THE EXETA

CHAPTER EIGHT

The following morning at the Morrison house, Matthias had tried to coax Marlon to join him for dinner after what had happened yesterday afternoon. Marlon was transfixed, as she had not fully gotten over what had happened. They eat in quietude. Matthias seemed to have been devastated by her daughter demeanour and was tentative if it was auspicious to discuss it with her as they eat. Mattia was still ruminating in his head whether that was going to be a good idea or not. Who cared he was her Dad. And whatever he said was the right thing. It was his responsibility to make sure she did what was right. Totally convinced, Mattias broke the silence.

            “I do not want to sound repulsive but, I like to talk about what happed earlier yesterday. You abashed a stranger, a visitor who had come to visit us…well me technically. I was thinking you could have been a little more polite.”

            Marlon was still eating. It looked as if she had not heard what his Dad had just said. “I know what happened, but you could have still been very nice in addressing the situation.” Mattias added. Marlon suddenly stopped eating and looked at her Dad. He was getting it all wrong here she thought.

            “Dad…he destroyed what I have taken weeks to build. And I do not know how I should have reacted, but that was definitely what I had to do.”

            “And what about the fact that he was a visitor? Did you consider that too?” Mattias stated.

            “Dad…I never knew he was a visitor, until I came to you. But that still did not give him that effrontery to invade the privacy of people. He came with his dad to visit you, I guess he should have been in the living room with you, and not walking around seeking who knows -- someone’s science experiment to destroy.” Marlon shot back stern.

            Matthias bowed his head down. That cold heart and unrelenting trait was familiar. He had seen that in a woman he had loved in the past before. Who accidentally have ended up becoming the mother of her daughter. All Marlon had known from her early age was his father and her auntie in South Africa. Little had been talked about her mother. The last time she had mustered the courage to ask about her mother, Mattias had given a very gory story of how she died given birth to her. Marlon could not accept that easily. What could have possibly happened to her mother? She had thought about that many times. Where ever she was, she had a daughter who will miss her and will be very glad to spend just a micro second with her. Marlon had gone to her room to cry all day, after listening to the story her father had narrated about her mother. She was sad little girl who tried to be happy. But the truth was that, she was never going to have what her friends had -- thus both parents being alive and being present at the Speech and Prize given day to support their child. For months Marlon had grew, with the pinching consciences that she had a family. Her beloved Dad, auntie and nephew. Though her mother was out of the equation she was headstrong that she could still work had to achieve great feats with that and in the end, tell her story one day. She had grown without love of a mother, and that to her still made her a normal child.  She had come to love science - nuclear physics and chemistry as that was her father field as a Chemical Engineer. Every long vacation, they were given the task of a project work, where they were required that performed a basic scientific experiment at home. After which they recorded and presented it to school with a written report for their interim assessment. And that was what she had been working on, when Simon came in handy to obliterate it all, as she had believed it to be. This was not about, being polite, it was more of her life work and she could not react docile about it. How she reacted to Simon, to her, was the best.

            “So what are you going to do now…build a new one or what?” Mattias asked her daughter. Marlon looked on with so much pain and responded, “Yes…that is the only way.”

            “I see…just let me know if you will need another material. And in all that I will need you to do one last thing for me?” Matthias shot back to her daughter. Marlon looked on eager to hear what her father was about to say.

            “I want you to give Simon a call and apologize for your rude behavior.” Matthias said. Marlon quickly jumped to her feat with a surprised fury and bellowed,

            “Dad!...have you not been listening all this while….he destroyed my experiment and am not going to apologize for my behavior.” Livid, Marlon stormed out from the dining table to her room.

            Matthias looked on at Cassie came into clear the table. Mathias feeling like a looser, relaxed his muscle on the chair. “This is what you get raising a teen age daughter without a mother.” Matthias lamented.

            Cassie looked at her boss and replied, “Don’t worry Sir…I will talk to her.”

