DIAMOND IN THE FOREST.
Episode 23.
Dami digged up more ridge for
his grandma at her backyard,
he kept on digging and
suddenly he st©pped to wipe
sweat out of his forehead, the
sweet aroma coming from his
grandma’s kitchen filled his
nose
His stomach made a funny
sound, he can’t wait to eat
whatever the grandma was
ma-king
He sat on the ridge and held
his digging hole in hand as he
look straight at nothing
He was de-ep in thought when
his grandma startled him
“Eku se omo daadaa… (Well
done good child) I’m ma-king
risi ati omiobe (rice and stew) I
guess you are tired… you have
tried for today… go and wash
up so that you will have
something to eat…I bought
rabbit from the hunter…I added
it to the omiobe…and dried
some by the fire for tomorrow
efo riro…so we will be having a
rabbit stew with rice…I have
miss my usual bush meat…
when your grandpa was alive…
people come here to ask if
there’s any bush meat
available…I will serve them and
they will eat to their
satisfaction before going to
their different houses… your
grandpa was a good hunter, a
loving husband and a great
father not just to your mother
who happens to be our only
child but to other children…
“And you are a great loving
grandma… you seem to be
taking maami’s death with
ease… being your only
biological child…every mother
will cry their eyes out if they
loose their child…
“No mother wishes for the
death of their children, every
s-en-seable human prays to
grow old and and die at a very
prime age…peacefully. it was a
mishap… like a b!ow to us all
but death is certain, mine May
not come earlier but it will,
both the good and the wicked
dies my child… killing another
will not make the wicked to
live forever, the wicked will
still die anyway…
“I wish mother has lived…I
wish Remi wasn’t banished, I
wish father was
alive…uhmmm…I just wish for
many things yet I can’t have
any…
“If wishes where horses even
beggars will take a ride on it…
isn’t it how the saying
goes?…life happens my son…so,
we the living have to move
on… let’s not dwell on our loses
but take everyday as a gift
from the gods… only the living
has hope for tomorrow…a
living dog is better than a dead
lion… being alive is not because
we deserve it or we did more
good than the dead…not at all…
only the gods favors those they
chose to favor, so everyday is a
blessing and live it as such and
don’t be ungrateful rather be
thankful in everything…in that
way you will secure more of
the gods blessings…
“Bee ni iyaiya ( that’s very true
grandma) I imagine what Remi
could be doing, being all alone
in the forest, no good shelter,
no good cooked food, no
friends or anyb©dy to talk
to…just all alone, expo-sed to all
kinds of danger, wild animals
and bad spirit that hooves
around… she is carrying a
child…who will help her during
birth time… How will she cope
with everything…iya you
as-sured me that egbon mi (my
elder sister) will be fine but I
find it difficult to believe just
imagining all the danger she
has to face.. except you are
saying that to console me…all I
see is the impossibility of her
survival…I know she is very
strong, she has a strength of
five men yet even her strength
may fail her in such an
environment… she won’t be
able to make it iya…I fear…
hmmm…I fear for her…
“Don’t be… Remi is fine…I
as-sured you that… she carried a
diamond that must not be
tampered with… maybe if she
has stayed behind the wicked
would have found a means to
hurt her and the seed of crown
so the gods s£nt her away and
I’m certain they will protect
her… I know she has being
throu-gh alot, wrongly accused,
injustice done her and then a
harsh s£ntence was pas-sed,
your mother died and she was
banished with the child that
was still forming in her wo-mb…
that is just too much for one
person… yet she will scale
throu-gh, victory will be hers
when the sun finally set in her
favor…
“Amin…(Amen) let me run to
the river and have a long swim,
I will fetch more water on my
way, I can’t wait to eat the
rabbit stew with rice…mo nbo
iya (I’m coming grandma)
Nike c@m£ to meet Leja where
he sat
“You know you can’t drop out
now… whatever happens has
happened..I wanted her off my
way and is done…
“You are so heartless… do you
know that Remi also lost her
mother and I’m very sure your
