Journey To The Unknown

Episode 15

Anochie didn’t go to his usual place of firewood fetching to fetch firewood, he went the opposite direction a bit into the bushes of
Umuanyanwu. On walking a bit farther, he saw
dry logs of Fire wood of which he began to
fetch from, due to the fact that he was strong a bit he decided to fetch many so that he can
split into two and give one to Ada but he never
stopped looking at his left hand which was still
a bit red in blood. He wondered about it and
also about the dream he had…

“Who was that man?” He asked himself in
thoughts standing up holding his cutlass in his
right hand

“Why was I chased initially?? Where did the
attackers go?? And why did the old man say I
will suffer but he will always be with me?”

These and many thoughts ran through his mind as he went lost in thought

“So important is it than a little boy will stand in thought about in this early hours of the day”

Priestess Osimmili’s voice called back the mind of Anochie from behind and he shivered. On turning around he saw Osimmili and bowed down in greeting

“Greetings of the Morning Priestess” Anochie greeted

“Greetings my Son” she said walking closer
tying a white and red wrapper, with chalks used to decorate her face, hands and legs in a nativeway holding few leaves and shrubs in her hand

“I can see you came to fetch firewood”
Osimmili said to Anochie walking closer to him

“Yes Ma” Anochie said
“Alright, but be fast because wild animals
normally come here at the early hours of the
morning” Priestess said and walked past
Anochie to go deeper into the bush and pick
more leaves and shrubs, but on passing
Anochie she felt a great power around him and
she stopped and turned around looking at him
which Anochie noticed her motion

“Is anything the matter?” Anochie asked as
Priestess starred at the flute that hung on his
neck. Anochie traced her eyes to the flute and
used his hand to cover it and Priestess waved
her eyes outa

“Who gave you that??” Priestess asked trying to withold the power it contains

“My Mum said it was given to me by my
Father” Anochie said

“Is anything wrong??” Anochie asked
immediately

“No.. Nothing, I should be going now” Priestess pretended and hurriedly left as she could no longer withstand the power. Anochie wondered why she acted that way but later waved it out,
tied his wood bunch, carried it and left the
bush. At the time he left the bush, the day has
already become very bright.

“Who is this boy??” Priestess asked herself in the bush part she was

“Well, I will later find out” Priestess said
*
*
Lolo and Prince Azuka were taking a walk with
two guards chatting with each other and
smiling.. They walked to a two way path and
unknowingly went the path of which Anochie
followed. Anochie innocently began to walk
home with the quite heavy wood he carried on
his head. The path was a small one though with bushes around it. Lolo and Azuka sighted
Anochie from a distant and their mood changed to an angry one. Anochie who had nothing in mind, walked towards them and diverted towards the bush to create a good chance for them to pass through.

“Good Morning Lolo”
“Good Morning My Prince” Anochie greeted but they did not reply rather they shifted towards the bush part on which Anochie was, on shifting the more to create chance for them, Anochie fell into the bush with the firewood on his head and was stinged by several pin pointed grasses in the bush. Lolo and Azuka never behaved like
anything happened as they passed without
looking back. Anochie stood up scratching his
body vigorously as the grasses were itchy, the
pain made him uncomfortable

“What have I done to deserve this treatment
this early morning” Anochie asked himself as
he ran into the bush got a leaf and rubbed it all
over his body you subdue the itching and pain,
but the scratch he made on his body made it all swollen and a bit red. He looked at Lolo and
Azuka as they walked farther, he shook his
head, carried his firewood and went home..
*
*
“Nne!!” Ada called from the front of Anochie’s compound holding a cutlass and Mrs. Nworie came out

“Nne, good morning” Ada greeted
“Morning my daughter, how are you?” She
asked

“I am fine Nne.. Where is Anochie” Ada asked peeping into the house

“He has already gone to fetch firewood” Mrs. Nworie said which made Ada feel bad

“He did not bother to call me” Ada complained

“No My daughter, he decided to fetch for both of you” Mrs. Nworie said and Ada placed a little smile on her face

“Ook, which path did he follow let me go after him” Ada asked

“I really can’t tell, he will soon be back. He
went very early this morning” Mrs. Nworie said

“Ook Mama, let me wait for him” Ada said and Mrs. Nworie looked far at the entrance to their house

“Ooh.. He is back” She said and Ada ran to
meet Anochie. The effect of a leaf that causes
drowsiness and boils that touched Anochie
when he fell into the bush took it’s course on
his body. His eyes began to shake and dim, he
ignored Ada and bravely walked to the
backyard, kept the firewood and came back

“Chim ooo!! My Son, what happened to you?”

Mrs. Nworie asked running to Anochie who was already about to fall. Ada ran towards them and Anochie fell on his mother’s arm. On knowing what it was, Mrs. Nworie quickly waved at Ada as she was speechless in tears.. Ada came closer holding Anochie

“Go and call the Priestess for me fast!!” Mrs. Nworie exclaimed and Ada without wanting to ask further questions ran out immediately

“Also call your father for me oooh!!” Mrs.
Nworie’s voice echoed as Ada ran faster than she ever had..

“Nwa m biko nu (Please my Son), don’t die on me” Mrs. Nworie pleaded to Anochie whose body was not even shaking

“Cheii!! Chi m ooo (My God). Ada please be fast oooh” She said to herself and tears ran down her cheek as she touched all over the body of Anochie. She rushed inside, got a fan and a mat, la!d Anochie down and began to fan him..