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It was late evening, and recruit 34 from a Nigeria, Abuja was busy in his one room apartment studying the cipher he had been given to decrypt. The cipher was not like any normal one he had seen. As a graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka he had joined this youth Pan African movement called the PAF – Pan African Frontiers. There were an elite group of young Africans who still held in high esteem the ideals of Pan Africanism. With his association with the, group he had ascended into the office of a leader and as a reward for his loyalty and patriotism, he had received call from some clandestine men saying they will want him to be a part of the struggle for African Unity. The wanted him to join The Brothethood. The theory of the Brotherhood to them was a myth, a legend but after the day he received the call from one of them, all the myth in him had all dissolved. He would have no greater joy than to be a member of The Brotherhood – The Black Guild. He had quickly accepted the offer and the had arrange the date, place and time for him to arrive in Ghana where he was eager to meet these men.

            So, it had had happened after he had been given the general introduction to what he was signing up for, he still was headstrong and willing to join this elite Pan African group. After excelling in the many tests - some challenging, some physical and some literal, he had moved on to the forest escapade where they had been tied and had to find their path to the finish line blind folded. He was in good spirits having been finally matriculated in the brotherhood. But his greatest wish would be fulfilled when he decrypted the Kodex and got the chance to sit at the high table and be called A BROTHER and not A RECRUIT. Though not fully confirmed, upon he was on his way to living his dream and he was not going to stand for anything to repress him.

            He had been studying many books about ancient and contemporary cryptology and cryptography for the past five days and he was still not getting close to the cipher on the Kodex A, the one had had been given. As he continued researching, the screeching of the door had produce an ominous sound that was not usual. One that note, he stopped whatever he was doing, and hide the Kodex A and moved painstakingly to the entrance. He opened the door, and viewed, but saw no one. What could that be? he thought, but as he was returning, a strong blow from a strange hand pummel thrashed great force to his face. He turned to look at the person who had hit him. Standing right infront of him was the assassin – Zade, in an all-black apparel and a red Z symbol embossed on the black mask he wore. Zade was wielding a stringed instrument ready for who knows.

            Recruit 34 hurried and scampered hoping to find a weapon to combat his assailant. Zade was not in to waste much of his time, he then launched forward and took the hand of Recruit 34. He looked on powerless against Zade. Zade had managed to get him in his grip and after a little application of pressure to the recruit head he fell down unconscious.

            After some few minute, recruit 34 came back to life. But his current state was not an emancipating one. He was tied to a chair and his mouth covered with a large ash cello tape. He tried to free himself as that was the prudent thing to do, but he could not. He looked on apprehensive as is his end was certain. Zade on the other side had fixed a camera and was ready to go on with his operation. Zade then took out a device that was similitude to a remote control. But this time it was not a remote control. The device Zade was holding blinked intermittently. And with each blink it gave out a pulsating sound. Zade begun to move about the apartment of Recruit 34 as if he knew his way around the room.  As he moved as stretched the remote device which kept on blinking and giving a signal sound. Recruit 34 was still tied and mouth sealed. All that he could do was watch what was going on but could not interfere. Zade moved closer to a book shelf on the left of the dining table, and the remote device increased it sound as if something was eminent in that area. Zade had got it. He then surveyed the book shelf area removed the books and there it was -- The Kodex A. The remote controll was more like a sensor that was designed to detect the where about of the Kodex. How strange it was. The best question to ask was how did Zade get to have this device?

            Recruit 34 was now boiling with fury and apprehension seeing what Zade had just acquired from his book shelf. He could not get away with that. That was the Kodex given to him to decipher by the Black Guild. He ought to be stopped? These were the thought that flooded the mind of recruit 34, still tied and mouth-sealed he was powerless. Zade then looked at the nice shaped rectangular Kodex A. Nicely, written on the it was the words KODEX A. Zade was excited, recruit 34 was distraught. Zade then moved to catch a glimpse of the camera so to prove that he had obtained the Kodex.  After that, Zade then unraveled the seal – a sello tape from the mouth of Recruit 34. He then let out large breath that showed that he had been in pain for long.

