Absurdity and restoration of life in the Lungu Empire

The dawn of Saturday the 25th of June, 1994 created doubts in the minds of people, guards and the King who were patiently waiting for the birth of the male child who would be the heir to the throne of Lungu Kingdom deep in the interior areas of Eastern province. The sound of owls sounded loudly as if they were mourning one of theirs who kicked the bucket. As a known fact, to the indigenous Africans, this all thing made some people to cry as they believed that there would be a dark crowd as owls symbolizes death, misfortune and danger. However, to people's surprise, as the sun was beginning to rise, the sound was no longer heard, "oh! God is faithfully, it's twilight and nothing has happened to the royal family," one of the old guards in the palace was gossiping with some of his friends in the palace royal chambers. The morning of June the 25th was clear and sunny, with the flesh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The heir to the throne was born and named Ethan which is a traditional name meaning strong, firm and enduring or long lived. The birth of the male child called for cerebration not only to the royal family but to all the kingdoms surrounding the larger kingdom. Lungu kingdom was surrounded by four smaller kingdoms, namely; Kigoma, makitu, sikundo and Shengi; and the kings in all these kingdoms were to pay tribute monthly to the overall king, the large and smaller kingdoms together formed the Lungu Empire. The linage of the royal family included the following: Joseph; the king of Lungu Kingdom, Joyce; the Queen of Lungu Kingdom, Collins; the brother to the king, Juliet; the sister to the Queen, Ethan; the heir to the throne of Lungu Kingdom and the son of Joseph the king of Lungu Kingdom and Stephen the son of Collins and the Nephew to the King. Stephen and Ethan are of the same age group with just two years difference between them. Apart from the ones mentioned belonging to the royal family, there is another child by the name of Judas the king is taking custody of; he is his child too but not from his wife but from his concubine. Judas is as old as Ethan and they were both born on the same day but with just 3 hours difference between them, Judas was elder and to the his mother, he also qualifies to be the heir to the throne of Lungu kingdom. Other characters in the novella include; Eliza; the fortune teller and Prophetess, Chrispine; the army commander of the Lungu Kingdom, Lucy; the king's concubine and Paul; the kings personal assistant and ally; he is the kings trustee though he is into oats sowing or debauchery. The experience of life among the people living in the Lungu Empire was good and they experienced many years of peace and living in harmony. The kingdom itself can be described as the best example of a utopian society. People in these areas never lacked anything; they never walked on foot but always on chariots even if they were going to the market. There was nothing like social stratification where people were to be arranged in social classes but they believed in communism, the rule they obeyed much was that, all people are equal and therefore, should be treated with the respected and care they deserve. The king also introduced the concept of Xenia and was supposed to be strictly followed by everyone because he believes that people are born to be allies and not enemies; therefore, they should treat even strangers with the love and respect they deserve and help them with any material goods they have so as to create peace with all humans across the globe. One fateful evening, the fortune teller and witch goddess, Eliza was at the kings' service, she knocked at the door like she was possessed by demons, as the king opened the door she rolled down onto the ground in enchantments. The king knew that something was wrong; but what could be the problem? The king wondered.

Eliza: My king, I saw blood under your roof and your feet dipped in it.

King: What does that supposed to mean?

Eliza: My king, as I was at the river enjoying the morning breeze, I saw two fish fighting, the smaller one took advantage of the situation in which the bigger one was, it was undoubtedly that the bigger fish ate something and got chocked, so the smaller fish took advantage of that and killed the bigger one.

King: My Lord! Don't let my heart tremble in fear. Why do you speak to me in riddles? What is wrong? Tell me, I am at your service. The king really looked so frightened as if he had seen a ghost.

Eliza: My king, what happened 10 years ago that you still hold confidential today?

The king is now deep in the ocean of thoughts trying to reminisce what happened, the king finally spoke up; Is it about the child I am having outside wedlock?

