Chapter 37

GBOYEGA

I smelt it before I saw it.

It gave off a fresh, tangy odour and the wind had picked up quite a lot. I was glad for that, because my shirt had begun to stick to my body with sweat.

When I looked at the map, I realised I should have come across it earlier. Was there another route that would have taken me there faster, perhaps? I wondered.

I quickened my tired steps.

Maybe the lake had dried up.

I came across a crooked path littered with dead dry leaves and mossy grass.

Moss?

Don't they grow where water resides? I must be close.

I quickened my steps towards it. Wherever it led me, I would follow.

I closed my eyes against the glare of the sunlight as I had long ditched the dark glasses I was wearing. I was sweating too profusely to bother with it.

Since my eyes were closed, I lost my footing and stumbled. I felt myself tumble down an incline and my back pack went flying. My body took a serious hit as I kept tumbling. I only prayed I didn't break any bones on the way down. I would be useless to myself and the main reason for coming on this journey.

When I had stopped rolling, I opened my eyes to see where I was, and found I was on the edge of a lake. I closed them again and opened them immediately, but it was still there.

No it can't be!

I blinked once. Twice, yet it lay there, green and still as it shimmered under the bright light of the sun. It must be a mirage.

But mirages mostly take place in the dessert, yes?

I got up tentatively and checked my body, flexing my hands and legs to check for broken bones. Thankfully I had none, just a few scrapes and some torn skin.

Nothing that could stop me.

I turned my attention to the lake. I wondered if there were crocodiles in the water. It was still and looked deceptively calm. Well you know what they say about still waters . . . they run deep.

I tentatively put a finger into the water.

Strange!

It was cool to the touch, despite the heat from the sun.

I dipped my hands up to my elbows. It felt quite refreshing.

I looked down at myself. My body and clothes were caked in mud, sand and blood. I decided to take a chance in the water.

I wasted no time as I quickly stripped to my boxers and dived in. The water got to my chest as I stood up. I knew it was deep.

I washed my body with my hands as best I could without any soap, tending mostly to the parts that had mud and sand. My skin stung where I had scrapes and torn exposed flesh.

I was still scrubbing and enjoying the cool water on my body, when I noticed the shrubs on the other side of the lake move.

I froze in the act of bathing and took on a fighting stance in the water. I gazed hard at the shrubs to the point my eyes stung, but I didn't see any more movement.

Must have been an animal.

I quickly got out of the water and put on my clothes. I touched the blade I hid underneath the waist band of my shorts. It was sheathed, but I was poised to remove it at any moment.

I was alert and ready for any intruder. I retrieved my back pack from where it lay and took some sips of water. It slid down my parched throat and I welcomed it as I closed my eyes.

When I opened them, two men stood on the other side of the lake. They gazed at me, taking in every aspect of my clothing as their eyes slid from my face down to my legs.

I did same too, gauging if they were harmless village men or dangerous bandits that were looking for trouble. They had on shorts and vests and I noticed their chests were muscular. They held long sticks in their hands.

I wasn't going to find out if they were on the offensive or not. I would know soon enough with my next move. I quickly unsheathed my dagger and stood in a fighting position once more.

They stared at me for a bit and one of them bared his teeth in what was supposed to be a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Ghoorhe!" (look, a stranger). He spoke to the other man as he reached behind him and brought out a long sharp sword. I looked down at my dagger.

I was screwed, and he knew it.

He grinned wider, showing teeth and the second man joined him.

They both began to laugh and I looked behind me, trying to gauge the distance between the lake and how long it would take me to climb the small hill from which I had rolled down from.

I looked back at them and they were both still laughing. The other man had produced another sharp - looking sword.

Even if I decided to make a dash back to the hill, I wouldn't get very far before they caught me, so I decided to act diplomatically and talk my way out of it instead.

I put up my hands in the air and dropped the dagger at my feet.

"Hey!" I shouted "Do you speak English?"

