Behind Castle Walls

The man of steel was a master of the trade; the greatest blacksmith Mangun ever had before him. His skills in iron bending were impressive and impeccable. He was caught up in profound thoughts that troubled him as he was sitting on the fence that surrounded his estate just steering as his children ride in his cart in turns. The servant girl was making some potato porridge and some red beans for supper under an aggressively burning fire in the kitchen, and the enormous smoke from the chimney rode high in the air. His wife was being attended to by host of servants who was making her hair under the "Dogon yaro" tree, while the other servants went about their chores in his busy compound. He was a very wealthy man, an honorable man of state indeed. The uncompleted parts of his estate always reminded him of the need for his creditors to pay up, for his workers to make and sell even more tools to the king and the wealthy men and women; the huge market he had attracted over the years. He was famous for his tools beyond the boundaries of Mangun, he was sorted after for domestic tools and weapons from which he made a fortune. He was at par with the men of the kingdom who had the means to do as they wish but he wanted his house to be second only to the palace, and that is the desire of his heart. The hot tropical sun, which is typical of his village at the time of the year beat him so hard without mercy, beating his bald head, making him sweat all over. As he blows himself with the hand fan, the cool breeze from the swing was soothing for its purpose, but deep inside him was a problem for which his poor heart could find no answers. The sun grew more severe and intense; the sweat from his shiny hairless head ran down his face to his beard and then to his huge hairy chest. So he darted to a shed to keep himself from fainting. The view of the castle was splendid from where he sat. It was vast, and it scraped the sky. Their strong wall was thick, and the large gate was enough discouragement for even the most formidable foe. Mangun was prosperous, and so was the man of steel and many of the citizens of the kingdom. A smile on his face expressed his happiness of being a citizen of the great city. Just as he was, the kingdom reflected, even more, splendor; the kingdom was getting wealthier by the day. The town had attracted merchants from far and near. The revenue from money changers, homage paid by the other kingdoms, taxes on the prospering people and traders of enormous worth was channeled into building this small nation of the Niger area to great prosperity like never before. Wealth was visible; it could be felt on the skin; on the clear roads and the people themselves. Although a mixture of grandeur and squalor, it was spreading eastward, fast like wildfire. The transformation of this once poor people was fast; everyone loved it even the beggars on the streets got generous alms. Those with the wisdom of old made it big while the others felt the change basically on their plates and with much better raiment they used to barely afford. The wise however had incredible powers that worked like magic; everything they could lay their hands on poured in more money than they could ever imagine. Jelkes looked down towards the west where the herd of cattle was grazing; he was so happy watching because he was doing very well too. The traffic by the city gate was thick, money was changing hands fast and so were varieties of merchandise and spices. The animal market was the busiest part of the city since feasting had become the norm of the once poor people. The noise of the bleating sheep and the mooing cows was as loud as a battle cry. The sweet whistle from the birds hovering in the thick coat of the trees and the choir who are in constant service of the king was in good tune, the music was good to his soul, and he found some delight listening. The fresh water that was gushing from the stream behind his estate and the sweet smelling aroma from the royal kitchen was pleasing as well. Some of the beggars that once flourished the streets had turned into businessmen of some worth were now of great value to the king because they also were taxed; some of them were drafted into the army while others worked in the palace as guards. There were a few beggars that remained on the streets despite the abundance that flourished everywhere and was up for grasp for anyone who would untuck their hands and make a little effort instead of the excuse. As He looked further, he saw the herd of horses and the fleet of chariots within their boundary. Their number was so large to be counted. He watched as they performed their routine and marched in training, shaking the earth beneath them and flapping dust from their heavy drills. Although they have not been to war for a long time, they were always in training being fit for battle. They have been successful in their raids and had captured their neighbors on every bearing for many kilometers beyond the boundaries of Mangun. All the loots had gone to building the city; captives that are skilled were forced to teach those that