14/07/2025
TRAPPED..
EPISODE 7
Written by Terdoo James.
AKOR’S NARRATION
I stood watching as they matched toward where I was, ordinarily, I was expected to be anticipating to come and save me. To come and untie me, because seeing them, I knew my case was already reported to the king who had sent his warriors to look for m*e..
The joy of leaving the place could not let me be, which I was about shouting thinking that at least, among those people coming, there will be one person who would have spiritual eyes and as well would see me**
Few minutes later, they came where I was, visibly I could see their appearance , and among them, non had a face I was acquainted with, and critically looking at them, they looked exactly like human eaters whom I had seen and once warned never to stay at our farms up the time I discovered my self being on that heavy, awful and teak forest..**
As they were coming, so my heart beat was increasing, finally they came closer to me, to a point, they came very close around the crowded area I was tied. One of them came and opened the leaves, looking right into my face, I saw a feeling of pity from his eyes towards me, but there I was covered with fear thinking my life has ended, because how would someone see what he eats and neglect it? Even I that is a human, I hardly allow any bush meat I come across to go scot-free, so how was my escape from them going to be possible?
One of the things that increased the fear was when he removed a knife bringing it closer to my hands, where I was tied, I believed he wanted cutting the spiritual ropes I was tied with, but deep inside me, my mind still could not hold to that, as I began praying in my mind earnestly asking the gods to protect me all through what I have found my self in.**
**
** Finally when my eyes which could not bear seen how i will be slaughtered or stabbed by knife, were opened, and there he was with the knife he had, placed on the rope, while moving it slowly, front and back, to cut the rope I was tied with, until he was able to cut the first one, and while he was about cutting the second rope, he s*aw his brothers coming, which in order to save me from being caught or seen, he quickly left the scene, leaving me in the crowded leaves, unseen by his fellows with a deep breath I sighed in relief as I looked up again. For a single day, I had escaped two incidents which would have really led to my death .
Right before my eyes, one of them removed a man's hand, fresh and with blood on it, bite it and began chewing. And so the other too, removed a man’s head, and looking at the head, it was similar to the head of the hunter who came to my rescue earlier, but the man whom I witnessed his fight, was greater than them, or being conquered by them, so I shifted my attention towards how I would escape the death which I was seeing.***
Just then, another one came and opened the same crowded leaves I was kept in, and looked right into my face, this one's appearance was weird, and seeing him, one would know he was nasty, and as such will be merciless..
“ kanyi kwagh I tserem nee??”
I asked while yet to recover from the heart beat that I had when the man came closer to me and looked straight into my face and went away, whether he saw me or he did not, I don't know but I was sure he did not, because if he had, definitely, I would have been caught and maybe eaten by them raw and alive as his deeds and actions which he demonstrated showed it all..
But could it be that they were humans like me?
if true then, how do they feel eating their fellow being?
I just pondered for a while and let go off it, as I watched them walk away through the tick and dark forest until their heads varnished inside the leaves***
The monster-like men who came and fought the hunter that came to rescue me, were seen in the cave again, with their master, telling him about the hunter who struggled with them, and how they were able to finally do away with him, but one thing they couldn't do was taking me with them, that I was too heavy for them to carry, so they couldn't carry me to the man as he had instructed them..
As they reported what happened, the man in turn, chanted some incantations and told them that they were to make sacrifice before they will be able to bring me to the place as planned, because all the powers they had was exhausted in the cause of the fight, and that the sword the hunter had, drained almost their powers, including his that he sent to them when her was alerted about fight.
The master explained and stated it clearly..
“ What are we to offer?”
One of them asked with eagerness
“A virgins blood shall be needed on that altar” the man said while pointing his hand towards the the pot which was placed beside a giant stone stained with blood..**
“A virgin?”
In chorus they asked with great amazement..
“Yes, a virgin, and if you can cooperate within your selves, you can do that, because some of you have children, and mind you**
The hunter is preparing to come after four days, and if he comes, the boy will be set free, and you all know the consequences”
the man stated. At this point, it was very clear that the hunter was not dead, it was very clear that the hunter was going to return, and no one knew what he was to come with, but they were sure, he would come full..
AT THE PALACE..
Kumasongun after the incident that happened earlier in the farm, came back and immediately went to the King's palace and told him about the mysterious thing that had happened, and requested that, some warriors be sent to the forest immediately..