They frowned and looked at each other, then put their swords on the ground as well.

"We speak English." One of them replied.

I sighed in relief when I noticed they had put their swords on the ground.

Alright! Next step.

"I come in peace and I want to leave in peace." I put my hands up again.

They looked at each other and then one of them put his two fingers in his mouth and whistled.

I looked around, backing away, expecting to see more men throng out from the shrubs, but nothing happened.

I watched as both men stood, watching the lake.

Suddenly, two huge animals reared up from the sea. They were brown in colour. Ugly, ugly beasts with huge mottled behinds. They swam with ease towards the men, their small tails swishing in the water.

The men picked up their swords from the ground and climbed unto the backs of the animals. They tapped the animal's behinds and they began to swim off.

I watched in awe as the huge animals turned round and swam --- yes you got it right, they swam towards me.

I stood stock still, frozen in my tracks. I couldn't move even if I wanted to. These were animals you'd normally see on Natgeo wild, yet they were here in the flesh, swimming rapidly towards me, their beady eyes fixed on me.

As the animals got closer, they opened their mouths and roared and I saw their four long sharp teeth. Two on the top and two at the bottom.

I shuddered, wondering how many animals or even human beings had been trapped between their jaws. I searched my mind for their names but came up empty.

Oh, you empty barrel of a brain. I silently chided myself.

How knowing their names would help my case, I did not know. I just felt it would impress the men if I called the animals by their correct names.

The men climbed down from the backs of the animals. As soon as they did, the animals swam away and disappeared into the water.

I picked up my dagger from the ground and held it. I noticed they were now holding their swords in their hands. This was getting ugly, but I wasn't going to go down that easily, so I backed away as they came close to me.

The more I moved back, the more they moved towards me with their swords poised --- ready for action.

I noticed their feet work.

One of them was trying to get behind me, but I didn't let him. I made sure I gave them a wide berth, but they were quick and nimble on their feet. They were two men while I was just one man.

When they were about five feet away from me, one of them lunged and kicked the dagger from my hand. It fell to the ground and the other man picked it up.

I was cornered --- there was nowhere else to go. It was either surrender or die. Or both.

The hill was just behind me now, stopping me from running. They would catch me before I even began to make the ascent.

Something wonderful happened just then.

They sheathed their swords, placed them in their covers at their backs and handed me my dagger. Then one of them spoke up with his hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

"Hello, stranger, we are here to help you. We come in peace."

My body suddenly became weak with relief and I visibly exhaled the in-held air I didn't know I'd been holding.

They asked what I was doing in these parts and I told them I was a sojourner passing through their land. I further explained how I tumbled down the hill after loosing my footing.

They nodded sympathetically at me, taking in the scrapes on my body and my dirty muddy clothes.

"Come! Let us take you to our hamlet. It will soon be dark and you look like you need some food and rest."

They were right. As if on cue, my stomach grumbled loudly.

They looked at each other and laughed, patting me on the shoulder.

At this time, the sky had truly begun to darken and when I checked the time, it was already past six.

I had set out early, thinking I would be back in Ozala town for dinner. I didn't know it wasn't as easy as it seemed.

Yet I didn't regret anything so far.

We got to the hamlet as they called it, but I quickly found out that they hadn't spoken the truth.

It was a modest bungalow with fairly modern furniture. There was a sitting room and three bedrooms.

They introduced themselves as Ani and Rufus. They were brothers, with Rufus being the older of the two. They stayed in two separate rooms, while the third room was for guests.

They told me they were business men of sorts, over a delicious dinner of unripe plantain and snails. They were farmers and also merchants. They went into the main town of Ozala to buy merchandise and bring them back to the outskirts where they lived to sell to people.

They had days when they tended to their crops and other days when they sold stuff at the market square.

They asked what I was doing so far off in their area, thinking I had gotten lost and couldn't find my way. I battled mentally on whether to tell them a lie --- an abridged version, or the plain truth.

