River Drown
The man looked thirties and was dressed in anti-g trousers, speed jeans, over their flying suits and placed on his chest was a tag identifying him as a Captain with the Western marines. His heart pulse increased while covering the distance with his aircraft as the people of that Island along the Oily Lands screamed at him in excitement waving for him to land.
This is definitely the Oily Lands said Harry and looked at his crew members, who nodded with a look of disappointment written on their faces, and the people are happy to see us. Ill give them some thrill with my personal effect because from what I seedamn these people practically live on water. How will it feel to live in a four pillars wooden house where the only source of transportation is paddling a canoe, straight up from the house and climb down to a canoe and off they go for daily routine.
They pulled ashore and were welcomed by the inhabitants of the Island. They wondered how the news of their arrival spread so fast because it seemed as if the whole Island stood out there waiting for them.
No one is going to speak except me during our stay here, lest we complicate issues. You guys are to pretend as if you dont understand, instructed Captain Harry. Are we permitted to speak when we are alone, asked Steven his assistant. Of course yes, but dont be caught, replied Harry. As there is obviously no electricity here, I guess their birds must have announced our arrival or possibly they smell strangers.
He was relieved they people spoke a kind of Pidgin English, which he can figure out putting two and two together, so there was no need for a demonstrator.
Welcome Sirs, the children shouted. Most of them were naked and the dressed ones wore pants and torn shirts. Thank you, can I see your ruler, Harry asked.
The crowd opposite him started splitting in two and he saw a huge man at the end of the crowd and he had the feathers of a peacock stuck in his cap. He looked very young, about two or three years older than Captain Harry. I bring you good mysteries from the great rulers of the West, Harry said and bowed to the Chief. Who raised him up with his staff and demanded to know his business. Rise my young man, let us go in and eat, after which you will say what brings you to us, the Chief said and led his entourage and the crew.
Harry bowed once again to the Chief and said, great Chief, Ill not touch any food until I have shown my Chief how near everything can be, if he looks through my looking glass and may I also use the opportunity to tell the great Chief that I have come to show them mysteries from the great West. It pleases the Chief to have you do as you say, replied an older man standing beside the Chief after speaking in private with the Captain.
Harry left the Chief and the crowd of onlookers and walked to the aircraft. After picking up his binoculars and properly adjusting it, he took it the Chief and presented it to him. Look through the smaller part of the glass, Harry said. The Chief threw the binoculars out of his hand after looking through. Forest on the left is supposed to be far yet I see it from here, he said and ordered for it to be given to the Elder that spoke with him. The Elder looked at the binoculars and took 360 degrees turn and jumped for joy and his entire people screamed with excitement and there was jubilation.
The foreigners have come well and I thank them for giving me a glass that can bring far things near, he said to couple of men standing nearby, after which he walked away with the Elderly man who was obviously his adviser. The two men gestured for Harry of his crew follow them and they led them to a lovely wooden hut and ushered them in and said their food will be served in half an hours time and they had to select their choice from the set of clothes arranged on their beds.
They each selected one and were directed to the river for their bath. How far is the river from here, Captain Harry asked, at the same time happy for his success on mystifying himself. The turn after that big iroko tree on your right, the younger boy replied, giving Harry this I-know-how-you-feel kind of smile. The magic glass, did you make it, the boy asked. I bought it, Harry replied, if you like it I can get one for you when I get back. You know you wont come back if you leave, dont you, the boy asked with a sad countenance.
Harry saw the boy's sad look and asked his name? Tari, the boy replied, I have a magic glass that I will give to you when we get back, he assured the boy. Thank you very much, the boy replied and leaped for joy. I'll look at your magic glass the other boy said, Ok you will. Tari said, and pointed. That the river up there. Harry saw a small river and asked why they bath in the small river. We bring stranger here to bath as this is our only clean water; since others have been polluted by big companies up in the main river said Harry.
What is the name of the river Harry asked, I will tell you after your bath. Harry and the crew jumped into the river and it felt so good on their skins and they collected the soaps from the stretched hand of the other boy. They dropped into the river and swam to the left and to the right and were still going further when Tari called them to turn back and not exceed a specific boundary.
