerk, "come on, lets go" at least he could fine people while he was down there, and he'd need his clerk to do that.

As they walked down the narrow, clutter filled streets towards the shoreline, Shalbim Al Imam began to hear screams and chants. Rounding the corner, he was shocked.

The dock workers, chanting Marxist hymns, screaming insults at the surrounding population. To his right he could see who they were screaming out, market farmers, merchants, and the ship ands on board the ships, trying to get goods sent to Palermo. The crowds were screaming back. Anarchy had arrived at Libya too.

Immediatly Commadant Shalbim Al Imam pulled the Jew and Shammel back. "Back you fools, if they see the uniform they’ll all tear us to shreds. Joshua, run, tell Brigadier General Ugeuth to hurry the 5th mounted down here now. Shammel, run to the garrison, get them down here pronto."

Joshua ran off immediately, but Major Abber hesitated "Commandant, what will you do?"

Commandant Shalbim Al Imam looked depress, "I suppose ill actually earn my salary today, now run"

Shalbim looked around the corner quickly. The dockhands were getting more aggressive. Already 3 ships were trying to put out to see, and the Marxist didnt like that. Not willing to let the ships, with their fat wealthy merchants on board, escape, the crowd began to surge to the gangplanks.

Commandant Imam immediately grabbed a bull’s horn from the nearby trinket shop and gave it a loud blow. Everyone stopped and turned.

Shalbim Al Imam gulped. ****, maybe he should have had a plan first.

"People! I order you to cease and disest now! If you do not disperse from these docks, ill be forced have you all arrested."

The angry mob paused, normally used to taking orders, disobeying one was not a natural thing for a Malian citizen to do. But if someone else gave them a more popular order, they would be sure to follow. Shalbim Al Imam only hoped he didn’t have anyone with guts in this crowd.

"And who exactly will arrest us all? You!?" a tall European looking fellow announced in the front of the crowd.

**** Shalbim Al Imam thought

Just then, the thundering gallop of horses could be heard. Almost as distinctly, the clanging of armor could be too. The cavalry had arrived.

Around the corner, 3rd battalion of the 5th mounted arrived on the docks. Some 100 men arrayed themselves on both sides of Commandant Imam. Shalbim Al Imam felt his confidence finally go up.

"Well, it seems my little Jew came through before Major Shammel." Shalbim said almost to himself. Then he announced "It seems these here Knights have arrived before the garrison. Having no training in police work, only in the art of bodily dismemberment, I suppose we will skip the arrest and go straight to the massacre...agreed?"

A pale look came across all of the mobs faces...except that European fellow, it only seemed to make him more angry.

"Kill me if you must! But by God the blood will splatter across all of Mali and the people will unit under our martyrdom!"

Empty words, the crowd was already dispersing. The people of Mali were brave, not stupid. Angered still, but unable to even make a statement in death, the leader of the mob retired, and ran away.

Major Tallish spoke "Shall we pursue him sir?" a smile was creeping across his face, bloodthirsty fellow wasn’t he?

Commandant Imam shoke his head "no, no, I think I have other uses for the fellow, thank you gentlemen, umm, please though, if you could, patrol the streets for the next few hours, no crowds are to be allowed to congregate, but don’t harass anyone, the last thing we need is for the damn fools to actually have a reason to riot." and began walking back to his Command Post.

All he could think about was all the damn papers he had to write. ****, he suddenly thought, I didn’t even get to fine anyone. What a crappy day...