I figured I owed them the truth, seeing as they took me, a complete stranger into their home.

I wiped my mouth with the tissue offered and settled down further into the chair to tell them the story of how I came to rescue the king of Ozala town.

By the time I had finished speaking, they gaped at me. Probably gauging to see if I was indeed serious. Rufus threw his head back and laughed.

"My friend! The king of Ozala town is dead." They looked at each other and shook their heads.

They probably felt sorry for me.

It was my turn to laugh.

"Listen to me now. I have it on good authority that he is alive. He is held captive somewhere in your area and I'm going to find him. His son is my friend and I'm doing this for him."

Their eyes rounded out to almost saucers. If I wasn't so tired, I would have probably commented on how comical they looked. Rufus, the older one, got up and walked out of the sitting room. When he came back, he was holding a jug in his hand.

"We are going to need this if we are to hear this outlandish tale of yours --- it's fresh palm wine. I bought it from the tapper just this morning." I nodded as some of it was poured in glasses for each of us.

I greedily lapped mine up and my glass was quickly re-filled.

I told them the full story, leaving out certain unnecessary parts. By the time I was done speaking, I was tired --- worn out, more like. I kept trying to stifle my yawn which, by the way was rude, but they caught on and I was led to the guest room where, as my head hit the soft pillows, I drifted off fast to sleep.

The next day

I woke up at the crack of dawn as is my usual fashion, and reveled in the soft beddings I lay on for a bit. I reluctantly got up when I thought of the task ahead. I had a bath and got back in to the bedroom to see clean clothes spread on the bed. One of the brother's clothes, no doubt. A pair of shorts and a tee - shirt. They fit snugly on me.

When I got out of the room, I smelt something cooking in the kitchen and made my way there. I met them eating a full meal of pounded yam and egusi soup.

They had set a table for me but I declined. I wasn't in the habit of eating so heavily, first thing in the morning. I asked how they stayed slim and fit. They looked at me and laughed.

"We walk long distances almost everyday. As you have already experienced, there's no means of transportation this far out."

Their words stood to reason.

"Do you by any means have some coffee?" I knew full well I was stretching my limit by asking.

They looked at each other and laughed heartily. "We are merchants, so yes we have coffee. Different flavours if you like."

They put before me some bread and butter and I ate and drank three cups of coffee. When I was done, I was rearing to go. I brought out the map and traced a path way to the barn - like structure where the king was being kept.

My hand paused over it. I suddenly wondered why I hadn't seen the settlement where the brothers lived in. As if reading my mind, one of them spoke up.

"You won't see it.'" I looked up at him. He nodded and went on talking. "This settlement is off the grid. In other words, many people don't know about it because it's well hidden. You will never see it on a map because we are a small tribe of people who like to keep our identity hidden and we aim to keep it this way." He looked at me meaningfully.

What was it to me?

I was a city man. I wasn't planning on moving out here. So I just shrugged.

I saw them packing a bag with some nuts and water and surmised they must be going to town to buy some stuff. Wasn't my place to pry, but curiosity got the better of me when I saw one of them poring over the map.

"Um . . . what are you doing?" My brows furrowed as I watched them.

"What does it look like, friend. We are going with you to rescue the king of Ozala town." He looked up, grinning at me.

I didn't know how to take this sudden imposition. I mean I should have been glad, yet I felt they should have asked me first.

"But --- " I tried to object.

"Oh come now friend, wouldn't you want us as company on your journey? You don't know what horrors you may come across while trying to rescue him."

He was right. I grudgingly admitted to myself.

"Alright it makes sense, seeing you both know the terrain better than a stranger like me."

They only grinned at me in reply.

We set off shortly after and the two brothers chatted away in their language. That was fine by me. I needed time alone with my thoughts.

Minutes passed into hours and the sun stung like a bee, bathing me in perspiration. The sand burned even through the sneakers I wore. The brothers didn't mind at all, they wore leather sandals, yet they matched on like soldiers. They were obviously used to it.

