THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

“I was very sick. Not sick like bed ridden and the dying kind. But sick like I had a sickness that made me look and feel ugly. I was suffering from some kind of paralysis and muscle degeneration. I could not walk properly, talk properly and hold things. I therefore had no friends and after some time, my family started distancing themselves from me. I was very sad and lonely. People see me and hold their nostrils. People see me and avoid coming close to me. In my condition, I had to make a fool of myself before I got something to eat or drink; dancing like an idiot for the entertainment of others.

“There was only one boy in the whole of Kuzase who was kind to me. He talked to me gently and gave me food and water when I was hungry and thirsty. He always went around and gathered the clothes people discarded for me. That was when he did not have any friends. Then he got friends and now even he has become very mean. I met him about ten days ago. He was in the company of friends. I called him many times but he completely ignored me. One of his friends asked, ‘Do you know that girl?’ He answered saying, ‘Of course I know her. Who doesn’t? She is Kuzase’s clown.’ His friends had a good laugh about that. That was when I knew enough was enough — that was when I decided to die.

“I was walking on a lonely road; planning my own death. It was on this road that I met him; a beautiful old man with white hair and blue eyes. He looked into my eyes and I stared into his. He smiled at me and I was forced to smile back. He walked towards me and towards him I walked. And when he got close to me, he opened his arms and embraced me. He did not say a word. He just wrapped his arms around me. I don’t know but I felt calm and peaceful in his arms. He pulled back, looked into my eyes and smiled. Then, he continued on his way. After his hug, it was as if I had been hypnotized. I completely forgot about my suicide.

“The next day I was cured. Everything about my body was great. It was a miracle. I felt indebted to this great sage and started looking for him. I went into the temples and the shrines and he was not there. I asked the priests and visited the chief priest and none of them knew him. I heard of other holy men and visited them only to be disappointed. It was never him. About three days ago, this man came to Kuzase again. When I saw him, I was overwhelmed with emotion and cried like a baby. I asked him why he has made me suffer so much searching for him. He said nothing. He only came close and hugged me once again. I completely broke down in his arms and sobbed bitterly.

“I told him I wanted to serve him. I owed him my life and I would live and die for him. I could tell he liked to smile because all he did was smile; just smile. He told me not to worry because I have already paid off my debt to him. He climbed a platform and gave a long and fascinating message about something he called Shosuma (Soul or Life). Then he talked about a Supreme Being called Akaani (The Infinite One) and His Eternal Home, Alaami (Home of Eternal Peace).”

This is obviously the story of the girl who saved Sukye. Her sour life story turned sweet. She knelt by Sukye’s side treating his leg injury. His leg was badly injured and infected. He was running a fever. She was doing her best to save him. They were in an abandoned house in Kuzase. No one would come there but there were guards everywhere looking for Sukye. She knew this. Her knowledge about herbs was inadequate to cure him. The trap made Sukye bleed and she knew the guards probably stumbled on that. They would be looking for an injured person. This message had probably been circulated and the homes of herbalists would be the first places to search. Sukye after hearing her story did not still understand why she saved him. So she continued the story.

“After my second encounter with that man, I knew one thing. I would meet him again. But before I do, I have to live a different kind of life. So I started studying how to cure ailments and diseases using herbs under one herbal doctor in Kuzase. It is really hard and I have very little training in it. My teacher sent me to collect some herbs from the forest when I saw you. I could not believe it. It was like I have seen a ghost. You…! You look exactly like that holy man (except Sukye did not have white hair or blue eyes). I knew it at once. You are his son and saving you was my way of paying my debt. He probably knew this and yet said nothing. Who is he? Tell me about your father,” asked the girl.

Sukye closed his eyes. “My father… what exactly do I know about him? Since I was a child he has shown interest in only one thing — other men. He sacrificed everything to see other people happy. He was not a rich man but gave everything he had smiling. And when he did not have enough, he would smile and say it is all in the will of Akaani Almighty! I don’t remember ever having lacked anything by his side. There is something about him. I always felt it — a pure soothing presence.

“He tried really hard to teach me about Akaani and His Alaami but I was never interested. At first I thought it was because I wanted to find the kind of love he and my mother had. And I did. I still do. But I was afraid and I was proud. I was afraid because whenever and however I think about it; he was the best father an idiot like me could have had. He was kind, gentle and spiritual. What if I am unable to measure up to his standards? What if I fail in my attempt to become like him? So instead of following him, I pursued a different path. I deluded myself in the search for love and I failed,” said Sukye in tears.

“But that was not all. My father was great and so he was the course of all the good things as well as all the bad things that happened to me. Every one judged me as his son. I am sure many people in my village do not even know my name. They all call me Anambre’s son. I am Sukye. I am Anambre’s son but my name is not “Anambre’s son!” It is Sukye. Why doesn’t anyone get that? Why must it always be about him?” he added in even more tears.