            “Who are you? … You cannot take the Kodex away,” Recruit 34 cried basking in the seams. Zade moved away from the camera and stood fight in front of him with his assassin mask on. Zade was standing posterior to recruit 34 who seemed to show a lot of resilience. If only he will be freed, Zade will not leave the room with the Kodex without a resistance. He will be failing his brothers in the Guild if he allowed this intruder to take the Kodex away.

            “I swore an oath to protect that thing with my life…if you take it away, I will be in trouble…” recruit lamented.

            Zade was not was taciturn still listening to what he had to say. He had not said a word yet and he was not planning to say one. As long as the recorder was on he had to finish what he had come then to do. Zade then sealed the mouth of recruit 34, moved behind his stringed instrument and begun to strangle the neck of recruit 34 him hard with his stringed instrument. The eyes of recruit 34 almost gushing out. The pain was unbearable. He never thought what had had signed up for would end his life this way. He watched on as he could not do anything, enduring the pain - a sacrifice for the unity of Africa, till he gave up the soul. Zade then moved away and look a strange look at his lifeless body. He had accomplished his purpose. He had acquired the Kodex and the recruit was dead. And that was what he had just achieved. Zade then moved to the video. Took the recording and off he left.

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The following morning in the house of the Frimpong Manso everyone was up excerpt Simon. Simon was awake in his room but with what had happened yesterday, he still did not have the confidence to wake up to a brighter day. As he lay on the bed all he thought was how he been humiliated by a girl his age. He hated the daughter of Mr. Morrison. If she ever she found herself in his case God knows that he will do to her. Simon thought. Still on the mountain of thought, Theresa entered holding breakfast on a tray. Simon was surprised to see her mom exuding beauty and a smiling countenance. Simon could not quite decipher the meaning of that but one thing he was sure he knew was that, her mom had come to talk to him about what had happened yesterday. Simon quickly sat up upon seeing her mom enter. Her mon placed the tray on his study table and move to sit by Simon.

            “You did not eat dinner yesterday…” Theresa inquired. The answer was obvious, so Simon did not bother to reply.

            “I heard you had as fight with the daughter of your father’s friend you went to visit yesterday.” Theresa added calmly. Simon then jerked up now ready to talk.

            “We did not have a fight mom, she is just, don’t know how to talk. She was blaming me for trying to fix something she thought I destroyed.” Simon lamented. Theresa was now eager to know what really happened from her son’s view.

            “Tell me what happened” Theresa said placing a soft arm Simons shoulder, what a motherly love.

            “I was coming from the washroom and I saw a nice experiment outside. So, I went near to see how it was functioning. As I stood looking one of the pipes moved from its original position and I was trying to fix it back and in trying I ended up causing more water to gush out. I did not mean to spoil her experiment.” Simon narrated still hurt. Theresa looked at her son’s face and knew he was telling the truth.

            “I believe you Simon, I know you will not intentionally try to spoil her work. But she did not see it that way. She thought you destroyed her work. So, no need of thinking about all the bad things she said to you. You are not a bad person. You have manners and you do not invade people’s lives as she said to you.” Theresa coaxed her son. A glare of joy started forming of the face of Simon. Her mom was the best. She always knew she will always be by her side when anything ever happened to him. Simon was beginning to retreat to the happy boy we knew him to be. Her mom’s words have done all the magic.

            “Thanks mom…” Simon said. Theresa’s nodded in acceptance to that. “Do not think about what happened again, you do not need to be sad about the good you wanted to do for her.” Theresa added.

            “So, go on, and have your breakfast, and after, there is one thing I like us to do…” Theresa said teasingly. Simon was curios what could that be.

