HOPE

Running was the only thing that came up to his mind. The idea of stopping, ringing out from the other of his mind would make the situation worse. He had no idea what was trailing him but he knew the creature wasn't human, neither was it descriptive. He knew if the creature caught up with him, death would be inevitable. He had been running from a nowhere and wasn't sure where he was heading to. It was a dark night and the clouds seemed to have obscured the celestial bodies; the moon and stars. When he discovered the creature's footstep had died, he heaved a sigh of relief. He saw a big iroko tree and head towards it to rest for a while. He knew he had to be on the alert because the creature might appear again. His breath held a great fear and could be heard from a distance. His heartbeat thud rhythmically to the vague horror in the still air. He stood up after resting to continue his undying race and out of nowhere, the creature appeared. The sight of it sent shivers down his spine and he ran as fast as he could to escape what was after him - death! While he was running for his life, he accidentally hit his leg on a stone and fell down helplessly on the ground. He struggled to stand up but was overtaken by the creature. The creature approached him with it's sharp hand but he evaded it. His hope of escape was crushed the moment the creature grabbed him by the neck and within a twinkle of an eye, stabbed him in his chest. He felt his heart burning and blood gushed down from his mouth. He felt the creature's hand going deeper and closer to his heart. He held its hand and tried to stop him but he had lost all his strength to the running. He strived to call for help but nobody could hear his silent cries. The trees stared at him and deaf to his please. The cold breeze blew, passing and neglecting both. He opened his mouth gasping for air with blood flowing from his mouth down to his cloth. He could not bear the pain any longer but the creature seemed to be enjoying it. It smirked devilishly and grabbed his heart. 'Say hello for me on the other side.' It said with a deep scary voice and pulled out his heart forcefully. 'Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah'...... There was a great ululation in Fakunle's compound. It had all looked real but was actually a dream. It was a cold night and squeaks of sleepless bats dominated Fakunle's house that stood in the heart of the lonely forest. Fakunle sat up on his long mat breathing heavily. He took a deep breath with his back resting against the mud wall. 'This dream again? What does this dream actually mean? Who would dare try to have me killed?' He soliloquized in surprise and touched his chest trying to check if his heart was still beating. 'First it was his Majesty. Now it's me. No....no evil shall befall me. Death run when it sees me, sickness run when it sees me. Evil shall not befall me in the name of the gods.' Fakunle said as he moved towards the window to close it, having noticed the palm-oil lamp he had placed on the floor had been quenched by the gabby breeze. He brushed the beads of perspiration that stood on his forehead with the back of his hand and sat down thinking of what he would do. He decided to consult the Oracle the next morning before heading to the palace. The sun rose slowly from the east preparing for it's duty. Fakunle quickly dressed himself up in an occultic all-white attire. He wore a wrist bead, held an Ìróké and hung a cloth across his shoulder. It was a taboo for an Ifa worshipper to wear clothes of other colours, especially red. White was the only colour in tune with the practice. He was an Ifa priest and his appearance that morning could clearly tell. He hurriedly head out as he could not sleep because of the dream he had. The shrine was just a stone's throw from the village but from Fakunle's house, it was a long haul. He met some villagers on the way; women who carried water gourds on their heads heading to the river to get water, farmers who had cutlasses and hoes dangling on their shoulder heading to the farm, and hunters who were going to the bush with the hope of bringing home games for the family. They all greeted Fakunle as he walked past them with their heads on the ground. He didn't answer but only waved to reply them as he was still bothered about the nightmare he had the previous night. Fakunle was feared by the villagers of Ajewole because the people believed he possessed great powers. They believed he was chosen by the gods for he had the powers to heal, create and destroy. Rumors had it that he had once helped