Eliza: Yes! The mother of the child you had sex with is the wife of one of your junior chiefs, so the three kingdoms are united against you for your abominable act, you reap what you sow.

As soon as the fortune teller uttered that, the king looked so paranoid; it was obvious that he remembered what happened and was sorry about it. In a tick of a second, the fortune teller was nowhere to be seen and fear was installed on the king's face and was clearly seen from how he looked. Hours later, The King invited Paul to the palace for some advice, being his best friend he disclosed everything that happened to him. In their conversation, the king said to Paul.

King: Hi friend, I have called you here for some advice.

Paul: You know you can count on me buddy. What is it?

King: Eliza the fortune teller was here.

Paul: wooow! That's great news friend that calls for cerebration, let's go to the pub and have whisky.

King: No friend, it was not the usual goodness, it's a bad news; the gods have turned their back on me, the ghost of the past is now hunting me.

Paul: what is it my friend? You know you can count on me. What is the matter?

King: Ten years ago as I was on my official working visit to Kigoma kingdom, there was a lady who seduced me, of course I admit that she really looked so sexy and cute with well-rounded and curvy hips and well pointed and elevated breast, her looks were really charming, all those qualities never failed to raise the sparks down my spine, she turned me on and had an affair with her.

Paul: I remember you told me about her, is she not the mother of Judas your other child?

King: Yes, but can you believe it, that concubine of mine is the wife of the king of Kigoma kingdom though they do not live together anymore? And that's the reason as to why the fortune teller was here to warn me about the disaster which is about to come because of my past mistake; and that the three smaller kingdoms have united against me.

Paul: Hmmmmmmmmmmmm! Tell me that you are jocking.

King: Do I look like am joking?

Paul: Oh gosh! Oh gosh! This is really serious. Did the fortune teller tell you the way out to overcome such a mess?

King: No, it's obvious that she also want my downfall because she uttered to me in a strong voice that I shall reap what I sow.

Paul: Oh God! Why this now? Don't worry my friend, we shall stick together and defend our kingdom. Let us organize the best soldiers we have in our kingdom so that when war strikes, it will find us ready for it.

The king called Chrispine, the army commander of Lungu kingdom to organize the best soldiers in the land in readiness for the upcoming war. Among the soldiers that where organized, small lads were also part of the force team and among them where Ethan, Stephen and Judas. Despite Joyce the Queen and Collins the brother to the king calling a stop to all the latest developments in embarking on a dangerous mission of war, the King's decision was Final. Joyce, being the Queen of the Lungu kingdom and Lungu Empire at large, called for a secret dialogue meeting between the Lungu kingdom and the three subordinate kingdoms of Lungu Kingdom. Despite her efforts to reunite the four kingdoms, the outcome of the meeting didn't go according to how she had imagined, the three surrounding kingdoms accepted a reunion only on one condition, and that was, the king to resign. When the king of Lungu kingdom came to be aware of that, he sent the letters to the three kingdoms that he was not going to step down and if they what war, their wish is granted. As soon as the message was received the three kingdoms started raising young men for war. Back in the Lungu Kingdom, all young men who had already gone circumcision were already in the camp just waiting for the war to break out. However, before the war, the King of Lungu Kingdom consulted the prophetess if success will come to his side, when the fortune teller saw the rage in the king's eyes, she didn't tell him the truth, she deceived him by giving him a false prophesy assuring him that victory is on his side. Finally war broke out, despite belonging to the same military group, Ethan and Judas were nemesis, and they neither talked nor faced each other during the war. The division between them led the entire military group be divided too because both were influential, because of that soldiers of Lungu kingdom were overpowered and defeated so easily, thus lead to their kingdom under siege by the military group of the combined forces of the three surrounding kingdoms. The war just lasted for just a week, before the defeat of the Lungu kingdom, Joseph and Paul could be seen going to the brothel where they could have sex with different types of women in exchange for money, it was obvious that Paul is the one who initiated the King into oats sowing and debauchery. As the news popped through the head of the king that his soldiers have been overpowered, he called his brother to help him escape secretly. However, before he even finished his telephone call, he was arrested and tortured by the soldiers awaiting further instructions from the kings of the three kingdoms to determine his fate. As soon as Collins and Ethan learned about the whereabouts of their brother and father; they tried to have a dialogue with the kings of the three kingdoms but it was obvious that they all hated him with passion, they gave orders that he should be killed by hanging as a way to humiliate him together with his family and his body be devoured by vultures.