Im experienced enough to swim how I like to do and nobody is meant to instruct me on the direction I should swim, Steven replied and walked out of the river to a pocket in his slacks where he collected a small bottle of rum and took a swig and handed it to the others who came after him.
Feeling hungry already and I am not sure I want to waste any more time in the river, Harry said and began to get dressed and the crew followed him back to their hut. They went to their hut and they saw a tray on a wooden table after removing the lid, he called Tari and asked him the name of the food in the plate. This is plantain pottage or KKF and its the traditional food for we Oily Lands indigene, Tari said.
Whats the name of that river you promise to tell me Harry asked? River Drown, Tari replied. River drown, exclaimed Captain Harry. Do people down there, asked Harry. Yes they do whenever they swim beyond the mangrove, the big dark boy replied. Is it that the tide at the mangrove is stronger than where I had my bath, Harry asked or they drown because they cant swim? The tide there is not different from where you had your bath and all those drowned by the river were good swimmers, Tari replied. What is responsible for the drowning of people that exceed the boundary, asked Captain Harry? The river goddess takes anybody that intrudes into her territory and the mangrove is part of it, Bina who is the Elder of the two boys replied.
After sending off the two boys to get his luggage, he decided to review his chain of thoughts. I reject any theory behind river drown, but if it could be possible, then we are in for the surprise, instead of Oily land being in it, Harry said and they all laughed.
The boys returned with his luggage and told him a festival is coming up within the week; therefore he and his crew had to be cleansed by their high priest before they can partake of the festival.
They ate plantain porridge in a wooden bowl and drank some water from the calabash; Patrick took a look around the room and wondered if they ever knew the word comfort around here. The bed is made from the branches of bamboo trees and covered with soft cloth, yet the presence of the wood could still be felt, said Anthony. The lamp is suspended on a stick close to the clay pot. How do they survive down here, Harry questioned the crew for an answer but since none replied, he resolved to take a walk around town.
I will see if I can find my way to river drown and observe the mangrove bushes, intently, thought Harry. As he walked towards the town square, which was elevated a few inches above the ground, rectangular in shape and filled with sand, he thought the town square was more like a rectangular swimming pool but the difference was sand in place of water.
On his left, he saw five children singing and clapping over the head of one kneeling down with a piece of Charcoal in one hand, sand on the other, a dried leaf put in-between the lips and possibly the strange insect he saw in his apartment, that twitters like a bird when caught and if a little pressure is added, it cries like a mammal. How could an insect twitter like a bird and a river be called drown and am sure those kids are up to something, so better sit and watch, through Harry.
Good day Sir, greeted Tari, My Tari. How are you, asked Harry. I am fine, Tari replied. They sat down in silence for some time and Tari spoke first. I checked your room and did not see you and the others, and I was worried but then saw them in your aircraft and thought you went for a walk and it proves true, concluded Tari.
Do you know what those children are up to, asked Harry and pointed towards the direction of the kids, but they were not there anymore and he looked further left and found them chasing a little girl which they immediately caught and were trying to suppress, but she fought them all off with an extra vigor and was screaming, rolling and acting mad. Tari smiled and said she is possessed for now but will calm down, although if she is not held down and runs into the river, she will drown, he added. Are you referring to river drown in particular asked Harry. Any river will do because she is possess right now by the spirit they called on her, replied Tari.
Harry found that too hard to believe and he still could not believe the one happening right in front of him. He saw the girl being carried away by some grown men.
Lets take a walk to river drown, he said to Tari who looked at him curiously but said nothing and walked on. On getting to river drown; they saw a small crowd gathered by the bank screaming. Someone is being drowned at river drown, said Tari and started running towards the river bank. Cant someone dive in to rescue the drowning person, asked Harry, and ran to keep up the pace with Tari. If a person dives in, he drowns because he also exceeded the boundaries to where the drowning fellow is, said Tari.