Ajegunle, a neighbouring village capture an evil spirit that killed the villagers and devoured their souls. It was said that he captured the spirit and cast him into the evil forest. The people believed the evil forest was the only road that led to the spirit world where dead and lost souls dwelled. No one ever returned after entering it. This rumour soon turned out to be true after he returned from another mission in the land of Awáyé Málo to capture a blood-sucking witch. It was a sunny afternoon when a messanger from Awáyé Málo stormed the palace with an horrendous news. He reported that villagers were dying on a daily basis and their land had been hunted by an evil spirit they didn't know of. 'Towards dawn, we always hear cry of the villagers everyday. And on getting there, we find pale, lifeless bodies lying with their back resting on the earth'. The messanger lamented. Fakunle was immediately summoned to the palace by the King to help him find solution to this mystery. Upon arriving, he was told the same story. He asked if the villagers saw anything strange whenever this mystery transpired. The messanger having remember what he was told by some villagers, revealed that some claimed to have seen a ball of light leaving their huts after another death case. Immediately, Fakunle knew who or what was causing chaos in their land. 'It is Amùjè, a shape-shifting witch, that transforms itself into a firefly. As a firefly, it can pass through closed doors and windows at night, and after turning back into a humanoid form, it sucks its victim dry.' Fakunle disclosed. Horses were immediately prepared for Fakunle and Four skilled guards that would accompany them safely to Awáyé Málo land. It took Fakunle days and nights to come up with a perfect plan to capture the blood-sucking witch. He planned to use himself as a bait in other to lure it at night, which was the perfect time to execute his plan. He knew it was dangerous but he believed in his powers, and his faith in the gods, unshakable. After some tries and failures, Amùjè was later captured due to Fakunle's powerful charms. The blood-sucking witch was cast into the evil forest with the hope of not returning to the world again. Immediately, the news had spread all over the entire villages, far and beyond like a bush-fire in the harmattan. Peace began to reign again. The people of Awáyé Málo showed their appreciation and thanked Fakunle for his great deed. The King of Awáyé Málo on behalf of Ajewole gifted him tubers of yam, cowries, gourds of palm wine and two special horses for the King of Ajewole as his gratitude. Immediately, Fakunle returned to his village with the palace guards. His return to Ajewole was a grand style of home coming. He was welcomed to the village with heroic praises, heavy druming and dance of the people of Ajewole. Three days were dedicated for the celebration of this great news and the people wined and dined until they were lost in ecstasy. But that was years ago. Now a strange dream had just emerged from nowhere with a bad sign in which one must prepare for. Fakunle got to the shrine after a long walk and entered. The shrine was located in a place which was considered sacred because it was believed to have been inhabited by the gods. Children were often warned by their parents not to play around the shrine because of ancestral spirits that roamed around it. It was a small hut with thatched roof. The open space was covered with palm tree leaves to prevent rain from invading it. On the wall were images of opele, ikins, Ìróké and calabash. On the inside, the walls were covered with white clothes, a calabash was placed on the floor and sacred objects stood in different positions. Fakunle began to chant the praises of Òrúnmìlà {The god of wisdom} and some incantations, touching every object there with his Ìróké. He begged the gods to reveal and show him who was after the king's life and his through The calabash of truth. He chanted again but this time it was a particular Ifa corpus. Has he continued, he noticed the water in the Calabash was changing. He looked closely and to his utter dismay, it had turned blood! Immediately, the Calabash broke into pieces. Fakunle was shocked at this and he knew something bad was coming. He knew he had to do something very quickly. He rushed out and head towards the palace to inform the king about what was coming. 