indicates interest in learning. Most of the beggars left the street to learn a craft or specialize in a trade. The atmosphere smelt not of the dull porridge the people were used to but of the delicacies of foreign lands; and since many people could afford a servant, foreign delicacies was the least problem they had. All these the people owe to Damogor, a great military commander, and hero who won many important battles, and saved the kingdom from siege countless times. He spent most of his time in battle and the training camp, very few people knew him personally, making him a legendary figure, he was well celebrated, and the people loved him. The beautiful view of the royal garden was as beautiful as eagle, it was a great masterpiece from Jelkes’ view, a gorgeous sight to behold, and the peacocks made it brighter by flaunting their colors and pride about the royal orchard. Jelkes was so engrossed in his problem that none of this made any meaning to him as they used to. Although he is now rich, he was far from the city that had made him so wealthy, and earned him the name “the man of steel.” “The man of steel!” a man in a flowing garment and fabulous jewelry spoke as he approached the shed. “My dear friend, what a beautiful day to be alive!” he continued with good cheer in his greeting as he handed over his horse to a servant. It was Makplang, the carpenter and Jelkes’ best friend from childhood. Jelkes trapped in his thoughts was in it too deep to the point he was drowning; he would never ignore such a salute from this one dear friend of his. “Hahahahahah…” Makplang laughed in his deep bass voice. “You had to sleep at the eleventh hour so as to know your worth for the day or busy with your gorgeous wife, which of the two?” Makplang asked as he laughed, motioning with his eyebrow a very cheerful gesture. “How are you, my friend?” Jelkes replied with a grim, not an elaborate salute for his friend as was their usual thing. “It seems to me you are not well this morning, I felt how coldness in your answering my greeting.” Makplang reached for his forehead. “You have a fever; let me send for some herbs and…” “No, don’t bother, my friend.” Jelkes interrupted as he sends the servant Makplang was calling back to his work. “I am fine my dear” he responded. “And besides herbs will do me no good for my problems cannot be solved with them. Can we sit in the shed under the tree? My head aches from the pounding of iron.” Both men rise to leave and a servant rushed to prepare the shed for them. “What is the matter, my dear friend, what is troubling you that cannot be solved? I know money can solve the problem and you know that too, tell me what bothers you? Makplang said with much audacity. Just as his friend, Makplang had grown so wealthy too. He made fine furniture and was the most skilled carpenter in the whole kingdom. He was patronized by the king and the wealthy men who paid huge sums for his furniture; the king too was pleased with his work. “I will give everything I have to find answers to my heart longings.” “Let me send for some wine, it will take away all your sorrow and you will forget all your grief,” Makplang calls a servant again but Jelkes sends him away. “Wine will make me believe it for a little while and when I wear my shoes again, I will still feel the same pain as before. A thirst deep inside me has left me longing for water to quench the thirst but I do not know what to drink.” Jelkes continued. “Hmmm…, whatever is troubling you; I am all the help you might need. Tell me what is the problem, do you wish to own something you think you cannot have, what is it my friend?” Makplang asked. “I used to think that am successful, believed to have acquired answers to life’s entire question, but now, knowing that I have not answered them makes me lost, I do not know what to do or where to go from here.” “My friend, if you speak these words, I will not understand. Please speak in the realms I am familiar with, how can I be of help to you if I do not know what you are trying to tell me?” Makplang pleaded. “I have changed my name from Gujel to Jelkes, I refused to live the rest of my life barely getting by or with a name that is cursed. I followed the meaning of Jelkes and ended all my sufferings with hard work and obedience to the rules we learned from the wise. I am today at least ten thousand times better off than my father or any of his own fathers, and I have made more gold than can be counted. I live in the best houses, like the temple build for gods, with splendor, man and maid servants at my beck and call. I live in my dreams as I’d seen it in my youth; I am in a world of my own, a king.” “It is true all these things you have said, but what troubles you, dear friend, you have turned into a gloom statue, share all you cares with me, talk!?” Makplang was curious since he has never seen his friend in such a state of mind. “Have you any problems with your wife, what is the problem?” Makplang tapped his friend to recover to the conversation. Jelkes took an immense breath, looked at his friend then continued. “It is true I am the man of steel. I