Ethan's point of view

As a young man, I didn't know what to do, it was really painful and hurtful to see my father be subjected to a cruel and hash treatment but I kept the rage to myself. The only companion I had was Mom who provided me with a shoulder to lean on each time am going through emotional traumas. Stephen was also good to me, even if we were cousins but he always comforted me and encouraged me not to lose hope but always be optimistic that things someday will go to my advantage. Friday was the day that was set to hang my father and it was on the thirteenth, tears never stopped rolling down my cheeks when I remembered the movie I once watched when I was young during my kindergarten years entitled 'Friday the thirteenth.' When the day came, as usual, I was putting on black attire awaiting the death of my father, just as the prophetess said, my father was killed by way of hanging, I couldn't believe it that these people could be this inhuman. Mom, Aunty Juliet, Uncle Collins and Stephen accompanied me and told me to be strong because men do not cry.

Joyce's point of view

Today Friday the thirteenth marks the tragedy of a great hero and the best husband, Joseph, I will forever love you even in your grave, I will forever be indebted to you, it's just sad life has turn its back of our family. I could not cry a lot because he is still present in my mind and forever will. I saw how helpless my son was, so I accompanied and comforted him to be strong because men do not cry.

Third person point of view

Since Ethan was still a child, the throne was still vacant but it was to be acted on by his Uncle Collins, as time went by, Collins was offered some money (bribe) by Lucy Judas' mother so that her child can be the next king of Lungu Kingdom. When Collins was about to send her away, she changed the position of how she was sitting on the chair, she now sat like a banished throne, Ethan watched everything that happened through the window. She seduced him until he gave in; it was beyond his capacity to resist that. As soon as Joyce learnt about what had happened, she decided to go out of the palace, but where would she go? Paul, her husband's best friend promised to keep her and her child at his place.

Paul's point of view

My friend's wife is really cute, I need to have her to myself, my friend is long gone so am not snatching her away from anyone, honestly she is really cute, she is really an embodiment of beauty, she is exactly like the Hellen of Troy, if people could fight for ten years just for a lady what about me, I will equally fight anyone who would be a barrier for me to have her to myself.

Third person point of view

A month later, Paul gathered some courage and approached Joyce.

Paul: Hi Joyce.

Joyce: Hi.

Paul: Can I talk to you?

Joyce: Sure.

Paul: Ever since my friend was executed you have not been yourself, try to be strong enough and let the pain of the past remain in the past.

Joyce: Thanks for the nice words of comfort, I really appreciate but there is absolutely nothing I can do now, he may be long gone to you but he is still in my mind and thoughts, he will forever be my present and future, the memories about him will forever be fresh in my mind.

Paul: I know, you truly loved him so much and you have always been his strongest companion but it's time to move on and face reality, you are still fine and beautiful young woman, you deserve all the happiness in the world.

Joyce: Thank you so much for been concerned about me, but I will never accommodate anyone in my heart again because I will never love again, thanks once more for your concern.

Paul: You are welcome, honestly I feel bad to see you shed tears, your tears are quite pretty to be wasted in vain, if you do not mind, I can help you to fix the broken pieces of your heart and shower you with the love again that you deserve.

Joyce: Thank you so much but I do not get exactly what you mean.

Paul: I mean that we can be husband and wife.

Joyce: oh Jesus, that cannot be possible, it is an insult to me; moreover, am old now for love, I am now used drinking my tears and my cup is bitter for anyone to drink.