'Evil is set to befall this land. His Majesty must know about this' Fakunle expressed in a hurry. The moon had paved way for the sun and could be seen sitting in the sky. It was becoming scorching and dry harmattan wind blew down from the north. It was a sign everyone in the village knew. Harmattan had come to reign. Harvest was around the corner. The time for the results of the famers labour had come. That was the feeling Fakunle could tell. He suddenly remembered those days when he was still a bachelor and a farmer. He had nothing to worry about but focused on his work and life. He would quickly set out to the farm before the sunrise and head home at noon. He remembered his neighbor Adigun, who was a farmer but indolent and improvident. When others worked on their farm tiredlessly, he would sleep in his small hut and continually procrastinated his visit to the farm. In short, he was the type who was incapable of thinking of tomorrow. 'Make hay while the sun shines. My sweat is not for people like you'. Fakunle would always tell expecting changes. But even though Adigun got turned down many times, he never turned a new leaf until his two wives left with their children and was later caught stealing in some else's farm. He was reported to the king and was hanged at the village dead end, the evil forest as is the custom. Fakunle quickly swam out of his thoughts and noticed a tall mud wall that stared at him as he walked closer. He was at the king's palace and the guards at the entrance gave him a bow until he walked past them. His presence was immediately made known to the King as the Royal drummers beat their talking drums to welcome him. Fakunle waved them with a faint smile and walked into the king's court. The court was occupied by two guards that stood behind the king's throne at different handsides. They held a long spear and were endorsed in a brown Èwù and Sòkòtò which portrayed them as the Royal body guard. But someone seemed to be missing. It was the Akoda, and he had been sent on an errand to the neighbouring village to solve some issues in place of the King. They quickly bowed at the sight of Fakunle. He responded but immediately demanded the king's presence. Suddenly, Queen Ojuola, the mother queen, stepped out of the king's room. 'Fakunle, the chief priest. What a surprising visit this is. Hope all is well? The mother queen asked in awe. 'Mother queen, I greet you. I know this visit is surprising but for all to be well, I have to see the king.' Fakunle replied with his head down. 'Whatever it is you want to tell the King, you can tell me. I will deliver your message to him.' She said adjusting her ìró. 'Mother queen, I think it will be better if this message is conveyed to the King and you.' He insisted. 'Okay then, if you insist. I will inform the King you seek his presence.' Ojuola said as she headed back into the room adjusting the Aso Òfì hunged across her shoulder and wondering what it could be that Fakunle wanted to tell the King. Fakunle sat on the mat that clothed the palace naked floor awaiting the king's arrival. Shortly, a tall, fair, young man who looked to be in his twenties appeared with the mother queen right behind him. 'Kabiyesi ooooo. Long may your highness live! May your reign be blessed! Long may the crown rest on your head! And the royal shoes on your feet!' Fakunle bowed as he paid his homage to the king. 'Thank you Fakunle. Thank you. May you live long too.' King Adegoroye replied as he waved his horse whisk. He was appareled in a flowing agbádá, adorned in royal beads round his neck and wrist. He wore a white cap and a royal shoe made from goatskin. He held the royal staff in his left hand and a horse whisk in his right hand which symbolized royalty. 'Fakunle, the greatest of all Ifa priest in the world, may the gods of our land bless you. 'Ase!' He echoed. 'I heard the Royal drummers acknowledging your presence the other time. At first I thought I heard it wrong. But later, the mother queen, my mother, told me you seeked my presence. I was surprised because the sun has just set. Fakunle, hope all is well? 'Your majesty, it is the elders that say, a fly that dances carelessly in front of a spider's web, risks the wrath of the spider's teeth.' 'Fakunle, I don't seem to understand you. What are you trying to say?' King Adegoroye asked in confusion. 'Your Majesty, the reason why I am here this early morning, is because of a dream I had yesterday night. 'A dream?' King Adegoroye asked. 'What dream Fakunle can make you come rushing here so early and talking in proverbs. Hit the nail on the head Ifakunle.' Queen Ojuola demanded 'My King, mother queen'. He paused and chuckled. 'This dream is not just a dream. It is probably passing a message about what is to come. About the danger that is to come.' He continued 'Danger?' King Adegoroye asked looking baffled. 