DIAMOND IN THE FOREST (episode 24)

DIAMOND IN THE FOREST. Episode 24
© Amah

“….you don’t understand how this people think…they reason like the old and did not want anything that will change their believe and when he came with that…it became a total war…they wedged a serious war against him and his family because they thought he wanted to corrupt their land and change what they hold dearly…
“My grandma told me such stories…it also happened in our place…but they were chased out…
“well…it still happens my dear…some people have a heart of stones and which can not easily be penetrated…that was how our people was…I’m Mikai’s uncle, but I have watched her grow everyday and turning into a strong beautiful woman, when her parents died and I escaped with her, she was just four years…she is twelve years now…which means we have live in this forest for eight years…the people almost killed us, as they lynched up the house and it went up in flames…their was no way of escape, Mikai’s mother was the first to burn up…I saw this things happen as angry mob stood outside rejoicing that they have burn us all, i called my elder brother Mikai’s father and his response was…was not in this world again…but I hærd him saw…”sip…take Mikai…run…run as far as you can…become a father to her and let her be a daughter to you…don’t fail to put God first…for even in death there’s victory…dust off your shoes sand ones you are out of this town and never return to it…because this land will become desolate and barren…fear God…and put him first…let Mikai grow with the knowledge and power in the name above all names…
“They were missionaries…I mean Mikai parents…
“yes…they were like I said earlier… that was their only sin…our only sin, I wrapped Mikai up, there was no time to pick much things so I just pick the few I lay my eyes on and escaped through the window with Mikai, I ran with her into a near by bush and watch as the house was burn down…I held my breath and thought I was going to die too…but for the sake of Mikai I needed to be strong, we roam round the bush for days, eating anything eatable…but the Lord was with us…I dust my feet as I was told and cursed the land for taking the only family I hold dearly to my heart, Mikai father took care of me so well after the death of our parents until he got married and the wife became both mother and a sister to me…but that village took them untimely while we sleep at night…they set the wh0le building on fire and I manage to escape with Mikai…I live in hate and bitterness until I was tired of it and I just have to let go…hatred and unforgiveness does no good to anyone…if Christ can forgive his persecutors how much more we that claims to love him…i found a living here Remi…and God indeed has being God to us…
“Your scar…on your forehead…was it cursed by the fire…
“Not at all…I sustained it from here when I battled with a wild bear…well it gave me a life threatening injury but I killed it after all, and I also have several on my body, a hunter was attacked in the night one day, on hearing human cry for help I rushed to rescue and it was a hyena…not just one but four hyenas…hmmm, I killed them all but my body was scattered with their sharp teeth and I loosed a lot of blood but I recovered, God has being good to me and Mikai, he has never forsaken us, we have no charm protecting us here or any other power except the power from above…so…tell me about yourself…what brought you here
“I was banished…I was wrongly accused of poisoning the king and I was banished…sent here to die, well it looks like the gods are smiling down on me just like my grandma always say, is a long story Pah…but I will tell you all about it…maybe tomorrow, today is almost gone, let me cook evening food for us…
“the child you carry…is it for your husband…are you married…why will your people be so heartless to banish a pregnant woman…for God’s sake that’s so cruel and inhuman…
“I’m not married, I got entangled with the prince one night and it resulted to my pregnancy, he can’t even remember because he was drunk…so when I told him the truth he refuse to believe me…so I bore this shame with pride no matter what…a child is a gift from the gods and shouldn’t suffer because of the sin of the parents…my story is an interesting one…but I don’t count my trouble anymore because I now have you, Mikai and ore as my new family here…well let me start the food preparation…
“You don’t need to stress yourself…I will do the cooking… Ore, our monkey friend can keep me busy with it’s whining, you and Mikai can take a walk round the farm…I will prepare your bath before you return, and the food will be ready…we process our own little food here and is easily done…a lot of dry meat and fruits, oil, cassava meal, yam, millets, honey, quail and goose eggs too, the forest has thought me into knowing how to do almost everything and anything… this is our own world…far from our kind and live in the means of animals, most of the animals are very friendly…just like Ore, the monkey…if you don’t hurt them they will not hurt you…I set trap all around this fence for trespasser…Mikai is growing stronger and stronger both in the Lord and in strength…
