Ring Of Fire

Ring Of Fire 16

Dan's mother kept on pacing and Dan kept on looking at her. After a while Dan's mother sat on the edge of the bed and said almost to herself, "it looks like my nightmare has begun"

"Mother, what do you mean?" asked Dan. Dan's mother sighed and continued, "When a young man begins to ask so much question on a particular issue then that is where his heart lies. If he is asking about a woman then he is ready to marry but..." She turned to look at Dan, , "If he is asking about something those before him never asked I become worried. Your father warned me about you but here you are proving him right" The woman began to cry.

Dan stood up from his mat and began to comfort her. "Mother I'm sorry if my words are making you cry. I know you don't want to tell me about the Ifites. But don't worry about it. I will find out by myself" he said and laid down, covered himself up with her mother's wrapper and closed his eyes. His mother continued to stare at her, unable to believe that her son suddenly started asking about Ifite. She recalled years back when she was carrying Dan in her womb. Her husband had returned from his hunting trip and had gone straight to her and held her stomach. She thought it was his usual way of greeting his baby inside her womb but she noticed he was shedding tears. She made him sit as she asked, "Are those tears of joy or tears of agony?" she had asked.

"These are tears of joy and of agony as I have been told countless times by our Seers that the child you carry is a blessing not just to this family but to the world and my tears are of agony as I have been equally told countless times that I won't be alive to witness his coming to the earth"

The wife had become scared as she held his face and began to cry. "what does this revelation mean? it means I won't get to hold you for another one year? that you won't be here to support me in raising this child? If a child is going to be great won't his coming bring good luck to his family? why would his coming take away my joy?" Dan's mother had cried.

Dan's father had held her by the shoulder and said, "I know that I won't be here with you for long but I want you to know that our unborn son will give you headache while growing up, such things are common with greatly destined people. But you must allow him follow his heart for his heart will lead him to his works and his works to his destination in life. I'm not going to be with you physically but I will be with you spiritually and whenever you call on me I will listen and I will come to your rescue"

The two couple had hugged each other tightly that evening with tears falling down Dan's mother's eyes.

On one of Dan's father's visit to check his traps he encountered the Anoshi. The Anoshi was this great oracle of Randa and he carried fire in his mouth. When he appeared to Dan's father he didn't recognise him until Anoshi introduced himself. Dan's father had fallen on both knees to greet him with his face on the ground. Anoshi had asked him to stand and look him straight in the face.

"No one looks at your face for long and survives it great Anoshi" He had replied him.

"But I'm telling you to do so because that will be the last face you will see" said Anoshi.

Dan's father began to sob while still facing the ground. "Can't I even be allowed to say goodbye to my wife and my unborn child?" he cried.

"You have been saying that for long now. The priests I sent to you have told you countless times of this moment. You would not deny you were not aware of it" Said Anoshi.

"I would not deny great god, I would not deny" cried Dan's father.

"then why is your heart broken? Do you not know that it is an honor to be taken away by the gods? Do you not know that even the dead kings of Randa never had the opportunity to see me? Do you not know that it is because of what your son will become that has made me honor you with my presence? Do you not know that?" said Anoshi.

"I know all these and I thank you great god" said Dan's father.

"Then rise, go and say good bye to your wife. After that you will be dead" Said Anoshi.

"great god said that his face will be the last face I will see before I'm gone. How is this going to be knowing fully well that you have permitted me to go and see my wife before I die" asked Dan's father.

"But I'm right and I have always been right and of course my face will be the last face you will see before you die" He said and disappeared.

Dan's father had returned home that morning only to find out that his wife was in labour and the midwives were inside his hut with her. He sat outside worriedly and waited. After a while one of the midwives ran outside to announce that his wife had put to bed a bouncing baby boy. Dan's father stood from his seat and knelt and said, "Thanks to the gods for the saviour is here" He rose and went inside to see his wife and new born baby. After he had sat near his wife and she had flashed him with a smile he looked at the baby and after he had touched him all he could see in the baby's face was the face of Anoshi, the great god. He immediately went blind. He smiled and his wife realised that something was wrong.

