Once upon a time, in a village called utugwang, located at cross River State of Nigeria, there was a mysterious and evil creature that always come out at night and attack the Villagers, this creature is so big and terrifying that there refer to it as a monster.
Everyone in that village was always leaving in fear because no one know from where this creature will come out from and after attacking the villagers it will vanish, and there will be no trace to where it went to,
This has been happening for a very long time and there is no solution as on how to stop their worst night mere.
One day, the king of the village summon an emergency meeting with his cabinet members through the village town crier.
On the day of the meeting with his cabinet members, after they have all been sited, without exchanging pleasantries with his cabinet,
Am not happy and my spirit is disturbed by the evil that is ravaging our community that's the reason why I summon for this emergency meeting as to look for a solution to this evil that is killing our people and putting us in fear,
As your king I am asking for your humble opinion and suggestion on how we can tackle this issue, said the King.
1st chief
I think we should invite the chief priest to the palace, maybe he will have an answer or solutions on how to deal with this issue.
Or we can set up vigilant groups in different parts of the community to be able to protect the community, responded the 2nd chief.
Nobody knows where this creature is coming from, so how will the vigilante be able to know on which direction to face during their waiting hours? Responded the 3rd chief.
That is the more reason why I said we should invite the chief priest to the palace so that you'll be able to tell us on what to do and how we can tackle this evil creature that has been killing our people responded the 1st chief.
..... the king gave a signal by raising his hands and everywhere was calmed because they were a lot of murmuring in the palace then clear his truth and proceeded... I have heard all your suggestions, and they are all good, but I think the first thing we are going to do is to summon the chief priest.
..... okay my King that is a good idea then let's set a date that we will meet here again with the chief priest in presence, respond the 3rd chief.
I will send my messenger this evening to his shrine said the King, I thank you all for coming and as you go back to your various homes, May the gods protect you all and lead you safely home... the king bead them farewell.
What message did you bring from the palace shouted the chief priest to the king's messenger, I know why you're here... evil is on the rise that's everywhereeeee....
Go back, tell the king that I shall be with him tomorrow evening after consulting the oracle.
.....thank you wise one, I shall deliver your message to the king replied the king's messenger.
Then the king send a message to his cabinet informing them on when to meet at his palace.
The next day just as the he chief priest has sent a message to the king through his messenger, he arrived at the same time he has promised to come, the king and his cabinet where already waiting for his arrival.... entered the chief priest, greetings your Highness with his head bowed down, greetings eyes of the gods, reply the king.... the solution to all this calamity that has befallen our community lies in the great beyond... speak to us in the language that we will understand eyes of the gods,
Someone will need to go to a journey across seven rivers to the great evil forest and get the hair of the giant man call Africa never die, only his gold hair can kill the evil creature that has been terrorizing this community.
Everywhere was silent for about 10 minutes, for they have heard stories about the evil forest and how the giant Africa never die is known for eating humans...
..... This is an impossible task eyes of the gods, is there no other way apart from this ask one of the cabinet members of the king, we all know how evil that forest is,
Not to even talk about how one can cross the seven deadly rivers response another cabinet member,
And even if the person manage to get there, how will he be able to get the hair of the human eater without being eaten or seen by the giant?.. Reiterated another cabinet member.
… There's no other way apart from this your Highness says the chief priest with his eyes fixed on the king, this is what the gods have said, and it is what we most do if we want to leave in peace and sleep with our two eyes close.
.... I have heard all you have said respond the king, I will send the town crier to announce throughout the community for any volunteers that will want to take up the task.
the earlier the better my king because if nothing is being down with the next two months no soul will be left in this community, this is what the evil creature is planning, said the chief priest as he bows and takes his leave from the palace.
After this, the king send the village town crier with the message from the chief priest on who will take up the task of saving the village from the mysterious creature that has been terrorizing the community, but after one week there have been no volunteer, for everyone is afraid to come out, not even in groups or personal.
When the king found out that no one was able to come out for the task because is an impossible task, he summoned his cabinet and there agreed in setting up a vigilante groups round the village to fight the mysterious creature whenever it surfaces again, but they were no match for the monster when it appears, they will look like little chickens in the eyes of the monster when it appears in the community.
This is where I come to the end of this episode, please like, follow and comment on my writings,
Watch out for the next episode...
Days have gone by and there's no solution on how to defeat the evil creature, the king and his cabinet have done everything humanly possible to profound a solution to the situation, but none is working.
Then a little boy who lives in the community with his mother walk up to the mother and said... I want to go the evil forest across the seven rivers and bring the hair of the giant African never die, with laughter in her the mother said are you insane, do you want to die, you think this is a joke? Am serious mother I want to go responded the boy with boldness in his face, will you keep quiet and stop speaking about issues that are meant for matured men and strong warriors, mother am strong, and I believe I will definitely return with the hair of African never die so that our village will be safe from the evil creature that has been killing our people, none of the Warriors have volunteered to embark on this journey because they are all afraid, and you want to go? That's the reason why I most go mother said the little boy, since no one has agreed to go on this journey, you're my only son started crying the mother, you will definitely die you won't come back alive, no one has ever gone to that evil forest, and returned, I shall go,, and I shall surely return respond the boy.
