03/07/2025
fans
CHAPTER 5
The matatu groaned under the weight on the roof, like an old man complaining about too many grandchildren. The driver slammed his palm against the dashboard.
“Hii gari imevumilia sana,” he muttered. “If this thing doesn’t get off, I’m applying for early retirement!”
Joy gave a shaky laugh, her fingers still locked with mine. “Danny… maybe it’s just a stray goat.”
“A goat?” I said, eyebrows raised. “Unless that goat is wearing army boots, siamini.”
Something above us thumped again, this time directly over our heads. The roof dented inward with a metallic boooom.
The conductor, who had been quiet the whole trip, finally spoke up from the back. “Driver, tafadhali, can you negotiate with this… whatever it is? Maybe it just needs fare!”
The driver sucked his teeth. “Fare? My friend, unless it pays double, it can alight immediately!”
For one surreal moment, the tension eased. Everyone chuckled nervously—like laughter could protect us from whatever waited in the dark.
Then the shape on the roof shifted, sliding toward the front windshield. A claw—yes, an actual claw—scraped down the glass. Joy buried her face in my shoulder again.
“Danny,” she whispered, voice muffled, “I think your goat has serious anger issues.”
I told you,” I hissed, “this is not a goat. This is a sponsored demon with bad manners.”
The driver braked hard. The matatu skidded to a stop, tires screaming. For a heartbeat, everything was still. I braced for the windshield to shatter.
But instead, a single black feather drifted down and landed on the dashboard.
The driver gaped. “Eh… now even crows are joining?”
I swallowed. “Bro, that’s not a crow feather. Look how big it is!”
Joy peered out the
CHAPTER 5
The matatu groaned under the weight on the roof, like an old man complaining about too many grandchildren. The driver slammed his palm against the dashboard.
“Hii gari imevumilia sana,” he muttered. “If this thing doesn’t get off, I’m applying for early retirement!”
Joy gave a shaky laugh, her fingers still locked with mine. “Danny… maybe it’s just a stray goat.”
“A goat?” I said, eyebrows raised. “Unless that goat is wearing army boots, siamini.”
Something above us thumped again, this time directly over our heads. The roof dented inward with a metallic boooom.
The conductor, who had been quiet the whole trip, finally spoke up from the back. “Driver, tafadhali, can you negotiate with this… whatever it is? Maybe it just needs fare!”
The driver sucked his teeth. “Fare? My friend, unless it pays double, it can alight immediately!”
For one surreal moment, the tension eased. Everyone chuckled nervously—like laughter could protect us from whatever waited in the dark.
Then the shape on the roof shifted, sliding toward the front windshield. A claw—yes, an actual claw—scraped down the glass. Joy buried her face in my shoulder again.
“Danny,” she whispered, voice muffled, “I think your goat has serious anger issues.”
I told you,” I hissed, “this is not a goat. This is a sponsored demon with bad manners.”
The driver braked hard. The matatu skidded to a stop, tires screaming. For a heartbeat, everything was still. I braced for the windshield to shatter.
But instead, a single black feather drifted down and landed on the dashboard.
The driver gaped. “Eh… now even crows are joining?”
I swallowed. “Bro, that’s not a crow feather. Look how big it is!”
Joy peered out the window, her eyes wide. “Maybe… maybe it’s some kind of… giant bird?”
I almost laughed, even though my heart was still doing marathon training in my chest. “Perfect. Next, we’ll find an ostrich driving a Probox.”
As if it heard us, the thing on the roof let out a low, rasping kraaaak that made my hair stand on end.
The conductor clutched the back of my seat. “Danny… if we survive this, I swear I’m starting a church.”
Joy grabbed my hand tighter. “You’d better join him,” she whispered, her mouth brushing my ear. “And if we don’t survive… at least you made me laugh.”
The driver exhaled, rolled his shoulders, and muttered, “Okay, everyone. Hold tight. If this bird wants war, we give it war.”
He shifted the matatu into gear.
And as we lurched back onto the road, feathers still drifting down the windshield, I thought—only in Kenya could you be attacked by a demon-chicken in the middle of nowhere.
But even with all the fear… I couldn’t help the laugh bubbling in my throat.
I almost laughed, even though my heart was still doing marathon training in my chest. “Perfect. Next, we’ll find an ostrich driving a Probox.”