            “what is that mom…?” Simon inquired.

            “I want you to write Mr. Morrison’s daughter an apology letter and then you add something to also tease her – something to prove how ignorant she is.  Show her you are intelligent than her,” Theresa proposed.

            Simon jumped in excitement to her mom plan of a minute revenge. Not as in a physical revenge but a subtle and cool revenge as her mom had called it. Simon knew exactly what to put in the letter. He was about to pay her back for what she did to him. Simon in excitement moved from his bed to the study table.

            “Mom…that is great plan…. I like it.” Simon whispered.

            “And do not tell your Dad and Lily…. this is between us okay.” Theresa also whispered.

“Okay.” Simon replied. They both then laughed at the idea, as Theresa moved out of Simon’s room. She was glad that, she had been able to get her so to be happy again.

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Dennis Ato Aikens had always loved history, culture and tradition from an early age. As the son a local Chief, Dennis grew up in Mankessim in the Central Region of Ghana. He had lived all his life in the palace and had been deluged with a considerable amount of history, tradition and culture. He had loved knowledge and was always curious to know more about the origin and the tradition of the different poeple he ever came across. It was with this same passion and foresight the compelled him to pursue History and archaeology in the University. After his undergraduate studied he was advised by his father to stay in his country to further his studies. Dennis parent feared that when their son traveled to a western land, he may forget all that he knows and had known and come to accept about his family lineage and heritage. So, he had obtained all his education laurels in Ghana and some part of Africa. Dennis had heard about the legend of the ethnic organization called the Akan Guild.

The Akan was one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana that comprised of the Ashantes, the Akuapim, the Denkyeras, the Akwamu, the Fantes, the Akyem, and others. All them has their unique origin stories that has form the basis of their traditions and culture. Dennis had spent most of his time in the palace of his Father, and that is where he had learnt about an Akan guild that was believed to house a very powerful Africa relic called The Exeta. The Black Guild was initially and Akan guild that involved only the chief of the different Akan ethnic groups. The members seeing, they were not making enough impact in Africa they then spread their wings to form the Black Guild that would incorporate all Blacks all over the world. So the history was told to Dennis by his father that he was required with the help of THE HARGINGERS OF TRUTH to find able men to form the Black Guild. And as time went on he had had the privilege of meeting Clarence who had become a good friend to him and together had built the Black Guild together from scratch with the help of other African brothers.

The Jones Quartey Building popularly known as JQB of the University of Ghana was packed to its maximum for another exciting History lecture. The murmuring quickly seized when Professor Dennis Ato Aikens entered the class with her his teaching assistant. Prof Aikens placed his suit bag down and moved to face the student. The teaching assistant moved to fix his laptop that was connected to the projector.

            “Good afternoon to you all…am Denis Ato Aikin Professor of History and Africa studies here at the University of Ghana. And the course in which you are enrolled is History 205 -- The history of Ghana. I was very excited when I was called to take this course. Most of the time I handled the third years and fourth years. But am very excited this year to talk about the history of our beloved motherland. Something I think we should all know of head and appreciate as a nation. So, I will say, this lecture is not going to be like the history you know already about how Kwame Nkrumah struggled to gain independence for Ghana. The focus of this lecture will be going back and back and back to how it all begun. How the Gold Coast became the Gold Coast many years before the British and the European came into the picture then finally independence ended our cries.” Prof Aikens said and move about.