wicked mother has a hand in
her death…how can you be
okay with yourself knowing
well that Remi might be dead
by now for your sins… like
mother like daughter…too
evil….how do you sleep at
night with your conscience…
“I don’t have one, I don’t have
a conscience…if you become an
enemy I will make sure I clear
you off my way…
“Do not dare use those
threatening tone on me… I’m
very sure you know who you
are talking to, I told you Nike..I
warned you not to do anything
against the oba that he has the
ear of the gods and yet you
disobeyed and went ahead just
to have the prince and become
Queen…now the prince does
not want you or any maiden
close to him…ever since Remi
was banished for the very sin
you committed… you suppose
to be the one in that evil forest
and probably dead by now not
Remi…but I’m sure the gods
will deal with you for all your
atrocities…
“You mean deal with”us” I’m
as guilty as you are so don’t
start what you can’t finish…if I
go down you are definitely
going with me Leja… so you
better cooperate and st©p
trying to shift the blame on
me… and leave iyami out of
this… I’m waiting for my flow
this month if it did not come it
means that the prince will be a
father with your child…I will do
everything I can to make the
prince to become mine…
whether he likes it or not… I’m
fully into this no going back…I
will achieve all my aim… just
watch and see…
Ope walked past Leja and Nike
as they argue that day, Ope
noticed that since Remi left, the
palace has loose it’s color,
everything seem boring and
quiet or maybe is the way she
feels and Leja and Nike seems
to be having argument every
now and then
The next morning
Ope pas-sed Leja without
greeting him, Leja called her
“Hey…do I look so small or I’m I
invisible that made you to
walk pas-s me like that…
“Imabinu… ekaro (don’t be
angry, good morning)
“You have being giving
attitude this days Ope…I
noticed it but wanted to keep
watching you until I’m sure of
what you are turning into…be
guided…
“I’m guided you are the one I
should be telling to be
guided…I don’t mean this as an
insult but why don’t you hush
Nike like you are doing right
now…I know both of you are
upto to something…I don’t
know what it is but I just hope
it has nothing to do with Remi
being banished… Remi is a
good maiden and has a heart
of gold… her sister Nike was
always jealous of her and I
know it right from time is just
Remi did not see the green
snake in a green gras-s that
Nike was.. you lied the baby
she carries was yours but I
know is not true it belongs to
the prince… Remi said it
herself… and I believe her…
even the princess confirmed
it…I saw your guilty face that
day her s£ntence was
pas-sed…it was as if you were
being punch… Leja I
un-derstand that jealousy is
ma-king you do the things you
don’t want to do…but the gods
will not forgive you if you
don’t let the cat out of the
bag… Remi maybe dead but
she will not be forgotten in the
heart of those of us that love
her… don’t you feel guilty… you
killed an innocent girl with
your evil minded companion…
“I did not kill any one… st©p
as-suming things that you are
not sure of… whatever happens
is in the past now.. everyone is
trying to move past that…
“Not everyone… Leja… you can
not move past it because it is
glued to your conscience…
Mikai ha-rd a whistle from the
far end of the forest and
whistled back
“That was my father, I call him
Pah, he is back from
hunting…we use mouth whistle
to communicate sometimes…
Let me call him to come over…
Mikai whistled again three
times with her mouth different
sound, before turning to Remi
who has thousand and one
question she wanted to ask the
girl who looks like she was not
afraid of anything or anyone.
“What are you roasting…I
mean what kind of animal is
that… burning out… that’s not
how to roast a game…
“Is a gras-s cuter… the one it’s
back is covered with spikes…
that is what i use to make my
arrow…
“Ooh…it looks like a hedgehog
to me… and your bow and
arrow is made from a bole..tree
trunk… that’s not good.. you
can’t do anything with this…I
will give you one of mine…I
have different types some
made from animals skin… Pah
thought me how to make my
own weapon…I really have
questions I would love to ask
but let my father come first.
