BEYOND NEGOTIATION

BEYOND NEGOTIATION 2

CONTINUATION

Years of caring for the sick king had embittered David and his father's faithful warriors. Frankly speaking,They king managed to elude the European invader but not death.

The death of the hero made the host king become emotionally spent even though it had zero effect on the hospitality he rendered to his visitors.He,the host organized a burial ceremony for the deceased where provocative statements were made by different traditionalist which irritated David and the warriors of the kingdom and made them accelerate down the memory lane.But the king is too big to die unsung heroes "one of the warriors said.

He was the people's hero ,He deserves accolade as a hero of war against marginalization, against slavery and against the caricature of the people's norms and religion.How can his remains remain outside his kingdom? David remarked."To whom the cap fits let him wear,They late king had the premonition of his death that informed why he handed his staff and royal crown to his only son, David not minding the presence of the notable warriors of the kingdom "one of the indomitable warrior and second in command spoke out.

"The king lives on as long as his ideals remain indelible In our minds and remains cherished by our ancestors who decided to withdraw him from the long lasting race"one of the warriors said,"Now, David take the lead! Your wish is our command henceforth ! "Take your regalia,wear your crown and your armour and let's soldier on"they maintained.

"Well,given the situation, I don't merit such accolade and eulogy. I'm just a little boy of eighteen and need to be advance in years to be able to lord over you as my late father did. Again,I feel for the martyr of the cross and wish to turn around the situation if I must handle the baton,I must ......

"it's okay! stop that nonsense and hold it !"Aru! Abomination! they interrupted unanimously."your father,our king , the great man lived and died for his people.He held tenaciously his ideals until his death.He never brought shame to us even at the point of death.He is the martyr we know.yet,his martyrdom meant nothing to you,his only son? Are you running out your sense?"one of the warrior asked looking furious.

"But,I have my reasons "his son maintained.

"What are your reasons?one of them asked.

You know,my late father welcome the Europeans in the first place.They came into the hinter land with the message of peace.But before they could pass their message across,they deemed it wise to break the major barrier language difference.so they introduced western education across the hinter land of which I am a typical beneficiary.Now,what...........?

"keep quiet! Do you think you are talking to babies or what? Are you telling us what you heard or what we witnessed?"one of the warrior asked.

"I am telling you what I heard as a little boy""what you heard may be deliberately misconstrued.So you are talking out of hear_say and we are talking to you out of experience.start from where your father,our king stopped after all,it is the same blood that runs in your veins.

Despite his protracted illness,yet he died a accomplished man . Being the chip of the old block you are supposed to be exuberant about it,they remarked.

"I will have the courage to rejoice only good triumphs over evil".His son accepted the offer with certain reluctance.Deep down in him,he was convinced that Reverend Maxwell and his group meant well for them.He had resolved to use his authority as the king to give them a befitting place in the kingdom so his acceptance of such offer was on the pretext of banishing every trace of west life in his kingdom.

One of the warriors named David in consternation remarked,"this boy is naive and may not deliver.We have to apply wisdom in our decision to choose a successor to the late king.Let's put asunder selfishness in our decision as whoever is chosen is going to rule over the entire kingdom and must be wise in his disposition as king so that the throne isn't thrown into an object of ridicule.

Frankly speaking, They entire kingdom expects more from us as dissident or even insurgents as the white invaders would always regard us".

They next speaker "it is imperative to decide who takes the lead after our king.I pray we do this without bitterness. The gods expects us to make the right choice and the choice according as the hierarchy has been made.If we must go contrary to the dictates of the gods then,we will have to expect calamity in the land because it will be imminent if we look down upon David.

"I suggest that we suspend the issue of choosing one of us as the successor of the king and concentrate on the other task of looking for the prettiest way home.When that is settled,we will now return to choose our king if it becomes imperative "they maintained.

one of the warriors suggestion was applauded by the other warriors;they all supported the idea and the meeting ended in that note and they made their decision to allow David wear the crown known to their host,they king of other kingdom and he gave assent to it.

The day they set out for the journey home, the memory of their late king became fresh in their minds once again and created a vacuum which made that mission almost impossible.

