THE ROYAL

CHAPTER 2

The trees were old and antiquated, she crept deep into the woods around the poisonous wolf's bane. The air was resinous and yellow leafs continued landing softly into the otherwise deserted ground. Oxblood-red toadstools spread all over. Hannah had never had such a teeth-gritting experience. Going deep into the forest, the smell of moist ground resembled a perfect abode for those who worship the dark. Despite being almost noon, dense shadows chocked the area with darkness.

She was following the trend which had disturbed twings, hoping the disturbance had been perpetrated by the evil doers and not some wild flock or the infamous ghosts which inhabited the forest. Her heart was beating hard like the east African Maasai drums but the voices were less loud, progress. She was just about giving up the chase when she heard a soft cry, more cool than disturbed. She picked the little bundle and headed home, she would move away with it silently.

"Where do you think you're going?" Paula, Hannah's mother asked with a tired voice. She was ever cool despite her age which had been heightened by lack.

"I think I could make a future in the town, life here has never been any better". She knew this was a losing battle but then why not give it a trial.

"Look, child. My poor bones have nothing left than poor blood running through them, I have seen you grow and though I'd retain you at any cost, I won't".

" Mum, you mean..." Hannah was sobbing.

"I mean to give you my blessings, may the town be a better mother than I ever was".

***

Eddy tore through the nasty streets of Highrise estate, litter lay at both sides of the delapidated path. Her torn school uniform badly exposed the backside but nothing could hide her beauty, she was four and already a sparkling figure with dark eyes, flowing hair and heavy eyebrows. The estate looked more of a camp with congested buildings, build out of metal tins and cartons. It was a total mess but home for thousands of forsaken souls.

"Mom, I'm hungry", she said with a soft tone, kneeling down and placing her head on Hannah's bosom who was seated sewing a new pullover.

"Where did you get that appetite, big girls don't eat, you'll grow fat like the irimu", she used to scare Eddy about her good appetite saying she'd grow as big as the irimu, some proverbial ghost which is said to have been as big as a storey building. Which fed on everything including human beings.

"But I want to be big, so I can help you at the hotel", she protested. Hannah had started a makeshift food outlet which mainly operated in the morning and evening hours. She stayed at her tin house sewing pullovers the other hours of the day.

"And where is daddy, Clara's dad bought her a big engine toy".

" Your dad went on a mission, he will be back soon darling. Now change your clothes and find something to put in your big stomach at the stand". Eddy was laughing loud as she enjoyed the salted gruel,it had a tangy and tart flavor. such a beautiful girl.

The following day two girls confronted Eddy and laughed at her torn uniform, the result was one of the girls going home with a losing tooth while the other had a swollen nose. From that day she became 'Bazu', for a young girl who had masculine traits in her.

It was during Hannah's errands at the makeshift hotel that he met Eli. He was a middle aged man working at the city as a clerk in some stationary company, he was mostly drunk if not always and used to brag about being the richest person in the slum. Sometimes he could come into the hotel and buy everyone tea just prove a point. In one of the evenings, she approached her as she was just closing.

"Look, Hannah. I can see your struggle, why would such a beauty have to serve old men who have no future in exchange of peanuts?" He asked in a flat tone.

"I know it's for the sweet little daughter of yours, but let me ask you", he smacked his lips. "Can you allow me take it as my personal responsibility, her fees and everything?"

Hannah just stared, she had never imagined having a man, not even getting married.

"Well, I can take care of myself". She said with finality.

"Take this", he handed her a handful of coins, enough to last her for atleast a week. "Tell Eddy the mission is over and daddy's coming". He walked out with measured steps.

Hannah stared at the hard floor, dark was filtering in. Maybe it was time for change.

*****

"Get out of my way scoundrel", Eli was shouting.

"Look at you, just an old reprobate, bad mouthing the very vessel that made you a man", Hannah cried.

"You can take your soliloquy to that dungeon of yours you call an hotel". Eli threw back.

Five years into their marriage had seen more chaos and drama than prison walls. The marriage was built on the motive of dark luck, Hannah had accepted Eli on the basis that he would pay the school fees for Eddy. Eddy was now in upper school but the lion was already showing its claws.

One beautiful evening, Hannah made her way out of the hotel with less hope than ever, business was extremely bad and there was very little to look forward at home. Eli was becoming a cannibal. The sun had long set behind the high storey buildings of the city, yellow sky was slowly turning dark and the lights at the center of the city were making patterns. Hannah watched the magnificent building of the adjacent Faraja estate which was dominated by kingly mansions and hated the very day she left her village. Then the slum came into view, she felt like throwing up.

At the wooden second hand chair, Eddy lay with her mouth tied, hands fastened from behind and all clothes dripping with blood. Hannah looked at this all at once and almost lost a tooth,quickly untying her.

"Tell me, who is this empty headed bastard, speak dear, who is this son of nobody who buried brains!" Hannah was almost shouting, tears covered her sight so that some light that filtered through the many creaks of the house seemed like stars. Then she remembered something, 'when the sun goes down, do not weep, for the tears won't allow you see the stars'.

"Dad", Eddy managed amid sobs.

Hannah could not believe her ears, so the very silly Eli could assault his very own child? What kind of world was this? what kind of spirits could be this unreasonable... All these questions were competing for space inside her head when she remembered her daughter was in acute danger. Wrapping her ten year girl and heading straight to the slum dispensary. Thick dark spread everywhere.

The case ended just like any other petty theft, Eli knew one or two men in uniform so he bought justice. The poisonous marriage which had lasted for five years had just ended in premium tears.

Eddy looked the ceiling of the rusty room which was parked to capacity with young boys who had buried all their senses. Young girls who lay on the dusty floor after heavy injections. The room was filled with an heavy smoke of w**d and afew other narcotics. She was now fourteen but since the incident she was never the same.

"Look at you Eddy, can't you see all the efforts I'm putting to keep you in school". Eddy looked at her mother and headed straight into the bed, her mind was heavy on some strong narcotic.

"Think about your life dear, you might just kill the very dream I've watered since that day at the evil forest".

"Evil forest?" Eddy shot, now on her right senses.

"Forget about it, it's nothing".

Eddy was almost over with upper school but the performance was far worse than projected, she was growing thin and almost dropping off. Then it happened.

In one of the usual w**d sprees, two men in uniform raided their dinghy. Afew boys managed to escape but not Eddy and afew other girls. Her verdict to was soon placed on the table and Eddy was found in possession of illegal narcotics, she was to be sent to an approved school for two years now that she was a minor.

Things stopped making sense to Hannah, but she was ever hopeful, one or two times she visited her daughter.

The approved school was a nightmare at first, Eddy was struggling with addiction and the strict surveillance of the school could not even filter tea in, leave alone 'long' cigarettes.

Back at the slum Hannah was thinking of her mother, was she still alive? It was almost fifteen years with no communication with her old lady. Maybe it was time to make a permanent change, the following day she booked train tickets for two, for a period in the next one year during which Eddy would be done with the approved school.

She pictured the village, the king and her dying mother, Eddy and the evil forest... Only two nights!