“Same here, I also have
questions but let’s wait for
your father…
The monkey jumped on the
tree and
started ma-king strange noise, a
mouth whistle was ha-rd not
too far from where they where
and Mikai responded
“I guess your father is close
by… that is why Ore..my friend
is ma-king those funny noise…
“Sure he is… animals has a
funny way of communicating
to humans… when you live
among them you will get to
un-derstand them better…here
he comes…pah…
A tall young man, maybe a
little younger than Leja or
same age, with a hand made
raffle hanging on his shoulder,
he was good looking and has a
big scar on his forehead, Remi
has expected an older man but
was shock to see a young fine
man, a Father to Mikai who has
a little of his resemblance
He stood surprised as he
looked from Remi to Mikai,
Mikai spoke first
“Pah… her name is Remi, that’s
her friend the monkey, who
she calls Ore… she is lost…I
guess… so we are not really the
only one living in the
forest…we have a companion…
and she is expecting a baby…
look at her tummy… God added
to us… we will have a friend
and a sister… isn’t that cool…
pah… pah
Remi smile as she watch Mikai
speak to the man who seem to
be lost in thought as he stare
at Remi. When he got himself
he moved closer
“Pardon me plea-se… I’m just
shock to see another human
here after many years. before I
start throwing the question
going throu-gh my mind let me
introduce myself first… I’m
Sipah from the far north. I
guess Mikai has introduce
herself alre-ady…I thought we
are the only human here… I’m
glad to meet another maybe
we can talk about why you are
here… you will nee-d good food
and a shelter…
“I’m Remi… you and your
daughter’s accent sound so
different and sweet to the ear ..
I’m so happy that I’m not alone
here… thank you Si…pah
“Just call me Pah… and don’t
thank me yet… because we
haven’t done anything for
you…I will pick up your things
and we will all leave here…
“Thank you “Pah.. I’m grateful
Sipah and Mikai gathered up
Remi things, wra-pped it up and
carried it, as they turn to leave,
Sipah turned to Remi…
“Forget about the bush
meat…is almost turning into
charcoal, whenever you want
to roast a game.. don’t leave it
ones you throw it into the fire
just… keep turning it untill is
properly done…I will teach you
how to do that… Do you still
have another person here or
you are the only one…
“Yes, I’m just the only one with
my monkey friend… Ore, hope
you don’t mind if he comes
along…he has being so helpful…
“Ofcurse not…Ore is from now
onward our friend… let’s go
home
Remi smiled as she looked
from Sipah to Mikai who were
both smiling, Sipah has a very
attrac-tive fine smile as he
looked at Remi, she looked up
the tree where the monkey
was jumping from br@nch to
br@nch
“Ore… is time to go… come let’s
go… there’s home for us
somewhere…
They walked untill Remi could
see a mould house and the out
house was built with leaves
and sticks the whole place was
wi-dely fenced, and there were
vegetables and yam farm,
there was also corn and Millet
farm everything seem to be in
order and well arranged
She smiled as Sipah ushered
her into their home in the
heart of the forest
She thanked him ones again as
Mikai took her into a warm
room
Sipah rushed to the fire place
to cook something for Remi,
who despite how stressed and
troubled she look she still
posses an inner beauty that is
so welcoming
He can’t wait to hear her story
and what she was doing in the
forest
Remi’s looked out at the small
window and saw Sipah, cutting
wood and putting them on fire,
something was cooking in the
fire place, Sipah has a well built
muscle and and an inviting
smile, despite the scar on his
forehead he was still very
handsome and also young
Remi wondered if he was truly
the father of Mikai because of
how young and handsome he
was
She can’t wait to hear their
stories and what made them to
build a home in the heart of
the forest surrounded by wi-de
animals but for now she will
silently thanked the gods for
s£nding Mikai and Sipah to her
ai.
Episode 24.