“Your way of believe is strange to me…and it sound and look so foreign, I grew up with different setting…and the gods of our ancestors are real…they set me up on this journey…hope you don’t mind if…
“ Remi…in this place we won’t force you to adapt to our system of living and worsh¡p… in every village there are origin and traditions of the land that the people follow, like a yam festival, the moonlight festival, the first rain festival and so many others…and without this festivals and celebration the said kingdom may loose It’s purpose and traditions…live a free live here and don’t feel intimidated with our ways, the sun shine both on the good and evil…same is the rain…we are all one but have different calling and purpose…whatever rocks your boat…is fine by me, the gods of your ancestors still point down to the almighty, who is all knowing….and wise, the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men, he alone knows why our part crossed…and only his will must be done…
“Amin…thank you Sipah…you are God sent to me…you Mikai… also Ore….hahahaha…it sound so funny how a monkey could be so helpful…I feel so blessed to be surrounded with your warm presence…i can’t stop saying thank you…
Remi live with Sipah and Mikai even as her month of birthing drew near, Sipah and Mikai fetched water to feel their hand made pots, they put everything necessary down as Remi’s day drew near
Remi was slicing vegetable that day Sipah has gone for hunting, Mikai went to the spring to get water, Remi was with Ore as she felt something gushing under her cloth.
“Ore…Ore…come…come here…quick….
The monkey shakes it’s tail as it look up from the nut that he was eating, but did not bother to move
“Ore…I said come…here….i need help…go and fetch me that wrapper over there…wrapper…my cloth is socked up…I can’t seem to move…Ore…get away from that nut and get that wrapper for me…please…..
The monkey jumped up and down, making noise as if it was saying something to Remi…which Remi did not understan
d, the monkey instead of bringing the wrapper from the place came close and sat with Remi still eating his nut.
“Ore…I wish you can understand me…but is…aaarghhh… there’s a sharp pain coming…aarghh
The monkey jumped on top of a chair that has pieces of cloth, he shift it close to Remi who was just confuse on what to do
“that is not the wrapper I asked you to bring but this will be helpful…thank you anyway…
She cleaned herself up, and tried to use her mouth to whistle as Sipah and Mikai does it but to no avail, she couldn’t do it despite how many time Mikai has thought her, she wish Sipah or Mikai will return and help her
The monkey senses her discomfort and ran out, facing the spring, he later return with Mikai, who was on a run
“is there a problem…Ore came to meet me at the spring, where I was washing, he was trying to tell me something I sensed is about you…are you alright
“I think is the baby…is coming…the baby is coming…water just rush down under my legs…I don’t know the meaning of that but I sense the baby is coming…
MIkai set up all the necessary things for her in,side the warm room she share with Remi, she assisted Remi to go in,side and just when she lay down and with just the second push a baby cry was hærd.
It filled the wh0le room, and just then Sipah came in with a big bush meat that he caught. He hærd the cry of the baby and rushed to the room where Remi held her baby in hand while Mikai, tried to clean up the place after cutting the umbilical cord
“Oh my God…wow…our baby is here finally…
“Pah, she just gave the second push and the baby came forth with ease…giving birth looks so easy than what you told me…and is a baby boy… so cute…wow…I can’t wait to hold him too…
“hahahaha…giving birth is never easy for some…some women pass on from there but I’m glad that is not her case, God is truly with her…no complication, and yes that’s a sweet looking baby…can I help with anything….congratulation Remi…
Remi smile as she looked at her baby whom she wrapped up with cloth and he gentle s-ckle in her tiny br-ast…
“thank you Sipah…God is good…everything was almost done before you came in, Mikai will make a good midwife…just help us and bury this umbilical cord…Mikai will do the rest…thank you…and we will also be needing a hot water again…
Sipah smile and nodded, he can’t express how happy he was to see Remi deliver safely, he later rushed to the kitchen after burying the cord in his farm, he boil more hot water as Remi had demanded.
Ore was just going around with Sipah as Sipah set up another fire to prepare a yam pottage for Remi with the bush meat he just caught.

To be continued…

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