Chapter eight
The ground was electric, tension was written all over Butita land. It was a dry season and people were busy preparing land for the next rains. The news had broke hitting everyone unawares. There was fear in every heart, fear that was installed in each person and was almost headed to a breaking point. People feared talking about the news, they busied themselves avoiding any talk related to the palace. Elders were seen wearing a dark face heading to the palace. No one dared exchange even the slightest greetings with them. Eddy was seated at a small, might have been a grinding, stone. Her mother was rising a small cloud of dust with a blunt hoe. Despite all the drama of yesterday, she still maintained her schedule and was digging land in the scorching sun.
"What you told me yesterday, why didn't you tell me earlier? ", Eddy asked still sailing on the boat of confusion.
"What could you have done?" Hannah stood still and fixed her gaze on Eddy, her expression was tired.
"Maybe we could have sought justice from the council"
"Listen dear, a mouse does not share a bowl with a cat, and the chicken folk will never consult the hawk for any advice whatsoever"
"So what happens now"
"What happens, you ask. Okay, you win run away from your secretive mother-in-law and live in the palace, you will have hundreds of servants at your service, I will be excommunicated..."
"Enough, mother. You're the only human being I know, the only mother and father I've seen in all my life. If you have to die, I'll be the first in line"
"We are like caged animals, Eddy. The people who are busy deciding our fate are the same people who did what they did"
"But you said the junior elders step in when senior elders are the ones in question" Eddy was now following her mother who had stopped working and was heading to a baobab tree near the edge of their field.
"Yes, exactly!" Hannah was almost jumping of the realization. "And you know what, Fache is the chair of the very committee".
"Maybe theirs an hope", Eddy said rubbing dust out of her eyes.
"Yes, maybe".
The two twins, Fache's only children came out running after each other. They had been named Bahati and Baraka. They liked their auntie very much and liked listening to her never ending narrations.
"Auntie, tell us the ogre narrative, the one that fed on stones and trees" Baraka pleaded with adorable innocence.
"Yes auntie, and the mono eyed monster that scared children" Bahati added cheerfully.
"Stories are never told during the day, the monsters will hear us and destroy us". Hannah teased. The two looked really frightened, the plan had worked perfectly.
"I will narrate all these stories in the evening, only if you help me with the hoe". She feigned seriousness.
The two were fighting for her tool. They went home slowly talking about this and that. It was past midday and the sun was really hot, not a single cloud could be seen.
Inside the boardroom, coconut wine was served to generous proportions. All the windows were open and a cool breeze was chasing a suspension of heat which was tormenting all members present. This was a weighty decision, a reason nobody could afford the comfort of sharing market talks like it was the custom. Everyone was silently dawning the contents of his glass without much than a gaze outside the palace, where well trimmed lawns ran all through to the palace gate.
" Greetings my lords, I am convinced that everyone knows the reason that brought us together this evening". Fache said breaking the silence which could have allowed one to hear the sound of wind.
"In my very own assumption, I presume that the evidence we have gathered so far places one king Xavier and all the senior elders at boiling pot".
"I am hereby calling your utmost thoughts in determining this case now, for the evil has already spread fair enough". He concluded with a slight tap a the table.
Silence
"Ofcourse we all know what custom dictates about this, we have no options". Another elder supplied after a loud silence.
There was no much to discuss, the elders parted without a word and all the warriors were mobilized. King Xavier had to be permanently excommunicated from the kingdom, with all his family as tradition dictated. The following day was a day which forever remained painted on every person's mind. A group of warriors with red ochre painted all over their body manhandled King Xavier with little it humane feelings. Their strong muscles were shinning of some plant jelly they had applied on their 'six figure' chests. On each of everyone's hand lay a sharp spear with the other hand holding a club. Some tied their clubs on their loincloths which did nothing to cover their bodies.
People stared as their very lord went down the river with tens of warriors on guard. Two or three palace guards were weeping relentless while one maid to the quarters had passed out. There was little talk from every lip, people had mixed feelings and such things happened rarely. It was a new dawn for Butita land. Daudi, who was Xavier's brother assumed power immediately and tried to bring sanity to the otherwise sinking kingdom. One evening while Hannah was seated at the fireplace narrating stories to young Baraka and Bahati, Fache came in with joy written all over. He was not a person who could cover his emotions well.
