Chapter Six The two Heralds in the village

The first story was so touching and interesting. Elder Mike Okunsi,the storyteller simply continued his folktale for the night. He cleared his throat in his characteristics manner and sat back regally, fixing a steady gaze on the children. Then in a calm, steady voice, he began his next tale. It was about two messenger spirit who once visited Ndoku village shortly after Kojo disappearance. These spiritual beings were called Heralds, for they often brought news to humans.

"Ndoku was indeed a peculiar village where strange things happened every now and then," began Elder Mike Okunsi, as he stared at the faces of the children around him. Everyone's eyes were glued on him. This was a new story, the children realized, one that the old storyteller had not told them before.

Not long after the disappearance of Kojo, the unfortunate fisherman, two strangers arrived at the quiet village. They stood at the threshold of the village, looking confused and uncertain. One was wise old man with long, gray hairs and beard, and the other was a mere youth looking like one with much to learn from life. It was very late in the night and everywhere was quite. With nowhere to lay their heads, the strangers approached a native of Ndoku village and asked him if he would let them spend the night in his house,for it was a cold and windy night.

"please, sir," the strangers said, "we're on our way to a very far place, and we're only passing through your village. as it has grown dark and too dangerous to still be on the road, could you please give us a room in your house to spend the night?We"ll be on our way first thing in the morning."

Now, the man whom the strangers approached was quite rich and popular in Ndoku village. In fact, he was the one who bought Kojo big house when Kojo put it up for sales. The man's name was Mr kigali, and he was a shrewd, unkind fellow not given to charitable deeds. He had very few friends in the village. In fact, many people believed that Mr kigali was the stingiest man in the entire village. Though he had lots of money, he was always complaining of not having enough. That was because he didn't want people coming to him for food or money.

Mr Kigali looked at the two strangers critically, with a deep frown upon his fleshy face. "And what makes you think my house is used as a guest-inn to accommodate the likes of you?"he asked unkindly. I don't have room enough for you, I'm sorry. Now off you go!"

But the strangers persisted and begged him some more."Oh, but please sir, we assure you that we won't be a bother to you, and we'll be on our way before the first light of day tomorrow mornings."

Mr kigali frowned and raised his nose, staring at the men with suspicion then he opened his gate and let them into his compound. Come in, " he mumbled quietly, unhappy, " I think I might have just the right place for you to spend the night."

Mr Kigali's house was quite big and beautiful, with Many room in it. But he asked one of his servants to take the strangers to the smallest room in the house, which was not really a room at all. It was the junk room, where unwanted items were kept and abandoned. Everything that was broken in the house was tossed into the junk room and forgotten there.Of all the big and beautiful rooms in his house, the junk room was only place that Mr kigali could find for the strangers to sleep in.

The room was dirty and covered in dust. it had not been swept for many weeks.As soon as the door to the junk room was opened and the strangers stepped inside, the younger of the two men let out an explosive sneeze: AAA RSHTWUU!!! ", but the old man merely looked around the room with a calm smile.

"I'm afraid, Sir," said the servant looking at the strangers, "this is where you're meant to Lodge for the night, unless you would prefer to look for somewhere else in the village to sleep. Peradventure, you could find a better accommodation elsewhere."

"oh, no, sir," replied the old man.

"This will do just fine ! Thank you very much for your kindness."

Before the servant left the room, the young strangers kindly asked him if he could give them a blanket to sleep with, seeing that it was a very cold night. He also requested for some water to drink. The servant told them he would see what he could do about their request.

But when he returned,he brought neither a blanket nor a glass of water.

"I'm sorry, sir, " he said stiffly, "all our blankets are in use presently. And as far water , my master said he agreed to accommodate you for the night only, not to share his food or water with you."

The young strangers looked alarmed to hear that, but the old strangers only smiled and thanked the servant. so the servant left leaving the two strangers in the dark, dirty, cold room with no blanket or water. The strangers had no choice but to go to sleep in a sitting position, with their backs leaned against the wall. The young strangers was visibly upset about the situation, wondering why they had to put with the unkind rich man.

"Be calm my young friend,"said the old man."At least, he put us under his roof, away from the elements and dangerous animals. for that, we should be thankful.This is one of the lessons you have to learn as you go along."

But the young strangers looked surprised, " What lesson is that exactly?"

" That the world is filled with such people like the rich man housing us tonight. but in all, we must not let what they do to spoil our own good nature. Not everyone is cruel and unkind, mind you. And remember, things are not always what they seem to be."

The young strangers sighed quietly." I see," he said. And thought he did not say anything more, it was obvious that he still felt unhappy over the unfortunate reception they got from the rich man.

How cold the night got as the hours wore on. The room had no light, and it was filled with mosquitoes that kept buzzing in the ears of the two strangers as they tried to catch whatever sleep they could catch in the circumstances.

However, unknown to the rich man, his servants and any other person who might have seen the two strangers on their arrival at Ndoku village that night, the strangers we're not human at all. They were actually spirit being, spiritual messenger sent from the spirit world to the world of men. It was believed that such spirit usually visited our world to bestow gift and punishment on people as every one deserved. These Spirit were known as Heralds, spiritual Messengers. They would walk among people and behave like humans. But their mission was usually to hand out Justice to people; they usually gave those they met what they deserved.

So the two Heralds had an uneasy sleep that night, drifting in and out of sleep. very early the next morning before even the servant were up,the strangers we're awake and ready to leave.

As the young strangers yawned sleepily and stretched, the old man lifted his eyes and saw a deep crack on the wall in the shadowy part of the room. He moved closer and considered the damaged portion of the wall. Then he brushed his hand casually on the wall, instantly sealing the crack with his supernatural power.

Behind him, his young companion saw him repaired the crack on the wall. He was surprised about the kind gesture, which he thought the rich owner of the house did not deserve. But he said nothing. He only kept in his mind.

The two strangers left the rich man's house that morning without food, water or a farewell. They did not even have a bath; for the servant of the rich man explained to them that it was hard getting clean water in Ndoku village.

"My master warned me not to waste the water we have in the house," he told them quietly.

So the strangers left, continuing on their journey.

In the evening of that same day, when they were on their way back from where they had been to,the two Heralds stopped by at Ndoku village again. As before, they were tired , hungry and stranded. And as it was already getting late, they decided to seek shelter with a native of the village, hoping that someone kinder would take them in this time.

As they walked around in the village that evening, they came upon a present farmer who lived in a small, single-room hut in the back of the village. He was a poor farmer who managed to make a living everyday by selling petty crops at the village market. But the bulk of the farmer's earnings came from a very large sow which he had been rearing for many years. The sow usually delivered near a dozen litters every year, and whenever the farmer sold the little pigs off, he got a handsome amount of money to take care of his small family.