To Ikemba, each day
came so lengthy that it seems like a thousand years, but that wouldn’t stop the
day from doing its daily assignment, neither will the night move in before the
day completes its routine, it looked like nature was not by the side of Ikemba.
Observing his curiosity, Ojinta advised his son that Patience is the only
virtue he needs at this time because as a hunter you must have a lot of
patience to get a big catch.
The whole community
were discussing about the upcoming competition with their neigbouring village.
Usually, twenty young men are selected randomly from the two villages and a
three day time line is given to allow each participant get their biggest kill.
The organizers of the competition planned it so as to usher in the New yam
festival, which is a very crucial celebration among the people of Lorji
community and neigbouring villages, though the idea of this competition, the
annual hunting escapade, was planned between the Lorji village, and their
neigbours, the Ihekamma village. It is also important to note that this
competition has lasted for years.
Ikemba and his
friends were busy playing the “Oro oro’ game when the town crier passed them
shouting aloud that he has been sent to remind everyone that the competitions
will be in a few days, he said further that the day after the full moon has been
selected for all the villagers to assemble at the village square so as to kick
off the competition, he moved further to other regions of the village, tapping harder
his gong and shouting on top of his voice so that everyone will hear the
information clearly. Ikemba told his close friends that the time is near, but
he doesn’t want to be anxious, so he continued playing, but within his heart,
he mumbled some prayers to the gods for guidance and focus.
The night came, and
the entire village had entered their hut, well, aside the warriors who take
turns to watch out for intruders. Ikemba walked into his mother’s hut, he had a
heavy heart and was very scared of what is ahead of him. Sensing the worry on
his son’s face, Abuoma asked “My son, what is the problem?, you look very
worried”. Ikemba hugged his mother tight and said “mum, I am scared”, She
smiled and said, you are scared and that is good, because it will help you in
reaching your greatest height, we all behind you dear, she said as she smiled
and placed a kiss on his forehead.
The boosted Ikemba walked into his hut
happier and even more focused on his goal of winning the competition. That
night, as Ikemba slept, he had a rare dream, he was alone in a garden, when a
lion was chasing a deer, he watched until the Lion consumed the prey, after
consuming it, the Lion looked at his direction and started chasing him. Ikemba
ran like a mad man, screaming for help, after running a while, he recalled that
the Lion had just ate, and he thought within himself that this Lion is not
hungry but maybe trying to protect himself, he instinctively stopped running
and started moving towards the lion, to his amazement the lion started running
away from Ikemba, sensing this, he continued chasing the Lion till he hit the
lion with a stick, the Lion a bit weak was still moving, though slowly. He was
about the do the final strike, when a monkey held his hands and slapped him, he
woke up immediately and discovered it was his elder sister, Nnnena, and he had
been sleep walking. He was hitting the tree close to his room with a stick when
his sister spotted him in such act, she was about to ease herself. She laughed
hard at Ikemba, who recalling his dream, walked slowly to his room happy that
he didn’t break any calabash and he was not hitting any animal or human, but he
begged his dear sister not to tell on him before leaving the scene.
As the cock crows,
Ojinta came out of his room rather happy, he had just enjoyed a superb night with
one of his wives, he whistled through the compound, chewing a big stick. The
greetings from his children, even made him happier, sensing this , Ezinne
asked, Papa why are you very happy?, he looked at her, carried the grown girl
up to her amazement and said, Nne,your brother will be fighting a great cause
tomorrow during the hunting competition, then he brought her down, the very
excited Ezinne screamed “Daddy, daddt, daddy, please carry me up again, I loved
it, I enjoyed it”, he smiled and said, “Bia, nne, don’t you know that I am
getting old, do you want to break my backbone?, she smiled and said “ok Papa,
let me go and wake Chi and Ada, so we can go to the stream together”, Ojinta
gave his permission and also told her to call her brother, Ikemba.
The sleepy Ikemba,
walked slowly towards his dad, and greeted him respectfully. A resounding
response clouded the air, as Ojinta took his son for a quick walk and a needed
boost. Tomorrow, you will be joining other nineteen contestants to bring in the
biggest win, Ojinta said, you must make sure you kill a lion, if you must win.
A lion?, Ikemba
resounded.
Yes, a Lion, you must
wait patiently for the best time to strike, Lions are usually best attacked
after they have eaten their prey, said Ojinta.
As Ojinta spoke,
Ikemba flashed back to the dream he had, where he had a fight with a Lion.
Amazed at what his dad advised him, Ikemba asked, Dad, how will I carry such a
big predator?
Ojinta responded
rather positive, saying, my son, the gods will grant you strength to lift up
the kill, just believe in them and they would not disappoint you, neither will
they disappoint me.
P.S- Join me next week for the other part s of the story- Ikemba and the cripple...Love ya
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