When they got to the crowd, everyone was silently staring at the calm river that its only disturbance was the transverse waves caused by the gentle breeze. All of a sudden, a body was propelled out of the river with a force that raised it up to seven feet high and it at the peak, it traded it is potential for kinetic energy once more and returned to the river, forming a big ripple and circular wave after which the body disappeared under neat the river once more
Oh my God, oh my God, screamed Harry what could propel a body like a rocket out of the river with such a force, asked Harry? I dont like it, he concluded and turned and ran away and Tari went after him. Tari caught up with him and asked why he ran off just like that. What is that beneath the river that will spring a person high up above the river and pull him down with a sucking force, asked Harry trying to grasp a breath? He was within the pull of the river goddess and that is what a person gets for going beyond the safe boundary, replied Tari.
I will never have my bath in that river, said Harry. There is no other river for a visitor like you to have a bath except river drown, said Tari. I can see you guys have a tradition of taking strangers to that river to see if he could drown by chance, Harry said. That is not true because if you stay off the boundaries you will be fine or if you please I could get water from the river for you to have your bath at the back of your hut, replied Tari. Thanks for your generous offer, said Harry and demanded to be alone for some time. I will bring your food later; said Tari and left after watching Harry close the door behind him. He is terribly scared. I guess he never imagined this, so it is too much for him, thought Tari and waited for few minutes and Harry came out and walked with him towards the town square where the Elders were having a meeting.
The older man sitting next to the Chief spoke and his view was accepted by all the Elders in the meeting. My people, I greet you all, he said, greetings as well they responded. He who brings kola nut and palm wine brings life; therefore I present these to the Elders, the man said and presented a calabash of palm wine and a wooden plate full of kola nut. As we all know, the man continued, the region of Oily Lands have been deprived of the basic necessities of life and are therefore subject to living conditions that are not fit for humans, despite the painful reality that we are responsible for the highest revenue generation in the country, the man said. We have been living in this condition ever since, so what do you propose Elder Etele, asked Elder Thank God.
Elder Etele, being the spokesman for the Chief suggested they compose a detailed report on the plight of the people of the Oily Lands and submit it to the Westerners, so they can make it available to the Western world whenever they gets back, he concluded and sat down. Any contrary view the Chief asked. All the Elders present shook their heads.
Elder thank God, the Chief said. You will take the Western men along with you to the neighboring communities and tell them to compile detailed reports on their plights as indigenes of Oily Lands and the resources available. Tell them the report should include list of raw materials available and an appeal for the Western world to send men with knowledge that will help us transform our raw resources to finished products, so we can also enjoy the comforts of life. The report should be submitted tonight at the masquerade display at the masquerade dance compound, the Chief concluded.
Here comes one of the Western men with Tari, said Elder Etele and signaled them over with a wave of his hand. Tari turned to leave but his arm was caught by Captain Harry and together they went into the town square and were offered seats by Elder Etele. Tari smiled, wishing his friends could see him sitting with the Elders and fortunately for him all the children playing around stopped and stared at him.
The Chief spoke. My dear friend from the West, will you please get your men to accompany our people to the neighboring communities to enable them compile reports of their plights and resources available for development. We will be of service. When are we leaving, asked Captain Harry. The masquerade dance is tonight and it should be submitted then.
Tari and Harry left the town square and walked through a bush path to the aircraft as they walked close to a river bank. They stopped when they heard the sound of gun shots and the Captain ducked with Tari in the bush and moved towards the river in the direction of the shots. What they saw shocked the Captain who thought his mind was playing tricks on him. Tari is this for real, asked the Captain. It is a very normal thing because any juju priest can carry out the ritual that prevents a bullet from entering a persons body.
They watched the young man in the boat struggling with the pirates that had rained enough bullets on him and the wonderful thing was that no bullet penetrated the young mans body. The struggle continued till four of the pirates held the young man and the fifth brought out a long cord. I am sure they want to bind him and throw him into the river for him to drown, said Tari.
I have got my snub-nosed with me, will I be violating your village laws if I put few bullets through these pirates and rescue that young man, asked the Captain. I am sure the Chief will be glad you did, answered Tari and ran along the path that leads to the river.
The pirates succeeded in forcing the young man into their boat. And while the other was trying to fasten the young mans boat to their pirate boat, the other was bounding the young mans leg against a stone.
Quick before the man drown as soon as he falls into the river. Three shots were fired before Tari could conclude his sentence, and the man tying him to the boat together with a younger pirate feel down dead. The engine of the pirate boat came to life and tore the waves apart; leaving the young mans boat behind and after about twenty meters the young man was thrown out of the boat.
