by Sam Wilson
As always the sun lit the forest with era of colors, the woods stood tall housing alighting birds with singing voices as beautiful as blooming flowers; vibrations of the leaves provided a soothing sound of nature to the atmosphere. Rustling broken leaves echoed softly beneath their footsteps as Ibe followed kadize into the forest, they looked around for the right wood to chop down, Kadize spotted a suitable one twenty feet to his right and excitedly said “found one” without delay went to work hacking the tree, not minding if Ibe is working or not. Ibe smiled, said under his breath “Little boy” bend down under the pretence of having found something. Then he rose up, raised his cutlass in the air, and brought it down on kadize back with all his might. Kadize turned shocked and surprised; he did not utter a word, he couldn’t but watch in awe as Ibe dropped to the ground bleeding to death. A dark cloud engulfed Kadize’s thoughts, he felt numb and saddened, his young mind couldn’t comprehend was just happened but something guarded him back to the wood he chopped up, gathered it, and as if in a trance state, went back home. Prince Mugee anxiously waited by the back gate for the return of Ibe with the good news of kadize death; he got the second surprise of his life when he saw kadize stroll into the compound. Politely greeted him and started doing his job like he was alone in the world, to Prince Mugee it seems the boy is completely unfazed by anything. He hurried out of the compound and headed straight for the forest. His mouth drooped on the dead leaves on the forest floor when he found Ibe in his own pool of blood; he panicked, and then composed himself. How is he going to explain Ibe’s death to the village and feared accusing kadize will bring him more trouble as no one besides his house hold know he exist. He decided to tell a lie, he had sent Ibe to buy a certain type of drink from two towns away, he most have decided to take a short cut to save money on transport but unfortunately got ambushed, killed and the money stolen from him. Everyone believed him cause they had no reason not to, there is nothing to fear from Kadize, the young boy hardly speaks, besides no one knows he’s even in their compound. A burial ceremony was held for ambitious Ibe at his parent’s house, paid for by the Prince and his wife naturally.
A month later, unannounced, King Muluzi came visiting his younger brother, in the effort of surprising him, decided to shed the amount of bodyguards and go through the back yard. He stopped at the sight of kadize chopping heavy logs of wood and said out loud, not particularly to anyone “too much for a young boy of his age” he stood transfixed at the strength of the young man, like some one glued to an interesting play and don’t want to miss a scene. In that moment, prince Mugee stepped out to the back yard for fresh air and he was surprise to see his elder brother, the King watching kadize. Fear gripped him as he saw admiration in the King’s eyes; he knows how much his brother wants a son. He quickly stepped forward to greet his him, interrupting his thoughts and admiration, the king was to happy his brother but curious about the hard working boy, Prince Mugee made up a story about who the young boy is, he explain to the King that kadize was a beggar who cut fire wood for a living. Then led his brother inside him inside with the sweet aroma of the meal his wife Chika is preparing in the kitchen. After 30minutes reminiscing and laughter, King muluzi step out with his brother beside him, he was about to leave when he suddenly turned to his little brother and said “that boy I saw cutting wood, what is his name again?” “Kadize” prince Mugee replied “Yes, I remember now, he is one strong kid, not a lot like him around this days, don’t you agree?” “Yes, not around here” Mugee agreed quickly in hope of cutting the direction the questioning may lead
The King’s admiration for the kid grows by the minute, he is so taken by Kadize’s strength that he ask for him to become his new cupbearer. Prince Mugee had the feeling of a rock let loosed on his temple and a simultaneous suffocating choke in his throat. He quickly regained himself and tried all he could to discouraged the king but failed. He relentlessly cursed this very day in his heart, all his hope of slipping the king something unsavory through his cupbearer has been dashed as a cup of poison through Kadize. He watches as his brother talked with his son unbeknownst to him then moments later came to him, hugged him, and walked out happy as a clown, with kadize. “He does and take anything he wants” Mugee said to his wife, who’s sitting on the ground sobbing like a hungry baby. As days rolled by, the king and Kadize’s relationship grew stronger and he saw less of his brother’s son Obi who is suppose to be the heir to the throne. Fueled by his parent’s lies, Obi’s anger grew each day with kadize the woodcutter. Prince Mugee and his wife knew no rest or peace as they made all sorts of plans to murder the king before what they feared is discovered.
In their desperation, they contacted an outlaw with the help of an aid, they paid handsomely and the rebels took the opportunity in doing want they always wanted, they ambush the king and his entourage on his way to an annual festival called IGO festival, thrown in his honor. Kadize and his bodyguards rose to the occasion, defended, and protected the King. Some brave men met their end but the rebels were cut down with swords as sharp as the sun.