“I always lived under his shadow and I was getting tired of it. But what wrong did he ever do to me? I don’t think he deliberately wanted to have such a strong influence on my life. If he did, I would be travelling the world with him teaching people about Akaani and Alaami. I will teach about forgiveness and chastity. I will let people understand the importance of thinking good and positive thoughts and about the great power of being content with whatever you have. Everything man has was borrowed from Akaani to enable him live on this earth for a while and when the time comes for the traveller to return home, he takes nothing with him. He simply allowed me to do whatever it is I wanted to do. He never even for a single moment forced me into anything,” Sukye could just not stop talking.

“You are trying to save me because of him. The same way many girls were kind to me because of him, and, at the same time even more despised me because of him. At the end of the day, I am sure he wanted me to understand these things; to understand myself and understand him. I am sorry old man for not being the son you deserve. For not living the kind of life you wanted for me. In my final moments I crave for a second chance; a chance to right my wrongs,” Sukye prayed.

“Maybe during my second chance I will meet this beautiful girl again. Hopefully during our second meeting I would not be dying and she will not be working tirelessly to save me. I will not live the life of a thief or the son of a Gyaati but I will be born a prince. I will be powerful and she will fall in love with me for me. Not because I am the son of someone,” he said.

Sukye was slipping away. The injury to his leg was worse than he had anticipated. He lifted his left arm and touching the girl’s face, cleaned a few of her tears. He said, “Don’t cry. I am happy to have met you. We will meet again in the next life. I promise.” He took his last breath smiling and died.

Kiwakaazi and Deila were ready to crush the sobudu. Deila was quick to jump in front of Kiwakaazi. She had transformed into Kaki and was ready to use the sound on the water serpent with two heads. But before all of this she explained to Kiwakaazi that it was impossible for them to fly over the bridge because extending into the skies of Nomposuro was a barrier that will disintegrate anything that attempts to cross. Defeating the budus temporarily lowers these barriers and grants passage.

“Stop! Please let me fight the budu,” said Kiwakaazi. Deila asked, “Why…? Do you think I am incapable of defeating the beast all by myself?” Kiwakaazi replied, “No! It is just that I feel your powers may not work on the budu. Besides, you were the same person who told me the only way to kill the budu was to cut off its head, or heads in this case.”

“It is all yours,” said Deila before she stepped back and changed back to human. Kiwakaazi stepped forward and dug his left fingers into his palm. He grabbed something in his palm and pulled. He lifted it pointing the pointed end to the sky. The black rope surrounded Kiwakaazi and by the time it touched his feet, he was wearing the black vest already with two short red marks under his eyes. Two golden swords were also already attacking the sobudu (double headed water serpent) from behind.

The budu quickly interchanged one of its heads with a tail. One head was cut off and the whole body of the budu turned into red water and rained into the river. Kiwakaazi quickly climbed the stairs and was about six meters on the buduga (serpent’s bridge). In fact, he was anticipating an attack from the beast. He stood on the bridge silently. His senses were heightened. He was hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting and smelling with every part of his body. The attack he anticipated finally came.

The tail of the budu emerged out of the river and attacked Kiwakaazi’s feet. But did I not tell you, that was the attack he anticipated. He quickly planted his kafunde into the budu’s tail and released two of his golden swords into the river to attack the budu’s head but the body of the budu changed into water again. Kiwakaazi smiled. He enjoyed fighting the budu the most. The sobudu’s head emerged out of the red river and shot red spherical liquids at Kiwakaazi.

Two heads fired many red liquid balls at Kiwakaazi as quickly as possible. Kiwakaazi summersaulted, he jumped, contorted his body and did everything humanly possible to avoid being hit by the red balls. The balls struck and melted various parts of the bridge. But the bridge was part of Nomposuro and it healed itself immediately. Two golden swords flew and attacked the heads of the budu. I simply admire Kiwakaazi.

One of the budu’s heads disappeared and a tail replaced it. But this was a move Kiwakaazi anticipated. One of his golden swords was already under the river. The two heads were cut simultaneously through the golden rings around the sobudu’s neck (double-headed serpent). The Gahan (Red River) changed color to colorless — a sign that the budu had been defeated.

Kiwakaazi was slowly getting used to his power. He had become stronger. He was no longer the boy who wet his pants when Deila or Kaki — whichever name she was using now — first roared at him. I know I did not mention that, but thinking about it now I am sure he did.

Kiwakaazi and Deila started their slow and silent walk across the second buduga (serpent’s bridge). They both said nothing; just walking side by side. It was the longest walk in human history. Kiwakaazi kept on thinking, ‘Are we ever going to get there?’ and Deila feared if they do not get there any time soon, she would go mad. A mad kranju (immortal guardian) — that would have been a first.

Here they are at last in Adopedan (natures beautiful forest). Finally, Kiwakaazi can relax and Deila… maybe it’s impossible for kranjus to go mad after all.

Tighten your seat belts and be ready for more none stop action inside the home of the dwarfs.