With many thoughts in his mind the king was moving from one spot to another at his palace, I am speechless and confused I don't know what to do to save my people none of the young men or Warriors has ever accepted to go to the evil forest and get the only remedy which is the hair of African never die, they are all afraid because of how dangerous the evil Forest is and how it is impossible to cross the seven rivers not to talk of getting the hair of the giant African never die,
gods of my ancestors why have you forsaken us in time like these?...
As the thoughts were running through his mind his messenger entered, greetings to you your Highness, my King there is a young man outside the palace who wishes to speak to you said the messenger.
What does he want I am deeply in thought and I don't wish to speak to anybody at the moment.
My King he said he has a very important message for you, he said something like what will benefit the entire community, at this point the King turn and look at the messenger,
Bring him in said the King... right away my King let me go and usher the young man in.
Greetings to you your highness enter the young man.
you're welcome my son my messenger said that you want to see me and that you have something that will benefit the entire community to tell me, yes your Highness responded the young man, he then paused for a while with his face on the ground then responded to the King with a convincing voice, I want to go to the evil Forest across the seven rivers to get the hair of the giant African never die so that our community can be saved, and free from this creature that has been devouring our people.
My son I admire your courage, but this is a task for Warriors and the strong ones, and as I'm talking to you, up to this moment none of the warriors or strong men in our community has volunteered to embark on this journey... That is the reason why and volunteering to embark on this journey, and I'm going to come back successfully, with your blessings and protection from the gods of our land I shall be victorious.
With his eyes to the ground the king was silent for some minutes and couldn't say anything... he then looks up to the boy and said to him if you're sure that you want to embark on this journey then come back in 2 days time so that the chief priest can prepare you for the journey ahead says the king, okay my King responded the boy with his head bowed down in obeisance to the king and left the palace.
the King send his messenger to the chief priest telling him all that have transpired at the palace then requesting him to be at the palace in the next two days so that he can prepare the young man for the journey, meanwhile that same evening the King equally sent the village town crier that everybody man or woman, boy or girl, old and young should meet at his palace in 2 days time.
When the day has come as announced by the King through the village town crier, everybody has assembled at the king's palace, the chief priest was the last to enter the palace as everyone was waiting for him to arrive.
It was a big gathering as it were a matter of life and death for the entire community, they were a loud murmuring from the crowd, but on siting the chief priest everywhere was calmed, I bring you greetings from the gods your highness said the chief priest, ah welcome eyes of the gods replied the King as he waved him to a sit.
my people I welcome you all to my palace said the King, am sure you all know the reason why we're all gathered here, it's no longer news that we can not sleep in peace in our various homes, we all know how the evil creature has been killing our people and has made us to be living in fear, we can't go to the bush to cultivate our farm land because of fear, we have asked the gods for solutions and they gave us an impossible solution to travel across the seven seas to the evil forest and get the hair of the human eater the giant African never die.
non of our warriors our able body men have agreed to embark on this journey, no volunteer has ever stepped forward to take up this task because of how deadly the evil forest is.
But.... he paused for a while and then continue, there's a young boy who has volunteered to go for this impossible journey signaling the young man, when the crowd saw him they all shouted....
But he's just a small boy how can he go to such an impossible journey man for men and warriors...
He's not even going to cross the first river said another person from the crowd...
The King raised his hands for calmness, I have heard all your murmuring, but at this point let me let him speak for himself.
Greetings to you my king, elders of our land sons and daughters of this great kingdom, I salute you all, I have taken this decision to go and bring the solution that will liberate our land, I was not forced by anyone it's a decision I have taken by myself and i will go and come back, I know the journey is a deadly one and if I do not return in the next 14 days then you know that am dead.
at this point everywhere was silent, some people from the crowd were already wiping for the boy because they know how evil the forest is and no one who goes into that forest has ever come back alive.
step forward my son said the chief priest
are sure you are ready to embark on this journey?,
yes eyes of the gods replied the boy,
do you know how dangerous this journey is and that you may never come back alive, are you willing to risk your life for the entire community?
yes eyes of the gods am willing even if I have to lay down my life for this community to be safe.
Then step forward into this circle let me begin to prepare you for the journey ahead, for the journey is full of evil and dangerous,
When he stepped into the circle the chief priest began his incantations calling on the gods of the land to protect the boy on his journey to evil forest and to guide him on the right way to follow when he begins his journey.
when he's done with the incantations he said to the boy... I have fortified you against the journey ahead may the gods of our land be with you in your going and coming .
Take this... he handed a bag to him inside this bag contains things that will help you in your journey ahead, this staff will give you directives to the dwelling of the giant African never die, and it will also protect you against evil spirit in the forest, don't be deceived by the spirit in the evil forest, for they will come inform of the people you know just to trick you in collecting the staff from you.... do not eat anything from anyone or talk to anybody while in your journey, be wise! Be wise!! Be wise!!!!!!!!
you shall begin your journey tomorrow before the rising of the sun, my king am done with the preparation said the chief priest,
Thank you very much eyes of the gods,
according to the chief priest we will escort the boy before sun rise tomorrow at the boundary between our village and the evil forest... I thank you my people for coming, as you retire back to your various homes don't forget to always pray for this young and brave boy who has volunteered to go on this dangerous mission in searched for the solution to this menace in our society , may the gods be with us and protect us while we wait for (if) he returns with the solution to our problem.
The King bid the crowd good-bye and they all departed to their various homes
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play