Capítulo 1: MANAGED MISCHIEF
It was a bright harmattan day. The harmattan was severe. It took even me a lot of courage to take a bath this morning.
Humnm, I had to rub my body with Cocoa nut oil to make my skin looked refreshed from the harsh effect of the harmattan. Many people probably would not take a bath today. Hahaha .... , Some people usually bath with hot water during this period.
The weather was moderately cloudy, the sun temperature was just soothingly hot. Despite blowing gently, the wind seemed intent on getting into one's eyes, making it stinging as if pepper had been blown into the air.
An artisan, a Welder, was working under a shed by the roadside in a local area of Alagbọn. One can hear the sound of the harmer from a long distance. It later switched to the sound of welding machine.
Under the shed's extension sat an elderly man, on a plastic chair, beside the Welder's storage kiosk's door. There were people, both denizens and strangers around. It seemed there is going to be a meeting of sorts.
There was a man I knew, Koro, he sat down on the right side to the old man, on a bench. There was another man, Balosa. He was one of the old man's aid. He sat adjacently behind Koro. In front of the old man, to the left on a small bench set against a moderately high rocky hill, adjacent to the old man sat three people. Adjacent to them, on a stool facing the old man, Elder Kasumu, was a woman dressed in fanciful local regalia with matching head gear. Immediately behind her were three men.
By the right side facing Baba was a man known by many people as Ológbojò, he sat on a plastic chair. His back was facing an untared road that passed by the right side of the welder's workshop.
Suddenly, those sitting opposite facing Baba to the left side jumped up and scattered like grains flung angrily away. Without waiting to verify what happened, others in the assembly also joined them in running away.
It was too sudden and frightening. Baba some how fell off the chair and knocked his head on a nearby pole. He cried out in pain. The only person who remained on his seat was Ológbojò. Of course I maintained my cool too. Why should I run without seeing what is chasing me.
Ológbojò was indifferent, as if what's going on did not concerned him at all. Everyone started talking at the same time, shouting incoherently. Eventually we are able to know what happened, when someone pointed at what was crossing the road to where we were.
It was then that Ológbojò and I turned to look at a very big snake which was slithering to our place with great speed. It was a Phyton! When the snake was a few distance to Ologbojo it raised it's head ready to strike him. However, before it could do so, Ológbojò moved like lightening. He dashed forward like a gale of wind and grabbed it's neck. I've never seen such a big Phyton in my life.
The struggle that followed was palpitating and could not be described.
Ológbojò overpowered the big Phyton, eventually. This was not surprising, it's not strange because he was not an average man that you came across on the street. Aside from every other things, he was a renowned Hunter, known throughout the local area and Kingdom as a whole. He was a King among the Hunters. That was how he acquired his nickname, Ológbojò. Many people did not even know his real name.
Surprisingly, the phyton actually spoke up like human when it seemed that he was going to die in the man's hand. With a rough voice like the local masquerades used, it pleaded for mercy.
Everybody were surprised at this dramatic turn of event, as they watch the drama unfolded before them.
It was a peculiar chanting lyrics. The Phyton's voice was foreign to the ears as it recited in a foreign way that was Soul touching.
"Mighty Cult Priest hear my plea,
Don't let me meet my end here.
Mighty Cult Priest, the King sent an errant,
The river was over-flauded.
Mighty Cult Priest, Kings never punish singers Don't you agree? Spare me, I'm on errand.
It's not my fault Oh ! Mighty Cult Priest."
Those were the literal translation of it's words as I listened and watched on.
Before we make sense of this, the weather had changed as if there's going to rain heavily. Ológbojò's eyes had turned bloodshot red. He was breathing heavily in anger. Like a War God, he stood tall. Nobody knew when a dagger came to his left hand. He was really fearsome and no one would dear move near him at this time. He shook his head from right to left angrily. Eventually he conceded and flung the phyton away to the other side of the road like a useless rag.
The whole scene was spectacular and amazing to watch if not for the severity of the situation.
Everywhere was deadly silent. If you dropped a needle, one could hear it's falling sound. Everyone were looking at him fearfully. The Phyton disappeared immediately and the weather returned back to normal as before.
Ológbojò turned to Elder Kasumu where he stood with some other people who were visibly shaken. They looked at each other for some time. It seemed they were conversing secretly with each other. After reaching a tacit agreement between themselves, he turned to my side and looked at me briefly smilingly before he turned around and left.
Elder Kasumu turned his attention to the crowd. "Everyone listen to me. The landed property which some people were coveting is not for sale as being promoted by some unscrupulous elements, nor was it owned by those parading themselves as "ọmọ-onílè".
"The person that owns the land is not selling it and must not hear from you again.
"Henceforth, stop having ideas or any design about it or else face the consequences of your greediness." After making his proclamation, he turned around to face me. "Johnson, follow me. We have valuable things to do."
Well, who am I to refuse. In the first instance, he was the one who invited me to the gathering and he hadn't told me the reason. If I wanted to know this reason, I must follow him. I therefore stood up from where I had sat since the whole saga started, and followed Bàbá. The onlookers were watching us as we moved away. Some of them dispersed right away. I noticed, both Kòró and Balóṣa were waiting patiently at the Welder's workshop.
We crossed the road to the other side, from where the python had came. There was a large tall Apẹ tree along a foot path leading into the disputed landed property like a gatekeeper, watching over everything that goes on.
"Johnson, this was where we were going. there is no more secret before the secret keeper. These acres of land is your inheritance. There was a reason for not handing it over to you before. However, it's yours from today onward. You would understand as we proceed inside.
"Within is an ancient shrine, not the type of those that they pore palm oil on and do all sort of fetish things. After you must have performed the necessary rituals, you will be able to see the portal that leads to a few secret worlds. Your Ancestors used to represent the Yorùbá people at the Universe All Creatures Summits." Bàbá looked back at me to gage my reactions. Truly, I was surprised at these information and I didn't hide it. "You were surprised? Hahahaha...!!! (He laughed). You have not seen anything yet.
"The secret of why your ancestors took on the title of 'Ọmọ-Owú' lies here. Ológbojò was your father's sworn blood friend, just as your forefathers and his forefathers were, from the beginning. You can trust him. He had being keeping watch of the land, since both your father and mother passed away, along with some other people. You will get to know all of them later. I will be narrating and showing you some things in this unassuming Forest, you must pay close attention and master all the marks, codes and signs that I will be explaining and showing you later.
"No one knows tomorrow. I'm at the end of my rope already. I was fortunate to be alive till now, if not, those foolish bastards would have sold off the sacred land along with the shrine .... Were you asleep?" I answered that, "I'm well awake Bàbá. I'm all ears."
"Humnm .... Okay, that would be for the best." Baba then proceeded to show me many secret things within the forested land as he explained their secrets, and how to secure the hidden treasures. Along the way, we came across some strange plants and ancient trees. He patiently explained there usefulness and medicinal preparations. Before we knew it, we've covered the whole boundaries of the land. By the time we came out it was evening. There were fruits and many valuable things that I brought back.
When we came out, Kòró and Balóṣa came to welcome us. After exchanging few pleasantries with the two men, Baba warned me seriously of many things and made me promised to pursue the assignment he gave me without any delay.
I took my leave while Bàbá and others went their ways.
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