Separated - Episode 12

 

The men came closer to the tree until a squirrel jumped from the tree to another.
“That’s just a squirrel … come on let’s get out of here” Bob said angrily.

They all left immediately and went straight to the lorry.

“So you mean we lost a boy that I paid highly to purchase… you guys are just too dull for my liking… I’m going to deal with you mercilessly immediately we get back to the base… I’ll make sure you do the work that boy is supposed to be doing…” Bob said painfully and with great disappointment.

He faced the driver and continued, “And you, I’ll fire you immediately we get back and you will be replaced… you led us astray… it was as if you were also sleeping on the steering… rubbish!!!” He yelled.

The driver zoomed off immediately.

Ifeanyi came down from the tall tree happily but tired.

He started walking deeper into the bush until he reached the other side and could see a very small village ahead of him.

He was deliberating on going into the village but he realised that he was totally out of any other option.

Ifeanyi then entered the village and discovered that everywhere was empty and he wondered what could have gone wrong.

He then became curious and decided to find out what must have happened. He walked fast between the mud houses until he could hear shouts far away somewhere in the village.

He was attracted by this and he ran towards the noise he was hearing

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/separated

. He stopped as he saw a large crowd facing the same direction.  Ifeanyi walked to the crowd and stood on a stool to see what was happening in the front.

There was a long queue of some young boys and they were all holding a catapult each. They were shooting catapult one by one to a particular target some metres away from the line drawn for the first person on the queue to stay behind. The target was a hole bored on a round board.

Ifeanyi walked towards a young boy watching the game also.

“What’s this game all about”? Ifeanyi asked curiously.

“That is the game used for selecting new hunters that will join the hunters of our village… the last man standing when the board had been taken farther six times wins the game and qualifies to join the hunters”, the boy explained as if he was going to be paid for the information.

“Wow…. So how will I get I get into the game”? Ifeanyi asked curiously.

“Just get your catapult and join the queue before the end of the first round… that’s all”, he answered.

Ifeanyi had no catapult with him but joined the queue anyways.

He was the last person on the queue and gradually, it got to his turn. Everyone’s eyes pointed to his direction.

Twelve people had made it to the next round of the game but he was not feeling intimidated at all. Ifeanyi asked one of the boys that lost to lend him his catapult but was shunned immediately.

“Do you even know how to hold a catapult”? The boy asked mockingly while the crowd laughed loudly.

“I may not know how to hold it but I’m very sure that you have no idea about what shooting is all about… so just go back to your mum and learn some manners”, Ifeanyi said angrily.

Everybody got excited by this and they started screaming joyously on top of their voice.

“Okay then, take the catapult and let’s see what you can do with it”, the boy challenged Ifeanyi.

Ifeanyi collected the catapult, bent down to pick a stone and then looked straight to the target. He took his eyes away from the target and stared at the young boy beside him.

“Why are you looking at me instead of the target”? The boy asked curiously while the crowd murmured among themselves.

“I like it this way”, he said as he continued starring at the young boy. He drew the catapult still looking at the boy and released it.

The stone travelled through the thin air quickly and everyone’s eye was focused on the stone. The stone went straight and passed through the hole to the other side.

Everyone screamed and applauded Ifeanyi immediately. Ifeanyi didn’t even look at the target when shooting. This amazed everyone.

“Whao”, the young boy exclaimed with surprise. “I’m very sorry for insulting you in the first place… you can keep the catapult”, the boy said.

“Thank you very much”, Ifeanyi answered.

Ifeanyi and the remaining twelve boys proceeded to the next six stages.

The number decreased to two when on the last stage of the game.

The board was then moved very far from the line and the crowd merely saw the hole. It was very far.

The other boy took a shot but the stone didn’t even hit the board.

Ifeanyi sighted a very beautiful girl some distance from the crowd. She had been staring at him with admiration the whole time but Ifeanyi didn’t notice until now.

Ifeanyi winked at her and the blush on her cheeks could be seen from miles away. He then put another stone into the catapult. He drew and released the stone with one eye closed for more concentration.

The stone went straight and entered the hole perfectly.

The crowd shouted with excitement and some boys came and carried Ifeanyi and sang praises as they took him round.

He was brought down after the praises and Ifeanyi looked at the direction where the girl was but she was gone. Ifeanyi was welcomed immediately by the leader of the hunter, Shintu.

Shintu was a very smart old man. He had bald head and he was holding a cutlass. He moved closer to Ifeanyi and said…

“That was a nice display out there young man”, he said smiling.

“Thank you papa”, Ifeanyi replied happily.

“So young man, what’s your name”? Shintu asked.

“I’m Ifeanyi papa”, he answered.

“You don’t seem to be from around here”, Shintu sensed.

“It’s a long story papa”, Ifeanyi said.

“Okay then, you are welcome to Saramie village”, he said smiling…. “You can always join us when we go out hunting” he added.

“Thank you papa”, Ifeanyi thanked him happily.

“Come over to my place tonight and let me know more about you”, Shintu concluded.

Ifeanyi left happily and he decided to find the girl that was admiring him when he was in the game. He searched everywhere until he was frustrated.