Chapter 10 Beauty is as beauty does

The girl was very beautiful. So beautiful that looking at her hurt your chest, made your chest feel like it could explode. She had a narrow pearl shaped face, and a small set of lips, elfin like. Her body was not big, but not tiny either, but perfectly shaped like a pear, an almond, a perfect pearl. She had long lush hair made up into braids, which fell like a waterfall down her back to her waist. The hair itself was intertwined with small bits of this and that. A bone here, a small curved bit of wood there, a circlet of twigs here, a bramble there, giving the whole arrangement a somewhat curious ordered disorder. An ethereal look. A daughter of the gods, she seemed. And she appeared at their kraal one day at dawn and she did not speak their language.

Her bosom was just the right size, neither too small nor too large, but hanging just right, like a pair of precious plantains, yet he felt that to look too long would mar their beauty like a jewel which if touched too often, lost its shine. He was the one who opened the door to her and in those long minutes, as they stood looking at each other, he not breathing, he gaping at her as if lost. And then she smiled

 She uttered words in a language that he did not understand. "Who are you and whats your name", he asked politely. The girl screwed her face shaking her head. The boy tried again. He pointed to himself and said "Kiama", then he pointed at the girl. At first she just looked at him, then she laughed, a soft musical laugh. She pointed at herself and said "Uloziba" even her laugh was sensual. He smiled at her. "You are welcome into my mother's thingira". He gestured to her in the direction of the house. He entered through the low door. His mother was at the hearth sitted next to a roaring fire. A breakfast of thick meal porridge was bubbling merrily. Several semi ripe bananas had been strategically secreted into various nooks in the hearth to roast slowly. Near her sat her two daughters, Njambi and Wanjiku. Njambi, the eldest, was stirring the porridge with a wooden ladle.

 His mother and sisters stared at the girl who came through the door in surprise. His mother recovered first. "Kiama, who is this beautiful woman you have brought us?" She asked.

 "Her name is Uloziba and she does not speak our language. I found her wondering near the cattle pen and asked her in". The girl bowed daintily on hearing her name mentioned. "Come closer my daughter" Kiama's mother said, "come closer, let me see you". His sisters just giggled, pinching each other. The lady though not understanding went closer arms outstretched towards the fire. "Fetch the girl a seat, Wanjiku, instead of gaping. Obviously the poor child has frozen the whole night." His mother sternly, gestured at her younger daughter. Wanjiku jumped then entered an inner room and came bearing two stools, which she placed near the fire. Kiama took one and sat while Uloziba took the other.

 "Now let's get you fed and warm". Kiama's mother hustled and bustled and soon she had them both holding steaming gourds of porridge and roasted bananas. They ate in silence. The girl seemed to have a good appetite. She cleared her gourd and two large bananas in short order.

 Afterwards Kiamas mother tried to ask about her home. The girl could not understand, and no headway was made. Later she was led to the inner room to rest. As the girl slept, Kiamas father was called and briefed. His only question was whether the girl's origins were known. On being told they were unknown and in fact the girl spoke a strange language, he kept his peace.

 It was not that Kiama was a cowardly young man. It was just that his body was small. Unlike most men, he did not have big arms, or a deep chest, muscular thighs and calves with knots of muscles. He lacked all these. But what he lacked in flesh, he made up in a joyous disposition. He liked to laugh. And to tell funny stories which made others laugh. He was a junior warrior in the peacock regiment. Much too junior to be considered in any missions of repute, but he still held his chin high. It fell to him to teach the strange new girl the language of Anyaga. He had been so instructed by his father, and frustrating though it was, he was not going to quit. Besides, teaching a beautiful girl could never be considered tiresome. They were sitting on stools in his father's compound, under a shady tree, learning the basic names of objects. The girl, while not a particularly quick learner, at least made genuine effort. And she was patient. He pointed at his eyes "maitho!" He said. The girl repeated. He pointed at his mouth. "kanua!" And the girl repeated. This went on until each body part had been named. Afterwards he merely pointed at a part of himself and looked at her questioningly. She would utter the name of the part. She frequently got it wrong, but made progress.

