Separated - Episode 6

 

Sule and Anayo headed back to the village with sorrowful faces.
Anayo was ignorant of what had happened to his friends while Sule knew exactly what had happened to them but he didn’t want to tell him yet so that he won’t scare the poor boy.
“What do you think happened to them”, Anayo asked desperately.
“They disobeyed the cautions and they still went too deep into this forest; it’s their fault for not being able to follow simple instructions”, Sule said out of anger.
“I know what they did but I’m only asking you for what you think happened to them in the forest”, Anayo asked again.
“I don’t know what happened to them”, Sule lied.
“They must have lost their way when they went deep into the forest”, Anayo guessed.
“You may be right but I don’t know what had happened to your friends”, Sule said                       
By now, the villagers had mobilised the youths to look for the children; weapons and search dogs were taken into the forest for this purpose.
Obi’s mum was devastated. She wept as though obi had died, oblivious of everyone consoling her.
‘’Mama Obi stop crying, your son will be back’’, one woman said.
“Don’t worry, the young men will find the children; it’s a promise”, another said
Elsewhere, at Chika’s place, Mama Chika was being revived from consciousness

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. She collapsed the moment she heard that her two children went  missing.
“I must be dreaming! No! No! This can’t be happening……Chika! Ada! Where are you o!!!” Mama Chika continuously wailed
Ifeanyi was an only child of his pregnant mother; she was almost due by some weeks when the news of the missing dare devils got to her. Immediately, she went into shock and had an instant miscarriage.
Nkechi parents on hearing the news were devastated, while her mother wept all evening, her dad  went to the nearest vigilante and reported the incident….
It was a day of total darkness in the village. There were cries here and there. People gathered in small groups to talk about the incident. At the market place, at the river, at the village square and even on the lonely bush paths. There were all kinds of rumours and stories. Some said they had drowned in the Aniye river; others said they must have wandered too deep into the forest and got eaten by wild animals.
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Meanwhile, in the forest, the village youths and strong men and the vigilante spread out in the forest and combed every area of the forest. They found nothing. They stayed an extra three hours in the forest looking for the children but it was all futile. All hope was lost ,they decided to turn back in frustration when……

“Guys! guys! come over, I think have found something!!”, distant but recognizable voice sounded in the distance.
“That sounds like Abulu” someone said.
“We better go check him out” Sule agreed
With hope a little visible, all the men moved with renewed energy and vigour. By the time Sule and the men got there and they saw the look on Abulu’s face, they knew something was wrong.
“What did you find Abulu? Sule inquired
Abulu was speechless but he made a gesture with his hand that said there was something forward. Everyone moved with their hearts in their mouths until they all stood over a very large hole almost 12ft deep. Judging from the sight of it, one could tell it wasn’t a hole meant for animals. Taking a closer look, sandals and slippers could be seen at different parts of the holes.
“It’s obvious. The dare devils were here” Abulu said
“You’re right; I just remembered coming to this particular spot with the young boy” Sule clarified.
“It seems like someone set this trap on purpose” someone said
“You’re right Paul”, Sule said. ”But there is nothing we can do again, its way past midnight. Guys, let’s go home, tomorrow is another day” he advised.
“He has a point there you know.” Paul agreed
In sorrowful silence, they turned and went back home, thinking in their hearts the best way to break this bad news to not only their parents, but to the village as a whole.

Obi awoke with heavy pounding in his head; he didn’t know how long he had slept. it was still very much dark and he took a little time realising where he was. Then in a swift moment of time, all the events of the previous day came flooding back to him….
“Oh right, we still here”, Obi muttered to himself
A cock crowed, signalling obi that morning was approaching. He had no idea where his friends were. With that in mind he prayed a silent prayer of forgiveness then he asked for help and protection for his friends.
He wondered what was going on back in the village; he knew for sure that the people would not take it lightly. 
Immediately, the memory of his mother calling him back to eat the previous day came back to him; he remembered saying no and running out the gate. Obi regretted going on this adventure, he wished he had just stayed at home and played games. He felt so bad and guilty because in a way he had brought up the idea of the hunting expedition and had put everyone in danger when he suggested they go after the antelope.
Sobbing uncontrollably but silently, Obi fell asleep……….
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Back at Amantu village, it was a total tragedy. No one could come to terms with the fact that the gallant strong men of Amantu couldn’t find the dare devils. There were commotions  everywhere.
News had gotten to the king about the missing children. He had ordered a meeting of all the children’s parents at his palace with immediate effect.
“Igweee!!!!!” was heard by the parents and chief as this was the usual greeting in the palace
With a wave of hand and a demure look on his face, he silenced them and everyone sat down in silence.
“It has gotten to me that the famous dare devils, the young and lovely school children of ours have gone missing. I didn’t want to believe it at first but it seemed that the more I tried, the more the news just got stronger and louder in my ears”
“Your highness, may you live long. Everything you have said is true. It was said that yesterday morning, the children went for an hunting expedition and didn’t return…to our dismay.” Ukwilo the chief orator relayed.
“Hmmmm, this is serious. By the way, where is Mama Ifeanyi? “ the igwe inquired
“Hmm, it’s a sad story my king” Ukwilo replied “immediately mama ifeanyi  heard of her son going missing, she went into shock and had a miscarriage”
Immediately this was said, Mama Obi burst into a crying fit, throwing herself here and there. She wept uncontrollably. Other women went to console her.
Papa Obi stood on his feet, with sad expression on his face; he started to speak since no other father present had said a word.
“My king, may you live long. You can see for yourself this is no ordinary matter .Mama Ifeanyi is in the village clinic since yesterday, because of her son. What of Mama Chika who has two  children involved in this issue; did you not see she’s not present also……..on my way here I went to check on them and found out she has been down with serious fever since yesterday. My king, these are our precious children, something has to be done, please do something, please help us….” Papa obi said, almost sobbing.
By the time he sat down, a heavy silence had come upon the palace as everyone pondered on the very touching statement they had just heard.
“I am sorry that this has happened to you, it  is not a thing that should ever happen to anyone.”
“Before this meeting took place, I already mobilised the youths, this time with the backing of the vigilante and they are right now in the forest searching for the children. It got to me yesterday that a very deep pit was found inside the forest, the men believe that the children must have been in that pit, because sandals and slippers were found at the bottom of the pit”
This being said, some pair of sandals and slippers were brought out and spread before them.
“My God!!” exclaimed papa obi “Is this not the slippers I brought for Obi?” Mama Obi only increased the tempo of her cry, rolling all over the floor
Papa Chika saw only one leg of Chika’s slipper. With his head in his hand, he broke down.
The meeting was ended with reassurance from the king that the children will be found and that they should weep no more…
“Weep no more dearest people of Amantu, I stand on my word as the honourable king of this village, the children will be found and peace will return back to Amantu Village. I promise..”
With these words, the people went home with little solitude in their hearts and lots of faith and hope that their children will be returned to them.