Harry, we better get help fast before the tide takes this man away because it is very high, said Tari and ran towards the town. I will get the crew together and see if we can relieve him with our aircraft, said Captain Harry. I will tell the Elders and meet you up, but I hope you will allow me ride in your aircraft, said Tari and ran to the left without waiting for an answer.
Captain Harry got to their hut but found it empty. I will get to the aircraft with or without them but if I meet them there, its better for me, he thought as he ran towards the aircraft.
When he got into the aircraft, he found the crew sleeping and as he brought the engine to life, he saw Tari running towards the aircraft and opened the entry for him. In less than no time they were airborne.
He narrated the incident to the crew whose eyes were immediately cleared and Tari gave the direction. They scanned the river with their binoculars but found nothing on the river. They went further down the river and seeing nothing, they concluded the man attacked by the pirates would have drowned because the river was too wide for most people to swim across. Lets go back, said Steve. At least we tried our best.
Let us go forward a little bit, said Tari partly because he was enjoying his ride in the aircraft, although he knew there was a naval badge close to the middle of the river. There is a naval badge in front and its very close to the middle of the river, so if the guy survives the high tide to that point, I am sure he will struggle to grip the badge, said Tari and pointed out of the window of the aircraft only to see the well-armed village warriors paddling around the river.
The village rescue team is here, he said and the flight crew looked down and saw several canoes and speed boats moving fast all over the water. Wow, this is Africa for real and it is so beautiful, exclaimed Captain Harry.
The naval badge became visible and a member of the crew said, Tari I hope this naval badge is not functional, because I wouldnt want to have African Naval men open fire at us.
I have been there several times with my dad, who retired from the Navy, said Tari. Are you serious the all asked, coincidentally? Looking at each other, they laughed. Of course yes and I also want you to know that if you can fly very high, they will think you are an aircraft from my country, said Tari. They all looked at each other and nodded. Why did the other members of your crew pretend as if they dont speak English, asked Tari. It was to serve as a precaution and safety measure, Harry replied. Are you not bothered I know, asked Tari?
Wait a minute; this is unbelievable, said Steve. I think this part of the world is made up of unbelievable things, said a member of the crew and passed the binoculars to the next. What in Gods name are you guys talking about, asked Harry and placed the aircraft in autopilot and collected a pair of binoculars, while Steve handed his binoculars to Tari.
The young man that suffered the pirate attack had finally climbed the naval badge after drifting by the tide for what seemed like a couple of hours to him. The Naval men had heard the sound of a gun after which they heard three shots and saw a boat passed the other side of the river. Few minutes later they saw two hands on the badge and immediately released the safety latch of their riffle and as soon as the man climbed on their badge that was inscribed with Military Zone, intruders will be shot, they opened fire on him with their assault rifles.
The bullets bounced off the mans body and he continued walking towards them with his hands raised, but they continually rained their shots at him and although the bullets could not penetrate his skin and rip his flesh, the pains inflicted on him was similar to stones being swung at him by a catapult.
This is exactly what I saw and told you guys but you refused to believe, said the Captain. I didnt argue but I rather said anything can be possible in Africa, replied a member of the crew. Probably the pain became too much for the young man to bear because he jumped off the badge into the water.
The pirates could not kill that young man, the tide did not and the Naval men tried too, so I guess that is it, if we do not get this guy right now, I am sure he will drown because he must have exhausted his strength Captain Harry said and pushed the draw stick of the aircraft forward and it took a steep drive toward the river and a rope was let down to the guy who clung to it as if his life depended on it which was true and the aircraft started climbing.
It is best you pull him while he is on the river because if you lift him, he might lack the strength to hold on while airborne, said Steve. I was thinking of that replied the Captain and the canoe paddling village warriors was approaching the man on the river.
A man was swift enough to grab him before he passed and still held on tight to him even when the speed of the aircraft was pulling the canoe to meet up with its speed. The man still held to his cord of life even while in the canoe and was being pulled against his wish. The man that caught him removed the rope from his hands, while the aircraft flew up and away.