"I have some news, maybe not just news but big news", he paused to let his message sink. Ofcourse Fache liked attention.
"How big daddy, is it as big as the Impala?", Baraka asked quite astonished.
"You think the biggest animal is the Impala right? Wait till you see the buffalo, elephant, giraffe. Those fellows are as big as Lokichan hils". The kids almost dropped a jaw, never at any point had they imagined there could be any animal bigger than the impala, which their father once hurt and came home laden with meat.
"Okay, I'm also present for the news of the year", Eddy confirmed coming from the kitchen. She was rubbing hands with her pullover, the hair was tied in ponytails such that she resembled a little girl.
"Correct it to read 'news of the century' please"
"Okay, news of the day sir", She was ever joking with his uncle. Fache's wife, Saraa also came to get an air of what was happening. Saraa was a slim and tall lady who never talked alot unless was necessary. She was a warm hearted character who never got annoyed easily.
"Will you go ahead before the yams we left roasting burn", she eyed Fache with pretended threat.
"Okay, it's news from king Daudi, he specially sent his very own trusted servant", Fache said looking at them with feigned importance.
"He says due to Hannah's humane heart, she is an heroine who can never be ignored. And that her presence will forever be cherished throughout ages".
"What an honor, I'm almost crying with joy", Hannah replied eyeing the two kids pretending to cry.
"Aunty, you said people should never cry at night", Bahati complained.
"It's small kids who don't know how to pee on their own that are not supposed to cry at night", Hannah countered.
"So when I learn to pee on my own I'll be allowed to cry at night?" the kid interjected happily.
"Boys don't cry at all, you forget that".
Bahati was not satisfied, but he kept quiet anyway.
"I hope you're all done", Fache said looking around as if expecting answer from anyone.
"Okay now, that isn't even the good news, the good news is that the king is awarding Hannah with a huge tract of land. Do I see anyone shouting?"
Everyone was already making merry, yes, that was more than just news of the year.
The land was at the east side of the valley, from one of its sights one could afford the fantasy of admiring its rich soil and amazing topography. A stream snaked lazily at the center of the land where birds of different species colored the scene with different sounds. The water in the stream was crystal clear such that one could clearly see 'syo mala'-crabs, at the bottom of water. The water was clean and lush vegetation marked it's direction. It's black cotton soil was very rich and could support any crop, Hannah was thinking of introducing maize, which had never been seen in the village into the field. People in the Butita kingdom lived a locked life, the only crops they knew were sorghum, finger millet, cassava, sweet potatoes and rarely yams.
Hannah and Eddy relocated to the new field with happiness written all over their faces, men volunteered to help prepare land while young ladies offered to help with the construction of the huts. By the time rains were falling, their field already had seen awaiting moisture. Eddy started homeschooling again and both her former students and more girls joined. It was the era of knowledge and they knew better to be prepared than wait for the battle with folded arms.
Eddy introduced more subjects including art where she started admitting young boys too, this group was mostly busy on different duties but they still found time anyway. Boys were tied with the duty of getting calves from their separate places in the morning to make milking easy for their mothers, separating them again before taking the adult herds to the fields, staying on watch all the day herding the cattle and repeating the same calve narrative in the evening. Unless one had a soft father, then getting a little time for Eddy's classes was almost fictional. The result of Eddy's efforts were soon evident when afew girls who had excelled in crochet started selling beautifully woven clothes. Everyone was delighted and soon the market was growing, increasing interest and admissions at the same time. Two or three boys who had done incredibly well started drawing portraits and selling them. Atleast all the efforts their teacher was making were not being lost in the thin air.
One of the fine mornings, the twins who were frequent visitors at the farm approached Hannah while she was busy cleaning the compound. The new homestead was breathtakingly beautiful, from the veranda of the hut one could see the sun as it came out from Leitin hills to the time it said its farewell at Leiton hills. The fence of the homestead was made by kay apple trees which were still young but promising. Though they never could prevent anyone from crossing, they still marked the homestead perfectly.
"Aunty, is it good to make lies?" That was from Baraka.
