Must Read: Sunrise in Makoko (A Short Story) - Season 1 - Episode 3

6 years ago

Must Read: Sunrise in Makoko (A Short Story) - Season 1 - Episode 3

"We should be close to Ire River by nightfall, and advance to Papa Baalu territory early tomorrow. We should fish in the river in a bid to have something to roast, and devour at night," Tade told the other boys.

Five hours earlier, while playing Opon Ayo game, Gbada has unintentionally revealed the possible whereabouts of the missing crown.

Chirping of insects has taken over the forest. The kids could think of the hovering stars as glow-worms made such nightly pilgrimage.

The following morning, as the boys were about to continue their journey, Layode panicked suddenly and said, "Bolu, ensure you don't touch that leaf by your right. Hunters that touch it become missing in the forest for ever."

"You and garbage are inseparable. My father is a professional hunter. How come he hasn't touched this in years? Besides, if I touch it, and come under a spell, since the remaining three of you will be sane, you will lead me home."

The boys walked along past the hilly terrain, scared of the few shadowy rock pedestals, and reached the summit of the hill.

"Here we are, we are no pussies!" Tade said as he beheld a tombstone. "Wow, his epitaph was truly cast in brass! Frantz Stefano. This man might be Italian, German, or an half-caste. For Italy, you hear things like Fabiano, Mattheo etc. Germans use Frantz to mean a child brought from France."

Diran looked pitifully at Tade and said, "Uh, you called someone half-caste? Try that with a living person of mixed race, and watch him eats you alive."

"This name is not easy to pronounce o. Frant-z Stefano!" Layode said jokingly by using a syllable for 'Z' in Frantz.

"Tade, won't you dodge his ejecting tooth? This name is even better. Check Chinese names, you would hear names that sound like Chin, Chun, Zhou etc. Someone said during naming ceremony in China, they would angrily throw a coin at the wall. The sound you hear will be the name of the child," Diran joked.

The kids laughed.

"We should be going now," Tade told others. "We are close to Papa Baalu. See the hut at a distance. Bolu, you are to shoot into the sky, though the gun isn't loaded with bullets. Layode is to point his bow and arrow at anyone there with a dreadful look. If the person thinks the gun has no bullets, he won't think the bow and arrow is a toy. And we will hold the person hostage for questioning. Other inhabitants there will flee."

Minutes later, Bolu shot into the air as the kids ransacked the village. Layode aimed his bow at Kukute while Bolu tried reloading his gun. At the same time, Diran and Tade searched the hut. They succeeded, because only a man was available to overpower. They eventually found the ancient crown, and left hurriedly.

"Stay where you are," Ijaya thundered as he and Faworaja surfaced from nowhere.

Bolu brought out his gun, aimed at Faworaja, and said, "Stand back or I'll shoot you."

Faworaja stepped forward, and said, "Let me make a mince meat of them. If you shoot me, you'll be a dead man, because we are not alone. Forest guards are aware that we are here."

Tade noticed pendulous clustered bees on a tree which was about three trees away and right above Faworaja and Ijaya. Tade shot at the bees with his catapult. Bees swarmed the assailants, and stung them as the kids escaped.

The kids wrapped the crown with banana leaves, and headed for the palace.

"Townspeople, these kids are our new heroes. They retrieved the hitherto missing Adeife, which a cretin stole, obviously to curry favour with the 'Enuwa' forces. We believe that The Cradle is greater than our dear town, but that doesn't negate following due process in whatever we do," the king, Oba Adegboye said, clad in flowing 'agbada' and cow tail royal accessory. "We all know that this is the most ancient crown in Yoruba race. We should therefore do everything in our power not to lose the pride. This palace will hold a dinner in honour of the kids in three days time. Thank you."