 The first quarter moon was dedicated to just learning the body parts. After he was sure she could utter the parts of the body fully, he begun teaching her names of objects around the house. Then simple sentences involving those objects. She learnt how to say she was hungry, and the name for food – "irio". She learnt how to request drinking water, - maai, and the names for cows, goats, house – thingira, and many others.

 Then he begun teaching her simple doing words. She learnt to say that she was going to the river to fetch water, that she was hungry, sad, happy and many more. He begun to test her in actual conversations with his sisters, who thoroughly enjoyed the misalignment of words that she exhibited. But she could be understood with effort. Within a moon she could make halting statements, which took a lot of thought on her part. Kiamas family went out of their way to make her feel welcomed. They tested her language skills by correcting her grammer and adding words to her limited vocabulary.

 Interestingly the entire village had become aware that mzee Warobi, Kiamas father had a girl visitor. And that she was bewitchingly beautiful. Warriors and old men alike were enthralled by her. It became common for elders who were mzee Warobi's agemates to come visit, if only for a glimpse of the girl as she served them a drink. Warriors who had never given Kiama a second glance now came regularly, to ask for him, hoping to see the girl and sweet talk her. Kiama was well aware that these supposed visits were fake and their agenda was not difficult to guess. Some warriors had even pulled him aside and suggested changing his status in the regiment if he could organize a quiet visit with the girl.

 Kiama took all this in stride, but he made sure the girl was never alone with them. Most of the learning he now conducted in his hide-away to prevent disturbance. Shortly after the girl had been with them almost two moons, she requested in broken language that he shows her around the village. She wanted to see how his people lived, she said, to compare with her own. He gleefully accepted and they subsequently made many trips around the village. He showed her the communal granaries, the council chambers where the elders sat, the training grounds for warriors and even the various shambas which could be accessed nearby.

 To his surprise she asked to see the warriors at their training again. He took her back to the training grounds where most of the regiments trained their men. Their appearance caused a stir even though he had tried insisting that they stay hidden behind a large rock and watch from there. But the girl strode bravely to a tree that was just a few meters from where the men at arms were in their war games.

 Now no man acts natural with a woman watching. Especially a very beautiful woman, one whom he has been salivating upon. The warriors were currently engaged in spear fighting, and were organized into eight ranks of four pairs. Each pair facing one another. The carried spears without spear heads, and large shields. The appearance of the girl found them busy jousting, many without the vigour one would have expected from such sport. But on seeing the girl, sudden strength seemed to have infected every man. Spears moved at dangerous speeds, and the poor shields took quite a beating. In fact flesh even more frequently got the tasty side of a spear slammed full force, as a warrior tried to exhibit his prowess to the watching damsel. The regiment commanders quickly noticed the change in vigour and halted the exercise.

 One of the commanders, Gathare was his name, approached Kiama and the girl. "It appears that your presence here is infecting my warriors. Not to be disrespectful, but i would request privacy so that the warriors don't hurt each other. The girl smiled for the commander. "Thank you allowing for me to watch", she said haltingly, pointing at herself. Then she bowed and turned. Kiama slapped hand to chest in honor, then turned with the girl. After a few moments walk he sniggered and the girl chased him. Why you laugh me? She asked smiling. He could not stop his laughter. The girl chased him, her hair flying wildly behind her. After a moment they sat on a small hill. He looked at her still smiling. "I laughed at you because of what you caused the soldiers to do, did you see them? Idiots!"

 The girl looked down morosely, hanging her head. He suddenly felt sorry for her. "Tomorrow you me take to watch? Soldier men?" She asked, as if they had not just been chased off.

 He shook his head. "nooooo. You saw what just happened".

"Please?"

He shook his head again, looking away.

"Please, please, please!"

He realized he could not say no to her for long. "Alright but this time we stay hidden as i had suggested before."

 Thus did the days go by. Kiama and the girl gallivanting to the warrior training ground, but secretly. Sometimes the girl insisted that he takes her on a tour of the Anyaga territory, where she observed the cultivated land, granaries, the cattle types, all the while complementing Kiama on his people's hard working nature. She also shared in her broken language about her own people. They were not that different from Anyaga, but had a monarch. She was surprised to note that there was no king among Kiamas people. The council of elders made things more democratic, she noted to Kiama. Among her people, the king's word was law. In fact the king owned everything. The people just held property on behalf of the king.