Paul: you know what Joyce, I have seen different types of women and I have liked many yet no one has been as sweet as you. Honestly speaking, I have come to love you dearly and deeply and I wouldn't mind if I am to sit and wait in the world's longest queue just for a pleasure with you. Let me wipe the tears in your eyes for once.

Joyce: I appreciate your good intentions for me but what you see as a problem, to me is not, as for my tears, I enjoy watching them like that, I don't want them be wiped out because they are a silent language of love for my late husband, they are part of my life now, there could be a problem if they come with a reason, but they come naturally without any reason, that is the sign that my love for my late husband is infinite. He may be long gone but my love for him is like water falling countless because the beating of my heart for him is quite strong and heavy.

Paul: Alright then

Joyce: Okay, thank you for your time.

What Joyce told him really pierced his body down to his spine so badly more than what any sharper sword can do. Her words really injured him so much up to where the soul and spirit meet to where joints and marrow come together. So one evening, while Joyce was sleeping in her room, Paul sneaked in and started to undress her, when she woke up, she shouted at him, since Paul was already hard like a rock, he tried to hold her tight with the aim of raping her, unfortunately for him, he met his fate after being hit by a wooden chair on his head, he fall to the ground and he was no more. This act was kept as a secret by the mother and son. As per law that, one can be the king after reaching 25 years, Ethan was already that old, the interim king of the Lungu kingdom was asked to hand over power to Ethan, but he called for a meeting first, without knowing what his intentions were, the mother and the child went there hoping that all would be fine. To their disdain, the king told them that, just like Ethan is qualified to be the king, so as Judas, but since Judas is elder, he would be the one to be crowned the next king. This act really hurt Ethan too much and was about to strangle the interim king to death but he was overpowered. As they were planning to escape, Collins threw Ethan into Jail and was to be strictly monitored because he became a real threat to the kingdom, as for Joyce his mother, she was tied with ropes and raped severally. Unfortunately, Joyce became pregnant and the news spread all over the kingdom and the surrounding kingdoms. The gods were not happy with what had happened, they cursed the kingdom, in that kingdom, people now started experiencing still births, the interim king fetched for the fortune teller to ask for forgiveness from the gods. But the prophetess told him to banish himself from the land if he was to restore the kingdom because what he did is a taboo from an African lifestyle. The moment the king heard of that, he sent his guards to whip the prophetess and send her away. People who watched the act knew that the king won't be able to see the dawn of the next day. The dusk of that day was not good, the crowd was covered with different species of owls and the sound of hyenas was heard and thunder was heard, it was really surprising seeing rain in June, the rains were so heavy as if the gods were trying to repeat the Noah incident, the lightening's of that rain killed a lot of people including the king himself. As soon as people learnt that the king is no more, others attacked Ethan and the mother accusing them of being responsible for his death, as a young warrior, Ethan managed to escape, unfortunately for Joyce his mother who was captured and had her eyes goggled out since she was also blamed for the still births occurrences in the land. The king's body and Joyce's were not buried but thrown at the public square place so that their bodies would be devoured by vultures. Juliet the younger sister upon knowing that such an act had landed upon her sister, she committed suicide, Stephen on the other side after knowing that his father is the reason why; the Queen was murdered; Ethan escaped and Juliet committed suicide, he also committed suicide. Everything happened simultaneous and problems in the kingdom kept on increasing every day, the people tried all they could to appease the gods but it seemed like the gods didn't pay any heed to them. For many years, the kingdom of