“….you don’t un-derstand how
this people think…they reason
like the old and did not want
anything that will change their
believe and when he c@m£
with that…it bec@m£ a total
war…they wedged a serious
war against him and his family
because they thought he
wanted to corrupt their land
and change what they hold
dearly…
“My grandma told me such
stories…it also happened in our
place…but they were chased
out…
“well…it still happens my
dear…some people have a
heart of stones and which can
not easily be pene-trated…that
was how our people was…I’m
Mikai’s uncle, but I have
watched her grow everyday
and turning into a strong
beautiful woman, when her
parents died and I escaped
with her, she was just four
years…she is twelve years
now…which means we have
live in this forest for eight
years…the people almost killed
us, as they lynched up the
house and it went up in
flames…their was no way of
escape, Mikai’s mother was the
first to burn up…I saw this
things happen as angry mob
stood outside rejoicing that
they have burn us all, i called
my elder brother Mikai’s father
and his response was…was not
in this world again…but I ha-rd
him saw…”sip…take Mikai…
run…run as far as you can…
become a father to her and let
her be a daughter to you…
don’t fail to put God first…for
even in death there’s victory…
dust off your shoes sand ones
you are out of this town and
never return to it…because this
land will become desolate and
barren…fear God…and put him
first…let Mikai grow with the
knowledge and power in the
name above all names…
“They were missionaries…I
mean Mikai parents…
“yes…they were like I said
earlier… that was their only
sin…our only sin, I wra-pped
Mikai up, there was no time to
pick much things so I just pick
the few I l@ymy eyes on and
escaped throu-gh the window
with Mikai, I ran with her into a
near by bush and watch as the
house was burn down…I held
my breath and thought I was
going to die too…but for the
sake of Mikai I nee-ded to be
strong, we roam round the
bush for days, eating anything
eatable…but the Lord was with
us…I dust my feet as I was told
and cursed the land for taking
the only family I hold dearly to
my heart, Mikai father took
care of me so well after the
death of our parents until he
got married and the wife
bec@m£ both mother and a
sister to me…but that village
took them untimely while we
sleep at night…they set the
whole building on fire and I
manage to escape with Mikai…I
live in hate and bitterness until
I was tired of it and I just have
to let go…hatred and
unforgiveness does no good to
anyone…if Christ can forgive his
persecutors how much more
we that claims to love him…i
found a living here Remi…and
God indeed has being God to
us…
“Your scar…on your forehead…
was it cursed by the fire…
“Not at all…I sustained it from
here when I battled with a
wild bear…well it gave me a
life threatening injury but I
killed it after all, and I also
have several on my b©dy, a
hunter was attacked in the
night one day, on hearing
human cry for help I rushed to
rescue and it was a hyena…not
just one but four hyenas…
hmmm, I killed them all but
my b©dy was scattered with
their sharp teeth and I loosed a
lot of blood but I recovered,
God has being good to me and
Mikai, he has never forsaken us,
we have no charm protecting
us here or any other power
except the power from above…
so…tell me about yourself…
what brou-ght you here
“I was banished…I was
wrongly accused of poisoning
the king and I was banished…
s£nt here to die, well it looks
like the gods are smiling down
on me just like my grandma
always say, is a long story
Pah…but I will tell you all
about it…maybe tomorrow,
today is almost gone, let me
cook evening food for us…
“the child you carry…is it for
your husband…are you
married…why will your people
be so heartless to banish a
pregnant woman…for God’s
sake that’s so cruel and
inhuman…
“I’m not married, I got
entangled with the prince one
night and it resulted to my
pregnancy, he can’t even
remember because he was
drun!k…so when I told him the
truth he refuse to believe me…
so I bore this shame with pride
no matter what…a child is a
gift from the gods and
shouldn’t suffer because of the
sin of the parents…my story is
an interesting one…but I don’t
count my trouble anymore
because I now have you, Mikai
and ore as my new family
here…well let me start the food
preparation…
“You don’t nee-d to stress
yourself…I will do the
cooking… Ore, our monkey
friend can keep me busy with
it’s whining, you and Mikai can
take a walk round the farm…I
will prepare your bath before
you return, and the food will
be re-ady…we process our own
little food here and is easily
done…a lot of dry meat and
fruits, oil, cas-sava meal, yam,
millets, honey, quail and goose
eggs too, the forest has
thought me into knowing how
to do almost everything and
anything… this is our own
world…far from our kind and
live in the means of animals,
most of the animals are very
friendly…just like Ore, the
monkey…if you don’t hurt
them they will not hurt you…I
set tra-p all around this fence
for trespas-ser…Mikai is growing
stronger and stronger both in
the Lord and in strength…
“Your way of believe is strange
to me…and it sound and look
so foreign, I grew up with
different setting…and the gods
of our ancestors are real…they
set me up on this journey…
hope you don’t mind if…
“ Remi…in this place we won’t
f0rç£ you to adapt to our
system of living and worsh!p…
in every village there are origin
and traditions of the land that
the people follow, like a yam
festival, the moonlight festival,
the first rain festival and so
many others…and without this
festivals and celebr@tion the
said kingdom may loose It’s
purpose and traditions…live a
free live here and don’t feel
intimid@t£d with our ways, the
sun shine both on the good
and evil…same is the rain…we
are all one but have different
calling and purpose…whatever
rocks your boat…is fine by me,
the gods of your ancestors still
point down to the almighty,
who is all knowing….and wise,
the foolishness of God is wiser
than the wisdom of men, he
alone knows why our p@rt
crossed…and only his will must
be done…
“Amin…thank you Sipah…you
are God s£nt to me…you
Mikai… also Ore….hahahaha…it
sound so funny how a monkey
could be so helpful…I feel so
blessed to be surrounded with
your warm pres£nce…i can’t
st©p saying thank you…
Remi live with Sipah and Mikai
even as her month of birthing
drew near, Sipah and Mikai
fetched water to feel their
hand made pots, they put
everything necessary down as
Remi’s day drew near
Remi was slicing vegetable
that day Sipah has gone for
hunting, Mikai went to the
spring to get water, Remi was
with Ore as she felt something
gushing un-der her cloth.
