The Road We Walked

Chapter Six

**The First Encounter**

For the first time I saw Telma laughed. it was not her usual mischievous smile. She laughed so much that she held her belly and rolled on the ground.

"What got you laughing this hard Telma", I asked. "It's you she replied" and bursted into another feat of laughter.

"Me? How? What did I do?". "I thought you were a fearless boy she said, I never knew you have a beautiful way of shouting. Your eyes looked as though you saw a ghost when you saw Ayak".

I felt hurt, my chest suddenly glowed with anger and I felt like smashing her against a tree trunk. However, I knew somehow, I could not hold up against her, instead I let out a growl in an attempt to silence her instead, she laughed the more making me feel like Burying myself up in the dust.

"But it's okay" she said, "you don't have to be worried. You acted as you did because you don't know who you are".

As she spoke, I noticed her body went tensed. She stopped speaking and stood still and with a gesture of her hands, promoting me to do same. Soon afterwards, I could see what appears to be movements around us. The tall bushes appeared to be given way for some movements but I couldn't see anything. Could it be the spirit she spoke of earlier. As I tried to look around, suddenly out of nowhere, I saw humanlike figures surrounding us, all clothed in long straw coloured garbs. their entire bodies covered up, and their hoods pulled over their faces.

"It's the hoodies" said Telma, "whispering softly to me". "From the day I set out, they have been on my trail. But don't worry, those are easy to deal with".

there was a glimmer, and when I turned, I saw each of those men with a long sword each. "What should we do", I asked."Just keep to my side", said Telma. And from what appeared to have being a staff that she always carried, she produced a sleek black looking blade which looked well polished. As I stood contemplating her blade, the hoodies gave a shriek and charged at us from all directions. I didn't know what to do seeing the blades come from all directions. When I turned in panic to Telma, she was no more there, all I saw was raised dust. I could hardly catch a sight of her as she effortlessly dashed at them like lightning, severing arms and slighting their throats.

Before I could realize what was happening, I only saw lifeless bodies of the hoodies on the ground. I took just a little while for Telma to take them all down. I wondered what kind of creatures the hoodies were. I tried to move close and study the bodies but as I did, I noticed the bodies shriveled together into a dark mass which later ascends like pile of smokes disappearing into the air.

I felt a tumbling sensation in my tummy as though I would throw up but Telmas arm rested on my shoulders. "You have to be strong, you are not a weakling she said".

I looked up at her unsure of what to say. Taking my arm, she urged me on "Let's find a safe place Lucas. There are things you ought to know before we proceed".

We moved on, following some crooked paths in the woods and reaching some deep recess, Telma surveyed the area and led us under a low tree whose branches were spread out like an arm in embrace and the roots edging up a little way above the ground to form surfaces where one could sit. There we sat and Telma began:

"I will begin by stressing this, Nodraka" she said slightly lowering her head. "You will remain as Lucas, at least to the rest of the world. On no account should you mention the name Nodraka or identity with it until at the appointed time and do not ask me why or when. At the right time everything will manifest"

"You are a descendant of a people charged as custodian of the wisdom of our people. For ages, Nod was a light shining for all others to see and your father's were faithful to the tasks assigned them". She kept quiet for a while then continued. " Greed later set in, an uncle of yours Joda sought to have access to the forbidden knowledge, he wanted territories that were not ours to claim"."Although the elders talked him out against this, he still went on with his plans which brought upon us the judgement we received".

"But I thought they said what happened was as a result of an error made when the workers were trying to..."

"That is what the other worlds were told" she said."If it was an accident as was presented, have you thought of how you were rescued? That couldn't have happened within such a short time ".

It now dawned on me that what she said was true. All that entrapment could not have been made within a very short time.

"To the rest of the worlds", she said "Nod, was vaporized and only a wasteland remains of it. But, it is the other way round". "You will see the reality when you finally get there".

"Have you wondered why it is that none has ever gone there since the incident occurred?". "Yes", she said. " A spell was cast by the great Ayak, turning everybody's attention off from Nod. At most they will see and only have pity on the land but none would ever think to go there".

"Then what made me to set out to go, why was I not under the spell?"."The Nodraka you are" she replied, "Only you was the spell made to exclude"."You are the hope of Nod, the Nodians lay asleep for this long awaiting your return".

"Those hoodies you saw are a allies of your uncles. They are the less hostile ones. Others you will find as you advance further". "They are promised to each other. They were going to help him in his evil quest and in returned, he was going to let them have a share in his kingdom".

"Where did their bodies vaporize to?". I asked.

"Their judgement is served" she said."The earth refused to take their bodies because of the cause they work for, and so the heavens will have to take what remains of them, purifies it and sends it back to us in the rains to nourish the fields".

"Our watchers approve of no evil. Nod is a place for truth, justice and high standing..."