have everything a man will ever need for a lifetime. I wear the best garments, I feed on the best delicacies and so do you too my friend. We can afford anything we so desire. I am a man of great means, a respected man of this kingdom, I am famed among my people, I have a great name and plenty to spend and spare. I am the man many men can only wish to be, and many women can only dream of their husbands being like.” “The gods be praised!” Makplang said. Jelkes then stopped speaking and sat still, the tossing of the gold chain on his neck was the only sign his heart was beating, and there was life in him. “You are not the man I use to know, you are a shadow of yourself.” Makplang was surprised of how his friend was; he had a weird look on his face and expressed genuine surprise. “I desired to be happy as I saw the many that did not lack were. I worked for all of these with the strength in my back, the skills I had acquired and all the smartness I could muster and my labors have been rewarded richly with more than I have ever thought of having. I am one of the wealthiest men of this kingdom, I make available for my family the best earth can offer, but even with all these, I find no happiness, no pleasure in them all. Now I know better that all these can also make you more miserable. The gods have blessed me with everything, but not good pleasure, happiness to enjoy all these they have given me. There is no delight in my heart at all.” “You speak the truth, my dear friend. I am afraid I fare even worse than you. Everyone thinks so highly of me, but I feel very depressed. I am unhappy everywhere I go, at home with my wife and children, with myself.” “I have always thought that the more gold you acquire, the greater your happiness, but feeling the world on my shoulder and everyone leaning on me, I can gladly trade all my possession if it will offer me some happiness"; if it will not, I will work twice as hard. “ “I feel poor even in the midst of my plenty wealth,” Jelkes assured his friend. “But we do not wish to continue like this do we?” Makplang asked with a ray of hope, with Jelkes nodding his head in agreement. “Perhaps there is some secret we might learn from, someone we could consult, from someone that has lived, someone who knows. We must find out how others lived to be happy, and do as they did. Shouldn’t we?” Jelkes asked. “True, but to who shall we go, who can help us?” Makplang asked. “To the grayest of the kingdom, we shall go-to Dikam Dapia.” “But I thought he is dead already?” Makplang asked. “He is very much alive. He has retired to his mansion. We should go to him at once! He taught us how to make wealth, and we have made tons of it because of him, he must know a thing or two to teach us, and surely it shall be well with us if we obey all he will tell us. Let us go at once.” They both rose to leave. Just then the king arrived. “Long live the king!” both men bowed to pay homage. The passersby and people around also bowed as the servant helped the king from his chariot. The king approached the men and reached to them using his scepter. “You may rise.” The king said. “May the king live long.” Jelkes bowed. “What brings the King to a lowly servant?” Jelkes asked as he ordered a servant fetch an honorable couch for the king, but the king stopped him. “Matters of state, my friend. The eastern gate by the Pidong River is on a halt, the workers have run short of steel, and I have come to request you supply them with as much as they will need.” The king replied. “Your majesty, a word and I will never hesitate, the king should have sent me words instead,” Jelkes replied the king. “Yes, but I wanted to come myself” the king answered. “You do not look cheerful as you are used to being; why are you like this?” the king observed they were worried. “Ah-ah” both men stammered. “Speak up you two!” the king demanded. “May the king live long,” Makplang spoke up for them. “There are so many things we enjoy; the safety behind these walls, the king's patronage, and the exotic delicacies. We can afford ourselves the luxury of privileged people. We live as honorable men; we are blessed beyond curse, but not of true happiness to lighten our world.” “But you have a just share of the wealth of the land; you should be the last to be unhappy. I will double the price you charge me for supplies if that will make my good friends happy.” “Your majesty is always concerned about his subjects, but even that cannot afford to solve our problem. We are going to see the old man-Dikam; his wisdom has helped us to be what we are today. We believe he can help us if you let us meet him.” They pleaded. “I wish I had the answers to your problems, but I don’t. Just like my father, I will send you to Dikam Dapia, he had answers to the men of this great kingdom at the time of my father and we owe our prosperity as a people to his wisdom. Fetch him to the palace so all that fare no better than you two may learn as well.” “Long live the king; you have always been thoughtful of your people like your father. We will do as you say O king.” The men bowed to the king and he was driven off.