 Kui allowed herself to enjoy the meat. Gristle was fun when you were pulling it from the bone as long as it didn't come from a tough old ewe. The old woman did not eat much. Not that Kui minded. It just meant more meat available for her. After the meal they relaxed for a while. Then the old lady fixed her gaze on Kui. "Come here child. Sit as I sit". She then proceeded to arrange her skins around her, sitting cross legged, back straight. Kui chose a grassy patch and attempted to copy the old woman exactly. The old woman began talking in a soft tone. "I brought you here so that you can have a peaceful environment in which to tap your psychic well". She paused meditatively. "Everyone has a light skin of energy that surrounds them. This light energy forms part of your psychic well. You have it and so do I. If you concentrate sufficiently, you can tap that well to activate your gifts. And they are many". Again she paused.

 Kui looked at her blank faced. "How do I know what gift I possess?" She asked. The old woman stared out onto the pool. The waters looked like a whirlpool in the sunshine. "Not all have the gift, but you certainly do….let yourself experience your gift". She answered. "But for now meditate with me". "I want you to focus on the area around your navel", said the lady softly. "For now just focus…"

She closed her eyes, arms loose at her sides, hands clasped lightly together. Kui copied her and closed her eyes also. She concentrated on the area around her navel as she had been told. After a full ten minutes of concentration a heat began near her navel. She felt it expand slowly around her thighs and upwards to her bosom. She opened her eyes in surprise. Only to see the old woman watching her. "Can you feel it?" Now concentrate on this piece of wood. I want you to bring it to you without touching it". She said.

 Kui was bewildered. She had felt the heat, but did not know what it entailed. She looked at the short stump of wood on the ground near the old woman. How was she going to move it without picking it up. As if in answer, the old woman clapped her hands twice, making her jump. "With your mind child! Concentrate and let it come to you, draw it to you". Kui closed her eyes again. She let herself concentrate on nothing else but the piece of wood. She let her will draw it. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes again. "It is not a matter of will, child! It's a matter of letting your psychic well reach out to the piece of wood and get it". The old woman shouted. Kui tried again. This time she concentrated on the heat in her navel area. She felt it radiate slowly as before. As it radiated she could feel it on her upper body, on her arms, her fingers. She opened her eyes and let it flow out to the piece of wood. She felt it envelop the plank. She let it move up with the piece of wood. The piece of wood floated in mid air, she moved the heat further up. The piece of wood floated further. Then she drew the heat in, bringing the piece of wood with it. She floated it until her lap but did not let it drop. Suddenly several loud claps caused her to lose her concentration. The wood dropped onto her lap. Looking up she saw the old lady beaming, hands clapping. "Very good child! Very good! I knew you had it in you.

 Kui felt her cheeks warming to the praise. She wasn't happy that it made her blush. Not good to let the old woman think that a little praise would make her warm. She sat back to consider what she had just done. Before she could think much on the matter the old woman had her practicing again. Amidst the practices, she got drilled on the strengths of a psychic well. The old woman seemed well versed on the subject. Kui learnt that psychic energy is of many kinds. It could take the form of clairvoyance, telepathy, even levitation, and many other forms, some dangerous. She was told about the aura, a light bubble of energy that surrounds all mankind. It is stronger in some than in others. And just like a potter improves his skill through practice, psychic energy can be increased through practice

 Dusk began approaching after a few hours of practice. The old woman called it off and they made their way to a rocky area nearby. The old woman, moving with a sureness that spoke of a past experience, showed Kui a cavern that was cunningly hidden in the rocks. After making sure the inside was uninhabited, they secured the opening with branches tied together, and then the woman showed Kui how to create a sleeping area of soft grasses. Afterwards they lit a fire and relaxed in its permeating heat. They spent the night in the cave.

 The next morning found them besides the pool once more, deep in practice. Kui's levitating capabilities continued to grow. All this was surprising her, and she tried levitating things more and more. Time passed.

 Out of the blue, the old woman told her they needed to visit her people. Kui jumped with a shout of glee. She was overjoyed. They were to start the journey the following day. Now this was a journey Kui was going to look forward to. She imagined seeing her beloved Mukwa Njugu. She was sure her parents had cried themselves hoarse at her disappearance.