The only child

CHAPTER 8

A Judge began," By the evidence presented before us and by the authority bestowed upon me, I hereby declare that Kune be beheaded in the Butu forest tomorrow morning.

" Abomination!!!," the people chorused. Kune burst into loud tears.

Homa and another maid in the palace are discussing Kune.

" Hmmmmm…….I feel bad for Kune. Kune will be history by this time tomorrow," the maid said.

" I'm not sad. She deserves it. How could she do something like that? Kill a whole Prince?" Homa replied.

" I have a feeling that she is innocent," the maid said.

"Ohhh, you mean the Judges are lying? You better not be heard. Remember, the walls have ears," Homa said.

The maid replied," I never said the Judges are lying.

Anyways, goodnight".

Kune weeps the whole night. She cried her eyes out. So many thoughts running through her mind. So, there would be no one to carry on her father's name.

The Butu forest is the most dangerous forest in Akumi. The forest is well known as the scariest forest in the whole region. People know that those who go there never come back. It is also well known for it being inhabited by deadly animals such as python and other deadly animals. Kune remembered that there was a time when she was young, a certain young man named Tito who was a thief was caught and driven into the Butu forest. Until today, no one had ever heard about him.

She just imagined that just like Tito, she would become history tomorrow. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

Early in the morning, the guards came up to take her to the Butu forest. They chained both her legs and her hands. They dragged her. Trekking to the Butu forest takes nothing more than four hours. All passers-by stood to watch Kune with tears in their eyes. Kune starts soliloquizingin tears.

I am innocent

am innocent, I committed no crime

I am being accused of what I know nothing about

I committed no crime

I have no father, no mother, no sister, no brother. No one to call my own.. I am all alone

I am so lonely. I have nobody to call my

I did not commit a crime. I need a rescuer

I need a savior. A helper

Who do I call on? Who?

The world has failed me

The world has betrayed me

I need help. I need help.

Where do I start from?

What should I do? No hope

Kune, you are finished. You lived a life without any achievement

Why am I suffering innocently?

I am innocent

I am innocent

I am innocent

I did no wrong, King, hear me

I did no wrong, Queen, hear me

I did no wrong, Chiefs, hear me

I did no wrong, Judges, hear me

Aftercomers will not know me

I will become history

I will be described as someone who died as a murderer, a crime I know nothing about

I am innocent

I am innocent

I am innocent

I did not kill the Prince

Who implicated me?

Who lied against me?

Who wants to see my end?

I have been implicated

I have been lied to

I was told, "go, you will be favored"

My end has been seen by wicked men

If I had known, I would have not worked in the Palace

If I had known that I would be implicated, I would have not worked in the palace

If I had known

that my mother would die, I would not have worked in the palace

Why don't good people live long?

Why are the good, always oppressed?

Why do the wicked always triumph?

Why do the good people suffer?

My mother taught me to be good

I never knew that being good has disadvantages

Kune seemed to have no hope. Her mind wandered here and there. She was not settled. She is troubled and sad at the same time. One of the guards, Yeyemi, was touched by her song. But, he could do nothing as it was already too late to act. Kune then remembers a day her mother and her had gone into the bush to fetch some herbs for fever.

Six year old Kune and her mother are in the farm looking for herbs. Her mother had a great idea on the usage of herbs. Her husband fondly called her, " my Doctor". They come across a plant with some leaves. Kune's mother examines them critically, trying to recall their usage.

" Mummy, these leaves are green. I will pluck some of these to play with at home," said little Kune plucking some leaves.

"My daughter, these leaves are good to chew in place of food. They are nutritious. Don't underestimate its value," Kune's mother said.

"Okay, mummy

Okay, mummy. I will always remember ," little Kune said playfully.

Kune thought to herself," If I eat these leaves, I would have strength. Let me pluck some for myself". She then stretched over to some leaves. Her hands were chained but she struggled to pluck some leaves which she ate. She managed to gather some strength. She had not eaten anything for two days. She gathered all her strength to continue moving.

" At least, let me eat something before I die," Kune thought to herself.

"Walk fast," shouted a guard," we must finish our job before dusk," he concluded.

" Ohhh, we've been trekking for over an hour now, please, let us rest," said a guard.

"Yes, I agree with you. I am also very tired but I

but I did not want to be the first person to speak," said another guard.

" You see, you see, you both are just unserious. That's how you always behave. When we are sent on an errand by the King, that's how you behave. A journey of four hours will now turn to a journey of six hours just because of your lazy attitude," another guard said angrily.

"Listen, if you don't want to rest, you can go. Enough of this nonsense ," the first guard said.

" And you, Kune, don't even think of trying to escape because you will not succeed. We know this forest like the back of our palm," the second guard said.

" How will she even escape with her chained legs and hands?" a guard said mockingly. There was a sharp burst of laughter.

Kune again bursts into hot tears.