Worse still, David was short of the confidence required in a critical time like that.They had their food,They had enough ammunition with scanty will power. They had over stayed their welcome in the land and needed to go home desperately to be able to save their father land from the shackles of Western education and civilization.

Having bade the king and their numerous well wishers farewell,they embarked on a journey of a thousand miles.Six months of continual trek in the forests, rivers, lakes, hills and valleys all leading to the other land.

it was a tedious journey characterized by precarious living.David tore the forest with his sword and let the other warriors in .He was still being human or rather a little nervous that his followers could not confide in him completely. They were sort of trying to talk courage into him but David didn't want to accept that defeat.

"This is just the beginning.Your father led us to the kingdom via this forest, rivers,hills and valleys.We encountered a lot of difficulties on our way but he got rid of all. When we swam across river,a certain crocodile posed a threat to us, your father gallantly speared and finally killed it and we had to prey on it,they disclosed to him.

The reason they told him how they were led across obstacles of different proportions was to cheer him up. Contrary to his expectation, David became more afraid to forge ahead.He was ready to jump up at the impulse of any grass or leaves of plants near his feet. Against that back drop,their movement was grounded to a halt m,yet,they had many rivers to cross,many hills to climb and many huddles to jump across.

since the tradition demands that David must take the lead not minding his age and size ,They warriors continued with their incantation until a voice rumbled from afar;

David! David!

put on your armour

wear your bracelet

soldier on with your spears

say 'no ! to your falling nerves

Give deaf ear to consternation

for your courage is drawn

not from your brain or brawn

But from my blood

which through thy nerves flow

David! David!.

The replica of my being

The evidence of my infinite existence

Get up and get going

For your victory is in sight

One assurance give I to you .

No one born of a woman can terminate thy breath

Nor will any man have the 'visa' to thy 'tap root.

I was an inch

But you are a ruler.

My home call answered I at three score and five

Thine will be deliberated on by the potter

Restore!oh, Restore!son of the sun

King of the land and see

see you again on your investiture "

As the strange voice echoed from the vicinity,the warriors were terrified to the marrows.

As the rumble sound continued each of the warriors poised for the action save David,who ran Helter scatter inside the forest for want to safety.

In consternation,They burst in fury but by wisdom he bottled up his emotion so that the king would not think ill of him. David needed to do something,Yes!he owed the people that confidence by standing unperturbed and ruminating on the episode and making something out of it to the advantage of the warriors who had so much confidence on the royal regalia worn by him which they presumed was capable of protecting whoever comes under his umbrella.

To them, David needed to stand with his legs and shoulders braced ready to destroy whatever it was that threatened,but the reverse was the case.

"our king, this is the hour to prove your worth! They late king never let us down.His presence alone,was to us , enough refuge.His baritone voice cast a spell on any perceived enemy. Brace up! our king,brace up !"They lamented .

"He that fights and runs away will live to fight another day", David replied rather spontaneously.

"Wreaths and a parade of honor are done in the memory of the fallen soldiers and not on runaway soldiers,they remarked.

Lets forge ahead after all,they late king assured us in his death bed that the battle had been fought and worn He gave every reason for us to be dauntless, David reminded them.

David was trying to detach himself from the reality of that terrible events when the rumbling sound struck again. This time he was able to decipher the rumbling.it was only he alone that understood that his father was talking. As soon as he made a step out of his hide out,an immeasurable and unimaginable current of strength and boldness took over his being and he was completely overwhelmed with second sight and second wind to the amazement of his mockers.

He tore the forest with grace and devoured the first tiger that posed a threat to their movement east wards. The warriors cheered him up as he became intoxicated with power, consequent upon that,he became a prodigious gift to his people.He led them across obstacles on the land and rivers, valleys and hills unharmed by any creature whether big or small.It was a real arduous journey of redemption,as the late king would say,yet they made it through thick and thin.

The very last day of the month witnessed their entrance into the kingdom after a decade in exile. The people came out en-masse to welcome their hero.They gathered around the market square at the knowledge of the return of the king and performed their cultural dance in honor of their illustrious king.