Bunde who was seated there, advised that the boy's case should be looked after the next day stating how dangerous it was for the youths or warriors to be sent there again, and how people might lost their lives in the course of the search, stating that by that time the human eaters would be out, and even though they go there and a fight ensued amongst them, a life must surely be lost, so to avoid such, it was better they wait for another day..
This made Kumasongun to be a little controversial with the idea. He kicked against, which made the king to got almost mad at him, and so Bunde who stood to slap Kumasongun said that, he has always been against his ideas, while out there people respect his words, right into his house, his nephew brother criticizes him**
Seeing that his quest for the right to be done has become what they will use to regard him as a rude and stubborn brother or fellow, he left the palace...
****AT KUMASONGUN’S HOME.
“ what did I do to be treated and regarded that way, is it seeking for the right thing still wrong itself, how could they advice that the little boy who got lost in the forest be left there till the following day not minding what would be of him?
why if he got trapped by those human eaters?
or is it because he has no parent?”
So many questions were lingering within him as he wondered how the boy would be feeling from where he was**
As Kumasongun was deep in his thoughts, his wife observed it again, and came to know why, and what made him to come back looking worried. Meanwhile, all that transpired at the farm was known to only those that had gone there and the king and Bunde, the rest of the villagers were not notified about it..
“Orya wam, u hide ve ga!!”
meaning ; Welcome my husband..
I sat there and has been observing you for while, and it seems something is wrong, why are you sad?
who have made you to be worried like this?”
She asked bringing out her magic smile which if she does on you, you must smile back, but as she did, No smile was seen on Kumasongun’s face, as he looked more worried. Meanwhile, as he began the narration, he narrated the ordeal of how Akor got missing after working in his farm**
The case was the type that would make anyone who hears it worried, because they all knew how hard it has been for the boy, and how he always struggles to ensure he does not beg. And again, from all indications he was being suspected. Suspected in the sense that it was from the same direction which he had gone to ease himself that the boy followed and was lost. It very clear he could be accused of being the one behind the missing it Akor. ”
His wife too felt bad, so she begged her husband to at least eat before he would continue with his thoughts, because according to the narration, it seemed her husband was the one who had trapped the boy as he came out from the same place the boy entered..
Without hesitation, Kumasongun went in to eat, which as he wanted eating, he ate but never felt like he was eating as his mind was not around his house anymore.. He wished he had never invited the boy, he wished he had never even gone to the bush to ease himself, he said so much blame on himself until he finally doze off on a mat .
BUNDE’S HOUSE..**
Bunde is seen seated on a chair made of palm fronds, with a heavy pipe loaded with tobaccos in his mouth..
He got lost in thought about the sacrifice they told them to bring,
“where are we to get a virgin?
My daughter here too is not up to the age to be regarded as a virgin.
Whose daughter then shall we get for the sacrifice?
The sacrifice must be made, because I wouldn't bear it if the secret comes out”
He pondered about. lifting up his head, behold, he saw Terkaa who has been discovered earlier to have a mental issue, pointing his hand towards his father telling his brother something, and that marvelled them, including his mother..
“Aondongu do you know that dad is a lion?
He is a giant lion that eats people in the bush oo, the boy was boldly saying this which made his father's mind to jump in shock..
“Come here Terkaa!!”
He called as the little boy took to his heels, shouting that he does not want to be eaten by a giant lion that has been eating people in bush, and so his father went after him, but could not get him as he fan faster than he could....
ERDOO’S
“What really had happened to this boy?
Could it be that my suspicion is true?
But if truly what I am seeing is as a result of jealousness then it will amaze me?
What really has my little Lubem done to that person that he has decided to make him mentally Impaired?
Or, could it be that smoke something that is too strong for him?
But why is his father not saying anything about this
Isn't the one who is supposed to have known this since?”
She asked rhetorically as she heard Lubem who was running, shouting “Lion is coming!!!
The lion ooo!!
run alll or be eaten"
On hearing this, Erdoo stood up with a big stick in hand so in case it was the lion, she would defend her child..
“Where is the lion?”
She asked..
“Dad is the lion, he has been eating people in the bush!!”
Don't you know he is a Lion?”
After answering his mother, the little boy asked again, while breathing heavily..
Turning by the side, Bunde was there coming after the boy. Hearing what the little boy said, he stood in shock, he was marveled, and it came into his mind, that their powers were really been drained and so, it is beginning to ineffective...
Seeing her husband's countenance, Erdoo felt there was something hidden which she wasn't aware of..
TBC
TO BE CONTINUED****** # #
