HOUR OF DEATH

CHAPTER 3: THE f*******n HILLS

Thahu hills were covered by a thick foliage, big trees marking the splendor of its vast heights. Huge trees grew clustered together like kids in desperation forming scary canopies. California lilac, Japanese yew, burning bush and the creeping juniper supplied much of vegetation in the f*******n land. From the foot of the heights, you could see a dense cloud of fog at the top of the hill. On a closer observation one could see something like black eyes and what looked like curved horns. The fog was constantly there for as long as Sherry could remember, from the days they were brought here by her late parents to when they came up on some religious training. The training was to warn them never to set their foot on the hill, that according to history :

There lived such a man who had supernatural powers, the giant could appear in two different places at the same time. During those olden times when lions from the neighboring Lukenya plains attacked men in the city, he could change into a huge and fierce lion and chase all the other cannibals out of the city. Over time people began associating his prowess with evils spirits and decided to kill him. On the day of his fate, about two hundred men, fully armed raided his house and chased him out. He changed into a leopard but they still chased him, he then changed into a lioness but the morans never gave up the chase. It was when they reached Thahu hills that he gave up and fell down in desperation. The angry morans cut him into pieces but before they could burn him all his parts dissappeared, a strange trumpet sounded and before they knew it a huge chariot of fire was coming after them. It is said that not a single man from the group was ever seen again.

Years and years after, every person who went up the sacred hill never returned. It was believed that the powers of morans and the ghost man still hovered over the area fighting for dominance.

Sherry and Phil advanced up hill with measured steps. One of the magicians had instructed her to visit the sacred hills for her case was more complicated, having resisted the previous dosage. If luck was on their side, they would unvail the mistery behind the recent spiritual battle in their house.

"Do you think this is the right decision?" Phil was shaking like a reef in the afternoon breeze.

"Sometimes we are left with few or no alternatives, it's either we liberate ourselves or perish forever".

"But we could have consulted the prince first, he's the final magician".

"A cat never shares a bowl with the rat, you have to understand these things".

"We will perish, nobody will ever see us again, not even our ash will be available for a decent burial".

"Listen kid, it's either you go hard or go home. Don't try my demons with your lamentations".

"Okay mom, whatever happens. Remember I love you".

Sherry patted her on the back and the two ladies followed some almost forgotten path, the ghost cloud now seemed nearer and made afew movements as if to mock there advance. A small weaver bird, black with brown eyes and a multicolored tail flew before them. It flew afew meters then waited for them to get closer, then flew again. Sherry perceived this positively though her insides were shaking desperately.

"Maybe we could pour our libations here, we're already high enough", Phil complained panting like a stray dog.

"The doctor was very clear, until we're lost in the fog can we make our wishes", Sherry told her with a sense of dominance.

"Can we take a rest, I'm dying", Phil requested.

"I wish we could, but I must get home in time and do laudry . I'm on morning shift tomorrow".

"If after all we will ever see Giza again". Phil mocked.

"It can still be seen from here, maybe you'll need one last glimpse of your sweet city".

Giza stood like a forgotten town about fifteen miles away. It's buildings were painted white such that it looked like an ancient Oman empire, just what it was. Some star-like objects glistened over it while a dark cloud formed over the city like an umbrella. The city of magic.

Creak creak creak! Went the hundred colored bird as if to remind the ladies of the passing time. On turning their focus back to the hill, the cloud had varnished and the monster stood clearly at the peak, it's black eyes shinning with magic. They turned back to their path to find it completely lost. Covered with huge trees. The path uphill now looked big, as if it had been graded afew minutes ago. The whole adventure had assumed a vinegar flavor.

The two ladies had no option than to follow the magical stretch to wherever it took them. The weather was turning a little chilly amidst the clear sky, maybe due to the height. They say the higher you go the cooler it becomes but the two were catching fire, headed to a place where no one ever made it and returned. An impala would see them approaching then make a wild run before settling for pastures at a distance. Butterflies of all types flew here and there making the hillside look more heavenly, big trees were becoming more scarce as they approached the peak giving room for small shrubs and long grass to nurse the area with an unspeakable touch of elegance. The ghost had dissappeared and the peak now looked clear, safe for some mist which was collecting vaguely.