Meanwhile Prince Mugee and his wife where preparing themselves to go to the palace and announce the King’s death when a massager sent by the King, came to their house not to announce the king’s death but of his late arrival, to the festival and back. Rebels ambushed him as they most have heard but that he is an unharmed and alive King thanks to the bravery of Kadize and his bodyguards. If they were worried, they shouldn’t be. They were speechless in disbelieve and thanked the massager with the little voice Mugee could muster. The massager left leaving Mugee and his wife to surmise about their failures, prince Mugee was tired and fed up but not ready to give up, he had to do it himself. He went to the palace in pretence of being worried about the King’s well fair; he stayed at the separate large hut build for him at the palace. At exactly 1:00am in the morning he slipped into the King’s room with a big bag containing a python and let it loose. Four hours earlier, as the King prepared for bed, kadize checked his room to make sure everything was alright as has been instructed to do, half and hour later King Muluzi entered the room aching for sleep after the day’s long and stressful journey. The King woke up feeling crushed, he tried moving and breathing but could, all he could do was managed a scream. And that was enough to bring Kadize crashing through the door. He was on his way to the toilet when he held a faint sound coming from the King’s room, it sounded like he was in agony, holding the lamp in his left hand up, a brown and black spotted big python hissed his way, squeezing the king. Mouth wide open, he grabbed a sword hanging over the king’s dresser and plunged it deep into the snake and cut the king free. The king breathlessly marvels at the fearless Kadize and started making enquiries about his savior, nobody could give him useful information, and he remains a mystery. Kadize couldn’t help the King much as his own history is a mystery to him, years went by and he has grown into a calm man of few words, great strength, patience and strong will. This made the king very proud and finally said to himself that he will die a very happy man knowing the kingdom will be in safe hands.
It has been a long time coming, the King is old and knows his time for eternal sleep is near, at the meeting of the elders, he announced kadize as his successor, the council of elders saw it coming a mile away therefore were not surprise but decided to talk among themselves, prince Mugee controlled himself. The elders as well as prince Mugee agreed together to accept kadize as the chosen heir to the thrown. When he got home he flew into a rage like a wounded lion, everybody in the house rushed to his side including his wife and son Obi. He ordered the servants out and broke the bad news to Chika and Obi.
Obi felt his father’s rage and took it upon himself to do something about it, he left in search of Kadize at the palace, he was told by the King’s maid that Kadize went into the farm to get palm wine. He went after immediately concealing a knife in his belt. King Muluzi could not help but notice the anger on Obi’s face as he out of the palace gate, instinctively like any father would, called a guard
to follow Obi quietly.
At the farm his voice echoed angrily through the air for kadize, Kadize answered from top of a palm tree. He descended from the tree as quickly as possible; worried something is amiss with the King. The expression on obi’s face expressed anger and the blade in his right hand says it is towards him. He walked slowly towards obi and asked “What is it now brother, why are you so angry and how is that blade going to solve it?” Obi uncontrolled raised the knife in the air, rush toward kadize shouting at the top of his lungs “go back to hell, where you came from” Kadize wrestle the raging lunatic to the ground and removed the knife from his hand. He pinned him to the grassy ground warned sternly “stop, stop right now or you will regret it” he said. Fear mixed with doubt made Obi finally calm himself, he picked himself off the ground when a loud sound followed by a whizzing breeze buzzed past Kadize’s right ear and an agonizing short scream echoed in front of him, he saw a gaping hole on Obi’s head as he dropped to the floor. Kadize caught him half way and screamed, crying bitterly, he held him to his chest. There was movement behind him; he stood up quickly to face a huge hairy man wearing a tiger skin trouser, holding a rifle with a wicked smile on his face. The man introduced himself as Ima, Kadize recognized the name from stories he has held from the maid at the palace, “ he is the greatest hunter from Duma” he held one of them say once. Duma is a village two hour south from the King’s village, he also heard he was an assassin. The hunter asked Kadize “ are you Kadize?” in his grieve he answered “I am the one you seek.” the hunter did not hesitant and raised his gun, pointing straight at kadize forehead teasing him to run for his life. Kadize smile and warn him not to shoot but Ima is not the kind of man who does see a mission through, as he will soon find out. He pulled the trigger and the second the bullet hit Kadize’s forehead, Ima the hunter’s eyes widened, blood dripped slowly through his face and he fell down dead. Kadize carried obi to the palace with tears dripping down his face. The king Muluzi came out, of his quarters as soon as he heard the news, kadize fell to his kneels in front of the King. Raised his head and saw sorrowful questions written all over his face. The King knows what happened but he needed a logical explanations.
Obi’s parents came rushing to the palace upon hearing the news about their son’s death. They accused Kadize right away; they wished him dead and would accept nothing less. His origins came back into question, he then told the King about a woman he knows as mother and how she brought him to prince Mugee. The king knows very well that the old woman he speaks of, has no child of her own, something is not right with Kadize’s and his brother’s story, one of them is lying. The King ordered Kadize to his room under guard for he feared for his safety, his brother is a desperate man and could do anything to avenge his beloved son. The King sent guards to fetch the old woman, she was old and weary looking, life as been tough, as soon as kadize saw her, he rush to her side and hugged her. She hugged him back with her eyes closed, she told the King everything to his absolute surprise and dismay, the truth sent chills through the King’s village. Despite the sorrow and despair the actions of his brother and wife has brought to the King’s home, his son is alive and well, his mother protected him from the grieve. The true heir is home, now it is time for his brother and his wife to feel the wrath of the king.