"Are you okay my husband?" she asked. Dan's father smiled again and said, "I name him Dan Anoshi for he will be great in the name of Anoshi, the great god" he said and placed his head on his wife's laps and died.

That day, it was joy and sorrow mixed together.

*********

As Dan's mother watched his son sleep that night she said to herself, "Anoshi, the great god, here is your son, look out for him" She laid down to rest and never woke up the next day.

In the morning, Dan watched as his mother was laid to rest in the grave. He refused to cry as he continued to say, "The gods allowed her to play her part as they did my father. Father and mother were my heroes and now my journey starts"

The next day he came out of his father's hut with his lion skin bag hung round his shoulder and a sword in his left hand. He saw a lady standing in his compound and raised his head to look at her very well. "Who are you?" he asked her.

"Can a tortoise go on a journey without its shell?" asked the woman.

"Are you saying you are my shell?" asked Dan.

"I'm saying you need a shell" said the woman.

Dan thought for a while before he asked again, "Who are you?"

"My name is Adola, the only daughter to the High Priestess of Randa. My mother said I must come to you and that you have something to tell me" said the lady.

"I don't have anything to tell you" said Dan.

"That is exactly what she said you will tell me and that will serve as a confirmation that her sending me here was my destiny" she said and forced a smile.

Dan walked up to her and faced her angrily, "You should stop speaking in parables and out of with it in a plain way"

"What do you want me to say?" She asked.

Dan looked at her again and said, "Where am I going?"

"I don't know" answered the girl.

"Then how can you follow someone whom you don't know where he is going?" asked Dan.

"you are my eyes and so I don't need any. I will just follow you" said the lady.

"What is your name again?" asked Dan.

"Adola" she answered.

"I don't like you Adola. I don't trust beautiful women. I don't trust you. So walk out" he said.

"My mother also said that you will be stubborn and I should not pressurise you. I will go but you will come looking for me" she walked out.

Dan chuckled and said to himself, "If only she knew what I'm burdened with. Not every woman has the heart to follow a man on his dangerous journey" he said and walked out of his father's compound.

***********

When Adola returned to her mother the High Prophetess did not say a word to her. She already knew she would return.

"He did what you said he would do" Adola said and sat. After a while the prophetess said, "Why delay himself, for he will return for you. A tortoise does not go out on a trip without its shell. He will return for you" said her mother.

"But mother, why him? Why must my destiny be tied with an arrogant brat like him?!" She said hatefully.

"Does someone call himself names?" asked the mother and Adola shook her head.

"then don't call him names for when you do you do that to yourself" Said the High Prophetess.

"Where is he heading to?" asked Adola.

"I do not know more than the gods. Only they know where they are taking him to. Your duty is to follow him and make sure he accomplishes his mission" answered the mother.

**********

On the road to the market where Dan wanted to purchase a horse for his journey he immediately got pressed and he stuck his sword in the ground and went inside the nearby bush. After he was done he stepped out to see that his sword was missing. He looked around and saw a young man seated on a log of wood, swinging the sword and paying no attention to him.

"That belongs to me" said Dan. But the young man was not paying any attention to him.

"I said, that belongs to me" repeated Dan. The young man then looked at him and said, "Is this the weapon you carry?" He asked.

Dan was not replying as he waited.

"This is ordinary weapon. Why leave the main weapon at home. Do you wish to get tied already?" asked the young man.

"Who are you?" Dan asked suspiciously.

"My name is Anoshi, the god of destiny" said the young man. Dan chuckled and said, "Anoshi wouldn't be like you. Where is the fire in your mouth? I was told he had fire in his mouth and...

" Was that the same reason you didn't believe Adola? You want a proof to know that I'm Anoshi? can you stand the proof if is it presented before you? Are you going to remain standing before me!!!" the young man became really angry. Dan slowly went down on his knees and bowed before him.