'Fakunle, tell us what you have in your mind and stop beating around the bush.' Queen Ojuola lamented. Fakunle quickly narrated his dream to them. He also explained what happened at the shrine before he journeyed to the palace. The mystery of the broken calabash! 'The only thing this means is that someone we know and may not, is after the king's life.' He finalized. 'You mean someone is trying to kill the king? The calabash of truth has broken? Queen Ojuola asked flabbergasted. 'It is not the king alone my queen, whoever this person is, is after my life too'. Ifakunle said. 'Have you been having this dream before or this is the first time?' The King asked curiously. 'I'm sorry I didn't inform you Your Majesty, but I could remember vividly the first time I had it. It was the night I returned from Awáyé Málo, the neighbouring village. I thought of it as just a dream but I think it's not something we can neglect now.' 'It is true the saying it is better late than never.' King Adegoroye paused and stood up. He paced slowly across the court with his head down. 'Fakunle!' He finally opened up. 'If it is really true that someone is cooking up evil against me in the dark, what can we do to expose such person?' 'Your Majesty, Olódùmarè and Ifa are the ones who can shed light to this matter.' 'The king has to be cleansed to prevent this evil that is to come. If this requires a human sacrifice, then so be it.' Queen Ojuola retorted. 'Ifa has not spoken, but I will be sure to inform you what it will take, either sacrifice or not to avoid the danger ahead.' Fakunle said 'Time awaits no man, we have to do something quickly before it's too late. I will call on my chiefs for a meeting to discuss with them on what to do. Thank you Fakunle for informing us, may you live longer and witness the prosperity of Ajewole in the years to come.' 'Ase' Fakunle replied. The King quickly stood up and dashed into his room with a worried face leaving the mother queen behind. 'Who do you think it could be?' Queen Ojuola asked stopping Fakunle from leaving the court. ' My queen, I have no idea but......' He paused and checked if the king had left. He gestured queen Ojuola to follow him and they walked out of the court and stood outside of the palace far enough for anyone to overheard them. 'I saw something strange in the dream that I did not speak of in the court.' 'What is it you saw?' Ojuola asked anxiously. 'I saw a bracelet in the creature's hand.' 'What bracelet?' 'It looked exactly like the royal bracelet'. 'What! How is that possible? It is only the royals that own such bracelet.' 'I know, but.....' He paused to check if anyone was watching and continued. 'I'm very sure it was the the royal bracelet. I know what I saw' Ojuola sighed with her heart beating heavily against her chest and thought for a while. The look on her showed she was trying to remember something and after a while, she revived from her thoughts. 'What if this is about what happened that day?' She asked. 'I don't know what you are talking about.' 'Of course you know what I'm talking about. We both know what happened that day. Don't tell me you've lost your memory to old age.' 'Mother queen, now is not the right time to argue. If truely there is a connection between the dream and what happened that day, we have to do something quickly. I will try my possible best to find out the identity of this unknown creature.' Fakunle said trying to avoid an argument. 'The king will turn thirty in two moons and now is not the time for a surprising drama. You better do something before things get out of hand.' Ojuola replied agitatedly and returned into the palace leaving Fakunle behind. Fakunle quickly adjusted his cloth and walked off, wearing a flustered look. In the dim past, he had done something which was meant to be a secret from the world. But it seemed the past was just getting ready to hunt him, them, down. Translated words. Ìróké- A short horse whisk used by Ifa worshippers Ifa- The mystical figure Ifa or Orunmila, regarded by the Yoruba as the deity of wisdom and intellectual development Amùjè- Blood sucker. Opele- Stringed objects of divination. Ikins- Sacred palm nuts that are used as divination tools in the consulting of Ifa by priests. Èwù- Male native shirt. Sòkòtò- Loosely fitted pants/trousers. Akoda- The king's personal guard who holds his staff of authority. Ìró- Female wrapper. Aso Òfì- A hand woven fabric created by the Yoruba people of west Africa. Agbádá- Wide-sleeved robe. Ase- Amen. Olódùmarè- The creator of the universe.