"Ofcourse no, the one who lies grows big black ears, as big as your fathers hut", What could she have said.
"Do big people get those big ears when they cheat?", he continued.
"Their ears grow bigger than Leiton hills".
"But your ears are still the same, and made a lie", his plan was working.
"But when, auntie never makes lies, not at all", Hannah protested, admiring the confidence in this youngster.
"Remember telling us of the big waters? That there's an uncle who lives nearby and you would take us some day?" Bahati chipped in, enjoying the soft ground his brother had just created.
Then it dawned on Hannah that indeed they had won, the brilliance of these rascals was something she cherished so much. Sometimes back she had promised to take the boys to Lake Abai, it was not so far and a distant cousin lived around the area.
"Okay buddies, auntie just forgets. I will definitely take you there, maybe the day after tomorrow".
"Thank you Auntie, sweet auntie!" They made an high five in celebration of their ingeniously crafted plan. That was awesome.
"Now, go home and tell mummy I'll come over in the evening".
"Okay auntie", they said in unison with joy written all over.
"But before that", Hannah showed them to the house. She had made some cassava ugali to serve with sour milk, it was the kids favorite and the boys were already salivating for the meal.
So on the third day the boys were ready for the journey, it was about three hour walk and their mother had agreed to accompany them just incase the boys got too tired to walk. Clad in matching shorts and sweaters which Eddy had made for them, the twins looked incredibly at span.
The lake was a sight to behold, by the time they reached their uncle's and had a rest, the sun was near setting. Laali's homestead was built at the shows of the great lake, from his guest hut one could afford a view of the great waters. Afew birds flew slightly above water level, maybe looking for a dead fish which might have floated. Reefs and other water plants decorated the shows with occasional an stretch filled with clean sand. Afew wooden boats were anchored at the sides of the lake awaiting the following day's fishing expedition,it seemed people in this area predominantly depended on fishing as their sole economic activity.
"I hope it's well with our people from your side", Laali was a man of few words.
"People are as well, I can see that you're doing great from this side", Hannah replied.
"We're good, the fish is plenty this season and we're even selling surplus to out neighbors from Sotik", He looked quite happy.
"That is good news, you should send some to our people, who said our teeth are that weak for fish bones".
"These buddies here have never seen a fish, I presume they'll run at the sight of a mere dagaa", dagaa was a small breed of fish that was cooked and eaten whole.
"They've been breaking bull's bones, you think a simple rech will do any harm?" Hannah protested.
"We shall see, I doubt the prowess of these rascals", Laali put it on hold.
The two boys were already asleep, tired from the journey.
The following day was full of activity. Laali took the boys with him on boat and give it a row deep into the lake, casting his nets for fish. Baraka and Bahati had never experienced such an adventure before, they were very happy. As they sailed deeper into the waters, Laali explained to then different things about fishing, where the fish was found in abundant and where dangerous aquatic animals lived. They were startled at the size and number of fish Laali was accumulating at the boat, the carriage area was almost full. It was a very hot day but a strong breeze was keeping it all cool, the show line could be seen from a distance. Laali narrated many stories to them, unlike in their land where stories were told in the evening, the lake region was all different.
"Auntie said an ogre will attack us when she gives us a story during the day"
Laali giggled, "There are no ogres around here, don't worry buddy".
"Will you also give us a story before we sleep?" Baraka's tone was full of child innocence.
"Ofcourse I will, lots of them".
He taught them the lake song while they peddled back to the show.
Row row row your boat
Row down row the boat lil doll
Gently down, gently down but diligently
Listen to the whispering breeze
Row row row your boat
Pray the fish decorates the soup
Row row row your boat
'cause life is just but a mare
When the adventure was over, the boys had a long story to tell. Who else in their village had ever seen the great lake, leave alone floating in it till the sun went up. They traveled back the following day, thanking Hannah at the slightest chance available and looking forward to the moment they would pre empty their minds to Eddy.
Back at home Eddy was knocking out, admissions were getting more than their little hit could contain , sometimes she was forced to give lectures at one of the big fig trees near the homestead. It was then that she decided to put up bigger structures, more space which would mean more programs. Maybe put up a solid structure, but how?