“Ore…Ore…come…come here…
quic-k….
The monkey shakes it’s tail as it
look up from the nut that he
was eating, but did not bother
to move
“Ore…I said come…here….i
nee-d help…go and fetch me
that wra-pper over there…
wra-pper…my cloth is socked
up…I can’t seem to move…
Ore…get away from that nut
and get that wra-pper for me…
plea-se…..
The monkey jumped up and
down, ma-king noise as if it was
saying something to Remi…
which Remi did not
un-derstand, the monkey
instead of bringing the
wra-pper from the place c@m£
close and sat with Remi still
eating his nut.
“Ore…I wish you can
un-derstand me…but is…
aaarghhh… there’s a sharp pain
coming…aarghh
The monkey jumped on t©p of
a chair that has pieces of cloth,
he shift it close to Remi who
was just confuse on what to do
“that is not the wra-pper I
asked you to bring but this will
be helpful…thank you
anyway…
She cleaned herself up, and
tried to use her mouth to
whistle as Sipah and Mikai does
it but to no avail, she couldn’t
do it despite how many time
Mikai has thought her, she wish
Sipah or Mikai will return and
help her
The monkey s-en-ses her
discomfort and ran out, facing
the spring, he later return with
Mikai, who was on a run
“is there a problem…Ore c@m£
to meet me at the spring,
where I was washing, he was
trying to tell me something I
s-en-sed is about you…are you
alright
“I think is the baby…is
coming…the baby is coming…
water just rush down un-der
my legs…I don’t know the
meaning of that but I s-en-se the
baby is coming…
MIkai set up all the necessary
things for her inside the warm
room she share with Remi, she
as-sisted Remi to go inside and
just when she l@ydown and
with just the second push a
baby cry was ha-rd .
It filled the whole room, and
just then Sipah c@m£ in with a
big bush meat that he caught.
He ha-rd the cry of the baby and
rushed to the room where
Remi held her baby in hand
while Mikai, tried to clean up
the place after cutting the
umbilical cord
“Oh my God…wow…our baby is
here finally…
“Pah, she just gave the second
push and the baby c@m£ forth
with ease…giving birth looks
so easy than what you told
me…and is a baby boy… so
cute…wow…I can’t wait to hold
him too…
“hahahaha…giving birth is
never easy for some…some
women pas-s on from there but
I’m glad that is not her case,
God is truly with her…no
complication, and yes that’s a
sweet looking baby…can I help
with anything….congratulation
Remi…
Remi smile as she looked at her
baby whom she wra-pped up
with cloth and he gentle su-ckle
in her tiny b—-t…
“thank you Sipah…God is
good…everything was almost
done before you c@m£ in, Mikai
will make a good midwife…just
help us and bury this umbilical
cord…Mikai will do the rest…
thank you…and we will also be
nee-ding a h0t water again…
Sipah smile and nodded, he
can’t express how happy he
was to see Remi deliver safely,
he later rushed to the kitchen
after burying the cord in his
farm, he boil more h0t water
as Remi had demanded.
Ore was just going around with
Sipah as Sipah set up another
fire to prepare a yam pottage
for Remi with the bush meat
he just caught.
Tbc
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