            The Teaching assistant was ready for the projection. Prof Aikens then moved to stand behind the laptop that was now set. He looked at the laptop, and shook his head as is something was wrong. He then closed the laptop, and moved with an assured confidence to face the class. All eyes were now on him, he then started to talk,

“Africa is the second largest continent that is blessed with a land full of great beauty and resources. The earliest evidence of human beings came from Africa. Many great cultures developed here. There is this popular statement made by one African scholar called Ali Mazrui, that, Africa is the cradle of humanity. Meaning all other civilization all evolved from Africa. Africa is the mother of the earth, or civilization. I know most of you may be asking why have I diverted from the topic – the history of Ghana and now talking about Africa. Well, there is something I like you to know. We are all one. Where you from Ghana, Nigeria, Serie Leon, Malawi, Kenya, we are all one. Africa is Africa so far us you have the black skin and you identify yourself as black. That was what the pan African Movement stood for. Unity and oneness. We are all one.  Secondly, to understand the medieval history of Ghana you first have to understand the basics. Africa was the home of four great civilizations, the Nubia empire which culminated into the current Egypt that we know, old Ghana empire which also culminated into the current Ghana we know, the Mali empire which ended into the country Mali and finally the Songhay empire that has become the present-day country, Sudan.” Prof Aikens said.

 He then moved about looking at the lame faces of the students. It was apparent that had never heard of all that he had just said. Some serious student started to write what they had heard while other sat a looked on – they preferred to listen than to write. Prof Aikens then went on,

“The Kingdom of Ghana was located in the western African region. It had a national capital known as Kumbi-Saleh. It was a popular and successful trading center in in gold, salt, and slaves, hence the source of its economic power. Important intermediary in the trans-Saharan trade route between the Mediterranean and Europe. Very advanced in the use of iron especially for developing weapons such as spears and arrows, as other states use wooden clubs. The camel was the primary logistical vehicle tool for the Ghanaians, as with other kingdoms in the region. The earliest recorded human habitation within the boundaries of modern Ghana, dates back to circa 10,000 BC on the Oti River.  The oldest date for pottery at the Stone Age site near Accra is 4000 BC.  The empire of ancient Ghana is not geographically, ethnically, or in any other way related to modern Ghana.  Ancient Ghana came into existence when, at the start of the first millennium, a number of clans of the Soninke people, a Mande speaking people living in the region bordering the Sahara, came together under the leadership of Dinga Cisse.” Prof Aikens continued.

“It is likely that the Soninke was formed in response to the attacks from nomadic raiders suffering from drought and seeking new territory.  Ancient Ghana derived its power and wealth from gold, and the introduction of the camel increased their ability to transport goods.  Most of the knowledge of Ghana comes from Arab writers who reported that the Soninke people also sold slaves, salt, and copper in exchange for textiles, beads, and finished goods.  Their capital city, Kumbi Saleh, was built on the edge of the Sahara and quickly became the most dynamic and important terminus of the Saharan trade routes. The wealth of ancient Ghana is mythically explained in the tale of Bida, the black snake. History records that, the snake demanded an annual sacrifice in return for guaranteeing prosperity in the Kingdom.  Each year a virgin was offered as a sacrifice, until one year, the fiancé of the sacrificial virgin rescued her.  Feeling cheated, Bida took revenge on the region - a terrible drought took hold of Ghana and gold mining began to decline.  There is actually archaeological evidence confirming that until the 12th century, sheep, cows, and even goats were abundant in the region. While numerous reasons are given for the decline of ancient Ghana, perhaps the greatest factors were that the King lost his trading monopoly at the same time the drought began, resulting in long-term damaging effects on the land and its ability to sustain cattle and cultivation.”

The student interest had peaked at this moment and wanted more. There was a lot that had never know about Ghana, but from thing particular lecture, they were really getting enlightened. Prof was getting closer, it was almost time as he looked at his watch.

“Time is almost up. One last thing I like to add is that, after 700 AD, the religion of Islam began to spread over northern Africa. Muslim warriors came into Ghana and fought with the non-Islamic people there. This weakened the great civilization of Ghana.  Local warriors then decided to break away from the power of Ghana and form their own local kingdoms. This ended many of the trade networks. This eventually weakened the civilization of Ancient Ghana. What ensued after that, we will talk more about that in our next meeting. Have a good day…”

With that, the afternoon class ended, and the student move on to other duties.