SALVATION AT LAST

As time went by it was almost late afternoon and all the preparation for the journey had been concluded. The young mother and the child were summoned to the village square once more for the cleansing rituals to be undertaken.

They were dressed in a white wrapper, and both the mother and child were being cleansed by one of the priestesses with a herbal concoction, whilst the rest chanted and sang. It was a solemn ceremony as everyone knew the next step would be the journey to throw the innocent baby into the evil forest.

All the warriors were ready and the priest's entourage were ready. The elders to accompany the procession were also ready. The only thing holding them back was the mother refusing to let go of the baby. No matter how hard they tried they couldn't ply the baby from her grasp.

The love of a mother towards her child is indeed a curiously deep affection that only mothers could understand. No amount of threat, abuse and beating could convince her to let go of her child. She had been slapped and threatened to be thrown together with the child into the evil forest, but she wouldn't budge.

They had no choice but to prepare for the unforeseen by cleansing them together. In case she eventually refuses to let go, they would just throw both of them into the evil forest. Guards have to stand guard and make sure she does not exit the evil forest for a few days.

Her mother and father's pleas went unanswered, as she resolutely embraced her baby girl. With a look of determination that seems to say, you better kill the both of us or let us go.

The midwife stood at the outskirt of the gathering anxiously as she would from time to time go and check to see if the van was coming back. She had earlier sent the driver to go fetch a battalion of the government militia to help them intervene.

The government militia was greatly feared by the local people as they are impossible to please. They are very ruthless in their dealings and show no mercy. When you are caught by them, only God can save you. No matter where they go people always give way.

It was on this very ruthless reputation she was hoping to cash in and take the young girl and child away from this impending doom. Alas, they had not appeared yet and she feared it might be too late to intervene if they were any later than they are now.

The cleansing had been completed and the whole procession was beginning to get into formation to start the journey into the evil forest. The chief priest and his entourage would take the lead, followed by the warriors, the elders and the townsfolks.

It was time to intervene if not once they left it would be too late then, the midwife had no choice but to step in and interrupt their preparation. She moved towards the chief priest and elders demanding to know what was going on.

"Excuse my elders and respected chief priest, where might you be taking this young girl and her newborn baby," she asked with concern in her voice while feigning ignorance.

The chief priest could not be bothered to answer her, these two have always been at loggerheads with each other. They frequently clash over sick villagers anytime she comes to the village to attend to pregnant women.

The first point of call for these village folks in times of medical emergencies was the shrine. As the only medical personnel who comes to this village, she always must step in and advise against such a course of action; there preventing the patronage of the shrine and reducing the number of sick people that seek it the shrine for healing.

Now they go to the hospital in the town and are always second-guessing the authority of the shrine concerning directives for their healing to be perfected. After the first visit, they wouldn't come back, only for him to hear later on that they had decided to go to the hospital instead.

This led to severe tension between these two, if not that she was a person from the government; he would have riled up the villagers to prevent her from coming into the village ever again. But unfortunately, he couldn't afford to do so.

After being ignored by the Chief priest, one of the older lady elders who have a good relationship with the midwife explained to her what was going on and ad iced her not to interfere or else be ready to face the wrath of the gods.

"I can not stand by and watch you commit this combination, in this modern, there are laws that would not allow you to do this. It is my duty as a representative of the government I can't just sit back and allow you to do this," she shouted and moved to stand beside the young mother protectively.

The chief priest stopped and scowled at her, "You nosy woman this has nothing to do with you step aside, warriors drug this woman aside." He commanded

The warriors were hesitant in harassing the midwife, she had helped deliver most of their children over the past few years. But eventually, they went and forced her away from the young girl and her daughter.

The midwife was exasperated, what more could she do? She is but only one woman, how is she to stay against a whole village?

Fortunately just as they were about to resume the journey, the sound of two speeding vans could be heard approaching. The whole procession was shocked by the number of vans approaching. It had always been the midwives can that comes into their village.

As big as the village was there was no developed road network and mostly they trade among themselves or the neighbouring village. They seldom go to the big town. So one would see a van in this village until the midwife comes.

But today two vans of different sizes and shapes were approaching them. The villagers stood around watching this van with excitement, there was a land rover truck beside the usual VW van the midwife usually brings.

To most of these villagers, this was the first time they were witnessing such a site. "So there are different kinds of cars high?" this was the thought on many people's faces. Those who had gone to the town before had a smirk on their faces as their pride could not be hidden.

The excitement brought about by the arrival of the vans had made the villagers briefly forget why they were gathered. Just as their excitement was about to climax, the vehicles came to a stop well-built and bulky uniformed men began to jump down from the truck.

These were notorious and brutal Militia men, who haven't heard of these men? The stories of their brutality were a favourite pastime story. They were rumoured to inhuman and merciless. Speaking people's goods and lashing them mercilessly. Anyone who resists or even tries to utter a word in defence of themselves is drilled with utmost brutality.

Upon seeing the Uniformed militia men carrying their guns and Barton everyone including some of the warriors, elders and priests took to their heels to escape from the place. After all who would want to deal with these brutal animals in uniform?