Lungu was later known to be the waste land just like in T.S. Eliot's waste land poems. People endured still births and accepted it to be part of their lives. People's way of life was changed completely, the priest of the land, the prophetess and the gods were no longer important to the people as still births became so much prevalent. Young men and women were now sexual perverts; the morals of the society were a thing of the past as no one lived a morally upright life thereafter. After many years of hardships and misery experience of life, people decided to choose someone to be the new king of the land, but who would be the next king? The elders asked themselves in their quest to install the next king; they all came to a conclusion that since Ethan is nowhere to be traced, then Judas should be the king since he is in the king's bloodline. The date was set for the inauguration ceremony for the installation of the next king. In attendance was Judas the next king to be installed, Lucy the mother to Judas, the village head men and the general crowd. The king to be crowned was wearing a camouflage gown and white cap, as for the general crowd, they were all dressed in white attire, except for the village head men who were in red attire. It was really a colorful ceremony that was ever arranged and happened in the kingdom. Before the ceremony had started, the village headmen went to the meet the witch fortune teller and witch goddess who they all feared and respected so much so as to request her to speak to the gods on behalf of the people in asking for forgiveness to the gods so that the Lungu kingdom and Empire at large could be free from misery life and suffering. They killed five goats and they smeared their blood onto the ground, Eliza the witch goddess and fortune teller started speaking to the gods in incantation. As she just finished speaking to the gods, it suddenly became dark like eclipse and the voice was heard, "May you go in peace and may your land be enriched with all the fruitiness of what the ground produce; you will no longer experience a misery life, but make sure that you circumcise all your male children on the eighth day after they are born as a permanent convent between us." The witch goddess together with the head men sung songs of praises to the gods before they went back to the inauguration ceremony square. As per tradition, Judas the next king was made to have his tongue dipped in goat's blood and tattoos were cut all over his body so as to protect him from evil spirits and his nemesis. He was further made to roll over the red carpet as per tradition. In cerebration, women sung songs of praise to the king and poured African made beer called kachasu and chibuku shake shake onto his head and feet to complete the ceremonial rituals. A day after the ceremony, the next king was made to swim in a pool full of blood and later taken to the graveyard to take an oath and vow to the gods that he shall faithfully and diligently carryout all the tasks as instructed by the gods. Two months later, the Lungu kingdom greatly expanded and population increased, life was now better than the way it was during the period of still births. Since the king was not married different types of young ladies could sacrifice themselves to the king by seducing him and later have intercourse with him. Just like his mother who became promiscuous, Judas too followed her footsteps and became a humanizer. Despite being warned several times to stop his debauchery lifestyle, he never dared to listen to anyone not even the witch goddess. Outside wedlock, he had two sons from different mothers. As per new rule of the Lungu kingdom and empire at large that was adopted, it was unacceptable for the king to have children outside wedlock as the act may divide the kingdom, therefore, the king was forced by the Lungu headmen to marry the women who bore him his two sons, and this left the king in shock and quagmire. Two years later, the Lungu palace became a good example of a real pandemonium, as there was chaos that resulted from the hatred that existed between his two wives which later led to division in the palace not only among the dwellers but also among the palace guards. As the hatred grew more in the palace, the mother to the king called for a dialogue meeting in the palace. In attendance were Precious-the mother of James and Judith the mother of Peter.

