CHAPTER 17

ACT 81

Soon they entered into the Village. They passed a compound and saw 3 boys stealing a big chicken from someone's compound.

Reolita - Look at those boys. They are stealing. We should report to someone about what they are doing.

Pepin - No oh. Let's not. You see those boys. They are Gondo, Ilakis and Punguda. They are very troublesome oh. I pity their Mother. These boys have brought her nothing but shame. They tried to steal one of the goats from Yuveta Father's compound. If you see the flogging they collected Ehen. Kelu the son of the palm wine tapper reported them to their Uncle one day and they got to know. They cornered him on his Father's palm tree farm and beat the living daylights out of him. The boy couldn't walk for weeks. Ah and What they did to baba Zenke in fact I'll tell you later Let's go before they see us.

Reolita - Nawa oh. OK. Let's go.

They were about to leave when the boys surrounded them.

Punguda - Ah, ah see these beautiful girls. Pepin, Pepin long time no see. Ahh Ahh. Who is this your fine friend? And this your baskets are fine oh. Can we see them?

Pepin - Purungidi abi Palangala or whatever they call you. Abeg leave us alone oh. We were just going on our on oh. Abeg let us pass.

Punguda - Ahh Ahh. It's not like that now. I can smell banana. Why not give us some?

Pepin - Of course your big nose will smell it. Go and pluck your own.

Gondo looks at Reolita's basket and his stomach growls.

Gondo - Ahh Ahh. Fine girl and fine basket. Let me see.

Reolita - Don't touch me.

Punguda - Ah ahn. See we have a chicken. Follow us and let's all share everything together.

Reolita - Follow you where? With a stolen chicken? So we will all enter into trouble together abi?

Ilakis - See Ehn. This is our Uncle's house. The man is very greedy. Besides he has very plenty. He won't notice just one is gone na.

Punguda - Oya. Let me see the basket.

He pulled Reolita's arm. She gave him a hot, loud slap. Pwah!

Punguda fell on the floor.

Punguda - Yaah! You slap me! A whole me! Punguda the mighty. You slapped me.

He angrily grabbed her hair and Gondo took the basket from her hand.

Pepin - Leave her alone!

Ilakis stopped Pepin from helping Reolita.

Punguda - I will teach you a lesson.

Reolita - Ahh! Leave me alone.

He pushed her on the ground. Suddenly a big rock hit him on the ear.

Punguda - Ahh! yeeh! Who threw that?

They all turned and saw Collet holding a long big stick with a sharpened end.

Collet - Leave them alone! How dare you hit her?! You're a fool.

Punguda - Who are you? I'll teach you a big lesson.

Punguda lunged at him. Collet used his stick to beat him up. Pepin stepped on Ilakis foot hard. He let go of her and cried in pain. She then slammed her elbow into his back. Ilakis rolled on the floor in pains. Reolita and Pepin faced Gondo who had their baskets. He dropped them and was about to run away when Reolita threw a stone at his head. He fainted and the chicken he was holding pooped on his head and ran away. Reolita, Collet and Pepin ran off with the baskets.

Soon they reached a safe place under a tree and rested there. Reolita looked at collet and couldn't believe it was him.

Reolita - Collet I can't believe it's you. Thanks for saving us. Where have you been?

Collet - Haha. Missed me right. Things where not really good for us where we moved to. Besides that Village got attacked by the reds.

Reolita - You went to a Blue's Village? That's very risky.

Collet - It was my Uncle's idea. We came back with what we could earn.

Reolita - You mean what you earned by duping people.

Collet - It's the hard truth. But we don't live in the same side of the forest like before. It's the side filled with snakes.

Reolita - Thats dangerous.

Collet - It's okay if you can handle things yourself.

Reolita - Oh I'm sorry. Pepin this is Collet. Collet this is Pepin.

Pepin - I think I remember your voice. Weren't you the boy who did the tricks at the Village square with two other people?

Collet - Wow. Reolita your friend is sharp.

Pepin - I knew it. The expensive Sea shell beads On my Hair went missing that day. It belonged to my Grandmother. Reolita I don't like this boy. He's a thief. We need to report him.

Reolita - Please. I know it looks bad. But he's a good person. I mean he helped us just now.

Pepin - A good person doesn't steal.

Reolita - It's complicated please. Don't tell anyone about him.

Pepin - OK oh. But I want my beads back.

Collet - Ah. It has been sold oh.

Pepin - Ahh. Reolita! Please let's go my Mama is waiting.

Reolita - OK. Collet were leaving. I'll see you soon. Bye.

ACT 82

The two girls left towards home. It was already late in the afternoon.

Pepin - Reolita that boy is bad news. He is a thief. Stop seeing him. He will put you in trouble.

Reolita - I know. But I believed he has changed.

Pepin - Do you like this boy?

Reolita - No. I don't know. (Maybe a little.)

Pepin - I know he is good looking but please be careful OK?

Reolita - OK. Please don't tell anyone about him.

Pepin - Fine. I'll try.

Reolita - Thank you.

They finally reached Pepin's house. They saw Pepin's Father sharpening his cutlass. His name is Elul. They both knelt down and greeted him. They gave the snails to Pepin's Mother.

Flaxa - Thank you so much my children. The goddess bless you both.