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SPECIAL SHORTS
AETERNITAS
Sentries were of no use when the flood of the enemy poured on the defense, entering with relative else. Surrender was emanate until a voice, most have been God sent, cried out from outside the wall, challenging the men who dare cross the Gates of Aeternitas with such savagery. They all froze wondering who it might be, we all thought there was an army outside, and in time we will be saved from the clutches of this pack of wolves. Turned out it was one General and his last remaining bodyguard, calling out two hundred men strong to battle, I have to admit the man has a lion heart, the invaders laughed but accepted his challenge. One by one, they fell at the tip of his sword, up to fifty soldiers was slaughtered by the general before He was cut in pieces. We watched in shock and astonishment as his bodyguard who had been sitting by, watching his master’s fury at work, climbed down from his horse and calmly walked towards the men who had made steak pieces of his master. The invaders, now a hundred and fifty strong couldn’t believe what they are witnessing, the fighters hesitated but on command two attacked the bodyguard, their swords made it’s way up but came down after their heads did, the remaining men became overwhelmed with fear as the man without fear kept on approaching the fierce but petrified looking force. “Attack…” their commander screamed, the battle cry was so loud Rome could have stood up with hair sticking out of its neck, our hero was cut down forty-five minutes later after sixty deaths and thirty injured. The commander and his remaining sixty savages breath an air of relief. “They are going to turn their fury on us next.” I heard one of the men say. “If two men could do that with a sword each, imagine what we can do” I don’t know why or where they come from but those heroes have giving the men of Aeternitas the strength they need to do what they should have in the first place. Stand and defend their homes, wives, and kids. Our men attacked and overwhelmed the uninvited visitors, it was a fierce and bloody battle, and Aeternitas lost many fine men but won its freedom. Our freedom. Victory Woodland closed the final chapter to her memoir and closed her eyes for the last time on Earth. Her grand son Edward found her the morning after holding the diary of memoir close to her chest. It has been fifty years since the battle for Aeternitas. The year is 1864.
ETERNAL SLEEP
“Don’t get killed” Those words weighed heavily on his mind as he stood in front of that elevator waiting for the doors to open. If they could find him so quickly, it’s possible his men may have meet the faith lurking behind him. “That door will lead you nowhere” he froze, not because of the statement but because of the voice, a ghost from the past. The elevator opened and closed. He didn’t make any attempt to turn around; Caxander Wellington already knew what was going to happen. If there was any chance for a miracle, now will be the time, “promise me one thing,” “Name it” he replied bluntly “Promise… for old time sake, that it will be quick” “you will receive as you have given” A statement he remembers him saying over and over again when he was his instructor. Expectantly, Eternal sleep overcame him violently.
THE NECKLACE
Café d’ soul is as empty as always, “heard you are good at this” is the first sentence that came out his mouth before my buttocks hit the chair. “From whom” He ignored the question and shoved a news paper clip in front of me. “That is the target” Pointing to a diamond necklace around her neck, forgetting she is the wife of the richest man in the city therefore hard to reach. “How soon” “in ten minutes…the theater behind this building” he retorted producing a business card from his jacket pocket and handing it to me. ”No deaths… just scare them. Then meet me here with the Necklace. Understood?” I didn’t like the tone of his voice so disregarded the question, the card I tucked into my denim and left in search of a vantage point, minutes later they came out without bodyguards but with a kid.
THE THREE STOOGES
“What can we mean to them?”
“No… What can they mean to us?”
“What is the difference?”
I heard myself asking quicker than you can say Gilles de la tourette syndrome My boss is getting increasingly irritated about everything, Jimmy walked in making it worse unbeknownst to him, the deal of a century flushed down the toilet, all thanks to the bone head Jimmy Townsend, now we have to play nice with the three stooges as they are referred to, the meeting is in fifteen minutes but first Jimmy has to be put through the ringer, so we sat him down ready to take the shot. Too easy to say you are fired, taking the time to make him feel what is coming has so much more satisfaction. “You have been a great asset and this painful decision wasn’t taken lightly, certainly not by us” A good sentence to start the kill.
FUNNY LIFE
The relationship was doomed from the start, here we are eight years later waiting for the final nail in the coffin, the judge did us the favor an hour later but not before he told me nothing I didn’t already see coming. She has left half her property to the dogs and the other half to her immediate family, still the news hit me like a lighting volt through my spine, back to zero after years of unbelievable effort in deceiving the ungrateful woman and waiting for her to bite the dust. What a waste of time, some people will see me as a bastard but I can’t shake the feeling that I have been on the receiving end on this one. She most has planned it from the start; it explains it, why she was so easy to woo that night. She picked a user to use. Funny life.
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