"Maybe there's no ghost at all, it might have been a mere illusion. A product of fear", Phil broke the loud silence which had grown between them.

"Every other person sees the ghost from the hill's foot. It's just fooling us", Sherry replied thoughts focused elsewhere.

"Or maybe it's a friendly being, people like despising good things".

"Good people don't have horns and eyes that burn like bushfire.

" Then it's the high time we bade the world goodbye, now that your hopes are as dry as my throat ".

" I have some water with me, here". Sherry said handing her daughter an old bottle filled with pipe water.

"Thank you, atleast I'll die with a soft throat", Phil said breathing with relieve.

They were almost at an area which hardly had any vegetation, it was a small plain which marked the highest point in the hill. Phil was absorbed by the beautiful land which lay below them, the city buildings now appeared like small white dots clustered together in a map. The great river Mshipa which drained its contents in the, an ocean which was about a hundred miles from Giza could clearly be seen. They were very tired so they decided to take a rest before performing the prescribed rituals. That was before they heard an old voice recite a tune.

Come come I say you came

Show me the taste show me in haste

Let me see my present or you'll be the same

Same same like those who lacked the best

I'd like to tame

But I prefer giving a test

So go go go on

To Ceasar that has never been torn

There was a sudden flash of lightning as the voice halted to a sudden stop, an owl was making sounds like a child in agony. A dense black cloud formed around them and the ghost appeared like it had when they were starting their journey. Only that the heads were at each side of the cloud. Confusion hit the two ladies who stood shaking like young birds waiting for their mother to bring afew crumps and heat. Something strange hit Phil, she felt so strong and confident. Staring at the monsters around them, she smiled mockingly and asked her mother for the bag with all materials for the offering.

Sherry who was still shaken gave it without a second thought, she needed anything that could drive him out of this insanity. She blamed the very thought that had brought her to that place. Phil quickly lit a small fire using afew dry twings she could find and poured some incense into the fire, she then picked the chicken they had slaughtered and put it in the now bigger fire saying the particular words her mother had told her a night before.

"We have nothing more to offer, the small we had was the price we could afford for our peace". Phil said kneeling down with one knee.

"We pray that you, the great one may accept our humble present and grant us our wishes", Sherry pleaded kneeling with both knees, her head on the ground such that she assumed a prayer position.

A brief silence followed, the cloud started dissolving slowly until it was all clear again, the strange creature was lost again. They took a breath in relief hoping the great drama had just ended. But before they could collect their senses, the weary voice was at it again.

"I feel your grief daughters of weakness, your sacrifice has been accepted. Go back, mother, and be quick in introducing Chiwa to where she belongs".

A slight tremor and all was silent again. Sherry understood the narrative of Chiwa well enough. It was an ancient tale passed from generation to the other since the olden times. According to the story, there was once a man who was married to lady who was half human and half fox. The two made love and the product of the relationship became Chiwa. A girl who had supernatural powers, she could perform magic by mere words. Due to jealousy, a young lady who had no children of her own stole the girl while her parents were away and took her to a far place in the forest where no one could never find her.

The two lived in the forest for long enough, the infertile lady enjoying magic from Chiwa who was still very young. When Chiwa came of middle age, tragedy started hitting the lady. She lost sight, became mostly sick with a strange disease and before she knew it, she was in a death bed. During one of the nights, she heard a strange voice calling from the forest, "Return Chiwa to where she belongs". With that, she regained her health and took Chiwa to her parents many years older. The lady got a child for her obedience, but due to the inhumane act she permanently lost sight again.

Sherry knew Chiwa was Phil in this case, she belonged to the palace, the magical class of royals.

The journey down the hill seemed even easier, the two ladies climbed down avoiding any conversation. It was already getting late, the sun was sinking into Tatu plains on the opposite direction, spreading orange rays across the land. The cousin with the truck they had used was waiting for them at one of the junctions to the main road, they had said they wanted to see some traditional doctor in the woods. He wasn't a man of many words so at the agreed time in the afternoon, he was already waiting for them.

By the time they entered the city, it was already getting dark. Sherry looked at Phil and shook her head, she wasn't old enough. But Chiwa had to be home.