One morning, as Nneka was cooking, she saw a messenger coming towards the compound, greetings the tall young man said as he awaits a jovial reply from the compound, which he got from Nneka, who had seen him coming from afar and walked quickly to meet the man. He requested to meet with Ojinta, but the wife insisted that he was still asleep, but she would drop any message he has got for her husband and the father of her four beautiful girls. After much pressure from Nneka, He handed over a tablet of scroll to her, informing her that a hunting competition was billed to kick off soon and the scroll contained information needed by each competitor. The messenger further added that all the competitors must be between 16years and 22years of age, then he left Nneka, as he journeyed further to the houses of other prospective competitors in the neighborhood. (continue)
As the compound of Ojinta came alive, the ladies began sweeping, some went to wash and fetch some water at the stream, while Ikemba and some of his sisters cleared the animal dunks present around the manger, while all these were going on, Nneka walked up to her husband, and passed the information she received from the messenger earlier. Pondering on the age limit, Ojinta was not too happy, he looked at his brave and handsome son, worried that this could have been a good opportunity for the young lad who will be 12years of age in about 27days.
Breakfast was served, as Ojinta dropped the scroll in his room, and dashed out to the King's palace for his official assignment. The day went on like it was going to rain, the cloud changed and winds started blowing. Everyone had left for one assignment or the other, aside Ikemba who just returned from the bush, where he went to get some fresh leaves for the goats and cattle to consume.
Sensing the high risk of a heavy down pour, Ikemba ran swiftly towards the hanger where all the clothes were left at the mercy of the scorching sun to dry up, he took as many clothes as his hands to carry into the rooms of the owners, and finally took the final piece which belongs to his father toward his own room. He had calculated the time the rain might fall, and had utilized each second wisely to drop the larger pieces of clothes into other rooms as the rest on the hanger was few. As he walked into his father's hut,one of the goats ran out, probably frightened by the continuous thunderous sounds, he quickly dropped the clothes on a chair outside his fathers hut and chased the goat towards the rest of the flock into the hut where they are usually penned.
After achieving that stead, he ran briskly towards the clothes as the showers of rain started in a systematic way. Immediately he entered into his father's hut, the rain fell heavy like it wanted to make a huge point. As the rain fell, Ikemba sat on the wooden chair waiting for the rain to stop, as he takes a lot at his father's room, he saw the scroll that was kept by his dad, and something inside of him kept pushing him to take a look. Curiously, he did and was amazed, a chance for him to display his skills in hunting, he was convinced that he would make an impact and win the competition. Holding on to the scroll, he slept off and had a dream, a dream that was cut short following the presence of his dad, a call from his dad brought him back to life.
Waking up, he smiled at his dad who had mixed feelings seeing the scroll in his hands, before his dad could say anything, Ikemba said, dad please permit me to go, I can do this dad, I can win this for us. Ojinta replied, but you are just 12years of age, and the age limit for the competition is between 16years and 22years. Sensing that he may not be able to convince his dad, he said, but I have a great and famous father and grandfather as he runs outside almost in tears. Ojinta tried to call his son back,but he ran out of the compound. The confused Ojinta smiled, recalling the last few words of his son before he ran out, that he and the king (Ikemba's grandfather), were great and famous.
He quickly returned to the king, where the both of them decided to fix him into the competition which will be a gift to their young son, after all, it was a competition that is staged once after two decades. So the organizing village was informed of the young boy, and after much pressure they agreed to include Ikemba to the list.
That night while supper was being served, the usually jovial Ikemba was quiet and moody, everyone knows why, but no one knew the new update, at the end of the meal, Ojinta asked if Ikemba really wanted to compete in the upcoming hunting competition, he affirmed his willingness and his father said, then go and prepare, because you are on. Excited, he jumped up, dancing around as he sings a song of victory, telling every one present that night that indeed he will win, yes he will.
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