Lucy: Good afternoon my daughters in-law

Precious: Afternoon Ma'am

Judith: Afternoon Mother In-law

Lucy: I have called you both here so that you both should settle your differences. Why don't you get along well, what is the problem between you?

Precious: I am older than her uts she does not respect me

Lucy: Judith! Is it true?

Judith: no mum but the problem is that she is just jealous because my son is older than hers which makes him the heir to the throne of Lungu Kingdom.

Precious: No madam, that is not true, she is lying, actually, she made her son turn hostile against me together with my son and now she is trying to make the king hate me.

Lucy: okay, I have heard you both; lets unite for we are one family, as for the heir to the throne that is now a rule of the past that the elder son is the one to be the next king. The favourite of the people in the kingdom is the one to be chosen as the heir to the throne which will be done after two years as per custom.

Immediately she finished saying that, both looked so shocked but a trace of smiles could be seen from Precious because both her son and her nemesis stand equal opportunities of being crowned the king in the later years. But the question that keeps running through her mind is how possible can her son be the favourite when he does not respect anyone in the kingdom and has kept attacking and mocking them for some years since he was 15. A week later when things seemed to have calm, an awkward incident happened in the palace, precious's son James went missing, Chrispine, the Army commander of the Lungu Kingdom organized a search for the missing child, and he was found death deep in the evil forest and his head was cut off. A day of mourning was declared by the king and all were to observe it strictly, to people's surprise, Judith cried a lot more than the mother of the murdered child. To the mother of the murdered child, her thoughts came to a standstill like a robot for a second she didn't believe that her son was no longer in existence, after a few minutes she was deep in the ocean of thoughts, she was lost in her thoughts as to whether it could be the gods who could have punished her son or not. But she cleared her thoughts and knew exactly that her son was murdered by a person and not the gods because if it was the gods who had punished him, there wouldn't have been any trace of his body. Now, the question is who could have committed such an abominable act? The moment she reminisced about the time Judith told her that whether you like it or not, my son will be the king of the Lungu kingdom for I will clear the path myself to the throne for him myself she was filled with rage and the rage could be seen clearly from her eyes, she attacked Judith with a sword and avenged her Songs death by cutting off her head too, when Peter, saw that her mother had been killed he equally attacked Precious and cut off her legs and head. The people who saw this abominable act also wanted the child to be killed for committing murder but the king stopped them from doing so because he is the only one left to be the next king of the Lungu Kingdom. After several years of mourning, tranquility was restored in the land and it was time for the ceremony to be conducted to ordain peter the heir to the throne of Lungu Kingdom and Lungu Empire at Large. Before the ceremony, peter was taken to the shrine so as to have his sins forgiven by the gods; goats were sacrificed to the gods so as to appease them. As the ceremony was in taking place, the Eliza the witch goddess sensed danger and called the king.

King: why have you called me here? Is there a problem?

Eliza: Yes my king, I can see you drowning in the pool but no one managed to recue you despite your strongest warriors were present.

King: what does that seem to mean?

Eliza: am still seeing something my king just a minute.

After several minutes, the witch goddess now spoke up and said, my king I wish I can take this cup which is coming to you but I cannot for it seems like it is specifically meant for you alone to drink.

King: what is it please say something

Eliza: my king, the pool I told you is filled with your blood, there is a strong force against you, it's beyond your ability to resist, and not even your soldiers can stop it.

King: You mean I will be killed?

Eliza: I didn't say that but death is inevitable for you now.

As they were still discussing and on the other side the ceremony was taking place, helicopters were seen in the sky that carried well trained military soldiers, everyone at that moment became flabbergasted of what was happening, as they were looking up in the sky, another group of soldiers on the ground managed to surround the who empire of Lungu and went straight to where the ceremony was taking place. Helicopters were now let to land on the ground and soldiers matched to where the ceremony was taking place; the King and his son were captured awaiting instructions from the master to decide their fate. A few minutes later, three more Helicopters were seeing in the sky, gun salutes were made and all the soldiers sang song of praises. As the people saw that, they knew that, Ethan is back to avenge her mothers' death, as the helicopters touched the ground, people were on their knees as a sign of respect and seeking for forgiveness. Ethan was now making his way to where the ceremony was taking place and ordered everyone to stand up. Upon seeing Lucy and Judas, the rage he had for the drastically escalates, he was filled with deep anger and used a gun to shoot both of the legs. No matter how hard they pleaded for mercy, he never paid heed to that because the memories of this mother that were suppressed for many years have now become fresh in his mind. He ordered his soldiers to hang them both and cut off their heads and let their bodies be devoured by vultures. He was now installed as the new king of Lungu kingdom and Empire at Large. Under his rule, he brought back all the long forgotten morals values that include: hospitality and Xenia. The Lungu Empire was restored to what it was before under his fathers' rule and even the gods and goddesses were proud of him. Just like his name suggest, he truly endured all the pain that was inflicted on him and managed to once again rise strong against all his antagonists. The life of Ethan was long lived in the minds and hearts of the people as there was and never will be a leader like him full of courage, humility, boldness and patriotism.