Just when I felt I couldn't take it anymore, I was pulled down into the white sand.

"Wha ---- " I protested.

A hand clamped across my mouth, shushing me up immediately. One of them jerked his head and I followed the movement.

Then I saw it.

There was movement on the horizon not far away from us and a small delapitated - looking building stood out, stark against the otherwise barren land.

How did I miss it?

Exhaustion, maybe.

We watched as two men stood talking to each other. One brought out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. They continued talking while we watched from our perch on the sand. We didn't have much of a cover and all we needed to do to get noticed, was stand up and we would be caught.

I noticed a glint of metal as one of the men brought out a gun, checked it and began waving it around as he talked. He said something to the second guy and they both laughed, then he put the gun back under the waist band of his trousers.

The brothers signalled to me to keep quiet. And I watched as Ani slid on his stomach like a lizard towards the building.

Was he crazy?

Did he have a death wish?

Couldn't he wait till they'd disbanded?

We didn't even have a gun. We would be dead meat if they so much as spotted us out in the open like this. I needn't have bothered, because the men guarding the building seemed to be enjoying their discussion too much to bother looking around.

Ani dissapeared from our line of vision as he rounded the barn.

Some minutes passed and I became antsy. What was taking Ani so long?

I tapped Rufus on his arm. His eyes had never left the men. They still hadn't, even now. He nodded his head in acknowledgement of me and I whispered.

"Why is Ani taking so long?"

He didn't reply, just put his index finger to his lips.

Suddenly, one of the men walked to the back and I watched, my heart in my mouth. He was sure to catch Ani now. I felt it in my bones - that feeling you get before something bad happens.

Then I heard screaming and the other man rushed back to the front, beckoning to the man to come.

It was all over.

Suddenly I saw Ani running towards us, a smile on his face.

He gesticulated wildly for us to get up and Rufus wasted no time in heeding his call. He jumped up, even as I was still considering his request.

My mouth fell open as Rufus ran towards him. He paused, then turned back to see me still lying on my stomach. "What are you waiting for? Let's go now before they find out it was just a ploy."

His voice was insistent. I didn't need any further prompting as I jumped up and began running after him.

Ani had already gotten to the front of the building and was fiddling with the lock with a gadget-like device I had never before seen in my life.

And to think I thought I could do this alone.

The lock looked old and rusty; it sure wouldn't take long to open. I watched intently as he worked on it.

Rufus was standing guard at the side of the delapitated - looking building to keep check on the two men so we wouldn't be taken by surprise when they showed up.

I took a look at the building and noticed it looked like a stable that had been terribly run down and was seriously decaying. Mold and algae coated the walls, changing the once cream colour to a greenish-brown.

I wondered what state we would meet the king in. I only hoped he wasn't gravely ill or worse --- dead.

I was still ruminating on that fact when I heard the lock snap open.

Ani turned to look at me and grinned. But just then, something scary happened which made me regret the whole mission.

Rufus suddenly appeared with his hands in the air. I laughed because I wondered what trick he had up his sleeves, until he was shoved from behind and fell down at our feet. The two men appeared behind him, guns trained at our faces.

Up close, they looked very menacing. Their eyes were blood shot and their hair looked uncombed and unkempt. One of them smiled a chilling smile, revealing some missing front teeth. The rest were rotten and stained brownish - yellow.
The smiling one trained his attention on me, his gun pointing directly at my head.

The smile left his face, replaced with a terrible fury. It was bone - chilling. Never in all my years had I seen such fury in the eyes of anyone. I felt like I was face to face with death himself. I was almost shitting myself.

I stared down at the barrel of the silver gun he held and I started to perspire again.

I was scared to my wits and shaking like a lily.

I mean come on, these weren't no ordinary village miscreants here, they looked hardened, like they had been on the street for a long time. Such people didn't care if they lived or died the next second.

The stakes had just gotten higher!

I instantly put my hands up and from the corner of my