Soon Flaxa made a small Bon fire and brought out the washed snails to start roasting them. Reolita and Pepin tried using the snail shells to make bracelets but a lot of them broke. After like an hour the smell of roasted meat was in the air. Pepin's Mama packaged some of the snails in a big wrapping leaf and gave it to Reolita.

Flaxa - Take this my dear. It is a thank you gift from me and your friend to you.

Reolita - Thank you Mama. I have to go home now. It's almost sunset. Bye Pepin.

Pepin - Bye. See you later.

Reolita ran straight home and saw her Father sitting outside.

Reolita - Papa! Papa. I'm home.

Ricktin - Reolita I told you not to stay out this late. I heard there are a lot of wild animals moving around in the forest these days. Where were you?

Reolita - I told you I would be at Pepin's house. These are the roasted snails her Mother gave me. See.

She showed it to him. Ricktin collected the wrapped meat. It smelt good.

Ricktin - I hope you thanked her.

Reolita - Yes.

Ricktin - Oya. Let's go inside and pray on this meat. We will use this to eat the yam I fried.

Reolita - OK Papa.

ACT 83

At the Blue Empire Palace...

Under the big mango tree, Prince Tefon was lying down on a mat. His body was very hot and he was very weak. His head was on the Grand Queen's laps. Kydin stood near her. They were both very worried. The Chief Priest check Tefon's eyes and his heartbeat. He mixed some herb powder and poured warm water into the small calabash. He made Tefon drink it. Tefon became sleepy.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - Will he be alright?

Chief Priest Bugalla - The herbs I gave him only slow down the poison and makes him sleep to be relieved from the pain. The poison is a slow poison. It causes terrible pains and the person dies after 3 days.

He gave the Grand Queen the remaining herb mixture.

Chief Priest Bugalla - My Queen if you keep giving him this every day it will slow down the poison but it wouldn't cure it. He will just last 4 more days.

Prince Kydin - So we have only 7 days to get the cure?

Chief Priest Bugalla - Exactly.

Prince Kydin - But can't our healers do anything?

Chief Priest Bugalla - I have seen this poisoning before and we don't have any antidote to this kind of poison. The plant used to create the poison is the same one used to create the antidote.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - Who would dare to try and poison my Grandson?

Chief Priest Bugalla - Someone who is trying to get rid of the heirs to the Blue Empire throne.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - I bet it is the Reds who are behind this.

Chief Priest Bugalla - Let's not be hasty My Queen. It could be anyone even our fellow Blue men who is behind this. We have many enemies even those who don't show it. Let's be careful about this issue and make sure the news about Prince Tefon doesn't pass this Palace.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - Of course you are right.

Prince Kydin - Tefon had a new maid and she was the one to serve his food. I have sent men to look for her but she has disappeared. She almost poisoned me too. And 2 other maids have been poisoned too. They confessed that they ate the food she served me.

Chief Priest Bugalla - Right now we have to focus on getting the cure. The plant is a type of mushroom that can only be found in Red territory. It is called Gashe. It grows near water in the Red regions. The nearest Red village is the Khana village which is 3 days away on horseback. What is worse is that a spirit guards the two large rivers surrounding the village. It doesn't allow Blue men to pass. Many have died trying.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - So what do we do now?

Chief Priest Bugalla - I consulted the goddess and it has been instructed that no one but Prince Kydin should go and retrieve the antidote.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - What do you mean? One of my Grandsons is on the brink of death and I should send the other on a death mission?

Chief Priest Bugalla - That is what has been instructed by the goddess. I shall appease the goddess to protect Prince Kydin on his journey.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - No. I won't allow it! He's just 13 for goodness sake.

Prince Kydin - Please Grandmother let me go. I can't bear to see my brother in this state. I shall come back safely by the goddess will.

The Grand Queen looks at Tefon in his weakened state. She sighed in defeat.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - If it is the only way, you can go.

Prince Kydin grabbed his Grandmother's hand.

Prince Kydin - Everything will be fine and I promise to bring the antidote back on time.

ACT 84

Later that night...

The Chief Priest and Kydin are at the goddess shrine. The Chief Priest prays to the goddess for protection for Kydin. He then pours some concoction on Kydin's head. They put certain gift items at the feet of the goddess statue. After the appeasement they leave the shrine to discuss.

Chief Priest Bugalla - Prince Kydin when you get to the stream you will meet a spirit. The spirit will ask for something you will give him this.

He hands him a Red feather.

Chief Priest Bugalla - Give this to him. The goddess also says that you should wear your mother's white promise bracelet with you throughout your journey.

Prince Kydin - I understand.

Chief Priest Bugalla - When you sleep tonight, you will have a Dream and see the way the herb looks in it. Don't worry the herb has a look you will never forget.

Prince Kydin - Of course.

Chief Priest Bugalla - Good night my Prince.

ACT 85

The next day...

Kydin wakes up and sees himself in a place filled with a type of herb. He picks up one and looks at it. It had a rather odd look. He turned to his left and sees a girl with Red hair standing and was facing away from him. He stood up and walks up to her. He held her hand and asked who she was. She was about to turn around when Darkness fell around them.

Then he woke up. He looked around and realized it was already the next morning. He got ready for his mission. He packed everything he needed including the Red feather and his mother's bracelet.